Signs of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 36. (9/4/1901)

Signs of the Times

Sep 4, 1901

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 4, 1901

ENDING OF HUMAN DREAMS.

RUINS to the thoughtful mind are ever subjects of sad contemplation. They speak of ephemeral greatness, of blasted hopes, of unfulfilled dreams, of blighted prospects.

SO SPEAKS the illustration on this page. All that it shows now are some broken walls, a few solitary, decaying old dwellings, dreariness beyond, a solitary figure in the foreground, with a few bright flowers, ever springing anew from the earth to mock the desolation of the ruined monuments to human greatness and folly.

WHEN Omri, captain of Israel’s host, rose up against the traitor Zimri and slew him, he became the strongest influence among the Ten Tribes. For a little time he met opposition, which was soon crushed out. Leaving the royal seat of the kingdom, Shechem, doubtless because of its associations, and also to add luster and strength to his own reign, he bought for two talents of silver, of Shemer, the hill of Samaria, almost on the eastern border of the great plain of Sharon, stretching westward to the Mediterranean Sea. Here, six miles north of Shechem, on this natural stronghold, he built the city of Samaria for the royal capital of the kingdom of Israel. Here he reigned wickedly for twelve years, the city ever increasing in grandeur and beauty.

WHEN Omri died, weak and wicked Ahab, more weak than wicked, came to the throne. He himself bowed to a ruler, his strong, unprincipled, unscrupulous wife, Jezebel, a royal Zidonian, an enthusiastic worshiper of Baal and Ashtoreth. She filled Samaria with the priests of both cults. Both of them were most abominably licentious. Four hundred priests of the former and four hundred and fifty of the latter ate at the dissolute queen’s table, who impoverished the kingdom to support the most degraded worship the world ever knew, and to beautify Samaria, “the crown of pride,” at “the head of the fat ‘valley.”

SHE doubtless thought that Baal and Astarte worship would rule forever in Samaria. She had but one “trouble,” Elijah, the true prophet of God. Ahab, stirred up by his sun-worshiping queen, hunted the prophet in all the kingdoms he knew, far and near. But God shielded His servant, and, when the opportune moment came, revealed on Carmel’s top to Ahab and blinded Israel the difference between the true God and the false. But all this only stirred Jezebel to greater wickedness, and more determined attempts to destroy the prophet of God.

ONE of the recorded acts of this wicked woman, revealing her true character, was the order in the king’s name to shed the innocent blood of Naboth, because, forsooth, the man wanted to retain his own estate,

which Ahab coveted. Ahab weakly yielded to her cruel course. Then came the prophet of God again to Samaria’s ruler with this message: “Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? . . . In the place ‘where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, ‘even thine, . . . because thou hast sold thyself to do that which ‘is evil in the sight of the Lord. Behold, I will bring evil upon thee, ‘and will utterly sweep thee away, and will cut off from Ahab every ‘man child, . . . And I will make thine house like the house of ‘Jereboam the son of Nebat. . . . The dogs shall eat Jezebel by ‘the rampart of Jezreel.”

A LITTLE later and the king was destroyed in battle, brought home in his chariot, and the blood from his wounds was licked by dogs where Naboth was slain. Jezebel survived him about thirteen years, and was slain in Jezreel by the order of the zealot king Jehu, and her flesh eaten by dogs, as God had foretold by the prophet. Thus perished the builders and beautifiers of Samaria.

OF Samaria itself, a city founded in iniquity and established in wickedness, the prophet declared: “I will make Samaria as an heap of ‘the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the ‘stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations ‘thereof.’” This prophecy of Micah has been literally fulfilled. Even the present village of Sebastiyeh is built below the old city and of its ruins.

SO WILL perish all the monuments and works of men not wrought in God. Jesus said: “Every plant which My heavenly Father hath ‘not planted, shall be rooted up.’” The day may be late in coming; thirteen years or thirteen centuries may elapse; men may persuade themselves that the judgments foretold by the Bible will never come; that they are the ravings of enthusiastic partisan devotees; that all things will continue as from the creation; nevertheless, no word of God shall fail. All sin will meet the harvest of its sowing. Everything not founded in the righteousness of God, however man may regard it, will come to ruin. But blessed be God, it is also true that not one promise of His will fail of fulfilment to those who trust Him.

AND here is the lesson to be learned: “Here have we no continuing ‘city, but we seek one to come.” “All flesh is grass; . . . the ‘grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the Word of our God shall ‘stand forever.” “Love not the world, neither the things that are in ‘the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not ‘in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of ‘the eyes, and the vain-glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the ‘world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he ‘that doeth the will of God abideth forever.”

CAN A CHRISTIAN BE A POLITICIAN?

HARRY L. ABBOTT is the name of a printer employed on the Daily News, at McKeesport, Pa., who has been a member of the common council of that city for the past fourteen months. From the nature of his employment it is reasonable to suppose him intelligent, as well as from the fact that he had, prior to becoming a member of the council, served several terms acceptably as a member of the school board. To all these positions he was elected by the unanimous vote of his ward, showing the great confidence reposed in him. But he has now resigned because he does not believe a man can be a Christian and a member of the council at the same time, and being a Christian he had to quit as a matter of conscience. He says politics is the most corrupt thing he has ever been mixed up with, and he found that in order to be of use to his constituents to secure needed improvements for his district, he must stifle his conscience, enter into cliques and schemes, and become a low politician. As Mr. Abbott served several terms on the school board without feeling a necessity to resign, it is evident it is run on different principles than those governing Detroit’s aggregation similarly entitled.

While this religious typo held these views and acted according to the faith that is in him, Rev. W. F. Slocum, a college president, talked to a general religious meeting of Yale students at New Haven, Sunday evening, on “Loyalty,” and his positive assertions and strong language are diametrically opposed to his printer brother in Christ. He said, among other things: “We are told nowadays that the devil is walking ‘up and down the country saying a man can not be a politician and a ‘Christian. There is no more abominable and damnable lie than that a ‘man can’t be a politician and a Christian, and it ought to be stamped ‘out.’” The Rev. Slocum then said that America needs men who are loyal to what is true and right; that loyalty in olden times stood for adherence to the king, whether good or bad, and in later times it stood for what was good in law, but to-day the Christian idea combines the two. He added: “We should pound into men’s heads the thought ‘that a man can be a politician and a Christian. They must have the ‘thought of honesty forced upon their attention. We must pound into ‘society the thought of purity.’”

Here, then, we have two views of the question, “Can a man be a ‘politician and a Christian at the same time?” The first is from a religious gentleman of intelligence who had been brought in direct contact with the situation. The second is from a reverend gentleman and college president, filled with theories of right and wrong, but without any practical experience in the matter. Which is correct? If all men were honest and pure and loyal to what is true and right, we should probably vote with the preacher; but until that millennial day dawns, we are compelled to agree with the printer.—Detroit Free Press.

THE FINAL PLAGUES.

By J. O. Corliss

SINCE the decisions of the judgment are rendered according to the standard of God’s commandments, it seems appropriate enough for the last appeal of the warning judgment message to call attention to these commandments, and point out as saints those who keep them. Rev. 14:6–12. It will be noticed that this warning also indicates the result of refusing to keep these commandments, showing that such will surely drink of the wine of the wrath of God. What this amounts to is revealed in the first verse of chapter fifteen. It is there stated that in the plagues to be poured out immediately following the last message of mercy, is completed the wrath of God. In these plagues even the very dregs of the wine-cup of God’s fury are to be poured out for sinners to drink. Ps. 75:8.

This being the “unmingled” wrath of God, it follows that there is in it no commingling of mercy, as has been in all past frowns of heaven upon wicked men. This is evidence that at that time Jesus has ceased His pleading, and that probation’s privileges are things of the past, never again to be enjoyed. Rev. 8:5. This time, fraught with the deepest interest to the people of the present generation, will be ushered in by a decree, as the result of the judgment work, that no man’s condition can ever be changed from what it is then found to be. In other words, he that is holy and righteous will ever remain so, while he that is filthy and unholy must continue the same until he meets his final destiny. Rev. 22:11. The Spirit of God having been resisted and rejected by the incorrigibles, these have sealed their own fate eternally.

This decree may not be formally made known to the world, because it could not be understood by those who have rejected the Spirit’s power to enlighten the darkened mind (Matt. 24:36, 37; Dan. 12:9, 10); but the loyal ones will know the state of affairs from the fact that they have been separated from the others by heeding the command to gather themselves together before the decree passes. Zeph. 2:1–3. More than this, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, follows closely upon the delivery of the decree, and every Bible student knows, and will then more fully know, that when that time comes, the standing up of the Lord, which is the commencement of His eternal reign over the children of men, is next at hand. Dan. 7:13, 14; 12:1.

Besides, this time of greatest trouble ever known, must include the infliction of the seven last plagues upon the wicked, the severity of which is such that the rivers and fountains of waters run blood for men to drink, while the race is being scorched with dire heat from the rays of the sun. Malignant sores eat the flesh, causing the strongest and bravest to cry out, and gnaw their tongues for pain. Yet because of these plagues, especially the last one, which pours out great hailstones upon offending heads, men blaspheme the name of God more and more, until the battle of Armageddon ends in the mightiest earthquake ever known, and a thunderous voice from heaven declares the end of the controversy. Revelation 16.

The righteous are shielded in this terrible time, because they have separated from the wicked (Zeph. 2:1–3); hence no plague is permitted to come near them, while they behold the reward of iniquity,—the wickedness in which men have indulged,—falling upon their own heads. Ps. 91:1–11; Jer. 14:16. Thus all behold the majesty of Him whom the majority have spurned and set at naught. This is the time when the parable of the foolish virgins meets its fullest and final accomplishment. Matt. 25:11. It is also the time when men wander fruitlessly from sea to sea, and from the “north even to the

east,” seeking for some to teach them the lessons of God’s Word, which they had so long held in contempt. Amos 8:11, 12. But alas, it is too late; “the harvest is past, the summer is ended,” and these are not, neither can they ever be, saved. Jer. 8:20.

In view of all this, it is not hard to see the reason why the Lord said of those who die in the message just before the end comes, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth.” Rev. 14:13. Not only is their work done, and they rest from their labors, to come up at the close of the controversy, and witness the triumph of the saints, but they are not required to pass through the terrible strain of earth’s closing scenes. Sweet and blessed rest; for even God’s people are to have surpassing troubles to meet before the warfare is ended. In the enforcement of “the mark of the beast,” those who continue loyal to God will be especially marked as objects of the dragon’s wrath. Rev. 13:15–17. They will therefore be obliged to flee to the eternal hills for refuge, where the fortresses of rocks may defend them from the attacks of their ruthless foes. There they will receive, according to the promise of heaven, their daily bread, until permitted to behold the King in His beauty, and realize His mighty power over their mad pursuers. Isa. 33:16, 17. In such condition they will, in deep humility, cry day and night for deliverance, while awaiting their vindication at the hands of God. Luke 8:7, 8. J. O. CORLISS.

Its Origin

By W. A. Colcord

MODERN SPIRITISM.—No. 1.

Its Origin.

FIFTY-THREE years ago, modern Spiritism, as such, became public through the Fox family, at Hydesville, near Rochester, N. Y. The attention of the family had been attracted by what assumed the form of raps. Chairs were also sometimes moved about at night, as well as the dining-room table. The annoyances increased so much as seriously to disturb the repose of the family. They sought for a respite from the disturbances, which seemed to center chiefly around the two young daughters, Kate and Margaret. The girls’ beds were finally removed into the sleeping-room of the parents, and the children enjoined not to talk of noises. But scarcely had the family retired till the girls cried out, “Here they are again.” The mother chided them, and lay down, whereupon the noises became louder and more startling. The children, thoroughly aroused, sat up in bed.

The night being windy, the father examined the window to see if that was what was making the noise. Kate remarked that as often as her father shook the window-sash, the noise seemed to reply. Emboldened by familiarity with the disturbances, she snapped her finger, and called out, “Do as I do.” The knocking immediately responded. Then she tried, by silently bringing together her thumb and forefinger, to see if she could obtain a response. Yes! It could see as well as hear!

This at once aroused the mother’s attention. “Count ten,” she said, addressing the noise. Ten strokes were distinctly given. “How old is my daughter Margaret?” Twelve strokes. “And Kate?” Nine. “What can all this mean?” thought Mrs. Fox. She continued, “How many children have I?” Seven strokes. “Ah,” she thought, “it can blunder sometimes.” “Try again,” she said. Still the number of raps was seven. Of a sudden a thought crossed her mind. “Are all alive?” she asked. Silence for an answer. “How many are living?” Six strokes. “How many are dead?” A single stroke. She had lost a child.

A neighbor lady was called in to help solve the mystery if possible. She came in laughing, but the answers to her inquiries were no less prompt and pertinent, and upon her attention being called to the recent loss of a loved one, she burst into tears.

Thus on the night of March 31, 1848, the first intelligent communication from “the spirit world” came through the mysterious “knockings.” This was the beginning of modern Spiritism.

The Fox family sought to get free from their connection with these mysterious and inexplicable manifestations, but each morning they would find four coffins drawn with artistic skill upon the door of the dining-room of their home, all of different sizes, approximating the ages and sizes of the members of the family residing at home, and they were informed that unless they made this great mystery known to the world, they would all speedily die and enter the spirit world. Accordingly, Corinthian Hall was hired in Rochester, New York, and several public exhibitions of the “knockings” were given. After subjecting the girls to the closest scrutiny and the severest tests by a large and influential committee of citizens, these manifestations were declared to be the result of some power and intelligence altogether outside the girls themselves.

Its Manifestations.

After these demonstrations, Spiritism spread with astounding rapidity all over the civilized world. Like an electric wave, it seemed to encircle the globe. Thousands in all lands were soon investigating this strange and fascinating wonder of modern times. In every city and hamlet almost throughout all Christendom; men, women, and children were prying into this occultism, holding their private sittings, forming their circles, having their knockings, table-tippings, and other spiritual manifestations, and obtaining answers to their questions by means of these mysterious “rappings.”

However modern Spiritism may be viewed, it comes to us as a wonder-working power. While it may be freely admitted that there has been much fraud, trickery, and deception connected with it, still, on the other hand, there have been many well-attested wonders performed by it, which no one has been able to reproduce by mere sleight-of-hand, or to explain upon any natural hypothesis or scientific basis.

Among the well-known phenomena of Spiritism, aside from the usual rappings and table-tippings, may be mentioned the following: Various articles have been transported from place to place, without human hands, by the agency of so-called spirits only; beautiful music has been produced independently of human agency, with and without the aid of visible instruments; many well-attested cases of healing have been presented; persons have been carried through the air by the spirits in the presence of many witnesses; tables have been suspended in the air with several persons on them; purported spirits of deceased persons have presented themselves in bodily form and talked with audible voice.

Mr. Zollner, the famous German philosopher, after careful investigation of the phenomena of Spiritism, attests that he has seen knots tied in the middle of cords by an invisible agency, while both ends were made securely fast so that they could not be tampered with; messages written between doubly and trebly sealed slates; coins passed through a table; straps of leather knotted under his own hand; the impression of two feet made on sooted paper pasted inside two sealed slates; and a table wholly disappear, and later fall from the top of the room to the floor where he was sitting. These wonders quite eclipse the feats of the most dexterous performers of sleight-of-hand or legerdemain. Says Professor W. F. Barrett, of the Royal College of Dublin, “Beneath a repellant mass of imposture and delusion there remain ‘certain inexplicable and startling facts which science can neither explain ‘away nor deny.’”

Facts and incidents in life have been revealed by spiritistic mediums under trance, which indicate an intimate acquaintance with the most private life and histories of individuals. The manifestations and revelations of Spiritism show that there is not only a supernatural power behind them, but that there is an invisible and superhuman intelligence connected with them also. Mr. Minot J. Savage, a noted Unitarian minister of Boston, who has most carefully examined the claims and manifestations of Spiritism, says: “I am in possession of ‘a respectable body of facts that I do not know how to explain, except ‘on the theory that I am dealing with some invisible intelligence. I ‘hold that as the only tenable theory I am acquainted with.”

The fact that such intelligent men as these, together with Mr. W. T. Stead, editor of the Review of Reviews, and many others we might mention, have, upon careful examination, been compelled to admit that the manifestations of Spiritism are the result of unseen forces and invisible intelligences, goes far to establish the fact that Spiritism is not all trickery or mere sleight-of-hand performances. There is a real something to it which defies human ingenuity and unaided reason to explain.

What is the source of this power and intelligence, and what are the nature, influence, and tendency of the teachings of modern Spiritism, will form the subjects of our next two articles.

W. A. COLCORD.

A Christian Life That Needs No Revival

By E. L. Hyde

THERE is something better than a revival, and that is a Christian life that doesn’t need to be revived.—E. L. Hyde.

Prayer Drives Away Perplexity

By Melancthon

TROUBLE and perplexity drive us to prayer, and prayer drives away trouble and perplexity.—Melancthon.

Discover Friends’ Good Qualities

“DON’T wait until your friends die before you discover their good qualities.”

Studies in the Book of Daniel

By Milton C. Wilcox

The Book and Its Writer

The special subject of these studies at present is the Book of Daniel.

In its study we need not concern ourselves with the discussions or strictures of the higher critics. Let it suffice the believer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to know that Daniel’s prophecy had the indorsement of Him who spake as never man spake. In His prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem and of future judgments upon the world, the Great Teacher cites Daniel’s prophecy as authority, and declares, “Whoso readeth, let him understand.” Of what account should be the Babel of a multitude of “higher critics” or lower critics when the Master has spoken?

Moreover, the book itself, confirmed as it is by God in history, is evidence of its divine origin and absolute truthfulness. History demonstrates its prophecies. All this we will learn as we study its lessons.

The Purpose of the Book

While ages past could find many precious and practical lessons in the book of Daniel, it was written especially for the latter times, the last days, the very age in which we are living. Even the prophet himself did not understand much of what God had given through him; and when he had written the greater part of his prophecy, he was told, “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to ‘the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be ‘increased.’” And when in the prophet’s anxious interest, desiring to know more, he besought God to further enlighten him, he was again told, “Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed ‘till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and ‘tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall ‘understand; but the wise shall understand.’” Both of these affirm that the prophecy was written for the future, and both contain the implied promise that when the time of the end shall be reached, those who are wise in God (“Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; ‘and to depart from evil is understanding’”) shall understand the prophecy, knowledge of which was denied to the very one through whom it was given, simply because it could not be understood till the events predicted had been fulfilled or were fulfilling.

The same truth is thus stated again: “There is a God in heaven ‘that revealeth secrets, and maketh known . . . what shall be in ‘the latter days.’” “The vision of the evenings and mornings which ‘hath been told is true: but shut thou up the vision; for it belongeth ‘to many days to come.’”

A Key to the Book

Every lock has its key or combination of keys. Difficult problems are often easy when we find their simple secrets. From certain points of view certain lines form what is to the beholder an intricate maze, but looked at from the right angle, every line is in harmony with the rest, and the whole is simple. This principle is true in the study of God’s Word. Every book has its divine purpose. Every subdivision has its central thought. Every lock has its key. Every seeming snarl the clue, which, when found, will unwind its precious golden cord to the devout student.

One of the great purposes for which the book of Daniel was given is to teach that “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and ‘giveth it to whomsoever He will.’” While this is stated in but one chapter—the fourth—it is taught from beginning to end, a lesson that God would have every ruler, and statesman, and politician on earth learn.

Keys to Chapters

Every chapter, or rather subdivision, has its key, generally embodied in some expression found in the subdivision itself. Sometimes the subdivision is complete with the chapter; sometimes the chapters should be combined. This is true to a certain extent of chapters 8 and 9; for both deal with the same subject and vision; and emphatically true of chapters 10 and 11.

The book of Daniel is written in two languages: From the first to the first clause of chapter 2:4, it is written in Hebrew: thence to the close of chapter 7 in Aramaic; from the beginning of chapter 8 to the close it is again written in Hebrew, with both of which languages the prophet was doubtless well acquainted.

The time of writing the book was from B.C. 603 to 534. The writer was Daniel, whose name means, “God is my judge,” who was renowned in Israel for his greatness and piety, and God characterizes him as “a man greatly beloved.”

How He Came to Babylon

One of the noblest and greatest of Judea’s kings was Hezekiah, who reigned twenty-nine years, from B.C. 726 to 697 (Usher’s chronology). Of his faithfulness it is said: “He trusted in the Lord God of ‘Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of ‘Judah, nor any that were before him; for he clave to the Lord, and ‘departed not from following Him, but kept His commandments.”

In his faithfulness God prospered him. Hezekiah threw off the yoke of the Assyrian, recovered the cities taken by the Philistines, erected public buildings, improved the water-supply system of Jerusalem, and encouraged education in art, science, literature, and religion. It almost seemed as tho Israel would come back to that place in the world which God gave her as light-bearer, as God’s missionary to lead other peoples and nations to Him; but the idolatry of self and nature was too deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. And even in Hezekiah we are taught again the lesson of man’s frailty. In the middle of his reign God restored him to health from a sickness unto death, prolonging his life fifteen years. The king of Babylon sending ambassadors to congratulate him, Hezekiah in foolish pride showed them all the treasures and riches of his kingdom, and thus aroused their cupidity. The vast treasures at Jerusalem thus became an ever-dazzling temptation to the Babylonians, till Jerusalem was taken by Nebuchadnezzar, and the treasure-houses of Jerusalem were robbed of their riches. And thus, more than a century before it occurred, the Lord told the foolish king it would be:—

“Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord. And of thy sons that shall issue from thee, which thou shalt beget, shall they take away; and they shall be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” Isa. 39:6, 7.

This was Babylon’s answer to Hezekiah’s folly. Had Hezekiah showed the riches of God’s grace, as he had the opportunity, the sequel would have been of a far different character. He had the opportunity to preach the Gospel, and failed.

The sad prophecy was fulfilled when Nebuchadnezzar, who became the greatest king of Babylon, came against Jerusalem, plundered it of its treasures, burned the city and its glorious temple, and took of the youths of the royal seed for his servants. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Their deportation to Babylon took place at the time Nebuchadnezzar first captured Jerusalem, B.C. 605.

As Israel had utterly apostatized, as God could do nothing else for them or through them, He sets up His light, the center of illumination on earth, in the persons of the faithful in the heathen city of Babylon, and purposes to use that great empire for the promulgation of His truth in the earth. The book of Daniel is the ‘divine record of God’s work in this respect. And as we study it, we shall find that a divine hand shaped the events, a divine foresight selected the lessons for later times, a divine inspiration penned them; and may the Divine Spirit guide in their study, even as Divine Power will attend their infinite truths to the lives of all who receive them. M. C. WILCOX.

GOD'S METHOD.

God permits us to dig in the fields, to work in factories, to write in offices, not because in this way we are to earn our living, but that, like children playing with blocks, we may learn the lesson upon which the game is founded. The loaf upon our table is no less a miracle than the manna that fell in the desert; but God allows us to handle and carry the loaf, that we may be taught the deeper truth hidden within. How to meet adversity, how to withstand prosperity, how to overcome difficulty, how to be patient in tribulation, how to value and exercise faith, loyalty to trust, devotion to duty, faithfulness under the strongest temptation, courage and self-reliance—all these are developed under the teachings of God’s providence, and life in its every part is a divine school, having lessons of the divinest character. In this way is God working out His great purpose, and fitting us for our final destiny.—Selected.

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