Prospects look bright for a good attendance at the 40th Anniversary Fellowship Meeting of the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, of Rockford, Illinois on June 17-19, 1992.
    We are so grateful for those who, through the years, have made great effort to share in this time of fellowship and praise in these Rockford meetings. Though attendance has slipped during the past few years, there is a definite possibility that this will be our best yet!
    No attempt will be made to glory in anything we may have done - only to praise, adore and honor our dear Lord and give ear to His precious word.
    Why not mark the date on your calendar right now, and plan to share this time of fellowship in the Gospel? Though there may not be room for everyone in our homes, we will try to provide food and lodging for all who let us know that you are coming. E.G.


If I knew you and you knew me,
If both of us could clearly see,
And with an inner sight divine
The meaning of your heart and mine,
I'm sure that we would differ less,
And clasp our hands in friendliness;
Our thoughts would pleasantly agree
If I knew you and you knew me.

    "Nebuchadnezzar the king, unto all people, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you. I thought it good to show the signs and wonders that the high God hath wrought toward me. How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation", (Dan. 4:1-3).
    When Nebuchadnezzar conquered a land he soon looted its wealth and enslaved its people but permitted them to worship their own gods. He also considered himself the conqueror of their gods - whom he could either rule or worship. But, when he conquered little Judah, he was confronted by a God Who demanded exclusive worship! He would not accept a place among the idols of the nations. Being Nebuchadnezzar's Maker, He demanded that the proud king bow to His sovereign control.
    In His over-ruling providence, God dealt with Nebuchadnezzar in such a way as to fulfil His own will and purpose. It was with His permission that the king of Babylon deported the very brightest of Judah's young men to become servants in the court of Babylon. But it was His strategy to place a young man named Daniel so close to the king as to exercise a powerful influence over

the king and his court.
    Later God permitted Nebuchadnezzar to cast three of his most faithful servants into a burning, fiery furnace for their refusal to fall down and worship the image he had erected for his own honor and glory. Yet, God so protected Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah from the power of the inferno as to convince the king that the power of life and death were not ultimately his, but God's! And when the king did not heed God's warning against the danger of pride, He subjected him to seven years of mental illness and beastly conduct before restoring him to the throne. He needed to learn who was in control!
    Considerable stress has already been laid on God's absolute sovereignty. He provided wisdom for His faithful servants, (Dan. 1). He revealed to Daniel the interpretation of the king's dream, (Dan. 2). He delivered Daniel's friends through the fiery furnace, (Dan. 3). Daniel 4 records the final step in this cycle of events in which God is dealing powerfully with the king of Babylon. In fact,

this chapter, in which there is a distinct acknowledgment of divine sovereignty on the part of the king, was written by Nebuchadnezzar himself - though I strongly suspect that he was greatly Influenced by Daniel in the preparation of this court document.
    Let us not fall to recognize the progressive development of the king's concept of Daniel's God. 1) In Daniel 2:47 he considered Him an important deity among the many gods of his country. 2) In 3:26 he came to view Him as the Most High God; a God who can deliver and preserve His people from destruction. 3) In 4:34-35 the king acknowledges God as the absolute sovereign Lord and declares Him a punisher of those who walk in pride. And He ought to know!

    "How great are his signs!" exclaims the king, (comp. 6:27; Psa. 105:26-27; Isa. 25:1). The signs that have been wrought before the eyes of Nebuchadnezzar not only witness to the authority of the "God of Heaven"; they are intimations of His coming kingdom on earth. They suggest His ability to take this chaotic world and transform it into a kingdom of righteousness - where justice, equity and peace will prevail, (comp. Dan 2:44; Rev. 11:15; Matt, 13:40-43).
    When the kingdom of God once drew near, in the person of Jesus Christ - the One anointed of God to be King of the earth - these "signs and wonders" reached their peak. His miracles gave authenticating witness of His ability to establish and sustain such a kingdom as He offered His people upon the condition of their repentance and submission to His rightful authority.
    But, the nation was not ready to serve Him!

Thus, in the latter part of His ministry, He announced the kingdom as being far off? (Luke 19:11-27) It must now await His Second Coming. The covenant nation, having proved herself unworthy, the kingdom position and privileges were taken from them and given to a new, spiritual people - a "holy nation" that would bring forth fruit to the glory of God - His church! (Matt. 2 1:43: I Pet. 2:9).

    Consider the vast breadth of our Lord's miraculous activity in connection with His proclamation of the kingdom.
    1) He proved Himself master over all sorts of physical disease and infirmity.
    2) On three occasions His power reached into the realm of death to rescue its victims: the daughter of Jairus, just dead, was restored to her parents: a funeral procession was stopped at Nain, where the only son of a widow was raised and restored to his weeping mother : and Lazarus, dead for four days and already buried, was called forth from the grave and restored to his mourning sisters, (Mk. 5:22-24:, 35-43: Mk. 7:11-15: Jn, 11).
    3) He demonstrated His ability to feed the hungry. With five biscuits and two small fish Jesus fed a multitude of 5,000 men, plus women and children, and His disciples gathered up 12 baskets full of fragments, (Matt. 14:15-21). On another occasion He fed 4,000 by multiplying seven loaves and a few small fish, and His disciples gathered up 7 baskets full of fragments, (Matt. 15:32-38).
    4) Demonstrating His authority in the realm of Economics, He guided professional fishermen to a record catch after they had labored all night in vain, (Jn. 2 1:6). Again, Peter was directed to catch a fish in whose

mouth would be a coin sufficient to pay tribute for both himself and Jesus, (Matt. 17:24-27).
    5) By casting out demons Jesus demonstrated His mastery over the spirit world, (Matt. 9:32-33: etc.).
    6) Cursing a fig tree, which withered away, Jesus demonstrated His control over growth and production in the world of nature, (Matt. 21:19-20).
    7) As touching Social Life, His first miracle was performed at a wedding feast in Cana of Galilee - supplying the means of social pleasure to the guests and bringing great relief to the groom whose supply of wine had been exhausted, (Jn. 2:1-11).
    8)By walking on water, calming a storm tossed sea and passing, unscathed, through a crowd of enemies determined to kill Him, Jesus demonstrated His power over the elements of nature and common hazards of man's physical environment, (Matt. 14:25: Mk. 4:37-39: Lk. 4:28-30).
    9) By forgiving sins Jesus demonstrated His very deity: for, as the Jews inquired, "Who can forgive sins, but God alone?" (Mk. 2:7).
    10) The greatest of all miracles was that of our Lord's own resurrection from the dead. He had declared His power to "lay down" His life and to "take it up again". Having died "for our sins", He was raised for our justification - and that we might find constant deliverance from the power of sin through His risen Life. Because He lives, we are enabled to live triumphantly - to the extent that, step - by - step, we trust in Him!

    While the Kingdom for which our Lord instructed us to pray awaits His second coming, Nebuchadnezzar recognized an already-existing Kingdom over which the God of heaven was already reigning!

"His kingdom ruleth over all!" (Dan. 4:3; comp. Psa. 93; 103:19-22).
    "Kingdom", as used here, refers to the universal exercise of Divine Sovereignty that exists, without interruption, throughout all time, (Psa. 145:1). It extends to everything that exists in time and space, (I Chron. 29:11-12; Deut. 32:22; Psa. 139:7-10). Its exercise is usually providential, (Psa. 148:8; Ex. 14:21;comp. Isa. 10:5-15; Jer. 25:9; 51:11, 28-37). A beautiful illustration of this providential ruling may be observed in the book of Esther - though the name of God is not once mentioned.
    There are times when this divine control is exercised by direct, supernatural intervention in the affairs of men, (Dan. 6:27; Psa. 135:6-9; Ex. 5:2; comp. Deut. 4:34-35). And, regardless of the attitude of its subjects, the divine purpose of this universal kingdom is always achievable, (Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11; Psa. 75:4-7).
    The rule of this universal kingdom appears to be administered, even now, through the eternal Son as he shares the Father's throne (Col. 1:17; Rev. 3:21). Being both "Father of the ages" and "King of the ages", He exercises authority both in heaven and on earth, (Matt. 28:18; Heb. 1:3; Eph. 1:19-23).
    Let no one imagine, however, that this universal kingdom is the same as that for which our Lord taught His disciples to pray, (Matt. 6:10) and which He promised to His "little flock" (Lk. 12:32). The coming kingdom: set forth in the covenants and prophets and proclaimed by John the Baptist, Jesus and all the apostles, will be both Messianic and mediatorial. Jesus, the Messianic "Son of Man", will come again to put an end to Gentile world-rule, lay claim to the throne of His father David and, by supernatural power, transform the "kingdoms of this world" into a kingdom of

righteousness, (Rev. 11:15).
    To complete His work of mediatorial redemption our Lord will put down all sin and rebellion - bringing everything into willing, joyful harmony and loving subjection to the will, purpose, righteousness and rule of God. All that was lost in the fall of the first Adam will be restored in the triumph of the Second Adam. This will be accomplished during a period of 1,000 glorious years, wherein Jesus Christ, as the Son of Man sits upon His own throne (not the Father's, as in Rev. 3:20), in Jerusalem, ruling with a rod of iron and subduing all things to the perfect will of God. When that is fulfilled, He will present all things to the Father - the work of regeneration and restoration perfected, (I Cor. 15:27-28)
    Thus, to pray "Thy kingdom come!" is, in essence, to plead: "Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!"
    (Some material for this article has been edited from: 1[ Ferguson's: Communicator's Commentary on Daniel, and 2[ McClain's: The Greatness of the Kingdom) -- Eugene L. Garner

    Brother Roland 0. Allen was called to be with the Lord on January 7, 1992. He was buried at the Mt. Hebron Cemetery, Lexington, Kentucky, on January 9 with Pastor Jerry Chandler officiating and Missionary Eldwyn Rogers conducting the graveside service.
    Bro. Roland had labored zealously and faithfully as a missionary in Paraguay for 23 years. His beloved wife had preceded him in death last year.

    May the Lord comfort the 8 children he leaves behind and help each of them to remember, respect and follow the high principles he has taught through the years, and the biblical order of life and discipline that he endeavored to establish in the churches where he was the spiritual leader.

    It is our prayer that the Lord will raise up others with such love, zeal and courage as were the hallmark of Bro. Allens life. E. G.

    Among those who visited William Carey in his final illness was Alexander Duff, a Scotch missionary. He spent some time with Carey - speaking basically about Carey's missionary labors - until, at length, the dying man whispered, "Pray".
    Duff knelt down and prayed, and then said good-bye. But, as he passed from the room, he thought he heard a feeble voice calling his name. Turning, he found that Carey was calling him. When he stepped back into the room, he heard these words, spoken with a gracious solemnity: "Mr. Duff you have been speaking about Dr. Carey: when I am gone say nothing about Dr. Carey - speak about Dr. Carey's Saviour!" Duff went away rebuked and awed, with a lesson in his heart that he never forgot.
    To become subjects of praise is to run the risk of obscuring Christ, of usurping glory which belongs to Him. For what good is there in us or our doings which is not from Him and unto His praise? And it is to run the risk also of obscuring the actual facts of life. For any attainment or achievement is made to appear praiseworthy only by comparing it, not with the ideal above it, but with some failure beneath it! The best man is but a poor affair in comparison with perfection; His finest qualities but the shimmers of shadows.
    We are to serve the Lord Christ. He was meek and lowly of heart. Let us, therefore, recognize and commend the best in others - but desire no praise or medals for ourselves. May our eyes be ever and only to the Lord whom we serve with joy and gladness! -- Edited from Robert E. Speer

    Benjamin was a deacon of the Christian church in Persia, who, when opportunity offered itself, also proclaimed the doctrines of the holy Gospel to the people, at which Geroranes, the King of Persia, took such offense that he caused him to be cast into prison, in which he remained without deliverance for two years. After this a certain ambassador came to the King to transact some state business. Having heard of Benjamin and his dreary confinement, he besought the King to set him free. The king consented, yet on the condition, that the prisoner should not speak to any of his magi or priests of the Christian religion or dispute with them. The ambassador promised the King in Benjamin's name that his command should be heeded. But when he came to Benjamin and admonished him to this, Benjamin answered: "I do not wish to do what you have promised in my name. I cannot withhold the doctrine of the light of the Gospel, which I have received from God, from others, not communicating it to them, for I have learned from the Gospel how severely those will be punished, who bury the talent which has been given them to gain something therewith, in the earth".
    In the meantime, the King, knowing nothing of the answer which Benjamin had returned to the ambassador gave command to release him from his confinement. Benjamin once more free, ceased not to exhort the people as before, and to set the light of the holy Gospel on the candlestick. When this had continued for about the space of one year after his liberation from prison, new complaints were brought against him before the King, who had him brought before him, and commanded him to renounce the God whom he served, on pain of bodily punishment.
    Then Benjamin asked the King: "What punishment, beloved King, does he deserve,

who deserts and renounces thee and thy government, and submits himself to, and serves another lord?" The King answered: Such a man deserves punishment on body and property, yea, the severest penalty of death". Benjamin asked again saying: "What punishment does the man deserve who forsakes his God, the Creator of oil things in order to exalt

one of his servants as God, and to give to a creature the worship due to God alone?"
    These words so incensed the King that he commanded his guards to sharpen twenty reeds to thrust them between the flesh and the nails of his fingers and toes. But when the King saw that the pious martyr endured all this with steadfastness, yea, regarded it but very little, he, after other torments, ordered the executioners to prepare a knotty stick, which by cutting away the branches, was made as sharp as a stick of thorns. This he caused to be thrust into the nether part of his body, and then pulled backwards and forwards, until the faithful servant and professor of Christ ended his life under the hands of the executioners, like a defenseless lamb that is led to the slaughter and opens not its mouth.
-- Martyr's Mirror, pp. 200

    In consideration of the above article, how foolish it is for 20th century Christians to murmur and complain. Paul would remind each of us that: "Ye have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin!"(Heb. 12).
    Before the return of our Lord, however, the people of God will be required to face some great trials. Once again serious effort will be made to force true Christians to renounce the true and living God for the "Man of sin" and "Son of perdition"! "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution", (2 Tim. 3:12). But this is no cause for frightfulness or despair. The Lord is still "the hope of His people" He has promised never to leave or forsake His own. Nor has He ever broken a promise. He is utterly trustworthy!
    But, we must learn to love, trust and obey Him now - discovering, by joyful experience, the delight of casting all our care upon Him.