Optimistic Views of the Work in China
By John J. Vestrup
PRAISE God for this onward missionary movement, telling of the soon-coming Christ. Already it is in ninety-one kingdoms — a most wonderful movement indeed. But we do not regard it as strange. We expect this. It is the fulfilment of prophecy. Rev. 10: 11; and 14: 6, 7. The word of God can not fail. I have been in China eight and one half years; and if the message advances as quickly during the next eight years as it has in these past eight years, the greater part of China will have had an opportunity to hear it. But the beginning of a thing is always the most difficult, and the message will advance here at least three times faster the next eight years. Eight years ago, we had no schools, no press, no literature, not even a Sabbath-school lesson, but had to write such out by hand every week — and no foreign missionaries that could as yet speak the language intelligibly. Now we have all these — a good, solid foundation laid for future aggressive work. But more than this, now we have a name and a reputation nearly all over China, and thousands of honest-hearted ones, who want the Bible and the Bible only, are constantly inquiring, "Why do they call themselves Seventh-day Adventists?" and wanting to understand why we have such a long and queer name. They write for our tracts and books — "Bible Readings," "Daniel and the Revelation," and "Christ Our Saviour," etc.; and as they read the truth, they are impressed by the Spirit, and call for a living messenger. This is our experience now, and will be thus even more so in the future. Hence China's 430,000,000 should not cause us to postpone Christ's coming in glory. "At such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." God can and will warn China quicker than many imagine. In looking back upon the eight and one half years, I am happy to see the progress made in China. A good foundation has been laid, ready for a quick work, and the next eight years will disclose even greater joy. We shall soon be in the kingdom. This message and this people will go through. Those who allow themselves to be side-tracked by the enemy, are greatly to be pitied. Those who stay on the "through car" will soon be in the eternal world. May the Lord bless all our brethren. "PRUDENCE is well-trained common sense."