What God Requires of His People
By C. M. Snow
We have long been looking for a time to come when the work of the enemy would be so systematized and centralized that the forces of this world and the numerous Christian churches could be directed by one head. We have come to a place now where we can see that this very work is being rapidly wrought out. We see the backward movement along religious liberty lines that foretokens the religious persecution which the book of Revelation tells us will be brought to bear upon all of God’s people in the close of this dispensation. There is a great upheaval in the religious affairs of the Old World at the present time; and while, at times, it may appear that religious liberty principles are triumphing in certain parts, we can see underneath and through it all the masterful manipulations of our great enemy.10 We see at the same time a culmination of the forces in those very countries whose purpose it is to put religious matters more prominently before the legislators of those countries. At the same time, America’s influence on those countries has a tendency to turn them backward, even while they imagine they are taking forward steps. They have looked to America as a country of religious progress. The people have emigrated to America to get to a country of freedom; and naturally in the present breaking up of the crust there, they will take America as their example in what they should do. America’s earlier position in this matter will then work as a bait to draw them after the example which she is setting now. In the matter of church federation we see the same deep purpose being wrought out. At the November Inter-Church Federation Congress in New York City there were certain churches which were not admitted. Now these churches themselves are planning a federation of their own at their proposed meeting in 1908. There will be representatives from these churches from all over the world. In Canada the same federation work is being carried on among the churches there. The purpose of it all is to bring all church organizations under one management, under one control; so that when the time shall come for them to make their demands known, they will have united Christendom behind every demand which they make in the matter of religious legislation. Then there will probably be no opportunity for the favorable hearings by congressional committees which have in the past been granted to those who opposed such measures. Practically the only opposition then will come from Seventh-day Adventists. The matter of Sunday observance as a reflex action of what is being done in America, is already receiving more attention in foreign countries. The whole world is thus being made ready for the decree which shall say to the people of the whole world that they shall worship the beast and his image and receive his mark. It is wonderful to a person who is watching the culmination of these things to see how literally, how rapidly, and how systematically it is all coming about. Now in view of these things,—because these things are facts, not theories,—we must each ask ourselves the question, Do I propose to stand among that company which shall be found doing its utmost to enlighten the world, or shall I finally be found among that company which would not come up to the help of the Lord against the mightiest array of the forces of the enemy that this world has ever seen? Surely there is no hope for any of us in these times in anything except complete conformity to the will and plans of Him whose we are, and whom we profess to serve. At a certain time in the history of Israel, when God was requiring the performance of a certain work, it was found that only a small proportion of those who should be in the front ranks were willing even to enter into the contest. The rebuke of the Lord rested upon those “who did not come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty.” It is the purpose of The Signs of the Times to give the utmost publicity to every move of the enemy in this direction, while declaring fearlessly the whole message, that the people may be enlightened while yet there is time to accomplish anything along this line. One day all our opportunities will be ended, and there will be persons going to and fro in the earth, seeking for God and his word, and they shall not be able to find either. It will be a terrible experience for any of us to be at that time in a position where any can bring a just accusation against us, that we knew the truth and did not make it known to them. This is actually what is before us, and we have no time to lose if we are to receive the final approbation of God and hear the “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Let each ask himself, What am I doing to enlighten those around me at the present time—friends, relatives, neighbors? In view of the fact that the Signs was established for the accomplishment of this very work, am I doing all that is in my power to do to give it the circulation which it ought to have? Let us each weigh these matters in our own hearts, and then decide before God that we will do his work; let come what may.