The Siloam Disaster by Editor

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 3, 1906

The Siloam Disaster

By Editor

Editorial

The Siloam Disaster

When we say that the many terrible disasters of the present time are evidences that the judgments of God are in the earth, does it follow that those who suffer as the result of these visitations are all more guilty than some who are spared? The same query arose in the time of Jesus, and he answered it thus: “Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower of Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” These disasters constitute a loud call to the world to repent and turn to God before the great day of his wrath is fully come. Some will heed the call.

An Earthquake Sermon

One man who was in San Francisco during the earthquake declares that when he saw the buildings falling and the flames bursting out, he fell on his knees and hid his face in his hands, for he thought that the end of the world had come. Those who really believe in the soon coming of the Lord and are trying to warn the world of that event know by the Scriptures that the end will not come until some other prophecies are fulfilled, and the way is fully prepared by proclaiming the warning message. When the Saviour is actually revealed at the last day, those who have accepted this message will say, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Those who have scoffed at the idea that the coming of the Lord is near will hide themselves “in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains,” and will say, “The great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” The text of the earthquake sermon is, “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly,” but the end is not yet. In the little time which remains redoubled efforts should be put forth to expound to all the world the text of the earthquake sermon.

Reading the Signals

The following paragraph quoted from a current publication is a clear recognition of the significance of current history: “Turn to whatever quarter we will, the horizon blazes with signal lights. How few are watching them and reading their true significance! Is it indeed possible to see their real, divine meaning without illumined vision? Elisha prayed for his servant: ‘Lord, open his eyes, that he may see:’ and immediately that servant became a seer. The hitherto invisible guard of angels that encompassed the prophet burst upon his clarified vision. God sets his signals on the historic horizon, but they become signals only to the clear eyes of his own watchers. Certainly stupendous changes are taking place from sunrise to sunset, and from pole to pole—great upheavals, political and social; civil and ecclesiastical revolutions; battles of the ages coming apparently to their hour of decisive crisis. Do we read the lessons of history aright? And, if not, how shall we meet the duty of the hour? No man can afford in these days an hour’s spiritual sleep or sloth, for the pace of events is at lightning speed. A decade of years now sees changes that a century did not witness in the time of Alfred the Great, or a thousand years in the days of Abraham.”

An Interesting Forecast

In the April number of The Missionary Review of the World there is quoted from another publication a portion of an address by J. Hudson Taylor, delivered more than ten years ago in Shanghai, China. In this address Mr. Taylor, now deceased, made the following prediction: “Brethren, I have a conviction which I believe is of the Lord, that, in the next ten years, there will occur one of the bloodiest wars in the world’s history. In this war Russia will be the leader on the one side. The sentiment of the Christian nations will generally be against Russia. Contemporaneous with this conflict, there shall burst out a revival such as was never known in the Christian church, and which shall spread throughout the world, turning many unto righteousness. And, my brethren, it is moreover my conviction that immediately following this mighty outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Lord himself will come.” It is stated that the recent publication of this extract from Mr. Taylor’s address has created “intense and wide-spread interest.” Thus does the Lord use different agencies for calling the attention of the world to the great truth of the nearness of the second advent. Surely the people will be without excuse, even though that day should come upon them unawares. Many voices are saying, “Be ye also ready.”