October 1931
437
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CiJt'escn i- CJjav c J ii iß llm en f q / ì PROPHECY ... By LOUIS S. BAUMAN
THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS M atthew 24:6-12; L uke 21 :25-28 m man may boast that he is an unbeliever so far as the Bible is concerned. Yet, how he can read thoughtfully the words of the Master in Matthew 24:6 to 12, and in Luke 21 :25 to 28, and remain without some fear and misgiving, is hard to understand. It is hardly possible to put into words a clearer description of the dark days that have come so suddenly upon the whole world, and of the fears that seem to paralyze the minds of men. It is for the unbeliever to explain how any unin spired writer, living nearly two thousand years ago, could describe so vividly the exact state of the world’s mind today. On the other hand, how any real believer can meditate upon these passages, and not be thrilled to the very core of his being with a glad and glorious expectancy, is like wise hard to understand. For these words came from the lips of the Master, in response to the earnest query of His disciples: “Tell us, . . . what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the age?” Wars and Rumours of Wars nd ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars.” What intelligent reader of the world’s newspapers and magazines does not know that, for the last seventeen years, “wars and rumours of wars” have formed the world’s chief topic of conversation? It is even now nothing less than the “wars” of the immediate past and present that is troubling the whole world, and out of which arise the problems that today stagger the world’s statesmanship. And nothing less than “rumours of wars” impending is striking the heart of the whole world with terror, and paralyzing its industry with haunting fear. “Nation shall rise against nation.” Did we see these words in their literal fulfillment, when nearly all the na tions of the earth sent forth their armies and encircled the earth with their battle-lines from 1914 to 1918? That holocaust, according to one of the very highest authorities, cost the nations of the earth 35,380,000 lives, 9,829,000
of which were military deaths. In Europe alone, it left between twelve and fourteen million children orphaned, bereft of parental care, home, comfort, and opportunity— of nearly everything that should be the heritage of a gen eration' destined to be the life of tomorrow. It sent great nations into material bankruptcy, beggaring the children of many for a hundred years ahead. Worse still is the moral and spiritual bankruptcy, beside which the financial bankruptcy is a small item. Surely we are not failing to weigh our words when we say that nothing more is needed to fulfill the prophecy that “nation shall rise against nation.” And if the World War did not completely ful fill it, we. may turn to the statesmen, not a few of whom are anticipating a world cataclysm tomorrow that will fulfill i t ! Famines and Pestilences nd there shall be famines.” Certainly! They always follow in the wake of battle! Since the World War we have had, not one, but half a dozen famines, scarcely equalled in the world’s history. And even now, one fa mine threatens to make any other the world has known look like an insignificant affair. Some months ago, the China Famine Relief, the highest authority on the subject, informed the world that 8,000,000 Chinese have starved to death in the last three years; and that 2,000,000 more probably will have starved to death before the end of 1931. And now as we write, conies news of a disaster of first magnitude, coming right on top of the already seem ingly unbearable sorrows of that unhappy nation. “Thirty millions homeless and fifteen millions destitute,” says one reliable report. Other reports exceed these figures. “Thir ty millions homeless!” One-fourth the population of the United States ! Contemplate it. Conceive of it if you can. “And pestilences.” Certainly! As famine follows war, so pestilence follows famine. And it will not be surprising if a pestilence unequalled in human history shall yet be added to the' terrors now sweeping over China. Be that as it may, there will be few who read this who can not recall the pestilence that swept not only the lands, but also the seas, of the earth, in 1918. In spite of the advanced
W A IT ING , W ATCH ING , W ORK ING B y A nna R. G adsden , # North Finchley, England
V, i f RE we waiting, watching, working, / — For our coming Bridgroom, King — Are our lamps well-trimmed and burning,
There are tumults ’mong the nations, Blinded Israel seek their land, But in spite of lawless progress God has some who understand. Famine, pestilence, and sword, We may wait with calm endurance, To■be caught up to our Lord. ’Mid the awful tribulation,
Do our chastened spirits sing? Signs and portents all around us, Tell us that the hour is near, When with all the hosts of heaven He will in the clouds appear.
—I ndian C hristian .
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