WORLD CONDITIONS OF TODAY

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 84, 3 January 1940, Page 5

WORLD CONDITIONS OF TODAY

What Biblical Prophecy

Reveals SERMON BY REV. JOHN G. INKSTER Present day world conditions in the light of Biblical prophecy were dealt with by the Bev. John G. Inkster, D.D., in a sermon preached in St. Johns Presbyterian Church, Wellington, on New Year’s Eve. ••What, is going to happen io the nations?’’ lie asked. "The answer to this question can come only from 'the sure word of prophecy’ in the Bible. The statesmen of the world tire deep!.' concerned about this question; bat, "it should ever remember, and so is God. Hence we go to the unfulfilled prophecies in God’s word. It has been said that all prophecy centres in Christ. Much of the old Testament prophecy was fulfilled in. His first coming. Still more, both old and now Testament unfulfilled prophecy is concerned with His second coming. Some of that is being fulfilled before He comes, some will be when He comes and some after He comes the second time in great Power and Glory. In spite of this, it >eems sad that so many Christians have little or no concern about the doctrine of the second coming of Christ.” In the light of this fact it was no wonder there was so much confusion about world peace. Men built peace palaces, formed a League of Nations, carried on campaigns of disarmament and sueb like—all indications of their concern and confusion about world peace and entirely oblivious of the fact ihat there could be no permanent world petice till the Prince of Peace came, said the preacher. Christ himself prophesied : "When ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: fog ihose things must come to pass; but the end is not yet.” And the great prophet Isaiah said; “There )s no peace, saith the Lord to the wicked. Surely these words were plain and explicit enough. As surely as Christ came the first time so surely would He come the second time; and His arriving would be personal, visible and ?' or ’ ious. 'Phis was the “Blessed. Hope ’ of every Believer. •'Would that all men seetli that vision of the Prophets! "Very Near Fulfilled.” ‘•I submit: World conditions indicate that the unfulfilled prophecy of ihe Return of Christ is very near fulfilment. We arc living in what is known as the times of the Gentiles —or the nations. These times began when the government of the world was put into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon (a Gentile nation) about. 000 B.C. We do not know when these •times’ will end; but we do know bow they will end. 'They will end when the Roman Empire is restored— according to the prophet Daniel and John in the Book of Revelation. According to Daniel the characteristics of. that ancient Empire were symbolized in iron and clay—iron signifies strength and clay the opposite—easily moulded and broken. Iron is the symbol of autocracy. and. clay the symbol of democracy. j “In the light of this, let us look at what is going on in Europe. The end of (be World War saw the overthrow of two autocracies —-Germany and Russia. Another, Spain, has since been overthrown. These rulers have been replaced, by dictators. Democracy still retains a semblance of usefulness and authority. The autocrats say they are striving for a United States of Europe. Phophesy tells us Germany and Russia will be allies—they are now, strange io say. It also tells us they will be. enemies of the Revived Roman Empire. (Already Mussolini is seeking for a Mediterranean block). Mussolini’s Rise. "Let us look at Mussolini and Italy —the centre of the old Roman Empire. This son of a blacksmith has had a meteoric rise to great power and strength. He has discarded the Roman Eagle and adopted the Faces as a symbol —an ancient emblem of Rome. It • has been used widely in the United States of America, and other places. It signifies combination, union, merger, and such like. Its aim is one big organization—one big empire, one big union (0.8. E. one big bank, one big store, one big church, etc. It is purely a man-made movement and not of God. “This is Mussolini’s ambition —to revive the ten-kingdom Roman Empire. Prophecy says the ancient. Roman Empire, will be restored, and France, Britain and other 'Mediterranean States will form'part of it. These will form the armies to lhe south, as Russia, Germany, and others will form the armies to the north. In the light of this, it is very significant that even now armies are being mobilized in Egypt, while Germany and Russia are mobilizing in Hie north. They will move toward Palestine, the centre of the earth —to the plains of Meggiddo, where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought. “These questions rise: Is Mussolini the anti-Christ? Will this war lead to this clash of north and south armies? These and other questions rise in our minds as we read the papers and prophecy: but no man ,can answer these questions. We do know that prophecy tells us these things win come to pass. When? No man knows; but. current events clearly indicate bow things are heading up. Alliances Being Formed. ■’AU this means prophecy is being fulfilled, the nations are forming alliances in the north and in the south. Now we can go no further. We must wait and watch and work. Our duty in this wicked world as Christians is clear: at present we must maintain and defend the cause of righteousness and freedom. Our beloved King in his last broadcast lias given us a wise and gracious message. We are seeking to defend not a kingdom of this world : but. the cause and kingdom of Christ. “’The King alluded to this in his address —it was a message from the unseen—not in his own words, but in the words of another: ‘I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: Give me light that 1 mav tread safety into the unknown, and he replied, Go into the darkness and put your band into the band of God. That shall be to you better than the light and safer than the known way.’ "Friend, God is saying this to you and to me. Take God’s hand. Pur, your trust in Him. It is a call to penitence and faith. God is calling you and me in these palorous times. He is calling us by the sure word of prophecy to come out from the world and the flesh and the devil and come unto Him. He is saying: The destiny of your immortal soul does not depend on the Allies or lhe Empire, but in faith in Christ. Take His hand. He is pleading with you and crying, “Conm unto Ale and you will find peace and rest for your soul.”