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FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY [Continued from page 510] and is diametrically opposed to anti-Semitism. Our aim is to unite all sections o f the people under one flag.” Intensely interesting earmark, this! For whoever the Antichrist may be, he will not be an anti-Semite when he comes on the scene of action. He will be extremely friend ly to the Jews, seeking their favor and favoring them. He will make a covenant with them (Dan. 9 :27 ), doubtless assist them in recovering the temple site and in rebuilding the temple itself, befriend them against their enemies, and in turn be received by them as their Messiah (John 5 :43)— all this until “ the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel, the prophet, stands in the holy place” ( c f . Rev. 13: 14, 15). Then, once more, Shadrach, Meshech, and Abed- nego shall refuse to bow the knee, the king’s favor will turn to wrath, and “ the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jer. 30:7) is at hand. “ Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:.. . . For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the, world to this time, no, nor ever shall be” (Matt. 24:16, 21). Neither Mussolini’s slavering over the Bible (which he does not believe) nor his friendliness to the Jews is puzzling, if he is the candidate for the job of Antichrist. Both alike are significant! If the King of England were to lay aside the robes of royalty and cross the threshold of a hut in London, the world would say, “ How wonderful! What con descension !” God laid aside the robes of His dignity and crossed the threshold of this world in order that He might redeem mankind. Behold the depths of condescen sion ! From the throne to the cradle, to the cross ! The God-Man could descend no lower. Christ has captured the imagination of the world. The Parthenon of Greece and the Pantheon of Rome are re membered by a few, but the stable at Bethlehem is remem bered by the entire world. All peoples think about Him, particularly at Christmas. Men may hate Him or they may love Him, but they cannot ignore Him. Innumerable books are not being written about Mohammed, but authors are filling libraries with comments upon the person and work of Christ. Heathen books are not being scrutinized by de structive critics, but the Bible is being scrutinized continu ally by the eyes of scholarship. No one is asking questions to day about Diana of the Ephesians, or Jupiter, but questions are being asked about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Italy celebrates the birthday of Garibaldi and Mussolini. Ger many celebrates the birthday of Frederick the Great and Bismark. France celebrates the birthday o f Napoleon. Eng land celebrates the birthday of. Nelson. Holland celebrates the birthday of Kuyper. The United States celebrates the birthday of Washington and Lincoln. The world celebrates the birthday of Christ. He is the only world-wide and eternity-long personality. Everything that is written is being written for or against Him. Every word that is spoken is either against Him, or else it witnesses for Him. The world today is divided into two camps. Two armies contend one with the other. One is led by Christ, and the other is led by the adversary of Christ, who is the devil. If Christ were mere man, the world would have forgotten Him long since, but because He is the God-Man, mankind cannot forget Him. Consider Jehovah—Jesus. GOD SENT FORTH HIS SON [Continued from page 507]
sacrifice of praise is not to be offered at long intervals, such as Sundays or so-called “ saints’ days.” It is to be offered “ continually.” It is natural and proper to those who have experienced the power of God’s saving grace. It pro ceeds from hearts that have been brought into union and submission to God through the atoning blood of Christ and the power of the indwelling Spirit. From millions of such hearts in every clime and country, day and night, summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, there ascends the sac rifice of praise continually to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. And those who swell this grand chorus have learned that “ praise for mercies extends them” and “ praise for miseries ends them.” Therefore, “ let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.” In order to show the practical side of this, the words of verse 16 are added. The writer seems to say, “ You can praise God not only in word, but in deed ; do not forget to do good wherever you can, and communicate to others who are in need, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” This is a timely word of counsel and gives direction to the spirit of praise. T he C losing I nvocation All that remains is an invocation followed by a few details. The invocation is a thing of beauty and a joy for ever to the spiritually minded. It forms a fitting conclu sion to this epistle. God is revealed here as the God of peace, the God o f power, and the God of perfection. “ Now the God of peace” ! Yes, He is that. He made peace by the blood of thé cross. There it was that He dealt with sin in such a way that the requirements of His right eous law were all met, and a condition of peace created into which any and all may enter by simple faith in His Word. “ Being justified by faith, we have peace.” Glo rious indeed is the God o f peace, and blessed is the peace of God. It is the peace of sins forgiven, the peace of a cleansed conscience, the peace of the surrendered will, and the peace o f the satisfied heart. The God of peace is also the God of power. He brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep. The God who can raise the dead can do any thing. He can take Jacob and transform him into Israel. He can take Simon, the impulsivé and impetuous man, and make out of him a Peter, strong and dependable. He can take you, just as you are, and make you just what you ought to be. He is the God of power, the Power that raises the dead. Again, He is the God of perfection. Not only does He give us a perfect example in Christ and a perfect standing in Christ, but in experience He is working to make us per fect in every good work to do His will. Not only has He wrought for us—He also works within us, to the end that we may be conformed to the image of His Son. I.n this work, fie will never cease until that day referred to in 1 John 3 :2, when we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. What better invocation could possibly be used to com plete such an epistle as this? And what better invocation can any of us use than that which is supplied by the Spirit of God in the sublime words of verses 20 and 21 ? Let this prayer' be. offered continually, together with the sacrifice o f praise ! “ Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” [The End]
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