The prophet Daniel was given a view of world scenes taking place on the earth at the time when Jesus’ work as high priest closes in the sanctuary in heaven, and he clothes himself with kingly robes. Daniel wrote:—
“At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan. 12: 1.
The Last Recorded Event Among Nations Before Jesus Receives His Kingdom
The last event among nations preceding the standing up of Jesus and the beginning of this time of trouble, is the planting in the holy land of “the tabernacles” of the Turkish government, not the final overthrow of that government. The coming “to his end” is thrown in here to carry to its completion the history of the king of the north, but this does not take place until some time later, when, during the sixth plague, this territory is cleared, preparing the way for the kings of the east to join forces at Armageddon for the last titanic conflict of earth.
“It was impossible for the plagues to be poured out while Jesus officiated in the sanctuary; but as his work there is finished, and his intercession closes, there is nothing to stay the wrath of God, and it breaks with fury upon the shelterless head of the guilty sinner, who has slighted salvation and hated reproof.”—“Early Writings,” p. 280.
It is not until the next to the last plague that the territory of the Euphrates is cleared of the nation ruling it. Hence it is very plain that it would be a false reckoning to look for the end of the king of the north to take place before the standing up of Michael. Neither is one to conclude that the moving of his palaces into the Holy Land gives us the exact time of Jesus’ standing up to receive his kingdom. The next great event, it is true, is the standing up of Christ, but it may be some time after, no one knows; for it must be remembered that no one knows the exact time for this particular event. It is not to be revealed. This one event the Father keeps within his own power. (See Acts 1: 6, 7.) Hence no one can say that when Turkey’s seat of government is removed to the Holy Land, probation closes. The Scriptures give us no authority for saying this, but that this great event is at hand, and is the next to take place, the Scriptures do teach, and upon this we may firmly take our stand.
The Time of Trouble Comes upon the World Suddenly
That this time finally comes suddenly, the following quotations point out:—
“In the visions of the night a very impressive scene passed before me. I saw an immense ball of fire fall among some beautiful mansions, causing their instant destruction. I heard some one say, ‘We knew that the judgments of God were coming upon the earth, but we did not know that they would come so soon.’ Others, with agonized voices, said, ‘You knew! Why then did you not tell us? We did not know.’ On every side I heard similar words of reproach spoken.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, p. 28.
This surprise at the suddenness of the falling judgments of God is not confined to the people of the world. Notwithstanding the fact that Christ has exhorted his people to be ready, to watch, this word is given us concerning some advent believers themselves:—
“When Jesus ceases to plead for man, the cases of all are forever decided. This is the time of reckoning with his servants. To those who have neglected the preparation of purity and holiness, which fits them to be waiting ones to welcome their Lord, the sun sets in gloom and darkness, and rises not again. Probation closes; Christ’s intercessions cease in heaven. This time finally comes suddenly upon all, and those who have neglected to purify their souls by obeying the truth, are found sleeping. They became weary of waiting and watching; they became indifferent in regard to the coming of their Master. They longed not for his appearing, and thought there was no need of such continued, persevering watching. They had been disappointed in their expectations, and might be again. They concluded that there was time enough yet to arouse. They would be sure not to lose the opportunity of securing an earthly treasure. It would be safe to get all of this world they could. And in securing this object, they lost all anxiety and interest in the appearing of the Master. They became indifferent and careless, as though his coming were yet in the distance. But while their interest was buried up in their worldly gains, the work closed in the heavenly sanctuary [and the third angel’s message closes at the same time on earth], and they were unprepared. “If such had only known that the work of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary would close so soon, how differently would they have conducted themselves? How earnestly would they have watched! The Master, anticipating all this, gives them timely warning in the command to watch. He distinctly states the suddenness of his coming [from his priestly ministry]. He does not measure the time, lest we shall neglect a momentary preparation, and in our indolence look ahead to the time when we think he will come, and defer the preparation. ‘Watch therefore: for ye know not.’ Yet this foretold uncertainty, and suddenness at last, fails to rouse us. . . . The Master comes, and instead of their being ready to open unto him immediately, they are locked in worldly slumber, and are lost at last.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. II, pp. 191, 192.
What It Will Mean to Those Who Cast Away Their Confidence
“I was shown a company who were howling in agony. On their garments was written in large characters, ‘Thou art weighed in the balance, and found wanting.’ I asked who this company were. The angel said, ‘These are they who have once kept the Sabbath and have given it up.’ I heard them cry with a loud voice, ‘We have believed in thy coming, and taught it with energy.’”—“Early Writings,” p. 37.
The Lord Wants Us to be Ready
The Lord tells us these things in advance so that we may be ready. Worldly treasure is depreciating in value very fast. We are near the great year of jubilee. Satan tries to make the world appear very attractive to Seventh-day Adventists. We must not forget this. Especially about our young people are thrown visions of earthly glory with enticing allurements to secure their interest until God’s work shall be finished. It matters little what it is,—dress, amusements, riches, pleasure, worldly gain,—anything to keep them from whole-hearted service in the cause of God until the day of salvation is past.
Shall we not defeat the enemy? We can. These things are pointed out to us now, so that we may. The grace of Christ is sufficient. None need fail. But we have no time to lose. Several years ago this word was given: “The world is stirred with the spirit of war. [It is now stirred with war itself.] The prophecy of the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfilment. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, p. 14.
God grant we may be ready.
Takoma Park, D. C.
Love as Christ Loves
By J. R. Miller, D. D.
We are to love all whom Christ loves. Not every one is beautiful, or a hero, or a saint, but love makes us gentle with rudeness, harshness, or unkindness, patient with faultiness, pitiful toward weakness. Whatever others may do to us or fail to do, we must always love them and do to them what Jesus would do.—J. R. Miller, D. D.
Recruits for the Orient
By R. C. Porter
Our Largest Single Offering on the Altar of Missions
R. C. PORTER
Today, August 1, forty-two missionaries, besides seven children, are leaving San Francisco for the Orient. Nine more who were unable to secure passage on this steamer, will follow on August 9, from Seattle. This makes the largest company of our missionaries ever leaving America at one time. This means that we have reached the hour for a special advance.
If these missionaries who are now leaving for the Far East were given their choice between going to heaven to remain there in the bliss of its glory until the work closes, or going forward and meeting the experiences of labor and privation in the mission fields until the Lord shall return to bring them, with the fruit of their labor, to the kingdom when the work finally closes in triumph, I believe they would all choose to remain with the work until it is finished.
Steamship “China” on which the missionaries sailed from San Francisco
We cannot fully express our appreciation of the liberality of our brethren and sisters in the homeland in their contributions of their children and of their means to the work in the mission fields. In giving us your sons and daughters for these needy fields and in supporting with your means the workers that go, you will be sharers in the reward when the work is over.
It costs about $100 to meet the salary and expenses of a native worker for a year. Some in the homeland may wish to be represented in the mission fields by an evangelist who will be working in their stead. You can do this by contributing $100 and requesting that a missionary be supported for one year.
Brother and Sister McWhinny were intending to go forward with our company, but upon the invitation of their home conference officers, they have decided to remain and take a year's further preparation in the Loma Linda Medical College.
While we shall miss them for the present, yet the year spent in training in the medical work will make them much more efficient for service in the field when they reach it. Every province in our field would be greatly benefited by having a thoroughly trained medical worker as a member of its staff. Now that the General Conference has authorized the erection of a hospital and the further development of the Loma Linda Medical College, every loyal Seventh-day Adventist should join in a united movement to make its work a success. In this way you will be aiding in training workers who will be better prepared to care for their own health and to be a help to the multitudes of natives who are continually seeking medical aid.
On the last mail before leaving, I received a letter from Elder B. L. Anderson, of South China, in which he says:—
“You will notice‘ the total offerings from the field averaged 21 cents (Mex.) a week per capita. You will notice that the total expense of the mission is $38,549.95 for last year, and that the total net receipts from the field were $10,241.43, which is a little more than one fourth of the total expense. Adding the rental of foreign houses and the refunds to the net receipts, increases them to $13,154.87, which is a little more than one third of the total expense, so that of every three dollars expended in the field, our Chinese brethren in South China have furnished one dollar.”
“Good meetings were reported at Swatow and Amoy. Eighteen were baptized in the former place and thirteen in the latter. We have also been having good meetings here in Fu-chau. Last Friday about midday I assisted Elder N. P. Keh in baptizing sixty-nine persons. The membership of the Adventist church in Fu-chau now stands at one hundred and eighty-two. Of those recently baptized, fifteen were heads of families. With the exception of three women, the remaining fifty-four were students in the school. When these first applied for baptism, I hesitated; I wished there were not so many; but when I learned of their intelligent faith, I could not forbid them. Besides the daily devotional services in the school and their regular Bible classes and study course, and instruction in the Scriptures on the Sabbath, these students had had personal work done for them. Before the close of last year the twenty-eight students who had previously accepted Christ and were baptized into the church, were organized into a Missionary Volunteer Society, which had for its aim, ‘Every member win at least one soul for Christ during this year.’ The Lord of the harvest gave them souls. When I saw what God had done for the intelligent faith of these students, I said, ‘The Lord has done more than we had expected or asked.’ One Chinese brother recently said, ‘I have vowed before the Lord to give him $1,000 during the coming year.’”
Thus the work moves forward. Every passing month brings its fruitage. Soon the final “harvest home” will be sung and the laborers will receive their reward.
Elder R. C. Porter saying good-by to Elder I. H. Evans
The photograph on page 9 gives a fair idea of the number of missionaries sailing, as all but seven are included; but we wish we might have had another picture showing the hundred or more brethren and sisters who came to the boat to help us in every way possible, and to bid us farewell and Godspeed. Some of the most prominent among these were Elders I. H. Evans, president of the North American Division, A. O. Tait, M. C. Wilcox; Brethren C. H. Jones, H. G. Childs, H. H. Hall, James Cochran, L. E. Froom, and many others from the Pacific Press and the Mountain View church; Prof. M. E. Cady, of the Pacific Union Conference; Elders J. L. McElhany, E. W. Farnsworth, R. S. Fries, and others from the California Conference and the Oakland church; also Elder W. C. White, C. C. Crisler, and others from St. Helena. The churches of San Francisco, Alameda, Berkeley, and other bay cities were well represented. There were also a number of returned missionaries in the company,—Dr. A. G. Larson and family, Dr. Riley Russell, and Elder J. W. McCord.
The loyal company of missionaries sailing on the steamship “China” join me in sending to the readers of the REVIEW our parting greetings.
Farewell Missionary Service
By J. L. McElhany
J. L. MC ELHANY
TUESDAY, August 1, the steamship “China” left the dock of the China Mail Steamship Company in San Francisco, and headed out through the Golden Gate, bound for the Orient. On board was the largest party of missionaries ever sent out by the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Some time before the hour for sailing, our people began to assemble until there9was finally a larger gathering of Seventh-day Adventists than has ever been together on the Pacific Coast on an occasion of this kind since the days of the missionary ship “Pitcairn.”
All recognized that this was no ordinary occasion. Several representatives of the Pentecostal Church were there to bid farewell, with considerable ceremony, to one lady missionary. The Methodists also were present to see three of their missionaries depart. We were gathered to bid Godspeed to our company of forty-two missionaries.
This incident is indicative of the very spirit of the message. The time has come when we may expect to see many such companies hastening out into all parts of the world. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Counting the overflow party sailing on the ninth of August from Seattle, the number of those going out at this time exceeded fifty.
RECRUITS FOR THE ORIENT
(Sailing from San Francisco, August 1)
On Sabbath afternoon, July 29, a union farewell service for our missionaries was held in the Oakland church. It was felt that an occasion marking the beginning of a new era in our foreign mission operations should be made the object of a special gathering. I cannot recall ever attending a more impressive or interesting service than this one proved to be.
That the churches of the California Conference take a deep interest in the cause of foreign missions, was again evidenced by the large crowd that filled the church to overflowing. Elder R. C. Porter, president of the Asiatic Division Conference, gave the opening address, during which he very vividly portrayed the great needs of the fields in the Asiatic Division Conference. He was followed by others of the outgoing missionaries, who gave short talks in which they stated the reasons why they were willing to leave home, country, and kindred, and face the hardships of the mission fields.
We were fortunate also in having with us Dr. Riley Russell and Brother R. C. Wangerin of Korea, and Dr. A. G. Larson of the Central China Mission. As these workers related their experiences, and told of their sorrow at being separated from the work in their chosen fields, and also made earnest appeals for help, a very deep impression was made upon all. Especially touching was the talk by Brother Wangerin, for the marks and scars of the battle were plainly visible. Stricken with disease, and scarcely able to make himself heard, he told of his years of labor in southern Korea, and of the two hundred believers he had left there. He requested our prayers in his behalf that he might speedily be restored to health so that he could hasten back to his field.
All honor to those who are stricken on the battle front! As they come back to us for a little season to seek rest and health, we should earnestly endeavor to learn the lessons taught by their sacrifices, and seek to enter into their labors with them.
Following the talks by the missionaries, Brethren W. C. White, C. H. Jones, A. O. Tait, R. W. Munson, and others spoke with deep feeling. They recounted the marvelous manner in which the message had spread throughout the world in recent years. Elder White spoke of the feelings that his father, Elder James White, would undoubtedly have had, could he have been in a meeting like that and listened to the wonderful reports.
Although the Midsummer Offering had been taken at the morning service, another liberal offering was taken at this meeting. “God be with You till We Meet Again” was sung to close the meeting. This meeting will stand out distinctly as an epoch-making event in the onward march of this glorious truth.
Items of Personal Interest Concerning the Missionaries
The San Francisco Company
THE following items of information regarding the personnel of this large company will be of interest:—
Elders R. C. Porter and R. F. Cottrell, with their companions, are returning to their field in China, Brother Porter as president of the Asiatic Division and Brother Cottrell as president of the Central China Mission field.
Brother and Sister J. G. White have been connected with the New England Sanitarium for a number of years, he as business manager and she as matron.
Mrs. C. E. Weaks goes to join her husband, who is general secretary of the publishing work in the Asiatic Division.
Dr. John N. Andrews is the grandson10of Elder J. N. Andrews. He took two years of his medical work in Loma Linda, completing his course at the George Washington University last year. Mrs. Andrews is the daughter of Elder and Mrs. W. A. Spicer.
Brother and Sister R. D. Loveland are medical missionaries, having taken their course at Loma Linda.
Prof. and Mrs. O. F. Sevrens go to connect with the training school in the Philippine Islands. Professor Sevrens was a public-school teacher in the islands at one time, and there learned the truth. He is a graduate of one of the Eastern universities, and spent some time at Pacific Union College.
Prof. and Mrs. S. L. Frost have been connected with the school in South Lancaster He goes to take charge of the Missionary Volunteer work in the Asiatic Division.
RECRUITS FOR THE ORIENT
(Sailing from Seattle, Wash., August 9)
From left to right: Mr. and Mrs. Dallas S. Kime and child; Elder and Mrs. C. F. Lowry and two children, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Hilliard, Miss Lena Mead.
Prof. and Mrs. Irving Steinel go out from South Lancaster Academy. He will take the principalship of the Philippine school.
Mr. and Mrs. Otto B. Kuhn will take up medical missionary work in China. Brother Kuhn has been one of the head nurses in the Washington Sanitarium for several years. His wife is a school-teacher, and spent some time in Bermuda.
Mr. and Mrs. M. G. Conger have attended school for several years in Takoma Park. Brother Conger received the degree of B. A. last spring, and his wife is a school-teacher.
Clarence Morris and R. J. Brines likewise graduated from the Washington Missionary College last spring, receiving their B. A. degree.
C. E. Blandford goes out directly from the New England Sanitarium, accompanied by his wife.
Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Jacques attended school last year in Washington. Brother Jacques is a graduate nurse, and his wife is a sister of Prof. H. L. Benson of Japan, to which field they are assigned.
Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Barto expect to go to Sumatra. Sister Barto is a graduate nurse, a sister of R. J. Brines. They expect to take up teaching.
H. O. Swartout was science teacher in Mt. Vernon Academy.
Mrs. J. E. Fulton and daughter go to China to join Elder Fulton, who is secretary of the Asiatic Division.
E. J. Urquhart and his family, also H. B. and Mrs. Parker and children of California, accepted a quick call for service in China, and sailed with this large company August 1.
Specific work or a particular mission field has not yet been assigned to some of these recruits, but this will be done on their completion of the year’s language study which all the new recruits are expected to take on reaching the Orient.
The Seattle Company
Brother and Sister Dallas Kime go from College Place, Wash., as medical missionaries to Singapore.
Elder C. F. Lowry has attended several of our schools; was pastor of the church in Memphis, Tenn., and with Mrs. Lowry goes to Rangoon, Burma, as superintendent of that field.
Brother and Sister W. I. Hilliard are graduate nurses from the Glendale (Cal.) Sanitarium.
Sister Lena Mead goes to Singapore as a teacher.
G. F. JONES
By G. F. Jones
Pioneering Experiences in the Solomon Islands — No. 2
G. F. JONES
“The light is to shine to all lands and all peoples.” During those gloomy, unpleasant days when we first landed on the islands, this light of prophecy did shine in our hearts, and in spite of forbidding circumstances, it sustained us, and enabled us to look forward to a prosperous future for our work. We knew success would come, and now, after nearly two years of labor, we can see the light quickly penetrating among the different tribes of these islands. Instead of two workers, we now have three couples and a single man, four mission stations and two others waiting to be opened. The two motor launches already in the field cannot keep up with the work. Yes, “God’s people have a mighty work before them that must continually rise to greater prominence. . . . The whole earth is to be illuminated with the glory of God’s truth.”
The Lord does not need so much that we plan as that we enter the fields, “for they are white already to harvest.” Out here God plans and we work. When we first came, there was no way of getting natives to help us on our vessel unless we went recruiting amid great dangers; for recruits are obtained only by pointing a dozen rifles at the savages on the beach to protect the one who lands to make the bargain. The men obtained are taken to a government inspector, who sees that they are fit, properly dealt with, and “signed on” for two years’ service, to be returned at the end of that time to the place whence they came. The recruiting vessel takes its men to the different plantations, where at present they get $68 a man. They are then bound, under government regulations, for two years to be properly fed and paid. The men thus obtained are not nearly sufficient to supply the demands of the large plantations, so you see that if the Lord had not worked wonderfully for us in the beginning, we never could have moved our vessel from our first landing place, for we were obliged to have help to sail her.
After the steamer was gone, and the storm abated, there sailed into harbor with his cutter a very gentlemanly young man, a planter, who asked: “What can I do to help you? I will send four of my men on board to rig up your vessel, and will come myself.” I thanked him, and said I should be glad to have his men, but that he need not give his valuable time, as I understood how to manage. I did not see him again for several days, but his men stayed with me, and I was able to rig up the boat, getting everything stowed away ready for sea.11When the young man returned, he came on board our “Advent Herald,” and offered to pilot us anywhere we wanted to go, saying he would bring three men with him. This he did, and sent his own vessel back with the men who were not needed.
This is how the Lord planned for us. We could have done nothing without this help, while with it not a day was lost. We knew not where to go first, but the Lord knew where he wanted us to go. He sent this man to help and guide us. The Lord has blessed him for it, too; for he is much interested in the truth. He has since married, and bought a coconut plantation only one mile and a half from our Marovo Mission. About two months later, I was obliged to rush him in our swift motor boat to the steamer for Sydney, for he had black-water fever, and thus we were enabled to save his life.
O, if we only had several more workers, those who would be trustworthy, humble, and kind to the natives, to enter these benighted islands, from which calls are coming to us! How quickly the message would then go, and what joy it would bring to the hearts of God’s people!
Marovo Lagoon.
Mother
By Virginia Woodward Cloud
There came a day when cattle died,
And every crop had failed beside,
And not a dollar left to show.
Then Father said the place must go,
And all of us, we hated so
To go tell Mother.
Behind the barn, there we three stood
And wondered which one of us could
Spare her the most—'tis easily said,
But we just looked and looked in dread
At one another.
I spoke: “I’ll trust to Brother’s tongue.”
But Father said, “No, he’s too young;
I reckon I—” He gave a groan:
“To know we’ve not a stick nor stone
Will just kill Mother!
“Maybe a mortgage can be raised.
Here all her father’s cattle grazed;
She loves each flower and leaf and bird—
I’ll mortgage ere I’ll say a word
To Mother!”
Upon his hands he bowed his head.
And then a voice behind us said:
“Mortgage? And always have to pay?
Now, Father, I’ve a better way!”—
And there, between the ricks of hay,
Stood Mother.
“I have been thinking, ’most a year,
We’d sell this place, and somewhere near
Just rent a cottage, small and neat,
And raise enough for us to eat,”
Said Mother.
“There’s trouble worse than loss of lands.
We’ve honest hearts and willing hands,
And not till earth and roof and door
Can rob of peace, shall I be poor!”
She smiled. “And, it seems to me,
You all had better come to tea,”
Said Mother.
As through the sunset field astir
We three went following after her,
The thrushes, they sang everywhere;
Something had banished all our care,
And we felt strong enough to bear
All things—with Mother.
And listen: Once there came a day
When troops returned from far away,
And every one went up to meet
His own, within the village street.
But ere he reached our old milestone,
I knew that Father came alone—
And not with Brother.
Then through the twilight, dense and gray,
All that our choking sobs could say
Was—“Who’ll tell Mother?”
But waiting for us, by the wood,
Pale in the dusk, again she stood.
And then her arms round Father prest
And drew his head upon her breast:
“The worst that comes is never death,
For honor lived while he drew breath!”
Said Mother.
Often, when some great deed is cried
Of one, by flood or flame, who died,
Of men who sought and won their fame,
While all the land rings with some name
Or other,
I think me of one warfare long,
Of Marah’s water, bitter, strong,
Of sword and fire that pierced the heart,
Of all the dumb, unuttered part,
And say, with eyes grown misty, wet
(Love’s vision, that cannot forget),
“All heroes are not counted yet—
There’s Mother.”
