WHAT DOES IT MEAN? by A. R. Ogden

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 16, 1902

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 28, No. 16.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

By A. R. Ogden

I HAVE been forcibly impressed the past few months with the great preparations for war which we see going on everywhere. After leaving New York City, August 28, 1901, we touched ports in England, France, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, and finally our stopping-place, Chile. In nearly all these ports, we have seen battle-ships of many different nations. There are now afloat thousands of these great vessels, all built and equipped, not for commerce, no; but for what? There can be but one definite answer. They are preparing for Armageddon. Others are being built as rapidly as they can be turned out. Thousands of men are building these ships, and thousands of others are giving their time and energy to manipulating them. Thus thousands of lives and millions of gold are dedicated to the goddess of war.

But this only includes the naval preparations. Think of the thousands upon thousands and millions upon millions of men to-day in the standing armies of the world, and the others, thousands and millions, who are wholly engaged in the preparation of armaments for these millions who are daily under discipline and drill, all preparing—for what? not for a great religious movement or a movement for the uplifting of society, but for a wild, mad rush to slay their fellow-men, —victims of the goddess of war.

The past few days the U. S. A. battle-ship "Wisconsin" has been in Valparaiso Bay. It was our privilege to go aboard and see the great guns, some great in rapidity, firing several hundred shots per minute, others of great magnitude, hurling a missile weighing a thousand pounds a distance of from ten to fifteen miles. We were glad to see a ship so beautiful and so finely equipped, but made sad when we thought of the object of its existence.

We are truly living in a time of "wars and rumors of wars." John on the isle of Patmos saw the time when "the nations were angry" (not one or a few, but "the nations"). And again, "For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 11:18; 16:14. But the word to the Lord's people is, "Be ye also patient, stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." James 5:8. "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." Luke 21:28.

The "blessed hope" for which Paul longed is about to be realized.

A. R. OGDEN.

Valparaiso, Chile.