y to dare death for Christ's sake; the only welcome
awaiting God's messengers was that of cannibal ovens, merciless
prisons, or martyr graves. But, as the little band advanced, on
every hand the walls of Jericho fell, and the iron gates opened
of their own accord. India, Siam, Burma, China, Japan, Turkey,
Africa, Mexico, South America, the Papal States, and Korea were
successively and successfully entered. Within five years, from
1853 to 1858, new facilities were given to the entrance and
occupation of seven different countries, together embracing
half the world's population."--_"Modern Mission Century," p.
25._

[Illustration: INTO THE HEART OF AFRICA

The Victoria Falls railroad bridge over the Zambezi.]

God's providence has laid under tribute every force and every resource
for the opening of all lands--missionary endeavor, love of adventure,
commercial enterprise, and scientific interest. Railways have been built
through regions that were undiscovered seventy years ago, and among the
passengers traveling now over the iron trail are men and women of tribes
unknown fifty years ago. But the gospel message was to go to every
tribe and tongue before the end; and wonderfully Providence has been
opening the doors throughout all this "time of the end," and
particularly in our generation.

Material Agencies for the Work

The prophecy represents not only a world-wide work, but a quick work in
proclaiming the gospel message in the last days. The movement is
symbolized in the Revelation by an angel flying in the midst of heaven,
from land to land. And as to the closing work, when the end is near at
hand, the Scripture says:

"He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a
short work will the Lord make upon the earth." Rom. 9:28.

"Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."
This is the hope for a quickly finished work in all the earth in our
time. Yet the Lord lays hold of material things for service; and
wonderfully the hand of Providence has wrought in bringing into
existence material agencies for a quick work in carrying the gospel to
the world--such agencies as no generation before ours ever had.

Consider the marvelous facilities for world-travel. They are the product
of this time of the end. "Many shall run to and fro," said the prophecy.
Some interpreters have restricted the Hebrew phrase to a "searching" to
a