Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1915-12-15
PROF. JOHNSON GIVES
GOOD BIBLE LECTURE

lyn, N. 4 ., delivered lecture on ne
European War in the Light of Biblical
Prophecy" before a well-filled house
in the home of Mr.. and Mrs. G. r.
Gleason, Monday night. He quoted
scriptures to drive home every point.
He received the closest attention, and
seemed to carry conviction home to
the heads and hearts of the audience.
While using as texts Joel 1914 and
ii Thess. ~, 8, he quoted many other
verses illustrating the prophetic char
acter fthe war.
He opened his lecture with the re-
mark that to appreciate the European
War its settings must be understood.
This can be done, if we recognize our
place on the stream of time, which,
he said, according to the signs of the
times, is the end of the Gospel and
the beginning of the Millenial Age;
for the current events are the ones
connected with that period by Biblical
prophecy. Matt. 24:3, 14-51; Luke
17:22-37; 21:25-36; Mark 13:14-37;
Dan. 1871; Joel 3:9-14). Numerous
scriptures indicate that this period is
the Day Of Vengeance luke 21:22;
Isa. 61:2). Accordingly, the war with
the troubles following it are punish
ments for wickedness.
Owing to the great increase of
knowledge that the Lord is shedding
especially on the social conditions,
mankind, the world over but parti-
cularly in Christendom, has been div
ided into two classes i. e., the conser-
vatives, striving to maintain, and the
radicals, to change, the present order.
To avert such a change, Satan, the
ruler of the present order, after div
iding Europe into two rival alliances,
diverted the radicals from their pur-
pose and secured their support for
the present order by spreading the
thought that the nations of each ALI
ance were seeking one another's ma
tional destruction; and thus plunged
them into this war. A secondary
cause, the professor asserted, was
mans sin, which in these nations has
in part taken the form of commercial
rivalry and envy, and national expen-
sion and revenge. This evil condition
induce these nations to right amen
ably to Satanic manipulations who
thus sought to maintain his power
over them. The retributory character
of this war is thus seen to be a dir
ect result of mans sin. Joel 3:13,
Ia; IIThess. II, g..
The professor further asserted that
Joel 3:9-11 foretold the preparations
for this war. He said the Hebrew
word "goyim" here translated "heath-
en-" should have been rendered "na-
tons" and includes all European ma
tions, their dependencies and allies
and probably every nation on earth.
The training of immense armies and
the manufacture Of marvellous NUM-
tions of war are indicated. 1t i'm
plies the gathering of immense funds
to maintain such armies and secure
such munitions. This part Of the
prophecy has certainly been fulfilled.
According to Prof. Johnson the war
will be followed by worldwide revolu-
ton and anarchy, both of which will
be accompanied by terrible famines
and pestilences. Through these evils
Satan's empire will be overthrow,
and mans heart will be mellowed to-
ward righteousness. Then at the OPP
perfume time Christ and the church
will establish Gods kingdom and
through it bless all the families Of the
earth, including the dead who knew
not God in this life. (Gen. 22:18;
Gal. 3:8, Is, %; John 1892; / Tim.
2:4-6).
The ultimate outcome of these evils
would make it desirable to pass
through hundred such troubles, if
thereby the way be paved for such
glorious results, as the kingdom Of
God will bring to mankind; freeing
them from the curse drought upon
all by Adam and freed all by Christ's
DEATH, restoring the obedient to per-
lection, and giving the faithful eter-
nal life in worldwide paradise,
while Satan and all who like him af-
ter full opportunity still love sin will
be destroyed in the second death.