Signs of the Times, Vol. 26, No. 32. (8/8/1900)

Signs of the Times

Aug 8, 1900

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 8, 1900

A LESSON FOR THE AGES.

GOD is one, and His way is one. In one-ness there is unity and order and beauty and power. In division there is confusion and destruction.

IN all effective military operations of earth there must be unity and central control. Even now in the allied operations against China the allies feel themselves fettered because there can not be that unity which should exist. The unity of an earthly army is arbitrary and absolute power; but it is impossible to exercise this where leaders of divisions of an army meet as equals, responsible to different governments.

BUT in God's government the unity is not the result of arbitrary control; it is voluntary—the union of love. Men seek to obey God through fear, the fear that hath torment. This is not true service; it is not true unity. It is the obedience of expediency. The obedience is chosen to escape an evil that is feared. It is really taken as the choice of two evils. But true obedience is the obedience of love, reverential love. "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." True obedience chooses God and His ways as the greatest delight. "Great peace have they which love Thy law; and they shall have no stumbling-block." It matters not what men may do, it will not affect their service for God. They have chosen that as their supreme delight, their highest happiness. The language of such an one is, "O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day."

THIS union and this blessed experience are wrought by choosing the simple faith of Jesus Christ, in voluntary submission to all God's will. "If any man willeth to do His will, he shall know of the teaching;" he will know its eternal glory and the bliss of doing it. He is free and happy in God, tho an exile or the inmate of a prison cell.

The Tower of Babel—an Object Lesson for the Ages.

MAN'S ways are departure from God's way. They are the setting up of another standard as preferable to that of the Infinite. If two rallying standards are erected on the battlefield, it means confusion if not antagonism. If more than two, the confusion is increased accordingly. If the soul erects another standard from that of God, confusion must surely result. Not only will the soul become confused at the limitation of its own power, but, having opposed God, it has lost confidence in Him, and has opened itself to all the delusions of a perverted, fallen humanity.

AND this is all that has made Babylon, the tower of which (Genesis 11) is portrayed on this page. Lucifer became the king and originator of Babylon when he aspired to dethrone God and exalt himself. (See Isa. 14:4-14.) He promised himself in that course exaltation and freedom and life, but he found abasement and bondage and death; for he separated from the Central Source of life and freedom. God's way is life to all who walk therein. But "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." And that way is departure from the way of God.

THIS was the spirit the fallen Lucifer infused into the postdiluvians. The Lord told them to spread abroad and replenish the earth; they said, We will keep together. The Lord's way was to honor Him, to exalt His name, to become themselves temples of Him, who is righteousness and power and love, and so be honored by Him; but they said, "Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad." And so they builded, and called their city, so their ancient records tell us, "Bab-il," the Gate of God. It was their

way to happiness and heaven. They named it what they in their desire wanted it to be, the selfish way to exaltation and happiness; but God named it just what man's unaided selfish efforts will always prove to be, Babel, Babylon, confusion.

THE tower of Babel, the city of Babylon, long since buried under the sands of the Chaldean desert, their only records—exhumed by the delving archeologist—speaking but of their folly, are lessons for all ages that departure from God, however feasible and laudatory and great seems the scheme, is sure to breed confusion, and confusion will end in utter destruction. Reader, where are you? Are your ways your own ways or the ways of other men?—Then they are Babylon. Or are they the ways of God in Jesus Christ, irrespective of men? Then are they at one with the great Heart of the universe, and the end is everlasting life and glorious immortality as a son and prince with God.

Speaking to Please God

"But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts."

"I SAY UNTO THEE TO-DAY."

By T. E. Bowen

THESE precious words of our Saviour, spoken to the dying thief, are often quoted as proof that Jesus and the thief went to Paradise that day; hence, every saint goes there at death. This sense is given the text by punctuation. Placing the comma (man's work anyway) after "to-day," instead of before, brings the word "to-day" to apply to the act of Christ's saying, rather than the time of the promise being fulfilled. But why make a point of this? Jesus never uttered an unnecessary word. Why then add "to-day"?

In this very fact lies one of the most precious promises to sinners. That day was the most eventful ever chronicled by our shining orb. The Author of our world hung dying upon a cruel cross, that this sin spot in His Father's universe might not forever be blotted from existence. Insult, scorn, and abuse of every description were heaped upon Jesus on the way to and at Calvary. The thieves heard all this. They saw the religious leaders reviling this Man. The natural tendency is to join in with the popular sentiments. The impression about the cross was that Jesus was forsaken of God. Yet, amid it all, this doomed man in his mind connected evidences to such an extent that this was Christ, that he appealed to Him to save him when He should come into His kingdom.

Can you imagine a more difficult place to seek pardon and salvation? Can you imagine God to be pleased under more forbidding circumstances in which to forgive a sinner's sins? Under all these circumstances of "to-day," a day when the destiny of the world trembled—even "to-day"! I say unto you, Your sins are forgiven. In Paradise you shall be, and I will be there too. Jesus hoped against hope, and, altho the heavens to Him seemed shut up that day, for the despairing cry from a rent heart was, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" that precious Spirit offered peace and forgiveness to one more burdened sinner before He yielded up His life.

Should His death be eternal, He wanted the record to be made that that "day," so full of suffering to Himself because of our sins, His heart forgave His dying companion, and life, eternal life, was offered him.

The promise of life is always a "to-day" promise. "To-day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts." No promise is for to-morrow. "To-day's" offer for life may be lost to-morrow, and lost forever. A "more convenient" time never comes than "to-day."

Careless one, "to-day" listen for that voice; "to-day" harden not your hearts; "to-day" ask to be forgiven; and that same "to-day" shall record your sins forgiven, as on the day Jesus died, the thief found pardon and rest in coming to Him. T. E. BOWEN.

LYING WONDERS.

By A. F. Ballenger

IT is the plan of the enemy of all truth to counterfeit every manifestation of the power of God, and through that counterfeit to deceive the world and lead it to destruction.

According to the Scriptures of truth, this counterfeiting of the work of God is to reach its climax of power to deceive and destroy in the closing events of the last days. That Satan, through his agents, will work miracles and signs and wonders to deceive, and that this work of deception is to be especially manifest in the last days, is plainly proved by the following scriptures:—

"Whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they receive not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 2 Thess. 2:9, 10. "And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do." Rev. 13:14. "For they are spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." Rev. 16:13, 14. "There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before." Matt. 24:24, 25.

From these startling statements of divine truth, it is clear that a correct understanding of the scriptures concerning miracles is of vital

importance. First of all, it is all-important that he who would not be deceived, must believe that the agents of Satan have power to "show great signs and wonders" and "miracles," as the above scriptures plainly declare. And here is the reason: When Satan does perform great signs and wonders and miracles, the man who does not believe the declaration of our Lord that Satan has power to do so, will attribute the miracles to the power of God. How could he be worse deceived than to believe that the power and work of Satan is the power and work of God?

A correct understanding of what is meant by the term "miracle" in this connection is essential. From our standpoint, a miracle, or sign, or wonder, is any manifestation of power which we can not explain as the working of what we call natural law. It may be wrought in harmony with the laws of nature, but if it is in a field of nature beyond our knowledge of the natural, it is to us supernatural, i. e., above our knowledge of the natural.

Satan, under the symbol of the "king of Tyrus," is described by the prophet as sealing "up the sum, full of wisdom," and, as having once held the position of "the anointed cherub that covereth." This position, according to Exodus 28 and Ps. 80:1, is one of two positions nearest the throne of God. Is it not reasonable to conclude that the one who is now called "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4), and "the prince of the power of the air" (Eph. 2:2), should be acquainted with forces of nature not known to man? Christ and His apostles made use of "miracles, and wonders, and signs" to show the power of God and advance His kingdom; then it is not to be wondered at that Satan and his followers should use their power and knowledge to "do great signs and wonders" to deceive the world and advance "the kingdom of darkness."

It is not contended that Satan is able to do the same miracles which our Lord and His disciples performed, but only that he performs similar miracles. While they are not the same, they are nevertheless miracles, the manifestation of supernatural power, and so far as men are able to judge will appear to be the same miracles.

Inasmuch as the Word plainly declares that Satan will work miracles to deceive, and since all miracles are, so far as men are concerned, supernatural, and therefore beyond our power to explain, it follows that it is unwise to investigate miracles for the purpose of ascertaining their author. No one who is instructed in the Scriptures will ever attempt to determine the author of a miracle by investigating the miracle. All that the miracle shows, standing alone, is the presence of supernatural power.

While the authorship of miracles can not be determined by examining the miracles, there is a way by which it can be determined. Our Lord, who has warned us against the miracles, has furnished an infallible test by which their authorship may be determined. Here is the test:—

"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree can not bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. . . . Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt. 7:15-20.

It will be noticed that the Lord does not say, Ye shall know them by their "great signs and wonders," but, "Ye shall know them by their fruits." We are therefore to discern the author of miracles by the fruits, and not by the miracles. This important truth was first taught by our Lord to the Israelites, thus:—

"If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams; for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear Him, and keep His commandments, and obey His voice, and ye shall serve Him, and cleave unto Him. And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death." Deut. 13:1-5.

It will be noted again that the Lord does not instruct us to investigate the miracle. He Himself admits the fact that a miracle has been wrought, but instructs us to investigate the teaching and the fruits which accompany the miracle.

Just as there is a distinction in the Gospel system between the "gifts of the Spirit" and the "fruits of the Spirit," so there is a distinction between the miraculous powers of the "spirits of devils" and the fruits of their teaching. While the miracles are beyond our power to judge, the fruits are not. While Satan will successfully counterfeit miracles as he did at the court of Pharaoh, he can not counterfeit the fruits of the Spirit. Reader, remember this truth, if you would be delivered from the delusions of the last days. Don't investigate the miracle. Admit the miracle, and challenge the fruits.

Those who finally escape deception "by those miracles which he had power to do" will be men and women who are so fortified by what the Lord has told them before in the Scriptures, that they will stand unmoved in the presence of "great signs and wonders," in the presence of the "working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders," and will refuse to accept that teaching to support which the great signs and wonders are wrought.

Let it be here understood that the miracles of Satan are but a means to an end. Just as the signs and wonders of Christ were wrought to confirm the Word of truth, the Gospel of salvation, so the signs and wonders of Satan are wrought to confirm the teaching of error, the doctrines of destruction.

Not only must those who escape the deceptions of Satan refuse to accept error tho it be supported by great signs and wonders, but they must reject the error even when the signs and wonders that appear in support of it are wrought by those professing to be Christians, and whose outward appearance can not be distinguished from that of the genuine Christian. Our Saviour says, "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." The term "sheep" stands in the scripture for true Christians. "Sheep's clothing," therefore, in this connection, must mean that the deceivers will bear the outward appearance of genuine Christians. This the apostle Paul plainly teaches in the following scripture:—

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for even Satan fashioneth himself into an angel of light. It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness." 2 Cor. 11:13-15, R.V.

But not only will the ministers of Satan fashion themselves into ministers of righteousness in all their outward appearance while working great signs and wonders, but these signs and wonders will be wrought in the name of Christ. "For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Matt. 24:5. "Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from Me, ye that work iniquity." Matt. 7:22, 23.

If these workers had not believed that they had really cast out devils and done many wonderful works in the name of Christ, they would not have presumed to face Him with such self-justifying questions. The startling truth is now clearly before us, that the ministers of Satan will not only work miracles, but they will perform them with all the outward appearance of ministers of righteousness,—perform them in the sincere belief that they are really casting out devils, and really doing wonderful works with the power and approval of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, he who would escape being deceived by the overmastering deceptions of the last days, must be prepared to stand unmoved in the presence of one who lays his hands on the sick, and, with the firm belief in himself that he is a minister of righteousness, a disciple of Christ, but is not, calls on the God of heaven in the name of Christ to manifest His Holy Spirit and heal. He must be unmoved by that which to all appearances is a wonderful miracle of healing, which the professed minister believes to be a miracle, and which the patient believes to be a miracle wrought by the mighty power of God. "Who shall be able to stand?"

There are several searching questions which arise at this point. One of them is, How is it that a man can be so deceived as to really believe that he is a minister of righteousness when he is the minister of Satan? This and other related questions will be answered in the next article.

A. F. BALLENGER.

SPIRIT GUIDING.

By Llewellyn A. Morrison

[Music: "Jesus, I am resting."]

HOLY SPIRIT! God indwelling! All my being's pulses move; My unholiness dispelling, Teach me perfect love. Take away my harmful hating; Purge my passions and refine, All my nature re-creating By Thy faith and mine.

REFRAIN:

Holy Spirit! by Thy greatness Love's pure law in me fulfil; Hold me by Thy grace and sweetness For Thy sovereign will.

Gentle, loving Holy Spirit, Quell the tumult and the strife; Sanctify by Jesus' merit; Grant me perfect life. Only by Thy wise selecting Can my words and deeds be true; Thy immaculate correcting Maketh me anew.

Holy Spirit! in Thy guiding All my restlessness shall cease; In my heart enthroned, abiding, Bring Thy perfect peace. Fashion me like Christ in pureness; Magnify His name in me. Nurtured by divine matureness I shall be like Thee.

Holy Spirit, my Refiner! Comforter and Light within! Joy of hope and prayer's Designer! Cleanser of my sin! Soul-Instructor! Truth-Revealer! Teacher of the Living Word! Heavenly Helper! Holy Healer! One with Christ, the Lord.

LLEWELLYN A. MORRISON. Toronto, Canada.

THE REWARD OF OBEDIENCE.

By Ellen G. White

"He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity; for God loveth a cheerful giver." In these words the duty of every one is plainly outlined. All are to do their best. God has given rich promises to those who will reveal in the daily life the virtue and power of their faith and self-denial.

Christ says to us: "Occupy till I come. Do all that is in your power, and much that seems beyond your power, to save perishing souls." There are many who can not give large offerings of money, because they have no money to give. But by self-denial, by denying inclination, they may save something for the Master; and this discipline will be of great value to them. They may think their gift too small to be worth anything. But as it is laid upon the altar, God will bless it, and the results from it will be surprising. To practise self-denial and self-sacrifice is a discipline necessary to the disciples of Christ.

"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth forever)."

This promise is made to all who reveal a working faith, a faith which prompts the receiver to relieve the necessities of his fellow-men. This faith works by love, and purifies the soul. But faith without works is dead, being alone.

We have the Word of God as our assurance, to inspire us with hope and comfort. God declares that He will not be unmindful of our labors of love in carrying out His will in behalf of our fellow-men. God has made those who believe in Him His stewards. They are to live His law, showing the world by their good works that this law is perfect, converting the soul, uprooting from the heart all selfishness and covetousness, and planting there the precepts of righteousness.

The law of God is the transcript of His character. Those who profess to keep this law, but who fail to show that they love God with heart, mind, soul, and strength, who do not devote themselves unreservedly to His service, keep neither the first four commandments, which enjoin supreme love for God, nor the last six, which enjoin unselfish love for one another. "By their fruits ye shall know them." True love for God will always manifest itself. It can not be hidden. Those who keep God's commandments in truth will reveal the same love that Christ revealed for His Father and for His fellow-men. He in whose heart Christ abides will reveal Christ in the character, in his work in behalf of those who need to be brought to a knowledge of the Gospel. He will show the fruits of his faith, revealing the Saviour in loving words and in deeds of mercy.

Christians are to show that the law of God is not only to be believed theoretically, but is to be acted out in the life as a living principle. They are to show by their lives that the law is written in their hearts. Thus they may represent the Redeemer. Thus they may show that they have the mind of Christ and are doing the works of Christ.

Those who claim to have light on the Word of God are to manifest to the world the influence and power that this light has upon the character. If it makes no decided change in us, it is of no value to us. We are like salt which has lost its savor and is good for nothing. We do not reveal to the world any saving, redeeming qualities.

Mark carefully the following words: "Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness; being enriched in everything to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God"—thanksgiving offered by those we have helped from love to God.

The doing of the law of God is the fruit of His grace in the heart. Obeying this law, we daily remember that God is the giver of all we hold in trust. He provides us with all we have. It is because of His mercy and love that we have strength to labor. He opens up ways by which we may gain earthly treasure, not that self may be exalted, not that the treasure obtained may be hoarded up, but that God's name may be glorified, that the needy may be helped, that God's treasury may be provided with that which He claims in gifts and offerings, that the work of uplifting the cross of Christ in regions beyond may move forward.

Upon all who consecrate themselves to God as laborers together with Him is laid the responsibility of guarding the interests of His cause and work. They are to live the truth which they claim to believe. They are to keep Christ constantly before them as their pattern, and by their good works cause praise to flow forth from hearts hungering and thirsting for the bread of life. Not only are they to minister to the spiritual needs of those they are seeking to win to Christ, they are to supply their temporal necessities. This work of mercy and love is ever presenting itself, and by doing it faithfully, God's servants are to show what the Gospel has done for them. They are to be faithful stewards, not only of Gospel truth, but of all the blessings given them. Not only are they to speak words of

sympathy, by their deeds they are to demonstrate the sincerity of their love.

"The administration of this service not only supplieth the wants of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God." It warms the heart and awakens the soul, filling it with gratitude to God. "By the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; and by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you."

This work is a savor of life unto life. It is an "experiment" which will always produce the very best kind of results, not only in the receiver, but in the giver.

Men and women may shun the reproach they are called upon to bear for Christ's sake; they may do the works of transgression, but as surely as they do this, they will receive the reward of the evil-doer. They may climb to places of distinction, they may stand high in the literary world, and with proud superiority they may resist the truth of heavenly origin; but in the end they will lose all. Man's happiness and salvation depend upon eating the bread of life, that is, obeying the words and doing the works of Christ, advancing righteousness and restraining unrighteousness. Nothing can give such self-reliance, such courage, such an increase of talent and ability, as a true estimate of the requirements of God's law. Nothing will give such firmness and confidence, such an appreciation of the talents bestowed on us, as a realization that we are "laborers together with God," and that we must have respect unto all His commandments.

Those who realize the importance of studying Christ's life, who seek to develop a character like His, will be attended by holy angels, who at every step will help them to exalt the Saviour. Christ sacrificed His life in order to save those ready to perish. All may share with Him in the divine work of turning souls to righteousness. And to those who do this is given the promise, "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever."

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