Unprecedented Moving Out into the Nations — Great Motive Power Behind It — What Can It Mean?
MEN and women have gone into every nook and corner of this world, impelled by the idea that they must present Christ to each and every creature. The pages of this issue of our paper show that thousands of young people in the rosy morning of young manhood and young womanhood are giving up every other prospect in life, to go to distant and uncongenial fields, in order that they may tell the story of the cross of Calvary.
GOING EVERYWHERE
IN these pages, you will read of those who are working their way into the innermost recesses of China, laboring heroically under the most unpleasant conditions; you will read of those who are working amid the sweltering mildews of the Philippines; others are devoting their lives to labor in Japan; you will find some among the unpromising natives of every section of India; you will meet them among the wild beasts that infest the territory occupied by the remotest tribes of the dark continent of Africa; they have gone to the aboriginal denizens of South America, as well as to all the other peoples of that interesting continent, reaching even to the southernmost point of Punta Arenas; you will find them among the cannibal tribes of the Hebrides, and laboring on the multitude of islands that dot the several oceans of our globe—in a word, impelled by a mighty power, they are reaching out to every inhabitant of our planet—not merely to those who dwell in the more congenial places, like America, the greater part of Europe, and some of the more pleasing sections of Asia; but regardless of danger, difficulty, annoyance, and unpromising indications, they have simply gone and are going everywhere.
The question will doubtless come to many a mind, Why this great awakening? Why are these young men and women turning away from flattering business and professional opportunities to give themselves up to a work of this character? Why are they going among these disease-infected and degraded human beings in these various lands, to devote their entire lives to serving among them?
The Sacred Red Lacquer Bridge at Nikko, Japan, for the Exclusive Use of the Imperial Family
A HEROIC PREDICTION
NEARLY two thousand years ago, the Master, when surrounded by only a few fishermen believers, and in a time when, to all human appearances, it would look as though His life work were a failure, made the striking prediction, “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matt. 24: 14.
And furthermore, only a few years after the Master made this prediction, the exiled prophet was inspired to say: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His Judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14: 6, 7.
This prophecy foretells the proclamation of the Judgment-hour message, and says, in the clearest language, that it is to go “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” How clear, how specific is the prediction! But when these prophecies were given, the fleet-footed horse was the most rapid agent of communication, and one portion of the world knew but very little of what was occurring in another. Then how could a world-wide proclamation of such a thrilling message have been expected under such conditions?
ENLIGHTENMENT AND TRAVEL PREDICTED
HERE again the words of the prophet answer our questioning. When Daniel was inspired to write his prophetic book, he was told: “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” Dan. 12: 4.
Observe what the prophet says. Visions of the future had been given him. But he was bidden to shut up his words, and seal the book, not forever, but until the appointed “time of the end.” Then he is informed that when that time is reached, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”631
How remarkable has been the increase of knowledge during the last hundred years! How completely has the world been transformed into a single neighborhood by means of the telegraph, the printing press, the railroad, and the steamship! Instead of various parts of the world having no means of communicating rapidly with other parts, as it was when Christ, and Daniel and John inspired by Christ, made their utterances hundreds of years ago, we have inventions produced within a single lifetime that have brought the world together. Men may now go everywhere to give this message that the angel said was to be carried “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.” As the time arrives for the solemn message to be given, “The hour of His Judgment is come,” the divine Father provides means so adequate for its proclamation that His messengers may join hands and hearts and voices clear around the world. As these facilities for communicating light and knowledge are provided, we find men arising with an unquenchable desire to have the Bible placed in the homes of every people in every land.
Beautiful Scene near Tokyo
The British and Foreign Bible Society began its great career of enlightenment in the early part of the last century; and just a little later, the American Bible Society and other kindred organizations were formed. Their work has increased and continued until there is scarcely a tribe on the face of the earth but may have the Bible in its native tongue.
One of the marvels of the past century is the great missionary zeal that has taken possession of men like Zinzendorf, Carey, Morrison, Judson, Moffat, Williams, Chalmers, Paton, and all the rest of the army of devout men who, with their no less devoted wives, have labored in all of these hitherto out-of-the-way portions of the earth to present the gospel of the blessed Christ. And as these men have labored, barriers have been overthrown, doors of ignorance and superstition and intolerance that hitherto were closed in their faces have been broken down, and the way is opened for the good news of the coming King to be carried to every waiting heart.
TIDAL WAVE OF PROGRESS
THE divine Book has said that in the time of the end, knowledge shall be increased; and not only shall knowledge be increased, but “many shall run to and fro.” The world will be opened up so that men may travel everywhere; and as they go, they may enjoy the blessings of knowledge and enlightenment.
Such a tidal wave of progress, such undreamed-of inventions and improvements, have not come as an ordinary process of development. There is a mighty power and a divine purpose behind all of this. The infinite God is preparing the world to hear the solemn message, to get ready to stand in His presence.
The evidence is overwhelming that we have reached “the time of the end” spoken of by the prophet Daniel. The two books of Daniel and the Revelation, in over half a score of distinct lines of prophecy, point to the generation in which we live as the one that is to witness the sublime climax of earth’s history. These lines of prophecy are so clear that the reverent student of the Bible has no thought of being mistaken in their interpretation. Indeed, these prophecies are their own interpreters. In other words, they furnish the key that unlocks their storehouse of prophetic truth; and as we read the predictions of Daniel and John, we need only look out upon the history of the world to see how accurate and unmistakable has been the fulfillment. These prophecies of Daniel and John foretold the history of the world.
In the days when Babylon was the one dominant power, Daniel predicted that Medo-Persia would overthrow it, and in turn would be overthrown by Greece, and that Greece would be succeeded by the great iron monarchy of Rome; but the prophet did not stop there. He went on to tell of the dividing up of the Roman Empire into the kingdoms of western Europe. He told of their efforts to unite again in one universal monarchy, but said that they would remain in that divided condition until the close of time.
MAD WAR PREDICTED
TO John on Patmos was given a prophetic view that supplements many portions of what was revealed to the prophet Daniel several centuries before. He beheld the breaking up of Rome into her ten parts; he beheld the persecutions of the Dark Ages; and passing over those scenes, most vividly does he present many of the conditions that are seen in the world at the present time. For instance, of the time when the Judgment would take place John said:
“And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.” Rev. 11:18.
When the time is reached for the dead to be judged, according to these words of the prophet, the nations are angry; and how literally does the war spirit of this time fulfill this portion of that great prophecy!
POTENT AGENCIES FOR PEACE FORETOLD
ANOTHER view that John had, as recorded in the seventh chapter of Revelation, was the holding of these winds of war until God’s gospel work could be finished in the earth. And so we find that men possessed with a passion for peace, have arisen in every part of the world. Peace societies have been organized, and a sentiment against war has been created in the world at the present time. This sentiment against war for a quarter of a century has been holding the nations back; and even when the great conflagration of war broke out in Europe in 1914, every one of the powers felt called upon to get out a “Red Book” or a “Blue Book” or a “White Book” or some other kind of book to explain to the rest of the civilized world why they had gone into the war. They were all ashamed of it, and yet they plunged in. God’s word had foretold that the war spirit would prevail. It also foretold the influences that would be working to hold this spirit in check.
The great mistake men are in danger of making in these times is that of thinking this evil spirit of war can be overcome. The wickedness of men in this time is such that this spirit of strife will become stronger and stronger until finally the climax of Armageddon’s war is reached, as set forth in the sixteenth chapter of Revelation. All Christians will work for peace, for their Master is the Prince of peace; but all who believe His word, will know that peace cannot be assured in this wicked world until Christ appears in person.632
CAPITAL AND LABOR WAR FORETOLD
SCATTERED through the Bible are numerous other passages which tell specifically of conditions in the last days. For instance, we have these words: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.” James 5:1-8.
Office Force of the Foreign Branch of the Pacific Press Publishing Association at College View, Nebraska
How graphically does the foregoing language tell of the heaping together of treasures in the last days! How does it tell of the conflict between capital and labor as it speaks of the hire of the laborer that has been kept back by fraud! How does it tell of the extravagant luxuries of the rich as it speaks of their wanton pleasures! And then as a climax, it tells us to be patient “unto the coming of the Lord,” “for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.”
“GRIEVOUS TIMES SHALL COME”
WE have space at our disposal here to do nothing more than merely call attention to the fact that a very few men have so gained control of the wealth of this world that they have created an international problem and an international peril.
In harmony with these words from James are the following from Paul: “But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these also turn away.” 2 Tim. 3: 1-5, A. R. V.
This text tells us of conditions that will prevail “in the last days.” There are to be “grievous times,” and one of the principal causes for this trouble will be the love of self and the love of money that will possess the hearts of men. Incidentally this text, which is also supported by texts of a similar character, shows that the men who will be filled with these evil desires, and who will be doing these evil deeds, will not be the out-and-out heathen or worldlings.
Native Missionaries in China
And is it not true at the present time that the great leading nations of the world are called Christian? They have the “form of godliness,” but they so deny its power that they have rushed at one another in these last days in the most furious and barbarous war that the world has ever known.
Other prophecies tell of the injustice, the crimes, and the violence that will prevail in the last days.
“And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment.” Isa. 59: 14, 15.
THE EARTH ITSELF BECOMES VIOLENT
SUCH is the vivid language of the prophet. Furthermore, the Master has told us that as we come up to the last generation, we will find even the earth itself responding to the violent characters of men, and breaking forth into storm, earthquake, and flood. “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” Luke 21: 11.
Storm and flood and earthquake and disaster by sea and land everywhere are fulfilling the words of Jehovah. There are numerous prophetic utterances that tell how the earth is to “reel to and fro” as the transgressions of the last days rest heavily upon it. And then the prophet Joel tells us of the armies of insect pests and also the plant diseases that would make almost impossible the production of a crop. And all through the prophecies, we are told that these judgments from God are the direct result of the vices and wickedness of men.
THE VICES OF SODOM BREAK OUT
INDEED, the Master foretold that the revolting vices of Sodom would be enacted again throughout the earth. “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, . . . even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed” (Luke 17: 28-30), is the startling assertion of the Master Himself. The degrading vices of Sodom have broken out everywhere. Good men and women are organizing into international associations to combat these vices, which they regard as not only an international problem, but also another one of our international perils.
“I WILL GIVE YOU REST”
A LARGE volume would be required, to set forth anything like adequately the prophetic evidence from the sacred Book which shows us that we are living in the midst of the last generation of men. The second coming of Christ is the great event just before us. The men and women, as disclosed in the pages of this paper, who have gone out into all parts of the world, are possessed of this great truth.
They believe it in their very souls; they have learned to love this precious Christ; they have found Him to be their own personal Saviour; they have entered into the blessed experiences of His invitation: “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30.
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What Causes Them to Go?
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you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matt. 11:28-30.
Having learned this consoling truth, and knowing that this blessed Master is about to come again, they are going at His request to “every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” to tell them the glorious news that He is coming again.
A New Creation
The converting power that has entered into their lives, as promised in His word, amounts to a new creation. “Wherefore if any man is in Christ, he is a new creation [margin]: the old things are passed away; behold, they are become new.” 2 Cor. 5: 17, A. R. V.
God gave the Sabbath to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden as a memorial of His creative power. But when fallen man, in his own experiences, tastes the power of creation as manifested in his conversion, there comes into his life a new meaning to the sacred day of rest. He finds in it not only the memorial of God’s power in creating a world, but he finds it sacred to the memory of the recreation of his soul that had been dead in trespasses and sins. And so as he turns to his Bible, he finds from the fourth commandment that “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.”
Hence these men and women, with these blessed Christian experiences in their lives, are not only going to every creature in the world with the story that Christ is coming again, but they are telling that He has creative power, and that even though the individual may be, to all human appearances, hopelessly degraded by sin, yet the Master, by His omnipotent word, can lift him out, create him anew, and fill his soul with the indescribable joy and hope of an eternal existence. They present a perfect Saviour from sin; they present an open and complete Bible; and they show, from that Bible, that this Saviour who has done so much for us is quickly coming again.
Who, with such thrilling truths locked up in his heart, could refrain from telling the good news to every one he can reach!
