Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 December 1916 — CHRIST GOING, AND COMING TO CHRIST [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHRIST GOING, AND COMING TO CHRIST

Revelation 22:6 U-—December 31. God’s Kingdom Not Yet Set Up In the Earth—The Revelation Portrays Trouble For the Chureh Throughout the Gospel Age, and Their Triumphant Reign During the Millennial Age—The Marriage of the Lamb Not Yet Accomplished—Therefore There Is as Yet No “Bride.” '•The Spirit and the llride say, Come. And he that heareth, let him say, Come. And he that is athirst, let him come; he that will, let him take of the Water of Life freely."— Verse 27. It. V. - POSTMI LLENNIALISTS must have an especially hard task when they touch upon the Revelation, as today’s Study does. Those who think that God’s Kingdom was set up in power at Pentecost, that ever since it has been conquering the world, that its conquest will proceed until God’s will is done on earth ns in Heaven, that then the Second Advent will take place and our Ijord will commend their work and take all the faithful to Heaven and burn up the world —these dear friends must be perplexed over Revelation. Surely they must admit that the first chapters, containing our risen Lord’s Messages to tlie Churches, imply nothing of the kind enumerated above, suggest nothing to the effect that the Church of Christ is reigning now. Quite to the contrary, they indicate that down to the very end of the Age it Will be a suffering Church. Revelation promises a future Reign to those who faithfully endure the trials of the present time preceding the establishment of the Kingdom—the overcomers. The chapters between the third and the twentieth deal with conflicts between good and evil, evidently covering the entire Gospel Age. Yet in all tbes© conflicts, the evil is shown to be triumphant, and the Lord’s people are worn out, cry from under the altar, etc. llow thinking people can close

their minds to all this is passing strange; for these chapters describe nothing like a Reign •of Righteousness. Only at the conclusion of this book of symbols is the inauguration of the Millennium pictured, showing tlie triumph of our

Lord and Ilis saints. The introduction of that Reign of Righteousness is portrayed, marked by wonderful events connected with our Lord’s Second Advent—the glorification of the Church, the binding of Satan, the blessing of the world, etc. One would suppose that, even with no knowledge of the symbols of Revelation, no thinking Christian would have difficulty in realizing that the book foretells trouble for the Church throughout the Gospel Age and the triumphant Millennial Reign at its close. Sayings “Faithful and” True. , Having pictured the Restitution work to its consummation, the Revelation changes. Verse Gos today’s Study assures us that these wonderful promises are faithful and true. In Verse 7 the Master speaks to all of His Church who have the hearing ear. The intimation seems to be that none can understand this book of symbols until its seals are loosed; and that when its teachings come to be appreciated, the Second Advent will be at hand. Verse S bears out this thought St John represents those favored members of the Church living in the end of this Age and privileged to witness what he saw in symbol. Amongst these there might be a disposition to honor too highly the one used of the Lord to communicate the light now due. Verse 9 sets forth the proprieties of the case, God alone should be worshiped. He is the Author of the great Plan of salvation, and will be the Finisher of it. This Plan is brought to our attention now by the Father because the due time has come for His people to understand His purposes. Verse 10 continues this thought God’s people are not to expect, however, that their telling of the Message, their explaining of the Divine Plan, will convert the

world; for the Message was not designed to accomplish this. Notwithstanding the unfolding of the Plan, this knowledge will be only for a special class. (Daniel 12:10.) It Is not designed to make righteous the filthy nor to turn the righteous to sin.

Verse 11. So far as the understanding of the Divine Purpose is concerned, those who are righteous may be righteous still, those who are filthy may be filthy still. There are some who are not saints, but who nevertheless are righteous, who live uprightly, honorably. To these lovers of righteousness the Divine Plan now unfolding commends itself. Our Golden Text is the inspired statement respecting the work of the Messianic Kingdom. There will be a Bride then. Now the Church is an espoused Virgin (2 Cor. 11:2). The last members of the Church of Christ must enter into glory with their Lord before the Marriage. Then will begin the blessed work of Restitution.

"Come!"

Every Knee Shall Bow.