A Message from God to a Needy World.
IN Rev. 14:6-14 is a most solemn message, wonderful in its comprehensiveness, world-wide in its application, and mighty in its reception. Its first two parts are briefly set forth in our Bible-reading on pages 6 and 7. We plead with our readers to unite with us in its earnest study. Why? 1. It is found in God's Book, His revelation to men of His will and His means for saving men. That of itself should be a sufficient reason why it should be studied. 2. It is found in the closing part of God's Book, in `the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show unto His servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass.'' Rev. 1:1. The servants of Christ Jesus should most assiduously seek to learn what the revelation of Jesus Christ is for them. Mighty dangers are set before the church in that Revelation. Shall they `shortly come to pass'' upon us, and we know not the time of their visitation, when we might know? 3. There is a blessing in this great threefold message of God to the doer of it; for thus it is written: ``Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written therein; for the time is at hand.'' Rev. 1:3. Do you desire that blessing? Do you so little desire it that you will not take time to read, receive, and do it? Then can you expect the blessing? God sends His blessings to take the place of sin's curses in your life. Do you prefer the curses of sin to the blessings of Eternal Goodness? 4. That great Threefold Message of Rev. 14:6-14 is a needed message now. It fits the time, the place, the needs. It is the divine prescription of the Great Physician for the sin-sick world's diseases. Is not this true? Let us face the situation as it is. We each may belong to some church. We love that church. We love her past history. We are proud of her associations, her institutions, her organizations, her schools, her hospitals, her great men, her wealth and influence in the world. Even so were the Pharisees Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, in the days of Jesus. But before the truth of the first coming of the Son of God all the glories of the earthly paled into insignificance. The question now is not as to the greatness, the glory, or the past history of your church or creed. ``Think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father,'' The great question is, ARE ALL THESE THINGS I LOVE RELIGIOUSLY, AND AM I, IN HARMONY WITH GOD? It matters not what God has wrought thru us or our church in the past, despite its errors, but how stands that church now? How do I stand now? Do I love the church more than I love God? Do I love the traditions of the church more than I love the word of God? Do I prefer the commandments of men to the commandments of God? Christ is coming, the KING OF KINGS; am I prepared to meet Him? If He should come into my church to-day and preach as of old, `Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? . . . But seek ye first *His kingdom*, and *His righteousness*, and all these things shall be added unto you,'' would I respond with a hearty, `Amen''? There are many closer truths than this in the Gospel of God; do we love them? Christ wanted a united church; we are sure He did; for His whole agonized prayer in John 17 pleads for it. Only so is the church a true witness for Him and His mission when they are one as He and His Father are one, when all speak the same thing. John 17:21-23; 1 Cor. 1:10. But His professed church is hopelessly divided. Many of her teachers who have vowed to be true to Him repudiate His incarnation, the virgin birth, the vicarious atonement, and the resurrection. Is there not need of a message of certitude? Over the great doctrines of the second coming of Christ, the nature of man, the law of God, the Sabbath, religious liberty, the prophecies of God's word, there is great difference. Is it not time that all these views were brought to the word of God and there weighed in the balances of the sanctuary? The word tells us that this condition of division and uncertainty is Babylon, confusion. It is true; isn't it? ``confusion worse confounded.'' It is also a lamentable fact that the former high standard of morality maintained and demanded by the churches has been greatly lowered. The dances, the card-tables, the theaters, the races, witness the presence of multitudes who have made baptismal vows to God. O, is it not the fulness of time that a great message like that of Rev. 14:6-14 should ring out to church and world to bring souls to God? a message before which creeds would crumble, traditions wither, and all the glory of man be laid in the dust before the majesty of the truth of the Infinite God? By repeated messages of living truth, by repeated record of typical cases in the history of the race, God warns and entreats. Like causes will produce like results. Like sins will meet like judgment. Like union with the state or the world will reap like destruction to both. And praise be to God, like turning from all of the earthly and turning to Jesus Christ will bring the blessed salvation of the everlasting Gospel.