INTERNATIONAL HERS
¥ Tuna-clippers and purse-seiners have been converted from peace-time fishing pursuits to the war-
(me business of patrolling the Pacific. They are part of the so-called Splinter Fleet” of wooden
ships of various kinds assisting in the protection of the shores of the Western Hemisphere, required
by “the iragedy of wnpreparedness” of which Mr. Cottrell speaks.
danas ,CENT events in history have
emphasized the tragedy of unprepared-
ness. Had the boys 1m blue been
watching and vigilant, how altogether
different the record of Pearl Harbor might
have been! But there stands the amazing
unvarnished statement of Secretary Knox
that the armed forces of America “were not
on the alert.” We are dazed by the seem-
ingly incredible; yet in certain other mat-
ters the careless, indifferent attitude of
many 1s even more astonishing.
One of these days Jesus Christ will return
to earth in glorious majesty and power; and
to large numbers His coming will be an
overwhelming surprise. In this modern-
istic, materialistic age, multitudes repudi-
ate belief in a divine revelation; they
ridicule any thought of the supernatural,
while at the same time the vast majority of
these have never investigated the evidence.
But there it stands, unshaken and unim-
peachable. The Bible is true. Jesus Christ
was just as real a personage as George
Washmgton or Abraham Lincoln. He
actually died, was buried, and within three
days arose from the dead. Many an honest
infidel and atheist who has closely examined
the resurrection narrative with the inten-
tion of attacking and exploding it, has been
forced to surrender to the convincing evi-
dence. Study 1t; investigate thoroughly,
and vou too will be satisfied of its verity
and truth.
TWELVE
Page
By Hoy F.
AN HOURV
Cottrell
Approximately three hundred prophecies
of the Old Testament foretold the events of
the first advent, all of which were minutely
and remarkably fulfilled in the parentage,
birth, childhood, life work, rejection,
crucifixion, burial, resurrection, and ascen-
sion of our Lord. By no possible chance
could all these circumstances merely
“happen” to one individual; neither could
an 1mpostor have successfully posed to
meet all the specifications and conditions.
After the most careful and exhaustive
study of all the facts in the life of Christ,
there can be but one logical conclusion—
the verdict announced by the Roman cen-
turion who crucified Him, “Truly this was
the Son of God.”
Scripture prophecy 1s equally positive
and eloquent concerning Hix second per-
sonal, glorious appearing as © King of kings
and Lord of lords.” In the New Testament
alone there are two hundred sixty chapters
containing more than three hundred state-
ments about the return of Jesus to this
carth. And these predictions are radiant
with confidence and assurance.
“No Christ was once offered to bear the
sins of many; and unto them that look for
Him shall He appear the second time with-
out sin unto salvation.” Hebrews 9: 2K,
On the eve of His crucifixion, when the
Master's heart was “sorrowful, even unto
death,” and the faith of His disciples was
to be severely tested, He directed their
The
minds to the future delightful home-going
when all would be safe from =m and
trouble:
“Let not vour heart be troubled: ve
believe 1m God, believe also in Me. In My
“ather’s house are many mansions: if it
were not =o, I would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for vou. And if I go and
prepare a place for vou, I will come again,
and receive vou unto Myself; that where I
am, there ve may be also.” John 14: 1-2,
O happy goal of Christian confidence!
The hope of our Lord's return 1s not a vain
expectation, for it rests upon the clear and
definite promise of God's own Son, 1 will
come again.”
A few day= prior to this conversation the
disciples had sought mformation conecern-
img the sign of His coming and the end of
the world. In reply the Master stated that
all the peoples of earth would actually
“see the Son of man coming in the clouds
of heaven with power and great glory.”
Matthew 24:30. Alco at His trial when
placed on the witness stand by the high
priest, our Lord answered: ©“ Hereafter shall
ye see the Son of man sitting on the right
hand of power, and coming in the clouds of
heaven.” Matthew 26: 64.
From earliest times the truth of Christ's
second coming was believed and taught.
Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophe-
sited, ** Behold, the Lord cometh with ten
thousand of His saints.” Jude 14, 15. The
“blessed hope’ of Christ's return cheered
Job in the dark hours of his affliction. It
kept him from despair, and his triumphant
faith found expression in the assurance:
“I know that my Redeemer liveth, and
that He shall stand at the latter day upon
the earth: and though after my skin worms
destroy this body, vet in my flesh shall I see
God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine
eyes shall behold, and not another; though
my reins be consumed within me.” Job 19:
20-27.
At the call of God, Abraham went forth
from the majestic old capital of Ur of the
(‘haldees. He was willing to become a
pilgrim and a stranger upon the earth, for
his hope and desires centered in a “better
country.” ‘He looked for a city which
hath foundations, whose builder and maker
15 God.” Hebrews 11: 10, 16.
David, the “sweet singer of Israel,”
volced his confidence in songs and psalms:
“Our God shall come, and shall not keep
silence.” Psalm 50:3. “When the Lord
shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His
glory.” Psalm 102: 16. Likewise Isaiah
declared, “The Lord God will come:
behold, His reward 1x with Him, and His
work before Him." Isaiah 40: 10.
The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote
with confidence: ** Beloved, now are we the
son= of God, and 1t doth not vet appear
what we shall be: but we know that, when
He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for
we shall see Him as He 1.77 1 John 3: 2.
James, the brother of our Lord, gave
counsel to the church: Be patient there-
fore, brethren, unto the coming of the
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