Fainting Hearts by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D.C. · Sep 8, 1904

Fainting Hearts

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

“AND there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken,” Luke 21: 25, 26.

The American Revised Version reads, “Men fainting for fear, and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world.” Young in his Analytical Concordance defines the word rendered “failing,” “to swoon away.” Barnes in his notes on this text says:—

“The word translated ‘distress’ denotes anxiety of mind—such an anxiety as men have when they do not know what to do to free themselves from calamities; and it means here that the calamities would be so great and overwhelming that they would not know what to do to escape. . . . ‘Men’s hearts failing them.’ This is an expression denoting the highest terror. The word rendered ‘failing’ commonly denotes to die, and here it means that the terror would be so great that men would faint and be ready to die in view of the approaching calamities.”

It was a view of these scenes that drew from the Holy Spirit the solemn words, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.” Rev. 14: 13.

That we have entered upon perilous times is apparent to all. Look where we will, and we behold a troubled sea. Tokens of the approaching end, and a “time of trouble, such as never was,” are appearing everywhere. Nations are increasing their armaments; they are forging their weapons of slaughter as never before. The world is but a vast arsenal, and all stand breathlessly watching

to see which will make the fatal move on the chess-board of nations that will plunge this great military camp into the most destructive and terrible war since the creation of the world. What a scene of carnage it will be when the flower of manhood from all nations meet in battle array, driven by the demons of hatred and jealousy which control the world. Well may the prophet exclaim, “My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart; my heart is disquieted in me; I can not hold my peace; because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.” Jer. 4: 19, A. R. V.

Destructive agencies are at work in the earth as never before. Such loss of life in railway and various other calamities is unprecedented. Destructive conflagrations, ruin by tempest and cyclone, strikes, mobs, and various other labor troubles are rapidly on the increase. Violence, as in Noah’s time, fills the earth. Intemperance is on the increase, and its victims by the thousands move in mournful procession to the tomb. The outlook is appalling, yet all these are but the beginnings of sorrows.

How sad it is to see multitudes dwelling amid the delusions of the enemy, and viewing with terror the increasing perils, without any hope in God. In the things occurring about us we are to see tokens of the end, and hear the voice of God announcing to lost men the doom of the world, and calling them to come unto him and hide till the indignation be overpast.