The Reckoning Day by Louis H. Christian

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Aug 22, 1916

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 43, No. 33.

The Reckoning Day

By Louis H. Christian

WE do not know what nation or man, or group of nations or men, has brought on this war. That is not for us to say. Possibly the larger responsibility rests on the rulers, the capitalists, and a few other leaders of nearly all nations involved. But we do know that some one must be guilty of this the greatest crime in the annals of mankind. And knowing this, we agree with the poet in expecting a reckoning day.

"And what shall these proud war lords say At foot of His mighty throne? For there shall dawn a reckoning day Or soon or late, come as it may, When those who gave the sign to slay Shall meet His face alone.

"What, think ye, will their penance be Who have wrought this monstrous crime? What shall whiten their blood-red hands Of the stain of rivers and ravished lands? How shall they answer God's stern commands At the great assize of time?"

God is the author of life; and being our Creator, He regards human life as very sacred. The Bible speaks of murder as the one sin in which justice can be appeased by nothing less than the life of the sinner: "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Gen. 9:6. The Scriptures teach that the shedding of blood pollutes the very land that receives it: "For blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it." Num. 35:33. They "shed innocent blood, even the blood of their sons: . . . and the land was polluted with blood." Ps. 106:38.

If this be true, then the entire earth must be defiled, and the present suicide of the nations must certainly call for a heavy retribution. Of this we read: "Behold, the Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain." Isa. 26:21. This is a prophecy concerning the end of the world. Its fulfillment will come in part during the second and third of the seven last plagues, at the close of probationary time.

"And the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea; and it became as the blood of a dead man: and every living soul died in the sea. And the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters; and they became blood. And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because Thou hast judged thus." Rev. 16:3-5.

In these plagues, the earth will "disclose her blood." God will require the blood of the millions slain, at the hands of those who have warred on and wasted the human race.