Our European Letters by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA · Sep 25, 1907

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 33, No. 39.

Our European Letters.

By Editor

OUR European Letter in the SIGNS of September 4 shows the significant tendency of Protestantism (so called) in Switzerland, one of the strongholds of the Reformation. That which goes by the name of Protestantism there is no longer such, only in name. That mighty power that was with the strong men who changed the whole course of religious thought in the sixteenth century has been allowed to leak out of the minds of the great mass of those who claim to be following on in the footsteps of Luther and Melanchthon, of Zwingle and Calvin and all the rest. The first great apostasy was predicted by Daniel, John, and Paul, and was a leading part also in the teaching of Christ when telling to His disciples the events that would be seen in the world. That first apostasy produced the Papacy and the resultant Dark Ages. The prophets tell also of a second apostasy that will so weaken Protestantism that it will swing back into the papal fold, and the Papacy will regain all her former power, and to that former power will be added the strength that is represented by the intensity of the combinations of these days. The developments in this phase of the fulfilling prophecies of our day are most intensely interesting, and should be studied and watched carefully by all those who expect to stand true with God in the closing battles of the conflict of sin that has cursed this world for all the ages since man fell. The power and influence of the Papacy is to be fully restored, and it will be absolutely world-wide. Its consummation is one of the very last fulfillments of the prophetic word before the Lord comes.

In our issue of September 18, we also had a significant article, telling of the decadence of the blind faith in the Papacy that is so noticeable in Italy. The prophecy calls for the restoration of the Papacy before the end of time, as every student of the Bible ought to know. But this restoration is to be brought about thru the prestige that is given to it in this country. And while it may be apparently weakening in some small portions of other lands, it is in this nation that we are to look to see it gaining in strength and influence and power till all the world will be brought to pay homage at its feet.

Our European Letter found on page ten of this issue tells of the conditions in England, and the unrest and rioting in one of the important sections of Ireland is mentioned. In presenting the facts that make up the doings of the various sections of the world it is our aim to give those things that are of general interest, and in the main to mention things that have a bearing on the fulfilling prophecies of these days. We do not always make mention of the prophecy in presenting facts, for we are addressing a class of readers that have been studying the prophecies with us, some of them for many years, and we know that they will see the bearing of what is being reported.

The doings of the world to-day are freighted with significant import. They should be studied closely in the light of what God has foretold concerning them. God has shed great light upon these times, and if we would escape the terrors of the darkness that is coming upon the world we must stand in that light.