Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 271, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 November 1914 — ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY

“Watch Ye, Stand Fast In the Filth, Quit You Like Mon” The Present Scriptiirally Designated “the Evil Day"—A . Tim* of Thorough Teating—Special Trials of Faith and Obedience I—Difficult 1 —Difficult to Stand. Need For "Whole Armor of God.” Thousands Falling on Every Side.

November 15. Pastor Russell’s discourse today was based upon th? text, “Take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the Evil Day, and having done alii to stand.”—Ephesians 6:13. The Pastor open ed his discourse by

saying that only those who have learn, ed rightly to divide the Word of Trutfi —who have learned from the Scriptures that the Divine Plan is progres slvfe, in which .successive ,ages form links—can understand the workings of Divine providences. If all .Christians could awake to a proper study of the Bible, could see the object of the Divine dealings with the Jews during the Jewish Age, with Christians during this Gospel Age, and with the world during the incoming Millennial Age, they would see that each Age has its seed time and harvest, after which that Age, having served its purpose, passes away, giving place to another Age and a different work.

For instance, in the end of the Jewish Age a peculiar testing-came to that people, while John the Baptist was preacblpg-vW separating of the chaff from the wheat, a gathering of the wheat into the garner of the next Age, and the permission of trouble upon the chaff class, which utterly destroyed thepa as a nation. In Matthew 13:24, 37, the Master declares that In the end of this Age there will be a separation of wheat from tares, the former being gathered Into the Kingdom of Messiah, the latter being consumed as tares, though not as Individuals. The destruction of a tare, an imitation Christian, signifies that the person posing as a Christian, drawing nigh to God with his lips only, will cease to make such a profession. “In ths Evil Day.” Next was pointed out that according to Scripture the present is the time which the Apostle designates, “the evil day/* Throughout the Bible this period is set forth as the time*'when wheat and tares will be thoroughly separated. It seems difficult for most people to realize that they should be in the midst of fulfilments of prophecy. Familiar with present day conditions, many shut their eyes to the great changes going on around us. St Peter, speaking of our day, says that they “are willingly Ignorant.” Indeed, the majority do not wish to know. Imbued with the worldly spirit many professing Christians are indifferent to what the Lord caused to be written for their assistance in this evil day. Such are not of “the very Elect”. These, St Paul shews, will not be in darkness, that that day should overtake them as a thief. They will be earnest vigilant, standing fast in the faith.

Our Lord declared that the trial of our time would be so crucial that, if possible, it would “deceive the very Elect” But this will not be possible; for they will seek the assistance which God has promised. Through the Prophet David Jehovah foretold the special trials of our day, picturing Satan’s various devices—Spiritism, Higher Criticism, Christian Science—as pestilences and arrows. He tells that thousands shall fall—amongst those whom we have considered most favored and as our friends in the Lord. The Armament of Truth and Grace. The Pastor explained that his tekt was much in harmony with Psalm 91, and indicates a need for the armor of God, a difficulty in withstanding the assaults of this Day, and the fewness of those who will, eventually stand. St Paul’s exhortation is that Christians take the whole armor of God—not merely the shield of faith, not merely the helmet of salvation, not merely the breastplate of righteousness, not merely the Sword of the Spirit, not merely the-sandals of preparation, not merely the girdle of Truth, but all of these. Whoever will stand will need every piece. Many declare that it makes no difference what we believe—Truth or falsehood—that the Lord will determine our standing by our works. But the Bible forbids this thought, and assures us that none can have works pleasing to God because all are imperfect The Divine proposal is that during this Gospel Age He will reward faith accompanied with works to the extent of ability, and reckoned perfect through the imputed merit of Christ. Each should examine himself and discern whether he loves and serves a creed of the Dark Ages or whether he 1* devoted simply to the Word of God Whoever receives God’s Truth In the love of it will to the best of his ability and judgment show It to others, whatever the cost be, and thus will demonstrate that he is a child of God. Whoever Qtlls to do so will surely find his course injurious to himself-

PASTOR. RUSSELL