Bible Prophecies Explained By Mr M. C. Bland

Waikato Independent, Volume XLV, Issue 6242, 23 May 1949, Page 5

Bible Prophecies Explained By Mr M. C. Bland

"The generation in which we live has been specifically identified by the Bible prophets," said Mr Bland in the Hour of Prophecy Tabernacle last evening. Among the Bible prophecies presented as proof that this generation is the last before Christ's coming, were the following:— The sth. Chapter of James' Epistle foretold intense capital and labour conflicts, "in the last days," immediately prior to "the coming of the Lord."

Great increase of knowledge, and rapid modes of transit were foretold in Daniel's writings chapter 12, verse 4, and were stressed as a sure sign of the imminence of the end of the Age. The speaker stated that Christ Himself predicted in Matthew's Gospel, chapter 24, the tragic increase in the incidence and scope of war, stressing also the famines, pestilences and earthquakes which would characterise the very last days before His return. The Herculean efforts of statesmen to ensure peace in "the last days" were outlined in Isaiah's prophecy, chapter 2. The striking predictions of the prophet Joel (chapter 3) and of John (Revelation 16) that the peoples of the East were to awake and prepare for war, were clearly expounded by Mr Bland in his previous address on "Armageddon." Less than a century ago the East slept, but today we see those peoples in turmoil, clamouring for independence and self-expression. War involving, all nations, East and Wc3t, was inevitable, Mr Bland stated for the prophecy of Revelation chapter 16 verse 14 declared "the kings of the earth and of the whole world" would "gather to the battle of that great day of God Almighty" . . . "and He gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon." Today could be seen the stirring and the marshalling of the nations for the great conflict on the plains of Armageddon or Megiddo, which is situated some 60 miles north of Jerusalem.

Without doubt the tremendous importance of Middle East oil will play a leading part in drawing the armies of the nations to this strategic place, said the speaker. America has stated she has not enough oil to fight another war. Britain, Russia, in fact every, country on the globe is needing more and more oil every year. The Middle East also occupies a key strategic-geographic position. It is the indispensable three-way bridge between Europe, Asia and Africa, the cross roads of the world. Here, where civilisation was born, will be staged the final turbulent scenes, .culminating as the prophecy declared in the return of Christ. * The brightest sign of all, said Mr Bland, was our Lord's prophecy that "This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." "There is no country under heaven where the Gospel is not being preached today," said the speaker. "Evidence piles on evidence that this is the generation spoken of by Christ and the prophets, which shall live to see our Lord's return in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory."