"WHEREUPON, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision." Thus spake an apostolic missionary.
Nearly thirty years before, Paul had seen the heavenly vision that called him to carry the message of salvation into the regions beyond. All these years the voice had sounded in his soul, urging him on from land to land, never wearying, never staying.
"I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness, . . . delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."
Time had not dimmed the memory of that scene on the Damascus road. Until his course was finished, he must be obedient to the heavenly vision.
Now, to us Seventh-day Adventists also has come the heavenly vision, revealed by the same Lord Jesus. Not to one alone, but to all, so soon as we receive the light of truth for this day, there comes the vision of the angel flying 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, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come."
And another angel followed the first, and the third followed them, the threefold message compassing sea and land, and gathering out a people prepared for the Lord.
That is our heavenly vision. We can never follow the Lord of the third angel's message without following him to every nation and kindred and tongue and people. The vision is just as clear today as when it appeared to the pioneers in this advent movement, and the urgency of its call increases with every passing year. There is for us no other business in life than to respond to it. We will follow it by our continual prayers, by every resource of means that God enables us to save and to earn, and by our personal service, until the last unwarned field has heard the cry, and the Lord himself suddenly cuts short the work. That heavenly vision is the advent hope. And it grows brighter every month and year, as the Lord leads on the work from land to land.
While we this week dedicate ourselves anew to God, and bring gifts for his blessed cause, the thoughts of our brethren in many lands are with us. We must give place to some of their testimonies, sent for this meeting,—words of cheer from every side, and appeals to renewed effort. The first to speak is Elder J. T. Boettcher, of the Russian Union, the largest and most populous union conference we have. He says:—
"We are just back from a most profitable trip in Siberia. Though the law forbade our holding general meetings, we were able to plan the work by local meetings. I send you a picture of the Russian company in Harbin. (This shows twenty-six adults, besides children.) We present these as our firstfruits19from Manchuria, by the Chinese border. As there were but three fully keeping the Sabbath, when our Russian minister, Elder E. Gnadjin, went there, these are certainly splendid results for two months' effort. These people had long called for help. A sister of this church now sends this greeting to all:—
"‘Dear Brethren and Sisters: Rejoice with us, yea, rejoice with us; for the Lord has visited us through his servant, and opened our eyes to see the truth. We were on the verge of destruction, but the Lord heard our prayers. Light has gained the victory over darkness here in Harbin, and fruit is beginning to appear in a new field. Our eyes are wet with tears of joy. Accept our heartfelt thanks, dear brethren and sisters, for your kindness in sending us the light. We see you have spared no pains to love your neighbor as yourself.’"
So these believers thank God for the truth that brings a cross; for in the cross they find the power of God unto salvation. And while we rejoice at the splendid progress in this great field, let us breathe a prayer for some in Russia and Germany who are to-night in prison cells for the Sabbath of the Lord.
From the land of the Greek Church, we turn to the greatest Catholic field. Elder L. P. Tieche, of the Latin Union Conference, sends word:—
"Our last quarterly report shows exactly one thousand members. Please let our people know; and remind them that we have yet to bring the message to more than a hundred million souls in this union. Somebody will have to give us a lift, or the work will be delayed."
Elder Walter Bond writes:—
"The believers gathered in our first general meeting in Spain by standing vote sent their greetings to their brethren in other lands, with assurances that they are one with them in carrying the message to the world in this generation. Prospects never seemed brighter for our work here. The Lord is opening ways faster than we can follow. Our force of laborers is so small! As we think of the millions about us without hope, our hearts cry out for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in more abundant measure. Pray for poor, priest-ridden Spain."
Amid the revolution in Portugal, Elder C. E. Rentfro rejoices that at last another worker is coming from Switzerland to join him. Changes are coming rapidly these days, and prophecy is fulfilling. The heathen East is astir also. Just a word from various workers there. Asked how goes the battle in China, Elder W. A. Westworth sends a word of cheer, and adds, in a personal note:—
"I hardly see how to say what we want to in a word. The longer we are here, the greater the burden seems to be; and to tell you the truth, brother, just now we are wondering what next. With the sickness among the workers you can see we must have better arrangements to retain what we have. And still the work goes forward—we can not stop it nor keep up with it. Woe be to us if we fail to step into the openings!"
From the interior of China, Elder J. J. Westrup speaks:—
"The brethren of the Central China Mission greet the believers in other lands. Many of our Chinese brethren are suffering persecution for the truth's sake. Thank God, with persecution and a real burden for souls comes pentecostal power. There is a great movement toward the truth among the Chinese. They come to us from all directions asking, ‘What is the truth?’ and, ‘Can you teach us?’ O for time to answer these calls! While on this mountain, I have studied with two bright young men from Hankow who accepted the truth last week; and one of them, full of enthusiasm, went home, and the last we heard from him he was preaching to a company of thirty-five. O, how the Lord is working and opening doors! Who will with us enter in?"
Words of progress come from Korea. You must have read not long ago Elder I. H. Evans's report in the REVIEW, of the nine thousand sick people who had passed through that little thatched hut of a dispensary at Soonan within eighteen months. Here is a word from Dr. Riley Russell, giving us just a glimpse of the daily round:—
GROUP OF SABBATH-KEEPERS AT HARBIN, MANCHURIA
"Last night a poor woman came to a large stone near the corner of our house to offer sacrifices to Satan because her child was sick. I gave her a tract, ‘The Way of Salvation,’ and told her Jesus loved women and loved her baby. We also gave her some medicine, and asked her to bring us her child. When we see these poor souls suffering and dying without Christ, we think, What more can we do? Within two days I have had five calls to visit different companies of believers; but next Sunday, school must begin, and we have accommodations for only a little more than half of our boys, and as yet nothing for the girls. At times we get bowed down with the amount of work which must be done. God grant that men and means may be poured into the Orient. Our God is mighty, and Korea's workers are all of good courage."
On the way to India, we must pass by
more than one needy Oriental mission where a few workers are laboring in whitening fields. That means passing Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, East Indies, and Burma—over a hundred million unwarned souls in those five words. You must have read not long ago, in a report from Brother J. S. James, of that South India sister who, on baptism into Christ, changed her heathen name to one signifying, "A woman of gold." That transformation the truth is working for many. And we have read also of that baptism in East Bengal where a Hindu heathen who witnessed the scene embraced one of the candidates coming out of the water, exclaiming, "God bless you, brother." Wherever the truth is preached, similar things are seen. We had expected to have at this service a word from Elder J. C. Little, leader of our work in Bengal. But Sister Little sends the word:—
"As you know ere this, the card from Europe asking for a message from Bengal20came too late for Mr. Little to reply. Yet his death may be the strongest appeal that could be made. He was willing to spend his life working for India; but God, for some reason I do not understand, ordained otherwise."
And Elder W. W. Miller says this loss emphasizes anew their need of more workers and more facilities in unhealthful lands, and pleads for help to come out to fill the gaps. He says:—
"Sister Little, instead of returning home, longs to take up the work her husband has laid down, and be with it to the close. Never in the history of our work in India, have we realized as at this time our great need of workers and means to answer the calls."
And Africa, too, sends messages. Elder Conradi has spoken for the East African work. From West Africa, to which recruits ought to be on the way at this moment, Elder D. C. Babcock speaks:—
"The little band of workers for the millions of West Africa, send greetings to all our dear people, who have so liberally supported the cause of the Master in this dark corner of the earth. The
Lord is greatly blessing the efforts put forth. The field is wide open, and facilities are rapidly increasing for pushing into the interior. Only a few hours' ride on a steamer, and we come to the new railroad penetrating to the very heart of the darkest spot of all West Africa. Before this year closes, we hope to establish our work in the interior—one station among the Mende people, and one among the Temnes. We appeal for men and means to close up the work in West Africa. 'Pray for us.'
Elder R. C. Porter speaks for South Africa, where we have been longest at work:—
"The work in South Africa is moving in a much stronger way than any of us anticipated, and in a manner that taxes our resources and strains our force of laborers to the utmost. It is so in the book, the medical, and the educational departments. The conferences are pressing an aggressive campaign of evangelistic city mission work, which is bringing a harvest of souls into the truth."
"Our missions are staggering under the tremendous burden. At Solusi, our oldest station, where Elder M. C. Sturdevant is, the attendance within just over a year has been multiplied by three, with others knocking at their doors. In Nyasaland, where the field is so large, and the laborers are so few, we have now nearly a thousand students in training. But the calls for the extension of the work are pitiful. Elder J. C. Rogers writes, 'What shall we do?'"
"From Somabula, Elder W. C. Walston reports an urgent call to open a new station, and asks, 'Shall we go forward?' Elder W. H. Anderson sends word from beyond the Zambesi: 'I find the work in this field has doubled during my absence on furlough. Can you provide additional funds for immediate extension?' Elder F. A. Armitage is opening a new station in Zululand. He sends a telegram: 'Send me a man, and I will meet half the salary personally for one year.'"
"These are but a few of the calls. If the reader could hear these natives, so lately from heathenism, speaking intelligently the praises of God, and see the tears of joy streaming from their eyes as they sing the songs of Zion, he would say, Go forward, and the men and means shall be provided. Shall we go forward? or shall we hold back from these hungry souls calling to us in the darkness? The offerings from our people for the foreign mission work must answer the question. What shall the answer be?"
Three or four testimonies now must close the service, though many more would gladly speak. Elder J. W. Westphal, of South America, says:—
To our brethren assembled for the week of prayer, greeting from the Neglected Continent. The last year has been one of progress with us. In the great city of Buenos Aires, where it has seemed so hard to get a foothold, doors have opened, numbers have been baptized, and their meeting-place, formerly larger than necessary, is too small. An impression is being made in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the second largest city of the continent. In North Brazil the openings are more than can be filled. Sabbath-keepers who have never seen a minister call for help. West and east among the Catholics, and among the Indians, we have open doors. Some of the Indians have been baptized, and others have thrown away idols, and ask us to teach them the way. We can not carry the work alone. We must look for help from our brethren in the home lands.
This longing, prayerful look toward the home fields by those who have gone out from America and Europe and the colonies touches every chord in our hearts. We will stand by as God may enable us. In writing a personal letter to a friend in America a little time ago, Elder Westphal broke off the thread of his communication and cried out: "It is getting so we can hardly keep the outposts. Lord, send us help." The laborers in these fields where but a few face millions, can only cry to the Lord of the harvest, and go on winning souls within reach.
WORKERS ATTENDING GENERAL MEETING AT HIROSHIMA
From one-time cannibal Fiji, Elder B. J. Cady writes:—
"At our last missionary meeting thirty of our students testified their willingness to go on to New Guinea or other heathen islands. They are nearly all adults. I can say of our brethren here that their eyes are on the field, and they are willing to do what they can to help. I wish you could hear their touching prayers for the heathen. One of the student volunteers was once a cannibal. When he prays for these fields, his voice breaks; and with eyes filled with tears, he beseeches God to have mercy on them in their darkness, and to send them the truth. O, that we all may have the same burden that our Fijian brethren have!"
The next testimony comes from Smyrna. "Unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write," was the word so long ago from Him who is "the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive." Now Elder R. S. Greaves sends greeting from
the church in Smyrna. He says:—
"Smyrna has changed from what it was in the early days of the gospel; but he who is 'the first and the last' remains the same. So though our denomination has been spoken against in the pulpit, and denounced in the press, we still hear the words to Smyrna, 'Fear none of those things,' and we trust we may be faithful unto the end."
Last of all, from Jerusalem, where the Saviour gave the great commission, "Go ye into all the world," the word from Brother Ludwig Krug, of the Jerusalem Health Institute:—
"We are so thankful to our brethren for the financial aid that has enabled us to provide new quarters for our work. Many sick and lame in the ancient city of Jerusalem and about its gates have found healing or relief of their pains at our health institution. As we secure an entrance among the many nationalities by the medical missionary work, it is our heart's desire that yet again a strong church of God's people may be
gathered in Jerusalem, as in apostolic days. Two souls were recently baptized here. Greetings from Jerusalem to all the brethren and sisters."
Thus to-night, as Isaiah says, "from the uttermost part of the earth have we heard songs, even glory to the righteous." Isa. 24:16. Wherever the eye of faith turns, it sees those angel messengers of the Lord Jesus
flying through the midst of heaven, with the message for every land and tongue. The Lord tells us that when the witness has been carried to all nations, he will come. He only can finish the work; and he will do it when his church obeys his command. Wherefore, by his grace, we too, as Paul, will not be disobedient to the heavenly vision.
The word of prayer, in closing, comes from Elder R. W. Munson, of Java, in the far East Indies, who sends the text, Num. 6:24-36: "The Lord bless thee, and keep thee; the Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace."
Gifts for Jesus
Children's Lesson—No. 6
Gifts for Jesus
Write the word GIVE on paper or blackboard. Ask the children to name some of the things the Lord has given them.
Then write GOD before the word GIVE, and change “i” to “a,” so you will then have GOD GAVE. By questioning get the children to tell what God has given to save us, and also what Jesus has given. John 3: 16; Titus 2: 14. As thoughts are developed, write on the blackboard till you have,—
Now what can we give to Jesus? Our hearts are the gifts he loves most. We give to him when we help the poor. We can give money for missions.
How does Jesus want us to give? 2 Cor. 9: 7; Acts 20: 35, last clause. If we have but little, and give that with our love, Jesus accepts it, because it is the best we can do. Tell the story of the widow’s mite.
Sing to close, “Something for Jesus,” No. 189, “Christ in Song.”
Children's Work
Children's Lesson—No. 7
Children's Work
Opening song for this meeting, “Master, Hast Thou Work for Me?” No. 571; “Christ in Song.” Assign parts to different children to be learned as given in the following program:—
1. Let a boy tell the story of Joseph, as found in Acts 7:9-14.
2. A girl may recite the story of the little maid, found in 2 Kings 5.21
3. Another boy can tell how Samuel served the Lord in childhood. 1 Sam. 2:18, 19; chapter 3.
4. A little girl may repeat the story of Jesus as a boy in the temple. Luke 2: 40-52.
5. Let the children learn and repeat in concert Matt. 21:15, 16.
6. The one who conducts the exercise may give a brief account of the work done by the children in 1844, and close by reading this paragraph:—
“In the last days, the children’s voices will be heard proclaiming the message. As Christ in the temple solved the mysteries which priests and rulers had not discerned, so in the closing work of this earth, children in their simplicity will speak words which will be an astonishment to men who now talk of ‘higher education.’”
In conclusion let all the children repeat:—
“There’ll be something in heaven for the children to do,
Not a moment of idleness there;
And the children who’ll go to that beautiful home
Are the children who do something here.”
A Call to Greater Endeavors to Finish Our Work
By Arthur G. Daniells
A. G. DANIELLS
(Reading for Sabbath, December 17)
“What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.” Jonah 1:6.
This earnest appeal of the master and crew of a storm-tossed vessel was made to the prophet Jonah. The circumstances under which it was made, indicate that it voiced the mute appeal of the people of Nineveh, to whom Jonah was refusing to give the message the Lord had commanded him to proclaim to them. And as “whatsoever things were written aforetime” were “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11), may it not be that this appeal for help represents the cry of many a helpless, perishing soul at this time, to whom God’s people are neglecting to give his message of warning?
To-day impending doom hangs over the cities of the nations, and they are soon to fall. But before they fall, God’s people must make known to their inhabitants his last message of mercy and salvation. That message is the threefold message of Rev. 14:6-16. Wherever that message shall be proclaimed, men and women will accept it, and of them it will be said, “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12.
The time for the proclamation of this world-wide message came in 1844, and true to the sure word of prophecy, the message made its appearance at the exact time specified. Men were led to understand it, and impelled to proclaim it. That set on foot the great world-movement of the message, which is to be finished in a single generation. For sixty-six years the movement has been developing and extending. Enough evidence of every kind has been brought to light during that time to give those connected with the movement unbounded confidence in its divine origin and its certain triumph.
It is not too much to say that this movement of the third angel’s message is demonstrated to be of divine appointment by the strongest proof that has ever been given of the genuineness of any movement in God’s great work among men. The proof John the Baptist gave to the people that his message and work were absolutely genuine was the fact that they fulfilled the word of God as given through the prophet Isaiah. John 1:19-23. There can be no stronger evidence of the divine origin and character of a movement than that it fulfils what God has foreseen and foretold.
NEW SCHOOL FARM HOME, WATERLOO, WEST AFRICA
When John was in prison, and sent messengers to Jesus to ask, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” Jesus gave to John that same absolutely sure and reliable evidence of his messiahship. He said to these messengers, “Go and show John again those things which ye do hear and see.” Matt. 11:4. The things they heard and saw were just what the prophecies had foretold that the Messiah would say and do.
This is the strongest, most reliable, and most assuring evidence that can be given in support of a movement that claims to be from God. If this can not be relied upon, there can be no certainty regarding anything purporting to be a revelation from God.
We do not point to numbers, position, wealth, facilities, nor to the extent of the work, as sure evidence, of themselves, that this movement is from Heaven. It is only as these features fulfil the specifications of prophecies relating to this time, that they can be considered as unfailing evidence that the cause is God’s. Now this is just the kind of evidence we have regarding the great religious movement with which we are connected. It began at the precise time set for it by the prophecy, namely, in 1844. Its message of warning and instruction is being proclaimed in the very words and setting of the prophecy. It is covering the whole earth, as the prophet said it would. It is doing the kind of work among men that was prophesied regarding it. The movement fulfils what the prophets foretold. Its proofs of genuineness are exactly like those that Jesus and John gave to the world regarding the source of their messages and work.
With this strong assurance that the message we have received has come from God, and that the world-wide work we are carrying forward is under the Lord’s direction, every believer should make a resolute and unreserved consecration of all to the advancement and triumph of this cause. This, dear brethren and sisters, is the most important step we can take during this week of prayer.
Such a consecration can be made only by the grace of God. When it is made, the Lord can have his way with us. Then he can give us his Holy Spirit without measure. This will endue us with power for any service to which he calls us. Living that consecrated life will place ourselves, our children, and our means at the Lord’s command, to be used as he may direct. That will lead ministers, Bible workers, canvassers, physicians, nurses, teachers, and all other workers to put forth their highest energies for the advancement of the Master’s work. It will lead our farmers, mechanics, business men, and all other wage-earners to pay a full tithe into the Lord’s treasury. And when that is done, at least five hundred thousand dollars in tithes will be added to the treasury for the prosecution of this work throughout the world.
This last statement is really startling, but it is true nevertheless. It is made on the basis of very careful and conservative reckoning, and it is accepted22as true by scores of our leading men who have given the question study. With an increase of half a million dollars in tithes annually, which the conferences would gladly dedicate to needy fields beyond their borders, we could at least double our entire force of workers in the mission fields. And if that additional number of consecrated messengers could just now enter the open doors of India, China, Japan, Korea, Africa, and the island groups, what a marvelous work would speedily be done! And so the question and admonition to Jonah from the Master of the sinking ship, are direct appeals from God to us: “What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.”
O brethren! for the sake of our divine Redeemer and his glorious work, let us make this consecration now. For the sake of perishing souls for whom this whole movement has been set on foot by the Lord, let us take hold of this work now with a new grip, and with a resolution born of God’s grace to do all in our power to hasten its progress until its work is accomplished.
TENT-MEETING AT KRAGERO, NORWAY
Brethren, we must awaken to the fact that the Lord has led us out into a large place, that we may do a larger work than we have been doing. We are facing the greatest and most serious problem that has ever confronted us. In harmony with the character of our message, we have been resolutely pressing onward from one land to another until we are to-day operating missions in nearly every country in the world. According to a table of missionary statistics recently published in the Missionary Review of the World, the different Protestant mission boards and societies throughout the world are carrying on missionary work in fifty-seven lands. We find upon comparing these statistics with our records, that we are conducting missionary enterprises in forty-three of those fifty-seven lands. According to the table referred to, the largest number any other denomination or board is operating in is ten. Only two are working in that many countries.
It hardly seems possible that in so short a time, and with such limited resources, we have been able to establish our missionary operations in so many lands. Yet it is just what the message calls for. Nothing short of this would be consistent with our understanding of the work we are to carry forward in the world.
But this situation, as already pointed out, calls for the greatest effort on our part that we have ever yet made. It calls for the sending forth of a large force of additional workers. But this would mean a great increase of funds, because the workers can not go without money. And all this is possible because of the prosperity God is giving his people. What is needed to change this possibility into an actual fact is a great awakening on our part to the needs of the hour, and a resolute determination to do our duty. May God arouse all his people, and move them to great endeavors.
The experience we have had in our efforts to establish this cause in all lands should fill our hearts with unfaltering courage. Wherever the message has been proclaimed, men and women have accepted it. Thus it has taken permanent root among all nations. And wherever it has taken root, it has grown, and spread, and developed into a working factor among the people. In not one instance have we suffered defeat and been compelled to retreat.
With all these encouraging omens, how can we do less than consecrate our all to-day for the finishing of this work?
Note to Elder or Leader
[Here let the annual offering to missions be taken. Before asking for the gifts of money, let the leader,—if the circumstances make it appropriate,—ask all in the congregation to first give themselves fully to the Lord, in the spirit of the Macedonian believers. Read 2 Cor. 8:1-5, 9. This last day of the week of prayer is a day to aim especially to lead any who have not yet yielded to the Lord to take their stand. Then, as the offerings are gathered, let all unite in dedicating the gifts of money and hearts to God in prayer.]
Soldiers for Jesus
Children's Lesson — No. 8
Soldiers for Jesus
Boys like to play soldier. Nearly all wish to be a general, and tell others what to do.
Every boy and girl may be a real soldier. 2 Tim. 2:3. Jesus is the great Commander, but each of his soldiers may be a general. Write on the blackboard, or on paper, what these soldiers have to command:—
All these things sometimes wait for orders from very small generals. What commands are we giving these soldiers of ours?
Children have real battles, in which they win or lose. Their enemies are strong and many. The devil wishes to destroy each little general and all his soldiers. Every soldier must be true to his king and country. Soldiers for Jesus must be loyal to him, and never betray his cause to the enemy.
Draw on blackboard or paper a picture of a wall, thus:—
Briefly tell the story of the capture of Jericho. Write in the blocks the things we should fight. We must fight the battle of faith. 1 John 5:4.
The Value of Common Blessings
THOSE who enjoy the comforts of home are very likely to lose sight of the real value of the common, every-day blessings given by the Lord. But let them, as do our missionaries, enter some distant land, like China, India, Africa, or the islands of the sea, and these common comforts at once spring into very appreciable prominence. A drink of sparkling, pure water, for example, from some bubbling spring, would cause many a missionary in India to pour forth a tribute of thanksgiving. After visiting the bazaars (markets), and observing how foodstuffs are handled, with what joy would the missionary sit down to your table, spread with fruit and vegetables fresh from the farm and garden. “Little things,” you may think; but they are not so small when it is impossible to get them in the burning heat of the tropics. Let us think what our comrades are giving up to take the truth to these dark lands, and not count it a burden to give of our means to hasten the message to the ends of the earth.
NOTICES AND APPOINTMENTS
By J. C. Rogers
Addresses
The post-office at Cholo, Nyasaland, has been discontinued. This necessitates our receiving all mail for the Malamulo Mission and the workers here, at Blantyre. Will all who write us kindly address as follows: (name), Malamulo Mission, Blantyre, Nyasaland, British Central Africa. Brother and Sister Konigmacher receive their mail at Matandane, Neno, Nyasaland.
