The Map by J. Clarke

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 10, 1863

The Map.

By J. Clarke

As we cast our eyes over the map of the earth's surface, and with the light of revelation beaming full upon the mind, showing what this earth was in its Eden state, and what it is destined to be in the future, as compared with its present ruined condition, one is deeply impressed with varied reflections.

Here are oceans, whose tides ebb and flow over three-quarters of the earth's surface. Here are snow-capped mountains and fertile plains, valleys clothed with verdure and beauty, and deserts of drouth and barrenness. Here are scenes of grandeur and beauty, mingled with desolation and ruin; zones of frozen snow and ice; volcanoes whose eruptions of liquid fire have buried cities in oblivion. Here are lakes and rivers, cataracts, maelstroms; disorder everywhere visible, even amid its fairest scenes.

Of all its area, deducting its oceans, and desert mountains, and barren wastes, but a small fraction is fit for the abode of man; and poor human beings, for want of room in more congenial climes, are crowded into frozen zones and desert regions, where want, ignorance, and poverty, reduce them to the lowest scale of human development; or in densely populated districts, many laboring in the crowded factory, or damp mines, become so deformed and reduced as hardly to claim the title of humanity.

As we still pursue the subject, we find the children of Adam divided by varieties of languages and dialects; varieties in religion; diverse in color; diverse forms of government; so different as to cause deadly feuds and animosities, prejudices, wars, and tumults.

As we glance our eyes over the map of Asia, our minds are carried back to the early history of our race.

The ark rested, having performed its work, upon mount Ararat. The tower of Babel was commenced and abandoned upon the plains of Shinar, and lo! what a variety of languages! Here too are the ruins of Babylon, once queen of the nations, the head of gold of which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed. Here the people of God groaned in a captivity of seventy years. Here Daniel studied, labored, prophesied, prayed. Here Cyrus, as general under Darius, opened the two-leaved gates, Isa. xlv, 1, and established the second universal kingdom, the breast and arms of silver.

Jerusalem has been the theater of sublime events, as the metropolis of God's ancient people, in which were developed the characters most beloved, and most detested. Here David and Solomon fostered the pure worship of Jehovah. Here too Zacharias the prophet was slain in a popular tumult. Here Simeon and Anna waited for the Advent of Christ, while Herod thirsted for the blood of his fancied rival. Here Jesus offered his life a ransom for lost man. Here the then popular church cried, "Crucify him!" Here the pentecostal shower fitted up the church for its period of tribulation. Here the ecclesiastical authorities put to a disgraceful death the devout and zealous Stephen; and here Paul took early lessons of Gamaliel.

Passing over into Macedonia, we find the birth-place of Alexander, whose military skill and power overturned the second kingdom, and established the third universal kingdom (of "brass"), the Grecian supremacy. And farther west, we find Rome, mighty and powerful, in due time waxing strong, undermining the Grecian influence, and finally establishing itself as the fourth universal kingdom.

Rome, renowned in history as the birth-place of warriors, the iron of Nebuchadnezzar's dream, finally mixed with the clay, divided, weakened by intestine commotion, the prey successively of Alaric, Genseric, and Attila, plundered, burned, finally as the scarlet-colored beast, served to sustain the woman who was drunken with the blood of the saints. See Rev. xvii.

Not a province of Europe but is a witness to the purity of the religion of Jesus, and the ire of the dragon. Witnesses have everywhere sealed with their blood their faith in Jesus; and the blood thus shed has but intoxicated the power which has set itself up as the vicegerent of God upon earth. Spain has been famous for its inquisitions, France for its blood-red massacres and wholesale butcheries of the people; Germany for its councils of darkness. England has had its share in the worship of the great harlot; its Thomas a Becket, and its Henry the VIII, and its bigoted Mary; and many a martyr has felt the flame.

Roman-Catholic Poland and Hungary once could hunt the Christians for their mistress, the woman upon the scarlet-colored beast; but now they are no more. Scarcely a town or village in those countries but has witnessed the atrocities of religious persecution. Africa too has had her apostles and her martyrs; and long they struggled against the darkness of error; and the reign of Papal Rome has been so severe and so long, the poor church has yielded; and having drunk of the contents of the golden cup, all these countries, Asia, Africa, and Europe, can now boast of a Christianity, merely nominal, almost as heartless as the mother of harlots. Why? Because in the long reign of Papal terror, she [the woman], has worn out the saints. See Dan. vii, 25.

We turn westward to the land discovered by Columbus, and lo! a continent! Here we see the power brought to view in Rev. xiii, 11, coming up, peacefully, out of the earth; heretofore no wars or persecutions in establishing this government; but still and quietly it arose by emigration and labor, industry and internal improvement.

As we study the part this government is yet to act, according to the word of prophecy, see Rev. xiii, 11-18; xiv, 9-11, and as we read of the far-reaching consequences, see Rev. xv, 2; xvi, 2, we must believe that God has not left his scattered people without a witness as to what pertains to the last days of earth.

As the map delineates the earth's surface, so prophecy delineates future history, and past history throws light upon and explains the work of God.

The map proves the earth in ruins, with only a small fraction habitable for man. Its internal confusion is equally as great. Witness the vain attempts of geologists to prove "that He who made it," and gave its date to Moses, was mistaken in its age! Thus a new discoveries in geology are made, new theories are formed, and old ones exploded. Vain man would be wise.

But the map of the earth will be revised. It must remain as now, until the earth and sea give up their dead. Soon the righteous will arise. Even though mountains rest upon their ashes, they will be removed. The righteous being delivered, the earth will be desolate, Isa. xxiv, and so remain a thousand years. Rev. xx, 1-8. Then the resurrection of the wicked, Rev. xx, 5-15, and the final fires, 2 Pet. iii, which consume the wicked, will purify the earth. Mal. iv, 3; Rev. xxi, 1. Then caviling geologists will be dumb, and the earth be mapped anew. J. CLARKE.