Month: July 2024

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

Much can be said of a person’s character by the way they use their tongue.  Sanaca once said, “Speech is the index of the mind.”  Jesus said that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” (Mat. 12:34)   According to Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”  In James 3:6, the Bible says that the tongue is “a fire, a world of iniquity”, and James 3:8 calls the tongue a “deadly poison.”

As a fool would carelessly play and prank with a loaded gun, so many Christians today do likewise with their deadly tongue.  If only we could fully realize the untold damage that we are doing to the body of Christ!  If only we could see the full effect of the words we use!

Perhaps a closer look into the Bible can help.  God made man, and God made man’s tongue, so surely God should be qualified to comment on the subject.  Surely God should have some good counsel concerning the use and misuse of the human tongue.  Let us consider some sins of the tongue as we find them revealed in God’s word.

The Lying Tongue

Proverbs 25:18 says, “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.” So a lying tongue is a misuse of a deadly weapon.  It can be used to harm others near at hand (a maul), a few feet away (a sword), or a great distance away (an arrow).  Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), and God said that he hates a lying tongue (Pro. 6:17).  All liars will have their part in the lake of fire, according to Revelation 21:8.

The Flattering Tongue

Flattery is also a sin of the tongue. The Bible speaks of flattery as a characteristic of the wicked, not the righteous: “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.” (Psalm 5:9)   Imagine the improvements which could be made in our nation if voters elected leaders on the basis of the RECORD rather than on the basis of the flattering speeches!  Flattery is just a form of lying, and it has no place in the life of a Christian.

The Proud Tongue

The Bible also speaks of the proud tongue.  Psalm 12:3-4 says, “The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?” The most annoying Christians in the world are those with proud tongues because a proud tongue usually comes with two closed ears!  Proud-tongued Christians are generally so full of themselves that they learn very little from anyone else. A proud-tongued Christian will talk much of his knowledge and service, but very little about the Lord.

In a church, a proud-tongued Christian will make all sorts of suggestions about how the church should function, yet his suggestions, if received, will place burdens on everyone but himself.  A proud-tongued Christian is hard to teach or reason with because he thinks he knows everything.

Friend, God hates a proud tongue.  Allow the Holy Spirit to use your tongue in the way of humility and kindness because pride will only quench God’s Spirit and damage your testimony.

The Overused Tongue

Some people sin by simply overusing their tongue.  Ecclesiastes 5:3 says that “a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.”  People think they appear smart by much talking, but the Bible states just the opposite.  Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” God doesn’t like a blabber mouth.  You say, “Well, that’s just the way I am!”  Then REPENT!  Confess your sin and repent.  Stop justifying your wickedness and ask God to help you repent.

The Swift Tongue

Some people are guilty of speaking too swiftly when they really need to wait before saying anything.  God’s word says the following in Proverbs 18:13: “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.” How many times have you had to “eat” your words because you spoke too swiftly?  James 1:19 warns us to be swift to HEAR and SLOW to speak.  Why do you suppose God gave us two ears but only one mouth?

The Backbiting Tongue

Proverbs 25:23 and Romans 1:30 make mention of a backbiting tongue.  A backbiter is someone who uses their tongue against you when you aren’t present, yet they will not face you with their charges when you are present.  This is a cowardly backbiter who would rather stir up problems  than solve problems.

A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT  the preacher than talk TO the preacher.  A backbiter would much rather talk ABOUT some weak Christian in the church than offer some words of encouragement TO them.  A backbiter is of no use to anyone, and no one has ever been strengthened or edified through backbiting.  Beware of the backbiters, especially the ones who sow discord among brethren (Pro. 6:19)!

The Talebearing Tongue

Proverbs 18:8 says, “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”  Leviticus 19:16 says, “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. . .”  Every Christian has the duty to deny his own desires and seek to edify other Christians (Rom. 14:19; Philip. 2:3).  Talebearing runs wholly contrary to Christian edification.  Talebearing (carrying and telling tales) spreads all sorts of hurtful information around, and Satan uses such information to hinder and tear down God’s work.  A victim of talebearing, according to Proverbs, is a “wounded” person.  God forbid that a Christian should wound another Christian, but it does happen all the time!  Some Christians live as though they think God has “called” them to bear tales on other Christians.  Many “Christian” newsletters are dedicated to informing the body of Christ on the latest news about someone’s ministry or personal life.  There are many nice words and phrases used to justify such conduct, but the Bible word is TALEBEARING.

The Cursing Tongue

Some people, Christians included, have a nasty habit of using their tongue for cursing.  Romans 3:13-14 says, “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

This passage deals strictly with unsaved people and their ungodly ways, yet there are a great many professing Christians who curse regularly.  Friend, why would you want to identify yourself with someone whom God describes as being DEAD, DECEITFUL, and POISON?

“As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.  As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.” (Psalm 109:17-18)  Many people curse because their life is miserable.  They are unhappy so they make it known with their degenerate speech.  This text says that God keeps them unhappy BECAUSE of their speech!  God curses those who curse!  Christian, don’t expect God’s blessings when your mouth is filled with cursing.

The Piercing Tongue

Another sinful tongue is the piercing tongue.  Proverbs 12:18 speaks of this tongue by saying,  “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.”  Some people have a sharp piercing tongue which Satan uses to offend and insult others.  The Bible commands Christians to have their speech dominated by GRACE (Col. 4:6), yet most churches have a few people who use their tongue like a sword to pierce their brethren in Christ.

It was Teddy Roosevelt who said, “Speak softly and carry a big stick,” but the truth is that if you speak softly you won’t need a big stick!     Titus 2:8 commands us to use sound speech which cannot be condemned.  Friend, do you use graceful speech which cannot be evil spoken of, or do you possess a piercing tongue? Every Christian’s prayer should be, “Lord, make my words gracious and tender, for tomorrow I may have to eat them.”

The Silent Tongue

A silent tongueis also a sinful tongue because we have been commanded to speak up and witness for the Lord Jesus Christ.  In Acts 1:8, Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  We, as Christians, have an obligation to tell others about the saving grace of Jesus.  To be silent about Christ is to sin against Christ.  Jesus said, “Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”  (Mark 8:38) Christian friend, if you do not want to be ashamed of yourself when the Lord returns, then don’t be ashamed of Jesus today.  Pray for opportunities to speak up for your Saviour.  Don’t be found guilty of having a silent tongue.

“For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2)

James L. Melton

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” John 10:1-18

Introduction:

The Lord introduced the concept of the Good Shepherd with a parable. (vs. 1-5) The oriental sheepfold was very simple: a stone wall surrounded it, perhaps ten feet high, and an opening served as the door. The shepherds in the village would drive their sheep into the fold at nightfall and leave the porter to stand guard. In the morning each shepherd would call his own sheep, which would recognize their shepherd’s voice and come out of the fold. The porter would sleep at the opening and actually become “the door.” Nothing could enter or leave the fold without passing over the porter or the shepherd.

Christ points out that the true shepherd comes through the door (v. 1), calls his sheep by name and they recognize him. (v. 3), leads the sheep and they follow (v. 4-5). False shepherds and strangers, who are thieves and robbers, try to get in some subtle way, and the sheep will not recognize or follow them.

I. THE EXPLANATION – (Jn. 10:7-21)

A. THE DOOR – (vs. 7-10)

Christ is the door, and as such He leads the sheep “in and out. ” The blind man in chapter 9 was “cast out” (excommunicated) by Israel because he trusted Christ, but was taken into the new fold by Christ! Arthur Pink points out that there are really three doors spoken of in this chapter, and we must distinguish them if we are to get the full explanation:

1. “The door into the sheepfold” (vs. 1)

The sheepfold here is NOT heaven, but the nation Israel.

Christ came to Israel through the appointed, Scriptural way; and the porter (John the Baptist) opened the door for Him.

2. “The door of the sheep” (vs. 7)

This is the door that leads people OUT OF their present fold, in this case, Judaism. Christ opened the way for multitudes to leave the old religious system and find new life.

3. “The door of salvation” (vs. 9)

The sheep using this door go in and out, which speaks of liberty; they have eternal life; they enjoy the pastures of God’s Word. Satan, through his false teachers (thieves and robbers) want to steal, kill, and destroy the sheep; but Christ gives abundant life and cares for the sheep.

B. THE SHEPHERD (vs. 11-15)

There is a contrast here between the Pharisees (hirelings) who had no concern for the sheep, and Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. They flee and protect themselves when the enemies come; they are guilty of fleecing the sheep and giving them nothing in return. Hundreds of years before God had spoken out against these false shepherds. (See Eze. 34)

Christ willingly gives up His life for the sheep. (See Acts 20:29). Christ as the Good shepherd gives His life on the cross (Psalm 22); as the Great Shepherd, He cares and as the Chief Shepherd He will come again in glory for His sheep (Psalm 24 and 1 Pet. 5:4). In (vs. 18) He speaks of both His death and His resurrection.

C. THE FLOCK (vs. 16-21)

The “other sheep” are the Gentiles, who were not of the Jewish fold. He MUST bring them, and He will do it through His voice, His Word. This we see happening in (Acts 10) when Peter goes to the Gentiles and they are saved.

II. THE TYPES

The Old Testament is particularly rich in the types which foreshadow Christ in the character of a “shepherd.” A brief examination of each will be profitable.

A. ABEL

In (Gen. 4:2) we are told that “Abel was a keeper of the sheep.” The distinctive aspect of typical truth which he exemplifies is the death of the Shepherd. Slain by wicked hands, by his brother according to the flesh.

B. JACOB

The prominent thing in connection with him as a shepherd is his care for the sheep – (see Gen. 30:31; 31:38-40; 33:13,14)

C. JOSEPH

The very first thing recorded in Scripture abut this favorite son of Jacob is that he fed the flock (Gen. 3 7:2).

D. MOSES

Three things are told us about him: he watered, protected and guided the sheep. (Ex. 2:16,17; 3:1)

E. DAVID

He is presented as jeopardizing his life for the sheep (1 Sam. 17:34-36).

NOTE: There is one other “shepherd” referred to in the Old Testament and that is the “idol shepherd” (Zech. 11:16,17), and he is the antichrist – how significant that he is the sixth – the number of man. The only other individual “shepherd” mentioned in Scripture is the Lord Jesus, and He is the Seventh! Seven is the number of perfection, and we do not reach perfection till we come to Christ, the Good Shepherd!

III. THE APPLICATION

The application is most obvious in duties and fulfilled responsibilities of the Good Shepherd.

A. HIS MEDIATORIAL OFFICE

The shepherd is not the owner of the flock, but the one to whom the care of the sheep is entrusted. So Christ as Mediator is the One appointed by the Father to act as shepherd. (Jn. 10:29) Note how in the types, Joseph, Moses, and David tended not their own flock, but those of their fathers. Second, the figure speaks of fellowship, the Saviour’s presence with His own. The shepherd never leaves his flock. There is only one exception to this, and that is when he commits them into the care of the “porter” of the sheepfold; and ‘that is at nightfall. How suggestive is this! During the night of Christ’s absence, the Holy Spirit has charge of God’s elect!

Finally, the shepherd-character speaks of Christ’s care, faithfulness, solicitude for His own.

B. HIS LEADERSHIP

Sheep are characterized by a proneness to wander. Even when placed in a field with a fence all around it, yet if there be a gap anywhere, they will quickly get out and stray. The shepherd has to on occasion break the leg of a persistent wanderer.

C. HIS SACRIFICE – (Jn. 10:15,17)

Arthur Pink says – “No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself (10:18). When Christ died, He did so of His own voluntary will. This is a point of vital importance. We must never give a place to the dishonoring thought that the Lord Jesus was powerless to prevent His sufferings, that when He endured such indignities and cruel treatment at the hands of His enemies, it was because He was unable to avoid them. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The treachery of Judas, the arrest in the Garden, the arraignment before Caiaphas, the insults from the soldiers, the trial before Pilate, the submission to the unjust sentence, the journey to Calvary, the being nailed to the cruel tree – all of these were voluntarily endured. Without His own consent none could have harmed a hair of His head. A beautiful type of this is furnished in (Gen. 22:13), where we read that the ram, which was placed on the altar as a substitute for Isaac, was “caught in a thicket by his horns.” The “horns” speak of strength and power (see Hab. 3:4, etc.). Typically they tell us that the Saviour did not succumb to death through weakness, but that He gave up His life in the full vigor of His strength. It was not the nails, but the strength of His love to the Father and to His elect, which held Him to the Cross.

Did You Know …

That William Penn wrote a single religious tract that freed a total of 12,000 Quakers imprisoned for Christ’s sake?

That John Wesley organized 160 tract distributors in 1757 which literally reformed the Lord’s Day habits of the entire city of London?

That Martin Luther wrote more than one tract, booklet or book for every working week of his life?

That Dwight L. Moody began his very fruitful evangelistic ministry in Chicago by the simple act of distributing tracts to Great Lakes seamen?

That Benjamin Franklin wrote and printed tracts of several early American evangelists, including those of George Whitefield?

That John Wanamaker, while Postmaster General of the United States, carefully selected gospel tracts for distribution to those with whom he came in contact?

That almost every foreign mission field in the world was opened by missionaries who first used tracts to win the heathen to Christ?

That every phase of the great Protestant Reformation in Europe was preceded by immense tract effort that almost “turned the world upside down”? (Acts 17:6).

By A. L. Seifert

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:” John 11:25

Introduction:

The doctrine of the resurrection is the foundation stone of Christianity. Many admit the necessity of the death of Christ who deny the importance of the bodily resurrection of Christ. But that Christ’s physical resurrection is vitally important is evident from the fundamental connection of this doctrine with Christianity. In (1 Cor. 15:12-19) Paul shows that everything stands or falls with Christ’s bodily resurrection: Apostolic preaching is vain (vs. 14), the Corinthians’ faith is vain (vs. 14), the apostles are false witnesses (vs. 15), the Corinthians are yet in their sins (vs. 17), those fallen asleep in Christ have perished (vs. 18), and Christians are of all men most miserable (vs. 19), if Christ has not risen. All through the Book of Acts and in Paul’s preaching the emphasis is upon the resurrection of Christ (e.g., Acts 2:24,32; 3:15,26; 4:10; 10:40; 13:30-37; 17:31; Rom. 4:24,25; 6:4,9; 7:4; 8:11; 10:9; 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:20; Col. 2:12; I Thess. 1:10; 2 Tim. 2:8; I Pet. 1:21). Indeed, Paul makes Christ’s resurrection an essential part of the Gospel (I Cor. 15:4; 2 Tim. 2:8).

Christianity is the only religion in the world that is built on the concept of the resurrection of its founder.

There are several things that are of great value to us as the result of Christ’s resurrection:

I. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION IS A SUBSTANTIAL PROOF OF HIS DEITY (Rom. 1:4)

Of all the miracles that Jesus performed during His life, none evidenced His deity more than the raising of the dead. Jairus’ daughter (Mk. 5:22-43), the young man of Nain (Lk. 7:11-17), and Lazarus (Jn. 11) were all solemn testimony to the divine power of Christ. Yet, there were others who also came back from the dead at the hand of others – the son of the widow of Zarephath (1 Kings 17:17-24), Tabitha (Acts 9:36-43), and Eutychus (Acts 20:7-12). However, none of the other miracle workers and the ability to defeat death and the grave.

* Christ assigned to Himself the exalted, divine title of “The Resurrection, and the Life”. It is God who raiseth the dead and therefore Christ announced Himself to be God!

Perhaps this acknowledgment is why some would prefer to keep Christ in the grave.

II. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST GIVES AN EVER-LIVING HIGH PRIEST – (Heb. 7:25; Rom. 8:34; 1 Jn. 2:1)

Let us look now at the contrast between the priest of the – Levitical dispensation and this Priest according to the order of Melchisedec. They were many; He is only one. Their priesthood was successional – the son followed the father. Christ has a priesthood which cannot be transferred, seeing that His life is indissoluble.

They were sinful, but He is holy, pure, and spotless. They offered sacrifices in the earthly tabernacle; He presents Himself with His blood in the true sanctuary, which is high above all heavens, which is eternal. He appeared in the very presence before the face of God. In Jesus Christ the eternal Priest, after the order of Melchisedec, all is fulfilled, which in the preparatory dispensation could only be shadowed forth imperfectly and by a variety of ordinances.

Christ, in virtue of His priesthood, can save completely (in a perfect, exhaustive, all comprehensive manner) all who through Him come to God, because He ever liveth to intercede for them.

Salvation is begun by the atoning death of Jesus Christ; it is continued by the resurrection and intercession of Christ.

We have not only a Saviour who died, and so made atonement for sin, but also a Saviour who arose and entered by His own blood into the Holy of Holies – God’s very presence – where He ever lives and pleads our case in every new failure. (Compare Lk. 22:31, 32 with Jn. 11:42). Herein lies our abiding security and our assurance of the ultimate, perfect completeness of Christ’s work for us and in us.

III. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS THE PLEDGE AND GUARANTEE OF OUR OWN RESURRECTION – (I Thess. 4:14; 2 Cor. 4:14)

(Rom. 8:11) – “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you”.

Lord Lyttleton and Gilbert West perceived that the resurrection of Christ and the conversion of Paul were the two strongest supports to the Christian faith. Since they were unbelievers in early life, they determined to show that both these teachings were unfounded. So they set to work by the study of the Scriptures and history to disprove these miracles. But since they were honest men, they did not carry out their designs. Their consideration of the evidence convinced them that both doctrines were true, and so they wrote their books to prove the very thing that they had set out to deny. Lord Lyttleton wrote on the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, and Gilbert West on the resurrection of Christ. The title of these books are as follows:

Observations of Saul’s Conversion. by Lord Lyttleton, and Observations on the History and Evidences of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, by Gilbert West. Infidels in all ages have realized the fact, that with the resurrection of Christ, all miracles become possible. Therefore the importance of this truth for the establishment of the supernatural character of the religion of the Scriptures.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)

• Text:      Isaiah 9:6
• Introduction:
  • There are several things that the title “Prince of Peace” reminds us of:
• I.THE FUTILITY OF MAN’S EFFORTS (Eze. 13:10-16)
  • The untempered morter is a picture of the philosophies of man without God, the wall will collapse.
  • According to the Canadian Army Journal, a former president of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences, aided by historians from England, Egypt, German, and India came up with some fantastic figures and findings:
    • Since 3600 B.C. the world has known only 292 years of peace.
      • During this period there have been 14,531 wars, large and small, in which 3,640,000,000 people have been killed.
      • The value of the destruction would pay for a golden belt around the world 97.2 miles in width and about 33 feet thick.
    • Since 650 B.C. there have been 16,656 arms races, only 16 of which have not ended in war.
      • The remainders have ended in the economic collapse of the countries concerned.
    • From 1500 B.C. to present more than 10,000 peace treaties of peace, meant to remain in force forever, were concluded.
      • The average time they remained in force was two years.
    • War is the result of:
      • A.      The lust of men – (Jam. 4:12)
      • B.      Punishment for sin – (Judg. 5:8) –
      • Peace comes as a result of righteousness (Ps. 37:4,11,37; Pro. 16:7)
• II. THE DESPERATE NEED OF THE LORD’S INTERVENTION
  • “Russia now has satellites in space carrying multiple nuclear warheads that are capable of obliterating the population of the whole earth.
  • The U.S. has atomic submarines in every ocean carrying atomic warheads that are capable of obliterating Russia and China.
    • One submarine can loose in 16 minutes more explosive force than all the bombs and ammunition exploded by all the nations in the six years of World War II.”
  • If God does not intervene it is only a matter of time before man will destroy himself.
    • There are several things that Jesus said that must precede the Lords intervention:
    • A. Many False Christs – (Matt. 24:5)
      • There have been over 100 religious leaders in different parts of the world in the last 50 years who have claimed to be Christ and the Saviour of the world.
    • B. Increase in wars – (Matt. 24:6)
    • What Emil Ludwig call “annihilating statistics,” he presents in the following ghastly summary of World War I:
      • “Ten million men killed.
      • A parade of these dead men, marching ten abreast from sunrise to sunset, with a new rank passing every two seconds, would take forty-six days to pass by a given spot!
      • To this number should be added 13,000,000 missing.
      • There were also 10,000,000 refugees and 6,000,000 children who had lost their fathers.
      • The daily loss of human life amounted to 16,585.
      • The cost of the war came to a total of $338,000,000,000 -in other words, $20,000 for every hour since the birth of Christ.
      • The war itself cost $9,000,000 an hour to wage.
      • In those four years, Europe lost all savings it had accumulated during a century! “
    • By far the most costly war in terms of human life was World War II (1939-45), in which the total number of fatalities, including battle deaths and civilians of all countries, is estimated to have been 54,800,000, assuming 25,000,000 U.S.S.R. fatalities and 7,800,000 Chinese civilians killed.
      • The country which suffered most was Poland with 6,028,000 or 22.2 percent of her population of 27,007,000 killed.
    • C. Famines, pestilence, earthquakes – (Matt. 24:7).
      • In the 9th century, there was one major earthquake;
      • In the 11th century, two;
      • In the 13th century, three;
      • In the 16th, two;
      • 17th, two;
      • 18th, five (including the Lisbon);
      • In the 19th century, nine major earthquakes.
      • In the 20th century, there have been over 40 (including the Peking quake).
    • From the World Almanac comes another set of facts: there were only 6 earthquakes of strength between 1800 to 1896.
      • But in each decade from 1897 until 1947, there were either 2 or 3, and in the decade from 1947 to 1956, there were 7.
      • From 1957 to 1966 there were 17.
    • Time magazine’s front cover for its Sept. 1, 1975 issue was a split earth with this inscription: “FORECAST: EARTHQUAKE.”
      • Since that date to the end of 1976, there have been 24 significant earthquakes – in China, Guatemala, Italy, Indonesia, Soviet Central Asia, and many other places.
    • The year 1976 experiences at least 50 significant quakes (intensity 6.5) and 18 major quakes (over 7.0).
      • An estimated 695,000 deaths – the highest in modem history.
• III.          THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST
  • After viewing the desperate condition of the world today we are reminded that only a Holy, all powerful God could rectify the situation.
    • Many look forward to the promise of Isaiah 2:4, “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
  • That day will never come until there is one final authority on earth – The Lord Jesus Christ.
    • Consider:
      • A.      Peace comes from God – (Ps. 29:11; 1 Cor. 14:33)
      • B.      Jesus Christ is the only one who can enforce a lasting peace – (Rev. 19:15)
      • C.      The only real peace available in this age is a spiritual one – (Eph. 2:14; Phil. 4:7; Col. 3:15)