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The Impending Crisis

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Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 4, 1903

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 31.

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The Impending Crisis

The student of the prophecies which have been fulfilled, and which are being fulfilled, can not fail to be impressed with the conviction that the crisis of the ages is just upon us. In following down the path of human history we find that all the kingdoms mentioned in the various prophecies have had their places just according to the Word, and that no more world-empires are demanded to meet the specifications of the prophecies. We find also that the annals of these kingdoms, as written by the historians, answer in every detail to the views given beforehand to the prophets. But this outline of history was not given through the prophets merely in order to give the history of the world in advance, but to make clear to God's servants when the time comes for the final overthrow of all earthly kingdoms and the setting up of the everlasting kingdom of our God. And so the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as given by the prophet Daniel, was not designed to reveal earthly history for its own sake, but to mark the time when all earthly history would close, and a new order of things would be ushered in. The rise and fall of earthly kingdoms are simply so many steps in the march of events until he comes whose right it is to reign, and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ. A candid study of the prophetic word and its fulfillment brings us to the solemn but certain conclusion that in this generation “shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.” What a thrilling assurance is this! How glorious is the prospect! But this conclusion is also fraught with considerations of the gravest character. It means that probation will soon close. It means that the eternal destiny of all will soon be decided. It means irretrievable ruin to those who reject the closing message of mercy, and who do not recognize the day of their visitation. Those who know this message should now be terribly in earnest. “Cry aloud, spare not,” is the motto for to-day. The day of wrath is just upon us, and souls are to be saved from eternal death. Be faithful.