What Means This Agitation?
By R. F. Cottrell
THE world of mankind is not at rest, but seems to be in a state of transition. New departures are the order, or disorder, of the day. The nations seem to be on the eve of a great contest which may produce great changes in national boundaries and dominion. What the result will be, human wisdom cannot divine; but with fearful expectation and boding suspense the crisis is awaited. And while the nations are angry and restless, the religious world is in agitation and unrest. Antiquated creeds, customs, and traditions are being called in question. The doctrine of an endless state of torment, is being called up for revision, amendment, confirmation, or condemnation. The state of man in death and the doctrine of disembodied human spirits and their powers, have a conspicuous place in the discussions of the day. Questions also relating to Sabbath observance, Sunday laws, etc., are receiving especial attention just now. And after centuries of a quiet and settled observance of the first day of the week as the Christian Sabbath, by the great majority of the Christian world, the question of which day of the week is the Sabbath of God’s law is agitating the minds of the people almost everywhere in this country and nearly every country of Europe. What means all this marvelous agitation? We answer, The minds of the people are being prepared by it, that all who will may receive the saving truth of the Bible, which has been covered up by human traditions, so that they may be prepared for the close of probation. The harvest of the earth is ripening, and soon the sickle will be thrust in. The anger of the nations is to be followed by the great day of God’s wrath. “The nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead that they should be judged.” Rev. 11:18. These national disturbances and struggles will be followed by “the battle of the great day of God Almighty.” And what will be the result of these new departures and overstepping of creeds in the religious world? If the eternal hell of torment with which the wicked have been threatened, is to be abolished, of course they will rejoice, and rush on to greater depths of wickedness; and nominal Christians, worldly professors will take license, and feel at greater liberty to be “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” And the mass of those who discard the doctrine of eternal misery will go over to universal restoration, Universalism and Spiritualism. But the true hearted, those who earnestly desire to know what God has revealed, and to do his will, will learn the Bible truth, that, “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Rom. 6:23. They will learn that there is no immortality out of Christ; that the doctrine of disembodied human spirits is a delusion of the devil, and Spiritualism the crowning deception of Satan—his closing work. And the result of the confliction of theories concerning the Sabbath will be, that the truth will be seen that the ancient seventh-day Sabbath is the only weekly Sabbath of the Bible; the people will be tested according to the prophetic message of Rev. 14:9–12, and those who are truly loyal will “keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” and be ready at the coming of their Lord to enter in through the gates into the city. Rev. 22:14. Great results will be the fruit of the present agitation. The truth will be opened to all who have ears to hear, and hearts to obey; and they will condemn the world, and become heirs of the righteousness which is of faith. Heb. 11:7.