November, 1933
382
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
to individual action, at least, in the matter of fulfilling obli gations to Him—a right already emphatically denied to men o f other lands where dictators tyrannize. Doubtless, as yet, most Americans will consider one crazy who suggests that there is even the slightest danger in America o f our losing the inheritance which our fathers waded through blood to gaing-the right to worship God according to the dictates of the individual conscience. How ever, stranger things than that have happened. The intense nationalism which is sweeping the nations o f the earth is not presaging good for the pilgrim church o f Christ. The true church o f Christ recognizes no racial boundary lines. “ God is no respecter o f persons.” In Christ, all are one ‘ll-there is neither Jew nor Greek. Christians possess a heavenly kingdom, and their loyalties to that kingdom are paramount. Rome challenged that loyalty. She demanded that Christians must yield supreme loyalty to the State, and that they should therefore worship the State. This the Christians could not do. Therefore, Rome proceeded to redden the sawdust o f her ampitheaters with the blood of Christians, and to fertilize her soil with their bones. The spirit of Rome seems to be undergoing a revival in the world today. The Christian Century (Chicago) remarks: “ Everywhere throughout the Christian world the question o f the relation o f the Church to the State has risen in new forms.” “ The church in the wilderness” (Acts 7 :38) now dwelling in Germany already knows only too well what the revival of the spirit of Rome is going to mean. And the church that is of Christ in Germany has even now been forced to become a subordinate branch of a pagan government. Russia is determined that within five years no one in Russia shall know o f any God save Lenin-Ssym- bol o f the State. Mussolini’s edict needs no interpreter: “ All in the State, nothing outside the State.” The doctrine of the spiritual supremacy o f the State exists in acute and intensified forms in both Mexico and Spain. And, believe it or not, and whether Americans are aware of it or not, here in our own country, in a decision o f our Supreme Court, known as “ The Macintosh Case,” that court strongly inferred that the State has a right to demand an allegiance upon which the individual conscience o f no man can impose limitations. The editor o f the Dawn (London ), in speak ing of this decision, said that under the court’s decision, a man’s conscientious “ conviction as to the will of God must be treated as the subterfuge o f a coward.” And then he further remarks: The choice is everywhere being forced upon the church whether she will stand under the sovereignty of Christ, or become subordinate and subservient to the na tional cause in each nation. “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Thus the hour seems to be swiftly approaching when men must face the dread choice of falling down in wor ship before “ the beast” in order that they may live, and buy and sell; or, o f refusing to render such obeisance unto him— and enter the realm o f the martyrs of Christ (Rev. 13:14-18). The Coming Superstate N. R. A . is significant o f the organization o f the com ing superstate along the exact lines predrawn by the prophets over two thousand years ago. N. R. A . is not the mark o f “the beast.” That mark is “ 666,” not N. R. A . See Revelation 13:16 to 18. “ The beast” will be a Roman (Dan. 7 :23, 2 4 )— possibly, like Paul, a Jew that is also a Roman. At least, he will not be an American. He will not be revealed to the world nor come to his power until after the church has been caught up to meet her Lord in the air (2 Thess. 2:1-9, R .V .). Therefore, no member o f the true church, which is His body, will ever be in danger o f receiving the fatal mark.
Nevertheless, N. R. A. is presenting the world with a system o f government, which, carried to its limits, cor responds amazingly to the Biblical description o f the gov ernment of the coming “ prince” (Dan. 9:26, 27), of whom the Master spake: “ The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me” (John 14:30). A few weeks ago, Professor Maynard Krueger, of the University of Chicago, speaking in Paris at a World Socialist Convention, de clared that if workers with socialistic ideals fail to take advantage of the opportunity that N. R. A . affords them, then we face the grave danger that N. R. A . shall become the framework o f a Fascist state. Unquestionably, the coming world-state of the Antichrist will be in a very real sense a revival of the old Roman Fascist state. As we write, the morning paper comes, bearing a front page headline: “ DUCE SEES R ISE OF W ORLD FAS CISM .” Now the Duce is a farsighted statesman. Per haps we should have said— nearsighted statesman! N . R . A . Calls for a Superman Dr. Benjamin M. Anderson, Jr., of the great Chase National Bank, makes the following significant statement: If a government or a collective system undertakes to regulate the business of the country as a whole, and to guide and control production, there is required a central brain o f such vast power that no human being who has yet lived or can be expected to live, can supply it. He is far from being alone in this opinion. But the “ central brain,” that “ no human being can supply,” Satan will supply. It is Written: “ And the dragon gave him his power . . . and all the world wondered after the beast . . . And they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast?” (Rev. 13:2-4). Satan, through the agency o f fallen angels, furnished the world in the days of Noah with “ mighty men . . . men o f renown.” Even so shall it be again. “ The beast” will be a man, but that man will be a devil, and that devil will be the world’s g o d ! How it all fits into the prophetic picture! What Should be the Christian’s Attitude Toward N . R . A .? Some may infer from what we have written that, since N. R. A . furnished a framework that may be used by the Antichrist, therefore a Christian should have nothing to do with N. R. A . This is not necessarily true. Every careful Bible student knows that Satan continually imi tates the work o f God. The false Messiah will so imitate the true that even the Jews will be terribly deceived. See John 5 :43. We might show also that N. R. A . resembles the coming governmental system by which Messiah shall rule the world in righteousness. In the tremendous effort our government is now making to provide millions with the work that means food, shelter, and clothing for them and their little children, every true Christian should lend a strong hand. But this does not mean that we are to shut our eyes to any spiritual danger. And spiritual dangers do exist. But, just so long as our earthly gover nors continue to allow us freedom o f conscience in our worship and our service unto God, our duty as Christians is plain. Here it is : “ Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will o f God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men” (1 Pet. 2:13-15). And that was written when the world’s first Caesar was on the throne! Even as we write, Germany steps out o f the League o f Nations and announces her intention [Continued on page 390]
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs