Your ShelfYour Projects

A Time of Trouble

4%

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 8, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 26.

Read the full edition

"A Time of Trouble"

By Alexander Ritchie

By Alexander Ritchie
What means this swelling tide of wo, That looms along the shores of earth, These angry clouds—once far and low— That now o'ershadow all our mirth?
On land and sea, yea, in the sky, Destruction rides a swifter steed Than in the peaceful days gone by When men were not as gnarled by greed.
What mean these curses filled with hate, Which from the rich man's servants fall, The turmoil at the factory gate That tells of hearts o'errun with gall?
What mean these palaces and feasts Where gold is spent with wanton waste, And cats and dogs and pampered beasts Eat dainties poor men never taste?
What mean the broken homes where strife Has robbed the angel Love of breath, While pagan laws call man and wife To break the vows they made "till death"?
What mean these frenzied female bands Who tramp our streets with brazen tread, Or hiding bombs and fiery brands, Destruction dire around them spread?
And saddest of the whole array Which threatens with such dread portent, What mean these heedless shepherds, pray, While danger broods, in slumber pent?
What mean all these? would'st know forsooth, And read aright the signful sky? Then haste thee to the fount of truth, And hear the voice of Wisdom cry.
When men are filling to the brim Their cup of sin and shame and wo, And demons work with savage vim To cause the winds of strife to blow;
When judgment hangs on poised wing Above the lost and guilty world, The voice divine says, "Heaven's King His signal banners shall unfurl."
In heaven and earth, on land and sea, Shall signs and tokens then appear; Sun, moon, and stars shall all agree To warn men the great day is near.
The darkened sun, the bloody moon, The myriad stars that fell as hail; The light that failed men at high noon And made the hearts of millions quail:
The hurricane that sweeps the earth As with a demon's besomed hand; The reckless flood that brings a dearth Of bread and water in the land;
The cankered gold of millionaires, The bitter curse of toilers robbed, The broken vows of faithless "pairs," The tales by fallen sisters sobbed,
What mean they all?—This the reply: When ye see these, know He is near, The Judge of all in earth and sky, The King of Kings, doth soon appear.
Before Him comes "unmingled wrath" From heaven's offended throne, where Love Has stood so long to keep the path Of mercy open from above.
Then shall the door of mercy close To all who have refused its call; Rejected Love shall meet His foes, And fiery indignation fall.
"A time of trouble" then shall be, Such as the nations never heard. At home, abroad, on land and sea, Shall fall the judgments of His word.
The mountains shall be soaked with blood, Proud cities of the earth shall fall, And earthquake, hail, and fiery flood Complete the overthrow of all.
O would'st thou find a hiding-place In that dread hour of wrath divine? Then haste—to-day accept His grace And make the King of Heaven thine.