Incentives to Service in Social, Political, and Religious Events
By E. T. Russell
(Reading for Wednesday, December 14) Satan, knowing that he has but a short time, is working with great wrath. Rev. 12:12. He is working with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness. Read 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. Through his influence, the people of the world are12intoxicated with the spirit of commercialism, as were the inhabitants of Sodom. Of those days the Saviour says, “They bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.” Luke 17: 28-30. Church-members seem to rival worldlings in the wild, maddening rush for gain. For the worldly minded professor, living in these strenuous times, the words of Christ are fraught with deep meaning, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Luke 17: 32. Satan is also deceiving the hearts of men by the introduction of false doctrines, and through science, falsely so-called. Through what is termed “higher criticism” the plain utterances of prophets and apostles are discredited, and the miracles of Christ are explained away. The days of creation are said to represent long periods of time, instead of literal days, thus making the Mosaic record a nullity. The facts of creation are discarded, and faith in the doctrine of evolution has supplanted faith in the Word of God. Satan is deceiving the hearts of many of God’s professed people, so that their love is waxing cold. They love pleasure more than God, and, although having a form of godliness, they deny the power thereof. Satan has so blinded the eyes of many religious teachers that they are teaching that there will be a time of universal peace, an end of the reign of sin, before the coming of Christ. Such theories plainly contradict the Word of God, since the Bible teaches that in the last days there will be perilous times, and that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. 2 Tim. 3: 1, 13. This is not only an age of false “isms,” but it is an age of marked political and social unrest. The Lord, by the prophet, tells us that in the last days many shall say that implements of warfare will be beaten into implements of husbandry. Isa. 2: 2, 4. For years these teachings have been energetically proclaimed. Peace societies have been organized, and both national and international conventions are being held to influence nations to have all international difficulties settled by arbitration. In spite of this teaching, nearly all nations are actively engaged in preparing for war. Strange to say, many denominations, while teaching the doctrine of universal peace before the coming of Christ and his reign in glory, are, in their theological institutions, drilling young men as military cadets. And in some churches the boys connected with the Sunday-schools are organized into duly officered companies, and are drilled as soldiers. Whither are they drifting? Are old issues to be revived? Are we to expect a crusade in the near future, in which the young will take part, similar to the one conducted about the year 1212, when thousands of children throughout all Europe, inflamed with a warlike zeal, rushed with the sword to the holy land? Is it not possible that Satan is preparing the young to take part in the coming Armageddon? Though the “peace” cry is being sounded, the prophetic word says to the nations of to-day, “Prepare war.” Read Joel 3: 9, 10. Well do they seem to be heeding this admonition, little knowing that by so doing they are fulfilling the words of prophecy. Implements of agriculture are being converted into implements of war; also almost every agency that has been employed during this wonderful age for the improvement of man, has been enlisted for his destruction. Steam, electricity, engineering skill, and mechanical inventions are being used in the science of war. After visiting the great European armies in 1898, General Miles said, “What I have seen does not indicate that the millennium is at hand, when swords will be beaten into plowshares.” Truly the weak are saying, “I am strong.” We have seen people weak in numbers withstanding mighty powers, by virtue of modern military methods. The heathen are being awakened. Not only Japan, but China and other Oriental nations, have been preparing war. Through satanic influences the way of the kings of the East is being prepared to come up to Armageddon to the last decisive struggle that will take place in connection with the coming of Christ when he thrusts in his sickle to reap the harvest of the earth. Read Rev. 14: 14-18. One of the most fierce and bitter struggles that have ever arisen between man and man is now being waged between capital and labor. One writer says: “The terrible struggles between capital and labor, with the appalling prospects of world-embracing organizations on both sides, are the darkest aspects of an irresistible tendency.” Vast concentrations of wealth are being formed on one hand to control prices, and thus to control trade, and also to counteract the influence of organized labor. On the other hand, labor unions have been formed for protection against the greed of capital, and also to control the varied departments of industry. As a result of this controversy in this country alone, no less than two thousand five hundred strikes have occurred since the year 1882. These strikes represent a great financial loss to both employers and employees. To maintain order and protect property, State and national troops have been called out, and many lives have been sacrificed. These strikes are forebodings of the coming storm, or, as expressed by a prominent labor leader, they are “the rumbling of the coming revolution.” Labor unions in some parts of this country have organized themselves into military companies, and, in different States, the unions have forbidden their members to join the State militia. Capital has also been calling for a larger standing army, in order that its interests may be protected. Of this the <i>Coming Nation</i> says: “We know what the capitalists are doing. We see them preparing the munitions of war to rule the masses by force of arms. But they are foolish. They are wise only in their own conceits. They are adopting the tactics of kings, but will be as chaff before the wind by and by.” This struggle will end disastrously for the rich; misery will be their portion. Read James 5: 11. Ezekiel tells us: “They shall cast their silver in the streets, and their gold shall be removed; their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord.” Eze. 7:19. There will be a sudden uprising against them, and that in the near future. Read Hab. 2: 7, 8. At a labor convention held in 1897 a prominent labor leader said: “The time will come to incite the populace; and when that time comes, you may count on me. . . . When the people are ready,—and that time is not far off, my friends,—there will be a spontaneous uprising, the Supreme Court will be abolished, Congress dispersed, and the rights of American citizens and American freedmen will be enthroned.” The storm is soon to break, and will rage most fiercely in the great cities. They will be storm-centers, as were the cities of France in the time of the Reign of Terror. The labor troubles that afflicted Israel in the land of Egypt are a type of which the labor troubles of to-day are the antitype. Ex. 1: 13, 14; 1 Cor. 10: 11. Then God’s people were persecuted and oppressed. In this, the closing conflict between capital and labor, Satan will exercise his influence to turn the tide of evil against those who keep the commandments of God. We are not to take part in this controversy. “Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time.” Amos 5: 13. Neither should we join confederacies, nor fear them. We are to trust in the Lord our God, not in any organization or organizations, neither fear them. God is to be our fear, and our trust is to be in him. Isa. 8: 12, 13. About ten years ago nearly every labor union in this country was opposed to religious legislation in regard to the observance of Sunday. To-day they are nearly all clamoring for the enforcement of laws regarding Sunday rest. The boycott is being urged in the interest of the Sunday institution, and it will be urged more strongly in the future. As to how this may be, I will quote the words of a zealous advocate of religious legislation. Speaking of the class who will not keep Sunday, he says: “If we would say we will not sell anything to them, we will not buy anything from them, we will not work for them, or hire them to work for us, the thing could be wiped out, and all the world would keep the Christian sabbath.” The time is at hand described by the revelator, when only those will be allowed to buy or sell who have the mark of the beast, his number, or name. Rev. 13: 17.13 The New York Independent presents the outlook thus: “The unions have erected Sunday into the Sabbath of the faithful. The trades unions embrace possibly two and a half million members. If they are to become dogmatic religionists, the days of persecution for the faithful are not over.” As an example of the existing conditions in the world to-day, will be seen anarchy, bloodshed, and destruction. As God has committed to us a knowledge of these things, shall we be guiltless if we warn not the wicked of the coming evil? Read Eze. 3: 17, 18. If there has ever been a time in the history of the world when God’s people should earnestly endeavor to enlighten others in regard to coming events, it is now. We should individually prepare to meet our God, and we should, by God’s grace, assist others to prepare to stand when he comes. How much we need the abiding presence, the indwelling Saviour, that we may go forth and proclaim the truth with power! What the world needs to-day is present truth, as it means life to all who receive it by faith; and what we as a people most need is to be little enough in our own eyes to be used to do anything for Jesus. “If we can not cross the ocean,
And the heathen lands explore,
We can find the heathen nearer,
We can help them at our door;
If we can not speak like angels,
If we can not preach like Paul,
We can tell the love of Jesus,
We can say he died for all.
“While the souls of men are dying,
And the Master calls for you,
Let none hear you idly saying,
‘There is nothing I can do!’
Gladly take the task he gives you,
Let his work your pleasure be;
Answer quickly when he calleth,
‘Here am I, O Lord, send me.’”