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T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
December, 1934
c Around the King’s ‘Tables B y L o u is T . T albot
The Doom of Human Government he deterioration of human governmental power is clearly foretold. In the second chapter of Daniel, where we have the most complete prophetic picture of the character, course, and consummation of the times of the Gentiles, we find it emphasized that, in the affairs of the times of the Gentiles, there will be a downward tendency in political control—an absolute monarchy to communism -ancL_Bolshevism?) Gold, silver, brass, iron, ( clay—is the order. It is interesting to read history and «„¿•y to observe how this great prophecy in regard to the de- . i cline of governmental power from Nebuchadnezzar’s day '/^/■fto ours has been fulfilled just as it was prophesied. The symbolism of the clay in the feet of the great image is forcibly recalled as one watches the trend of af fairs in the world today, as illustrated, in the xeç^nt»elec tion in California. jThat the candidate wnraenmcfel lean ings and communistic tendencies were heralded so far and wide that every person could know his position in regard to God, Christ, the Scriptures, the home, and government, should have received, according to Associated Press re ports, 845,844 votes from 10,380 out of 10,721 precincts is certainly significant, to say the least] l " 5 r / n / t . + u T After a cynical denial of the deity of Christ, the in spiration of the Scriptures, and the atoning work of Christ, and after quoting approvingly the system of gov ernmental philosophy propounded by Emma Goldman, placing her on a par with Jesus, Isaiah, and John the Bap tist, this candidate proceeds to advocate a new religion. In spite of his blasphemous utterances and writings, the candidate who advocated man as “the master” had a tremendous following—a fact in itself a portent of the times. But he was defeated. It was in -direct answer to prayer that men and women were aroused to the serious ness of the issue, for many Christians gave themselves to waiting humbly upon God for His deliverance. The answer came, not only through professing Christians, but also through others who, although not claiming to be children of God through faith in Jesus Christ, realized the value of that restraint that is placed upon a man only when there is a belief in God and a sense of account ability to Him. (jh e conditions of the world are a call to Christians to press the battle and make every use of opportunities that the Lord is now giving us to make known His gospel. God’s purpose for this age is the calling out of the church. One day, how soon we do not khow, the last member will be added. The body of Christ will be complete, and there will immediately occur the translation of the church. Then will appear the man of sin, a man after Lenin’s type, who will weld the chaotic forcés together and bring into ex istence the Roman Empire in its final form. How conditions today should solemnize our hearts ! In the light o f . 2 Thessalonians 2, however, we believe that the church will not see the Antichrist. The hindering power that is holding in check the forces of sin and law lessness, and is preventing them from reaching their cli max in the person of the coming man of sin, will one day be removed. This restraining power is undoubtedly the
blood-bought company of men and women, baptized into one body of which Christ is the Head, and indwelt and empowered by the Holy Ghost. Believers will be above the clouds when the storm breaks]/ 'i/ n / y>, t + it During the present time, however, the mystery of in iquity is now working, preparing the world for the devil’s man. Let us who name the name of Christ also work, making it our chief business in life to be the right kind of ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ.—L.T.T. The Purpose of the Incarnation A t this time of the year, when men’s thoughts turn to the coming into the world of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is well for those who know and love Him to recall clearly just why our Saviour came to earth. Hun dreds of years before the incarnation, the Holy Spirit drew portraits of the coming Messiah, the Christ of God. And these inspired word pictures, preserved for us in the Word of God, emphasize the purpose of Christ’s incar nation. That purpose may be summed up in a threefold declaration. First, Christ came to reveal God. “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1 :18). In Old Testament days, men knew something of God. The psalmist speaks of the heavens as declaring the glory of God and of the firmament as showing His handiwork. But there is more to be known of God than can be grasped through this revelation in nature. And Jesus, as He walked among men, brought that fuller un derstanding. He said, in effect: “I am God uncovered; I am God unveiled.” If one would know who God is, and understand something of His nature and work, he must study the four Gospels, for therein is Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, revealed as Immanuel, “God with us.” Second, Christ came to redeem man. He eame to do a work of atonement, by means of which men alienated from God because of their sins, might live forever in His holy presence. To make possible this blessed relationship, Christ, the Sinless One, came into the world to die. He could say, as no man could ever say, “I lay down my life . . . No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” (John 10:17, 18). Nevertheless, “The wages of sin is death,” and those wages must be paid. Justice must be satisfied. Penalties must be met. No mortal man could meet the requirements of divine law, but the Lord Jesus Christ, God incarnate, became the sinner’s Substitute, and on the cross of Calvary the sin of the world was rolled upon Him. Since that day, God’s message to sinners has been to believe on Jesus, who died for their justification. Third, Christ came to renew fellowship. Christ’s own resurrection was not only the evidence that the demands of God’s holy law. had been fully met, and that, if he be in Christ, the sinner is justified; but that resurrection is also a pledge that one day believers shall be raised from the dead or changed “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,” their bodies made like unto His glorious body, their natures capable of fellowship with God throughout eter nity.—L.T.T.
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