p. 10 | PEACE AND SAFETY by T. L. Waters

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 3, 1905

“PEACE AND SAFETY.”

By T. L. Waters

BY T. L. WATERS.

“WHEN they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in nowise escape.” 1 Thess. 5: 3, R. V.

Who are to say, “Peace and safety”? Evidently, the nations of the world, and right now are they saying it. In the new treaty between Great Britain and Japan the overwhelming preponderance of naval power is expected to keep the peace of the world. Baron Hayashi is reported by the Associated Press as saying:

The new treaty forms an effective safeguard against renewal of disturbances in the far East. That is its object. We can not say that a permanent peace has been secured—that is too much to be sure of—but we can aver that tranquillity has been assured for a long time to come. This applies not only to Great Britain and Japan, but also to all powers having political or commercial interests in that part of the world; in fact, to all who have been interested in maintaining the status quo. I repeat that the treaty is a sure guaranty of peace, for that is its aim and object.

Lord Lansdowne, foreign secretary of Great Britain, who signed the treaty on behalf of that nation, says:

Great Britain, I believe, may count on the goodwill and support of all the powers in endeavoring to maintain peace in eastern Asia, and in seeking to uphold the integrity and independence of the Chinese Empire, and the principle of equal opportunities for the commerce and industry of all nations in that empire.

At the same time, the Czar of Russia has issued a call for a second peace conference, in which he has the approval of President Roosevelt. Yet the construction of battle-ships and armaments is to go on, notwithstanding all this cry of Peace. But impending destruction is as assured as the “travail of a woman with

child,” one of the most certain things in the world.

How will it come? “And I saw, and behold, a white cloud; and on the cloud I saw One sitting like unto a Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the temple, crying with a great voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Send forth Thy sickle, and reap; for the hour to reap is come; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud cast His sickle upon the earth; and the earth was reaped [the wheat gathered into the heavenly garner]. And another angel came out from the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, he that hath power over fire; and he called with a great voice to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Send forth thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel cast his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vintage of the earth, and cast it into the winepress, the great winepress, of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the city [Jerusalem, see Zech. 14: 1-3], and there came out blood from the winepress, even unto the bridles of the horses, as far as a thousand and six hundred furlongs [that may refer to the line of battle, 200 miles in length].” Rev. 14: 14-20.

The wheat harvest first, and it is close upon us. “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief; for ye are all sons of light, and sons of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep, as do the rest, but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thess. 5: 4-6.