Prophecy and War

All know anything of the Scriptures know that government is a divinely instituted thing for the maintenance of order among men, the security of life and property, and the punishment of evil-doers. The first expression of it was given to Noah in these words :"Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed " (Gen. 9:6). The failure of man in government, under whatever form it has appeared, is manifest to all. Indeed it is often in government circles that the worst iniquities are found. So God has ordained that His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, after the present, long period of grace, during which He continues in heaven as Saviour, seeking to turn men to repentance and to save the "lost," shall return to this earth clothed in royal glory, to take the government of the whole earth in His own hands. But this is not to the world's liking – opposed to God as the natural man ever is. As a consequence of refusing God's authority and His Prince of Peace, man with clashing self-interests, will so fight each other – commercially, industrially, and nationally – as "to take away peace from the earth " (Rev. 6:4), and the world will feel the need of the Deliverer, as a sinner now under conviction of sin feels the need of the Saviour.

That the turmoils of the times of this great crisis are forcibly showing themselves in the present European war, is being more or less felt not only by Christians but even by the man of the world. If it be so, peace may be looked for only by the appearing of the Prince of Peace on the clouds of heaven. While the crushing of this or that oppressive power may give momentary relief, peace permanent and righteous can be had only in the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy:"Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given:and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Father of Eternity, the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end" (Isa. 9:6, 7). And this beneficent rule is to be exercised " upon the throne of David;" that is, at Jerusalem, which, on that account, will have become the metropolis of the earth.

Should any of our readers be desirous of instruction, clear and scriptural, on these subjects, we would recommend two books to them-one, "Eight Lectures on Prophecy," as preliminary. It is a small book of 342 pages, cloth bound, post-paid, 65 cents. The other book, "Plain Papers on Prophetic Subjects," covers the subject much more fully, has 582 pages, cloth bound, post-paid, $1.25. Students of Prophecy have written to the publishers to say, that after reading all things published on Prophecy, they knew nothing to equal this book on the subject.

We believe that if believers were scripturally established by the instruction of such books, they would be preserved from the vagaries and follies of alarmists and sensationalists who see in prophecy much more of fire and blood than of the great central Object, which the Spirit of God ever keeps to the front. Prophecy without Christ as its Center, becomes mere politics, which may excite the curiosity even of unbelievers.

The following is published in the Youth's Companion, and we reproduce it here because of its plain and wholesome lesson.

WHEN A HAPSBURG DIES.
A very strange burial custom has been observed for centuries by the house of Hapsburg, the most ancient of the reigning houses of Europe. On the death of the Austrian Emperor the bod vis curried by the shortest way from the imperial palace to the crypt of the ancient monastery of the Capuchins near Vienna. No one appears to receive the royal cortege. Thereupon the master of ceremonies knocks on the closed door with his staff and demands admission. "Who is there?" asks the voice of the guardian monk from within.

"His Majesty, the most high Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, Duke of Styria," etc., etc., replies the master of ceremonies, as he recites the long list of the dead man's titles.

" I know no such man," curtly replies the guardian from behind the closed door.

The master of ceremonies knocks a second time. Again the monk asks, "Who is there?" Again the master of ceremonies repeats the list of royal titles, and again the voice of the guardian replies, " I know no such man."

A third time the master of ceremonies knocks with his staff.

" Who is there? " repeats the voice.

" Our brother, Francis Joseph " (or whatever the dead monarch's name may be), replies the master of ceremonies.

At this bumble confession of the simple humanity of the dead Emperor the bolts fly back. " Enter, brother! " cries the voice of the guardian monk, and the body is admitted. There follows later an imposing public burial.

Thus is mankind leveled by death. It is the sentence of God upon sin, and as every man is a sinner, he is under the sentence of death, be he an emperor or a boot-black, a millionaire or a beggar. Ambitious young man, remember this. Let thy highest aims be always yoked with this sentence. It will make thee wise, for it will show thee the necessity of escaping the judgment which follows death. What good would it be to have ruled an empire or to have exceeded all other men in the realms of wealth, of learning, of art, of honor in any line, if, after all, the question of eternal salvation is not settled ?So important is this matter, that the Son of God left His glory above and came to this world of sorrow and woe to provide by His atoning death on the cross an eternal redemption for every soul that feels and owns its need of it. The costly way by which Christ obtained this redemption for us is itself sufficient proof of its importance. A God of love seeing the day of retributive justice surely coming, could not leave man without a way of escape. Justice can find no fault with it, since "Christ hath once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God" (i Pet. 3:18).

Death is thus God's summons to man to appear at His bar, and none can escape condemnation there but those who confess Christ as their Saviour, and His death on the cross as their own condemnation borne by their Substitute. Condemnation cannot pass the cross of Christ, for there He suffered the full penalty of sin, so that all who have taken refuge under it are beyond the claims of justice. They are as cleared from their guilt as Christ Himself is. They are accepted in Him the Beloved One, and God's love rests on them as it does on Christ, not because of any merit in them, but because of the worthiness God finds in Christ, with whom they are united by the Spirit. There is no fluctuation therefore in God's love toward us, since it rests wholly on the unchanging and unchangeable value of the sacrifice of Christ. Nor can there be any fluctuation either in the acceptance of the believer, for he is "accepted in the Beloved." The believer thus freed from concern about his acceptance with God, can devote himself undistractedly and worshipfully to whatever service his Master may see fit to put upon him. Blessed service! May we abound in it till our Lord returns.

Martha and Mary

What great loss many Christians are any suffering by not heeding the important lesson of these two women recorded in Luke 10 :38-42. Martha-like they seem to think that their service is of immense importance. So engrossed with it are they, so enamored with their doings, that they have no time, and, what is worse, no inclination to listen to the word of God. They remain ignorant therefore of what every Christian ought to know, and needs to know, to serve the Lord acceptably. Many do not even enjoy peace with God, being too busy to let their Saviour pour into their souls that sweet peace which is the beginning of relations with Him, and which are sweeter than all beside. He delights to communicate to His own the full extent of the grace of God, and thus fill their souls to overflowing with praise and worship, but they have no time to lend Him their ear. " We have a great work to do," they say. "and we must be about it." Is it any wonder if they are restless and full of disquietude ? It is living intercourse with Christ which satisfies the heart and sets it aglow for praise, worship and service. A satisfied heart is not restless, whatever its circumstances may be.

As to Mary, the Lord's words leave no doubt as to His mind about the object of her attitude and heart. He characterizes it as "that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Why then will any of God's beloved ones rob themselves of that good part which abides forever! Martha was as truly a child of God as Mary, and as truly loved of Christ as Mary, yet she was missing what the Lord most approved and loved. Would you, dear reader, do like her ?

In the roth chapter of John we see blessed fruits of the Lord's ministry in the same household:"Martha served"-her valued ministry has no more the impatient, fretful spirit manifested in Luke 12..The Holy Spirit therefore records the service as most acceptable. Lazarus-not heard of in Luke 10-is here, fruit of resurrection, at table with the Lord. And, crowning the precious scene, Mary pours out upon the Lord the costly perfume expressing the value in which He was held in her heart.

A Great Mistake

We were reading recently a labored article by a great writer, to reconcile the part which "Christian nations" are taking in the European war with the teaching of our Lord on non-resistance to evil in His Sermon on the Mount. All such efforts are futile and vain, for the two things are irreconcilable. If the Lord has said, "Love your enemies," it is no easy matter to reconcile such words with taking up a gun and killing our enemies.

The great mistake of all such writers is in not discerning the difference which Scripture ever makes and maintains between the people of God and the people of the world. There is, according to the word of God, no such thing as a "Christian nation." The idea comes from the false Romish teaching that Christian baptism makes children of God out of those on whom it is administered. Romish conquerors therefore would compel conquered nations to submit to baptism, and thus become "Christian nations," without the regenerating work of the Spirit being wrought in them. The people of God are, every one of them, born of God, possessors of eternal life, and capable therefore of carrying out the mind of the Lord Jesus. None others can, and for that reason when the Lord teaches non-resistance He does so to His disciples alone. (See Matt. 5 :i, 2.)

Satan's work has been to obliterate the great dividing line between the world and the Church, by throwing them thus together, confusing the minds of the multitude as to their relative places.

A "Christian nation" may be as cruel as any other, for, though bearing the name of "Christian," it is at heart the same as all unregenerate men. Were they born of God their character would be changed ; they could obey their Lord's word, "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you."