Another reference by the Pastor is found in the 1910 Foreword to the Fourth Volume, page xvi:
"The masses will seek relief through the ballot and the peaceful readjustment of earth's affairs for the elimination of evil (corruption in government), for the placing of monopolies and utilities and the supplies of nature in the hands of the people for the public good. The crisis will be reached when the hitherto upholders of the law (government officials, elected representatives) shall become violators of the law and resisters of the will of the majority as expressed by the ballot. Fear for the future will goad the well-meaning masses to desperation, and anarchy will result when Socialism fails."
Who are the "hitherto upholders of the law"?
At the time this was written the laws were mainly to protect property rights and the upper classes, what we call the "have" classes. They were strong for the law to protect their interests. Now days laws have been changed. We have laws protecting human rights more now. There is more emphasis on that than on property rights. We see the change in emphasis during the riots. They often forget about the damage to property-- just don't kill anybody. So, we have laws now that have benefited the masses, the “have nots”.
The Pastor says the crisis will be reached when the hitherto upholders of the law (the privileged classes, those in control, government officials appointed to uphold the law, the will of the people) shall become the violators of the law (corrupt), seeking to set aside these laws, liberal laws, civil rights, constitutional laws, and things of that nature, getting around it in one way or another. That's when we reach the danger point.
In another place he calls it "sitting on the safety valve." If you do that without turning off the heat, you know what's going to happen. Even you sisters know about that with the pressure cooker. And they are not turning off the heat, but rather are sitting on the safety valve--(and the pressure is building), but we are getting ahead of our lesson.
Notice, "anarchy will result when Socialism fails." That is the sequence of events. Socialism will be TRIED to a large extent. (Mostly in other countries, but possibly to some extent here in the U.S.) It will fail--it will be sabotaged and frustrated, and the result will be violent revolution, destruction, anarchy.
We have another reference, R4144, Col 2 par.11. I believe this gives us the best outline of how the time of trouble will develop of anything that I have come across. Getting down to the pertinent part we read:
"Then Socialism will appear to the masses the only peaceable way (the words "only peaceable way" is in italics so the Pastor is stressing the fact that (in his opinion) this will be a peaceful movement) for obtaining social and financial equality (the redistribution of the wealth?); then Socialism will spread like wildfire. But Socialism will fail; because money (capitalism) and brains will cooperate against it out of selfishness and fear. Then, maddened by their failure, Socialists will en masse turn anarchists (as is evidenced all around the globe even today), and the direct results will ensue: 'A time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.'"
Socialism is NOT the remedy:
"Our reason for keeping track of the progress of Socialism now is, that we expect that it, or something akin to it, is about to deceive the world into looking for a Millennium of its own, and lead them unconsciously to, and then over the brink into the anarchy and 'time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.'
We cannot wonder that this 'will O' the wisp' should attract and ensnare many of 'the groaning creation'…We sympathize...but after seeing the divine plan... (Paraphrase) we deem it dangerous to become engulfed in Socialism." R3141 par. 5
In 1915 (at the advent of the first great war) the Pastor envision that they were experiencing the first of the four manifestations in which the Lord was to reveal himself to mankind, “the mighty winds rending the very rocks”, viz.
"The present step is the war of the nations. The next step will be Socialism--an attempted Socialism--among the people. Then the third step, anarchy will gradually come on." R5632:2
So the jest of it appears to be this, some of the peaceful elements of society, law abiding elements will attempt through the power of the ballet to instigate a social revolution even as begins to be evident all around us today, however this revolution will be confounded by those elements of society aligned against it, particularly capitalism, this will infuriate some of the baser elements of this socialist movement to violence turning a once peaceful revolution into a violent revolution.
It pays thus for all the Lord’s consecrated to keep abreast of these things (NOT to become involved in them, but nevertheless to be aware of them) so as not to be overtaken nor surprised at the turn of events now occurring around them.
Remember although we are IN the world we are not OF the world, thus we are cautioned not to become entangled in the affairs of men.
"The masses will seek relief through the ballot and the peaceful readjustment of earth's affairs for the elimination of evil (corruption in government), for the placing of monopolies and utilities and the supplies of nature in the hands of the people for the public good. The crisis will be reached when the hitherto upholders of the law (government officials, elected representatives) shall become violators of the law and resisters of the will of the majority as expressed by the ballot. Fear for the future will goad the well-meaning masses to desperation, and anarchy will result when Socialism fails."
Who are the "hitherto upholders of the law"?
At the time this was written the laws were mainly to protect property rights and the upper classes, what we call the "have" classes. They were strong for the law to protect their interests. Now days laws have been changed. We have laws protecting human rights more now. There is more emphasis on that than on property rights. We see the change in emphasis during the riots. They often forget about the damage to property-- just don't kill anybody. So, we have laws now that have benefited the masses, the “have nots”.
The Pastor says the crisis will be reached when the hitherto upholders of the law (the privileged classes, those in control, government officials appointed to uphold the law, the will of the people) shall become the violators of the law (corrupt), seeking to set aside these laws, liberal laws, civil rights, constitutional laws, and things of that nature, getting around it in one way or another. That's when we reach the danger point.
In another place he calls it "sitting on the safety valve." If you do that without turning off the heat, you know what's going to happen. Even you sisters know about that with the pressure cooker. And they are not turning off the heat, but rather are sitting on the safety valve--(and the pressure is building), but we are getting ahead of our lesson.
Notice, "anarchy will result when Socialism fails." That is the sequence of events. Socialism will be TRIED to a large extent. (Mostly in other countries, but possibly to some extent here in the U.S.) It will fail--it will be sabotaged and frustrated, and the result will be violent revolution, destruction, anarchy.
We have another reference, R4144, Col 2 par.11. I believe this gives us the best outline of how the time of trouble will develop of anything that I have come across. Getting down to the pertinent part we read:
"Then Socialism will appear to the masses the only peaceable way (the words "only peaceable way" is in italics so the Pastor is stressing the fact that (in his opinion) this will be a peaceful movement) for obtaining social and financial equality (the redistribution of the wealth?); then Socialism will spread like wildfire. But Socialism will fail; because money (capitalism) and brains will cooperate against it out of selfishness and fear. Then, maddened by their failure, Socialists will en masse turn anarchists (as is evidenced all around the globe even today), and the direct results will ensue: 'A time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.'"
Socialism is NOT the remedy:
"Our reason for keeping track of the progress of Socialism now is, that we expect that it, or something akin to it, is about to deceive the world into looking for a Millennium of its own, and lead them unconsciously to, and then over the brink into the anarchy and 'time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.'
We cannot wonder that this 'will O' the wisp' should attract and ensnare many of 'the groaning creation'…We sympathize...but after seeing the divine plan... (Paraphrase) we deem it dangerous to become engulfed in Socialism." R3141 par. 5
In 1915 (at the advent of the first great war) the Pastor envision that they were experiencing the first of the four manifestations in which the Lord was to reveal himself to mankind, “the mighty winds rending the very rocks”, viz.
"The present step is the war of the nations. The next step will be Socialism--an attempted Socialism--among the people. Then the third step, anarchy will gradually come on." R5632:2
So the jest of it appears to be this, some of the peaceful elements of society, law abiding elements will attempt through the power of the ballet to instigate a social revolution even as begins to be evident all around us today, however this revolution will be confounded by those elements of society aligned against it, particularly capitalism, this will infuriate some of the baser elements of this socialist movement to violence turning a once peaceful revolution into a violent revolution.
It pays thus for all the Lord’s consecrated to keep abreast of these things (NOT to become involved in them, but nevertheless to be aware of them) so as not to be overtaken nor surprised at the turn of events now occurring around them.
Remember although we are IN the world we are not OF the world, thus we are cautioned not to become entangled in the affairs of men.
