p. 8 | FERMENT AND UNREST

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Nov 1, 1899

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 25, No. 44.

FERMENT AND UNREST.

THE Union Signal of October 5, in referring to the fact that fifty thousand Londoners had howled down a peace meeting in Trafalgar Square, says: "Ferment and unrest are everywhere, but we hold on with mighty faith, not only to the hope, but to the belief, that peace shall yet float her white banner over the whole world. But before that can be, a stupendous work must be done, needing the help of every man and woman of God." But why cling so tenaciously to a "belief" when the testimony of the Spirit is so explicitly to the contrary? A universal peace is a pleasing theme, and many would have us believe that we are even now in the glittering suburbs of that dream city. The cry of peace—universal peace—and of safety is echoing through this wilderness of sin already. But, "when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them; . . . and they shall not escape." 1 Thess. 5:3. "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come." 2 Tim. 3:1. This present time is the most perilous time the world has ever known. We are in the "perilous times"—the quotation from the Union Signal admits it. We are, then, in "the last days"—the perilousness of the times proves it. If we say peace and safety in these times, we shall be among those upon whom "sudden destruction" shall come, and who "shall not escape." In that time of peril "our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him." Ps. 50:3. That will be a time of judgment: "He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may

judge His people." Verse 4. It will be a time of the harvesting of souls: "Gather My saints together unto Me; those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare His righteousness; for God is judge Himself." Verses 5 and 6. The times are perilous—all admit it; and the perilous times were to be an omen of the last days, an earnest of the second, personal appearing of the Lord Himself in the clouds of heaven. Then why pin our faith to the realization of a dream, when the dream not only is in contradiction of God’s Word, but is referred to in that Word as a sign of the end? The perilous times are here; the cry of "peace and safety" is here; and the grand consummation of earth’s history, which they portend, is about to burst upon us.