zations within our society become more and more power ful, our nation moves inevitably in the direction of dictatorship. Today individuals may do exactly what the nations will do in the days of the coming of the world ruler. They can “ give their power and strength unto the beast” (Rev. 17:13). We are living in a day when the prophetic message of the Word of God is more timely than ever before. Christians should understand that al though we cannot stop this world government avalanche nor the world ruler, we can use our influence to delay these as long as possible. Christians need to know the plan of God in the unfolding of time, in order that we ourselves may not be drawn into a defeated complacency or mere religious gymnastics which in the end will be only wood, hay, and stubble in the day when our Lord passes out the rewards. Christians should see the hand of God in preserving the liberty which we still have in our present day. It is a special providence of God that we may preach the Gospel, teach the Word, establish our children in the faith, and adjust our goals in life to what the Bible calls the blessed hope. It is definitely not in the providence of God for the church to convert the world to Christianity. We are to call individuals out of the world and to Christ. Success as a manipulator of men and as a military genius, and finding himself at the head of Gentile dominion, the coming Satanic-inspired world ruler will come face to face with the risen, ascended and returning Son of God when He comes back in glory to establish His kingdom. This will mean eternal doom for the world ruler and eternal glory for the Son of God. It will also mean that when Satan’s kingdom shall have been de stroyed, Christ’s kingdom will be established.
way out” by themselves. In sheer desperation, and the desire for preservation, the frustrated nations will turn their power over to the world ruler. He will be universal ly admired and even worshipped (Rev. 13:12). He will far surpass every would-be ruler for in the vision John saw “ there was given unto him (by Satan) a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies” (Rev. 13:5). Being a military genius, however, the greatest of the competing generals will be compelled to conclude, “Who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:4). This absurd principle of surrendering power and authority of a na tion to a higher ruler is being ingloriously illustrated in the present delusive world program. We see this in the surrendering of sovereign nations to the control and authority of the dubious United Nations. A similar principle is seen in our own United States of America where the federal government seems to be ever increasing in its power and avenues of operation with a lesser im portance laid upon what we call states’ rights. The principle is further found demonstrated as individuals go to the polls to vote, casting their ballots to curtail then- own personal liberties and surrender such blood-bought liberties to some powerful organization or movement. If one checks the pre-election propaganda year by year over a generation, it can easily be seen that individuals voluntarily surrender their own inalienable rights. We are now seeing issues decided, not upon the basis of the logic of careful debate, but upon the frequency of some carefully chosen slogan. If leaders are successful in man ufacturing the proper catchy slogan, phrase, song, or spot announcement, the voters moved by emotion will vote without thinking through the consequences which are certain to come a generation or so later. As great organi
The Christ for You / by
Garrett
feeding, protecting, knowing, loving, and providing for each sheep whom His blood has purchased. He is the Resurrection and the Life, bestowing life and radiant hope upon all who come to Him in faith. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, giving access to the one true and living God who is the Source and Sustainer of Life. He is the Door by which wayward man may enter heaven and find the divine portion the Father has pre pared for him to enjoy throughout the everlasting ages to come. He is the Bread of Life, feeding and nourishing the soul of the man who avails himself of His bounties. He is the true Vine, the conveyor of the life stream, without which man is dead and fruitless. He is the Light of the world, shin ing upon those who walk in dark ness and dwell in the shadow of death. He is the Creator of the vast uni verse and the Re-creator of human lives broken and distorted by sin. He is the Lamb of God, offered upon the altar of Calvary to take away the sin of the world. He is the quintessence of holiness, purity, righteousness and love. There is nothing good, nothing enduring,
“ For in Him dwelleth all the fu l ness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him . . .” .—Colossians 2:9,10 The “fulness of the Godhead” — what a bewildering phrase! Only eternity will reveal its true depths. Now we know in part and under stand but dimly the marvelous riches it embraces; but in that day when we shall know even as we are known we shall be able to plumb its fathom less depths, though eternity itself can never exhaust its treasures. While it is true that we mortal beings are not capable in this life of coming into a complete under standing of the fulness of Christ, yet it is equally true that, with the en lightening aid of the Holy Spirit, we can come to possess a saving and satisfying knowledge of Him who is the altogether Lovely One, the Fair est among ten thousand. To us who believe He is precious, unspeakably precious, and though we have not seen Him with the physical eye we love Him and rejoice in Him with a joy that is full and glorified. The versatility of the Lord Jesus Christ is amazing. He is the Good Shepherd, giving His life to redeem us lost sheep;
Rev. Garrett is Pastor of the Miami Beach Independent Presbyterian Church. nothing worthwhile outside of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the personi fication of all the marvelous attri butes of God the Father. Everything your soul needs for time and eternity is in Him. He is the Christ for you. W ill you do without Him? You need not deny yourself these match less blessings, for He came into the world to save sinners and lavish upon them His gifts of love. “ He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32).
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