Note and Comment by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 21, 1907

Note and Comment

By Editor

Marshalling the Forces

We are not the only people who see the swift hand of a great purpose in the events taking place in the earth. The editor of that great conservative magazine, the Missionary Review of the World, in each number of that journal reviews the great movements of the world, editorially, under the general heading, “Signs of the Times,” showing their meaning and their relation to the progress of the gospel work. In the October issue these editorials bear the following titles: “Peace Versus War;” “The Unrest in India;” “Unrest in South Africa;” “Unrest in Morocco;” “Unrest in Persia;” “The Present Opportunity in the East;” “The Opportunity in Russia;” “The Kingdom Coming in Korea;” “The Menace of Strikes.” The array of these headings is significant, and it shows that this world-restlessness is attracting attention. One writer says of it:—

The simultaneous movements in China, India, Persia, and Egypt indicate that the causes are not local or transient.

The editor says:—

One can not conjecture the future; it can only be left in the hands of Him who is wiser than us all, and in whose hands the hearts of kings are turned as the streams of water.

In the same magazine for November, under the same general heading the editor reviews the condition of the world under these subtitles: “The Crisis in Persia;” “The Crisis in India;” “The Crisis in Morocco;” “The Crisis on the Kongo.” The editor shows that in all these countries matters are indeed drifting toward a crisis. So acute has the situation become, for instance, in India that “nothing but the thorough awakening of the church in India, in England, and in America to the importance of the present situation will avoid disastrous consequences.” But these crises are but heralds of the great approaching crisis of the whole world. While heaven is urging on and strengthening its loyal forces, and opening doors for their entrance to the most remote corners of the earth, the legions of Satan are also mustering for the final contest, seeking to close every entrance by which the gospel might enter heathendom, and to undermine faith in Jesus Christ and the Bible in the home field. This makes the present generation the most important, the most glorious, and also the most dangerous of any in the history of this world. If we go forth implicitly trusting in the strength and protection of heaven and doing heaven’s will, we are safe. Outside of that there is no hope of safety. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”