[12] Good News, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan-Feb 1928

[caption: The Emir Abdullah, of Transjordania, in consequence of the earthquake in Palestine—-which broke the Jewish devotions at the Wailing Wall for the first time for centuries—ordered a three days' fast before God, with a penalty of six months in prison for any found eating in public.]

* * *

OH GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD FOR HIS MERCY ENDURETH FOR EVER.

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning."

For many centuries, whilst the world looked heedlessly on, tears have run down the wall of the Jews' wailing place, oftimes, doubtlessly, utterance has been given in the plaintive words of the prophet Jeremiah:

Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the Lord hath afflicted me in the day of His fierce anger. . . .

The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the Comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.

Zion spreadeth forth her hand, and there is none to comfort her: ....

Their heart cried unto the Lord, O wall of the daughter of Zion, let tears run down like a river day and night; give thyself no rest; let not the apple of thine eye cease.

Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water befor the face of the Lord.

The children of Israel and the children of Judah were oppressed together, and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go; but their Redeemer is strong; the Lord of Hosts is His name: He shall throughly plead their cause, that He may give rest to the land

This "Strong Redeemer," the Lord God, has promised to gather His people Israel out of all countries and bring them into their own land so that those who pass by shall say: "This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden." (Ezek. 36.) The Lord hath purposed to destroy the wall of the daughter of Zion (Lam. 2: 8) and to the discomfiture of atheists and infidels, the recent great earthquake in Palestine put an end to the Jews' wailing place.

The time is drawing nearer when the Lord purposes to give "Beauty for ashes; the oil of joy for mourning; and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness."

* * *

[12] Good News, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan-Feb 1928

A NEW SONG.

My heart is singing all day long of Jesus—
In all this world I find no one like Him!
And when I think of all He did to save me,
At once, with contrite tears, my eyes grow dim.
I cannot understand how He could love me—
A sinner, poor and wretched, naked, blind!
But my heart's singing to the One above me,
I long to make Him known to all mankind.

My heart is singing all night long to Jesus—
And oft I bathe His feet with thankful tears,
For all that He endured and suffered for me,
When blotting out the sins of bygone years!
I cannot understand His grace and mercy;
That He—the Son of God—should care for me!
But my heart's singing praises without ceasing,
There's none in heav'n or earth so dear as He.

My heart is singing day and night to Jesus,
For now His Spirit is abiding there;
He takes the things of Christ, revealing to me
The wondrous glories that with Him I'll share!
I cannot understand how He could love me
Enough to build—for even me—a place;
But well I know I'll sing His praise above me,
For some day I shall see Him face to face!

—Mary A. Groesbeck.

[13] Good News, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan-Feb 1928

TIDAL WAVES AND EARTHQUAKES.

The frequent storms, hurricanes, and earthquakes which have been experienced in various parts of the world during this year have been quite unprecedented From some cause or other, just as the world of humanity is to-day suffering from restlessness as never before, so the material world, and the atmosphere surrounding our planet seems to be in a state of convulsion. Week after week the newspapers appear with startling headlines reporting record-breaking storms, tidal waves, typhoons, earthquakes, etc., which must surely startle the most careless. Men of thought who are intimate with the tendency of things—commercial, industrial, political, ecclesiastical—realise that conditions are moving onward to a great climax, and it can scarcely be denied that men's hearts are "failing them for fear of those things that are coming on the earth." Concurrently with this we are witnessing the increase of strange weather conditions, and convulsions of nature which many believe have not yet reached their height. Can anyone read the prophetic Scriptures, particularly the book of Revelation, coupling with that the prophecy of earthquakes and other disasters, without asking whether these are '"signs of the times"? And if, indeed, we have entered upon the period of the end of the dispensation, as indicated in this and in so many other ways, then the only conclusion must be that we are getting very near to the day when "the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God" (1 Thess. 4: 16). As we write there lies

A Newspaper upon our desk

with glaring headlines: "Tidal waves in three continents. Heavy loss of life. Houses carried inland before the flood," etc. It reports an awful tidal wave in Japan, preceded by the most severe typhoon of recent years. The waters rushed at the speed of an express train, carrying houses two miles inland, the number of dead being a thousand in one town alone. The tail of the typhoon struck Tokio and Yokohama. Three houses were destroyed and six people injured in Yokohama. Thirty children in Tokio were injured by the blowing away of the roof of a schoolhouse, and several thousand houses were flooded. The cause of the disaster is believed to have been a submarine earthquake. Poignant stories are

Told by survivors.

A resident of one of the coastal villages where many perished in the hurricane said: "The sea suddenly rose mountains high. I had barely time to climb a tree on the embankment with my wife and children. Immediately after, a tremendous billow tore them away from me." More than thirty other villagers in the same place were similarly swallowed up by the water. Then Mexico was also visited with a terrific storm and tidal wave, doing damage along a thousand miles of the coast, while an earthquake preceded another tidal wave on the Crimean coast of the Black Sea, accompanied by great landslides and heavy loss of life. Dense clouds of smoke and flames rose from the sea following the earthquake, and measurements show that the sea bottom has

Dropped 700 ft.

Students of prophecy who see in these things the "signs of the times" portentous of the age-climax, may be referred to as pessimists and cranks, but, at any rate, the facts are before us, and they that arc wise will heed the warning. To those living careless, selfish worldly lives, intent chiefly on the pleasures of the moment, there may be nothing specially portentous or significant in the present condition of the world. But to the serious minded there is a clarion call to prepare for the coming of Christ.—"Christian Herald."

* * *

DISASTROUS EARTHQUAKE PREDICTED.

Prof. Muskaytoff, director of the Russian Geological Survey of Moscow, voices the belief, based on the researches of nearly 500 geological map-making expeditions, that a definite northward movement of the earth's crust is developing, bringing Africa and India nearer to Europe and Asia. Sir Oliver Lodge supports Prof. Muskaytoff's theory. "There is no doubt," he says, "that the earth's crust is settling down. Nor is there anything abnormal in the operation except the improved means of communication which broadcast news of earthquakes and typhoons all over the world in a few seconds." Meanwhile, Sir Richard Gregory admits that he and fellow-scientists are anticipating a disastrous earthquake within a year somewhere near the fault line which runs from San Francisco, south of New York and through the Azores, Spain, Messina, Crimea, Leminakan, Samarkand, and Nagasaki. Gregory says it "has been proved consistently, following the series of minor and medium earth disturbances such as we have experienced recently, that a big earthquake is likely to occur."

—"Christian Herald."

* * *

One of the signs of the end is earthquakes. We do well to ponder the following prediction given by our Lord:—He said, "There shall be earthquakes in divers places. . . . And there shall be signs in the sun and in the moon and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then .shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory" (Luke 21: 12, 25-27).

The appalling destruction to life and property recently in Palestine, due to earthquake action, impresses the Bible student profoundly with the remarkable accuracy of the prophetic Scriptures, and our Lord's warning words as to the calamities that shall characterise the last days of this age. Truly, the "coming of the Lord draweth nigh."

In a leading article, entitled "The Infirm Earth," suggested by the Palestine disaster, the "Morning Post" tabulates the calamities that have come upon the earth since January last, as follows:—

"In January there were earthquakes or earth tremors in Japan, Mexico, the south of France, Portugal, and on the East Coast of England. A tornado swept the United States in February, and there were seismic disturbances in Kamschatka, Shanghai, California, Central Europe, and the Channel Islands. In March occurred the disastrous earthquake in Japan, in which some 3000 lives were lost and 7000 people injured. In April shocks were felt in South America, the Philippines, Johannesburg, New Zealand, and Central Europe, followed in May by an earthquake in China, in June by shocks in the Crimea, and on the East Coast of the United States, whose territory was already devastated by the floods of the Mississippi." —"Prophetic News."

* * *

I am waiting for the coming of the Bridegroom in the air,
I am longing for the gathering of the ransomed over there;
I am putting on the garments which the heavenly Bride shall wear;
For the glad home-coming draweth nigh.

—Dr. A. B. Simpson.

* * *

Christian! Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Let the devil, who possesses your fellowman, know that you are standing in the place of Jesus on earth, and use the mighty name of Jesus to CAST OUT that devil!

[14] Good News, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan-Feb 1928

FINGER-POSTS TO ARMAGEDDON POINT "NEARER, STILL NEARER."

Preparing for the Slaughter.

This was the startling headline of a leading article in a London paper the other day, in which it was suggested that, by the "trial" of the supposed British spies, the Soviet Government was getting ready for another massacre of innocent victims, in order to cow the Russian population, its object being to stir up passion against this country among the Russian workers, from whose meagre wages the Soviet is compulsorily deducting money to pay for its bombing aeroplanes and poison gas. To quote further from this newspaper article: "The Bolsheviks are attempting to build up a huge air-fleet for use against the British Empire, and want a very large amount for it." This is an article in the secular press, without any reference to Scripture prophecy, yet all who study their Bibles cannot fail to see that approach of the time of tribulation which will be the prelude to Armageddon. Moreover, those who have made a study of the great Pyramid of Gizeh assert that 1928 will bring the events of the present dispensation to the time of tribulation, and this tribulation— not neccessarily beginning with war—

Will extend to 1930.

From an entirely different source comes a brochure published by the "No More War Movement," which indicates some of the gigantic combinations of nations now in process of formation, and concludes by saying, "It is impossible to say where exactly the conflict may break out, but wherever it breaks out, directly any first-class Power is involved, it is certain that one. after another (as in 1914) all the nations will be dragged in. The outbreak may occur at any moment. Many indications point 1928 as being the critical year. The break with Russia may hasten the calamity."

"In the meantime," this writer adds, "darkness is deepening over the international scene, a darkness incarnadined.

But what this writer fails to recognise (as do multitudes of others) is the fact which is becoming daily more apparent—the inability of man to govern, and the failure of all governments—a state of affairs that mast continue until the King, "whose right is to reign," will come in power and glory to take over the reins of government.

EUROPE DRIFTING INTO WAR.

Those who carefully read the newspapers cannot fail to realise that there is increasing uneasiness and suspicion among the nations of Europe, and something of this feeling has apparently crept into the deliberations of the League of Nations at Geneva. For years past there has been a re-shuffling of treaties, and it was very significant that the recent "disarmament conference" came to naught. Signor Mussolini, the dictator of Italy, and one of the most alert minds in Europe, recently stated: "Everybody is arming. Italy must arm. . . . Italy must be able to mobilise five million men, and to arm them . . , and our air force . . . must be so numerous that the surface of their wings must obscure the sun over our land." Italy is, indeed, credited with a definite plan for a now combination of nations which, we presume, will be on the lines of a revived Roman Empire, according to the cherished dream of Mussolini, and would doubtless be the means of dividing the present League of Nations. The menacing fact is that so many European politicians are "talking war," and one nation after another has been hurriedly making treaties and alliances, obviously with a view to preparation for future conflict.

Great Air War Plot.—According to the London newspapers, the official Bolshevist Press provides evidence of an extensive preparation being made in Russia for an aerial and poison-gas war, with the object of achieving a world-revolution. One writer says that it is known that the Russian programme aims at a fleet of 3,000 machines, and that the Soviet is building aircraft and manufacturing poison gas with the utmost secrecy. AH the Soviet newspapers (this correspondent declares) have started a fund for aeroplanes and chemicals, and even a series of lotteries have now been -instituted by the Government for the same purpose. Poison gas and "screen-smoke," according to the Moscow papers, are being produced under the control of the Soviet. Extracts from the Russian papers, which are controlled by the Soviet, show exactly what is being done, and reveal the fact that the money is found by compulsory deductions from workers' wages. The writer gives quotations from the Russian newspapers to show that aeroplanes and chemical factories are being built all over Russia, and the Russian newspaper "Pravda" says: "Let it be known that our programmes are entirely military."

A SIGNIFICANT TREATY.

In the closing days of November came the report that a four-Power pact is being formed in Europe between Britain, France, Italy and Germany, for the purpose of remedying the present fear and discontent among certain larger and smaller nations, and of securing the peace of Europe. One of the terms is that France shall give her mandate over Syria to Italy. Germany is to recover the Cameroons in West Africa, and Spain give up her slice of Morocco to France. This seems to us the most significant item of news since the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. Will this open the way for Syria to get her king? Or for an insignificant prince to gain control of Syria and of two other of the ten kingdoms of the revived Roman Empire, and thus advance by easy grade to the headship of Italy and the Empire?

—"Jewish Missionary Magazine."

* * *

Jews Oppose New Calendar.

It is known to many readers that the League of Nations has under projection, in one of its committees, the reforming of the present civil calendar. The week and the month do not coincide either at their beginning or ending, and some months have. 30, others 31 days, while one month has but 28 days. It is proposed that the year have 13 months of 28 days each, leaving one day more in common years and two days in leap years. These overplus days are not to have any name or date given them, but may be called New Year's Day, or receive some other such name.

Such a scheme will break the continuity of the days of the week as we now have them, so that, as Jews complain, the first Saturday after the first New Year's Day will fall on a Sunday. This would make great confusion in the reckoning of holidays and of all holy days. Jews are protesting against this innovation. While it might prove of much benefit to certain classes of men, it would certainly not yield the results now claimed for it. Yet will not something like this come to pass in the near future? Many believers hold that the League of Nations is the forerunner of the coming United States of Europe, which will form the revived Roman Empire predicted in Daniel and Revelation. Now that coming confederacy and its leader, the Antichrist, "shall think to change times and laws" (Dan. 7: 25). Is the present proposal another indication of the near approach of the end?

—Thomas M. Chalmers.

[15] Good News, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan-Feb 1928

"KNOWLEDGE SHALL BE INCREASED."

Extract from "The Argus," December 13, 1927.

"'WEAVING' MUSIC. "

A Remarkable Invention.

"LONDON, Dec. 12.

"Professor Theremin, the Russian inventor, who has (received congratulations from Sir Oliver Lodge and i other British scientists, gave a successful demonstration at the Albert Hall of his process of 'weaving' music from the air.

["Great interest was caused in September by demonstrations by Mr. C. B. Cochran and Professor Theremin of a new invention in wireless. Standing on a stage near a small wooden box, from which a short brass rod projected, the demonstrators merely vibrated their fingers in the air, as if playing a musical instrument, and instantly a tune was extracted as the result of agitation, waves reacting on the instrument. The nearer the hand drew to the brass rod the higher was the note, and the deeper the tone as it withdrew. Certain notes were produced merely by blinking the eyes and moving the muscles of the face at the right distance from the instrument."]

Seeing in the Dark.—Noctovision, a development of television, was successfully demonstrated publicly over a distance of 200 miles the other night. A Press representative, sitting at a telephone in front of the televisor at Motograph House, Upper St. Martin's Lane, was, while speaking to Leeds, able to see the speaker at the other end. Captain O. G. Hutchinson, of the Baird Television Company, was at the Leeds end of the telephone, and every movement, even of his lips, was visible. He put his hand up to his forehead; he turned his head sideways; he faced the telephone— whatever he did was seen on the screen in the televisor. Capt. Hutchinson, as well as those in the London studio, was in complete darkness. It was the longest transmission by noctovision yet accomplished.

REVOLUTION IN CHINA.

This remarkable manifesto (appearing in "The Bible for China" for February) has been issued by one of the Generals and thirteen officers and soldiers of the Northern Army:—

"Some people blame the Imperialists and Militarists for all the trouble, and they say that the only thing that can beat them down and make things better is revolution. We wish to make it clear that we are not a body of people in any way opposing revolution, but we want to have the right sort. The great Revolutionist, Jesus Christ, does His revolutionary work in the hearts of men: that is, to change and convert their nature; and we believe that this is the only way to save our country. Therefore we have organised this Hung Tao Hui with the object of preaching our Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for the salvation of all mankind, as our national Saviour."

A CARDINAL ON THE ADVENT.

It comes as a happy check on too complete a condemnation even of the most corrupt of Christian communions to hear a Cardinal on the Advent. Cardinal Billot (Mr. Ernest Gordon brings the fact to light in the American "Sunday School Times") has written a series of articles in "La Parousie," Paris, in which he emphasises Zionism—to which the Vatican is deeply hostile—as a manifest proof of an imminent Advent; and expounds the fall of Jerusalem as a type only of the final catastrophe due when the Gospel has been preached to all nations.

"Wm. Hulbert, of Hulbert Publishing House, London, at a meeting in Manchester on Saturday, September 10, read an extract from a newspaper, telling that Italy has made a law that all children born in Italy must in future be stamped with the number 666, the number of his name." (Rev. 13: 18). . . .

This is certainly both startling and ominous, and should arrest the attention of all those who are believing in the imminent return of our Lord.

BABY WIDOWS. Infant Marriages in India.

("Herald" Special Representative.)

Calcutta, October 23.

Mr. Jadhay, the promoter of three Bills in the Bombay Legislative Council to restrict child marriages, says that in the Bombay Presidency alone there are 74,000 married children under five years of age. Of these, 3574 are widows. Nearly 2000 of the children were married before they were a year old. The total married children between the ages of five and ten years is nearly 350,000.

IMMANUEL MISSION, JERUSALEM.

And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions (Joel 2: 28).

During an earthquake shock a young Jewish woman who had been hearing the Word of God woke up saying she had just had a terrible dream, in which she saw the Mount of Olives cleave in two, and the rivers begin to run through. (Zech. 14: 4-5.) She saw the people run to and fro into the caves and rocks below our house, throwing their money in the streets. She also saw the heavens on fire; she also was throwing her money away when suddenly there appeared before her a large door, which she held on to for safety. I asked her if it was the door of a house or building, and she said, "No. It was just a door." Then I opened my Bible and showed her where all these things were coming to pass and that God had surely spoken to her from heaven, and that the door she held on to was no other than Jesus, Who said, "I am the door; by Me if any man enter in he shall be saved."

Jerusalem has again been violently shaken, especially the Mount of Olives, and we know not how soon it will be cleft in two. God is speaking to the nations, and especially to His people, and surely men's hearts are failing them for fear and for looking for those things that are coming to pass. Earthquakes, pestilences, diseases, wars and rumors of wars on all sides. There have been about 12 shocks since the big earthquake, and we may before long have another more severe than the last, and they shall go into the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth for fear of the Lord and for the glory of His Majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth. (Isa. 2: 19.)

For thus saith the Lord of Hosts: Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens and the earth, and the sea and the dry land. And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come; and I will fill this house with my glory (Haggai 2: 6-7). The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord shall be the hope of His people (Joel 3: 16).

How precious these words to us in these days when the Lord is shaking everything that can be shaken, and we are being brought face to face with realities. We have proved Him to be an ever-present help in the time of need, and while the earth is shaking He keeps us in perfect peace. Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolation He hath made in the earth' (Psa. 46: 8). —L. H. Dickson.

© Southern Cross College, 2005.