p. 1 | Signs of the Times, Vol. 38, Nos. 43, 44. (10/31/1911)

Signs of the Times

Oct 31, 1911

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Oct 31, 1911

Signs of the Times

Some Fundamental Principles Held by Seventh-Day Adventists

HE people who publish this paper have no human creed, no formulated principles to which believers must subscribe. Their norm of faith is the Bible. They unitedly hold, however, to certain clearly defined teachings of the Bible, some of the more important of which may be stated as follows, altho these are not a creed:

1. "There is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through Him." 1 Cor. 8:6, A.R.V.

2. That God, the Creator of the heavens and earth, is infinite in every attribute of knowledge, wisdom, power, goodness, truth, mercy, and love; unchangeable in character, and omnipresent by His Holy Spirit. Isa. 40:28; Ps. 145:3, 8, 9, 17; Ps. 147:5; James 1:17; Ps. 139:7; Rev. 4:11, et al.

3. That the only mediator between God and man is our Lord Jesus Christ, one with the Father before the world was, who gave Himself to save His fallen creatures and vindicate the character of Deity (1 Tim. 2:5; John 17:5; 1:1-3; 1 Peter 1:18-20; Titus 2:14); that the Father joined in this sacrifice (John 3:16); that in the development of this purpose Christ "made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Phil. 2:5-8); that in this He took upon Him our nature, lived our example, "full of grace and truth," died for our offenses, was raised for our justification, ascended to the right hand of the Father as priest in the heavenly temple, where He ministers the merits of His blood in our behalf (Rom. 1:3; Heb. 2:17; 1 Peter 2:21; John 1:14; Rom. 4:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Eph. 1:20-23); that in the close of this priesthood all sin is put away, perfect atonement is completed, His ministry closes in a judgment work (Heb. 8:1; 9:12-15; Rev. 10:7; 14:7); that His sacrifice and priesthood are typified in the services of the sanctuary and temple in the past dispensation, and that at the close of this priesthood our Lord will enter upon His eternal reign as king (Heb. 8:4, 5; 9:8, 9, 11, 12, 24, 25; 1 Cor. 15:24-28).

4. That the Holy Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament are given by inspiration of God, and are a perfect and full revelation of God's will to man, and the only infallible rule of faith and practise. 2 Tim. 3:16; Ps. 138:2; Acts 20:32.

5. That the prophetic scriptures are a part of God's revelation to man, a light that shines in a dark place, a warning of judgments to come, a blessing to those who hear and heed it, God's time-table of world events, and is therefore to be understood. 2 Peter 1:19; Amos 3:7; Rev. 1:1-3; Deut. 29:29; Dan. 12:10.

Map of the world, indicating our mission stations outside of the United States and Canada. These stations are shown by a small cross among the islands, by black dots on the mainland.

6. That God is the great moral governor of the universe (Ps. 103:19); that His moral requirements are the same upon all in all ages (Eccl. 12:13, 14; Mal. 3:6; Ps. 111:7, 8; Matt. 5:17-20); that these are summarily comprehended in the Ten Commandments, spoken by the great Jehovah from Sinai, written by His own finger on tables of stone, deposited in the holy ark, confirmed and kept by our Lord Jesus Christ, pointing out all sin, witnessing to the righteousness of God by faith, written and established in the heart by faith in Christ, and will be the rule of judgment in the last day (Deut. 5:22; 10:1-5; Isa. 42:21; John 15:10; Ps. 40:7, 8; Rom. 3:20; 7:7; 3:21; Heb. 8:10; Rom. 3:31; James 2:8-12).

7. That the fourth commandment of God's holy law, of equal sacredness, obligation, and authority with all, requires the observance of the seventh day of each week, from what is called Friday night at sunset to Saturday night at sunset; that this is the only weekly Sabbath known to the Bible; that it was observed before sin entered, and will be observed when the earth is made new. Ex. 20:8-11; Gen. 2:1-3; Mark 2:27; Isa. 66:22, 23.

8. That the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is manifest not to save us in sin, but from sin, not in disobedience, but from disobedience (Matt. 1:21; Titus 2:14); that this may be, we renounce all, must be born from above, and His law written in our hearts, so we shall say, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous" (Luke 14:33; John 3:3-5; Heb. 8:10; 1 John 5:3); that this new birth includes the moral change wrought by conversion and sanctification, and the change to immortality at Christ's coming and the resurrection of the righteous (John 3:3-5; Matt. 18:3; 1 Cor. 15:51-54).

9. That baptism follows faith and repentance, and is the visible means before men, the marriage ceremony, which unites us to Christ; and by this act we show our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord, of which immersion only is a fit symbol. Rom. 6:3-5; 7:4; Gal. 3:27; Col. 2:12.

10. That our Lord promised that He would come again as literally as He went away, personally and visibly (Acts 1:9-11; Rev. 1:7); that great lines of prophecy and special signs will mark when that coming is near, but none shall know the day or hour, consequently this people have never set times, nor can they ever while they hold to fundamental principles (Daniel and the Revelation; Luke 21:25-27; Matt. 24:33-36); and that a message of warning shall precede His coming (Joel 2:1; Matt. 24:14).

11. That prophecy clearly foretold the falling away from apostolic truth and holiness, predicted the coming of apostasy, the change of God's law, and the trampling of God's truth underfoot (Acts 20:29, 30; 2 Thess. 2:3, 4; 2 Tim. 4:3, 4; Dan. 7:25; Rev. 13:5-8); that it also foretells a reform respecting God's Sabbath and law, and the giving of a great threefold message to the world, which will develop a people waiting for their Lord, that "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" (Isa. 56:1, 2; 58:1, 13; Rev. 12:17; 14:6-14).

12. That the Spirit of God convicts the sinner, regenerates the believer, is the life bond of union among believers, and is designed to be manifest among Christians in various spiritual gifts for the service of God, among which are apostleship, prophecy, evangelists, pastors, teachers, gifts of healing, wisdom, knowledge, ministry, etc. (John 16:7-10; Eph. 4:4; 1 Cor. 12:13; Rom. 12:3-5; 1 Cor. 12:1-11, 28; Eph. 4:8, 11, 12); that these gifts, tho lost in part to the church, will be restored in all their fulness as men return to God and His holy law (Prov. 29:18; John 14:15, 16; Acts 2:17, 18, 37, 38; Eph. 4:13; 1 Cor. 1:5-7).

13. That the earth was created not in vain, and when purified and cleansed will be the eternal home of the immortal children of God. Isa. 45:17, 18; Matt. 5:5; Dan. 7:27; Matt. 25:34; Rev. 11:15; 2 Peter 3:7, 13; Rev. 21:1-7.

14. That man was created a candidate for righteousness or unrighteousness, for life or for death (Gen. 2:7, 17; Prov. 12:28; Eze. 18:4); that he chose sin and therefore became mortal, dying (Gen. 3:17-19, 22-24); that death is a state of unconsciousness (Ps. 146:3, 4; Eccl. 9:5, 6); that God only hath immortality (1 Tim. 6:16; 1:17); that man, to obtain life, must believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, apart from whom eventuates eternal death (John 3:16, 36; 2 Thess. 1:9); that immortality will be bestowed upon the faithful when Christ comes, and not till then (1 Cor. 15:51-54), necessitating our Lord's coming and the resurrection (John 5:28, 29; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:16-18).

15. That the immortal saints will be taken to heaven at Christ's coming, where they begin their reign with Christ in the New Jerusalem, the earth will be desolated for one thousand years, the wicked dead will then be raised, the city and people of God descend, all sin and all those who have identified themselves with sin will be destroyed, sin will be blotted out forever, the earth shall come forth new from the hand of God, and "there shall be no more curse." John 14:1-3; Rev. 19:1; Isa. 24:1-3; Jer. 4:23-27; Rev. 20:5, 7-10; Zech. 14:4, 5; Rev. 20:13-15; Rev. 21:1-7; 22:1-3, et al.

16. That the support of the Gospel ministry and the work of God should not be left to worldly, uncertain, or questionable methods, but to the Lord's own plan of tithes and offerings. Lev. 27:30; Mal. 3:10; Matt. 23:23, etc.

17. That God's people should be a devoted, earnest, honest people, frugal, temperate in manner, in dress, in appetite, faithful followers of the meek and lowly Jesus. James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17; Matt. 6:24; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10; 1 Peter 3:3, 4; 1 Cor. 9:27; 10:31; Titus 2:11-14.

A. G. Daniells, President General Conference

HE great world-wide missionary movement of the nineteenth century is the most significant factor of this marvelous age in which we live. It is a sign of the times, for this reason: When Christ was on earth, He told His disciples that He must leave them and go back to His Father. This filled their hearts with sorrow. To comfort them and all His people through all succeeding ages, He promised to come back again, and gather all His redeemed to Himself.

Believing this emphatic promise, His disciples asked this pointed question: "What shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus made a prompt, positive reply, in which He said:

"This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Some time after this interview between Christ and His twelve disciples, the Master gave to His beloved John a revelation of this great Gospel movement. In his description of it in the book of Revelation John says:

"I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people."

And immediately following this world-wide proclamation of the Gospel, the prophet beheld, in vision, the coming of the Lord.

"And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud One sat like unto the Son of Man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in Thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for Thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

These inspired statements very fitly describe the great world-wide Gospel movement of to-day as the preparation for the second advent of Christ. Therefore it is right to conclude and affirm that the missionary movement is a most significant sign of the times.

The present great endeavor to preach the Gospel of Christ to every heathen nation, was definitely set on foot just a little more than a century ago. The conception of it was given to William Carey, of England. He expressed his conception of the world-wide scope of the movement by drawing a large map of the world, on which all heathen lands throughout the world were designated by a dark color. The population of each country was placed on the map.

The facts which William Carey faced regarding the Christian and non-Christian peoples of the world, made a tremendous impression upon his mind. During the remainder of his life he proclaimed to all the world his belief that the hour had come for the church of Christ to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every lost soul. By his trumpet-calls to Christendom, and his life of toil and sacrifice in India, he set on foot the greatest Gospel missionary movement the world has ever seen. Small at the beginning, it has steadily developed and enlarged until it now reaches to the uttermost parts of the earth. And at no time during this century of missionary endeavor, has there been manifested greater interest in Christian missions than there is to-day. Everything is provided that is necessary to enable the Christian church to make it possible for every human being to hear the Gospel, and be saved by it, in this generation.

JAIN TEMPLE CALCUTTA INDIA AMOY GENERAL MEETING BELIEVERS IN ATTENDANCE

This is the greatest of all signs given by our Saviour to assure His people that He is soon to return. Then let the church hasten this work, and thus hasten His coming.

What Opportunity Means

By A. T. Pierson

Surely God has set before us open doors in Asia, Africa, South America, papal Europe, and the islands of the sea. And opportunity means responsibility. Wo to us if the Laodicean lukewarmness and indifference make the Philadelphian privilege and duty to be lightly esteemed and practically neglected. Never had the church a louder trumpet peal ringing in her ears, saying, "Occupy till I come!" Men are needed, money is needed, but above all prayer is needed; for while neither men nor money will fill the gap if prayer be lacking, true prayer will compel men to offer both themselves and their substance. There is no place where a lack of self-surrender and of true liberality is so mercilessly exposed as in the closet of secret communion! — The late A. T. Pierson.

The Missionary’s True Reward

By Charles Haddon Spurgeon

I SHOULD not like you, if meant by God to be a great missionary, to die a millionaire. I should not like it, were you fitted to be a missionary, that you should shrivel down into a king.—Spurgeon.

Thanks to the Helpers

By W. T. Knox

W. T. Knox, Treasurer General Conference

THE hearty reception given by our friends to the three previous issues of the Harvest Ingathering Number of our denominational paper, the Review and Herald, and the interest manifested by so many in our mission work in foreign lands and the large cities of America, have encouraged the Mission Board to issue a similar paper for 1911, using our well-known missionary periodical the SIGNS OF THE TIMES as the agency by which our message and information are to be conveyed to the public, instead of the Review and Herald, as formerly.

Great gratitude is felt by the treasury department of the denomination for the very substantial assistance rendered by our many friends in the distribution of the previous numbers, and for the satisfactory results attained. The reports received from those who have engaged in the work of distribution of our last number have been many and of great interest. Of the issue of the 1910 number of the Harvest Ingathering Review, over half a million copies were printed and mailed from the office of publication. These were distributed in all portions of the United States and Canada. As a result of thus informing the public of the work we are seeking to do, and the progress made, the treasurer has during 1910 received contributions to the amount of $41,643.92, which was a very great help to our Mission Board in sending the Gospel out into the dark corners of the earth, and winning souls to Christ.

To give some idea of the good accomplished by the offerings, it might be stated that the cost of sustaining for one year a native Gospel worker in such lands as India, China, Korea, or Japan, will average about $100. This would mean that there was received during 1910 from this source a sufficient amount to maintain for the year at least four hundred native Gospel workers in those countries.

The results obtained from the native workers are appreciated by but very few who are not in close touch with the mission fields. It is to those workers chiefly that we must look to carry the Gospel finally to their countrymen; for while we will doubtless always be obliged to have American or European leaders for our work in heathen lands, yet we can only hope to reach the unnumbered millions of China, India, and Africa, through the agency of the natives of those lands. Reports received from our missionaries invariably state that among their converts are continually found those in whose hearts exists the true missionary spirit, those who for the love of the Gospel that has found them are willing to endure all manner of hardship and opposition in order to impart to others the blessings of the Gospel. No other can appreciate so fully the benefits of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as he who by it has been rescued from the darkness and despair of heathenism.

While the responsibilities of the Mission Board are increasing with each passing year, and the demands made upon the treasury are always in excess of our ability, so that many times we know not where to turn for deliverance, yet our confidence in the ultimate triumph of the work, and the urgent necessities of the different fields, cause us to continue to go forward. Old mission stations must be strengthened, and new ones must be established. Already to almost every nation has been carried the Gospel of the kingdom. Some countries that have in the past required a large outlay of men and means from the Mission Board, are now not only self-supporting, but have taken upon themselves the responsibility of maintaining the work in other fields. Other missions give promise of being self-supporting in the near future, leaving the home board free to utilize its resources in needier lands.

Thus the good work goes on. But in the meantime many open doors stand before us, inviting and urging us to enter needy but most promising fields beyond. Our efforts can not slacken, for we still hear the Master's command, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

To all lovers of the Gospel and its advancement, we believe this paper will be of great interest, showing as it does, to some extent, the progress of this work that has been laid upon us by our Saviour. Our gratitude goes out to those who by their past liberalities have assisted us in this work; and we take this opportunity of again inviting you to coöperate to the extent that you may feel inclined, and thus be hastening unto the coming of the day of God. For when "this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; . . . then shall the end come."

CHURCH IN SOUTH RUSSIA (BUILDING TO RIGHT)

Pray for His Power

THE message for to-day is now proclaimed in all the continents and island groups of the world. It is heralded from mission stations already planted in every main division of every continent. Growing rapidly, few are the fields yet unentered. The gaps must now be filled so that the rays of light will touch; and then the Lord, by the outpouring of His Spirit, will flood the world with His light and glory. Every one who loves Christ and yearns for the salvation of a lost world and the final consummation of the Gospel, should pray now as never before that the Lord will baptize His heralds with the Holy Spirit.

On the Gold Coast

By T. M. French

The Apollonian people of the Gold Coast have been famous for their indifference to Christianity. In their villages the evidences of heathenism are on every side. Sacrifices

to the spirits appear at many places along the highways; and on entering the villages one sees usually small huts erected where they cook food for the dead. Fetish groves are connected with nearly all the important villages. But God is moving in these last days upon the hearts of this heathen people, and they now send to us the Macedonian cry, "Come over and help us."

At one point we have a church of over forty members, and a thriving school. On my visit, with an interpreter I spoke to a large concourse of people, who listened with the deepest interest to the message of salvation. My heart was made to rejoice as those who have taken their stand related to me their experiences in coming out from heathenism and accepting our Lord Jesus Christ.

I visited another school forty miles farther up the coast, and returned with a greater burden for this long-neglected country than ever before. Twenty-two villages in the Apollonian region of the Gold Coast are calling for Christian schools to be opened among them. We are unable to respond without funds. Must these people wait in darkness, who are calling for light?

T. M. FRENCH.

Continue reading: The Year in West Africa