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Prophets and Kings
and of apostate Israel, is sweeping over the world. Nobility of soul,
gentleness, piety, are battered away to gratify the lust for forbidden
things. The black record of crime committed for the sake of gain is
enough to chill the blood and fill the soul with horror.
Our God is a God of mercy. With long-sufferance and tender
compassion He deals with the transgressors of His law. And yet, in
this our day, when men and women have so many opportunities for
becoming familiar with the divine law as revealed in Holy Writ, the
great Ruler of the universe cannot behold with any satisfaction the
wicked cities, where reign violence and crime. The end of God’s
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forbearance with those who persist in disobedience is approaching
rapidly.
Ought men to be surprised over a sudden and unexpected change
in the dealings of the Supreme Ruler with the inhabitants of a fallen
world? Ought they to be surprised when punishment follows trans-
gression and increasing crime? Ought they to be surprised that God
should bring destruction and death upon those whose ill-gotten gains
have been obtained through deception and fraud? Notwithstanding
the fact that increasing light regarding God’s requirements has been
shining on their pathway, many have refused to recognize Jehovah’s
rulership, and have chosen to remain under the black banner of the
originator of all rebellion against the government of heaven.
The forbearance of God has been very great—so great that when
we consider the continuous insult to His holy commandments, we
marvel. The Omnipotent One has been exerting a restraining power
over His own attributes. But He will certainly arise to punish the
wicked, who so boldly defy the just claims of the Decalogue.
God allows men a period of probation; but there is a point beyond
which divine patience is exhausted, and the judgments of God are sure
to follow. The Lord bears long with men, and with cities, mercifully
giving warnings to save them from divine wrath; but a time will come
when pleadings for mercy will no longer be heard, and the rebellious
element that continues to reject the light of truth will be blotted out, in
mercy to themselves and to those who would otherwise be influenced
by their example.
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The time is at hand when there will be sorrow in the world that no
human balm can heal. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn. Disasters
by sea and by land follow one another in quick succession. How