“ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept ” — 1 Corinthians 15:20
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OHAN is a Hebrew. Christian 50 years of age. For ten years every day and every night he was hunted by the Nazis who sought to destroy his life. £ LLA, his gentile wife, is 43 years old. They are now lib Germany—free to suffer hunger, cold, and heart-breaking misery. Both have con tracted tuberculosis as a result of pro longed undernourishment and hardship. Now they are being helped by
Gift that Lives.” It tells of the work of the American Bible Society,beautifully illustrated with scenes from many lands and answers 31 questions about American Bible Society Annuity Agreements, that give you an assured income for life. Sent postage free. Thousands now enjoy regular incomes this way In the past 100 years, American Bible So ciety Annuity Agreements have been issued to thousands of men, women and children. Unlike stocks, callable bonds and mort gages, A.B.S. Annuities never require rein vestment and never depreciate in value. The rate of payment to you is the highest figure consistent with safety and still leave a gener ous residue for the wider circulation of the Scriptures. Your checks are mailed promptly. There are no coupons to be clipped. Your pay ments are the same as long as you live and are based on your present age. In addition to receiving regular payments from your Annuities, you have the joy of knowing that, in due time, a part of your Gift will continue to spread the Word of God. We feel sure that you will enjoy reading
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THE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL MISSIONARY AND RELIEF SOCIETY, INC., and their gratitude is beyond words. Here is what they w rite: “We have starved for so long now and managed to exist on dry crusts, and watery soup made of potato peelings or other waste vegetables, that we have to be very careful in using the good food you send us. We use your nourishing food to enrich our poor meals. Just a little added at a time makes a feast for us. We would sure ly have perished without your help.” The clothing they are wearing in this picture was sent to them by this Society. Their faint smile and expression of joy has been kindled in their hearts because of the encouragement and the love shown to them in the name of our blessed Saviour. But John and Ella are typical of thousands of others, hovering between life and death, we are helping physically and uplifting spiritually day by day, in all three zones in Germany, as well as in Austria, Hungary, Poland, France, Belgium, Holland, England, North Africa, Palestine, Canada, and in the United States. And so the love of Christ goes forth day by day in word as well as deed. Will you please make it possible for this ministry of love to continue and to reach out farther and wider for His sake and in His name? Your fellowship of love and prayer is warmly in vited. Please write to: The Friends of Israel Missionary & Relief Society, Inc. 728-K Witherspoon Building Philadelphia 7, Pa. President Treasurer General Secretary Joseph M. Steele Dr. Joseph T. Britan Rev. Victor Buksbazen Treasurer for Canada: Rev. Bruce Millar, B.A., B.D. Principal, Alma College, St, Thomas, Ontario, Canada Our quarterly magazine, ISRAEL MY GLORY, a specially fine missionary magazine, sent to all contributors and also on request.
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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
Official Publication of The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Incorporated
Louis T. Talbot, D.D.
Betty Bruechert Managing Editor
William W . Orr, D.D.
Editor in Chief
Associate Editor
Copyright, 1949, The King's Business No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission. All Rights Reserved. VOL. 40 APRIL 1949 NO. 4 EASTER NUMBER CONTENTS Poem, Christ Has Risen, Phillips Brooks .......................................... 3 Poem, In That Far Hallowed Place, Nell Jones ................................ 3 Editorially Speaking ............................................................................. 4 Dr. Talbot’s Question B o x ........ ............................................................. .5 Poem, “ Till Christ Be Formed,” Gaylord du B o i s .............................. 5 The Resurrection and Our Commission, Claude E. Copperwheat .. 6 History’s Greatest Happening, Louis T. Talbot ............................ 7 Aviation Aids Jungle Missions, Charles Mellis, Jr. .......................... 8 The Living, Eternal Christ, Arthur Hedley ............................••.. • 10 Hunan Bible Institute News, Charles A. R ob erts ........................... 11 The Name of Jesus, C. E. Ainold ..................................................•.. 12 Junior King’s Business, Martha S. Hooker ...................................... 13 Poem, The Love of a Boy, Eric S. Horn ... ............. ............................. 13 The Easter Lily, Florence Templeton ............................................ 13 Depending upon the Holy Spirit, Hyman Appelman .......... ........... 14 Poem, Hallelujah, Martin Lu th er .............. ......... ................................ 14 Biola Family Circle ............................................................................. lf> Young People’s Topics, Walter L. W ilson .......................................... 18 Poem, Let Me Keep Lent, Elizabeth Bradley Read .......................... 21 Bible Quiz for Young People, Vernon Howard .............................. 21 The Bible in the News, William W. O r r ......................................... 22 Sunday School Lessons, Homer A. Kent, Allison Arrowood .............. 28 Biola Extension Notes ............ ..................... .................. ................... 28 Object Lessons, Elmer L. Wilder .................................................... .. 28 Book Reviews .......................................................................................... 30 Picture Credits: Cover and Page 14, Eva Luoma, Weirton, W. Va. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION—“ The King's Business" is published monthly; $2.00, one year; $1.00, six months; 20 cents, single copy. Clubs of three or more at special rates. Write for details. Canadian and foreign subscriptions 25 cents extra. It requires one month for a change of address to become effective. Please send both old and new addresses. REMITTANCES—Payable in advance, should be made by bank draft, express, or post office money order payable to “ The King’s Business." Date of expiration will show plainly on outside wrapper or cover of magazine. ADVERTISING—For information, address the Advertising Manager, 558 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 13, California. MANUSCRIPTS—“The King's Business” cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to manuscripts mailed to us for consideration. Entered as second-class matter November 7, 1938, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, Cali fornia, under the Act of Marcfi 3, 1879. Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in the Act of February 28, 1925, embodied in paragraph 4, section 538, P. L. and R., authorized October 1, 1918, and November 13, 1938. ADDRESS: The King's Business, 558 So. Hope St., Los Angeles 13, California
CHRIST HAS RISEN Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer; Death is strong, but life is stronger; Stronger than the dark, the light; Stronger than the wrong, the right; Faith and hope triumphant say Christ will rise on Easter Day. While the patient earth lies waking, Till the morning shall be breaking, Shivering 'neath the burden dread O f her Master cold and dead, Hark! she hears the angels say, Christ will rise on Easter Day. And when sunrise smites the mountains, Pouring light from heavenly fountains, Then the earth blooms out to greet Once again the blessed feet; And the countless voices say Christ has risen on Easter Day. IN THAT FAR HALLOWED PLACE There is a boundless place somewhere my eyes Not yet have seen, a sacred place up there Across the broad-flung fields of these out-skies, Above the earth, the stars, above the air, Past all this life, its ways and all its glooms. My Home would be in that far hallowed place. And there in Heaven's glory anteroom Oh would I meet the Master face to face! Too much of joy I could not ask of Him, But that the Holy Father seeing me Would have compassion on my frailty, And with my loved ones gone before, with them Set me to work, and too, give me a song To lift in chorus with that heavenly throng. •—Nell Jones. —Phillips Brooks.
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The Lord Jesus Christ Himself is also a displaced Person! You will note that today His place is on the right hand of the Father’s throne (Acts 7:56; Heb. 12:2). This is not His own throne,-for some day He is to occupy the throne of David on the earth (Zech. 14:9). He is to rule and reign from the river to the ends of the world and all men will know the Lord from the least unto the great est. Yet today our Lord in this sense is a displaced Person. We await with high anticipation that day which is sure to come, when the heavens shall part and the Son of God shall come riding forth as King of kings and Lord of lords, conquering and to conquer (Rev. 19:11-16). When all these displaced persons shall be returned to their rightful place, then this universe shall know the rich, abun dant blessing of our God and the deep peace of heart and mind which God has purposed. Freud Opposed T HOSE who have been students in the last 20 years will remember with what positive veneration the theo-- ries of Sigmund Freud were held in the psychology classroom. Now comes Erich Fromm, psychologist, who deigns to say that there is no real evidence for the Oedipus complex theory, one of Freud’s favorites. According to an ancient myth, Oedipus was in love with his mother which prompted him to murder his father. This love, according to Fromm, was not the basis of that ancient crime; rather the cause stemmed from the nat ural rebellion of sons against patriarchal authority. Concerning the battle of theories we add nothing. Our point is that knowledge concerning men’s behavior and the rea sons connected therewith are constantly changing. Let no one discard the prin ciples of Bible truth in the face of the onslaught of current classroom theories. Easy Divorce A COURT reporter for the Cleveland Press is appalled by the slipshod way in which couples are being di vorced in his county. Evidently he had seen decrees granted without either party’s appearing before the judge or presenting any evidence. To test this theory, a false petition for divorce was surreptitiously inserted in a stack of similar papers. The judge, who has ruled on 35,000 divorce cases in the last 25 years, without hesitation signed the fake petition. From first to last there was no hearing. The newspapers took up the matter and created quite a stir. When confronted with his blunder, the judge excused himself by complaining of his inability to read 200 divorce petitions a week. All of this speaks eloquently of a very sad and bitter condition in our country. Both marriage laws and divorce proceed ings are greatly in need of a complete overhauling. Nor will this solve the problem for there can be no domestic peace until hearts are right with God. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
new problem arose as to how to get these displaced persons back to their homes and how to help them take up the threads of life where they left off. There will be no natural peace or harmony in the economy of the various countries un til this takes place. May we point out that in the spiritual realm too there are displaced persons? Nor can there be any world peace or any harmony in God’s economy until these displaced persons are repatriated and reinstated. Consider, fitst, that the children of Israel are displaced persons. There is no doubt but that God gave to Abra ham a certain land, to be his continu ally. Moreover the promise was con firmed to Isaac, to Jacob, to Joseph, to Joshua, to David, to Solomon. Yet for nearly two millennia the Jews have been off their land—displaced persons! It is true that today they are returning in ever-increasing numbers and many Bible students believe that this is the greatest sign of the near approach of the return of Christ. Consider, too, that members of the true church of Jesus Christ are displaced persons. We are told in First Peter 2:11 that we are “ strangers and pilgrims.” We know that we seek an heavenly city and the Lord has promised to prepare a place for us. We are commissioned as ambassadors in the world from the Court of Heaven. Our citizenship, however, re mains in the gloryland. There is coming a time when all true members of the church of Jesus Christ, both living and dead, will no longer be displaced per sons, but will be gathered home and given an abundant entrance into the Father’s house. Satan, too, is a displaced person. His history is intensely interesting. Appar ently he was created a very special an gel to be the guardian of God’s throne. From this high and holy place of privi lege he sinned and under the curse of God became the evil creature he is to day. God also ordained that because of his sin he should dwell eternally in the lake of fire and be tormented forever. Yet today he is Prince of the power of the air and goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. A dis placed person! Yet the Word of God promises fjhat in the Father’s own ap pointed time Satan shall be consigned to his eternal destiny described in Reve lation 20:10.
We Are Opposed to One Easter D ON’T misunderstand us. We are not opposed to. the celebration of our Lord’s glorious resurrection, but we think it is a tragedy to take just one day out of the year in which to joy and rejoice over the gladdest event recorded in the New Testament! Thpre is little doubt but that it is God’s will for us to continuously remem ber the fact of His Son’s resurrection. We call Sunday the Lord’s Day mainly because it is. the day on which Jesus rose from the dead. God has given this as a standard showing His desire for us never to be farther away than six days from appreciation and remembrance of the fact that our Lord rose from the dead and that He lives! Could it not be a trick of the Evil One to lay emphasis upon the fact of the resurrection only one day in the year rather than cele brating fifty-two times each year this day of joy? Consider now ! Because we sing on Easter the hymns which speak so beau tifully of our risen Lord we avoid them the rest of the year. Or, think o f .the passages of resurrection Scripture found in abundance in the chapters of the New Testament which we neglect simply be cause the observance of Easter is a sea sonal one. Such things ought not to be! The note which brought joy and pro duced vitality in the lives of the early Christians was the truth of the resur rection! It was that which compelled be lief- in the efficacy of the cross of Christ ! It was the climax of the sermons preached by the apostles! It was the sustaining force of the early Christians! It was the difference between merely being a Christian and being thrilled, with the Christian life! Yes, we are opposed to the observance of one Easter. We would like to see the resurrection truth emphasized the whole year through. Displaced Persons O NE of the problems of the world of today is the re-orientation of dis rupted lives caused by World War II. Figures seem to differ, but the fact re mains, that literally millions of people have been torn from homes and loved ones and driven to parts unknown by the conflict. After the close of hostilities, the Page Four
"Till Christ Be Formed.. /' Galatians U:19 T ILL Christ be formed in you . . . O miracle Beyond all human power to understand! Yet, as He once took human form, a Child, Now in the depth of each devoted soul The Father's hand doth shape the very Christ, Invisible, immortal, all divine! T ILL Christ be formed . . . in beauty beyond thought, In holiness to which the seraphim Must bow. In strength that wields the mighty suns, In tenderness that knows an infant's joy And woe. Oh, mystery! Oh, treasure hid In vessels of such poor and fragile clay! T ILL Christ be formed . . . 'Tis Thou, Thy very Self, My God, who now hast stooped to live within The life that Thine atoning death re deemed. O Guest Divine, bear with Thy poor abode Until within me Thou art glorified— Till Christ be formed! —Gaylord Du Bois. In Amos there is a reference to fam ine for the Word of God. When will this be? I believe it refers to the days of tribu lation after the rapture of the church, when the Jews will have returned to Palestine in unbelief and will recognize their need of God and so begin franti cally to search the Scriptures for an ex planation of their plight. I am having difficulty in understand ing Numbers 21 where God sends fiery serpents among the people and then com manded that a serpent of brass be placed upon a pole to heal the Israelites. Why was a brazen serpent instead of a lamb used? It is because the aspect of Christ’s death here set forth is not so much that He was given as God’s Lamb as that He was made sin for us. He who knew no sin was made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. It was a picture of the judgment of sin. What do you believe God meant by set ting a mark upon Cain? Why was he thus marked? God marked him simply to indicate that although he was himself a mur derer, God did not have him killed. How ever, after the flood, God ordained in His law that whosoever shed man’s blood should be killed. This law, which we now call capital punishment, was put in the world to curb sin, especially the sin of murder. Page Five
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Explain the meaning of First Thessa- loniatis 5 :3: “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruc tion cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” Here the Apostle is speaking of the day immediately preceding the day of the Lord, which is a phrase used in Scripture, meaning the coming of Christ in power and great glory. So the people during the time called “ the seventieth week” will have a sense of false securi ty. I judge that this time of “ peace and safety” may describe the first half of the tribulation period. The Antichrist will bring a false peace to the earth be fore the storm breaks and the terrible persecution of Israel begins and tribula tion such as the earth has never known will be visited upon it. Those who belong to Christ will not be here at that time. Having been translated, they will be “ for ever with the Lord.” When Jesus was born, the wise men came inquiring “ Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him.” When Jesus was cruci fied, He was called “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” The genealogical tables in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke will bear this out, that from the earthly line, Jesus was born of the tribe of Judah. There is a teaching abroad that the Anglo-Saxon race compose true Israel and that the unrighteous are Jews; that the Anglo - Saxons will inherit all the blessings promised to Israel and the Jews all the curses. The Bible does not teach any such thing. In Ezekiel 37:15 on to the end of the chapter it is clearly taught that in the future time of bless ing and restoration of Israel all the tribes will share. Even the distinction between the northern and southern king doms will be removed. Someone has given me a booklet in which it is argued that Jesus was not a Jew. Is this right?
Have we any Scriptural proof of the location of the garden of Eden? Well, some people did think it was in Southern California but in view of the weather this year, they are no longer of this opinion! We do not know the exact boundaries of the garden of Eden, but we have an idea of the general location. There are at least four proper names recorded in the second chapter of Genesis, which may be fairly well located on maps of the ancient world. Four rivers are men tioned: Pison, Gihon, Hiddekel (ancient name for Tigris) and the Euphrates. There is little doubt but that the garden of Eden was in the Mesopotamian Val ley, which has been named “the cradle of civilization.” Is it your opinion that Adam was the first man who ever lived, or do you think a race of men lived before him and was wiped out before he was created? I believe Adam was the first man, the first fruit of the human race. He is called “ the first Adam” in God’s Word, and from him and Eve have come the entire two billion people who are on earth today. The fossilized remains of the very early men do not differ a whit in their bodily formation from modern men of today. Of course, some are larger than others, but, structurally speaking, they are the same. However, I do believe that there may have been another order of beings upon the earth before Adam. The Scriptures seem to indicate there have been an an gelic company led in all probability by Lucifer who later became Satan. What is the meaning of the word “ passover” ? Originally, it referred to the night the angel of death “ passed over” the homes of the Israelites on which the blood of the sacrifice had been sprinkled. The Jews made a memorial feast of it and to this day keep it as a sacred holiday on which they observe certain ceremo nies. Christ is called “ our passover” and for the teaching concerning His death as Mediator of the new covenant the tenth chapter of Hebrews will be very enlightening. A P R I L , I 9 4 9
O h e l^eôurrection an j Our Oc omrvuôôion
A HEART-WARMING EASTER MESSAGE
By Claude E. Copperwheat*
I T was from the lips of the Risen Christ that the Church received her world-wide commission. Not only is the truth of the resurrection the great keystone of our faith; it is also the very basis of all our missionary activity. “ If Christ be not risen,” wrote Paul, “ our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain.” So also is that mighty and ro mantic task of world evangelization, with its gripping story of “ blood, sweat and tears,” of triumphs and miracles, cul minating in the transformation of millions of lives down the centuries and across the world. The mainspring of all this noble ministry has been not so much the claimant need of humanity, as the impelling com mand and commission of Christ the Lord. Obedience is the prime factor and the dominating motive. The Commission We turn to the Gospels and the Acts and read again those stirring and majestic words of commission repeated with vary ing emphasis. In Matthew, “ All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” In Mark, “ Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” In Luke, “ Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things. And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.” In John, “ Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” In the Acts, “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy- Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” *Missionary of the European Christian Mission. Page Si*
As we thus read, we are impressed by the fact that these words were all spoken by our Lord in that period between His resurrection and ascension into Heaven. If Christ be not risen therefore, our commission is an invention. Deluded then have been that innumerable company of earth’s noblest souls who have gone forth in obedience, leaving friends and home and comforts, laboring sacrificially and unstintingly, many losing health and life, in the task and spirit so well expressed by the hymn, Bear the news to every land, Climb the steeps and cross the waves, Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves. But no, the commission of our Lord is as living, as stirring and as impelling today as ever, for He is alive. And still they go forth, men and women, “ young, strong and true,” to join the never-ending stream of those who “ bear the news to every land,” for not only have they read the marching orders, but have come face to face with the Commander. The Commander It is just this characteristic of Christ that is striking as we read of His appearances following His resurrection. He is recognized, hailed and acknowledged as Master, Lord, and God, claiming therefore the allegiance and obedience of His disciples. To Mary in the garden, He was thought to be the gardener until she heard her name, uttered by a voice which belonged ,to One only. It was not the gardener, but “ Rabboni,” her Master and Lord, and she would fain fall and worship at His feet. When Thomas, so deeply plunged into despair and skep ticism, was confronted by the Risen Christ in the upper room, his response to the challenge laid down to him, “ Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believ ing” could be no other than, “ My Lord and my God.” He sur rendered to his Captain. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
When Peter and the rest," after a fruitless night of fishing, cast the net on the other side of the boat, at the words of the stranger on the shore, they found that net soon filling with fish. There was but one explanation. “ It is the Lord” exclaimed Peter, and commenced to make himself presentable in His commanding presence. Then there followed that search ing question, “ Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” Repeated twice again it drew from the heart of Peter that avowal of his love, “ Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee” , to be followed by the commission, “ Peed my. sheep.” When Saul of Tarsus, “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” was carrying his persecution to Damascus, he was confronted by One whose radiance was above the brightness of the sun. He was face to face with the Risen Christ, and the result of that encounter was expressed in Saul’s question, “ Lord [he had met his Mas ter], what wilt thou have me to do?” “ Arise, and go . . .” was the reply, and what a journey he made from that moment across the Roman world, sealing his faith and testimony with his life. The Living Christ became his Master, and he was happy to be called a servant, joyfully carrying out his Lord’s commands. Finally, Stephen, in the last moments of his earthly life, as the breath was being pounded out of him by the stones of those to whom he had witnessed, looked up, and bore this testi mony, “ Behold, I see the heavens opened, and thè Son of man standing on the right hand of God.” Christ, Risen and As cended, had been exalted to the Father’s right Hand, “ far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” The Risen Christ is thus Lord and Master. He is the Com mander to whom has been given all authority “ in heaven and in earth,” and He sends forth His soldiers of the Cross to campaign across the world against Satan, sin and death. The Companion It was in His name “ I AM” that God sent forth Moses to deliver his people, promising to be with him in all sufficiency. This name, the Lord Jesus applied to Himself, “ Before Abra ham was, I AM” (John 8:58). He is the Eternal One. Death could not hold Him. So as He sends forth His apostles into all the world, He is to be with them in a fuller, greater and closer sense than in the days of His flesh. “ Lo, I am with you alway”—no longer limited to one place by His human body. The Living Christ, by the Spirit, is omnipresent—the constant companion of all those who go forth to do His bidding. One has suggested that the book of the Acts might well be called “ The Acts of the Risen Lord through the Apostles,” for Christ is present not as an onlooker, but a working part ner, to encourage, direct and strengthen. “ And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them . . .” (Mark 16:20). Even after His ascension, Jesus manifested Himself visibly for the encouragement of His servants. Such was the case with Paul at Corinth, where his testimony was met with op position and blasphemy. He was urged to remain, however, for “ Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee” (Acts 18:9). So also when he was in grave danger at the hands of the Jewish Sanhedrin, having been rescued from them by Roman soldiers; for we read, “ the night fol lowing the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome” (Acts 23:11). In the book of Revelation we see John a prisoner and an exile. When about His Lord’s business, obeying the great com mission, he had been apprehended by worldly power and ban ished to the Isle of Patmos, far from kith and kin. But that island became a heaven, as in a glorious and majestic manner the Living Christ was unveiled to him, uttering those ever lasting words, “ Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for ever more.”
The Conqueror John was arrested by the powers of the world, and became a prisoner in their hands, but to him was given that blessed revelation of the final conquest of his Lord and His Kingdom. His also was the high privilege of recording that revelation as the hope and inspiration of all those who go forth to obey the great commission. We stand then with John and hear the mighty chorus of heaven acclaiming the triumphant Lord, “ The kingdom of the world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ: and he shall reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15 R.V.), and the mighty “ Alleluia” chorus, “ The Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (19:6). We see Him as He comes forth at the head of His conquering armies, and upon His vesture we read, “ KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (19:16). And as we survey the innumerable multitude around His throne, we note that they are from “ all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (7:9). So may the Easter season of this momentous year cause us to sense anew His presence, hear again His great commis sion, and play our part in its fulfillment, as in an unmistak able way the world scene is being rapidly prepared for His Coming and His Conquest.
H I S T O R Y ' S
G R E A T E S T
HA P P EN I NG
By Louis T. Talbot, D.D.
wm r T HE greatest single event in human history, displaying at once the most tremendous force and exerting the most powerful influence upon the entire world, was not a mighty military victory. It was not an amazing achievement of the arts. It was not an ingenious invention of man. It was not a stupendous scientific discovery—not even the development of the atom bomb of our day. Honest research into history results in but one conclusion: the world-shaking and world shaping occurrence of all time was the resurrection from the dead of our Lord Jesus Christ in the land of Palestine, nearly two thousand years ago. Since that time, no phase of life upon the earth in any age has been unaffected by the fact that Christ rose again. Wher ever the tidings of this event have reached, they have altered the living and thinking of “nations, and kindreds, and peoples, and tongues.” Every “ good and perfect gift” of civilization is but a by-product of the Gospel of a living Lord. Emancipa tion from every form of tyranny, the “ four freedoms,” and all freedoms, had their origin in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The world may “little note, nor long remem ber” what He did when He offered up His life a ransom for sinners at the “ place of a skull,” and when on that first Easter morn, He shook off the shackles of death in His bor rowed tomb, but it will to the time of the end feel the effects of what He accomplished. Whether or not one believes in its reality, the resurrection of Christ is of vital consequence to every person on earth. It is the “ touchstone of destiny” for all mankind.
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flftatfon $¡ 4 * Jungle ttt/MicHJ By Charles Mellis, Jr. Many mission stations in this area lie anywhere from sev eral days’ to more than a week’s trek from the nearest road. For example, one of the largest stations in the area, which also serves as a base for the plane, is a two-day trip by mule from the nearest supply town, and five to eight days by animal from the nearest road or airline terminal. Bringing supplies into this station was quite a problem before the plane service was inaugurated. It meant taking a missionary away from his work for four or five days, to say nothing of another day or two to recover from the strenuous trip over muddy trails. Lomheim makes this same trip with the Cruiser in twenty minutes. Usually the plane makes two trips in succession, and brings in enough supplies to last several weeks. The whole operation takes just a few fours, including loading and un loading. Comparative costs of this supply trip are interesting. All the expenses connected with bringing in supplies on four pack mules come to eighteen dollars. In two trips the plane carries an equivalent load at a total cost of twelve dollars. This cost by plane is figured at a rate of eleven cents per mile, which covers all the expenses (gas, oil, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation) incurred in the plane’s operation. Supply trips also include delivery of mail. At the more iso lated stations, where landing strips have not yet been pre pared, mail and light packages of supplies are dropped from the plane. Experiments are being made with small cargo para chutes for dropping somewhat heavier packages. Other experi ments are being conducted with a pick-up system for collect ing mail and light packages from these same stations. In the state of Tabasco (another section of the same field) personnel transportation is the chief problem. This is particu larly true two or three times a year when the missionaries hold three-day institutes in many of the indigenous churches. For these periods of concentrated Bible study, both the mis sionaries and national church leaders go from church to church, taking a number of visual aids with them. The plane is kept constantly busy shuttling missionaries, workers, and equipment from one such Bible conference to another. During one such project lasting five weeks, 69 meetings were held in fifteen different locations. Seven thousand people were reached by these meetings, and 55 to 60 conversions were re ported, even though the chief purpose of the work was to build up the local churches. To enable the missionaries to accom plish this, the plane flew 4,300 miles in 65 flying hours, carry ing 131 passengers and 3,300 pounds of equipment. It would have taken many months to do this by slow river launch. A missionary translator working among Lacandone Indians in the state of Chiapas heard of a newly contacted group of Lacandones. The location of this village was about 25 miles away, but there was no direct trail. Estimates for travel time to this tribe varied from one week on up. In 30 minutes the MAF pilot took the missionary to a landing strip that was just two hours’ walk from this village. The plane also is serving to make missionary vacations more meaningful. While missionaries found that vacations in creased their efficiency, many of them wondered whether they were worth the effort when they had to ride to civilization on mules. As one missionary put it, “We spent six days getting there, and six days getting back. We arrived back as tired as when we started out, and it seemed that all we accomplished was to get our dental work done.” But now the plane takes them from their isolated outstations to the nearest road, rail road, or airline terminal where they can get other satisfac tory transportation to their destination. T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
Where landing strips have not yet been built, missionaries receive mail and small packages suspended by small cargo parachutes. T HE missionary translator looked up from his language work and strode to the door. As he cupped his ear to listen, he caught a glimpse of his wife emerging from the kitchen lean-to. He smiled, “ ’Twas mail call in the jungle, not a postman was in sight.” “Who says so?” she retorted, pointing to a speck in the sky just above the ridge. Now they were standing hand in hand near the center of their small jungle clearing. They were almost as excited as their two-year-old son who was running around in circles, waving his arms, and shouting, “Airplane! airplane!” As the. plane reached the edge of the clearing, flying just above the tree tops, the door opened and a white package dropped out. The missionaries didn’t even see the pilot wave as the plane passed overhead—they were already running toward the place where the sugar saek full of mail was falling. A half hour later the translator was back at his crude desk, his wife back in the kitchen. Both were whistling as they went about their work with renewed vigor, thankful for a bit of news from home, and looking forward to reading more that evening. This is only one way in which this missionary couple in southeast Mexico has been benefited by missionary air service. And they are only one of many missionary families in this area who have been receiving such service for the past two years. These services have been rendered by the Missionary Avia tion Fellowship, which operates a Piper Cruiser for the bene fit of all evangelical missionaries working in that area. This three-place plane, which can be quickly converted to an aerial ambulance, flew more than 25,000 miles during its first year, serving thirty-five to forty missionaries, plus some national workers. The man directly charged with the responsibility of this program is Jim Lomheim, who does all the mechanical work on the plane as well as the flying. A graduate of Parks Air College in East St. Louis, 111., Lomheim also attended the Bible Institute of Los Angeles before taking over this work in July, 1947. Purpose of this air program is to help the missionaries make their work more efficient, and to speed up the advance into new areas. Missionary trips that took days and weeks by muleback, dugout canoe, or river launch are now made in minutes and hours by plane. The redeemed time is spent in •missionary work. Supplies are brought in more regularly, and with no loss of time on the part of the missionary. The plane has also been used to reach unevangelized areas. On other occasions it has provided needed ambulance service. Page. Eight
according to Ephesians 5:16, “ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” MAF found such a field in southeast Mexico, and went to work on the problem at the invitation of the Wycliffe Bible* Translators. First step was a survey of the area—a procedure which the group holds to even yet. In fact, they emphasize that this is essential to establishing a safe and sound mission ary aviation program. The survey was just completed when the Lord provided funds for an airplane. A four-place cabin Waco was chosen. MAF leaders are frank to admit now that this was not the best plane for the job, but they gained valuable experience through its operation. It was just a few months after V-J Day, and no qualified men were available. So, true to the tradition of modern mis sions, a girl stepped in to do the job. Miss Betty Greene, a former WASP (Women’s Army Service Pilots), established the Mexico work in the early part of 1946. A short time later, when another pilot came down to relieve her, the plane met with a ground accident on an isolated strip. Then followed eight months of discouragements and disappointments as MAF wrestled with the task of repairing the plane in this isolated area. But now MAF pilots will tell you they learned more during those eight months than during the rest of the time the or ganization has existed. They learned the importance of using simple planes; the necessity of a sound financial policy; and the advantage of using specialists fully trained both in flying and mechanical work. Equipped with this information, they purchased the Cruiser early in 1947, and sent it to the field in March with Jim Truxton, president of the organization, at the controls. He operated the program until mid-summer of that year, when Lomheim was ready to take over the work. This freed Trux ton once more for his regular work of survey and develop ment, which he is now carrying on in South America. When this program began, the plane served only the Wy cliffe Bible Translators in Chiapas. Later, services were ex tended to include the Presbyterian Mexican Mission in Ta basco. More recently other smaller groups have been served as well. While steady service has been rendered to the missionaries for two years, there have also been many problems. MAF feels that, humanly speaking, these problems have been over come, and steady service maintained, for two main reasons— operating with the right type of equipment, and using per sonnel who are properly qualified. They also lay stress on the fact that as a specialist, Lomheim has been able to give the necessary amount of time to the work. Lomheim reports that he has had little leisure time. He jokingly claims that he should have taken training in one more field—bookkeeping. He keeps accurate records, and makes complete monthly reports, in order that future programs in other countries can benefit by his experience.
In some ways the most important function of the plane on the field is connected with medical work — especially when emergencies arise. Recently a nurse in that area was asked to help a dying Indian baby in a village on the other side of a high ridge. The nurse wanted to go, but she didn’t see how she could leave her work at her own station. Lomheim over heard the conversation and volunteered that he had seen a landing strip very near the village. They were at the baby’s side a few minutes later. It would have taken half a day by trail. The plane became even more valuable when they found the baby’s mother more ill than her child. The nurse hadn’t ex pected this, and didn’t have all the medications she needed. Lomheim returned to the station with a list of the needed
The former ambulance plane being used is well equipped to handle emergency situations as they arise at isolated sta tions. items, and had them there in a very short time. She was able to reduce the mother’s temperature five degrees before return ing to her station that evening. This emergency service is also important to the mission aries. A girl doing translation work in the state of Oaxaca became too ill to be removed from her village on horseback. They managed to help her to the beach about five miles away. Here Lomheim landed the Cruiser and took her to an airline terminal. From there a commercial plane took her to Mexico City for medical care. This Cruiser also has a stretcher car rying arrangement so that any emergency can be met. Missionary Aviation Fellowship leaders point out that the steady services enjoyed by the missionaries in southeast Mex ico during the past year were preceded by a period of educa tion that lasted twice that long. The men who organized the work in 1945 had previously done commercial and military flying, but recognized their limited knowledge of special mis sion field problems. To correct this, they set out to interview as many mission leaders and returned missionaries as they could find. They soon became convinced that missionary avia tion was mainly for areas of scattered population, and areas with poor transportation facilities. That experience is already being put to work in MAF’s Ecuador (South America) program, established last fall. This new step was made after nine months of preparation, includ ing survey, selection and indoctrination of personnel, and modification of the plane. Nate Saint is the pilot-mechanic in charge of the Stinson Voyager serving this jungle area. MAF has been invited to survey other countries in South America, and areas adjoining the present program in Mexico. Plans call for undertaking these surveys one at a time, estab lishing a program in the wake of each survey as the need re quires. Each program will be well established before another survey is undertaken—because MAF feels that the job can be done more quickly if it is done thoroughly to start with. And MAF is concerned about doing the job quickly. They want to enable all jungle missionaries in need of such service to benefit from it. They want to help these missionaries work A P R I L , 1 9 4 9
Jim Lomheim, former BIOLA student, refuels the Mission ary Aviation Fellowship’s Cruiser which he flies for the benefit of all evangelical missionaries in southeast Mexico. Page Nine
THE HYING, ETERNAL fa^Lò- m
CHRIST
By Arthur Hedley Dunstable, Bedfordshire, England
I AM HE that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for ever more” (Rev. 1:18). The New Testament record of our Lord’s life is unique, in that it tells us not only of His birth, His life, His min istry of teaching and healing, His death, His burial, but also of His resurrection and ascension. In human biography, the biographer is limited to the earthly life of his subject. He cannot follow him into the world beyond and record what he is doing there. True, some profess to have pierced the thick veil which hangs be tween the living and the dead, but these communications supposed to be from departed souls are so vague, trivial, dull and unoriginal, that if they were actual messages, it would appear that the senders had “left their minds be hind them.” The New Testament records several instances of men being raised from the dea,d, but in no case is a single word related respecting their experience while in a state of death. Tennyson in his immortal poem, In Memoriam, ques tions Lazarus as to what happened to him when he passed from this mortal scene. “ ‘Where wert thou, brother, those four days?’ There lives no record of reply, Which telling what it is to die Had surely added praise to praise. “Behold a man raised up by Christ! The rest remaineth unrevealed; He told it not; or something seal’d The lips of that Evangelist.” But while none come back from the dead to tell us how they are faring in the other world, the New Testament de scribes a Christ who did return, •and who now lives and reigns above. It re veals a living, acting Christ. We are per mitted to know what He is doing now, and we hear His voice speaking to us. From the eternal world which He has inhabited through endless ages, the in carnate and ascended Christ bears wit ness to the fact that His death was a reality, and that His resurrection too was a reality. It is the voice of Christ which breaks through the silence say ing : “ I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore” (Rev. 1:18). In the Gospels and in the Acts of the Apostles, the evangelists bear witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, but here Christ Himself “ the faithful witness” (Rev. 1:5) de clares He has met and conquered death. That He was dead is a fact that is attested to by many witnesses. When Joseph besought Pilate to let him have the body of Jesus, he was surprised to Page Ten
learn that He was “ already dead” (Mark 15:44; John 19:33), so he sent for the centurion in charge to confirm the statement of Joseph. The disciples who had witnessed His death believed He was lost to them for ever. The reali zation of their material hopes depended •upon a present, living, all-powerful Christ, and His death meant the end of all their hopes and dreams. Their fear, distress and despair are a witness to the fact that He actually “was dead.” The sorrowing women came to “ anoint” the Why go ye among the shadows seeking? Looking with longing akin to dread, Expecting a sepulchral hand to reach out From the dim cold catacombs of the dead? He is not here . . . where the light has faded, Where warmth and vigor and life are gone; He is not here . . . for He has risen, He left His cloak, and hurried on. A soul unfettered . . . a life unshackled By. pain and worry and grief and care, Would linger not in dark damp places; Come out of the tomb— He is not there! Why go ye among the shadows seeking? He would not be where the lights are dim; Look not for the dead, but for life abounding, Go out in the sunlight and look for Him! body of a dead (not' a living) Christ (Mark 16:1). His enemies were sure of His death, and to make doubly sure that He would never trouble them again, they had His tomb firmly sealed, and set a watch to see that no one interfered with it. That Christ lived, was cruci fied and buried is one of the best authen ticated facts of history, confirmed by friend and foe alike. But death did not have the last word. Our Lord predicted with absolute con fidence that death would be but a tem porary interruption of His life. For the
Lord of life and death moved among men as one who had power to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:18). For three brief days death held Him fast (Matt. 16:21; John 2:19). Then He burst the bands of death and triumphed gloriously. After He had atoned.for our sins by the offering of Himself, He was raised for our justifi cation (Rom. 4:25). It is a living, con tinuing, reigning Christ that we meet in the New Testament. “ I am he that liv eth” says the eternal Son of God who “was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.” His apostles knew He was alive, for they had fellowship with Him on several occasions. Peter says “Him God raised up the third day,” and gave Him to be made manifest . . . “ even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:41). The Acts of the Apostles could be, more correctly called “ The Acts of the Living Christ,” for here we see Him working in mighty power through the Holy Spirit. It was the fact that Christ was with them that made the apostles so fearless of their enemies and so scornful of consequences. It was through their faith in His presence and power that they wrought amazing miracles, and preached the Gospel with convicting and converting power. Nothing less than an actual meeting with the living Christ can account for the astounding conver sion of Saul of Tarsus, and his life of utter devotion to the cause of his Sav iour. As we turn the pages of the Epistles, we are conscious of being in the presence of men to whom Christ was a living and abiding reality. He was with them, in them, and through Him the greatest blessings flowed into their lives. He was their living Head, their great High Priest who dispensed grace in every hour of need (Heb. 4:14- 16); their ever-living Intercessor (7:25) who pleaded their cause before the Father’s face. He was their Sovereign Lord who is ever working all things to gether for their good. Because Jesus is alive for evermore, He is with us today and all the re sources of His love, grace and power are available for our use. We worship and serve a living, Almighty Saviour who waits to reveal greater manifestations of His presence, His friendship and His love. Too often we live as though Christ were still confined within that Eastern tomb; that is why we are so lifeless, so joyless, so fruitless. It is be cause there is such a lack of faith in the living Christ and so little real and vital fellowship with Him in our individual lives, that there is such a spirit of cold ness, deadness, worldliness and hopeless- T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
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