“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”
It applies to those in whom its predictions are fulfilled. To our mind its fulfillment is found in that system known as Modern Spiritualism more fully than in any other system or sect now before the world. Those intelligences who profess to be the spirits of the dead are devils (or demons) in that guise, building their profession on the old falsehood told by Satan, “Ye shall not surely die; . . . ye shall be as God.” Gen. 3:4, 5, R. V. Demonism, witchcraft, sorcery, Modern Spiritualism, paganism, saint worship, all are fruits of that old lie. That it has many sincere, conscientious believers we have no doubt. It is not against persons we write, but against the system, the error. We would save the people from its Satanic deceptions. The above predictions have been fulfilled in Spiritualism, and will be more and more as time passes. See pamphlet on “Modern Spiritualism,” published at this office. Price, 20 cents.
WILL you please explain Mark 9:44 and oblige J. E. M.
The verse reads, “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” The previous verse connects this expression with “into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched.”
1. The word “hell.”—This comes from the Greek word gehenna, defined by Greenfield’s standard Greek Lexicon as follows:—
“Gehenna, the valley of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem, once celebrated for the horrid worship of Moloch, and afterward polluted with every species of filth, as well as the carcasses of animals, and the dead bodies of malefactors, to consume which, in order to avert a pestilence which such a mass of corruption might occasion, constant fires were kept burning.”
Liddell & Scott’s Lexicon says, “which were consumed by fires kept constantly up.” Gehenna thus became a symbol of complete and absolute destruction of the wicked.
2. The “worm.”—This does not refer to a particular worm that never died, but that, as long as there were carcasses on which to feed, so long would there be worms to prey upon them. See Isa. 66:24, where it is shown that the worm feeds not on living men, but on their carcasses, the bodies of the dead; and also Isa. 51:8, where it is declared of the wicked, “The moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool.” The worm is therefore also a symbol of destruction.
3. The “fire.”—“That never shall be quenched” reads the common version in Mark 9:43. It should read as the Revised Version, “unquenchable fire,” that is, fire which can not be quenched till it has consumed what it feeds upon, even as the worms will not die till they consume all that they feed upon. The phrase comes from pur, fire, and asbestos, “unquenchable, inextinguishable, unquenched.”—Liddell & Scott. Homer in the Iliad, a Greek poem (XVI. 123, 294), speaks of the Trojans hurling “unquenchable fire” on the Grecian ships, though but one of them was burnt by it. Eusebius speaks of two martyrs, Cronian and Julian, who were consumed in unquenchable fire. If the reader will compare Jer. 17:27, where is found the strong term, “It [fire] shall not be quenched,” with 2 Chron. 36:19, 21, he will see that this fire “burnt the house of God” and “all the palaces thereof.” It then went
out; but it was not quenched till it did its work. So the fires of the last day will consume all of sin and all those who are then identified with sin. See Ps. 37:20; Mal. 4:1; Rev. 18:8. The words used in Mark 9:43, 44 mean absolute and utter destruction. But as from its ashes Jerusalem was rebuilt, so shall the new heavens and earth come forth by the word of God from the ashes of the old. 2 Peter 3:10-13; Rev. 21:1-7.
No. 248. “Every Creature”—Swine’s Flesh.
PLEASE explain 1 Tim. 4:4. Does “every creature” include the swine? Do the shambles of 1 Cor. 10:25 refer to flesh-market? Was swine’s flesh sold in the “shambles” spoken of? Is it a sin to eat swine’s flesh? F. O. S.
The texts above referred to read as follows:—
“For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving.”
“Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience’ sake.”
1. To our mind the expression “every creature” would be restricted to the limitations set by the context both before and after the verse in question. We are told of a class that were to arise and command others “to abstain from meats [foods], which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” The fifth verse uses the expression, “For it [the food] is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.” Now we have no record that God ever created swine’s flesh for food, nor have we any account of where it has been “sanctified,” or set apart by that word as food. In the light of the context it would seem just to limit “every creature” to those creatures which God created in the beginning for man’s food. See Gen. 1:29. At the most it could not go beyond that class of flesh food termed by the Bible “clean.” See Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14.
2. The term “shambles” means a place where all kinds of provision were kept for sale, and we presume in all probability that swine’s flesh and many other unwholesome foods were sold. But the “question for conscience’ sake” did not come over the kind of food, whether it was beef or pork, venison or mutton, barley cakes or wheat bread, but whether it had been offered to idols. That fact made no difference with the food, and should not be considered either in buying or eating, unless it was likely to cause stumbling on the part of some weaker brother. See 1 Cor. 10:27-29.
3. Whether it is a sin to eat swine’s flesh or not depends on circumstances. Had man in need of food no other, he would not be condemned for eating it. The Gospel for centuries has been carried to and accepted by many whose circumstances and environments made almost necessary the use of swine’s flesh in some form, and for that reason God removed the restrictions of positive law which obtained in the Levitical dispensation. But he also gave his word and Spirit to teach his people the good way. That word tells us that the swine is unclean. Lev. 11:7, 8. It associates its eating in the prophecy of latter times with the eating of other abominable things by a class of people who provoke God continually. See Isa. 65:2-5; 66:3, 4. The nature of the swine has not changed. It is still unclean, gross, corrupt, unwholesome. Now God’s rule is, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Cor. 10:31. Will it be to God’s glory to willingly, selfishly, determinedly, indulge in what his word has so emphatically condemned? And in this the best medical men stand with revelation. Is it sin? Can we eat it believing it will glorify God? Read Rom. 14:23.
OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW.
We can not agree with those who say that there is a radical difference between the Old Testament and the New in their ethical standpoints, that of the Old Testament being exterior, the New, interior; the Old Testament dealing with conduct, the New, with character; one prescribing rules, the other principles; the first regulating the life, the second breathing into the soul a new spirit. In these words truth is sacrificed to antithesis. Moses most emphatically declared that obedience to God's law required not only external morality, but also love. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind;” and the key texts of the poetic books of the Bible are, “Create in me a clean heart, . . . and renew a right spirit within me,” and, “Thou desirest truth in the inward parts.” . . . The Old Testament, as well as the New, continually puts religion into these three words, Love, Trust, and Obey.—Wilbur F. Crafts, in Must the Old Testament Go? pp. 79, 80.
Duties Wait: One by One
“One by one thy duties wait thee;
Let thy whole strength go to each;
Let no future dreams elate thee;
Learn thou first what these can teach.”
Drink the Cup with Him
“He hears thy faintly-sobbing breath;
He marks each quivering limb;
He drank a cup for thee alone—
Child, drink it now with Him.”
TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES.
By Ellen G. White
BY MRS. E. G. WHITE.
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.”
The class here mentioned by the apostle are not mere heathen. He describes them as “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” He says, “Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth; men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.” This is a delineation of the character that will be made manifest among those who profess godliness in the last days. But there will be another class. The apostle says: “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.”
Those who are deceivers are those who have turned away their ears from hearing the truth, and who have opened the door of their heart for the entrance of the sophistries of Satan. At first those who are finally deceived do not believe what they assume themselves; but as they misinterpret the Scriptures, as they claim to have received new light, as they enter into by-paths, as they repeat their own falsehoods, they come to look upon their theories as matters of importance. They deceive others, presenting the arguments that were prepared by the synagogue of Satan. Every repetition of their errors confirms them in their false theories. They are inspired by the Satanic agencies to present falsehoods before others, and finally come to believe a lie, deceiving and being deceived.
But Paul enjoined Timothy, saying: “Continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils [Spiritualism]; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”
“But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
God has furnished every one with a full armor, but we are under the necessity of putting it on.
“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another.”
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless.”
“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”
As a people are we sufficiently considering this warning? If we neglect to take heed, if we regard the warning with indifference, if we allow earthly, temporal things to take our attention, and we lose our realization of the essential character of prayer, we shall be found among those who are not accounted worthy to escape. The righteousness of Christ should be our first consideration. The service of God should be our first business. Christ has said, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” How many admit that the commandments are of God, and yet neglect to fully obey them! John leaves no doubt as to what commandments we are required to obey. Years after the resurrection of Christ, he writes:—
“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected; hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.”
No change in the law has been made from the beginning. It is the same as it was before the fall of Satan; and in the heavenly courts the angelic family obey the law of God as they did when the foundation of the earth was laid, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.
CLASHING VOICES CONCERNING THE COMING OF THE LORD.
By W. N. Glenn
BY W. N. GLENN.
At the weekly meeting of the Methodist Preachers' Association, held in San Francisco on the 5th ult., the subject under discussion was the “Second Coming of Christ.” Rev. R. E. Wenk, who presented the paper which led the discussion, is reported to have said:—
The fact being settled that he will come, we are brought at once to the oft-repeated question, When will he come? There is great danger in prophetic interpretation. Prophecy is a most inviting field of study, but no man dares be dogmatic in advance, as to the meaning of prophecy. Christ did come as king; he did sit upon the throne of David, and yet not according to expectation. Scripture outlines, however, three distinct conditions that must be accomplished; there is no mistaking them, and until they have been fulfilled I do not believe that we can hope for the reappearance of the Lord on earth.
Although the paper was entitled “The Scriptural View of Christ's Second Coming,” it would be a very difficult task to prove that “Christ did come as a king,” and that “he did sit upon the throne of David.” Any assumed proof of such an assertion must come far short, in face of the fact that he positively declined to be made a king (John 6:15), declared that his kingdom was not of this world (chapter 18:36), and “went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return” (Luke 19:12). The taking of the throne of David is not a temporary arrangement, for “the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David; and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Luke 1:32, 33.
But the utter ignoring of the Scripture testimony on the subject was left to Rev. F. D. Bovard, who is reported as follows:—
I believe that we should no longer preach concerning the spectacular glories of the coming of the Lord, which, in my opinion, has been done far too often and unwisely. I do not believe in holding to the old idea of the literal appearance of Christ, coming upon a great white throne, signaled by the blowing of trumpets and the heralding of angels, and at which time all the dead shall rise from their graves. The kingdom of God has come; it is here now; the Gospel has been preached to the heathen, and at this very time we are experiencing the millennium. No, the doctrine is an erroneous one, and7when I enter heaven I expect to go in just as though I were taking off my coat to enter another room from this one.
In the record of our Lord's ascension into heaven, as told in the first chapter of Acts, it is said that “while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” And this is in direct harmony with what Christ himself had told them in regard to his coming. After giving them certain signs that should precede that event, he added, “And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven; and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matt. 24:30. “As the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” Verse 27. Again, if “the kingdom of God has come,” if “it is here now,” if “at this very time we are experiencing the millennium,” what means the wonderful increase of crime of every grade? what means the annual increase in the consumption of intoxicating liquors, of tobacco, opium, morphine, and other death-dealing poisons? What means the growing skepticism in regard to the plain word of God, both in and out of the churches?
Rev. W. S. Matthews, however, decidedly dissented from the unscriptural views of Mr. Bovard. He “responded very warmly,” says the report, which quotes him, in part, as follows:—
I can not agree with my esteemed brother. The teaching of the Scripture is explicit upon the point to which he takes exception. The old and long-revered doctrine, so dear to the Christian, has lost none of its truth or force. The trumpets shall sound; the dead shall be raised from their graves. Christ will come in person and in glory, and, with other Christians, I shall see him, whether my brother on the right does or not.
Thus we see the divided opinion of ministers of the same denomination in regard to this very important subject,—a subject concerning which our Saviour warns us to “take heed that no man deceive you,” concerning which he says “many false prophets shall arise, and shall deceive many.” Where the testimony of ministers is so at variance, is it not clear that some are deceived? Being teachers in Israel, is it not clear that the deceived ones are deceiving others? “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1.
But how shall the common people know the truth when the preachers so disagree?—The Lord has given us an infallible rule: “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isa. 8:20. And Paul commended the Bereans because, when he preached to them, they “searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11. In a matter of so great importance that the Lord gives repeated warnings lest we be deceived in regard to it, it is surely worth while for every one to know for himself what the Spirit of God teaches.
MARANATHA
By J. R. Macduff
CHRIST is coming; let Creation
Bid her groans and travail cease.
Let the glorious proclamation
Hope restore and faith increase.
Maranatha!
Come, thou blessed Prince of Peace.
Earth can now but tell the story
Of thy bitter cross and pain;
She shall yet behold thy glory,
When thou comest back to reign.
Maranatha!
Let each heart repeat the strain.
Long thy exiles have been pining,
Far from rest, and home, and thee;
But, in heavenly vesture shining,
Soon they shall thy glory see.
Maranatha!
Haste the joyous jubilee.
With that “blessed hope” before us,
Let no harp remain unstrung;
Let the mighty advent chorus
Onward roll from tongue to tongue.
Maranatha!
Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come.
—J. R. Macduff.
THOUGHTS FROM THE SEPTUAGINT.
By F. D. Starr
BY F. D. STARR.
In Exodus 24 is an account of the calling of Moses, Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel, into the mount to meet with the Lord. The statement is made in the Authorized Version that they saw the God of Israel. This text is thought by many to be at least an apparent contradiction to such passages as John 1:18. That it is a mistake to consider this a contradiction is made more evident by reading the Septuagint. The rendering of Ex. 24:10 in that version is, “And they saw the place where the God of Israel stood.” It would be entirely possible for them to see the place where the Lord stood, and not see his person, as indicated by this rendering.
Incorruptible Wood.
In the directions given to build the tabernacle, as found in Exodus 25, the kind of wood is designated that should be used in the construction of this edifice. In the Authorized Version it is called “shittim wood.” The scientific name given for this wood is acacia. The name given in the Septuagint indicates very clearly the character of this wood. The meaning of the word here used, asēpton (ἀσήπτον), is incorruptible; thus we find the rendering of this passage, “Thou shalt make the ark of the testimony of incorruptible wood.”
Urim and Thummim.
There seems to be a very important truth connected with the matter of the Urim and Thummim, the precious stones that were put in the breastplate of judgment that should be upon Aaron’s heart when he should go in before the Lord. Ex. 28:30. The words used in the Septuagint in this case are dēlōsin and alētheian (δήλωσιν and ἀλήθειαν), the meaning of which is the manifestation and the truth. Concerning the first word, “manifestation,” we notice that the same is found in Joshua 4:7. The word there rendered “answer” is the same word, “manifestation,” used in the text in question. When the children should ask their fathers concerning the stones that were to be erected as a monument of the passage of the Jordan, their fathers were instructed to answer them, or to explain to them, that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord when it passed over Jordan. This same word rendered “manifestation” is also found in 2 Chron. 6:27, and is there rendered “taught.” The verse reads as follows:—
“Then hear thou from heaven, and forgive the sin of thy servants, and of thy people Israel, when thou hast taught them the good way, wherein they should walk; and send rain upon thy land, which thou hast given unto thy people for an inheritance.”
The meaning of the word, wherever found, is that of manifestation, explanation, or teaching. The two stones upon the breastplate of judgment were properly termed “the manifestation and the truth.” These were to be worn by the high priest, who stood to represent the people. The reader can scarcely refrain from thinking of Him who is now our great High Priest, and who, when he was here, said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” and of whom it was said, “The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Under the former dispensation God saw fit to deliver his law on tables of stone to his people through Moses. Moses, however never occupied the position of priest; that fell to Aaron. To him and his successors the Lord was to give explanation and manifestation of his truth. So when Christ appeared, through him was the antitypical Urim and Thummim manifested before the people. He was the manifestation of the truth, or, in other words, grace and truth came through him. The subject of the Urim and Thummim is indeed worthy of more extended investigation and study. It is evident that there is a very important typical signification in this, to which allusion must be made in such passages as John 1:17.
The Sin Offering.
In Ex. 29:14 and in many other passages reference is made to the sin offering. Concerning the bullock that was burned without the camp it is said, “It is a sin offering.” The Septuagint simply says, “It is sin.” While the ordinary rendering is correct, yet the significance of the offering may be more forcibly impressed upon our minds when we stop to consider that in type that offering became sin. We somehow have a vague idea of an offering being presented as a sacrifice for sin, without attaching the idea of sin itself to the offering, looking upon the offering as being merely a medium through which a reconciliation for sin was brought about. With the thought that the offering itself was called sin, we can perhaps more readily see the force of such passages as 2 Cor. 5:21: “For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Just as Christ not only took upon himself the sins of men, but also was made sin for us, just so the beasts in the typical sacrifices became sin, as stated in the Greek Version.
“The Banquet of Wine.”
In the account of the sad lapse of the children of Israel into idolatry, while Moses was absent in the mountain to receive the law of God, as stated in Exodus 32, it is said that when Moses and Joshua were coming down from the mountain, they heard the noise of the people. Joshua said to Moses, “There is a noise of war in the camp.” Moses replied, “It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome; but the noise of them that sing do I hear.” Verse 18. The rendering of the Septuagint is, “And he said, It is not the voice of them that begin the battle, nor the voice of them that begin the cry of defeat, but the voice of them that begin the banquet of wine do I hear.” Their song was the song of drunken revelry. It would seem from this that intemperance had its share of the responsibility in this shameful departure from God, as it has had in nearly every instance of apostasy from him. In fact, this must have been the case, for intemperance is the cause that leads to carnal gratifications, such as the shameful demonstration recorded in this chapter. Not only in this case, but in many others, will the judgment reveal that the indulgence of appetite has led to the perpetrating of atrocious crimes in instances where we have not yet so associated it.
The Tabernacle of Moses.
As stated in Ex. 33:7, Moses took the tabernacle and pitched it without the camp, and called it the “tabernacle of the congregation,” that the penitent ones might go to that place to seek the Lord. There has been some query8 (760)as to what tabernacle this was. The Greek version reads thus: “And Moses took his tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, and it was called the tabernacle of the testimony. And it came to pass that every one who sought the Lord went forth to the tabernacle which was without the camp.” It is very reasonable to suppose that Moses had quite an ample tent, or tabernacle, of his own, and his interest in the spiritual welfare of the people was so great that he took his own tent and pitched it far off from the camp, for the benefit of the penitent ones of the children of Israel who desired to be restored to the Lord’s favor. This is only another illustration of his readiness to forego all personal convenience, earthly comfort, and private enjoyment for the public good and personal benefit of his brethren.
Face to Face.
In Ex. 33:11 it is stated that “the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.” This was of course while the Lord was surrounded with a pillar of cloud, in which he descended. The pillar of cloud could be seen by the people and by Moses, just as the place where the Lord stood was seen by a delegation of representatives upon the mount. Thus the Lord spake to Moses face to face, or before him, though it is not possible that his face was seen, for it is directly stated in verse 20 that no man could see his face and live. The point we wish to notice in this case is that the term here rendered “face to face” is enōpios enōpiō (ἐνώπιος ἐνωπίῳ). This is the same word as that found in Rev. 13:12, where it is stated of the two-horned beast that he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before (enōpion) him—in his presence, before his face. In the same manner that individuals stand face to face with each other in communication, so these two beasts are to stand face to face to each other, and doubtless it will be in this case as stated in Prov. 27:17, “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” The influence and encouragement received by the two-horned beast from the ten-horned beast, before whose face the two-horned beast operates, will be an important factor in the closing drama of national events.
Hungering and Thirsting.
By H. A. P.
BY H. A. P.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6. In this gracious utterance of our Saviour we discover the secret of being received by God.
The world to-day is seeking righteousness through a form of godliness and not by hungering and thirsting for it; hence the reason that they do not find it. All who would be filled with righteousness must seek for it in God’s appointed way, for in no other way can it be obtained. The careless and indifferent, coming to God in a half-hearted manner, receives not this precious gift.
The weary traveler, unable to find water to alleviate his thirst as he journeys through the desert, searches eagerly for the oasis, and on seeing it at a distance, how earnestly he urges onward his weakened pace! How glad he feels, on reaching the fertile spot, and how thankful to drink and be refreshed, thus saving his life!
In precisely the same manner are we to come to Jesus. We must realize that we are hungering and thirsting for the water of life, which is found in Christ, and that unless we receive this water we shall surely die. Then is received the blessed promise, “For they shall be filled.” Our thirst is so completely satisfied that we shall never thirst again for the waters of earthly cisterns. John 4:14. Jesus is ever willing to give this water of life to all who come to him hungering and thirsting. May we all drink deeply of the wells of salvation.
