Is it not a plain fact that the Eu ropean countries are already lining up, seemingly in readiness for the Antichrist, the tribulation period, and the battle of Armageddon? We can see how easily a confed eracy of nations could be formed by the peoples occupying the territory of the old Roman Empire. Once many ridiculed the prophetic Word of God, saying that such a thing was im possible; but what student of history today would be so bold? The restoration of the nation of Israel is the most startling sign to day, and this makes all other events very significant. The prophets fore told that Israel would return to her own land—not all of the nation, but part of the people; and that they would go back in unbelief. Another remarkable circumstance in world events is the situation in the East. The kings of the east, liter ally, the kings that come from the sunrising (Rev. 16:12), will play a significant part in world events in the last days. During the last half-century the Orient has been compared to a waking giant,-being aroused from a long slumber. The time will come when East and West and North and South will meet on the plains of Me- giddo for the last great war. Pales tine is the geographical and political center of the world, and has always been, in the mind of God. The Bible says so, in Deuteronomy 32:8: “When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the num ber of the children of Israel.” Increased lawlessness in the earth and apostasy in professing Christen dom are two other striking signs of the times. Yet we must be careful not to set dates; for our Lord expressly told us not to do that. He did give us these signs whereby we might know that His coming draweth nigh, that we might be ready for His coming. What is the meaning of Hebrews 12 : 14 ? Does this verse not teach sin less perfection—“ Without holiness no man shall see the Lord” ? This verse would teach sinless per fection if it had been quoted correctly. Read it again carefully: “ Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” If a man is truly regenerated, he will follow after holiness. That is, he will pursue it. If, however, he follows after sin, and pursues sin and un cleanness, this is evidence that he is a hypocrite, no matter how loud his profession may be. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
that this word is used here in the same sense as that of Matt. 1:24, 25: “Joseph . . . knew her not [meaning Mary] until she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name Jesus.” Much unbelief today is due to mis understanding in regard to what the Bible teaches. What the Bible says is one thing; what people often say it teaches is another thing entirely. What is Spiritism? Spiritism is the theory that the spirits of the dead do communicate and hold intercourse with those who are still upon the earth. We know that Spiritism is not of God, for the following reasons: 1. It is absolutely forbidden in the Scriptures. (See Deut. 18:9-12; Lev. 19:31; Isa. 8:19-22; 1 Chron. 10:13, 14.) 2. The spirits of the dead in Christ are with the Lord, and do not return to the earth. (See 2 Sam. 12:23; Phil. 1:23; 2 Cor. 5:8.) 3. The spirits of the Christless dead could not return to the earth, even if they so desired. Read care fully Luke 16:19-31. The rich man de sired Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn his brethren. Abra ham stated that this was not neces sary, because his brothers had the writings of Moses and the prophets. But why did he not return himself to warn his brethren, if the dead really return to the earth? He could not return because there was a great gulf fixed. The rich man could not pass over to where Lazarus was, let alone leave his prison and return to the earth. The only explanation of Spiritism, therefore, is that those who appear in seances are demons who imper sonate our loved ones. Paul says in Ephesians 6:11,12: “ Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Let us also remember that God smote Saul because he dabbled with Spiritism. (See 1 Chron. 10:13,14.)
Dr. Louis T. Talbot
In Matthew 25:41 I read, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.” Would this not imply that hell is not prepared for man? It does imply that hell was not prepared for man. Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels. When man fell into sin, God prepared sal vation for him. But it is clearly stated that, if man rejects that prepared salvation, he will find himself in the place prepared for the devil and his angels. A schoolteacher tells me that Adam uxts not the first man. What can I answer him? Skeptics frequently raise questions that only show their ignorance of the Word of God, and would-be skep tics foolishly repeat what they hear, not searching the Scriptures to see if these things are true. In First Corin thians 15:45 we read that the first man Adam was made a living soul. Let us keep in mind that, in the book of Genesis, God is not giving us an account of the history of all humanity, but rather the divine rec ord concerning the ancestors of the seed of woman, even the Lord Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary. Some, untaught in the Scriptures, claim that Cain found his wife in the land of Nod, but the Bible makes no such statement. When Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, certainly he took his wife with him. What the Bible does say is that, hav ing gone to the land of Nod, “ Cain knew his wife” (Gen. 4:16, 17). Every student of the Bible knows Page Six
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