Pregnant with Meaning by John O. Corliss

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · May 19, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 19.

Pregnant with Meaning

By John O. Corliss

MINING troubles have been brewing for a long time in Colorado. Lately, however, men's passions in that strife have become so aroused that the spirit of the very demons has seemed to control their actions. According to late despatches from that calamity center, armed men had trapped fifteen miners, five women, and a baby in the flaming shaft house of the Empire mine, near Aguilar. At the time this message came through, no hope was held out for the lives of these imprisoned ones.

To say nothing of the unestimated loss of property around that center of infernal vengeance, the terrible impulse that can lead men—otherwise companionable husbands and considerate fathers—to be so recklessly ferocious toward fellow men in the same walk and calling in life, is unaccountable, were it not for divine predictions regarding the ruling disposition of humanity at this juncture of the world's history. This has, however, been pointed out substantially as follows,—that in the last days "perilous" times would come because of men's selfishness, and lack of natural attachments, gendering human savagery. 2 Tim. 3: 1-5.

It will be seen also, from a careful examination of the scripture here cited, that those bearing such unfortunate traits, give recognition to some form of godliness. That is, they, under ordinary circumstances, would favor religious services, while denying, by their actions, any power of religious control. Whether or not any of those engaged in the Colorado miners' war have their names enrolled in certain church-memberships, we have no method of knowing, but observation makes it appear certain that with many, Christian influence is becoming less effective than formerly, in these days of strenuous living.

It must be that the days have come, as predicted, when Satan is working with "all power" (2 Thess. 2:9) to bring men into full fellowship with his own gory methods. It must be also that his late renewed activity in this direction is because he knows that his time to work among men is short. Rev. 12:12. But out of it all the Lord Jesus will soon gather His faithful ones, when He comes the second time "without sin unto salvation." Heb. 9:28. May the faithful in heart prepare for that thrilling event. J. O. C.