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Not Delaying His Coming

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jan 19, 1911

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 3.

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Not Delaying His Coming

By W. A. S.

“The signs that show His coming near Are fast fulfilling year by year.”
IT is the evil servant, in our Lord’s parable of this waiting time, who says in his heart, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” The servant thinks he sees evidence of this; but the evidence is all in his own unbelieving heart, and “the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him.” Matt. 24: 48-50.
The watchful, longing heart sees in the events of every flying year the signs that the Lord is hastening the fulfilment of his word. As the prophet says:—
“The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord.” Zeph. 1: 14.
This voice comes nearer and nearer every day, sounding louder and louder.
We can see that the winds of strife are being held; and every gust of war and revolution that breaks loose warns us to hasten on with the message while yet there is comparative quiet. When troubles and outbreaks come, in whatever part of the world, our own work is directly touched now. These fulfilling signs mean more, and come closer home to us, than ever before.
For instance, the cable brought news a little time ago of revolution in Uruguay. Mail now brings word of momentary interruption of our work by it, one worker being prevented from attending a general meeting by the necessity of going into hiding to escape revolutionary press-gangs. We heard through the newspapers of trouble brewing between Peru and Ecuador and Bolivia. A few years ago it would have been to us only a symptom of the world’s fever of unrest. But the last mail brings word from Elder A. N. Allen:—
A revolutionary outbreak is on in the northern part of Peru, and a battle has just occurred between Peruvian and Bolivian soldiers. One of our best book men is having to return to Lima on account of the outbreak.
And now Honduras is in the throes of revolution, the attacking forces having occupied the Bay Islands, where our cause in that country is most largely represented. The work is done only with great difficulty amid such conditions; and as these things increase, the voice of the day of God calls loudly to us to hasten on through unwarned fields while yet there is time.
The world is not standing still. Prophecy is fulfilling. Last week vast regions of Turkestan were shaken with a mighty earthquake. Much damage was done over an area said to be a thousand miles square, and many lives were lost. This is in the same region where our message has recently gained a foothold. A fresh outbreak of the plague is reported in northern India; and we hear that this may make necessary the modification of some of the plans for the work in that region made at the recent Lucknow council.
No longer do the names of places mentioned in press despatches have a far-away sound to our ears. Our work has spread into all quarters of the earth; and as these alarms and groanings of creation’s latter day increase, we thank God that so often our brethren are on the ground to proclaim the warning message that tells what these things mean.
The church and state forces have made long strides this year in America. Significant moves are reported from more than one land in the direction of effort to block the progress of the message. But these things invariably hasten on the work of God, much as they may add to our hardships and difficulties. There is a crisis preparing. When once the witnesses are placed and ready,—it is a solemn thought,—how quickly, even suddenly, “the voice of the day of the Lord” can make itself heard in tones understood of all the peoples of the earth, and the work be finished!
The end is not delaying. “It is near, even at the doors.”
W. A. S.