King's Business - 1948-07

AN ANCHOR THAT KEEPS THE SOUL JJ7 In the storms o f life Bible-

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Conceived in Faith and Brought Forth in Prayer “ For Such a Time as This”

.State.

Official Publication, of The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Incorporated

Louis T. Talbot, D.D.

Betty Bruechert Managing Editor

William W . Orr, D.D.

Editor in Chief

Associate Editor

Another Independence Day W ITH the coming again of the glorious Fourth of July, it is time again to recognize and evaluate the mar velous blessings of liberty that we en joy as American people. Let it not be thought for a moment that these bless ings have come by mere “ happenchance.” There is riothing more sure in interna tional life than that “ righteousness ex- alteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people.” America has signally en joyed the blessing of Almighty God, and it is folly of the worst kind to forget that God has placed in the world inex orable laws of national survival. These laws, when broken, bring sure punish ment and, in some cases, national ob livion. On the other hand, that nation which honors God, God will honor. Here then is the secret of America’s well-being: her sincere recognition of dependence upon the God of the nations. Let Independence Day this year find America bowing her heart as well as her head in grateful acknowledgement of uncounted past blessings and in sincere petition for the good hand of our great God to continue to rest upon us in for giveness and blessing. W E hold these truths to be selfrevi- dent: that all men are, created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the'pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government be comes destructive of these ends it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Pru dence, indeed, will dictate, that govern ments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a Iona train of abuses and usurpa tions, pursuing invariably the same ob ject, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. —From THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, July 4th, 1776

CONTENTS Palestine, Russia and Ezekiel 39, Louis T. Talbot ........................... 4 “ In Heaven’s Gardens,” Betty Bruechert ............................................ 6 Timothy the Timid, Vance Havner ............................. ....................... 7 Ministry o f the Bible Women, Emily J. Alexander ....................... 8 Editorially Speaking ................................... 9 The Church That Was Dead, G. Coleman Luck .................................... 10 Another Milestone— The Bible Institute o f Los Angeles................ 11 Baptism fo r the Dead: Whence is it? Reid McCullough ................ 12 Dr. Talbot’s Question Box...................................................................... 13 My Conversion from Mormonism, Einar Anderson . ........................ 14 Biola Family Circle...................................................................................... 15 Junior King’s Business, Martha S. Hooker ........................................ 16 God’s Great Creation, Ethel S. Low ....................................................... 16 On Strike, Bess McClennan Antisdale ................................................... 17 The Bible in the News, William W. Orr ............................................ 19 Young People’s Topics, Walter L. Wilson ............................................ 20 Sunday School Lessons, Homer A. Kent, AUison Arrowood ............ 23 Object Lessons, Elmer L. Wilder ....................................................... 28 Picture Credits: Cover, Roy Pinney o f Monkmeyer Press Photo Service, New York— Air View o f the Statute o f Liberty on Bedloe’s Island, New York; pp. 4, 5 —Biblical Research Society, Los Angeles, California; p. 7, Drawing by Ransom Marvin Sprague, Washington p. 12, Herbert Photos, New York; p. 30, Adelbert Bartlett. Santa Monica, California. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION—“ The King’s Business” is published monthly: $2.00, one year; $1.00, six months; 20 cents, single copy. Clubs of three or more at special rates. Write for details. Canadian and foreign subscriptions 25 cents extra. It requires one month for a change of address to become effective. Please send both old and new addresses. REMITTANCES—Payable in advance, should be made by bank draft, express, or post office money order payable to “ The King’s Business.” Date of expiration will show plainly on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. ADVERTISING—For information, address the Advertising Manager, 568 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 13, California.. MANUSCRIPTS—“ The King’s Business” cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts mailed to us for consideration. Entered as second-class matter November 7, 1938, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act of March 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in the Act of February 28, 1925, embodied in paragraph 4, section 538, P. L. and R., authorized October 1, 1918, and November 13, 1938. ADDRESS: The King’s Business, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 13, California. Page Three

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dream that ere I completed the series, such momentous events would occur in the Holy Land as have taken place with in the last few weeks. On May H , the entire Christian world was startled at the proclamation by the Jews of their new independent state of Israel. To all serious students of prophecy this ap peared indeed to be “ the budding of the fig tree.” I consider it the greatest event, from a prophetic standpoint, that has taken place within the last one hundred years, perhaps even since 70 A.D., when Jerusalem was destroyed. There is no doubt in my mind but that I was led of God to call the attention of our readers and other Bible believers to these prophe cies at this time, and I hope, God willing, in the near future, to follow with mes sages, pointing out the prophetic sig nificance of the recent occurrences in Palestine. While we cannot at this time say that “ this is it,” we do believe that coming events are casting their shadows upon the world. We must await further developments, to match them with the prophecies. Meantime let all who “ love His appearing,” “ look up and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” — Louis T. Talbot.

The Meir Dizengoff Square in Tel Aviv, now the provisional cap.- ital of the newly-proclaimed Jewish state, Israel. In 1908, Tel Aviv was just a lonely stretch of sand dunes,

and now it is a thriving city of over 160,000 population. The motto on the Tel Aviv coat-of-arms reads, “I shall build, and you will be built.”

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Tenth,,in a Series of Prophetic Messages

By Louis T. Talbot, D.D.

O UR article last month closed with the fearful picture of the destruc tion of the enemies of Christ in the last days. The vivid description of the “ sacrifice” of the literal bodies of those who will dare to defy the living God is one of the most awful portions of the entire Word of God. But now the scene changes, and the last message in this series presents a much happier prospect. Glory for God among the Nations At this point, the prophet turns from considering the sordid scene, and begins to speak of the effect this judgment will have upon the nation of Israel, as well as upon the other nations of the world. Let us read 39:21-24: And I will set my glory among the heathen, and all the heathen shall see my judgment that I have executed, and my hand that I have laid upon them. So the house of Israel shall know that I am the Lord their God from that day and forward. And the heathen shall know that the house of Israel went into captiv ity for their iniquity: because they tres passed against me, therefore hid I my face from them, and gave them into the hand of their enemies: so fell they all by the sword. According to their unclean ness and according to their transgres sions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them. Page Four

As we study these verses, we believe that the Spirit of God, through the prophet, is going forward a bit in time and is envisioning the return of Christ to the earth. When will God set His glory among the nations? When will all nations fully realize the fact that there is a God in heaven who possesses the earth, and who directs the affairs therein? When shall the house of Israel fully know that Jehovah is her God? When shall the na tions understand that Israel was scat tered to the four corners of the world for her iniquity against her God? I be lieve that these things can come only at the time of the glorious return of God’s Son. That will be the time when all these things shall be fully accomplished, and not before then! The world will acknowl edge the righteousness of God in His dealings with Israel and with the nations only when His Son takes the reins of government. Israel will return to her own land in great numbers, but in unbelief. Christ will still, at that time, be Israel’s “ stumbling-block.” He who is loved by us will still be ignored by Israel. True, the temple worship will be set up, and the ancient sacrifices resumed. Lambs will continue to be offered as before, and the priests will function as in the days of old. All this will Israel do, not know ing that God’s I amb has come, and has been slain for the sins of Israel and of

the world. Of Christ’s present High Priestly ministry they will be ignorant. How inexpressibly sad is Israel’s blind ness! But Ezekiel, in this chapter, looks beyond this period of blindness, and sees the time when Israel will behold Him whom they have pierced, and will mourn for Him as one mourneth for an only son. Then she will receive Him as her long-awaited Messiah. At this time Christ shall come unto His own, and His own shall receive Him, praise God! The Restoration and Blessing of Israel Let us note the coming glory, as de scribed in the last five verses of chap ter 39: Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name; After that they have borne their shame, and dll their tres passes whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid. When I have brought them again from the people, and gathered them out of their enemies’ lands, and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations; Then shall they know that I am the Lord their God. which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen: but I have gathered them unto their own T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

heralding the Gospel message while there is yet time. God faithfully warns us of the coming judgments upon a rebellious world, saying unto us, “ Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness . . .?” (2 Peter 3:11). The end of this present age draws nigh, and still God is beseech ing men and women to turn to the Lamb of Calvary. Many have not yet heard the Gospel story. Many others have not heard it clearly. It is our task and our privilege to go with the blessed story of the grace of God to those who are hope lessly lost in darkness and sin. I do not know, my friends, just how much longer I shall be allowed to preach this message. Perhaps one of these morn ings the trump of God shall sound; the dead in Christ shall be raised; and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet the Lord in the air! (See 1 Thess. 4:13-18.) What a wonderful prospect for us, to be sure! But how terrible to think that millions will be left to go through the tribulation. My friend, are you safe in Christ? If not, turn to Him without delay. Are your loved ones saved? If not, in God’s name, do not sleep until they, too, come to know Him, whom to know is life eternal. Then there are your friends, your associates, your acquaintances—have you not some influence with them? Will you not be seech them to become reconciled to God? May our gracious Heavenly Father grant unto each and every one of us the privilege of working for Him during the time which still remains. May God bless you as you testify for Him in the name of our gracious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

God. For the Lord will not hide His face from His people, hut will dwell among them and pour out His Spirit upon them. Gog's W ar against Israel— Not Armageddon Now, lest some should think that, fol lowing the defeat of the armies of Gog, the period of blessing will immediately come to pass, we need to remember that the battle discussed in this chapter is not the battle, or the war, of Armageddon. That is an altogether different war. The Roman prince, and not Gog of Russia, is the leader of the enemies of God at Armageddon. Moreover, the decision at Armageddon will not be accomplished by atmospheric and seismical upheavals, but by the personal appearance of the Son of God, followed by the armies of heaven. And the Antichrist will not be buried on the hills of Palestine, but, with the false prophet, will be cast alive into the lake of fire and brimstone. The time element between these two great battles of Gog and Armageddon is thoughf by most Bible students to be about the time |of “ the great tribula tion,” but again we do not want to be dogmatic. However, we are sure that there are many distinguishing features between these events. Our Responsibility in This Day of Grace With this study we conclude this series of lessons on “the signs of the times” of the end of Gentile dominion, the com ing world dictator, and the prophecies of Ezekiel 36-39 inclusive. These are search ing and solemn themes that we have been considering. And as this day of grace seems to be drawing to a close, we are impressed with our own responsibility of

land, and have left none of them any more there. Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the hoiCse of Israel, saAth the Lord God. We need to remember that, whenever God speaks of any trial into which His people are to go, the recital of the trial or judgment is always accompanied by some note of the glory which is to follow. Here in Ezekiel 39 we have the record of one of the greatest trials which God’s ancient people will ever be called upon to endure, but here also is the note of ultimate victory. First, God’s decision to call the scat tered nation of Israel back to her own land is reiterated in verse 25. This is amplified and repeated many, many times in the Old Testament, as we have often observed. This is the central theme of Israel’s glory in the prophetic por tions of the Old Testament, the regath ering of the Jew to his homeland for God’s blessing. Furthermore, God is going to regather “the whole house of Israel,” not merely some of the tribes. All twelve of the tribes are to be included. How utterly foolish is the modern cult which would divide Israel and give only a portion of the nation the glory which God has promised ! All Israel is guilty of the sins of disobedience and rejection of the Messiah. All Israel has wandered and suffered throughout the centuries. Even so, all Israel will be regathered to enjoy the time of great happiness that is to come. In that day all Israel shall know that the years of her captivity were permitted for her own chastening; and, what is more, all Israel shall know the true character of Jehovah who is her

A Jewish family at home in Moshav Ovdim, Nahalal Colony, Palestine.

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so black that I try to erase them from my mind.” For a time Mr. Nicholson seemed to improve and was able to walk about his room a little. But other attacks followed—six in all. He grew worse; although there was other help, his wife scarcely left his side. She dared not lie down lest her body stiffen so that she could not answer when he called. The last five nights she sat up until three. But during those dark hours, the hope of the coming of Christ loomed brighter and brighter. Every night for a year, ere he slept, Mr. Nicholson would whis per to his wife: “ Goodnight, Sweetheart. Perhaps tonight. Leave your little hand out, and if He calls, I’ll come that way, and take your hand, and we’ll go up to gether.” Even on the last night of his life, he repeated those words. For, incredible as it may seem, it pleased God to take the strong man and leave the frail handmaiden. On April •22, 1948, the difficult breathing stopped, the weary heart was still. Mr. Nicholson went quickly without great pain as his wife had prayed that he might. And to day the little poem that God gave Mrs. Nicholson in those last days of her hus band’s life, she must apply to her own lonely heart: Do not fret; God lives yet; Do not try to understand. Of her husband’s home-going, Mrs. Nicholson writes: “ Of course, it is des perately, bitterly hard; it is desolate be yond words. Until we are together again, I shall be only half a person. But when it becomes well-nigh unbearable, I think of his happiness, of his freedom from pain, of his rapture in being in the very presence of the Lord. I find myself ut terly unable to think of him as dead. If I ever did, I should die too. And he is not dead, for he is only living in another place, a place that has been dear and familiar to me for years. So always in spite of the loneliness and longing, there is a singing joy in my heart over his safety. I never need to worry about him any more. And I am glad it was he who went and I who stayed, so that he does not have to go through this. I know the ageless eternities we shall spend to gether, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” While Mrs. Nicholson was the one to whom beauty of expression came easily, yet there are evidences that her hus band did not lack literary gifts either. And his was an impressive Christian witness as well. This is illustrated by the following letter which Mr. Nicholson wrote Mrs. Arthur I. Brown upon the occasion of the accidental death of the beloved Dr. Arthur I. Brown who was a close friend of the Nicholsons: “Martie and I have been living in close contact with death for years. We have looked him in the face and defied him, until he has no further terrors for T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S Only rest — That is best, In. the shadow of His hand.

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THE STORY O F THE N IC H O L SO N S

By Betty Bruechert

S CARCELY ever in actual human ex perience, and certainly never in the pages of fiction, does one come upon such a moving narrative as the real life story of Howard Wren and Martha Snell Nicholson of Wilmington, Califor nia. Theirs is a tale of tender romance, of sacrificial love, of unspeakable pain, and indescribable heartbreak. But, above all, it is an outstanding example of the grace of God manifested to two people chosen and honored by Him to be led through the blazing fires of the furnace of affliction. It is a modern illustration of the kind of triumphant faith ex pressed by God’s servant Job when, in the midst of his sufferings, he cried out, “ Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.” The name of Martha Snell Nicholson has become familiar to the Christian public through her poignant poetry in leading evangelical magazines and her four volumes,- Wings and Sky, Threshold of Heaven, In Heaven’s Gardens, and Ivory Palaces. As the titles of these books indicate, her verse has a message of comfort and inspiration for the Christian. She has made real to the be lieving heart “ the land that is fairer than day,” where pain shall be no more. Her poems have been blessed to thou sands of hearts because they were first lived by the author. For it has been given to Mrs. Nicholson, in the provi dence of God, to know’ by experience the full meaning of suffering. Beginning with a,n onslaught of tuberculosis when she was but a young girl, her life has been an almost continuous experience of physical pain. Early, arthritis took its toll of her erect, young body, twisting it to such an extent that her height was reduced from five feet six to four feet nine. Weighing only eighty pounds, pale and thin, her spine completely ankylosed, encased in a heavy steel brace, she gets about painfully on crutches. And now it is believed that she has internal cancer as well. Out of this dreadful experience, her heart touching poems have been produced, many being written while she was suf fering intensely; one of her best, “ The Red Sea,” was composed when she had a temperature of 104°. But Mrs. Nich olson’s spirit has not been broken nor has she become embittered. A joyful Christian, possessing a keen sense of humor as well as a love of beauty, she has a radiant smile and a glad testimony for Christ. Page Six

But what is not generally known, and what has contributed most to her hap piness, has been her joyful married life. Back of this gifted invalid has been the quiet, but strong personality of her godly husband. It was upon his arm that she leaned, and upon his heart that she rested. Kind, patient, tender, intel ligent, industrious, Mr. Nicholson not

Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson only provided a home and a living, but he made a great Christian literature ministry possible. Together the Nichol sons mailed out one and one-half million tracts, all of them Mrs. Nicholson’s poems and prose. Of her husband, Mrs. Nicholson states: “ In all the years of our marriage he never thought of himself or his own wishes, always of mine, and of my welfare. Only a strong man can know such love as his.” With business, the care of his wife, the tract and book ministry, Mr. Nicholson worked day and night, but he was physically so powerful that what might have seemed a tremen dous burden to another man was borne lightly by him. Then, suddenly, unaccountably, in Feb ruary, 1947, he was stricken with that dread killer, coronary heart disease. The vigorous, outdoor man was confined to bed, forced to lie in pitiful weakness and to be ministered unto as he himself had ministered. Mrs. Nicholson says, “ Some of those weeks and months were

T I M O T H Y THE TIMI D

the entire service from a transcription. All Christian friends should continue to uphold her in their prayers. She says: “All I can think of is that soon I shall be with him and with the Lord we love; and real living will begin for us at last. Surely, surely, the Lord is coming soon. Until He comes, I shall carry on as best as I can. Service, I learned long ago, is one of the surest paths to peace. So I want the tract work to continue, for God has clearly shown that His blessing is upon it.”

us. We know that our Lord Jesus has abolished death and brought life and im mortality to light through the gospel. So we talk a lot about our own going, hop ing it may be by the sky ways rather than by the valley, and the life beyond is very real and precious to us. “ For me the change from a life of ex treme activity to that of a coronary pa tient took some adjusting. I sought it in prayer, Scripture consolation and the depths of Christian faith. And the Father was pleased to give me a pic

By Vance Havner

E VIDENCE abounds to prove that young Timothy was a timid young preacher who needed more than one admonition to brace him up. To the Corinthians Paul wrote, “Now if Ti- motheus come, see that he may be with you without fear.” And he exhorted Timothy himself to war a good warfare, to let no man despise his youth, to stir up the gift of God within him, to endure hardness. He reminded him that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. There are worse sins than timidity. Perhaps it is better to go into the pul pit timidly than to march in brazenly like a Napoleon crossing the Alps. The race horse that trembles before the race wins the race. And many a minister trembles before he triumphs. Many of God’s choicest servants, like Moses and Gideon and Jeremiah, “ lowrated” them selves unduly. Yet God seems to call men of that caliber to His work and to make of them brazen walls against their ene mies. One can think too humbly of him self as well as too highly. To say that two and two make three is as wrong as to say that two and two make five. “ Say not that I am a child,” God tells Jere miah. We are neither to boast of nor to belittle ourselves. When I hear a man always running himself down, I am as suspicious of him as when he overrates himself. Humility does not consist in thinking meanly of ourselves but in not thinking of ourselves at all. While we are to have no confidence in the flesh, we are to declare, “ I can do all things through Christ.” Whether or not Timothy had stage fright I do not know but it is likely that he did. Hambone, the negro philosopher, said, “When I stands up, my mind sets down.” The only real cure for this af fliction is to be so Spirit-filled that it is not we who speak but the Spirit, to be so impelled and compelled and propelled from above that we cannot but speak. This does not come easily to the flesh and is not learned in a school of ex pression. It is a matter of heart more than of art. The disciples did not ask the Lord to teach them HOW to pray but to teach them TO PRAY. Pray and you will learn how! Let the bone-fire burn, and you will learn to be “weary with forbearing and cannot stay.” “ Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.” When a man feels like that, he must preach and he will! Timothy, with a godly mother and grandmother, and with Paul for a spirit ual father, was off to a great start in his spiritual life. He had unfeigned faith Page Seven

SINCE YESTERDAY Along the golden streets A stranger walks tonight With wonder in his heart ,— Faith blossomed into sight. He walks and stops and stares, And walks and stares again. Vistas of loveliness Beyond the dreams of men. He who was feeble, weak, And shackled to a bed, Now climbs eternal hills With light and easy tread. Her bitter cup again. O never call him dead, This buoyant one and free, Whose daily portion is Delight and ecstasy! He bows in speechless joy Before the feet of Him Whom, seeing not, he loved While yet his sight was dim. Along the golden streets No stranger walks today, But one who, long homesick, Is home at last, to stay! He has escaped at last The cruel clutch of pain; His lips shall never taste

ture—just a picture that I should paint if I were an artist. I’ll give it to you, hoping it will furnish to you some of the soothing comfort it gave me. I called it ‘The Hills of Home. The Saints on the Way to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.’ “A broad tranquil valley—the Valley of the River of Life, the River flowing through it in the shade of the Tree of Life. Valley sloping up to high crags of the mountains, the source of Heav enly light, a diffusion of light over the whole scene. On either side the valley, smooth sloping hills. On nearly every available foot of space, white-clad fig ures converging upon the valley toward the banquet hall, saints in groups and singly, some of them plainly the prophets and the faithful of all ages. Even the elders had youthful-appearing bodies, vibrantly alive. No haste (time will not run by the sun), just a steady progress toward the Eternal Hills of Home. And now to the faithful who have borne the cross to a lost world, I must add another figure—the vibrantly eternally youthful figure of our friend and your beloved.” We cannot close this brief tribute to a wonderful Christian couple in any better way than to quote one of Mrs. Nichol son’s poems, which better than another’s words, expresses the feelings that today are in the heart of this bereaved wife, and which will be shared by all who have likewise “ loved long since and lost a while.” This lovely poem was read at Mr. Nicholson’s grave. Mrs. Nicholson could not attend but was able to hear

*Title of one of Mrs. Nicholson’s books of poems.

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himself. But he needed to be set on fire. Was there just a little danger that he might be ashamed of the testimony of the Lord? Certainly he was admonished to stir up the gift, to kindle the fire of God within him. The Scriptures tell us of PREACH ERS WI THOUT THE FAI TH, PREACHERS WI THOUT THE FACTS, and PREACHERS WITHOUT THE FIRE. Our Saviour asked, “When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” He will find some ministers without faith, for He Himself said, “ Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I pro fess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Timothy was not without faith, but there have been others who, for all their godly ancestry and their teaching and training in the Scriptures which are able to make one wise unto salvation, have nevertheless possessed a head knowledge of Bible terms without a heart knowledge of Bible truth. Noth ing is more perilous than a superficial acquaintance with the language of the Christian faith from childhood. There always lurks the deadly danger that, like Absalom, one may dwell at Jerusalem and never see the king’s face. John Wesley had a godly mother, was trained at Oxford, prayed and preached, had a zeal and love for souls after a fashion, was desperate in his search for truth, but all the time was without an experimental knowledge of sins forgiven. Thomas Chalmers was a preacher long before he had an “original experience of Jesus Christ.” There are not only PREACHERS WITHOUT FAITH, there are PREACH ERS WITHOUT THE FACTS. Apollos was eloquent, mighty in the Scriptures, instructed in the way of the Lord, fer vent in the spirit, speaking and teaching diligently the things of the Lord. One would think that sufficient for any min ister. But while Apollos was faithful to the light, he had not enough light until Aquila and Priscilla instructed him. The preacher deals with facts: Christ died for our sins and rose for our justi fication, according to the Scriptures. These are historic facts, but there are preachers who do not believe the record God gave of His Son. John 3:16 depends upon Second Timothy 3:16. One may be ^ Christian and not know much doctrine, but no one has any business going out to preach until he knows and believes the facts of the gospel. But a preacher may also be without FIRE and this, I think, is where Tim othy comes in. There was indeed fire within him, but it needed to be kindled into flame. Too often the minister has a bed of coals in his heart covered with a lot of ashes. There are others who sub stitute strange fire and stage fire for (Continued on Page 22) Page Eight

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By Emily J, Alexander

This is a picture of a “released time” Euodia club, which started with sixteen girls, and now is composed of over 100 at every meeting. T HE Bible Institute of Los Angeles was founded over forty years ago by Mr. Lyman Stewart and Mr. 2:14: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.”

T. C. Horton. Many departments were added to the actual Bible training courses. Mrs. Horton started the Adult Neighborhood Bible Classes for women which were taught by trained Bible teachers known as The Bible Women. The Lyceum Eteri was in existence be fore the Bible Institute began. These Bible c l a s s e s progressed steadily throughout the years. Every Tuesday night—whether holidays or not—this Club has never failed to meet. There business and college girls, in fact, any young woman, can always find a wel come, a supper, and a splendid message for her soul’s comfort and salvation. Before Mrs. Horton went to be with the Lord, she put Mrs. Lyman Stewart in her place to carry on this Bible- teaching work, in which she has been a most faithful leader. Mrs. Horton was concerned for the teen-age girls, who were growing up without a knowledge of the Bible which was not permitted to be read in our public schools. For this reason, Mrs Horton started the Euodia Club for younger girls, which has existed for more than thirty years. These girls meet after school once a week in a home or church near their schools to study the Bible. The first club was started in the old Los Angeles High School. Many trained Bible teachers have been added to this department, and in the last 27 years, there have been thousands of Euodia girls. How did this Bible Club get its strange name? Dr. R. A. Torrey so named it from the Greek word for fra grance, Euodia. The motto of the Club is: “ To be fragrant for Christ,” and its particular verse is Second Corinthians

The aim of the Euodia Club is, first, to make the way of life plain. Then fol lows the study of the Bible, three years in the Old Testament, and three years in the New. Each lesson is a practical salvation message. Some ask, “ Do the girls come regularly?” Many girls have never missed for the entire six years through Junior and Senior High; in fact, a Junior Euodia for fifth and sixth grade girls has been Started. This year one girl is receiving a Bible from Mrs. Lyman Stewart for eight years of faith ful attendance. She has missed but once, when she was thrown from a horse and suffered a concussion. Others ask, “ Do they go on with their Christian train ing?” Yes, many have gone to the Bible Institute, and later as missionaries to the foreign field. Today Euodia girls are in China, Africa, India; in fact, in all parts of the world. Many become minis ters’ wives and Christian workers. This work is carried on by many faithful wo men, over fourteen regular teachers and many volunteers. During the years, sev eral of our women have gone to be with the Lord. God buries His workmen but carries on His work. Friendship with Jesus, Fellowship divine. Oh, what blessed, sweet communion; Jesus is a Friend of mine. This is a favorite chorus of the girls for they have found real friendship and fellowship in Euodia. Many who were in Euodia and are now mothers, are send ing their daughters to present-day clubs. Certainly God raised up this work for such a time as this. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

Angeles, Dr. Louis T. Talbot, Dr. J. Renwick McCullough, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Tacoma, Washing ton, and Dr. J. Vernon McGee, Pastor of the Lincoln Avenue Presbyterian Church, Pasadena. In charge of the young peo ple’s meetings will be Mr. Russell Kill- man and Mr- and Mrs. A1 Sanders, stu dents at the Bible Institute of Los An geles, and Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Zwall, gospel cartoonists. The Conference is open to all, both young and old. Inquiries regarding rooms, accommodations or res ervations should be directed to Rev. Cyrus Nelson, Mount Hermon Confer ence Association, Mount Hermon, Cali fornia. All other inquiries should be di rected to the Director of the Confer ence, Dr. William W. Orr, 558 South Hope St., Los Angeles 13. What Happens When You Don’t Get Enough To Eat? T HE magazine Time recently related a wartime project in which thirty- six conscientious objectors volunteered as guinea pigs in an experiment in human starvation. The tests were conducted at the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene at the University of Minnesota. The men were fed two carefully ra tioned meals a day totaling about one- half the average necessary'calories for adults. While these men were naturally refined, they soon began to lose their manners. At the table they carefully protected their own food and looked sus piciously at their neighbors. As the ex periment went on, the men grew increas ingly irritable. They had alternate spells of despondency and ecstasy. Four of the men were dropped from the experiment because they cheated by eating extra food. The results have been carefully tabu lated in a recent article in the Journal of Clinical Psychology. Over-all results proved that a man is a very different creature when he does not get enough to eat. Apply this to the spiritual life. The Word of God is the Christian’s daily food. There can no more be a healthy spiritual person without proper spiritual food than there can be a healthy physical person without physical food. The rea son that so many Christians are cranky, cross, emaciated and useless can be placed squarely at the door of insuffi cient diet. One meal a week at the 11 o’clock service on Sunday morning is not sufficient to carry a Christian through seven days and keep him spiritually fit. There should be daily appropriation of spiritual truth. There would not be spir itual “gastric disturbances” if one habit ually nibbled from God’s Word! Yes, spiritual malnutrition is a wide spread disease among Christians. This is the more deplorable because of the superabundance of available food. The Great Physician advises a diet of large, well-balanced' meals. Try it and note your increased spiritual vigor. Page Nine

ish people, along with all others, be di rected to him and to the sinister power which he will represent. This turn of events will find the Jews adamant in their opposition to the Anti christ which, in turn, will stir up his terrific wrath against them. While Is rael has seen some dark days in her history, this, by all odds, will be the darkest. Just when all seems lost, the heavens will open, and Israel’s Messiah will appear to save His people, and to fulfill all the promises which have been made by God to them. But now is the time for thoughtful students of the Word to re-examine minutely the prophetic Scriptures! Now is the time for earnest Christians to serve their Lord faithfully! Now is the time for the ultimate in missionary effort to proclaim the gospel of God’s grace to the ends of the earth. Perhaps this is Is rael’s day—and ours! ed Acting Dean of the Moody Bible In stitute to fill the place left vacant when Dr. Culbertson assumed the Presidency. Mr. Coder is a graduate of the Dallas Theological Seminary, has held several pastorates, and for a number of years served .as Assistant Editor of Revelation, and more recently was Editor-in-Chief of Moody Press. Mr. Coder is a deep student of the Word of God. Recently he published the Youth Triumphant Course which is winning ever-widening acceptance among the young people of America. Our prayer for him is that the blessing and favor of God may rest in abundant measure upon him in his new and important ministry. Congratulations W E ARE happy to learn that Rev. S. Maxwell Coder has been appoint “ Jesus Is Coming” ■ T HIS is the theme of the Second Annual Biola Conference at Mount Hermon Conference grounds in Central California, August 15 to 22. Speakers at this Conference will include the President of the Bible Institute of Los

Welcome To New Readers W E ARE happy to take advantage of this opportunity to offer a warm and sincere welcome to several thousand new subscribers to The King’s Business family. It is our sincere prayer that these pages will be used of God to bless and edify our readers. Our constant policy is to fill the magazine with Christ- honoring, true-to-the-Bible, timely mate rial. If there were ever a day when Christian men and women needed to be informed of their part irt God’s plan for the world’s evangelization, it is now. To this purpose, in God’s wisdom and by His strength, we dedicate ourselves anew. ration of Statehood by provisional repre sentatives of the Nation of Israel. Tem porary recognition to this republic has already been given by the President of the United States. Fierce fighting is go ing on between the Jews and Arabs. To say that students of prophecy are interested in this turn of events is a great understatement. For upon this par ticular event hinges the entire system of end-time events. It is yitally important that Bible students make a new, inten sive, and thorough, survey of the pro phetic Scriptures. If this is Israel’s day, and if the events of the last sev eral weeks constitute the opening of the prophetic door, then the days leading to the consummation of this present age are very near. What do the Scriptures teach regard ing Israel and end-time events? First of all, Israel as a nation is to be re stored. The Jews are to inhabit their own land again and enjoy for a time the full status of national entity, so much so in fact that the coming Antichrist or world ruler, will make a covenant, or league of peace with them, allowing them commercial, political and religious free dom. Yet this covenant will endure for only one-half of its scheduled time. The Antichrist will break it summarily and demand that the worship of the Israelit- J U L Y , 1 9 4 8 Is This Israel’s Day? A S WE write these lines, the press is filled with the news of the Decla

ZJlie C^hurcli 1"Jhat 'lAJciô ejt^ecuJ

By Rev. G. Coleman Luck

Fifth in a Series of M essages on the Churches of Revelation

perfection and completion, “ the sever Spirits” is but another way of referring to the Holy Spirit in His fullness of per fection. In Isaiah 11:2 there is an item ization of the seven-fold nature of the Holy Spirit: “ And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him [the Mes siah], the spirit of wisdom and under standing, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” Thus it will be seen that Christ, the perfect Saviour and Lord, possesses the very fullness of the Spirit. “ For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him” (John 3:34). Our Saviour is also described as the One who has “the seven stars.” This is a reference to John’s vision of Christ in chapter one. “ And he had in his right hand seven stars . . . The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand . . . The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches.” The word here translated angels means messengers, and may refer either to the spiritual be i gs called angels who are God’s messen gers, or to a human being, when he serves in the capacity of a messenger. Some times even it is used of inanimate things such as Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” which he pronounced “ the messenger of Satan to buffet me” (2 Cor.-12:7). Since each of these letters is addressed to “the angel of the church at—,” but is manifestly to apply to the whole church, it seems rather clear that the reference is to the pastor of the church, who is officially the messenger of God. Considering the matter in this light, the symbolism of the seven stars in the right hand of our Lord becomes very beautiful. The pastor Is in the hand of Christ and is responsible to Him. As he is the representative of the whole church, the thought is forcefully brought to our minds that Christ, the all powerful One, has the churches in His hand. If they are powerless, it is because they are not drawing upon His almighty power—be cause Christ does not have first place in the hearts of the members. This was the very message Sardis needed, and, I am persuaded, not only Sardis but many modern churches. 3. Commendation of Good Works. None .' At this point there is a cpmmen- dation in each letter except two—Sardis and Laodicea. It seems that in these two churches Christ could find nothing for which to commend the church as a Tjrhole. In the case of Sardis, a few in dividuals were walking with God, but

nothing was being accomplished as a church. Awful indeed the thought that there are churches in which even the omniscient Saviour can find nothing to commend. 4. Complaint. “ I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (verses lc, 2). Notice four indictments against Sardis which reveal a dead church. (1) “Thou hast a name that thou livest.” A dead church is not a church that has been disbanded and the doors locked. A dead church is one which con tinues to carry on the outward organi zation but is lifeless within. A church may carry on its usual services and or ganizations, have its weekly notice in the paper, report its statistics to the de nominational headquarters, in o t h e r words—HAVE A NAME TO LIVE— and yet be DEAD. It usually does not take long to detect when a church is just “ carrying on” without any real life being present. The services become pure ly form and ritual, there is no love, no real Christian fellowship, no passion for souls. Religion is maintained only for respectability’s sake. The people are not “doers of the word” but “hearers only.” (2) “ I have not found thy works per fect before God.” No works perfected. In a dead church the things that are done are performed in' a slipshod way. All is done in a halfhearted indifferent manner. Everything else is put ahead of God and His service, and anything is considered good enough for Him. This is the sort of attitude which typified the Jews of Malachi’s day: “And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and the sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts” (Mai. 1:8). God help us, this same at titude is characteristic of a host of Christians in our own day. (3) “ Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die.” In Sardis, not only was all work for the Lord done in a slovenly manner, but even these imperfect works were dying. The people were almost ready to drop any pretense of serving the Lord. Several years ago, one of the largest churches in my home state, a .church with several thousand members on the roll, was forced to discontinue its Sun day evening meeting because not enough (Continued on Page 30) T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S

■ HE letter to the church at Sardis, found in Revelation 3:1-6, makes an interesting contrast to the letter doctrine at Thyatira, in that the false teaching of a wicked woman (who claimed divine inspiration) was toler ated. But with all this, it can be said that the church still had some life about it. Our Lord commends it for its love, service, faith, and patience. As we ex amine the letter to the church at Sardis, however, we find that it was apparently doctrinally sound, but it is described by our Lord as “ dead.” Thus we find that it is sadly possible for a church to be doctrinally sound, but spiritually dead— a condition which may be termed dead orthodoxy. Often we hear people speak of particu lar churches as being “ dead.” How can a dead church be identified ? The letter to Sardis gives explicit instructions for de termining a dead church. 1. The Address. “ And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write—” (Rev. 3:1a). Sardis was one of the oldest and most important cities of Asia Minor. During its long existence it suffered var ious catastrophes, but each time the city was rebuilt and again prospered, until it was finally, destroyed in 1402 by Tam erlane. Today only the ruins of Sardis are to be seen, amidst which there now stands a small village called Sert. 2. Description of the Lord. “ These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the- seven stars” (verse lb). Seven being the number of Page Ten

to Thyatira, which immediately precedes it (Rev. 2:18-29). There was unsound

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