p. 6 | HEATHENISM AWAKING by S.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Oct 29, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 44.

HEATHENISM AWAKING.

By S.

Some mention has been made of the awaking recently manifest among heathen cults, Mohammedan and Buddhistic. A new power seems to have been given them, a new animation infused into them, that is in perfect harmony with the increased power manifest in other things opposed to the Gospel and life of Christ—all pointing to an inevitable climax, a climax clearly indicated by the Gospel which they oppose.

They are sending out missionaries to other countries to establish centers of Buddhistic or Mohammedan influence among peoples upon whom the light of the Gospel has long been shining; and they are meeting with considerable success, because of the drowsiness and apathy of many who profess to believe the Gospel of God, as well as the desire on the part of many who do not know Him to hear and investigate some new thing.

In addition to their foreign propaganda they are also at work stimulating their followers at home; and in doing this, have found it to their advantage to copy, to a certain extent, the institutions which Christianity has established in their midst. They have copied the missionary institution in so far as they can apply it to their own cause. In Japan, and possibly in other countries, they are now operating an

institution patterned exactly after the Young Men’s Christian Association. The design of this is to offset whatever good is being accomplished by the Y. M. C. A. in an evangelistic way, and also to be a headquarters for young men, where they can be instructed in Buddhistic principles. This performs the double object of keeping their young men away from Christian influences, and of strengthening them in the heathen religions of their fathers, making it much more difficult for them to be reached by Christian evangelists, and hedging up the way to many a heart.

Satan has never been at work harder than he is right now to nullify every Christian effort, as well as to make strenuous efforts of his own along lines of his own invention. In fact, he is increasing his energies as the climax approaches, and we see his workings in different guises on every hand. He is not only lulling to sleep the millions of heathendom, but he is also throwing the spell of his enchantments over the millions of Christendom. In the words of Scripture, “Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” They who yield to his enchantments are lost. In one refuge alone there is safety, and that is Christ. As Satan has taken and will continue to take every possible advantage in the way of means and methods to carry on his work of soul destruction, so he will take advantage of every unguarded moment of our life to slip into the citadel of the soul and reign there for his own ends.

This awaking of heathenism is but the outward manifestation of Satan’s increased and increasing activity as the day of the Christian’s emancipation draws nigh. Let us take warning by his activity and flee, before it is too late, to the refuge prepared in Christ. S.

Just one word more, had you not both better come into the creation-Sinaitic-Calvarian camp of Sabbath-keeping? It is the only safe place.