Overreaching by G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA · Sep 5, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 36.

Overreaching

By G.

Overreaching.—When Satan undertakes desperate measures, he always overreaches. "The Word of God endureth forever," and it "will not return unto Him void." Whatever the errors of foreigners in China, whatever the errors of missionaries, the desperate cruelty of native "uprisings" is always satanic, and they are designed by the enemy of souls to shut off the last message of mercy to a dying world from entering and doing its work in that ancient kingdom. Whatever the errors of the "allied powers," whatever their real purpose in forcing open doors to China's resources, there is no doubt that God will overrule in such a way that the "everlasting Gospel" ("the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus") will reach every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. See Rev. 14:6-12. The desperate attempt of the enemy, through the spirit of "patriotism," to entirely shut out the Gospel of Christ will no doubt be the means of opening the door more effectually for the truth as it is in Jesus. "The Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will," in order to carry out His work. It is when there is something decisive being done, or about to be done, in the cause of salvation, that Satan tries to thwart it by some great demonstration to divert the attention of the people, and to make the Lord's work impossible. He stirred up even the church to put Christ to death; but that only paved the way for the triumph of the resurrection. So his desperate effort to keep the true Gospel out of China will surely end in a triumph for the truth. Will those to whom the Gospel message for the last days is intrusted be awake and ready as opportunity is presented? While "the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time," know also that "a short work will the Lord make upon the earth," and He will "cut it short in righteousness." The "distress of nations, with perplexity," is one of the prominent signs of the Lord's soon coming. Luke 21:25-28. G.