July, 1933
T H E K I N O ' S B U S I N E S S
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his head (Gen. 3 :15 ). Not yet are all things subject to Christ, but He will put down all rule, all authority, and power, and the last enemy to be destroyed is death (Heb. 2 :8 ; 1 Cor. 15:24-26). The destruction o f death leads us to mention the cause of death, namely sin. W e know that “ sin is lawlessness.” The failure of all human governments has been their inabil ity to cope with sin and with Satan, the originator of sin. Just here also lies the secret of the perfection o f the super kingdom. God has not only made complete provision for sin, but He will establish upon this earth His kingdom o f righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17). Such is the revealed goal of the kingdom. R e a l iz a t io n o f t h e K in g d o m A sinless, warless world, a world of universal peace and prosperity! Most people would like these things with out paying the price. All want prosperity, and enlightened nations say they want peace. Permanent peace and pros perity are impossible without God. Yet these same nations are not making their peace with God, nor are they looking to Him as the only source o f blessing and true prosperity. When the angel announced to the Bethlehem shepherds that Christ was born, he was joined by a multitude of angels praising God, and proclaiming peace and good will among men. But His own nation rejected and crucified Him. The time will come, however, when He shall take the kingdom. The kingdoms o f the world will become His kingdom. He is to be King o f kings and Lord of lords (Rev. 19:16). What will the realized kingdom be like? Language is exhausted in the attempt to portray its glories. All na tions will be enlightened and prospered. Perfect laws and exact justice will be administered throughout the world. All nations will worship God, the King o f all the earth. The consummation and establishment of the superking dom upon the earth is always associated with the power of God and with the personal and visible reign o f God the King. . “ In the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne o f his glory” (Matt. 19:28) suggests a re birth o f earthly conditions and also calls to mind the apoca lyptic vision o f the kingdom in Daniel 7 :9-14, which points forward to the reign o f Christ and the saints (Dan. 7 :18,22) and to the establishment o f the kingdom that is universal and perpetual (Dan. 7 :27 ). The time o f this regeneration was established by Peter when he declared o f Christ, “ whom the heaven must receive until the times o f restitu tion o f all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3 :21 ). A t the present time, Christ is seated upon His Father’s throne. The throne of Christ should be kept distinct from the throne o f the Father (Rev. 3 :21 ). The throne o f the Son o f man is an earthly throne, but He is the legal descendant o f David, and David’s throne is to be His throne (1 Chron. 29:23, 24; Lk. 1 :32). It was in the past and will be in the future. When Jesus Christ returns in power and visible glory (Matt. 16:27; 24:30; 26 :64 ), He will take His earthly kingdom and reign. Great voices in heaven are yet to pro claim that “ the kingdom o f the world is become the king dom o f our Lord, and o f his Christ” (Rev. 11 :15). The world’s only hope is the superkingdom. All other kingdoms have failed, or are doomed to fail. Resting upon human wisdom and human might, how could it be other wise? No nation o f the world today is a Christian nation, save in name only, and none can long endure. With all their boasted strength and material resources, elements o f disin tegration and destruction are at work, and the wrath of God will be poured out upon them because o f their sins. “ Hope, thou in God” is the message needed today. His kingdom is coming— and perhaps soon;'.
“ O h !” he exclaimed very joyfully, “ that is the text by which my dear father was converted! Stand firm on it always, will you?” I promised him bravely, “ I will.” Matsu Chan was not present that night, so I shall tell him o f it later, and I hope he will not make merry at such a thing. A pril 6. This afternoon when I had returned from school, Pastor Fujimoto from the church came to visit me, and we sat on the veranda in the sunshine. He read Bible to me in Timothy, and I marked the place. Then he prayed. A t first I thought all the time if Uncle would hear him, but little by little courage took hold o f me, and I opened my unaccustomed mouth also. Not in long prayer, but I declared firmly my thanks to God for hear ing me and forgiving all sins, and I promised to follow Him forever. It was indeed true that Uncle heard, and when pastor had left, he entered the room, angrily demanding, “ What nonsense is this? Are you turned to be Christian ?” I felt trepidation inside, but outwardly I faced him with calmness. “ Yes, I am Christian. Please pardon it that I did so without your permission. As you know, I have been somewhat a worthless fellow, and if this change makes better man o f me, you also will be glad.” Never in my life have I replied to him so boldly, and I do not know at all how I could do it now. Surely I was helped by God, for Uncle did but laugh suddenly, then saying, “ W e will wait and see how better you become,” he returned to his rooms. I have told about it all to my friend, Matsumura San, and he said little only that it was good, nor did he smile at all. On the contrary, I thought he looked wistful at me. I think he also will be led. A pril 13. My heart today is so full of delight that I cannot study books or even read. When going to the church this morning, it was indifferent, but the preach fell as water on thirsty garden. It was about Daniel, o f whom I had read sometime before, but never as this. Mr. Hayashi whispered me to pray afterward, if opportunity came, so I did very shortly, but sincere. Many seemed glad and even women on their side o f the church said soft “ Amens” to my prayer. My heart became more full, and after meeting was finished, Hayashi San and I went to small prayer room back o f church and shut the door. Here we sang and prayed, then sang and prayed again, without remembering dinner. Never did such joy pour into my heart before. Everything seems easy to believe, yes, all Bible, for is it not the great Word of Creator God? Oh, Christ Jesus, I thank you for .saving sinner as me, for washing my dirty black heart whiter than snow, and for pouring on me such storm o f heavenly grace. Always by Your help shall I be Your servant and obey Your voice. Amen. And now shall I bring my journal to this good finish? Perhaps again it can be renewed in the autumn. [The End]
THE SUPERKINGDOM [Continued from page 220]
From the moment o f man’s first act o f rebellion, the purpose o f God has been to reestablish His kingdom upon this earth. By peaceable means or by force, this kingdom will be established. Too long has Satan’s kingdom seemed to prevail, but the Seed o f the woman will ultimately bruise
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