Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 February 1912 — BROOKLYN TABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROOKLYN TABERNACLE

“BORN KING OF THE JEWS." Matthew ii, 1-12-—Feb. 4. “Look unto He and be ye saved, all ye ends of ■ the earth; for lam God and there is none i else.” —Isaiah rlv, 22. CODAY’S STUDY relates to the Wise ivleu of the East and their seeing of a wonderful star which, as astrologers, they recognized to import a great event. At the time Palestine was a province of the Roman Empire, and its King, Herod, Was not a Jew of the House of Jacob, but a representative of the house of Esau. Herod sought to perpetuate his dynasty, and hence the announcement of the shepherds that a great King of the Jews had just been born suggested’ the overthrow of the Herodian dynasty and. the establishment on Israel's throne of a king in the line of David. I Herod’s disquietude is easily understood, but the fact that the people of Jerusalem in general should be dis-

turbed by the annunciation of a king of their own awake h s thought. Under the Romans they were experienc- . Ing great prosperity. Herod, the Edomite, had built them a temple the grandeur of which outshone that of Solomon. Evidently

I the people were Reeling so satisfied with their attainments that they had ceased to specially long for and pray for the coming of the Messiah. A very similar condition of things may be expected in conjunction with the second advent of Christ. The powers that be today are styled Christ’s Kingdom, “Christendom,” but they are really “kingdoms of this world.” Any announcement today that Messiah’s Kingdom Is nigh—that He will soon take unto Himself His great power and reign (Revelation xl, 17) meets with resentment. If In surprise we ask why this In-, difference respecting the fulfilment of our prayer, “Thy Kingdom come,” the answer is, “Let well enough alone; do not agitate that subject; it may bring in strife and contention, because many are prospering so well under the reign of the 'Prince of this world’ that they could not look upon a change as likely to bring any Improvement in their condition—indeed some of them have reason to fear that Messiah’s Kingdom would seriously disturb their entrenched privileges and monopolistic control of the wonderful blessings of our day.”

Priestly Indifference on the Subject. Although King Herod called the priests and teachers of his day to Inquire particularly respecting the prophecies of Messiah's birth, and al-

though they answered him correctly, nevertheless, the records show no joy, no enthusiasm, on the part of the religious teachers in respect to the prophetic fulfilment which they had professed tf* trust in and to long for. None

of them followed to Bethlehem to find the new born King of the Jews. They had become Higher Critics and no longer believed the prophecies. And do we not And an antitype in this day? Are not the chief priests and religious leaders today generally so out of harmony with the Divine promises <nd so faithless as respects the glorious Messianic Kingdom of which the Bible tells, that they are ashamed to identify themselves in any degree with those who seek the Ix>rd and waiPfor His Kingdom? Alas! eVen the Mohammedans and Brahmins of the East aye waiting for Messiah and the Golden Ago and disposed’ to seek the evidences—but amongst the most prominent ministers of “Christenuoiii” there is apparent unlielief, Higher Criticism, Evolution and general opiiosition to Messiah and His Kingdom. Let the civil govern ment fight down if it chooses everything associated with the New Dls- V pensatlon; these are quite Indifferent: they have plans and schemes of their own by which they are hoping to accomplish the work predicted for Messiah. AlaS for them! how clearly they are mistaken! It has required all this Gospel Age for the selecting of the Spiritual Seed. With its completion a New Age will be inaugurated. Then the earthly blessings promised will be, fulfilled to the natural seed of Abraham. “They shall build houses and inhabit them: they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit thereof;” “the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall fill the whole earth;” to Him “every knee will boU and every tongue confess,” for all who refuse shall la* destroyed' in the Second Death. (Isaiah Ixv. 21: Hibn’t kuk ii, 14; Homans xlv> 11.) During the next Age He will be crowned Lord of all by natural Israel, and all other nationalities will enjoy the privilege of becoming proselyte children of Abraham, in the flesh. Messiah will reign in His Mediatorial Kingdom for the very purpose of bringing these blessings to natural Israel and through -her to all nations.

"There came wise men from the East.”

“Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh."