Earlier text: The Powers That Gather for ArmageddonThe Power of the Home
By Mrs. E. G. White
The Example of Christ in the Home Life — Proper Influences in the Home Would Save Many a Wreck — The Home as a Social Power
THE restoration and uplifting of humanity begins in the home. The work of parents underlies every other. Society is composed of families, and is what the heads of families make it. Out of the heart are "the issues of life"; and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation, is the household. The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences. The importance and the opportunities of the home life are illustrated in the life of Jesus. He who came from heaven to be our example and teacher spent thirty years as a member of the household at Nazareth. Concerning these years the Bible record is very brief. No mighty miracles attracted the attention of the multitude. No eager throngs followed His steps or listened to His words. Yet during all these years, He was fulfilling His divine mission. He lived as one of us, sharing the home life, submitting to its discipline, performing its duties, bearing its burdens. In the sheltering care of a humble home, participating in the experiences of our common lot, He "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man." Luke 2:52. During all these secluded years, His life flowed out in currents of sympathy and helpfulness. His unselfishness and patient endurance, His courage and faithfulness, His resistance of temptation, His unfailing peace and quiet joyfulness, were a constant inspiration. He brought a pure, sweet atmosphere into the home, and His life was as leaven working amidst the elements of society. None said that He had wrought a miracle: yet virtue—the healing, life-giving power of love—went out from Him to the tempted, the sick, and the disheartened. In an unobtrusive way, from His very childhood, He ministered to others; and because of this, when He began His public ministry, many heard Him gladly. A LESSON AND ENCOURAGEMENT
The Saviour's early years are more than an example to the youth. They are a lesson, and should be an encouragement, to every parent. The circle of family and neighborhood duties is the very first field of effort for those who would work for the uplifting of their fellow men. There is no more important field of effort than that committed to the founders and guardians of the home. No work entrusted to human beings involves greater or more far-reaching results than does the work of fathers and mothers. DETERMINING THE FUTURE OF SOCIETY
It is by the youth and children of to-day that the future of society is to be determined, and what these youth and children shall be depends upon the home. To the lack of right home training may be traced the larger share of the disease and misery and crime that curse humanity. If the home life were pure and true, if the children who go forth from its care were prepared to meet life's responsibilities and dangers, what a change would be seen in the world! Great efforts are put forth, time and money and labor almost without limit are expended, in enterprises and institutions for reforming the victims of evil habits. And even these efforts are inadequate to meet the great necessity. Yet how small is the result! How few are permanently reclaimed! Multitudes long for a better life, but they lack courage and resolution to break away from the power of habit. They shrink from the effort and struggle and sacrifice demanded, and their lives are wrecked and ruined. Thus even men of the brightest minds, men of high aspirations and noble powers, otherwise fitted by nature and education to fill positions of trust and responsibility, are degraded and lost for this life and for the life to come. SHATTERED CONSTITUTIONS AND WAVERING WILLS
For those who do reform, how bitter the struggle to regain their manhood! And all their life long, in a shattered constitution, a wavering will, impaired intellect, and weakened soul power, many reap the harvest of their evil sowing. How much more might be accomplished if the evil were dealt with at the beginning! This work rests, in a great degree, with parents. In the efforts put forth to stay the progress of intemperance and of other evils that are eating like a cancer in the social body, if more attention were given to teaching parents how to form the habits and character of their children, a hundredfold more good would result. Habit, which is so terrible a force for evil, it is in their power to make a force for good. They have to do with the stream at its source, and it rests with them to direct it rightly. FOUNDATION FOR HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
Parents may lay for their children the foundation for a healthy, happy life. They may send them forth from their homes with moral stamina to resist temptation, and courage and strength to wrestle successfully with life's problems. They may inspire in them the purpose and develop the power to make their lives an honor to God and a blessing to the world. They may make straight paths for their feet, through sunshine and shadow, to the glorious heights above. There are many others to whom we might make our homes a blessing. Our social entertainments should not be governed by the dictates of worldly custom, but by the spirit of Christ and the teaching of His word. The Israelites, in all their festivities, included the poor, the stranger, and the Levite, who was both the assistant of the priest in the sanctuary, and a religious teacher and missionary. These were regarded as the guests of the people, to share their hospitality on all occasions of social and religious rejoicing, and to be tenderly cared for in sickness or in need. It is such as these whom we should make welcome to our homes. These are guests whom it will lay on you no great burden to receive. You will not need to provide for them elaborate or expensive entertainment. You will need to make no effort at display. The warmth of a genial welcome, a place at your fireside, a seat at your home table, the privilege of sharing the blessing of the hour of prayer, would to many of these be like a glimpse of heaven. Our sympathies are to overflow the boundaries of self and the enclosure of family walls. There are precious opportunities for those who will make their homes a blessing to others. Social influence is a wonderful power. We can use it if we will as a means of helping those about us. Our homes should be a place of refuge for the tempted youth. Many there are who stand at the parting of the ways. Every influence, every impression, is determining the choice that shapes their destiny both here and hereafter. Evil invites them. Its resorts are made bright and attractive. They have a welcome for every comer. All about us are youth who have no home, and many whose homes have no helpful, uplifting power, and the youth drift into evil. They are going down to ruin within the very shadow of our own doors. These youth need a hand stretched out to them in sympathy. Kind words simply spoken, little attentions simply bestowed, will sweep away the clouds of temptation which gather over the soul. The true expression of heaven-born sympathy has power to open the door of hearts that need the fragrance of Christlike words, and the simple, delicate touch of the spirit of Christ's love. If we would show an interest in the youth, invite679 them to our homes, and surround them with cheering, helpful influences, there are many who would gladly turn their steps into the upward path. Our sphere of influence may seem narrow, our ability small, our opportunities few, our acquirements limited; yet wonderful possibilities are ours through a faithful use of the opportunities of our own homes. If we will open our hearts and homes to the divine principles of life, we shall become channels for currents of lifegiving power. From our homes will flow streams of healing, bringing life, and beauty, and fruitfulness where now are barrenness and dearth. Breaking Free From Harmful Habits
Multitudes long for a better life, but they lack courage and resolution to break away from the power of habit. They shrink from the effort and struggle and sacrifice demanded, and their lives are wrecked and ruined. Thus even men of the brightest minds, men of high aspirations and noble powers, otherwise fitted by nature and education to fill positions of trust and responsibility, are degraded and lost for this life and for the life to come. What Would Jesus Do?
By Charles Thompson
His Definite Example in a Certain Thing — Are We Following Him in That Particular?
TO hear Christ and follow His steps is the sum of Christian duty. Matt. 17: 5; 1 Peter 2: 21. Nothing more is required of man, nothing less will answer the standard of the Judgment. There is no Christian duty more applicable to this rule than the observance of the Sabbath. There is no divine requirement that brings one more conspicuously before the eyes of man than does the keeping of the divine rest day. God has ordained it to be so; for He says, "Moreover also I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them." Eze. 20: 12. Therefore we ask, If Jesus were upon earth to-day, which day of the week would He observe as the Sabbath? We have no source of information other than the inspired Word, the Holy Scriptures. "They are they which testify of Me," says Christ. John 5: 39. In John 15: 10 we read of Jesus when upon earth that He kept His Father's commandments. Through the inspired apostle, we have a definition of commandment keeping. He says, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2: 10. If to "offend in one point" is to be guilty of commandment breaking, to be a commandment keeper one must be observant of every "point." It will be noticed by the reader that James recognized a "whole" or complete law, composed of different "points." The existence of the "whole" depends upon the perpetuity of every "point"; for if to violate one is to be guilty of all, to be excused from one would be to be excused from all, or to abrogate one would abrogate all. The law James is thus defining is that law which said, "Do not commit adultery," and "Do not kill." Verse 11. This shows conclusively that he is talking of the Ten Commandments, and this "whole" law is composed of ten distinct "points." Ex. 20: 1-17. "IT IS LAWFUL TO DO WELL"
Sin is defined to be "the transgression of the law." 1 John 3: 4. The Scriptures affirm positively that Jesus was without sin. Heb. 4: 15. Therefore He kept every "point" of the Ten Commandment law, and was a Sabbath keeper. On one occasion, He healed a man with a withered hand, on the Sabbath day, and the Pharisees accused Him of breaking the Sabbath. He answered, "It is lawful to do well on the Sabbath days." Matt. 12: 12. Thus His own words prove that He kept the Sabbath according to the law. The only law for Sabbath keeping is the fourth precept of the Ten Commandments. Therefore it is clear that when Jesus was upon earth, He kept the seventh-day Sabbath, and taught others to keep it by "following His steps." YESTERDAY, TO-DAY, AND FOREVER
The same inspired Word that teaches the above, teaches also that Jesus is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever." Heb. 13: 8. By "yesterday" is meant the past, "to-day" the present, and "forever" all the future. In the words of the prophet Malachi, He changes not. Mal. 3: 6. Therefore it is clear as sunlight that if Jesus were upon earth to-day, He would observe the seventh-day Sabbath, according to the commandments; and if we would "follow His steps," our duty is clear. Dear reader, let us heed the instruction and enjoy the blessing of which the prophet says: "If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on My holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." "Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil." Isa. 58: 13, 14; 56: 2. A WORD TO OUR READERS
By Editor
We send no papers from this office to individuals without pay in advance. When persons receive copies without ordering them, they are sent by other parties, and we can give no information in regard to them. Persons thus receiving copies of the SIGNS are not indebted to the office, and will not be called upon to pay for them. Please read the papers you may receive, and hand them to your friends to read. The SIGNS wrapper bears date of last issue due on your subscription. Unless renewed in advance, paper stops with expiration date. If herewith is an order-blank, you will know you have overlooked sending renewal. You will not wish to miss a single issue. Back numbers often can not be furnished. Our authority for the doctrines we teach is the Bible. Quotations are usually from the King James Version or the American Standard Revised. PROPHECY AND ITS BLESSINGS
By A. G. Daniells
A Large Part of the Bible Prophetic — The Prophecies Light Up the Future — They May Be Understood — Giving Heed to Them Saves Blunders and Final Destruction PROPHECY is defined to be "a declaration of something to come; a foretelling; a prediction; especially, an inspired foretelling." Those who have given the Bible anything more than a passing notice are well aware that it abounds with prophecy; that prophetic declarations are to be found in almost every book from Genesis to Revelation. Indeed, some books contain but little else than prophecy. The books of Daniel and the Revelation are of this class. In these are to be found long chains of prophecy, which foretell many of the principal events of the world's history from six hundred years before Christ to the end of the world. Such lines of prophecy, showing, as they do, the position of the human family in the stream of time, must be of the greatest importance to all. We may not see the meaning and value of the inspired prophecies, but that does not affect the question. The fact that the blind do not see the sun, in no way affects that great body, which is of so much value. Those who are blind sustain the loss. So it is with those who pay no attention to the prophecies of the Bible. BOTH PROPHETS AND ANGELS STUDIED THEM
The apostle Peter tells us not only that the prophets "inquired and searched diligently" for an understanding of the prophecies, but that even "the angels desire to look into" them. 1 Peter 1: 10-12. When the Saviour was on earth, He called the attention of His disciples to events then transpiring in fulfilment of prophecy, and declared that "many prophets and kings" had "desired to see" them. Luke 10: 24. It is certain, from these statements, that angels, prophets, and kings were deeply interested in prophecy — in the Lord's declarations of things to come. But we are told by many, even ministers of the gospel, that we can not understand the prophecies, and that therefore it is of but little use to notice them. This is not the opinion of a few only; it is wide-spread. To say that the prophecies can not be understood is to charge God with trifling with men. It represents Him as having given the human family a book, the most of which would be of no possible use to them, simply because He put it in a form impossible to be understood. Why were all of the prophecies written? What are they for? Have they any meaning? If it be true that we can not understand them, then they only occupy space, have no meaning, and are of no value. This we can not believe to be the case. CAN A REVELATION BE A HIDDEN MYSTERY?
It is admitted, by all believers at least, that the Bible is a revelation from God to man. But what shall we say of a pretended revelation that is so dark and hidden that its meaning can not be understood? Webster says of revelation: "Specifically, to communicate that which could not be known or discovered without divine or supernatural instruction." "To reveal is literally to lift the veil, and thus make known what was previously concealed." The Bible, being a revelation of many things of both the past and the future, must "lift the veil," and make known to man that which could not be discovered without divine instruction. And this is just the object for which the prophecies were given. The Lord assigns the following reason why an outline of the world's history was given to Nebuchadnezzar in his dream of the great image: "As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter; and He that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass." "But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days." Dan. 2: 29, 28. This scripture states most emphatically that the object of this line of prophecy was to "lift the veil" and disclose the future. How wrong, then, must be the teaching that prophecy can not be understood, and therefore is of no value! Moses says, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law." Deut. 29: 29. If revelations and prophecies "belong" to us, we certainly are not on forbidden ground when we are seeking and teaching their meaning. On the contrary, we are but doing our duty, and using them as the Lord designs we should. "HE REVEALETH HIS SECRET"
In Amos 3: 7 the Lord says, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets." When inviting the sinner to come to Him and live, the Lord "lifts the veil," and makes known to him what the future will be to the righteous. Before He brings His judgments on the wicked, He reveals His purpose through His servants the prophets. The dealing of God with past generations illustrates this important truth. The Flood was stayed until the people had been warned one hundred and twenty years. Then the impenitent perished in their sins. The Bible declares that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. 2 Peter 2: 5. What did he preach? — The prophecy of a coming flood. But the people would not believe him. They no doubt charged him with foolishness in saying so much about that prophecy. And "as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." THE LIGHT THAT SHINES INTO THE FUTURE
The apostle Peter highly commends the prophecies, and admonishes all to take heed to them. He says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1: 19. In the preceding verses, he has endeavored to give unmistakable evidence that Jesus was the Son of God. He points to the scene on the mount of transfiguration, and says that he was an eye-witness of Christ's glory, and that he heard the voice of God which came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then he says, "We have also [in addition to the above evidence] a more sure word of prophecy." He points to the prophecies of the Old Testament that reveal the time, place, manner, etc., of the first advent of Christ, and says these, as fulfilled by Him, are "more sure," bear stronger testimony, than any other evidence. He then adds, "Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in your hearts." Every one knows the object of a light in a dark place. It is to show us where we are and what to do. So the prophecies are to show us where we are in the world's history, and the work we should do to meet the mind of God.682 Many people have the impression that the book of Revelation is so mysterious and dark that no one can understand it. This is a strange position to take with reference to this book. It is called "the Revelation"—literally, "the veil lifted," and that made known which previously was concealed. The introduction of this wonderful book runs thus: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand." Rev. 1: 1-3. The Father "lifted the veil," and made known to His Son the contents of this book. Christ gave the same to His angel, who gave it to John, and he wrote it out for the world. Then a gracious blessing is promised to those who read and hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written therein. From these plain statements, who can say that the book is only a mystery, and that the study of it is useless? From these considerations, it is evident that those who set the prophecies of the Bible aside suffer great loss. The Lord has been pleased to communicate His purposes to the human family, that they might understand His ways. Referring to Daniel's prophecies, the Saviour says, "Whoso readeth, let him understand." Matt. 24: 15. After all that God has done to "lift the veil" of futurity, after He has told us we can understand, and after He has pronounced a blessing on all who read and keep the prophecies, it is surely a great wrong to claim that they can not be understood, and that those who endeavor to explain them are on forbidden ground. Concerning the book of Revelation, the Lord said to John, "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand." Rev. 22: 10. SUBSCRIPTION RATES
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By I. H. E.
The Relation of the Christian to the Law of God
WHEN the apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid," he suggested the true condition in which God would have His people ever live. It has not been the purpose of God that His chosen people should continue to sin. He has prepared full and complete deliverance for them. This salvation deals not with the past alone, but includes the present as well; for were we to have only forgiveness of sins already committed, and no help to keep from sinning in the present, how could the scripture be true which reads, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace"? Rom. 6: 14. IS THERE LIBERTY TO DISOBEY?
The gospel provides for the forgiveness of sins that are past. The comprehension of the love of God in receiving a poor, lost soul, and washing away his sins, is the first step in the Christian life. But from the day of real conversion, through all the coming days and years, what is the relation of the new-born soul to the law of God? Some tell us that when pardon is found, when the new birth takes place, there is liberty to disobey the law of God; that being under grace, we can violate the law of Jehovah without sinning. Let us look at this for a moment, and see whether it is true or false. This is a question that is vital to every professed Christian. If man were to answer it, there would be such a variety of definitions as would confuse the mind. We must therefore get our definition from the word of God. There we shall find statements dealing directly with the question. "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3: 4. What law is here meant? — None other than the Ten Commandments. In Rom. 2: 13 we read, "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." And again, in Rom. 5: 13, "Sin is not imputed when there is no law." It is very plain, from these texts, that sin is disobedience to the law of God. Now, does the professed Christian, the converted man, sin when he disobeys? "WHAT THEN? SHALL WE SIN?"
One of the commandments reads, "Thou shalt not kill." Does a Christian sin when he kills? After a man has been born into the kingdom of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, does he sin when he steals, blasphemes, or commits adultery? — He does not if being under grace frees one from obedience, and grants him the license to sin. If the Christian as well as the sinner is amenable to the law of God, all is clear. But if only the sinner must obey, and the professed Christian may disobey, what does the Bible mean when it says, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid"? Surely it can not mean that the Christian may murder, kill, steal, lie, blaspheme, and break the Sabbath. He has less right to do this than the sinner. If any must obey, it is God's adopted family. Then why are we told that the Christian "is not under the law"? — Because he keeps the law of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He refuses to disobey. Having been cleansed from sin through the blood of the covenant, he henceforth refuses to serve sin, but brings his life into harmony with God through the Holy Spirit. Should he disobey, he at once comes to the Saviour, confessing his sin, and is cleansed through faith in the blood of Christ. Now if any one of the commands of God is binding on Christians, the whole ten are binding. What Christian can break or disobey any of the ten precepts with impunity? Because Christ has forgiven a man for disobeying His law, and has imputed to him righteousness that he has never earned, should the cleansed sinner have the privilege of doing, as a Christian, what caused him to be reckoned a sinner before his conversion? — Surely not. The Christian must and will obey the law of God. The Christian delights in the law. It shows him the right way, and continually keeps before his mind the need of Christ. It really drives him to Christ for mercy. Every Christian, therefore, is obedient to the law of God, and nothing grieves him more than to know that he has disobeyed his Father's will. In speaking of this law, Paul says: "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. . . . For I delight in the law of God after the inward man." Rom. 7: 12, 22. It is through the ministry of the Holy Spirit that man may live the life of Christ, and by faith receive the imputation of Christ's righteousness. Thus he lives without condemnation, being obedient to his heavenly Father's will. HAS PROMISED TO COME AGAIN
By W. A. S.
The Blessed Hope of All the Ages — To Be Heralded to the Ends of the Earth
THE assurances that Christ will come again are among the "exceeding great and precious promises." "Unto you . . . which believe," says the apostle, "He is precious." That makes the promise that He soon is coming precious indeed to every heart that loves Him. It is a glorious doctrine of Scripture — this doctrine of the soon coming of Christ. But it is more than a doctrine; it is a stupendous fact. The Lord Jesus is coming, and His word shows that He is "even at the door." The fact of it comes with a challenge to every soul to be ready and to watch. What things the prophets have written by the Spirit concerning the first and the second coming of Christ — of "the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow" — they themselves studied earnestly, and even the angels have desired "to look into" these things and watch the fulfilling Word. 1 Peter 1: 12. Therefore the apostle Peter appeals to us to give heed also: "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." Verse 13.
Now, more than ever before in the history of man, should683 earnest heed be given to the promises of the coming of the Saviour in glory. The promises never grow old. The nearer the event, the more precious they are, the more comfortingly come the words of assurance as we read them over and over. Each one is a message sent anew to us by One who loves us and desires us to be ready when He comes. RUNS THROUGH ALL THE SCRIPTURES
How this theme of Christ's second coming runs through all Holy Scriptures was testified by the apostle Peter in his sermon and exhortation following the day of Pentecost. "By the mouth of all His prophets" the Lord had foretold "that Christ should suffer"; and the apostle pointed out that every word concerning the first advent had been "so fulfilled." Just so, he declared, the promises regarding the second coming would be fulfilled: "and He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3: 20, 21. As iniquity first began to abound in the world, God sent the message and the promise that Christ's second coming would end the reign of sin: "And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all." Jude 14, 15. The promise of Christ's coming was the "blessed hope" in the patriarchal age. In Job's dark hour of trial, his heart clung to the promise, and he was kept from despair. "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: . . . whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another." Job 19: 25, 27. The psalmist sang of it: "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about Him." Ps. 50: 3. And the prophets of later times were unceasingly moved upon to talk of the glory of that coming, of events preceding it, and of the preparation for it. "I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. . . . Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him." Isa. 62: 6, 11. The promise of His coming is to be heralded to the ends of the earth; for it is good tidings of great joy to every one who will receive it. On that last night with His disciples, before the crucifixion, when His heart was sorrowful, even unto death, as the burden of all our iniquities was about to be laid upon Him, Christ's love for His dear ones made precious to Him the thought of His second coming to gather them home at last, safe beyond all sin and trouble, and He said: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14: 1-3. There the heart finds rest. O the preciousness of the promise, "I will come again"! And "for you," for me, He is coming. "I am coming for you," He says. "Yes, Lord," we reply; "we will wait, and watch, and be ready, by Thy grace." SYSTEMATIC BIBLE STUDY
By Editor
OUR reading for the rest of the year is in the Old Testament. There are many people who have the mistaken notion that the Old Testament Scriptures are not so important as the New. But we have Christ's own statement that man is to live by "every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matt. 4:4), and the Master quoted this passage from the Old Testament Scripture. God, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, did not give the world meaningless phrases in the old dispensation that would be worthless in the new. Everything He has caused to be written is "for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." SCHEDULE FOR WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 7
It is estimated that the wheat crop of Kansas would load a freight train 1,460 miles long. This is almost double the best previous crop in the history of the state. How good it is, when warring men are destroying crops and property in the Old World, that we will have not only a bountiful supply for ourselves in this favored land, but also a surplus with which to help keep men and women from starving in the lands over the sea!