Review and Herald, Vol. 88, No. 48. (11/30/1911)

Review and Herald

Nov 30, 1911

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 30, 1911

F. F. Oster and H. Dierksen

By F. F. Oster; H. Dierksen

From the Land of Daniel and Darius

F. F. Oster and H. Dierksen

Greetings to our brethren and fellow workers in all the world. The Lord has blessed us to the extent that we now hold Bible studies in the Persian language. Already the first-fruits of our labors are appearing. While the country is again in a revolutionary state, we can quietly sow the word of peace. God's providences in leading us here are evident. While your words of praise ascend to the throne of glory during the week of prayer, let petitions also arise that the great and almost untouched Moslem world may speedily hear the message.

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Easy Steps in the Bible Story

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A very entertaining and instructive volume. The stories are told with a vividness that makes them like real life.

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The purpose of this book is to give a simple, consecutive story of the Bible for children. It might be appropriately called the child's Bible. It is printed in attractive form, with large open-faced type, profusely illustrated with original full-page drawings, colored plates, and new marginal illustrations which really illustrate the text, each page containing a picture made especially for illustrating and impressing the story recorded thereon.

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Cheering Messages

BULAWAYO.—The workers at Solusi Mission send greetings to our American brethren. We are of good courage, and our work is prospering fully as well as at any time in the past. God blesses us and our work in many ways, for which we are truly thankful. Pray for us. W. C. WALSTON.

AUSTRIA.—I baptized two last night at Tyrol, near the Swiss border. Our work is spreading well in Austria. To-morrow I expect to start work in Triest. One hundred forty-seven believers have been baptized during the past twelve months in this field. We are of good courage in spite of all obstacles. J. WOLFGARTEN.

BENGAL, INDIA.—Through the raising of the $300,000 Fund, we have been enabled during this year to establish two mission stations in properties of their own, which is giving our work a different status in the eyes of the people. They see that our work is to be permanent, and not as our enemies have declared, like the grass of the field which to-day is, and to-morrow is not. In our station at Karmatar we are just now erecting buildings. As an example of how the people have appreciated the work which has been done for them in the past, and their willingness to help carry on that work for the future as far as they are able, our sisters went among them and solicited means to help in the erection of a building in which to carry on dispensary work. They received over one hundred rupees, and that from people whose daily wage varies from two to eight annas per day. This is our first effort to obtain help from the people in this way, and we are glad for the response. It encourages us to go forward in the work, knowing that our efforts are accomplishing something. W. R. FRENCH.

KOREA.—We just returned from a place about thirty miles north of Wonsan. It was along the coast, where fishing is the principal industry. A foreigner had never been in that part before. The people are mostly raw heathen. One of our native workers had been there early in the summer, and had aroused an interest among a few. We visited the hamlets, trying to give away literature. Few are able to read, and many were afraid to accept the tracts. My helper said they thought the tract was some sort of contract, which, if they accepted it, would bind them to pay large amounts of money, or give officers the privilege of seizing them. The interested ones seemed anxious to learn, and promised to study the Sabbath-school lessons. We hope that they may develop into a bright light in that part of Korea. MRS. W. R. SMITH.

That Monterey Vision

By A. O. Tait

A. O. TAIT

IN October, 1857, Brother and Sister James White attended a meeting at Monterey, Mich. The meeting was held in a schoolhouse, and Brother White was scheduled to preach. Mrs. White said of the occasion:—

“My husband went to the house feeling that he had nothing for the people. He told the brethren on the way that he could not decide on any subject, and wished them to select. A hymn was sung, and my husband prayed with much freedom. After singing again, my husband gave liberty to others to improve the time. I felt impressed to speak, and was greatly blessed in speaking, and sat down, and was soon lost to earthly things.”—“Spiritual Gifts,” Vol. II, page 238.

Speaking of this vision, Mrs. White said:—

“After we returned home, I stated to my husband that I was impressed that something of great importance was shown me at Monterey, which was not yet clear to my mind. One night, a little past midnight, I awoke, and all was clear. I arose, and, while my husband slept, wrote the following: ‘At Monterey, Oct. 8, 1857, I was shown in vision that the condition of many Sabbath-keepers was like the young man who came to Jesus to know what he should do to inherit eternal life.’”—Id., page 239.

Following the foregoing quotation are several paragraphs that lead up to one of the most important, and at the same time one of the most startling, statements to be found anywhere in the utterances of the spirit of prophecy. The words are:—

“I was directed to James 5: ‘Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.’”

“I saw that these fearful words apply particularly to the wealthy who profess to believe the present truth. The Lord calls them to use their means to advance his cause. Opportunities are presented to them, but they shut their eyes to the wants of the cause, and cling fast to their earthly treasure. Their love of the world is greater than their love of the truth, the love of their fellow men, or their love to God. He has called for their substance, but they selfishly, covetously retain what they have. They give a little now and then to ease their conscience, but have not overcome their love for this world. They do not sacrifice for God. The Lord has raised up others that prize eternal life, that can feel and realize something of the value of the soul, and their means they have freely bestowed to advance the cause of God. The work is closing; the rich men have kept their riches, their large farms, their cattle, etc. Their means are not wanted then, and I saw the Lord turn to them in anger, in wrath, and repeat these words: ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’ He has called, but you would not hear. Love of this world has drowned his voice. Now he has no use for you, and lets you go, bidding you, ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’”

“O! I saw it was an awful thing thus to be let go by the Lord; a fearful thing to hold on to a perishable substance here, when he has told you, if

you will sell and give alms, you can lay up treasure in heaven.

“I was shown that as the work was closing up, and the truth going forth in mighty power, those rich men will bring their means and lay it at the feet of the servants of God, begging them to accept it. The answer from the servants of God is, ‘Go to now, ye rich men,’ your means are not needed. You withheld it when you could do good with it in advancing the cause of God. The needy have suffered, they have not been blessed by your means. God will not accept your riches now. ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’”—Id., pages 245-247.

The foregoing vision, given Oct. 8, 1857, was published the same year in “Testimony for the Church,” No. 4. In 1866 it was republished in the second volume of “Spiritual Gifts,” an early set of the writings of Mrs. White in four small volumes, bound in black cloth, which all the older Sabbath-keepers will well remember. Then again in 1885 this vision was republished in “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. I, pages 170-178.

There are several important things to notice in connection with the giving of this message:—

1. Brother White was scheduled to speak, but could get no burden as to what he should say.

2. When the meeting was thrown open for any one to speak who wished, a burden came upon Sister White to speak, and on sitting down, she was taken off in vision. In a paragraph not quoted in the foregoing, it was shown that a part of the vision was a message of strength and comfort to a poor brother who was weighed down with discouragement.

3. Mrs. White returned from Monterey impressed that something of “great importance” had been shown her while in vision, but she could not call it clearly to mind. But in the night-season on a later date, “all was clear.”

4. This matter that was made clear to her was “that the condition of many Sabbath-keepers was like the young man who came to Jesus,” recorded in Matt. 19: 16-26.

5. The vision directs our minds to James 5: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.”

6. Then follows the startling announcement, “I saw that these fearful words [quoted from James 5] apply particularly to the wealthy who profess to believe the present truth. . . . They give a little now and then to ease their conscience, but have not overcome their love for this world.”

7. Then the heart-rending climax is reached: “The Lord has raised up others that prize eternal life, that can feel and realize something of the value of the soul, and their means they have freely bestowed to advance the cause of God. The work is closing: the rich men have kept their riches, their large farms, their cattle, etc. Their means are not wanted then, and I saw the Lord turn to them in anger, in wrath, and repeat these words: ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’ He has called, but you would not hear. Love of this world has drowned his voice. Now he has no use for you, and lets you go, bidding you, ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’ . . . I was shown that as the work is closing up, and the truth going forth in mighty power, these rich men will bring their means and lay it at the feet of the servants of God, begging them to accept it. The answer from the servants of God is, ‘Go to now, ye rich men.’ Your means are not needed.”

Note that the foregoing vision was given when the third angel’s message was still in its infancy. It was fifty-four years ago that this view was presented. Mrs. White “was impressed that something of great importance was shown” her. At the time the vision was given, there were but very few Seventh-day Adventists who had enough means to be classed as “wealthy.” Hence the vision was given in that early time of the message for those who would connect with it in the future, and who would be wealthy. It was evidently given in those remote days so that no one could honestly make the charge that it was not genuine.

The vision is to apply when “the work is closing.” It is so stated at least twice. The vision applies when the truth in its closing days is “going forth in mighty power.”

The vision is both a prophecy and a warning. It shows that, although there were no really wealthy men connected with the message at that time, yet wealth would come in among us, and the man of wealth is warned that his kind Father desired that he should transfer his wealth to the eternal world, and not hold it about him as combustible material that will “eat your flesh as it were fire.”

That Monterey vision was a prophetic note to call our attention to the days revealed by John when the third angel’s message in mighty power would encircle the world on every parallel and on each meridian. That vision should bring vividly to all our minds these very days in which we now dwell; these days when hundreds in many parts of China are accepting the truth from the printed pages that are only meagerly being circulated there; these days when Korea, Japan, India, Africa, South America, and the islands of the sea are stretching their hands toward us, imploringly calling for the light of the gospel, and its great light of prophecy that foretells the immediate return of our Saviour.

Means are urgently needed now, and can be used with mighty effect for the advancement of this work; but any one who is watching how this work is advancing must see that it can be only a little while till the need for money will all be in the past. In that great day the men who have selfishly held onto their wealth will cast it “to the moles and to the bats; to go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.” Isa. 2: 20, 21. In that day the men of wealth will be bidden, “Go to now, weep and howl, because of your miseries.”

In presenting the prophecies that tell of the second coming of Christ, we have told of the great fortunes that men have heaped together in these last days, and have pointed to James 5 as among the prophecies that have predicted it. There is no mistaking the fact that the prophecy applies to our time with mighty force. But have we observed as we should that this prophecy of James applies “particularly to the wealthy who profess to believe the present truth”?

The calls that are coming from our Foreign Mission Board with heart-rending urgency for means to provide workers and facilities for the foreign fields that are suffering for the harvest, will not be allowed by the Lord of the harvest to go unheeded. For we should note particularly a paragraph in that Monterey vision which says of the wealthy among us: “They give a little now and then to ease their conscience, but have not overcome their love for this world. They do not sacrifice for God. The Lord has raised up others that prize eternal life, that can feel and realize something of the value of the soul, and their means they have freely bestowed to advance the cause of God.”

The opportunity of supplying means is first presented to the believers in this message. The wealthy among us are given the first chance to invest. But God will not allow the world to be deprived of his soul-charming and soul-satisfying truth merely for the want of money. Men will be raised up who will supply the need.

It is evident that God gave that Monterey vision for this very time. And as we consider it, the Lord’s Spirit will impress upon us the importance of heeding the warning. The awful condition of bringing our money when it is everlastingly too late will come vividly into our minds. The vision was graciously given to save us from just such an experience. But Satan will be present with his evil suggestions, for he wants us selfishly to cling to our money and be lost. Whose voice will we heed? Where will we stand in that near-by great day?

Mountain View, Cal.

The Voyage and Shipwreck

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE

(Concluded)

It was on the fourteenth night of tossing on the black, heaving billows, that “about midnight” the sailors, hearing the sound of breakers, “deemed that they drew near to some country; and sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little farther, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms. Then fearing,” Luke writes,

“lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.”

At break of day the outlines of the stormy coast were dimly visible, but no familiar landmarks could be seen. So gloomy was the outlook that the heathen sailors, losing all courage, “were about to flee out of the ship,” and feigning to make preparations for casting “anchors out of the foreship,” they had already let down the life-boat, when Paul, perceiving their base design, said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Except these abide in the ship, ye can not be saved.” The soldiers immediately “cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off” into the sea.

The most critical hour was still before them. Again the apostle spoke words of encouragement, and entreated all, both sailors and passengers, to take some food, saying, “This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not a hair fall from the head of any of you.”

“When he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.” Then that worn and discouraged company of two hundred seventy-six souls, who but for Paul would have become desperate, joined with the apostle in partaking of food. “And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.”

Daylight had now fully come, but they could see nothing by which to determine their whereabouts. However “they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship. And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder-bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore. And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the fore part stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.”

Paul and the other prisoners were now threatened by a fate more terrible than shipwreck. The soldiers saw that while endeavoring to reach land it would be impossible for them to keep their prisoners in charge. Every man would have all he could do to save himself. Yet if any of the prisoners were missing, the lives of those who were responsible for them would be forfeited. Hence the soldiers desired to put all the prisoners to death. The Roman law sanctioned this cruel policy, and the plan would have been executed at once but for him to whom all alike were under deep obligation. Julius, the centurion, knew that Paul had been instrumental in saving the lives of all on board; and, moreover, convinced that the Lord was with him, he feared to do him harm. He therefore “commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: and the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.” So when the roll was called, not one was missing.

The shipwrecked crew were kindly received by the barbarous people of Melita. “They kindled a fire,” Luke writes, “and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.” Paul was among those who were active in ministering to the comfort of others. Having gathered “a bundle of sticks,” he “laid them on the fire,” when a viper came forth “out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.” The bystanders were horror-stricken; and seeing by his chain that Paul was a prisoner, they said to one another, “No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.” But Paul shook off the creature into the fire, and felt no harm. Knowing its venomous nature, the people looked for him to fall down at any moment in terrible agony. “But after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.”

During the three months that the ship’s company remained at Melita, Paul and his fellow laborers improved many opportunities to preach the gospel. In a remarkable manner the Lord wrought through them. For Paul’s sake, the entire shipwrecked company were treated with great kindness; all their wants were supplied, and upon leaving Melita they were liberally provided with everything needful for their voyage. The chief incidents of their stay are thus briefly related by Luke:—

“In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously. And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux; to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed: who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.”

The Daily Study of the Sabbath-School Lesson

By Mary Culver Warner

MARY CULVER WARNER

God is getting a people ready to inhabit the glorious home that he is preparing for them,—a people whose garments are made white in the blood of Jesus, in whose mouths is no guile and whose hearts are made pure and clean through the Word of God.

If the heart, emptied of evil and made clean, is filled with the Word of God, there is no room for the evil that is lurking about, ready to come in and take possession. In these last days much light is being shed on the Word of God. Scripture lessons are prepared by God's servants to whom he is revealing the true light. These are just what the people need to educate and prepare them for what is soon to come to pass on the earth.

These lessons take up, one after another, the various points of faith as taught in God's Word. It is necessary to learn them thoroughly if we would become familiar with the principles they contain, and be prepared to live a life of righteousness by faith.

God's Word must be hid in the heart and become a part of the life, in order to have a sanctifying influence. It was by a knowledge of the Word, and the power that accompanies it, that Jesus successfully met the temptations of Satan. The Word of God is the “sword of the Spirit,” and by it we may “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

The child of God may rest secure in trials and temptations if he knows a “Thus saith the Lord,” and can trust in God's promises. Daniel was saved from the mouths of the lions because he trusted in his God. He was acquainted with his Word, and believed it.

We should not let the cares of this life press in to rob us of our reward. “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed.” Search and find the sanctifying truths that are in these lessons. In studying we behold the Lord revealed in his Word, and we become changed,—changed into his glorious image. We discern the immutable plan of God to bring fallen man back into holy allegiance to his Creator. We admire, then worship and adore his great and excellent name.

Not one of us can afford to be found among that number who are mentioned in Amos 8:11-14: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God; that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord: and they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it. In that day shall the fair virgins and young men faint for thirst. . . . Even they shall fall, and never rise up again.” What a day of mourning and sorrow that will be! What a regretting of lost opportunities! What a picture for those who neglect the daily study of the lesson!

On the other hand, if we know the Word of God, and believe it, we may safely rest under the shadow of his wing. We shall then be able to obey the apostle's injunction: “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”

The time is not far distant, even now we begin to see the signs indicating that it is near, when God's people will be brought before kings and rulers for his name's sake. As one stands pleading his case before earthly courts, how grateful he will be when the Lord fulfils his promise by bringing to his mind just the text needed among the many

he has committed to memory in the past.

How sweet to listen to the words of the Lord spoken by the still, small voice: Thou art “called, and chosen, and faithful.” And when he comes to take his people home, he will say to the trusting one, “Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Continue reading: J. N. LOUGHBOROUGH