The Destruction Predicted
By Editor
Those who have read and believed the statements which have been made through the spirit of prophecy during recent years concerning the calamities which were to come upon the large cities have been in a measure prepared for such a catastrophe as has befallen some of the cities of California, and which has found its climax in the utter overthrow of San Francisco. We are inexpressibly shocked by this disaster. Our sympathies are stirred for the homeless and suffering thousands, and for the many who have lost all their earthly possessions, and it would be nothing short of satanic to indulge in the least degree of satisfaction because of the testimony which this terrible devastation bears to the reliability of the spirit of prophecy. Nevertheless, just as certain as this third angel's message is true, just as certain as the Lord has spoken through his servant in giving warning and counsel concerning this advent movement, just so certain is it that this is but the beginning of the things which will soon come upon the world. It is our duty to point this out, and to give the warning with increased earnestness. It seems fitting, therefore, to call attention to some of the predictions made only a short time ago which foretold the destruction of some of the great cities, even where every effort had been made to build structures which were regarded as absolutely fire-proof. On June 19, 1902, the following instruction was given by the mouth of Sister E. G. White:— We are on the verge of the eternal world. Some may say, “How do you know this, Sister White?” I know it by the judgments of God that are in the land. These judgments are given to bring men and women to their senses. God has a purpose in everything that he permits to take place in our world, and he desires us to be so spiritually minded that we shall perceive his workings in the unusual happenings that are now of almost daily occurrence. Already his judgments have begun to fall upon the inhabitants of the land. He can touch the largest so-called fire-proof buildings, and in two or three hours they are as nothingness—burned to the ground. We have before us a great work,—the closing work of giving the last warning message to a sinful world. But what have we done in the world? Look, I beg of you, at the many, many places that have never been entered. Behold the Southern field with its millions4of souls. Who is interested in their salvation? Look at the large buildings that have been piled up in a few places. Witness the showing in Battle Creek and in a few other centers of our work. Consider the amount of time, the effort, the means, that have been expended in making a great showing in a few places. Look at our brethren and sisters treading over and over the same ground, while around them is a neglected world, lying in wickedness and corruption,—a world as yet unwarned! To me this is an awful picture. What appalling indifference we manifest to the needs of a perishing world! We should not fail to note that the lesson to be conveyed to us by the warning of these coming calamities is the responsibility resting upon those who know these things to use their means and their capabilities to the best possible advantage in giving this message in all parts of this world doomed to destruction. There is only one way of escape. God has a message of deliverance from these calamities, and of preparation for the coming of the Son of man. He has entrusted that message to this people. Woe to this people if they do not give it to the world. At another time when plans were under consideration for the erection of a large building in Chicago to be used in the medical work, Sister White sent a Testimony of warning, and counseled that the proposed work should not be undertaken. The following paragraph is taken from that Testimony:— At the time that I saw this representation, scenes that would soon take place in Chicago, and other large cities also, passed before me. As wickedness increased, and the protecting power of God was withdrawn, there were destructive winds and tempests; buildings were destroyed by fire and shaken down by earthquakes. I saw the expensive building above referred to, fall, with many others. A further and more particular description of the downfall of cities is given in a communication dated Feb. 15, 1904. We quote the following:— When I was last in New York, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fire-proof, and they were erected to glorify the owners. Higher and still higher these buildings rose, and in them the most costly material was used. Those to whom these buildings belonged were not asking themselves, “How can we best glorify God, that we may enjoy him forever?” God was not in their thoughts. I thought: O that those who are thus investing their means could see that this display does not give them one iota of advantage with God! They are piling up magnificent buildings, but how foolish in the sight of the Ruler of the universe is their planning and devising. They are not studying with all the powers of heart and mind what they may do to glorify God, that they may enjoy him forever. They have lost sight of this, the first duty of man. As these lofty buildings went up, the owners rejoiced with ambitious pride that they had money to use in glorifying self and in provoking the envy of their neighbors. Much of the money that they thus invested had been obtained through exaction, through grinding the faces of the poor. In the books of heaven an account of every business transaction is kept. There every unjust deal, every fraudulent act, is recorded. The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah. The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings, and said, “They are perfectly safe.” But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire-engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines. I am instructed that when the Lord’s time comes, should no change have taken place in the hearts of proud, ambitious human beings, men will find that the hand that has been strong to save will be strong to destroy. No earthly power can stay the hand of God. No material can be used in the erection of buildings that will preserve them from destruction when God’s appointed time comes to send retribution on men for their insolence and their disregard of his law. When read in the light of the terrible catastrophe of last week, this seems more like a description than a prediction. Note the statements: “The fire-engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines.” This was the precise reason why the fiery avalanche swept over San Francisco. The fire departments of that city and of the neighboring cities were utterly helpless, and could not use their engines because the water system was wrecked by the earthquake. Lofty buildings which were regarded as fire-proof offered no effective resistance to the onward march of the fire monster. The old wooden structures and the modern piles of stone, brick, and steel were all destroyed together. The besom of destruction swept the city. Will this dread visitation, perhaps the most shocking in the history of America, arouse us to greater zeal in proclaiming God’s message of warning and salvation to the inhabitants of the world? “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” “Destruction upon destruction is cried.” “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Let the fires of our zeal be kindled by the fires of destruction, that the way of deliverance may be pointed out to all who will give heed to the warning message.