DESTRUCTION IS COMING by Editor

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 6, 1856

DESTRUCTION IS COMING.

By Editor

NOTHING can give more force to the language of Scripture in which are recorded the signs of the last days, than the fact, that we can scarcely look abroad anywhere upon the wide world without beholding the fulfillment of these very signs going on before us. The living nations of the earth as well as the elements of nature, seem conspiring to work out a most striking fulfillment of what God caused to be written on the page of prophecy, eighteen hundred years ago. And the mighty printing-presses of this enlightened century are groaning day and night to inform us that events have now become veritable matters of history, which have long lain hidden in the womb of prophecy. Dr. Cumming, of England, thus speaks of these unconscious witnesses to the truth of revelation: "If I want to see prophecy rushing into performance; if I want to see the evidence of God's inscribing upon the world's tablets, what he has written upon the Bible's page, I take up one of the morning or daily newspapers, and I read there what is now going on—the fulfillment of prophecy." Again he says: "The writers in the Times, the Morning Herald, the Morning Post, the Daily News, sit down faithfully and very graphically to record what they see; and we in our studies compare what they have recorded with what God has written 1800 years before; and we find they are the unconscious amanuenses of the fulfillment of truth, voices sounding in the desert of the world, 'Thy word, O God, is truth.'"

The point to which we would call attention in these lines, is the cry of "Peace and safety" that is being heard in the land. It is written that there shall be upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity and that men's hearts shall fail for fear. But it is written again, that when they shall cry "Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them." Will men cry, Peace and safety, when their hearts are failing them for fear? It would not be reasonable to suppose thus; and hence we conclude that there will be an occasional alleviation of the perplexity of the nations, and a restraining of their anger. This work is expressed by the angel which John saw ascending from the east, when he cries to those holding the four winds, saying, Hold, and hurt not the earth, till we have sealed the servants of our God. Rev. vii, 1-3. The phraseology also of 1 Thess. v, 3, may throw light on this point. We have at any rate we think sufficient ground for the conclusion that the last throes of this expiring world, will be accompanied by intervals of comparative peace and quiet—intervals long enough for Satan, ever busy in times of danger with deadening opiates, to accomplish a work, specious indeed, but fatal beyond remedy.

But is the cry of "Peace and safety" being heard? Listen. Says the American Messenger, "At the late splendid coronation of Alexander II, as emperor of all the Russias, celebrated in the ancient city of Moscow—on which occasion England and France rivalled each other in doing honor to their so recently inveterate and formidable foe—the young emperor to consecrate the memory of the occasion, and of the nation's rest from its gigantic struggles, issued his 'manifesto of grace' in thirty-six separate articles, bestowing immense boons and privileges on the Russian people.

"We cannot but pause here to recognize the power of a wonder-working God. Who, one year since, when the dreadful conflict of three mighty empires filled the world with terror, could have believed that what we now record was possible? And cannot the same God of heaven and earth work equal blessings for our own country—calm our existing agitations and fears, and fill our hearts with praise?"

We have emphasized the above as we think the subject demands. But mark the tenor of the extract. A year ago the conflict of three mighty empires filled the world with terror; and who could then have believed that what we now record was possible: all has calmed down again; treaties of peace have been ratified; the belligerent armies have withdrawn from the field of war; and France and England vie with each other in doing honor to their recently inveterate foe; while it is claimed that immense advantages will result from the war to the cause of Christian religion in Turkey. Apparently all is right. The superficial observer sees now no cause of alarm; and "Peace!" and "Safety!" is the response that breaks from the deceived but hopeful multitudes. But prophecy has attached a fearful echo to this siren song: it is that then sudden destruction cometh upon them which they cannot escape; and thus the cry of peace becomes in the believer's ears, but the herald of death.

The writer in the Messenger admits that in regard to Europe, existing fears and agitations have been calmed, and hearts have been filled with praise. He then asks, Cannot the same God work equal blessings for our own country? God can indeed restrain the angry elements, not only in Europe, but also in our own land, if this be necessary to the fulfillment of his word. He can and will restrain the winds, so long as their blowing will endanger the progress of his cause and the safety of his people. But if men will seize upon these occasions to lull themselves into a carnal security, they do so at their own peril. Brethren, let us view these things in the light of revelation, and see to it that the words of Paul may apply to us: Ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief, 1 Thess. v, 4.

If the eye of any should rest upon these lines to whom we appear as one who mocks, we would remind him that Lot appeared in the same light to his profligate sons-in-law; but a greater destruction than that of Sodom, now overshadows the world.

But thoughts of peace and safety in regard to the condition of Europe are by no means well founded. Europe is "like the troubled sea when it cannot rest." A graphic description of its volcanic state, is given in the following which we extract from an article credited to the London Christian Times:

"If we are to credit the hints thrown out from time to time in the Journals that affect to be in the confidence of Government, Europe is on the eve of a new convulsion. The elements of discontent have long been in existence, from one end of the Italian Peninsula to the other, and they have at length arrived at a point which threatens immediate explosion. We have often dwelt upon the complication of evils, both of a political and religious character, which affect the inhabitants of that unfortunate country, and we wish now, in a few words, to direct attention to the new and ominous phase into which they have at last entered.

"Austria and Piedmont have long been facing each other in a menacing attitude—each as it were with their hands on their swords. It is probable they would have come to blows even now but for the late war and the gallant manner in which the little Italian State threw her weight into the fortunes of the Allies. There was then gallantry in the act. There was consummate policy also. Her army in the Crimea averted for the time the descent of the Austrian sword in Italy; but, now that the war is over, and Austria is relieved from the obligations to good behavior under which it bound her, she has cast about for pretexts to carry into effect her original policy of hostility to Sardinia in truly Austrian fashion—that is, with falsehood, insolence, and wrong. *

"While these things take place in the north of Italy, matters are little better in the south. The king of Naples, we are told, has taken fright at the insolent tone of his first reply to the remonstrance against his misgovernment, addressed to him by the Governments of Great Britain and France, and has already sent—so it is stated—a retraction and an apology; but as to the main ground of remonstrance he continues as obdurate as ever. He will give no redress, consent to no mitigation, open no prison-doors. He persists in maintaining his right to do what he will in his own kingdom, and refuses to hold himself accountable to any one for his acts. Now it was to be supposed that when France and England took the unusual step of remonstrating with a monarch on the misgovernment of his own territories, they did not mean to content themselves with mere remonstrance. A nation's words are acts, or they are worse than ridiculous. As it is probable that his subjects will not much longer tolerate such a hideous harleque upon all settled government, they can only anticipate a revolution, at no great distance. *

"It is impossible to deny these are grave complications of affairs, and that they bode no good to the future peace of Europe. It is easy to begin a war in Italy, but it cannot be confined there. All the elements of dissatisfaction now existing over Europe—and they are many—will be brought within its reach, and will supply new fuel to its all-devouring flame. Compared with such a war as Italy would give rise to, the late conflict, with all its losses and all its suffering, would prove but as the few drops before the thunder-shower."