THE INTERNATIONAL PROPHETIC CONFERENCE.
By F. G. Gilbert
Boston, Mass., Dec. 10-15. Friday morning a paper was read by Prof. W. G. Moorehead, entitled “The Conversion of Israel, and the Conversion of the World.” The entire argument was based on Acts 15:13-18 (which the apostle James clearly shows was fulfilled in the Gentiles accepting Jesus Christ), and the Lord’s purpose to build up the true tabernacle of David, which has fallen down. Professor Moorehead had an amplified analysis and explanation of this scripture, from which he attempted to prove that this age is a Gentile age; then comes a Jewish age with the restoration of the Jews to Jerusalem, and their part conversion. Then, through them, during the millennium, the other Jews will come to Christ; then the Gentile nations will all be converted. Then these converted Gentiles will help the converted Jews to make the work complete by bringing to Christ all the Jews who have not accepted Him prior to this time. Then, of course, all the Jews would be converted; all the Gentiles would be converted, and a most glorious time would follow. He remarked also that the restoration of Israel is the hope of the world. The writer is glad and thankful to know that without Christ the world has no hope. The only hope for the world is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is true of the individual Jew as well as of the individual Gentile. Outside of the coming of the blessed Lord, there is no hope to the world; no hope for either Jew or Gentile. How strange it does seem that after the thousands of years’ experience in the repeated failures of the Jewish people, still the world and the church will depend upon them for ultimate success. The fulfilment of all promises and prophecies is in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone. And He is the Great Jew who never has failed, and never can fail. He is the only Jew we can depend upon. But with Him there is no respect of person. He saves not only Jewish sinners, but sinners of all kinds. “And unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” Heb. 9:28. In the afternoon Dr. Erdman delivered an address on “Israel During the Time of the Gentiles, and the Second Part of Isaiah.” Some of his ideas had been presented in previous addresses, particularly on the restoration of the Jews and the millennium. He gave an interesting division of the book of Isaiah. It was certainly a masterly presentation of certain ideas, and evinced much thought and careful study. But somehow he managed, at the close of every division and every section, to have a literal restoration to Jerusalem. In fact, he conveyed the idea that the one great object the Lord and the prophet had in giving the prophecy of Isaiah was so to construct it that it would literally teem with the return of the Jews. To the writer it seems strange, if so much importance is attached to the return of the Jews, that no more is done for their conversion to Christ at the present time. If the spiritual truths of the Word of God were more clearly understood, then these prophecies would mean much more to these brethren. The Lord had to give Peter a vision to clear his mind from certain views he held which were erroneous; the Lord would give these people also greater visions of His blessed truth if they would only perceive things in the clear light of revelation. He was followed by Henry Varley, who gave an additional dose of National Reform doctrine, besides that he presented a few days before. He suggested the thought that the Saviour’s mission to save sinners from sin was subordinate to the idea of establishing a kingdom, and to rule. Kingship, rule, control, seemed to be the central thought of his mind and address. Of course Christ must be the sole ruler; but then Christ would not need to be upon the earth all the time, as He would have excellent plenipotentiaries to act in His stead. He also stated that Christ might come to earth occasionally with a few saints, as He did on the mount of transfiguration with Moses and Elias. He repudiated the idea that Christ would come at any time with all His saints and holy angels in glory. Nevertheless Jesus says when He comes, He will come in all His glory,—in all the effulgence of the Father’s glory, with all the holy angels and all their glory. His coming will be world-wide; for every eye shall see Him; and those who do not believe in Him will be destroyed by the spirit of His mouth and by the brightness of His coming. We should now be seeking to lead sinners to Christ, that they may escape the wrath which so soon is to fall upon the shelterless heads of a doomed world. Friday evening E. Y. Mullins, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered an address on the subject of “Redemption—Past, Present, Future.” The central thought of His address was the work of God during the ages in the salvation of the lost world, and the great need of getting the sinner ready for the coming of the Lord. Many of the thoughts presented were very helpful and practical. He was followed by another helpful and spiritual talk by Dr. Broughton of Atlanta, Ga. It was a real treat, a veritable feast, to hear presented some helpful, practical thoughts on the line of Christian living, and the necessity of getting ready for the Lord’s soon coming. Sabbath morning, Dec. 14, a paper was read from Rt. Rev. W. W. Niles, bishop of New Hampshire. His theme was entitled, “Neglected Truths.” He stated that to believe what pleased us is but one step short of doing what pleases us. The neglected truths he summarized as follows:— 1. The doctrine of the second coming of Christ. It does not have its proper place in the Christian church, and is not taught in the church now as it was in the days of the apostles. 2. The wickedness of sin. He thought not enough stress is laid upon the sinfulness of sin, and what an awful thing it is to transgress God’s law. The church looks mildly upon iniquity to-day. 3. The incarnation of Christ, or the true doctrine of the atonement. 4. The resurrection of the dead, and the literal raising of the body to immortality. At the close of his paper he administered a liberal supply of advice to the teachers and people as to how they should handle prophecy. It was a very able paper, clear, scholarly, interesting, spiritual, and full of good suggestions. At three p. m. a paper was read by Robert Cameron, D. D., editor of The Watchword and Truth. His subject was “The Eschatology of Jesus.” It was lengthy, scholarly, with views entirely different from those that had gone before. He brought out many of the last sayings of our Lord; or, rather, the sayings of our Lord with reference to the last times. Of course the restoration of the Jews was presented with much emphasis as part of the coming of the Lord. The popular view of the millennium was presented, only in a little different form; and one needed to be quite a scholar, as well as to have other qualifications, in order to follow the paper intelligently. He was followed by another good talk by Dr. Broughton; and did time and space permit, it would be a pleasure to reproduce his address. Possibly some time in the future more of it may be given. His theme was “Prayer and Prophecy.” To put it in a mild way, he poured a good deal of cold water on the learning and scholarship manifested at the conference, and administered a cold, wet-sheet pack to the ambiguities in the addresses. He said he had been at the conference every day; had listened and listened to get the ideas presented. Then he would go home at night and try to sleep; but how his head did ache. He suggested it would have been a great help to him if some of these ideas presented could only have been broken up into pieces small enough so that his small brain could take them in. He emphasized the thought that what was needed was more prayer and less preparation. He would a great deal rather listen to a man who had spent much time on his knees before God, than to a man who had spent much time in the study of books. He remarked that Christ did not spend much time in teaching His disciples how to teach or how to preach; but He did take time to teach them how to pray. It was indeed refreshing and invigorating to hear the precious truths brought out so clearly. In the evening there was an interesting address delivered by H. M. King, of Providence, R. I. His theme was, “The Testimony of Christian Experience to the Word of God.” Many thoughts presented in this paper were in the line of others which preceded it, he placing a great deal of stress upon Christian experience as necessary for each individual soul, who in this way only could know the full value of the Word of God. At the close of this address a series of resolutions were read by Dr. Erdman, which were in substance as follows:— 1. That a permanent committee be appointed, with headquarters at Philadelphia, to extend the work of this conference by holding similar conferences in many of the large cities of this country, and to work up the sentiment presented at the conference. 2. They were to discountenance everything that was not evangelical, as generally recognized; they had no sympathy with the doctrines of the unconscious state of the dead, a second probation, the setting of time, and other doctrines held by some who believe in the second advent. They explained their views in part as belief in the divinity of Christ and His vicarious atonement; pre-millennialism; the rule of Christ on earth, etc. 3. The committee to do this work is to consist of Dr. Dixon, chairman; Dr. Erdman, secretary, with a number of the prominent people of the large cities in this country and in the Dominion as associates. It is evident from these resolutions that they expect to carry on a vigorous campaign. Then shall not we, to whom God has given great light on the9prophecies of the Scriptures, with so much harmony and sweetness in the precious hope of Christ’s soon coming, do with greater power and might all we possibly can, in order that many souls who might be led astray shall see the glorious light of the blessed and only Gospel, as it is revealed in Jesus Christ, our only and ever blessed Saviour. Let us pray God to open the eyes of these people, and others, that they may see the truth as it is in Jesus, and be properly prepared for His soon coming.