Those who are the Lord's have the blessed hope of His soon coming to call us out of this scene to meet Him in the air and be forever with Himself in that "bright and blessed scene where sin can never come." What a prospect is ours, and how good it is to know that no prophecy has to be fulfilled before we hear the shout that will call us home to be forever with the Lord.
While our blessed Lord may come for us at any moment, we do have many scriptures that tell us of developments and events that will take place after the Lord calls His Church home. In view of these future developments, the Lord would no doubt have His own seeking to discern the signs of the times (Matt. 16:33And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? (Matthew 16:3)). In this connection we might call attention to two events that recently received wide publicity.
It is quite generally known that back in 1957 six nations, all of which were many years ago a part of the Roman Empire domain, signed a treaty at Rome, forming what is known as the European Economic Community (EEC). This is primarily an economic union whose main purpose is to gradually dispense with all tariff duties between these nations, and to encourage wide economic and commercial exchange with a free flow of capital and labor between the nations involved. Christians who have some knowledge of dispensational truth know from scriptures such as Rev. 13:1-71And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy. 2And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. 3And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. 4And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 5And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months. 6And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven. 7And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations. (Revelation 13:1‑7) and 17:3-17, that the Roman Empire is to be revived, and will be comprised of ten distinct kingdoms, or countries, that will be united to form one new empire (Rev. 17:1212And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast. (Revelation 17:12)). The six nations already in the EEC, now more generally known as the "Common Market," have a surging population of over 175,000,000 people; and in the last few years they have attained a much higher standard of living than ever before. There is much to make us believe that the formation of the Common Market and the achievements it has made are probably the first steps in the direction of the revived Roman Empire that will eventually be composed of ten nations, as mentioned above.
It was very interesting to note in March of this year that General Charles de Gaulle, who several years ago had opposed the entry of England into the Common Market, indicated that it would be advantageous to France if England were to become a member of the European Common Market. At the time we go to press, we have no way of knowing whether England will again seek membership in the EEC as she did several years ago. She very possibly will delay temporarily, as free trade with other countries might aggravate her present balance of payment problem. However, it is interesting that England is now being made welcome; and if she does sign "The Treaty of Rome" and become a member at some future date, this certainly will be a major step in the direction of the revived Roman Empire.
We are not surprised to see the door being opened to Britain to enter this alliance. Our surprise is that we are still here to see such events unfolding. May that which we are witnessing stir within our hearts a greater longing to hear the voice of our beloved Bridegroom calling us home to Himself, also a more earnest desire to sound forth the warning and pleading notes of the gospel, as we realize how near we have come to the end of the day of grace, and to place less value on the temporal things about us.
The other event which we believe to be of even more significance than General de Gaulle's interest in Britain's entry into the European Common Market was the recent visit of the Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Michael Ramsey, with Pope Paul VI in Rome.
This was the first official visit of the head of the Anglican Church to the Vatican since the schism of 1534, and is viewed with alarm by many, and with gratitude by others. How should we, who are waiting for our Lord from heaven, view such a significant event? Shall we give way to alarm, or shall we raise a public outcry against a "traitor to Protestantism," as others have done? Neither is the proper attitude of one who sees in such a development the setting of the stage for those events which will come to pass shortly after the Church is called home to glory. Perhaps we may say that our attitude might well be one of amazement-not amazement that these things could happen, but that we are still here to witness such developments.
Let us not forget that Revelation 17 gives us God's description of that religious system that is so widely admired today. Dr. Ramsey's greeting to the Pope, the head of that false system, started with these words: "Your holiness, dear brother in Christ, it is with heartfelt gratitude and brotherly affection in Christ that I greet you." This attitude is lauded as charitable and long overdue by many of the leaders in Protestantism. The few who express their disapproval are branded at once as narrow and bigoted.
The believer who loves the Word of God, and who waits with eager longing for the voice of his beloved Bridegroom, is by no means a neutral observer in all this. May the Lord help us to realize the increasing need of exhortations such as, "Touch not the unclean thing" (2 Cor. 6:1717Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, (2 Corinthians 6:17)), and "Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 33Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. (Jude 3)). Let us then reaffirm our stand with deep thanksgiving to God for the grace that has either spared or delivered us from that false religious system which soon will meet her fearful doom as outlined in some detail in Revelation 173So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. (Revelation 17:3) and 18.
Pope Paul VI in replying to Dr. Ramsey's greeting stated: "You rebuild a bridge which for centuries has lain fallen between the Church of Rome and the Church of Canterbury.... You cross over this yet unstable viaduct, still under construction.... May God bless this courage and piety of yours." Who rebuilds this bridge, and who crosses over this unstable viaduct? A leader in Protestantism! Rome remains basically unchanged while Protestantism rebuilds the bridge and retraces her steps to the system she left so long ago.
As we view this sorrowful trend, we feel a word of warning is in order. It will become increasingly unpopular to maintain a stand for the truth, in separation from this great system. It will be branded as most uncharitable to speak out faithfully concerning that which boasts of being the bride, and yet is so hateful to our beloved Lord. As the ecumenical movement grows, and the greater part of Protestantism moves with increasing strides toward Rome, let us look up to Him whose name by grace we love, and prayerfully seek with the Lord's help and by His grace that we might in some little measure be characterized by His words in Rev. 3:88I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8): "Thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name." The open persecution now borne by many in other lands may yet be ours to share here.
May we not be stirred and encouraged by the words of Mal. 3:1616Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. (Malachi 3:16): "Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon His name." This was written in a day of indifference and of arrogance. It was a day when the claims of the Lord were met with the most callous resentment. But in the midst of such declension, there were those who were characterized by the fear of the Lord- a little remnant of whom it could be said that they "feared the LORD, and... thought upon His name." In the 18th verse of Malachi 3 we read, "Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked." What! can we not now all discern between such extremes as this? No, the day is so dark that discernment between that which is righteous and that which is evil is only granted to those whose walk is in "The fear of the LORD."
Let us seek grace then to walk carefully and obediently, and let us look upward with increasing joy as we see the events about us indicating the near return of our Lord. He has said, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Rev. 3:1111Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11).