A Harbinger of Our Jubilee by C. M. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 20, 1906

A Harbinger of Our Jubilee

By C. M. S.

THE awakening throughout the world upon religious matters was never so strikingly manifest as at the present time. It is not only among Christians, but among religions that are radically anti-christian as well. The advancing work of the proclamation of the gospel finds ardent foes in every land. It is an indication of the culmination of the long struggle between light and darkness.

Evangelistic work in Korea is meeting with excellent and enthusiastic success.

During the recent war in the Orient the churches throughout Japan made striking gains in membership. The gospel is said to be receiving a better hearing than at any time since its introduction there.

Chinese soldiers are said to be attending the missionary services in crowds, and more than the usual number of Chinese are attending the mission schools.

Revivals are in progress in various parts of India, especially among the Dombos, a people without caste. Many of these are becoming Christians in spite of much persecution from the higher classes and the native police.

Four very strong Hindu colleges have recently been established, liberally endowed, in India, for the purpose of establishing the Hindus in their religion, and preparing preachers to go to other lands to convert foreigners to Hinduism. They hope in this manner to obstruct the work of the Christian missionaries in their country.

It is proposed to send many more Christian missionaries into Turkey to work for the evangelization of the Moslems. But in view of the awakening among the Moslems themselves, and the frequent threats of a “holy war” against Christendom, there is no doubt that this move will be stoutly resisted by the Moslem priests and people. Concerning this the editor of the Missionary Review of the World says:—

Persecution and even martyrdom may follow the faithful preaching of the gospel. Already there is apparently a general movement among the Moslems. . . . The situation is very delicate, and calls for prayer and caution, but not for cowardice.

In the midst of these stirring events the presses of the different Bible societies have been turning out copies of the printed Word at a marvelous rate. In the past year one Bible society, the British and Foreign, has circulated no less than 594,124 Bibles in the empire of the czar alone. These were published in twenty-one different languages. During the year ending last March that society circulated 5,977,453 copies of the Bible in four hundred different languages. We have not the figures at hand for the other societies; but we know that they, too, have been doing a wonderful work in the circulation of the Word of God. This certainly indicates that God is preparing this world for a quick giving of his last warning message. The Spirit of God is at work opening doors, opening hearts, inspiring faithful men and women to bear witness for him.

On the other hand, a power from beneath is taking hold of every agency it can capture or use to thwart, if possible, every plan laid by the followers of Christ, and put every possible hindrance in the way of those who desire to acknowledge their Saviour and seek shelter in him.

The very struggle itself, which is now foreshadowing its own climax, is a harbinger of our great jubilee. The time is past for cowardice, indifference, laziness, self-service, or the propagation of doubt. The time is here for staunchest Christian courage, zeal, consecrated industry, self-sacrifice, and belief of the truth. Let us not permit the enemy of souls to draw the silken curtains of personal ease about us now in the very crisis of God’s great and last work for mankind. Give and go must be our working motto from now on to the end. That means that we will give not only ours, but ourselves; not only that we will pray for others who go and others to go, but that we will ourselves go, and pray for others to come.

C. M. S.