JOHN D. GILLATT by John D. Gillatt

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 1, 1912

JOHN D. GILLATT

By John D. Gillatt

The City Problem—No. 1

JOHN D. GILLATT

“And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city.” Rev. 14:8. The warning is against Babylon, the great city. Evidently, between our message and the cities there is an intimate relationship, and the recognition of this fact comes even before the specific warning against the papal mark, and as a sort of basis for the proclamation of the third message. This is not at all strange, since the cities of this world's planning ever have been undesirable — yes, displeasing — to the Lord, and have proved so often the fortified shrines of Satan and the adamantine temples of modern apostasy.

Go backward almost to the threshold of Eden, and we find a mundane city upreared by hands imbrued in a brother's blood,—built by the man who would not be his brother's keeper.

Look now upon the genesis of the present evil world. Once more we see man's city idea to the front. Just as the human prince of murderers devised the plan of, and enthroned himself in, the first city, so now we note that the first of earth's family to scheme a catholic—universal—organization to defy Heaven, conceive that they must establish themselves in a city. Gen. 11:5.

Here began Babylon, and truly, in design she never changes. She still flings her tentacles over our great cities, and clutches the wealth, bodies, and souls of men. With such a concentration of our population her object is readily and speedily served. Consequently, the Lord implores his coworkers on earth to stop this terrible crowding process which is so advantageous to our adversary and His. God urges us to quicken our movements, lest the whole world be raked into the lazarettos of the devil and his procurers.

Many among us have failed to appreciate the crying needs of the great centers of life and activity. This the Lord has foreseen, and has, through one of his prophets, portrayed the scenes of the close of time: “The highways lie waste, the pilgrim Sabbatizes, he hath broken the covenant, he hath despised the cities, he esteemeth no man as precious.” Isa. 33:8, literal rendering. Some have been travelers—pilgrims—wandering this earth's surface, searching earnestly for souls. Such shall enjoy a millennial rest above, while this weary old world in its rugged desolation is celebrating the Sabbath for which it has so long been groaning.

May we bring this scripture into the present, just as the phraseology is rendered? Who is it that has forgotten the needs of perishing man, who does not meditate upon and esteem any but himself as worthy of the blood of Christ? Are we possessed of this egotistic, self-engrossed spirit? While claiming to embrace the world of God's love, have we been among those who have neglected and despised the cities? Can those who have done so be justly called pilgrims, pressing on for a better land, with precious souls as their passport to the celestial inheritance? Daniel 12. No, indeed; such unprofitable servants must at last be cast into outer darkness.

In view of this fact, it surely behooves us, for our own salvation as well as for the sake of others, to storm the citadels of concentrated iniquity created by concentrated populations. While not despising the needs of these cities, we must, on the other hand, take heed not to despise their strength; otherwise, we may propose to do battle with the heavenly armor, but lack the heavenly power to enable us to wear it.

The need of armor should convict us of danger and the need of power. Armor without power would suit a manikin, and power without armor would inspire a zealot; but neither condition would make a wise soldier. Both are demanded by the latter ere he ever begins his contest. Both are possessed by him, or he is not admitted to the fray. My brethren, let us righteously demand of heaven the twin equipment. We can have it; we must have it, or we perish, and perish as failures.

When we are thus prepared for the desperate struggle, let us have conviction and courage enough to heed the ancient divine slogan still sounding, “Turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.” Jer. 31:21.

London, England.