The Present Truth for 1937
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"POISED SNO* " and penetrating the Ukraine. Japan is very obviously pur- THE grave view which Mr. It does not take a very shrewd suing a policy of nibbling a little Chamberlain takes of the present observer to see that every one of from the Soviet and then a little world crisis is indicated by his the dictatorship nations is from China, while waiting for recent use in the House of Com- manoeuvring for position, and the outbreak of some conflagra- mons of a vivid analogy from that each is prepared to strike as tion in Europe which would mountaineering. We are "in the soon as victory seems assured. leave her with a free hand in the condition," he said, "where an If Italy could be certain of Far East. incautious move, or even a sud- Franco's triumph in Spain and And hidden forces of Commu- den loud exclamation, may start of the help of Germany she nism in many lands are only an avalanche." And then he would not hesitate to take issue biding their time to come to the added, "I believe, although the with Britain in the Near East. surface in red revolution. snow may be perilously poised, I f Hitler were sure that Without a doubt the Prime it has not yet begun to move !" Italy would not oppose her Minister was right when he said "Poised snow" is indeed an southward thrust and that Eng- that the snow is "perilously apt description of the tenseness land would not take sides if she poised" and though it has not yet of international relations, not sought expansion eastward, begun to move the merest touch merely in one part of the world he would not hold back long may start it on its catastroptic. but in almost every continent. from engulfing Czechoslovakia way. Can it be that we are, even now, in that little period i.f calm before the last great storm re- ferred to in the seventh chapter of the Revelation? "And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth. nor on the sea, nor on any tree. And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God : and C) Keystone An air precautions officer demonstrat- ing a new type of gas mask to members of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. PRESENT TRUTH © Keystone In Bulgaria's last general election women voted for the first time. he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." Rev. 7 :1-3. If these solemn words be truly applied to our time they surely present an individual appeal to every soul, "Are you sealed for time and for eternity with the must be fulfilled, "This Gospel of task to rediscover the original seal of the living God?" While the kingdom shall be preached "tables of stone" a very real res- to the church of God collectively in all the world for a witness ; ponsibility rests upon the leaders they present a mighty challenge, ... and then shall the end come." of the Christian church to re- for through it the prophecy Matt. 24 :14. discover and re-establish the law of God in the church and before the world. THE LOSTF,COMMANDMENTS It is, in fact, most significant that the great reformatory move- TT is reported from Palestine "The bishops and clergy," he says, that an Englishman, David Ham- "have banished the Ten Command- ment which is to sweep the ments, first from the east end of our world just prior to the return of shere, and an Irishman, John churches, where they should by our the Lord is prophetically delin- O'Donnell, founders of the statutory authority be set up for all eated as laying equal stress "True Law Society," have taken to read, and secondly by omitting to read them in the service of Holy upon the two fundamentals of up their abode in tents on Mt. Communion. Christian experience, "faith" and Ebal with the object of search- "Since God's laws are thus relegated "works." The description of ing the vicinity for the origi- to the background, is it any wonder that immorality is rife, as seen in God's last message to. the world and the the increased number of divorces?" nal Ark of the Covenant outlined in the fourteenth chap- Tables of Testimony. And again : ter of the Revelation concludes If there were any real archmo- with the striking words : logical evidence as to the exis- "If, as some clergy have pro- "Here is the patience of the tence and possible location of claimed, the Fourth Commandment be merely Jewish, it is no wonder saints: here are they that keep these sacred objects the search that the laity treat the others as not the commandments of God, and would be commendable, but in binding, and do their own pleasure the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14 :12. on God's holy day." its absence one cannot but apply God grant that we may be en- to them the words of Paul in While, therefore, it may be a rolled in the heavenly records as another connection and say that fruitless and even unnecessary "obedient unto the faith." they "have a zeal, . but not according to knowledge." The project, however, reminds TOTALITARIANISM AND RELIGION us that not only are the two ancient tables of stone lost to us UNDOUBTEDLY one of the to the totalitarian states. Is but that the commandments greatest issues before the Chris- Christianity compatible with the which were originally inscribed tian church to-day is its relation modern doctrine of the State in upon them are rapidly being for- Germany and other lands or not? gotten by the modern world and DEICIODOODOOODOCIODOODOODOCI The Archbishop of York is even by the professed chur,b of perfectly clear in his own mind, God. Our Cover for he says in the Fourth Sur- Writing in the Church Intel- Christ Heals the Blind Man vey on the Affairs of the Contin- ental Churches: lioencer, "T.C.L." severely in- By E. S. Hardy dicts his own communion : © A. B. Shaw & Co. Ltd. (Continued on page 11.) August 12, 1937 3 WHERE ARE WE A GOING? The Bible's answer to question on many lips to-day By S. G. Hyde @ Keystone Herr Hitler addressing an enormous gathering in the Olympic Stadium, Berlin. decay, degeneration, and death. To save man from eternal death, God TO-DAY the world's fate hangs veritable arsenal of highly inflam- devised the plan of redemption, the perilously in the balance. The mable material, which the least central feature of which is the gift immediate future is fraught with spark might ignite with disastrous of His only-begotten Son, that grave anxiety. The perplexities results. "whosoever believeth in Him which have characterized the past should not perish, but have eternal post-war years have been trying What Will the Outcome Be? life." enough ; and all the world's wisdom One is constrained to ask : What When Jesus came, He met the has not been able to solve them; will be the outcome of all this adversary on the battlefield of this indeed, its perplexities have become demonstration of bellicosity, this sinful world. As Michael He even more perplexing, its problems determination selfishly to seek fought with the dragon, defeating steadily more acute. national ends at all costs? What him. Thus the "prince of this New and dreaded dictatorial drives men and nations on in this world" lost his title to Christ. powers have arisen in Europe be- mad orgy of frenzy and foolhardi- Hence the intensifying of the fore which liberty and freedom are ness? struggle expressed thus in the being sacrificed. Finding the ma- Fortunately, we are not depend- twelfth chapter of Revelation : chinery of normal democratic ent upon the opinions of men for "Woe to the inhabiters of the government slow-moving and an answer to our queries. We have earth, . for the devil is come clumsy, Fascism, National Social- a source of information upon down unto you, having great wrath, ism, and Communism have reposed which absolute reliance can be because he knoweth that he hath in their respective leaders well- placed. Our answer will be found but a short time." nigh unlimited power. within the covers of the Bible This intensification of the strug- It is little wonder, therefore, from which the consoling fact gle, expressing itself in the univer- that the world is growing acutely emerges that the days of man's sal fear of impending disaster, is anxious as to the movements and dominion are numbered. The an evidence that the end is in sight, motives of these extremist nations sands of time are running out and when the triumphant Saviour, the and their dictators. the end of sin's mad career is in victorious Michael, will come to The Spanish situation is one of sight. take over the reins of government utmost gravity. The possibilities For millenniums sin has waged as King of kings and Lord of are fearful. Pledges and promises its warfare among men and na- lords. are being freely broken, committee tions. The devil has deceived the action and control is disregarded, world and plunged it into darkness "Spirits of Devils" in Control faith is broken, while intrigue and and despair.