THE WORLD IN REVOLT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 15 December 1925, Page 6

THE WORLD IN REVOLT.

LECTURE BY MR R. LINCOLN. Speaking in the Grand Theatre on Sunday, Mr R. Lincoln, of Melbourne, representing tlie International Bible Students’ Association, delivered an interesting address on the above subject. He said that the world to-day is facing the greatest crisis of it 6 entire history. Thoughtful men sensed the coming trouble, but did not understand what it meant. The Word of God explained. The causes which have led up to present unsettled conditions are age long. When man was first created in Eden everything was peaceful and serene. When sin entered, and death by sin, selfishness, greed and ill will began to develop. Satan since then has been exercising his baneful influence in the affairs of men. Our Lord at His first advent came to take away the sin of the world and to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John, 3: 8.) The power of Christ’s Kingdom was not immediately exercised. God first purposed the selection and development of the True Chuuch, the Bride, the Lamb’s Wife. (Acts 15: 14, Rev. 19: 7.) With the completion of the Chmrch our Lord returns. His work is to raise the sleeping saints (1 Thes., 4: 16); to separate true Christians from false (Matt. 13: 37-43); to destroy Satan’s organisation on this earth, Scripturally described as the “beast” (Rev. 19: 19), and thus by puring the world to prepare it for the blessings of our Lord’s Kingdom. Mr Lincoln said that Christ had already returned, that for many years the separation of true Christians from the false had been taking place, that 1914 saw the legal end of the old world, and that since that time we had been living in a transition period. Satan had been cast out of heaven (Rev. 12: 7-12), and his visible organisation on earth was in process of destruction. Nobody had seem. our Lord with the physical eye, for the reason that He had returned in the spirit form. God is invisible. Satan is invisible. The angels are invisible. So also is Christ, Who became a Man for the express purpose of giving His flesh for the life of the world. (John 6: 51.) The price was not taken "back. He is now in the express image of the Father’s person, dwelling in the light to which no man can approach, Whom no man hath seen or can see. (Heb. 1 : 2, 1 Tim., 6: 16.) To the saints His second presence is discerned by the eve of faith. (Rev. 3: 20.) His revealment to the world is by the flaming fire of His judgments (2 Tlies., 1: 7-8), and by a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. (Dan. 12: 1.) These judgments are being outworked in a perfectly natural way. We read: “His lightnings enlightened the world; the earth saw, and trembled.” (Psa. 97: 4.) The diffusions of knowledge on every subject which is the great characteristic of our day are directly due to the fact that our Lord'has returned, and that “the time of the end” is here. (Dan. 12: 4.) Despite the efforts of the few to keep it to themselves, this great wa,ve of enlightenment lias lifted all men, including the masses, to a higher level. The. introduction of the newspaper, education, and the interchange of thought resulting from the wonderfully improved travelling facilities of our day, has brought the people into closer contact one with the other, and has awakened the desire within them to demand their rights. The bitterness between organised labour and capital has steadily increased. Improved conditions have been demanded. Force of 'dreuinstances has compelled a begrudging complaince. One concession has merely led to. another. The pendulum is now swinging to the other extreme, and the point is rapidly being reached where capital will refuse to give way further. This will lead to “direct action” on both sides. In the final conflict, which is imminent. both sides expect to win, but both will lose. St. Peter says, “The elements shall melt with fervent heat.” (2 Pet.. 3:12.) It will leave the world weak and helpless, but man’s extremity will he God’s opportunity. The great trouble will completely break down the old system, . dominated by hypocritical enclesin sties, commercial giants and big politicians, which for so long has spelt war and oppression for this tired world. God will then turn to the people a “pure language” (Zepli. 3: 8-9). that they might all turn to serve Him with one consent. The power of Christ will then he exercised. Righteousness will he rigidly enforced (Isa. 28: 17), and the age of gold will give place to the Golden Age. The death sentence which has for so long rested upon mankind will he lifted. Millions, hy coming into harmony with that. Kingdom, will never die. Their flesh will become fresher than a child’s; they will return to the days of their youth. (Job 33: 25.) The dead

will return from the tomb (Isa. 35: 10), and God will wipe away the tears from oft - all faces. (Rev. 21: 1-4.) Strife and turmoil will be a tiling of the past, for nothing will hurt or destroy in all God’s Holy Kingdom. (Isa. 9: 11.) Then men, loving God with a)l their hearts and their neighbours as themselves, will put into practice the golden rule. Evil doers will be cut off, but those that wait upon the Lord shall inherit the earth. (Psa. 37:. 9.) Then every man shall sit under his own vine and ‘fig tree, and the whole earth will be at rest. 14: 7.)