"THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9087, 22 June 1888, Page 6

"THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST."

PASTOR MULLER'S THIRD LECTURE.

Pastor G. Moller delivered his third address on "The Second Coming of Christ" last evening, in the lecture hall of the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms. The audience was again equal to that of the two preceding evenings, the Hall being full. The address was also listened to with the deep attention and interest that had so marked the previous discourses. On the platform supporting Pastor Muller wore the Revs. A. Carrick, and T. Bray, and Mr. W. Brakenrig. The preliminary devotional exercises were conducted by Mr. W. Brakonrig, the Rev. T. Bray leading in prayer. Pastor G. Muller commenced his third lecture on tho above subject by briefly recapitulating the points already considered, after which, in reference to the fourth event attendant upon Christ's second coming, the Restoration of the Jews, the lecturer read from Isaiah, 65th chapter, and then spoke upon the present wretched condition of Jerusalem. The streets were narrow, dirty, and filthy, and all the surroundings were melancholy, lepers on all sides, and beggars continually asking relief. Outsido the city, from the Mount of Olives, tho city looked protty, but inside miserable. Ho spent nine weeks and two days in the city, and in that time never saw a carriage, not even a wheelbarrow. For some reason the inhabitants seemed to have an aversion to the sight of a wheel. The town was comparatively a small one, containing some 28,000 inhabitants, and in forty minutes one could walk round tho entire city, outeide the city walls. Then tho streets were so narrow that a vehicle could not traverse the streets. Standing in the centro of an average street one could touch tho houses on one side with one hand and the other side with the other. To open an umbrella was in places a difficulty. The poople were, as a people, of the old Adam. Isaiah lxvi., 19, and Jeremiah xxx., 7, and xxxi.,3-10, were read from. The startling fulfilment of the prophecies as to the scattering of the Jews was dwelt upon, and its significance pointed out. As they had been fulfilled, was it not probable that the other prophecies would also be consummated ? It was written, "He who had scattered the Jows would gather them." In Poland there were over a million of Jows, and while in Europe as a rule the Jews were Freethinkers, in Warsaw and Poland they were mostly devout. In that city were 350 schools for the purpose of training Jewish children in the truths and teachings of the Talmud. In that city also the inscriptions over tho places of business were in Hebrew. Tho bounteousnoss of tho spiritual blessings to be showered down upon the Jews wore vouched for in Ezekiel xi., 17 and xxxvi. ; Amos ix., 9 ; Micah v., 7-8. There were many scores of passages referring to the restoration of Israel, both in the Old and New Testament. The more they searched the Word of God the more messages would bo found. The fifth event attending the second coming was tho destruction of the Antichrist. Many had understood that by Antichrist was meant tho Pope or tho Roman Church. Amongst the Popes many had lived very wicked lives. Of those Alexander VI. had lived a life almost of what one would expect to find in tho devil incarnate. Others had lived bad lives, but it was an entire mistake to suppose tho Antichrist meant the Popes. There had been 143 Popes—but in the original the article " the " was clear ; the lawless one—the wicked one—the Antichrist. The Antichrist could not, therefore, refer to the Popes. However wicked many of the Popes might have been, their system was a religious one, and thero could not be a denial of God tho Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. But the Antichrist was the head of a secular system, not a religious ono—a king, a mighty king, the mightiest king. There was the difference. If the Popes were to deny or to renounce their religious system, and tho Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, they would lose their power. But the Antichnst was a worldly character, getting his power from the devil, and denying and fighting against and rejecting everything of a religious nature. Another point proving the Popes were not meant, was that the Po[>os had been in power for 1400 years; but the Antichrist would only exist seven years, and his chief power would be but about three and a-hali yoars. Again, 1260 days, 42 months, and a time, times, and half a time were mentioned ; 42 months of 30 days made 12150 days, and "a time" meant a year, "times" two years, and "half a time" half a year,—again making 1260 days. Again, as to Antichrist, those who were not believers in Christ would fall down and worship the Antichrist. Now, however much Roman Catholics might honour the Pope, they would not fall down and worship him, and those whose names were not written down in the Lamb's Book of Life would fall down and worship the Antichrist. • Then, again, there were the freethinkers ; also, there were to be the marks of the Antichrist to be held in the hands or on their foreheads by those who were to prosper in the world. Tho time was coining when those who had not these marks would not be able to get a loaf of bread or anything else. The Antichrist, after being in power for 1260 days, would be destroyed, and this would be at the coming of the Lord. At this time tho living saints would be changed in the twinkling of an eye, while those who had fallen asleep in Christ would be raised from the dead. The "falling away" mentioned in Thessalonians meant apostacy, and while the Roman Catholics might have fallen away, yet the Pope and the Roman Church could not become apostates and cast away everything of God, and set up the Pope in tho place of God. Antichrist is to set himself up against all that is of God. The Jews would rebuild the Temple, reintroduce tho sacrifices, and tho whole ritual of their old worship of the antetype of Christ. Pastor Muller concluded by stating that to-night he would further consider the destruction of the Antichrist;, and who he was. The usual devotional exercises closed tho evening's services.