Concerning the establishment of Christ's kingdom, it is written: "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:2-4). It should be evident to all that this passage has NOT been fulfilled in the establishment and ministry of the New Testament church. The church still waits and prays for its fulfillment.
    Daniel records a vision concerning four world-empires which were

    Habakkuk describes God as coming from the South -- His glory covering the heavens and the earth filled with His praise. "Before him went the pestilence, and burning coals went forth at his feet. He stood and measured the earth: he beheld, and drove asunder the nations; and the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills did bow: his ways are everlasting.. The mountains saw thee, and they trembled: the overflowing of the water passed by: the deep uttered his voice, and lifted up his hands on high. The sun and moon stood still in their habitations at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear. Thou didst march through the land in indignation, thou didst thresh the heathen in anger. Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people, even for salvation with thine anointed", (Hab. 3:4-6, 10-13). "Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold HIS reward is with him, and his work before him", (Isa. 62:11).
    Joel also records the cataclys-

    In First Corinthians 13:13 Paul names three spiritual gifts which remain for the people of God -- faith, hope and charity (or love). As regards inter-human relationships, the greatest of these is LOVE.
    Love is the underlying principle that prompts right thoughts and actions toward others. Unless it is actually ACTIVELY PRESENT in our hearts, our religion is vain and our acts of apparent kindness and mercy toward others are nothing more than empty pretence. Though all our goods are poured out to the poor, and our bodies burned at the stake; if our all is yielded up from any other motive than love, it PROFITS US NOTHING!
    Where Christian love is present the man of God will always think, speak and act with kindness toward others. Love is patient and long-suffering with the faults of others.

    Nor is it easily provoked by real or imagined offences. Love rejoices when others prosper; it is never envious. Love is never proud, puffed up or selfish; it is always gentle, courteous and considerate. It will endeavor to promote the welfare and happiness of others---even at the cost of self-sacrifice. It will not rejoice when others meet with misfortune or fall into sin. Rather, it will pity them, and assist them back to stability.
    Love will not imagine evil of others (especially of brethren), nor will it impute evil motives to their actions. It will be ready to credit with good intentions those who are not always in full agreement. It will joyfully endure hardships and suffering for others' good --and for the glory of Christ. A special bond of affection should unite those who love God and who are pledged to His loyal service.
    I often think that the father-heart of God must BREAK as He beholds the maliciousness of His own children toward each other today. Many can ADVOCATE love so piously, while skillfully and persistently PRACTICING HATE. Such action dishonors the Father, betrays the Son, and rebels against the guidance and restraints of the Holy Spirit. And it raises a serious question as to the validity of one's Christian profession.
    'He that SAITH he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now....If a man say, I LOVE GOD, and hateth his brother, he is a LIAR: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath

mic events of the end time. "And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call", (Joel 2:30-32).
    Marching at the head of a well disciplined and indestructible army (Joel 2:1-11), the LORD approaches Jerusalem from whence a determined opposition confronts Him. Viewing His approach, Isaiah raises the question: "Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength"? The answer comes: "I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save". Again, the question is raised, "Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?" And He replies, 'I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to

uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth', (Isa. 63:1-6).
    Once more, Joel spoke of the day in which the captives of Judah and Jerusalem shall return. The LORD will gather all nations -- bringing them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat where He will deal with them concerning His people. The Gentiles are called upon to prepare for war, (Joel 3:9-16). And Isaiah wrote of this same day (2:17-21 See also Rev. 6:12-17).
    Israel, backslidden, rebellious and idolatrous, was not ready for the DAY OF THE LORD. Amos, the shepherd-prophet of Tekoa, was bold in bringing them face-to-face with God's case against them, (Amos 5:l8-20). This was a people richly blessed and highly privileged. Of them God had said: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth: THEREFORE I will punish you for all your iniquities", (Amos 3:2). Her privileges had increased her responsibilities, but against them the nation had rebelled. It is an eternal principle that "Unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more", (Luke 12:48). (To be Continued)

    "The next step we should take is the one Satan sets himself to hinder."

to come and go before the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom. The fourth of these kingdoms is to be re-established under 10 kings, just prior to God's powerful, and eschatological intervention in the affairs of men. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold: the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter", (Dan. 2:44-45, See also 7:24-27).
    The "stone" is none other than the Messianic King who comes in divine power to put clown forever the kingdoms of this present world-system--- re-establishing the throne of David, which is fallen down, and ascending it to establish a universal rule of righteousness.

seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? and this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also', (I John 2:9; 4:20-21).
    Is YOUR love story FACT OR FICTION?

Thank the Lord for Carol Thompson's profession of faith last Sunday!!