ALTHO “the depth and riches of the wisdom, knowledge, judgments, and ways of God are unsearchable and past finding out,” in their fulness and perfection (Rom. 11:33–36; Job. 11:7), and “the secret things belong unto God,” it should be remembered that some things “are revealed,” and therefore, “belong unto us and to our children forever.” Deut. 29:29. The secret of the Lord [as fully as He has revealed it] is with the righteous” (Prov. 3:32), and “them that fear him” (Ps. 25: 14). If, then, the Divine reason for these manifestations of Omnipotent power has been revealed, it will be found out by all who will humbly ask and earnestly seek to know. Matt. 7:7, 8; James 1:5–7. And so the inspired record of the destruction of those ancient cities of the plain (Gen. 18:16–33; 19:1–29) clearly reveals both the necessity and the object of that terrible visitation of Divine power. Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah was great and their sin was very grievous, (Gen. 18:20, 21), “having given themselves over to fornication,” God visited upon them “the vengeance of eternal fire,” turning them into ashes, and “condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly.” 2 Pet. 2:6–9; Jude 7.
Steamship Roraima, many of the crew and passengers of which were burned before they were rescued.
St. Pierre June 4, 1902, twenty-seven days after the eruption.
The Leading Thoroughfare.
God does not change (Mal. 3:6; James 1:17; Heb. 13:8); and “He is no respecter of persons” (Deut. 10:17; 2 Chron. 19:7; Rom. 2:11; Acts 10:34). Therefore His own statements concerning His object and motive in pouring out His judgments upon a guilty world in times past, applies with equal force to all subsequent similar events. Jesus, when told of calamities in which a number of persons perished, replied, “Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay; but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:1–5. True they were sinners, but not worse than others; and their fate illustrated the doom of all who failed to take warning thereby. And who dare say that the inhabitants of St. Pierre were worse than those of Paris, London, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, New Orleans, and the rest of earth’s wicked cities? They were sinners, but not above others, and their fate but foreshadows the doom of all who do not heed the warning, and seek shelter in the Rock of Ages.
Just why God in His infinite wisdom pours out His judgments upon certain localities while others equally guilty are spared, we may not know. But that these events are evidences of God’s displeasure against sin, and His merciful desire to warn, restrain, and save others, is beyond controversy in the minds of all who believe the Bible. Additional evidence concerning the part that sin plays in these calamities is seen in the conduct of the people at such times.
Here in Barbados, 100 miles from the nearest crater, the explosions sounded like booming cannon or deep distant thunder; the darkness of midnight descended in mid-afternoon, and a perfect torrent of dust descended on us,—more than 2,000,000 tons falling on this little spot of land containing only 166 square miles; and the island shook and trembled till dishes on the sideboards were made to rattle. Then all faces gathered paleness, and a babel of noise and confusion was instantly hushed into silence; Bibles, dust-covered from long neglect, were opened by trembling hands, and anxiously but vainly scanned by minds and eyes that were unfamiliar with their precious contents. Tongues more used to idle talk, profanity, and blasphemy tried to pray, and other changes equally marked and significant were noticeable. All this clearly shows that the people are conscious, in the presence of these calamities, that “sin lieth at the door.”
But alas! in the great majority of cases, the solemnity and reverence departed with the passing of the danger, and the old ways were once more resumed. But there were some who, in the face of threatened danger, calmly said, “None of these things move us. ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, tho the earth be removed, and tho the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; tho the waters thereof roar and be troubled, tho the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.’” Ps. 46:1–3. “The Lord of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.” Verse 7.
Instead of being terrified by such a display of power, it comforts the child of God to know that his Father is strong enough to shake the earth, and that all His infinite power is pledged to save from sin, and strengthen for service. If the reader will carefully study Isaiah 26 he will find the whole situation vividly portrayed. Perfect trust in God brings perfect peace (verses 3, 4), even in times of destruction (verse 5). Some of the inhabitants of the earth will learn righteousness when the judgments of God are in the earth. Verses 7–9. “Let favor be showed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord.” Verse 10.
One thing more is worthy of consideration in the study of the subject. It sometimes happens that the innocent must suffer with or for the guilty. The sin of a drunken or negligent engineer, switchman, or telegraph operator, often sends a trainload of innocent people crashing to death and destruction. Untold thousands of innocent persons suffer and perish as the result of the liquor traffic, for which they are in no way to blame. Even “Christ suffered the just for the unjust;” “He was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” And so probably some innocent persons perished in the destruction of St. Pierre, and many more suffered physically, or temporally, as the result of it.
But this in no way militates against the truth that sin was the producing cause that brought the destruction. It rather reveals the awful malignity and cruelty of sin, which involves the innocent with the guilty. Just why God in His infinite wisdom sometimes permits the innocent to suffer with the guilty, we may not fully know now, but we shall know hereafter. It is enough for us to know that He will, by and by, fully and satisfactorily reward those who have thus suffered here. Now “God never asks us to believe without giving sufficient evidence on which to base our faith. His existence, His character, the truthfulness of His Word, are all established by testimony that appeals to our reason, and this testimony is abundant.” Thus the reality of the plan of redemption was literally illustrated in the sacrifices and offerings of the typical services.
In like manner the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah, Herculaneum and Pompeii, Lisbon, St. Pierre, and other similar events which have occurred at intervals throughout earth’s history, and with greatly increased frequency as we near its close, are designed to illustrate the final doom of the wicked, so often portrayed in God’s Word. These trembling mountains and shaking islands are intended to remind us of the time when the Lord shall arise “to shake terribly the earth,” and every mountain and island shall be moved out of their places, when the islands shall flee away and the mountains be not found. Isa. 2:7–21; Rev. 6:12–17; 16:17–21.
These devastated cities speak eloquently of the time when not only one or two but “all the cities of the earth, shall be broken down at the presence of the Lord and of His fierce anger.” Jer. 4:23–26. The thousands of unburied, putrefying, dead bodies illustrate the terrible scene when the slain of the Lord shall be from one end of the earth to the other; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered nor buried. They shall be as dung upon the ground. Jer. 25:27–33. Whole regions laid waste by burning9dust and flowing rivers of fiery lava enable us to understand how literally God will fulfil the prediction that “the streams thereof shall be turned into pitch, and the dust thereof into brimstone, and the land thereof shall become burning pitch.” Isa. 34:9.
The quaking earth and falling cities here and there warn us of the last mighty earthquake in which all the cities of the nations will fall. Rev. 16:18, 19. Showers of red-hot rocks and lava presage the doom of the wicked on whom the Lord shall rain quick, burning coals and brimstone and an horrible tempest—burning wind. This shall be the portion of their cup. Ps. 11:6 R.V. Rev. 20:1–9.
The writer of these lines is one of those who confidently and calmly expect and await the speedy and literal fulfilment of all these words. However that day will not come until the Gospel of the kingdom shall have been preached in all the world, for a witness to all nations (Matt. 24:14), thus giving all an opportunity to gather themselves together, and seek the Lord for righteousness and meekness, so they may be hid in the day of His fierce anger. Zeph. 2:1–3.
Reader, that message of warning is fast hastening to its close; and a people is fast being gathered out for His name from every nation, kindred, and tribe. That people will be ready, waiting and watching, and when the opening heavens reveal the majesty and glory of the coming King they will cry out in joyful unison, “Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the Lord; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isa. 25:9.
Reader, shall you be among that people who will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess. 4:13–18), and be hidden in the chambers of the Father’s many-mansioned house, until the indignation be overpast (Isa. 26:19–21; John 14:1–3)? or shall you be among those who will call for the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb? Rev. 6:14–17. Human greatness, worldly wisdom and earthly power will avail nothing in that day. Zeph. 1:14–18. “Riches profit not in the day of wrath; but righteousness delivereth from death.” Prov. 11:4.
Ruins of the prison, in a dungeon of which was the only survivor, who was serving a life sentence. A note on the back of the photo tells us that he was taken to Fort de France and again incarcerated.
Reader, have you that spotless righteousness, that perfect holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord? If not, then it is high time for you to “seek the Lord, until He rain righteousness upon you.” The pleading voice of mercy, emphasized by the convulsions of nature, is calling you to repentance and salvation. “Now is the accepted time,” delay is dangerous, may be fatal. “To-day if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts,” for “now is the day of salvation.” “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely, I come quickly.” “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
