VOICE OF THE CHURCHES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 239, 6 July 1931, Page 5

VOICE OF THE CHURCHES

SERMONS FROM WELLINGTON PULPITS

DEPRESSION AND RELIGION

Era of Faith Needed “There are many.passages in the Bible that are not read to-day,” said the Rev. John - Hubbard at the; Kelburn ‘ Presbyterian. Church. “It is almost; in an • historical literature stretching over centuries, ■ there is that which the passage ;of time seems to make irrelevant for the busy man. In the British Museum there are books and papers of priceless, value enshrining the golden glories o£ ■ pur, Empire’s history and development. but to-day they are looked at only by the antiquarian or the . eager student. ; Famous men and exploits of other days scarcely recall a picture to us or awaken an echo in our time. Yet they were as human and interesting; as any. who how command the attention-of the public. Their problems and struggles were much the same as our own. for it is true that, time makes little difference in’things .that are deeply and essentially human. ■ . ■ “These words of my text recall a situation in which a nation had been in captivity for 70 years. Many losing hope of. any-change occurring settled down ,to make life tolerable under the altered conditions. Their ancient traditions were very valuable, but they decided to abandon them. These captive people mingled as freely as possible With thb ruling race, married the daughters’ of; their rulers, prospered in trade, and repudiated the once cherished tradition of the past; but there were some who kept alive, the old-time -glories, and in course of :time rose Ezra and Nckemiah,wholed the captive people back to Jerusalem. However, only those who had been loyal, and faithful to the old tradi-' tion were allowed to take part in the building of the new city. Only those who had kept the faith and, had preserved the links, of the past were permitted to, take part in the glorious future development. and. we behold through the mists of .antiquity a feverish group of people vainly ■ attempting to establish their status. ; They made search for their re-, cords,, but the genealogy was not to be found, so they were barred.” “In our own Dominion to-day we have a great numlber who have lost their religioiis .record. . They have broken completely'with their Christian genealogy, and Southey are barred from entering into the power and glo»y of real. Christian citizen-' ship. ■ Our . forbears in this country' were < Christian men' and women. The pioneers of this Dominion were Godfearing, God-loving, God-enthralled men and women, and they helped to build a civilisation ; that belongs to the greatest the world has ever; seen. To-day this country, in common with many others, is in the .throes of readjustmen. socially and economically, and men of. all types of mind, as they watch the titanic struggle, murmur as if one voice, ‘We need the Christian spirit, and without it we cannot be saved.’ Xet it is just at this particular juncture, this time of national crisis, that thousands of our fel-low-countrymen .have.lost their religious genealogy. The triple gods—money, pleasure, disregard for authority, have caused us to, deviate from the pathway to the one living and adequate God, the God wo see revealed in Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. Those pioneers whom we regard as our spiritual fathers would scarcely recognise us as their children. Would we like to meet them, those pious, God-fearing, dec-ent-living forbears of ours who made the name of this country great? What spiritual rags we would have to appear in! How morally down at the heel and spiritually out at the elbows we must look as they gaze upon us! “We have broken the grand tradition. We have forgotten our record. We have lost' our genealogy. And what have we in their place? God knows! How terribly depressing it is without religion ! How sustaining is prayer! How refreshing the services of the Church! ' . “Are we happier or more united as a

people or have we a clearer vision? God knows we have not.

"But the ■ Christian spirit must come again. Neither individuals nor nations can proceed without reserves. Those necessary moral reserves will be provided by the religion of Jesus Christ. Civilisation itself must perish without that Christian spirit. “But the era of faith will come again, and we shall yet recover our .lost genealogy and enter, into the city with those 'who are building for the better day."

YEAR OF ARMAGEDDON

Prophecies in Scripture Speaking in the Tory Street Hall last evening,'Mr. C. J. Drake said that all' students’ of Biblical prophecy regarded' the world outlook to-day with misgiv-; iugs. The translation of the Church of God from earth to meet the Lord Jesus in the air is imminent, he said. What will follow on earth will be the period designated in Scripture the “Day of the Lord.” That the movements spoken of in Scripture as characterising that time are appearing to-day in a most startling manner clearly indicating that the end of the age is upon us, was the opinion of Mr. Drake. It will be a time of long drawn-out-trial, culminating in the Great Tribulation of three and a half years. The climax will be reached in the greatest war in history, commonly spoken of as the Battle of Armageddon. The Word of God indicates plainly where this titanic conflict will take place and who will be the. combatants. . A comparison with things as they are shaping to-day among the nations compelled one to admit that only the hand of God could write such wonderful forecasts, continued the speaker.’. ) With the departure of the Church from earth the Jews will become God’s centre of interest on earth. The release of Palestine and the return of the Jews to their homeland constituted the beginning of the ino.st wonderful fulfilment of prophecy this world has seen for nineteen hundred years. The immediate cause of the attack leading up to the Battle of Armageddon is to be found in Ezekiel xxxviii. There it is stated that Russia united with other countries, including Germany, will descend. with a mighty army on the returned Jews in Palestine. Verse 13 indicates that this action will be challenged by Western Europe, including the British Empire. Various Scriptures, such as Zach, xir, Daniel xi, and others, make it clear that at first the northern attack will be successful, and that even Egypt will not escape the invaders. The speaker pointed to the fact that there is already an understanding between Russia and Turkey, and n treaty of neutrality existing between Russia and Germany. In addition Germany is being forced to turn 1 to Russia for , trade, and it would be found eventually that Germany will turn in that direction still more so. France's antagonism is helping to fulfil prophecy. Help would come to Palestine against the Russian invasion from two directions. First it would come from Europe. European union—now under considerationwill be consummated as clearly stated in many Scriptures. When this is accomplished an Italian dictator will arise' who will turn the whole thing into a revived Roman .Empire, with himself as emperor. Having guaranteed protection to the Jews, he will send his armies to Palestine to meet the Russian invasion. About the same time there will arrive a huge army from the east referred to in Rev. 9:13-16, and Rev. 16:12. The latter would, also be an amalgamation of . nations, clearly the dark races, among ■ whom there is so much unrest to-day. | Their numerical strength will be two hundred millions.

These enormour armies would join issue, having Armageddon as their centre, but unexpectedly their attention would be turned from one another to another host advancing upon them from heaven, led by the Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 19:11). The heavenly host will be victorious, but the slaughtered myriads will extend for two hundred miles, continued Mr. Drake. Only one-sixth of the Russian army will return home, and both the wester; and eastern armies will be decimated. Thus will be inaugurated the glorious millennial reign of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. To the student of prophecy the Great Wnr has brought in its train startling results. The stage is gradually being set for the final happenings.

Referring to the statement'made by some that Armageddon will be fought in 1935, the speaker said that such an assertion is entirely without support from Scripture. According to Dan. 9 that great event will not take place for at least seven years after the returned Jews enter into covenant with the 'coming Roman emperor. Things have not advanced that far yet. What could he expected at any moment was the secret translation of the Church to heaven, and the speaker appealed to his hearers to ensure their participation in that, glorious event by placing, personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour.