Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 March 1914 — BROOKLYN ABERNACLE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROOKLYN ABERNACLE

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THE faithful are watchful. Jjuke 12:35-48—March 8. "Slewed are those servants, whom the Lord token Be cometh shall find watching.” - CODAY’S lesson opens with a parable. If, in a great bouse, the master were about to bring home his bride, the servants would on that particular pigbt be especially active, wakeful, on the aiert to hear his knock and open instantly. Bo Jesus’ followers should be on the alert for His Second Coming. The thought is that followers of Jesus should take their ideals of alertness from the extremest experience of earthly service. Jesus intimated that they might look for Him sooner than He would come.

saying that if He shall come in the second or the third watch or whenever, blessed are those servants found ready to receive Him. Our Lord's Parousia is described in today's lesson—nis earliest manifestations of His Second Advent. The world will neither see

Him nor know of His presence; and His Church will know of Ilis presence only by His “knock”—the fulfilment of prophecy. It will then be for the watchful ones to recognize this fulfilment. and promptly to acknowledge the Master's presence. For such as receive Him He will make a feast. Out of the Divine Word He will bring things new and old, for refreshment and comfort. The Bible will become to them a new Book. Many Bible students believe that we are living in this very time; and that each faithful follower of Jesus will be granted the privilege to participate in this feast which many tell us they are now enjoying. The Great Teacher then intimates that Satan is master of the present older of earthly things; and that at Ilis Second Coming Jesus will bind this strong man. overturn present institu tions and establish the long-promised Reign of Righteousness. This thorough transition will cause the great Time of Trouble mentioned throughout the Bible as closing this Gospel Age.—Daniel 12:1; Mark 13:8; Matthew 24:21. Jesus speaks of His Second Corning as thief-like. The thought is that He will be present for a time, unobserved by the world, known only to the Bride class, whom He will remove—changing them from earthly nature to Heavenly. Verse 40 instructs all the Lord's faith ful followers to be ready for Ilis pres ence, to render up their accounts and experience their change. “To Give Them Their Portion." St Peter was perplexed. Was this parable for the Apostles or for allV The Lord did not answer him directly, but merely assured him that at the appropriate time the Lord would appoint a steward over His Household, to give them food in due season. This is not very different from the Lord's usual method of dealing with His family.

For instance, St. Peter apparently Was a leader amongst the Apostles, in opening the Pentecostal door, and later in opening the door to the Gentiles—preaching to Cornelius, the first Gen tile convert Later on. the Lord seems to have chosen St Paul to be llis jmrticulnr messenger to the Geutiles (Acts 9:15). Similarly Enoch. Abraham. Moses, the Prophets, and others dur Ing this Gospel Age. seem to have been especially used of the Lord to draw His people’s attention to His Word. The Apostles, of course, had a special inspiration which does not appertain to others of this Age since. The servant at the end of the Age. if faithful, would be especially blessed, and given general charge respecting the spiritual food for the Lord’s fa ml ly—“meat in due season." But if he should prove unfaithful, fail to recognize the Master's presence and manifest an unkind spirit toward the Household, lie would go into outer darkness with the world, in utter igno ranee of the times and seasons, etc., of his Lord. The Lord then explained a general principle of Ilis dealings: namely, that

any servant, knowing his Master’s will and not doing in harmony therewith, would receive stripes, punishments, trib illations. proportionate to his knowledge and opliortunity. But any servant who ignora u'tly did things worthy of stripes would receive proportion

atel.v fewer stripes. “To whom much is given, of him much is required ”. Our Golden Text. The of this lesson is found in Verse 37. Those servants who in the earliest stages of their Lord’s Second Coming, the time of .His Paryusia. His presence, shall be found faithfully Watching, will be informed respecting the time, as the Apostle points out.1 Thessalonians 5:1-8. The secrecy respecting the time and the manner of Jesus’ Second Coming will be a strong test. All overcharged with the cares of this life—business, pleasure, etc.—will be slow to hear the "knock.” and too much engrossed to 0 give proper heed. “Watch ve therefore!” *

‘Behold. I Stand at the Door!”

The Faithful are Found Watching.