BABYLON was at one time the greatest empire of the world. She appeared to be in the very zenith of her strength and glory, when, on the night of her drunken revelry, the mysterious handwriting appeared on the wall of her palace, announcing her doom. “In that night was Belshazzar the king of the Chaldeans slain. And Darius the Median took the kingdom.” Babylon was not securely great.
America is a great nation. But she is not securely great. The same causes that were responsible for the fall of Babylon will, if brought into her national life, result in her degeneracy and fall. Like causes will bring about like results.
HEALTHY IN APPEARANCE ONLY
The beer drinker, with his florid face, fat neck, and portly body, may, to the unskillful eye, have the appearance of health; but he is far from being a well man. His days are numbered. He is almost certain to die of heart failure, apoplexy, or Bright’s disease, at an age when, under normal conditions, he should be at his best, and of the greatest service in the world.
A country made up of such subjects may appear to be what she is not. Appearances are no infallible guide in determining the health and stability of a nation, any more than they are in determining the health of the individuals comprising it. The physician is governed by what he knows of the history of the cases he examines, rather than by their appearance. If his subject drinks, smokes, and leads a life of dissipation, the physician is justified in making an unfavorable diagnosis and prognosis, no matter how favorable the appearance may be. The fact is, a country that consumes the amount of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs that is consumed in America, cannot be regarded as secure.
From “Hamburger Fremdenblatt”
An East Prussian City, Showing the Destructive Work of the War
ALL NATIONS IN THE SAME CONDITION
What is true of America, is equally true of England, Scotland, Ireland, France, Germany, and other civilized countries.
In the past, when nations went down, stronger and more temperate ones took their places. The unfit were replaced by the fit, the fittest surviving to propagate the race. But we have about reached the time when this is impossible, for all nations are about equally degenerate. The condition throughout the world seems as hopeless as it was before the Flood, when ALL the inhabitants of the earth were given to all forms of excesses, and God, seeing “that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually,” said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth.” “The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence.” “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” Gen. 6: 5-13.
SIGNIFICANCE OF CRIME, VIOLENCE, IMMORALITY, AND WAR
The restraining influence of the Spirit of God had been resisted by the antediluvians until men were left to follow out their evil impulses. Crime, violence, immorality, bloodshed, and war were the result. Here we have a true picture of what will be; for “as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Luke 17: 26.
The present war is the outgrowth of this condition. John the revelator, in speaking of the last days, says: “I saw three unclean spirits. . . . They are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Rev. 16: 13-15. In referring to the final outcome, he says: “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.
THE TIME IS NEAR
The time is not far distant when Jesus will come again in the clouds of heaven, to give reward to His saints, and to “destroy them which destroy the earth.” He comes in mercy to cut short this cruel work of destruction.
In reply to the inquiry, “What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?” Jesus said to His disciples: “As the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and knew not until the Flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Matt. 24: 3, 37-39.
While a power from beneath is taking possession of those162who have cast aside the restraining influence of the Spirit of God, a power from above will take possession of God’s loyal subjects. While “evil men and seducers” are waxing “worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived,” the good will be developing characters that will give them a right to eternal life. The line of demarcation between the two classes necessarily will become more distinct as time advances. Wars, earthquakes, famine, and pestilence are unmistakable forerunners of Christ’s coming. Matt. 24: 7-14.
