Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1914 — BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDY ON [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDY ON

PARABLES OF THE KINGDOM. Luke 13:18-30—March 22. “\ot terry tint that Haith unto Me, Lord, Lord, Khali inter into the Kingdom of Heaven ; but he that doeth the will of My Father which i» in Uiavin.”—Matthew 7;2t. CWO illustrations of the Kingdom occur in this lesson. In one case the Lord likens the Kingdom to a grain of mustard seed, which from a small beginning became a large bush, in whose branches the birds lodged. This evidently was intended to picture the outward appearance of the Church—so prosperous as to invite the birds. Elsewhere Jesus declared L ' b.rds represented the Wicked One and his agents, ever ready to take away the seed.of Truth and to work adversely as respects tin* Gospel program. (Matt. 13:4, 19.) In Revelation also the Great Teacher speaks of the Cfiureh as becoming Babylon, confusion, and “a cage -of every unclean- and hateful bird.”--Revelation IS:2. Again the Master illustrated the experience of His Church as an embryotic Kingdom. His second parable tells of a woman who hid some leaven in three measures of meal, until the

whole was leavened. This, Bible students are coming t<> urderstand. sigil Hies a corruptmg of the Divine Message the spiritual food wbi< li God had prepared for the Church. A woman in symbolic language represents a church , system; and the Master tells Us that such :i church sys-

tem will mix leaven, ferment, in the food of God s family Until the whole mass will bo corrupted. For be it not ed that in the Bible leaven is always used ns a symbol of sin. This parabld shows that the faith once delivered to the saints will be mixed with error, until it will no longer be nourishing to the family. St. Paul pictures tin? same matter, saying that in the latter days “some shall depart from the faith, giv Ing heed to seducing spirits and doc trines of demons.” 1 Timothy 4:1. 'These false doctrines uro what are troubling the people of God today. Our hearts are better than our heads; for the hearts of the consecrated are in tune with the Infinite One, while the creeds of the Dark Ages are quite out of turn*. 'l'he blessings coming to Bible students result from breaking loose from the creeds formulated In the Dark Ages and getting back to the teachings of Scripture. The Word of God is sufficient. that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished.—2 Tim. 3:16, 17! Some dear Christian people, looking at matters from a wrong angle, are still deceived into thinking that It is possible for the Church, as the Kingdom of God in an embryotic condition, to do the work which God assigns ’so that church in her future, glorified condition.

The Called Saved. Some inquired of the Lord, Will there be but. few saved? Jesus did not give a direct answer, doubtless for two reasons: ■.

(1) The Holy Spirit bad not yet come, ami His followers could not then understand God's Plan thoroughly. (2) It was not due time to explain all tin* particulars of the spiritual salvation of the Church, and tlicit later the restitution of the world to human perfection. ' •; ;- ■

For a certain time file door to the High Calling stands ajar. The possibilities of entering were first presented to the .Jews. After finding the “Israelites indeed (loti Inis directed this selection amongst the Gentiles for more than eighteen centuries. Apparently the gathering ot the Elect is marly completed. As soon as the last one Sbttll have passed through the door, it will shut!

About that tiine. a great awakening of religious thought will come to the world, in the midst of a great Time of Trouble. Then many will begin to say that shey have neglected the prize*. There will I<• lamentations amongst this class, and a crying. Lord. Lord, are \ve not to be of the Bride class? But the Lord will disown them as respects the Bride company. 'Phen 1 they will be in great sorrow. Weeping and gnashing of teeth will prevail.

This will not be in some far-off place of eternal torture, as once we supposed; but. as the narrative intimates, it will be right here on earth, amongst a class who neglected the privileges of the High Calling when they knew of it. 'file Lord intimates that some of these will ha v e

been In close touch' with Him and His followers They had a form o,f godli-liij.-s and claimed to have done man£ mighty works, yet the Lord will disown them as respects Kingdom pri'vileg't They will not have a shareeven in the earthly Kingdom. It will be given to, the Worthies of the past who lived and died before the High Calling was opened up. The heirs of the Kingdom will not be entirely Jewish; for Israel as a nation was not sufficiently holy. When the call to joint-heirship went to the Gentiles, some came from all direc-' tions to share in the Kingdom. Thus the first in privilege and opportunity faijed.

Hold of Erery Unclean “Bird.”

Hindrances to Many Christians