p. 8 | EARTHQUAKES by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Oct 3, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 38.

EARTHQUAKES.

By Editor

It ought to be dawning upon the minds of men everywhere by this time that there is some special significance in the great disasters that are befalling the earth. In all parts of the world these terrible visitations are being experienced. During the present year the islands of the Pacific, Japan, Europe, North and South America, have all witnessed terrific convulsions of nature, attended by heavy loss in life and property. Where the next blow will fall none can tell. Human wisdom and human strength are alike helpless in the presence of these judgments. Men are asking the meaning of this chain of disasters, and there is only one clue to the mystery—the Word of God:

“And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:25-27.

The signs in the heavens have been given many years ago. Many signs have been seen already in the earth, and, naturally, as the end draws near, the signs increase in number and in power. The time is at hand when the earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and when all iniquity shall come to an awful end. Isaiah 24. The present earthquakes are premonitions of the final shaking when every mountain and island shall be moved out of their places. Rev. 6:14. The instability of all things earthly is being shown, that men may learn to transfer their treasure and their affections to a kingdom which will abide. Judgments come that men may learn the lessons they despise in hours of ease. Isa. 26:9. Here is a confession from one daily paper of man’s impotence in the presence of such catastrophes as the earthquake at Valparaiso.

“We ask the meaning of these things, and obtain no certain answer. Science can not tell us why a quiet crater suddenly boils up without warning into an active volcano, or why the ground trembles, and in trembling destroys the habitations of man. Progress here has left us as ignorant and as impotent since the first observers at the dawn of history ascribed these cataclysms to the wrath of the offended gods. Modern mechanical invention, indeed, seems only to insure that the destruction when it comes shall be complete. The complication of great buildings, the gas and electric light, the tubes and wires, so useful in time of security, only add to the danger and collapse in the time of upheaval.

“We may say that it is unlikely that Northern Europe and its cities should share the fate of Valparaiso and San Francisco. The most dogmatic scientist would not affirm that it is impossible. In our pride at human achievement in control of the forces of nature, it is well that we should be reminded how powerless and futile is all man’s strength and intelligence in face of these mysterious,

uncontrollable changes. . . . No one to-day believes that the guilt of San Francisco or Santiago has called to Heaven for vengeance and received answer. But the scientific progress which has destroyed the ancient belief in divine anger as a cause of these miseries has provided no intelligible substitute. And to-day we confront these scenes of ruin and suffering in silent wonder what the meaning of it all can be, or whether it has any meaning at all.”

God has foretold the meaning of these scenes which we witness so often to-day. And when the tribes of the earth mourn as they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, not one will be able to say that God has entered into judgment with His creatures and made no effort to warn them that the supreme crisis was at hand. By mighty signs and wonders God is again confirming the testimony of His servants and compelling attention to the voice of warning that is now echoing throughout the world.—The Present Truth.