Some Pulpit Utterances

Iowa, 1902

Condensed Sunday Sermons

FIRST BAPTIST.

At the First Baptist church yesterday morning Mr. Porter continued his studies in the Book of Revelation, preaching on "The Seven Seals," Revelation 6 and 7. In the course of his sermon, which was heard by a large congregation, he dwelt upon that awful cry of the day of wrath, "Rocks and mountains fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne."

It is a picture of men dreading the face of Christ. It is a picture of men crying for annihilation rather than look upon His face. What is the matter with that face? It was the most beautiful, the most winning, the most sympathetic face that the sun ever shone upon. Yet here are men preferring oblivion to a sight of it. A man sins against his wife. What, then, is the face he most dreads to see? It is the loving trusting face of the woman to whom he pledged himself to cleave til death. What is the matter with her face? A young man sins against his mother. He sins against her prayers, and tears. He is in the saloon taking his first glass. What is the last face on earth he would have look in at that saloon door? It is the face of his mother. Any face but that. What is the matter with that face? It is the sweetest and loveliest face in the world. There is nothing the matter with the face. The trouble is with him. A guilty conscience makes the face of love terrible. That is what was the matter with these men fleeing from the face of Him that sat on the throne. Will you dread or welcome the face of Christ?

—Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA, Sept. 1, 1902, p. 5.

Beasts of Revelation To Be Topic

1924

"The Beast of the Symbolic Books of Daniel and Revelation" will be the subject of C. W. Gerdes, who will speak at Ebell hall, 1440 Harrison street, tomorrow evening at 7:45.

Gerdes maintains that physical facts transpiring today show conclusively that the last and greatest beast mentioned in the Book of Revelation is now making its appearance. One of those symbolic beasts he says, was responsible for the World War and the more recent religious controversy and will play an important part in the coming world crisis.

Gerdes promises to show how these beasts will be finally destroyed and mankind forever relieved of all oppression.

—Oakland Tribune, Oct. 11, 1924, p. 4.

Note: Gerdes was with the International Bible Students' Association, later called the Jehovah's Witnesses.