THE APOCALYPSE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 1760, 27 May 1913, Page 6

THE APOCALYPSE.

WHAT MAY IT CONTAIN?

OPINIONS OF A PRESBYTERIAN • MINISTER.

(By Telegraph-Spccial Correspondent.) Auckland, May 20.

.—A - somewhat remarkable sermon was ■delivered "at St. Andrew's rresbyterian ■ Churoli-last night by the Rev. A. A. Murray, ■ the address bning ono of a scries that the minister is giving on the prophecies in the Book of Tho "Revelations." There was a large congregation, and the preachers remarks were listened to with tho closest attention. The portion of Scriptlire taken as the basis of discourse was the latter part of the 17th chapter of Revelations, and tho opening verses of the following chapter.

"The Bible," said • the minister, "is the only Book to which wo can turn for authoritative information concerning the future." He went on to make plain his belief that tho statement made in the much-discussed final chapters of Revelations would materialise literally. There could be no doubt, lis said, in the mind of the, earnest Bible student, that the present upheaval in tho social and industrial world, and more especially the wars which are disturbing Christendom, were evidence of the fulfilment of t l '" prophecies contained in the _ apocalypse. Tho march of events was beins watched with great expectation by the Jews, who were looking forward to the return of thfiir nation to Zion.

"I believe/' said the speaker, "thM the return of tho Jewish people will b--fulfilled literally, and that every man will sit under his own vine and fig tree. He went on to say that the Biblical prophecy of the outcome of the present upheaval was the establishment of ten great kingdoms npon earth, ruled hv ten 1;' but dominated by one great Master. The Church throughout the world, said the preacher, was losing its hold, and he wished to declare that it was his belief that the fault lay largely with the ministers who 'failed to tireach Christ in the Church. Though the present downfall was inevitable Hn that it was contained in the prophecy), and the gradual growth of tile power of tho Roman Catholic Church, till it dominated the whole world, was also foretold, 'nevertheless the triumph of that Church would he only for a season, for her voice would become so burdensome that the ten kingdoms wmih' rise, and (in the words of Scrioturel "shall in alee her desolate and naked, and shall cat her flesh and burn with fire." This would bo the fulfilment of tho. pronhecy that occ'esiastical Babylon would he overthrown by political Babylon. The ten kingdoms would also make war unon tho Lamb, just as the Jewish nation had made war on Christ 1900 years ago. but. this time, tho Christ would overthrow His oppressors, and take- those called chosen and faithful. The minister went on to sav that, although the Roman Catholic 'Church would be much harrassed (as was indicated). ' nevertheless it would continue to exist, as it was written: "Babylon ha« f"' and has become the habitation of devils and the hold of every foul spirit ontil tV cage of every unclean herd" (Revelations xvi, Verse 2). It would be finally destroyed utterly upon tho coming of the angel from Heaven spoken of (Revelations xv'. Verse 1). The minister eoncluded with an earnest aopeal to' those present to Christ as a personal Saviour, so that they mitrht be among those called "chosen and faithful at the coming of the Lamb.