Read our list of tracts on page 13.
By Editor
Christ's coming means joy, peace, righteousness, life. Why should you not welcome the glorious event? The inexpressibly sad news reached us April 30, from both Elders G. W. Reaser and H. W. Cottrell, that Brother W. W. Simpson was dead. We had not heard that he was ill, and it came with a severe shock, as it will to many. He died April 28, 10 P.M., at Glendale Sanitarium, near Los Angeles. His illness began with spells of dizziness, developing into violent pains in the back of the head. Brother Reaser writes: "Seven expert physicians were called in council over his case. The concurrent decision was that his system was thoroughly saturated with poisons, caused by certain organs not performing their normal functions." Many prayers were offered in his behalf, but God knew what was best. He was not what would be called a great preacher or a great scholar, but he obtained the ears of the people by his own unique methods, and his clear, strong presentation of truth, his pleasant, charming manner and intense earnestness held them. He was a mighty warrior, yet a loving and lovable man. He fell in the freshness and vigor of matured manhood. The funeral services were conducted by Brethren Owen, Cottrell, and Reaser in the Central Church, Los Angeles. His wife and three children, the oldest of whom is six years, have the sympathy of all who knew the husband and father. Many will be disappointed, as several courses of meetings were planned for him this coming season. "God buries His workmen, but carries on His work." It behooves us more devotedly, more earnestly, to give ourselves to the work of the Master, and labor on till the glad harvest is reaped, when sower and reaper shall rejoice together, and there shall "be no more death." If we love a person, we love the presence of that person. We want to look into his eyes, feel his touch, hear him speak. That is invariably true. If we expect one whom we love, we shall plan to receive him. We will put the house and best room in readiness for him. How gladly will we welcome him. Is Christ Jesus your Friend? Are you preparing to receive Him? The Emperor of Germany wants no International Exposition in Germany, says a news despatch from Washington, "because he knows that a great war is imminent in which almost all the great nations of the earth will be participants." And Hiram Maxim, inventor of guns and high explosives, tells us that despite the recent peace meetings, the world is on the verge of a great conflagration. The world is at peace to-day, but the nations are preparing for the conflict that is to come. In fact, that is the only reason there is peace." He thinks there will be two or three years of peace, and then war. And this agrees with the word of God. Did the Apostles Believe that Jesus Was Coming Again in Their Day?
So some believe. They tell us that Christ's coming is indefinite; that it was believed to be imminent by the apostles themselves, and hence we can know nothing about the time of His coming. It is evident that at the time of Christ's resurrection the disciples were not settled as to the time of Christ's coming, and they inquired: "Lord, dost Thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel? And He said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath appointed by His own authority." Acts 1:6, 7. This confirms what Jesus said elsewhere: "But of that day and hour knoweth no one." Matt. 24:36. But our Lord does declare, as clearly shown elsewhere in this paper, that it is the duty of His people to "know" when He is near. The apostle Paul plainly teaches that the day of His coming was not "at hand," nor would it be, until the "falling away" came, and "the man of sin" was revealed. 2 Thess. 2:1-3. Peter knew that he would die before the Lord came, tho he said, "The end of all things is at hand." See 2 Peter 1:14; 1 Peter 4:7. What, then, is meant by these expressions which seem to declare the coming of the Lord about to take place?—Simply this: The apostles and New Testament writers wrote under God's direction for all time. Many things written by them were not at that time understood and could not be; but sufficient light was given for the duty. But when His church nears the close of her earthly career, these passages gleam out like great beacon lights of warning and assurance; and the Christian who is trusting God's word finds the voyage of the old ship Zion chartered to the very end. Simply because we have not had the violent calamities during 1907, some have remarked that this is a great deal better year than was last year. Last year the calamities were more startling and phenomenal, but this year they have far exceeded those of last. We have had no wars of any account. The first earthquake of violence and destruction has been late in the year, that in Mexico; but over in Russia we are told that millions will die for lack of food before help is received from abroad. One report states that not less than twenty million people are affected. The most conservative statement we have seen is that fifteen million are thus affected. China's famine sufferers number about the same. Funds, of course, are pouring into the country, and yet they are not large as compared with the number affected. This from the physical standpoint. That is moving many, many hearts to contribute generously of what they have; but worse than all of the physical calamities are the starving, dying souls, many of whom are longing for the blessings of the Gospel of life. The moral influence of a rightly conducted State is worth more than any overreaching power that it may exert by force of arms. The open door of Japan, dating from the time of Commodore Perry in 1854, was brought about by the home example in America rather than by any influence which she had as a world-power. This has been manifest again in the influence of this country on the Maharajah Gaekwar of Baroda. In the awakening of India he is one of the conspicuous leaders. Having recently visited this country, he returned home and advocated the United States as the model. If America had ever proceeded on a course in harmony with the principles upon which the Republic was founded, she could have brought the world from the Dark Ages to the arts of peace, but, entering upon another course, in which she is now plunging, as a world power and in her growing affiliation with the Papacy, the effect will be to turn the world back to the Dark Ages. There are doubts thrown on the canonicity or authority of various books of the Bible, and have been all along the stream of time. That is not at all alarming. Jesus Christ and His mission were doubted in the healing of the palsied man and even at the grave of Lazarus; and unbelief sought to kill not only the Life-giver, but the one to whom He gave life, that the witness to His power might not be in evidence before the people. What wonder, then, that learned men in all ages have sought to crucify Christ in His truth! There are internal evidences, great, lustrous shinings of truth, which show clearly the tracings of the divine hand that sealed as genuine the present Scripture canon. The great Jamestown Exposition was formally opened by President Roosevelt on April 26, tho Captain John Smith landed at Jamestown May 13, 1607. April 26 of that year he planted a cross near the south of the river, where is now the Cape Henry lighthouse. A great naval review took place in which were sixty-seven ships of importance, twenty-seven of friendly nations, forty of this country. The Japanese sent a cruiser-battle-ship, the Tsukuba, built within two years complete, hull, engines, guns, equipment, wholly by themselves. The exposition bids fair to be a great one. The only thing which will not make Christ's coming a glad coming to us is our own conscience. We are not ready for Him.