Photo by. Paul Thompson
A STRIKE INCIDENT IN NEW YORK
The above, Jesus tells us in Luke the 21st chapter, the 25th to the 27th verses, is among the striking signs which will be manifest in the world just before our Lord comes. Was there ever a time when the nations were in more perplexity than now? For instance, an editorial in a secular paper opens with the following:
“A feeling of unrest and uncertainty, and a nameless fear that something unusually bad will happen the present year in France and Germany, prevails to a greater or less extent in both these countries. In the first place, we are told that this is noticeable in the gold shortage in France. Banks are hoarding their gold and giving out paper and silver wherever possible.”
The people are hiding their gold, and keeping it in hiding, just as they did previous to the Franco-German war, and long before diplomatic relations had been broken off between the two countries. It was impossible then to obtain gold in France. Afterward it was brought out to pay Germany her indemnity for the war. This condition many believe is OMINOUS OF CALAMITY, and perhaps war between France and Germany, or in some other way which will involve the two nations. Germany has a prophecy that 1913 is bad for her.
“There is hardly an optimistic note in all Germany, says a Berlin despatch, not one in the reviews and newspapers. The North German Gazette, the organ of the imperial chancellor, recalls the dark days of 1813, and inveighs especially against the Napoleon cult in Germany. It castigates Germans for their hero worship of Napoleon as shown by the thousands of statues and pictures of the man who a hundred years ago humbled Germany in the dust.”
One of the things that breed foreboding is the condition of European politics in general and the complications there that may result, of course, leading to a general war. A hundred years ago Prussia saw her darkest days, and a prophecy by a great seeress named Leonormand, which has been fulfilled in part with striking exactness, was uttered then. Prince William, we are told, the first German emperor, called on her in 1829 and asked her four questions which she agreed to answer. She told him that he would be the head of the army in 1849, that the victorious war would end in 1871, that he would die in 1888, and that THE END OF PRUSSIA WOULD COME IN 1913. All except the last has been fulfilled, and the prophecy is “having its effect on the masses of the German people, and FILLING THE POPULAR MIND WITH DISMAL FOREBODINGS.” Whether the old seeress told the truth or not, certain it is that the Master’s words are emphatically true in the “distress of nations, with perplexity, men’s hearts failing them for fear.”
Among the other things which are troubling Germany are the Socialists, nay, not only Germany, but all Europe. Three great Socialist meetings have been held within the last twelve months in Europe, a hundred thousand men attending each one, and all of them declaring against war. These sentiments have been sown broadcast in the armies of Europe, and they hardly know whether they can depend upon their troops when Socialist is pitted against Socialist brother. They do not know whether the patriotic feeling is stronger than the brotherhood feeling. This newspaper editorial finds some ground for these prophecies, not simply in the superstitions which possess people, but in the marvelous sensitiveness of some minds that the editor seems to believe can sense the future; and he quotes a verse from “Evangeline”:“
“As at the tramp of a horse’s hoof on the turf of the prairies
Far in advance are closed the leaves of the shrinking mimosa,
So at the hoof-beats of fate, with sad forebodings of evil
Shrinks and closes the heart ere the stroke of doom has attained it.”
But better than all these, if the people would but trust it, is God’s great Book with His wonderful prophecies of the nations. Germany MAY COME to its end in 1913, Socialism may sweep over Europe, thrones may topple and fall — we do not know; but we do know that in a little while from this, beyond all the misrule of man, there shall come the rule of God Most High, with Jesus as King.
