CIVILIZING INFLUENCES by T.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Dec 26, 1900

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 52.

CIVILIZING INFLUENCES.

By T.

"The Earth Was Filled with Violence."

THE Son of God says, "As it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." Luke 17:26. The Word of God makes plain the condition of things in Noah's time. It says: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." Gen. 6:11-13.

Such plain language as the foregoing needs no explanation. It plainly says that in the days of Noah the earth was filled with violence, and that the same condition of things will obtain in the last days. Now just as surely as the last days are reached, just so surely will we find men given to violence; and this condition of things will be growing worse and worse, and cruelty be more and more manifest.

With these thoughts in mind, read a report that comes from China. The report is not some rumor, but it is something that has been repeated again and again, and men who have been on the ground and who possess undisputed integrity say that they have seen it with their own eyes and know that it is so. The report is in regard to the wholesale butchering of the Chinese by the soldiers of the "Christian nations" that are invading that territory. Some paragraphs of it are as follows:—

"The scenes I have witnessed during the three days since the steamer left Blagovestchensk are horrible beyond the powers of description. It is the closing tableau of a fearful human tragedy. Two thousand were deliberately drowned at Morxo, two thousand at Rabe, and eight thousand around Blagovestchensk, a total of twelve thousand corpses encumbering the river, among which were thousands of women and children. Navigation was all but impossible. Last week a boat had to plow her way through a tangled and mangled mass of corpses, lashed together by their long hair. The banks were literally covered with corpses. In the curves of the stream were dark, putrid masses of human flesh and bones, surging and swaying in the steamer's wake and wash. The captain vainly ordered full speed ahead. The sight and smell will be ever with us.

"From Blagovestchensk to Aigun, forty-five kilometers, numerous villages studded the bank, with a thriving, industrious population of over 100,000. That of Aigun was 20,000. No one will ever know the number of these who perished by shot, sword, and stream. Not a village is left. The silence of death is around us, the smoking ruins of Aigun on the right, with broken-down, crumbling walls and shattered, roofless houses."

The massacres of the Armenians by the heathen Turks filled the world with horror. Men thought that such a cruel power should be wiped from the face of the earth, and it was strongly urged that it be done. The slaughtering of the missionaries and foreigners in general by the Chinese Boxers was a horrible thing and was justly deprecated. But are any of these things worse than what is described in the foregoing paragraphs? Can it be said that they are nearly so bad? The Turks and the Chinese Boxers do not claim the high principles of Christianity as a governing power in their lives, and we should not be so much surprised when we find them doing deeds of barbarism. But what shall we say when the representatives of the foremost Christian nations of the world commit deeds of wholesale slaughter more barbarous than those of the barbarian? Are we not rapidly approaching the time when the earth will be filled with violence in fulfillment of the Word of God, as already quoted? Think of these things seriously; for the time is at hand.

But you may say that this is only an isolated case; that it is in a far-off land, and under great provocation. But how do you account for the violence right here in the home land? What is the meaning of the every-day occurrences of murder and kindred brutalities? And what is the significance of the mob violence that may be found now in any part of this great Christian land?

You will say that the courts are failing to mete out justice to criminals, and therefore it is necessary for the people to take things into their own hands. But is not this very statement one of the strongest evidences of the corruption and evil that will invariably produce violence? Do not cast these matters lightly by, but think of them seriously. Matters will continue to get worse and worse. Do not be deceived by those who will tell you that they are getting better. Look at the facts and conditions of to-day, and read the Word of God, that you may know the meaning of it, and be prepared for the times that are just ahead of us. T.