p. 2 | Things Coming on the Earth by L. L. C.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 31, 1916

Things Coming on the Earth

By L. L. C.

AMONG the signs of his coming which Christ gave his disciples, he spoke of “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26. Recent occurrences are surely bringing this fear upon men’s hearts as never before.

Industrial strife, international war, death by fire and flood and earthquake, by famine, disease, and pestilence, are causing the hearts of men to fail them for fear in anticipation of the evils which are coming on the earth.

Industrial Strife

In the fourth chapter of the book of James is foretold the great accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few which is to take place in the last days. The fortune that John D. Rockefeller has accumulated is a striking illustration of the fulfilment of this prophecy. The public press tells of a balance sheet compiled on the occasion of John D. Rockefeller’s birthday (July 9), showing his private fortune, exclusive of endowment funds and other benefactions, to exceed $1,000,000,000. This balance sheet is said to be in the possession of the authorities of Cuyahoga County, and it is expected that an attempt will be made to force Mr. Rockefeller to pay taxes on holdings of more than $300,000,000.

Some idea of Mr. Rockefeller’s fortune may be gained by considering that to accumulate $1,000,000,000 at the rate of $100 a year would require 10,000,000 years; at $500 a year, 2,000,000 years; at $1,000 a year, 1,000,000 years; at $5,000 a year, 200,000 years; at $10,000 a year, 100,000 years; at $100,000 a year, 10,000 years; at $1,000,000 a year, 1,000 years; at $10,000,000 a year, 100 years; or at $20,000,000 a year, 50 years.

Such figures are incomprehensible as a matter of fact. Professor Ely, of the University of Wisconsin, estimates that Mr. Rockefeller’s fortune is equal to the annual income of over 2,000,000 American wage-earners. The whole wealth of the United States is approximately $100,000,000,000. Mr. Rockefeller’s fortune, therefore, is about one hundredth part of the entire wealth of the country.

The accumulation of great wealth in the hands of a very few gives such power to these few that laboring men have feared what might result, and they have organized great labor unions to protect themselves. As the result of the present increased cost of living and other factors, these labor unions are now making demands from employers which are resulting in numerous strikes. The garment makers of New York have refused to ratify agreements entered into with leaders of the Garment Manufacturers’ Association, and are again on a strike. This strike, together with a lockout, is said to involve 6,000 workers. Another strike recently occurred among the employees of the surface street cars of New York City. The number of passengers usually carried daily on the lines involved has been estimated at 2,500,000. This strike was attended with some violence at the beginning, but was brought to a close through the personal efforts of the mayor of the city.

As the New York strike was closing, a strike of the street car workmen of Philadelphia began. The lines involved are said to employ 4,700 men, though only a portion of these answered the call to strike.

A still larger strike is threatened, which would involve 225 railroads and 400,000 employees. The union of railroad employees known as the Four Brotherhoods found, on taking a vote of the members, that a large proportion were in favor of going on a strike. The government board mediators were unable to suggest any solution of the problem satisfactory to the parties involved. An appeal has been made to the President, and it is hoped that through his personal efforts the national catastrophe such a railroad strike would mean, may be averted.

As money becomes more centralized in the hands of a few, and the power of the unions becomes stronger, the stoutest heart may well fear what the future has in store for us.

War

None can picture the horrors which have come to the world through the great European war. It is estimated that 4,000,000 men have been killed, 8,000,000 incapacitated for further work in the war, and 5,000,000 languish in prisons or detention camps. Dangers on every side threaten the spread of the war to nations not yet involved. Even the United States, should it escape the European cataclysm, is in danger of war with Mexico at almost any time. The recent ordering of all the State militia to the border has brought a feeling of uncertainty to the hearts of the people, as they realize that none can tell what a day may bring forth.

Earthquakes

We also see about us many things in nature which bring fear to the human heart. Earthquakes and volcanic action are on the increase. Portions of the earth which have been subject to such action seem to suffer more violent shocks, and even places not thought of as subject to earthquakes are affected at times. When the very earth under one’s feet reels, men’s hearts fail them for fear. The cry on every lip is, “The end of the world has come!” Italy has lost thousands of men and millions of dollars through volcanic action since the war began, and the public press (August 14) reports that Mt. Etna is again active.

Excessive Heat and Floods

The very seasons seem to have been altered within recent years. Chicago has suffered from such a heat wave as it never before experienced in all its history. Hundreds died from the excessive heat. Many other cities have added their toll to the list of deaths from heat prostration.

In several States severe floods have occurred, especially in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia, and recently in West Virginia. Property loss in this last State alone is estimated at $1,000,000. Hundreds have been drowned in these floods, and thousands made homeless. It is no wonder that many experience a feeling of fear at the coming of any severe storm.

Disease

Notwithstanding the great increase of knowledge in medical science in dealing with diseases of both plant and animal life, we see from time to time new epidemics spring up which seem to be uncontrollable through human effort. Of these recent epidemics, the most alarming is that of infantile paralysis. Over seven thousand cases have occurred in New York City alone, and the epidemic has so spread in the State of Pennsylvania

that a general quarantine has been established at its borders. A number of cases are also occurring in various other parts of the country. None can tell where the epidemic may next break out.

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Things Coming on the Earth

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Parents of children everywhere are in an agony of fear lest their own children may be victims to this dreadful plague. A striking fact in connection with this epidemic is the great increase, not only in the number of cases, but in the mortality rate. Nine years ago there was an epidemic of this same disease in New York, but of the 2,500 cases only five per cent died. Now not only has the number of cases increased, but the mortality rate is above twenty per cent, and of those who recover many are crippled for life.

Truly, in view of these dreadful events, one is led to think seriously of life and its meaning. The only hope of escape from the fear that is seizing men’s hearts is a trust in God, expressed by the psalmist in the beautiful words found in the ninety-first psalm.

Let us, as his children, sympathize with those whose hearts are filled with fear; but let us hasten God’s message of warning to all the world, in order that this time of sin and sorrow, pain and death, may soon end, and all God’s children be gathered home. L. L. C.