SUNDAY ADDRESS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 May 1939, Page 6

SUNDAY ADDRESS

BY EVANGELIST SUMMERFIELD. c / ? j “If frequency of mention is any criterion,. the Second ’ Coming of . Jesus ; is a cardinal doctrine. Out of the 27 ' books of the New Testament, 23 contain from; one verse to whole chapters,' on . this subject, while the whole Bible ' contains approximately 2500 references ' to the Second Advent of Christ,” said •Evangelist C. E. SummCrfield, speaking N on the subject ‘‘Christ or Chaos,” in the Soldiers- Hall on Sunday evening. ‘‘Practically all of the 15 per cent, of the prophecies which remain ygt to ... He,iulfilled relate to the Second appearance of Our Lord,” he continued, • ‘‘and truly the time is ripe for some, ■ thihg to happen, for we are indeed ;> living l in a world of chaos.”

“The political world to-day is in chaos —statesmen are worried beyond measure. At one time earth’s problems wore comparatively I ' easily disposed of by great statesmen, but to-day the giant problems have utterly dwarfed the leaders and they know not where to turn.

“We see widespread chaos in the financial world, for-at one time nations.:; used to balance the budget. .-. To-day those who balance the- budget are the exception rather than*’the rule. Nations are spending million’s of money in an endeavour to become -strong in warfare. Britain’s record peace-time budget now figures £630,0(10,000! lit Her- j many conditions are so barf that the leaders have a plan whereby they collect taxes in’ advance:; - “Chaos prevails even in the physical world; too,” declared the speaker. ‘‘Earthquakes and pestilences An r d destructive storms have rapidly tncrease.d. in number and violence dnrrng recent years. These are constant reminders of the insecurity and unstability of a 1! earthly things. There’is nothingiquite' so much calculated to solemnize '-the r thoughts and compel serious consideration of the eternal things of God, as to have the-solid earth tremble underone’s feet, and witness the collapse of the works of human hands.” These unprecedented conditions 1 - point with unerring accuracy to’ the great fact’of Christ’s Second Advent, which alone can save the' world from disaster. In Matthew 24 the Master Himself ; gave many remarkable signs by which we were to know when the day of His coming‘was at hand. Also before His ascent He told His disciples that He was going to prepare a plao<y, after which He was-coming back to re-’ reive them to. Himself. (Jn. T4.;F3V v • ; The Apostle Paul, writing tn Hebrews 9: 28, said of Christ, “Shall Fn appear the second time?’’ Rev. ?: 7, reveals that every eye-shall Sed Him. Enoch the seventh from Adam prophesied that the-Lord would come with Jen thousand of.,His saints to execute VA jiidgmeiit. Jude 14, 15. David said, “Our God shall come and not keep silence; a fire shall devour before Him.” ;y. Ps. 59: 3. Isaiah knew of a people J (eh. 25: 9) who would look for the com-A ing Saviour and say, “Lo, this our ’ God, we have waited for Him and He ; " will save us.” The closing promise of the Bible in Revelation 22'reiterates i the fact that Christ is coming again. ; 2 Tim. 3: 1-5 reveals some of the con- $ ditions which will prevail in the last j* days, and which are seen to-day. Un- ; doubtedly; Christ- is coming again! * Next Sunday evening Mr Summer- H field ivill continue this stirring theme ■■ ; in the Soldiers’ Hall, and will deal j | with the signs, manner, purpose and d time of the Second Advent. ' j