Review and Herald, Vol. 80, No. 4. (1/27/1903)

Review and Herald

Jan 27, 1903

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jan 27, 1903

Publishers' Page

Conducted by the Department of Circulation of the Review and Herald Publishing Company

Special Sale of Slightly Damaged Books

Last week we offered some of our regular subscription books at a special price on account of their being slightly damaged. These books being well known to all our readers, we omit their description this week, and quote only their regular and reduced prices.

Desire of Ages

In the cloth binding, reduced from $3.50 to $2.60, postpaid.

Great Controversy

In the cloth binding, reduced from $2.75 to $2. Full morocco, from $4.50 to $3.30.

Patriarchs and Prophets

Cloth binding, reduced from $2.75 to $2.

Easy Steps in the Bible Story

Cloth binding, reduced from 50 cents to 35 cents.

Looking unto Jesus

The cloth binding, reduced from $1 to 75 cents.

All these books will be sent at the reduced prices quoted, postpaid. The damages on these books are very slight. They are just as good for private use as the new books.

Other Damaged Subscription Books

The following books are only slightly damaged. The defect is scarcely noticeable on many volumes, yet the reduction in price is sufficient to cover far greater damages.

Marvel of Nations

We have a few copies of this book in the plain binding, slightly damaged, which we offer to our readers for 75 cents a copy. The regular price is $1.25. This is a new book, and of great interest and importance to our American people, its principal object being to call attention to the Scriptural future of this nation, and through it to the final termination of all earthly governments and the setting up of the kingdom of God. This book contains the plain third angel's message, and ever leaves the reader desiring a further exposition of the prophecies. It creates a demand for “Thoughts on Daniel and the Revelation,” and our principal publications. While they last, we will mail them, postpaid, for 75 cents a copy.

Home Hand-Book; Ladies' Guide; Man, the Masterpiece

More important to the family than many commodities usually held as indispensable are “Home Hand-Book,” “Man, the Masterpiece,” and “Ladies' Guide.” These three volumes embody all the information essential in the proper care of the human body, and the home treatment of all the principal diseases to which men and women are subject. A thorough study

of these health books will bring a great blessing into the homes of our people, and will qualify them for effective service in the homes of others.

In all communities men and women are struggling in the mist and fog of error. They need the principles of life. They will gladly purchase the books containing these principles, could we only properly reveal them in a simple exhibit of these books. Let all who do not have them order them at once, and receive for themselves the benefits of their teaching, and then go forth into their own neighborhoods with these publications that are “the entering wedge to the message” at this time.

Home Hand-Book

The cloth binding is reduced from $4.50 to $3.35; the library binding from $5.50 to $4.10.

Ladies' Guide

In the cloth binding, has been reduced from $3 to $2.25.

Man, the Masterpiece

The cloth binding is reduced from $3 to $2.25.

This is an excellent time to secure some of these health books at a very low rate.

Two Republics

This is the time for some of our readers to secure a copy of the “Two Republics,” that master volume by A. T. Jones. The copies we offer are just as good as new, the damage being very slight. While they last, we will sell them for half price.

The “Two Republics” is a comprehensive history of the two great republics, Rome and the United States. The errors of the great Roman republic are cited, and lessons of warning drawn for the guidance of the people in the present republic of the United States. The true principles of religious liberty are contrasted with the enforced religious observances. It is a book of great importance to every reader of the Review. The New York Sun says of it, “It seems to us as though it has left nothing unsaid which needed to be said on the subject.” It contains 896 octavo pages.

In the cloth binding, the price is reduced from $2.50 to $1.25. In the half morocco binding, from $4 to $2. The full morocco binding is reduced from $4.75 to $2.25, postpaid.

Prophecies of Jesus

But little has been written of late of this book in our various papers, yet it is an excellent and important work. It reveals Christ as the author of all prophecies, and traces specifically the four most prominent lines of prophecy recorded in the Bible; namely, those given by Christ himself during his ministry on earth, the apostolic predictions, the great prophecies of Daniel, and the revelations of John.

Although each of these series of prophecies is considered separately, and the work is composed of four distinct parts, the intimate connection existing between all these prophecies as emanating from the one great Author, their oneness of purpose, and the importance of understanding and heeding the testimony of inspiration, are clearly set forth, the

whole forming a comprehensive, graphic, and indisputable exposition of these sublime records from the sacred pages of the Word of God.

The book contains 566 octavo pages, and is printed on the best of paper, and neatly and substantially bound in cloth, library, and Russia leather. The cloth binding is reduced from $1.75 to 85 cents; the library, marble edges, from $3 to $1.40; the Russia leather from $3.75 to $1.90.

Though the prices on these books are greatly reduced, the books themselves are in good condition, practically as good as new. We will mail only slightly damaged volumes.

Empire Series

This series is composed of “Empires of the Bible,” “The Great Empires of Prophecy,” and the “Ecclesiastical Empire.”

Empires of the Bible

This volume traces the history from the origin of nations to the captivity of Judah, and carefully reveals the causes of the rise and the fall of these early peoples. The Biblical records, together with secular history and modern research, establish the manner of the development of the great empires of Egypt and Assyria, and the founding of the races from which the great nations of later times developed.

The Great Empires of Prophecy

This is a history of the great nations of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Grecia, and Rome. Gleanings of the most important and interesting histories are herein compiled to set forth the real influences that caused the prosperity and the decay of each of these great nations. On account of the great number of noted historians quoted in this work, it might be appropriately termed a cyclopedia of history, and a ready book of reference.

Ecclesiastical Empire

This book contains the account of all the principal events that have affected the civil governments and tended to the establishment of ecclesiastical authority, from the time of the fall of Rome to the publishing of this book in 1901. It contains a good history of the Reformation; a Compendium of the Principles of True Christianity; the Reason for Our National Apostasy, and a full treatise upon the union of church and state.

This series contains 1,996 pages of the most important historical matter, especially prepared and condensed for the use of those who do not have access to the original histories, and who have not the time to search out these facts had they the books.

The combined price of these volumes, in a very slightly damaged condition, is $4, postpaid, a reduction of $2 from the regular price. The books are as good as new for individual use.

Make all orders for the books described above, on the Review and Herald Publishing Co., Battle Creek, Mich.

Our Only Safety

By Editor

Editorial

Our Only Safety

We are in the last days. The perils of the last days are upon us. The snares of the enemy are on every hand. No human wisdom can save us from the deceptions of this day, and no human power can deliver us from the wrath of the dragon. Our only safety is in heeding the very message which we ourselves have declared to be the last message of mercy to the world. This message must become our life, or we shall have no life. This message must become our wisdom, or we shall have no wisdom. This message must become our defense, or we shall have no defense. The time of test is here. A formal profession of belief of this message, though never of any value, will now be revealed as of no value. Only the genuine experience of “the everlasting gospel,” manifested in the life as “the power of God unto salvation,” will meet the demands of these closing days. The character of every man will be tested. The standing of every man will be made manifest. This is the shaking time, and choices are being made now which will determine the destiny of souls. Our salvation depends upon heeding the warning message, and turning to God with full purpose of heart. Those who have a part in the loud cry of this message must themselves experience the power of the message in the transformation of character. “Come, and let us return unto Jehovah; for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.”

The Meaning of It

In the first issue of the Review after the burning of the Office, we suggested that we should now put to ourselves the question, “What do these things mean?” We can find a clear answer to this question in the article by Sister White, beginning on page 8. It is plain that God is in earnest with his people. In two very marked providences, the burning of the Sanitarium and the printing office, he is appealing to his people to return to him. And now we are earnestly urged to act upon these appeals, in which there has been such a loss of property, but such a providential care over life, with the very solemn statement that a neglect of these appeals will bring affliction upon the families of those who profess the truth, but do not reveal it in their lives. It is no time now to attempt to justify ourselves before the world, and to save our reputation. It is infinitely better to be right with God. We may now take up the prayer of Daniel: “We have sinned, and have dealt perversely, . . . neither have we hearkened unto thy servants the prophets, that spake in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. . . . And he hath confirmed his words, which he spake against us . . . by bringing upon us a great evil. . . . O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive.” There is much hope in this faithful reproof. It is the call of a loving Father to his erring children. O that there may be in us a heart to accept the reproof and to act upon it. “Seek ye Jehovah while he may be found; call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”

That Day

There is a day so well known that the apostle Paul designates it simply as “that day.” Here is one instance where he mentions it in this way: “I know him whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to guard that which I have committed unto him against that day.” Again he says: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day.” But this expression is not confined to the writings of the apostle Paul or to the New Testament. Thus we read in the book of the prophet Isaiah: “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, from before the terror of Jehovah, and from the glory of his majesty. The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.” Jesus had the same day in mind when he said, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy by thy name? . . . And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you.” What day is this?—Plainly it is “the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.” Evidently it is “that great day of God Almighty.” Undoubtedly it is the day of “the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at in all them that believed (because our testimony unto you was believed) in that day.” This is “the day of the Lord.” This is emphatically “that day.” There is no day like it in the world’s calendar. It is “a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” “That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm, against the fortified cities, and against the high battlements.” “Alas for the day!” “Day of wrath, that day!” But there is hope for us in that day, if we are willing to accept the Lord’s provision. For he has “interposed with an oath; that . . . we may have a strong encouragement, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us: which we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil.” “Hope putteth not to shame.” The Lord grant that we all may “find mercy of the Lord in that day.”

Former Things

By Uriah Smith

“But call to remembrance the former days.” Heb. 10: 32. It is interesting to look back at the experience of Adventists since the time when special light on the second coming of Christ began to shine upon the world. This light was in fulfillment of the promise that “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” It began to be preached by men raised up and moved out by the providence of God, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and quickened with heavenly zeal, to raise this cry in

the ears of humanity.

The prophecies were rapidly fulfilling. The time of the end had begun. Signs in the heavens appeared. Light increased. Their position became more definite, and their pathway promised to become brighter and brighter, even to the perfect day. It was thought that the prophetic periods would extend to the close of the Jewish year, March 31, 1843. But that time passed. More or less confusion ensued till the summer of 1844. Then it was found by further study, that it was necessary to recast the great prophetic period of twenty-three hundred days, at the end of which the sanctuary was to be cleansed. Dan. 8: 14. It was found that, according to Bible time and reckoning, those days would not terminate until Oct. 22, 1844.

This discovery was made midway between the end of the Jewish year, 1843, in the spring of 1844, and the time fixed for the ending of the twenty-three hundred days, Oct. 22, 1844. This tarrying time was the midnight of the parable of the ten virgins. Matt. 25: 1-13.

At this point came the midnight cry. “And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” Between this point and the ending of the days, there was great activity in the Adventist ranks. This was the loud cry of the first message. From one end of the land to the other, the cry was raised, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.” The message was proclaimed with great vigor and wondrous power. Men became phenomenally liberal, and poured out their money like water for the support of the cause and the advancement of the message. The leaders had no lack, all the means they could use in the work being furnished. And the personal interest manifested by believers for their friends was something to cause joy among the angels. Luke 15: 10. They besought the impenitent, with strong crying and tears, to get ready at once for the appearing of the Saviour. And many were those who turned to God by repentance. It is predicted that the third message is to go with tenfold greater power than did the first message. But where is the earnest, agonizing labor for souls that was seen then? There ought to be more now: “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” Adventists were then reined up to a rapidly approaching point of time, when they expected their Lord in the clouds of heaven. If they had faith, they must manifest it in a way to condemn the world, by showing that they believed what they professed, as Noah did in his day. Heb. 11: 7. This is why they left their crops unharvested in their fields as evidence to all men that they did not expect to need them. Have we any reason now to cut loose from the world, on the ground, as it is the object of these articles to show, that we are so nearly through with this world that we can show our faith only by dedicating our all to the support and advancement of this work? See the multiplying and urgent calls that are coming in from all quarters for laborers and means to supply the need of the perishing world.

Under this state of things it would naturally be supposed that our danger would be to grow careless by putting too far off the coming of the Lord, according to the warning of the Scriptures not to say, “My Lord delayeth his coming.” But one reader thinks that in our articles, in narrowing the time down to this generation, we are putting the coming of the Lord too near. We are glad to hear from the brethren upon this point, even if by way of criticism. This brother thinks that there is one Scriptural evidence that is quite important, but too generally overlooked. Then he refers to Leviticus, chapter 26, where God threatens to punish Israel “seven times more” for their sins unless they repent. This he makes a prophetic period, consisting of 2,520 years, beginning B. C. 606, and he claims they extend to A. D. 1914, before the Lord can come. This 2,520-year period enters into almost every Age-to-Come scheme that has come under our notice; but we need borrow no trouble about this. The difficulty with it is that there is no such prophetic period in the Scriptures. The expression “seven times” is not a prophetic period denoting duration, but simply an adverb, expressing degree, and referring to the severity of the punishment that should come upon Israel unless they repented. If it were a prophetic period and denoted duration, a noun and its adjective would be used, as in Dan. 4: 16: “Let seven times pass over him.” Here we have the noun “times” and the adjective “seven;” but in the passage from Leviticus 26 we have simply the adverb “sheba,” which means “sevenfold.” The Septuagint makes the same distinction. See this subject all explained in Appendix II of the work on Daniel and the Revelation. So we have no such period to reckon upon, as no such period exists.

Another brother thinks we are all wrong in referring the “falling of the stars” to the literal meteoric display of 1833, making it a sign, and setting it to mark the opening of this generation, which shall not pass away before all these things come to pass. His application is this: “In the first chapter of Revelation, the last verse, Christ says that the seven stars are the angels (ministers) of the seven churches. And such stars are falling to the earth to-day, very many.”

If we begin to spiritualize such prophecies as these, or rather, to apply to them the principles of mysticism, where shall we stop? In the parallel prophecy of Rev. 6: 12-14 we read: “And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.” Is it anything less than absurd to apply this to anything but the meteoric display of the heavenly luminaries called the falling of the stars, which signalized a great fulfillment of prophecy, and marked the opening of one of the most important epochs to the last generation of mankind? U. S.

The Threefold Message of Rev. 14: 6-12

A General View

We must study anew those prophecies which throw light upon the work to be done at this time. They reveal to us the purpose of God concerning the church and the closing message to the world. They unveil the deceptions of Satan, and place us on vantage ground in the great conflict by making clear the enemy's plan of campaign. And this is especially true of the prophecies in the book of Revelation. Of this instruction it is declared, “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein, for the time is at hand.” We have been repeatedly urged, through the spirit of prophecy, to study the books of Daniel and Revelation and among the latest words of counsel we find this exhortation: “Christ visited John on the lonely Isle of Patmos, and gave him instruction for the church in these last days. Let us become acquainted with this instruction. Let us have more to say about it.”

For many years the interest of advent believers has centered in the three messages found in Rev. 14: 6-12. These three messages really constitute one threefold message. They cover the experience of the church in the last generation. In the setting which is given by the language of these messages, “the everlasting gospel” is to be preached “to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,” the gospel to all the nations for a witness, as the preparation for the coming of the Son of man on the white cloud. The giving of this threefold message is the last work of mercy before the close of probation. Here is the last call to a lost world. Here is the final invitation to the marriage supper. And this threefold message is the only hope of the world in the last generation. Those who finally reject it, reject the hope of salvation. With what solemn importance does this fact invest the work of making this truth known to all the world!

It is also true that the very people who give this message must themselves be saved by it. For this message is not a mere set of phrases, a mere form of words. It is “the everlasting gospel,” and it is to be revealed as “the power of God unto salvation.” Those who give this message are not appointed to the work of simply explaining some texts, simply fitting together some phrases in a book, simply showing that certain predictions have been fulfilled. They are offered the high privilege of being this message to the world. They are appointed to the glorious opportunity of revealing in the transformation of character just what this message means to all who will accept it. It is therefore of the first importance that we ourselves, who stand before the world as the representatives of this truth, should be filled with a knowledge

of it. It must live in our lives. It must be the very essence of our being. The message must become flesh in us.

The text of this threefold message, according to the American Standard Revised Version, is as follows: “And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having an eternal gospel to proclaim unto them that dwell on the earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he saith with a great voice, Fear God, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made the heaven and the earth and sea and fountains of waters. And another, a second angel, followed, saying, Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, that hath made all the nations to drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a great voice, If any man worshipeth the beast and his image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his hand, he also shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment goeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day and night, they that worship the beast and his image, and whoso receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the steadfastness of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Some conclusions may be readily drawn from the reading of these verses: —

1. The movement here described is under the direction of angelic messengers.

2. These verses deal with the closing part of a work which has been already carried forward under the supervision of heavenly beings. This is clear from the fact that the first angel introduced is spoken of as “another angel.”

3. The message proclaimed is not a new gospel.

4. The movement here described is to be a world-wide one.

5. This message demands a distinct recognition of God as God, and that glory should be ascribed unto him alone.

6. It announces the arrival of the judgment hour.

7. It sets forth the Creator as the proper object of worship, in contradistinction to the creature.

8. Several terms are introduced without explanation, and of which an explanation must be sought elsewhere in the Scripture. Chief among these are “Babylon,” “the beast and his image,” and “the mark of his name.”

9. The foundation of the message is found in the words of the first angel. The other two angels state the results attending the rejection and the acceptance of this proclamation of “an eternal gospel.”

10. Those who respond to the call to fear God and give him glory are found steadfast in their obedience to the law of God.

We present these statements as an outline for future articles upon this threefold message, and suggest that our readers should give the text and these conclusions some special study.

Another Sanitarium Across the Sea

By Editor

Full information was given in the last issue of the Review concerning what seems to be a providential opening for the purchase of a well-equipped institution in England, which can be opened at once as a sanitarium. All the circumstances combine to inspire confidence in this move as being a wise one. The location is in Surrey, one of the most healthful counties in England. It is in the country, and yet it is only one-half hour's ride by train from the very heart of London. The buildings are modern, and were planned for the same general purpose for which our brethren will use them. There will be no heavy expense in addition to the purchase price in fitting up the place. The brethren in England are heartily united in recommending the purchase of the property, and the believers in that country are willing to bear their full share of the burden in raising the money, so that no debt shall be incurred in taking this advance step. Finally, the price of the property is about one half of the actual cost.

We feel sure that when our brethren and sisters in America give due consideration to all these facts, and the more detailed information which was set before them last week, and remember that it has been recommended by the European General Conference Committee, the British Union Conference Committee, and the General Conference Committee that the money be raised at once for the establishment of a sanitarium in England, they will respond cheerfully and heartily to this call. It is no hardship to give freely to advance the work of God in the earth. We know that the faithful believers in this message feel just this way. Their responses to the constant calls for help prove this. They desire the prosperity of this work above their own private gain. God regards this spirit of faithfulness, and will not forget their labor of love. They do not purchase the favor of God by their liberality, but they give evidence that the love of God—the love which gives all—has been shed abroad in their hearts.

The essential thing in calling for the money necessary for the establishment of these new memorials for the truth in the different countries is that our people shall have a full understanding of the situation, and be brought into sympathy with the actual needs of the cause. For this reason we have attempted to present this matter just as it appears to those who have been on the ground, and who have personal knowledge of all the circumstances. We sincerely believe that all interested in this effort to provide a health institution are acting in harmony with the policy recently set forth as the foundation for a great forward movement. The institutional work is not being made the chief interest in that field. The health work is not being carried forward on lines independent of the evangelical work. No effort will be made to compete with the thousands of charitable organizations in England in doing merely humanitarian work. The distinct purpose in establishing this sanitarium is to provide a place where the value of these gospel principles of health can be actually demonstrated, and a training center where workers can be prepared to go forth with a complete gospel for body, soul, and spirit. We cannot take care of all the sick people in the world, but we can proclaim the principles which, if adopted, will preserve the health, and we can teach methods of treating the sick which are in harmony with the gospel of life, and which others can follow if they are willing to do so. Our hope in this matter is not in trying to do all the work ourselves, but in imparting these truths to others.

We feel a confidence in asking our people to contribute toward this enterprise. We believe the time has come to take this step. We believe the opportunity offered is an exceptional one. We believe that the money thus invested will be a means of advancing this message in England. We believe that the institution thus provided will be conducted in a way to represent to the world the truths of this message. We believe that it will be a denominational institution in the sense that it will stand for the whole truth represented by this denomination.

A collection will be taken in all our churches in this country in behalf of this effort on Sabbath, February 7. The definite amount needed immediately is ten thousand dollars. A reading which deals with this whole subject has been sent out to all the elders of churches and leaders of companies to be read on Sabbath, January 31. We commend the call to the earnest and prayerful consideration of all our people, and ask them to respond as the Lord may move upon their hearts. The cause is his, and the hearts of all are in his hand. In him we hope as the Leader of this work.

A Threatening Outlook

By L. A. S.

“The Coming War” is the heading of an editorial article in the Chicago Tribune of January 18, in which is pointed out the prospect of the breaking out of the long-expected European conflict on the Russo-German frontier. According to “Quidam,” a writer who expresses his views in the January Contemporary Review, says the Tribune, the great war which has been “looming on the horizon” of Europe for the last fifteen years, will be a conflict not between Russia and England, but between Russia and Germany. It will be, he says, “a life and death struggle, which will prove unparalleled in the world’s history for its magnitude and for its far-reaching consequences.”

“During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870,” says the editor of the Tribune, “Russia refrained from intervention, and

supposed that it would thereby earn Bismarck’s gratitude. A decade later Bismarck displayed an excessively queer don-kind of gratitude by helping to block Russia’s progress toward Constantinople. From that time on, says ‘Quidam,’ both the Russian and German governments have understood that their respective interests were irreconcilable. General Skobeleff said, ‘The battle is unavoidable between German and Slav; it will be long, bloody, and terrible, but the Slav will triumph.’”

Germany, it is pointed out, has reason to fear Panslavism, since there are no less than twenty-two million Slavs in Austria-Hungary, and there has been Panslavic agitation almost continuously in Europe since 1848, the date of the first Panslavic congress. If European Turkey should pass under Russian control, the next step would be the absorption of the Slavic portions of Austria-Hungary; and St. Petersburg, Warsaw, and Prague would be strongholds in a Russian circle drawn about Berlin. The Tribune editor notes that “two thirds of the Russian European army is massed in Warsaw, Vilna, and Kief, within a few miles of the German frontier. The Teuton and the Slav are where they can easily get at each other.”

Whether between Slav and Teuton, or between Slav and Anglo-Saxon, or in some way not yet anticipated, the long-threatened European conflict shall break out, is not an essential question. Human forecasts may be mistaken on this point, but there is no mistaking the fact that the conflict is impending, that it must come somehow, and come soon. The omens of it are everywhere visible; on every hand conditions are seen to be ripening for the clash of arms. On every hand things are so prepared that a spark of war may start a general conflagration. As God’s Word has declared it would be, so it is; the winds of strife are ready to blow upon the earth, and would blow to-day did not divine power still hold them in check. Thus are we constantly admonished to push forward to the completion of our appointed work, ere the winds of war shall be loosened, and peace take its final departure from the earth.

L. A. S.

The Real Battle

By Editor

In a recent editorial, the Independent (New York) enters a strong protest against the idea that peace has come yet to this earth. It does not seem ready to join in the peace-and-safety cry. Among other reasons for taking this position, it says:—

“Even in the very sanctuary of God, invaded by his enemies and misdefended by his friends, there is no place yet for peace. Men care little, too little, for theologies nowadays, but such theologies are taught to Christian people as ought to rouse to battle every child who would not see his Father’s character maligned. Old and new absurdities of doctrine deceive multitudes of people. A more momentous struggle is upon us—that which involves the faith of man in his God. This is the real battle of Armageddon,—theism against the philosophies of Materialism and Nescience,—and it has already joined.”

While we are not prepared to accept the statement that the battle of Armageddon is now in progress, yet it is evident that we are upon the very eve of that momentous struggle, and the great rebel leader is making all preparation for it, and is attempting to deceive if possible the very elect.

It seems to be a good time to recall some statements which were made in instruction given to this people a few years ago. Here they are: “We are standing upon the threshold of great and solemn events. The whole earth is to be lightened with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the channels of the great deep. Prophecies are being fulfilled, and stormy times are before us. Old controversies which have apparently been hushed for a long time will be revived, and new controversies will spring up; new and old will commingle, and this will take place right early. The angels are holding the four winds, that they shall not blow, until the specified work of warning is given to the world; but the storm is gathering, the clouds are loading, ready to burst upon the world, and to many it will be as a thief in the night.”

Now note again a part of the first quotation from the Independent: “Old and new absurdities of doctrine deceive multitudes of people. A more momentous struggle is upon us—that which involves the faith of man in his God.” There are two ways of weakening faith in God. One is by openly denying the existence and being of God—unconcealed atheism. The other is by teaching such a conception of the existence and being of God as really leaves no ground for faith, and calls for no exercise of faith. This is atheism under a Christian guise. The results are the same in both cases, but this latter form of atheism is more dangerous than the former.

This modern form of infidelity is now revealing itself under the pleasing plea of exhibiting the scientific relation between man and God, and of presenting a scientific basis for faith. We warn every one to be on his guard against this specious teaching, from whatever source it comes. In some very important instruction recently given through the spirit of prophecy we find this warning: “We are pilgrims and strangers in this world, traveling in a path beset with dangers from those who have rejected the only One who could save them. Ingenious subterfuges and scientific problems will be held out before us, to tempt us to swerve from our allegiance, but we must not heed them. Every one must now seek God for himself.” Looking forward to this very time, our Saviour asked this question, “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find the faith on the earth?” There is certainly an emphatic call now to contend earnestly for “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” This is faith in God the Father as a personal Being; faith in Jesus Christ the Son, the one only Mediator and Saviour; faith in the Holy Spirit, the personal representative of our risen Saviour, the Advocate in the church; and faith in the Bible as the inspired and infallible Word of the living God. Let no one rob you of this faith, either by reviving old controversies or by bringing in new controversies. Remember that the real battle now is that which involves the faith of a man in his God.

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