September 25, 1900

“The Third Angel’s Message: Its Basis in the Seven Trumpets. The Sounding of the Seventh Trumpet” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 77, 39, p. 616.

WHEN the seventh angel sounded, the prophet’s attention being drawn to heaven, he heard “great voices” there, saying: “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.” And, presently, when his attention is turned to the earth, the first thing mentioned is, “The nations were angry.”ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.1

In our study last week, we saw plainly that the time when the seventh angel began to sound, was in 1844 A.D. And during all the time that has passed since that date, it has been true that “the nations were angry.” And the Turkish power—that power which is the last remains, in its descent, of what was at first the Eastern Empire of Rome—is the pivot upon which, during all these years, has turned the peace of the world. In a previous study we gave the authoritative statement that, except for the Great Powers of Europe, the Turkish power would have vanished long ago.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.2

But it is not simply that Turkey has been kept in existence all this time, by these Powers—this has been for a purpose. The Turkish power has been thus maintained, expressly to avoid, as acknowledge by the Powers, a universal war. The cause, as stated by Lord Salisbury, Nov. 5, 1895, is as follows:—ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.3

Turkey is in that remarkable condition that it has now stood for half a century, mainly because the great Powers of the world have resolved that for the peace of Christendom it is necessary that the Ottoman Empire should stand. They came to that conclusion nearly half a century ago. I do not think they have altered it now. The danger, if the Ottoman Empire should fall, would not merely be the danger that would threaten the territories of which that empire consists; it would be the danger that the fire there lit should spread to other nations, and should involve all that is most powerful and civilized in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous contest. That was a danger that was present to the minds of our fathers when they resolved to make the integrity and independence of the Ottoman Empire a matter of European treaty, and that is a danger WHICH HAS NOT PASSED AWAY.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.4

But what must be the real spirit of these great Powers, when they can thus agree, for more than half a century, in holding in existence the Turkish power, to keep themselves from fighting, when they can not agree not to fight? Why can they not agree not to fight among themselves, as easily as they can agree to keep this Power there as a preventive against their fighting among themselves? What could possibly more aptly express the true condition of things among these Powers than that word, “the nations were angry”?ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.5

This situation clearly reveals that these Powers are subject to a spirit which, when once loosed, will carry them utterly beyond themselves; and that they themselves recognize that this is so. And recognizing that this is the truth of the situation, all that they pretend to be able to do, is, by maintaining the Turkish power as long as possible, to restrain as long as possible this unruly spirit, which, when once let loose, must sweep them all away from themselves, into that dreaded and terrible vortex, involving “all that is most powerful and civilized in Europe in a dangerous and calamitous contest.”ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.6

But what Powers are these? This is an interesting inquiry. In a previous study we saw that, according to the prophecy, the actual governmental power should pass from the Turkish government on the eleventh day of August, 1840; and that accordingly, it was so: that on that day the actual power of the government of Turkey did pass into the hands of the four Powers—Britain, Russia, Austria, and Prussia. It will be remembered that, also in a previous study, we made the statement that one object of this study of the Seven Trumpets as a basis of the Third Angel’s Message, is to see the place of the great nations of to-day, especially in their relation to the Third Angel’s Message. And it is seen that, in this transaction of the eleventh day of August, 1840 A.D., these four great Powers at least are brought before us, and, by this, have been before us ever since, and are before us now, as vitally connected with this original Eastern question.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.7

Before that time, Russia had more than once appeared in the history of the Eastern Empire of Rome. But in these articles we can not enter fully enough into the whole history to give all these details. Since 1840, Austria has fallen to the grade of a third- or fourth-rate Power; but France stands fully in her place as one of the four great Powers controlling in the affairs of Turkey, though Austria is still involved in the question. France indeed became connected with that Eastern question in 1798; so that she must be counted with these others.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.8

Now there comes in another important thought. Why is it that these Powers are so certain that they will fight among themselves if the Turkish power should be let fall, that they will spend all their united time, day and night, for more than half a century, to keep that Power from falling?—Here is the answer: When the Turkish power shall fall, there will be most valuable territory to be possessed by some Power. Only a few days ago the London Economist said that that territory “might and ought to be one of the most flourishing regions on the face of the earth.” And since each one of these Powers is determined to have all that it can grasp of these territories, it is simply impossible for them to agree upon a division. And, therefore, they know that there must inevitably be a war among them all, as surely as the Turkish power shall be allowed to fall.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.9

This being the universally recognized condition of things, and these Powers dreading the inevitable war that must come over the division of the territory involved, they hold the Turkish government in life, to ward off this time of division, which must bring war; and, at the same time, each Power works every possible scheme, to the verge of war, to increase its power and its holdings in the East, so that, when the inevitable moment, which must come, shall have come, it will have the largest possible basis upon which to urge its claims, in the actual and final division of the spoil.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.10

This, in its turn, has caused each of these great Powers to spread its power over as much as possible of the whole East, until now, in this present hour of our own day, these Powers, in their grasping of power and influence in the East, have so far absorbed the whole that they all meet face to face in the extreme East, at the capital of China. Thus it is strictly true that the China tangle, as it is to-day, is the direct resultant of the original Eastern question that began Aug. 11, 1840. And this greater Eastern question as it is to-day, is but the enlarged outcome of the original Eastern question as it has centered in Constantinople for the last half-century. And, in the nature of the case, there can be no solution of the greater Eastern question as it centers in China, which shall not involve the original Eastern question as it centers in Turkey. This, because the greater Eastern question as it centers in Peking (except only the United States and Japan) are the identical Powers of the original Eastern question as it centers in Constantinople.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.11

This is as far as we have space to follow the subject this week. But even this is far enough to enable all to see that all the principal Powers involved in the Eastern question, whether in its original form or in its present enlarged form, are the great nations of to-day; and, with the exception of Russia, the United States, and Japan, are the Powers of Western Europe; are indeed the strong ones of those that arose upon the ruin of the Roman Empire, the division of the fourth kingdom, as in the second and seventh chapters of Daniel.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.12

The remaining stages of this mighty and world-absorbing question, and how the United States and Japan come into it, will be considered next week.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.13

“Studies in Galatians. Galatians 5:19-21” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 77, 39, pp. 616, 617.

“NOW the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.1

Fornication, uncleanness, and lasciviousness are but different forms of the practice of adultery; as Jesus said: “Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Matthew 5:27, 28.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.2

Thus, adultery begins in the unclean thought, the lascivious desire. Indeed, truly and strictly speaking, it begins in any thought which, if carried to it ultimate extent, could possibly lead to adultery. This is why it is that the commandments of God are “exceeding broad.” Each of the commandments of God forbids the ultimate act, by forbidding the imagination of the thought, which, if followed up, could possibly lead to the ultimate act. And thus the law of God, with its eternal “Thou shalt not,” forbids all unrighteousness of men, and asserts the righteousness of God.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.3

Idolatry is the having of other gods before the Lord. And anything that, in the estimation of any one, stands, to him, before the Lord, is an idol; and he who so allows such a thing is an idolater. Perhaps the clearest and most comprehensive statement of what is idolatry, is that by John: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” 1 John 2:15-17. As expressed by James, it is “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.4

The world, with its ways, is not of God, but is of Satan; for it is written: “The whole world lieth in the wicked one.” 1 John 5:19, R.V. And it is “the god of this world” who blinds “the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” 2 Corinthians 4:4. Accordingly, any way of this world that is followed by any one in preference to the way of God—that is idolatry to that person, and he is an idolater.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.5

Witchcraft is, literally, sorcery; and in other translations is mostly rendered sorcery. The original word is pharmakeia, which means “the preparing or using of medicine,” and is the original of the present English word “pharmacy,” the art of compounding medicines and drugs. From the original meaning of “the preparing of medicine,” the word was applied to “the using of any kind of drugs, potions, or spell.” Hence, it signifies “the use of super natural knowledge or power gained in any manner, especially through the connivance of evil spirits, magic art, enchantment, witchcraft, spells, charms.”ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.6

And how natural a work of the flesh is that tendency to divination! How many persons there are who like to know their fortune; and who, therefore, are always ready to respond to the invitations of a gypsy or a crone. And how ready people naturally are to wish to feel the experience of being mesmerized, or hypnotized! All these things come under the heading of this word pharmakeia, witchcraft, or sorcery. They are all works of the flesh. And bear in mind that it is written that “they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” In the eternal righteousness, the eternal life, and the eternal promises, which God has given in Jesus Christ our Lord, the Christian already knows his fortune, even to the depths of all eternity; and he needs no pharmacy, no drugging, no charms, spells, witchcrafts, or sorcery, at any time, not in any way whatever.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 616.7

Hatred, being the opposite of love, all the following-named works of the flesh—“variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders”—are but variations of it, just as we have seen that fornication, uncleanness and lasciviousness are simply various forms of adultery. So the commandment which says, “Thou shalt not kill,” and which, in that, forbids hatred, which is, in itself, murder. For “whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer.” As defined in the sermon on the mount, the thought stands: “Ye have heard that is was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew 5:21, 22.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.1

However, it is well to look at each of these words, that we may get as clear a view as possible of the subtlety and deceitfulness of sin in the works of the flesh. This, because few persons realize that they hate a person unless they actually do regard them “with a strong and passionate dislike, or aversion,” or “with extreme ill-will.” But when there is borne in mind the principle that the law of God in forbidding the ultimate act of evil, forbids the very imagination of the thought which, if carried out, could possibly lead to that ultimate act; and when it is borne in mind that, according to the Lord’s own definition, to hate a person, or to speak ill of a person, is to break the commandment that says, “Thou shalt not kill,“—then it can be easily understood that hatred can be indulged without that direct and extreme ill-will and aversion to the presence, or even the thought, of the person hated, which alone is commonly recognized as hatred.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.2

“Variance” suggests “difference,” especially “difference that produces disagreement or controversy; dispute; dissension; discord.” The original word signifies “strife, quarrel, debate, wordy wrangling, disputation, contention.” The spirit and tendency, therefore, of “variance,” is a readiness to differ and to raise questions, and then hold tenaciously to personal views, and run the difference into debating and dissension; then to ill-will, which, in itself, is hatred, which, in itself, in turn, is the breaking of the commandment that says, “Thou shalt not kill.”ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.3

It is not in vain that, in the Scriptures, debate is catalogued with “envy, murder,” “deceit,” and “malignity,” and is placed definitely between murder and deceit. Whoever, therefore, would avoid murder must avoid hatred; and whoever would avoid variance must diligently avoid the spirit that raises questions and indulges differences that lead to controversy, debate, and its further train of evils, which continues unbroken unto hatred, which itself is murder. And this thought is worthy of special attention everywhere in the study and recitation of the Sabbath-school lessons.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.4

“Emulation” is the “love of superiority; desire or ambition to equal or excel others;” “the desire and the resulting endeavor to equal or surpass another, or others, in some quality, attainment, or achievement.” It is the expression of sheer love of self-superiority, and inability to endure the thought that another should be superior. The original word is, literally, “jealousy;” and in other translations it is so rendered; and the declaration of the word of God, as to jealousy, is that it “is cruel as the grave.” Its synonym is “envy;” and envy is “a feeling of uneasiness, mortification, or discontent, excited by the contemplation of another’s superiority, prosperity, or success, accompanied with some degree of enmity or malignity, and often, or usually, with a desire or an effort to discomfit or mortify the person envied.” Emulation appears first, and aims to attain to a standing of superiority over another. And when that can not be attained, then envy sweeps in with its tide. When emulation has obtained its aim, it is succeeded immediately by exaltation at the defeat of the foe. When emulation in itself is defeated, it is immediately followed by envy, which, being “enmity prompted by covetousness,” waits in secret for an opportunity to vent its malignity, which, it itself, is hatred.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.5

It is easy to see how, in association with variance, emulations, and envyings, there should also appear “wrath, strife, seditions [a going apart], heresies [a choosing for one’s self],” and, finally “murder,” which is but the ultimate of any one of the works of the flesh named in this list, beginning with “hatred” and ending with “murders.”ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.6

Drunkenness and revelings are simply all manner of intemperance, which, in itself, is idolatry, and carries in its train a multitude of the evils already described in the dreadful works of the flesh.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.7

“And such like” of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.”ARSH September 25, 1900, page 617.8

“Back Page” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 77, 39, p. 624.

IN the Chicago American of September 9 Mr. W. T. Stead, the noted London publicist, reports a visit that he lately made to a French witch,—“seeress,” he calls her,—who told him, concerning the China tangle, that “the time will come, perhaps at the end of a year, when the Japanese will retire very well pleased with themselves, and they will take no more part in the war with China. Then you will think there is going to be peace; but there will not be peace, for the war, which has begun in the east, will begin again in the west, of China; and this time the Turks will be in, and the fate of Constantinople will be decided. It will be a great war, and a terrible war.” Mr. Stead is moved to remark that what she has told him will “justify some degree of uneasiness as to whether or not the battle of Armageddon may not be nearer to us than any one has ventured to believe.” This may be so with those who get their information from witches; but not with those who are instructed by the Bible. For all this is told in the Bible; and those who have read it as it is, have known these things for a long time: and Armageddon is not nearer than those have ventured to believe. How singular it is that men will believe witches more readily than they will believe the word of God. It is not strange that this witch should know these things; for it is the spirits of devils which go forth to gather these very nations—the kings of the East, which are the kings of the earth and the whole world—to the battle of Armageddon.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 624.1

NOW that the United States is making herself the special champion of Christianity in China, Christian patriotism will one of these days, become a watchword and an issue. Therefore the pamphlet “Christian Patriotism” is present truth, and is timely. Let it be spread everywhere just now, before the actual crisis comes, so that the people may be informed.ARSH September 25, 1900, page 624.2