Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1891 — PURPOSE OF THE AGES. [ARTICLE]

PURPOSE OF THE AGES.

request. i The Bible reveals a plan that spaing three worlds, and includes a ssuceesj sion of ages. In 2nd Peter, 3rfi chapter these worlds are each spoken of as a distinct “heaven and earth.” ; # The first world or heaven and earth f ended with the flood.. The second world, or the heavens and earth that ; are now, end at die second coming of | Christ, and the beginning of the day | of judgment. The fires of judgment result in a “new heaven and earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness,” that will be the world to come. The third world, the world without end. This same planet earth is the basis of all three worlds, and though its kosmos order of arrangement changes, the earth abideth forever.” Let the succession of these three worlds ns first, second and third be kept in mind, and it may save from much confusion in the interpretation of Scriptures. No two of them exist together unless it be "in the sense that day and night may be said to exist together during twilight change from one to the other. Hence when men talk of the world of spirits or the Invisible heavens us the world to come, it is because they do not see the revealed plan. The men that lived before the floodeould not by dying pass into the second world, which to them was “thie world to come.” Neither can men by dying pass from the second world into the third world; it is the world to come; we must wait for it as we wait for to-morrow. —~ ■t' THE AGES. 'A' ; ■ ■

These three worlds are subdivided into periods of time called ages, when one age ends and another one is added it is not that the work of the old ages was a failure,but because it has been finished and a new work is to begin . In the first world there was but one clearly marked age. In the second world there were three, first the Patriarchal or one man age, ending at the death of Jacob, national organization of Israel; second, the Jewish age, or the eispensatieu of the twelve tribes of Israel, ending with the rejection and and death of the their Messiah; third, the Gospel age, beginning with the descent of the SpirltPentlcost.and reach- ’ log to the return of Christ to receive Hisbride, the church, to Himself.—John 14-13. It Is often aDd properly called the dispensation of the Spirit in contrast with the letter and law of the Jewish age. These worlds and ages are the framework of the plan of rev a'ation and salvation. Knowledge and salvation are necessarily related to each other. So the Lord revealed Himself in order to save mankind. The truth is gradually and systematically developed (through the ages, in harmony with the necessities of the race in its rise from childhood to manhood. The order of Revalation is first, in type or picture; second in ; prophecy and third is fulfillment. But Christ is the golden thread of all revelation. He is God’s word and there! fore man’s Savior. In al 1 ages preceding the coming of Christ in the flesh, the light of the gospel was that of type and unfulfilled prophecy, and was therefore but a dim light,the iSrst ray of the gospel in fulfillment was at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. But even this earth life and teaching partook of the shadowy character of the old testament. It was true then as we might expect, that that during all ages from thc creaSion of man down to the beginning of the gospel age, only a few knew anything abont a Savior. Read the 11th chapter of Hebrews and see llie list, during the first world; from Abram to the flood,a space of 1656 years there was but three men of faith, to say thers was more is to he wise above what is written. In the patriarchal age there was more, and in the Jewish age quite an increase; but they had but a dim light attest. The Jewish nation which alone had the direct Messianic Prophecies did not know enough about Christ to expect him or receive him when he did come. Now it would be dark indeed and terrible to contemplate, if all these uninlightened multitudes, were foil accoantof their ignorance doomed to either eternal deatli or eternal torture. And as-knowledge and salvation are related to heaven, being a . condition of perfect light,; to say that these classes- will basaved because they are ignq-

ran&t, i» simply to say Jtbat they will be enlightened and saved aft eg death. But if.the popular teachings of Chrisendom he true, that all hope of the formation of character is confined to this life, what can they, who teach this, do with, the fact that Jesus would not al ow his disciples to carry a carry a crumUof the bread of life UM.be- Samaritans or|t bc- Gentiles. ; > :Matt. 10-Mi Now I ask fyou with their viewWsalvation and damnation was that commission consistent with the mission of the loving Son aud a God of love? But neither God nor Christ nor the plan are inconsistent, and only the popular view is wrong. The plan of the ages shows that the reason why Jesus gave that limited commission and on other occasions spoke in, dark sayings and parables, least men should he converted, tLook at Mark 4 11-12). The reason is because the time had not come, according to God’s plan to save the world. The first thing that Jesus did for the world wan after the rejection of the house of Israel, and that was as their representative, not substitute, of all mankind to die for them and rise again. John 12. 31-33. Now is the judgment of this world thus introduced the ! gospel age, this is the period of the suspension of Israel and for the development of the gospel church. This began with the commission broad and compreliensiv e—“go ye | into all the world and preach the gospel to I every creature." This important change took place after the death and resurrection : of Christ, and now instead of the field of operations being the Jewish nation the world became the field. Math. 13-38. Bat even here there have been many facts andcircum--1 stances tending to limit the spread of the gospel, and its acceptance by the masses of the people, not the least of which may he that even teachers have had such a Umited view of it. But God is not thwarted and the the age accomplishes its mission, the taking out from among the people or the Geutiles a people for his name, that is to be first a ; chast Jvirgin espoused to Christ and Waiting for His return aud marriage, consequently to be his bride.—Acts 15-14. 2nd Cor. 11-3; Matl. 25. 1-1; Rev 21.0-10. Now friends, the gospel age is not the time' of the universal blessing for mankind of i which the prophets wrote and exalting sang, for Paul speaks of this as a mystery not made known in other ages to come. Eph. 2. 6-7. In one figure of speech used as we have seen, the work of that age Is the development of the bride, the Lamb’s wlfeor second Eve, and in another figure it is the development or the body of the promised seed which it was foretold should bruise Satan, ! destroy evil and Its cause and bless all the nation* of the earth. Gen. Ll 5-22 Jesus is

the head Of thdtohureh, which Is hi*body, rathe husband is the head of the wife Thus the harmony of the" two figures wife and body are applied to the church. Jesus is the Christ, annointed as a person, and thi church is annointed as a divine system f 6r institution. The practical work of the gospel age has been to bring men and women into this divine institution by faith An its head and obedience to HIS authority For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body, -whether Are be Jews or Gentiles, bond or free, and have all been made to drink into one spirit. Ist Cor. 12-13. And as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ, so because of this intimate relation to Him, He being the seed and our head,;Paul could truly say, and if you be Christ’s then are ye also Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Gal. 3.19 2729. As the development of the wife or the body, or the. Christian church is the work of the gospel age the union of that body with the head in the heavens, or the marriage of the Lamb introduces .he Millennial age. Jesus cabs it-the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on tne throne of his glory, we also shall appear with Him in glory . Col. 3.4. This can not take place until after the gathering unto Him—Peter calls it the time of restitution of all things—spoken of by the months of all the prophets since the world began, as I read you. And who will limit its extent? Rather let us rejoice at the exceeding riches of His grace which is to be shown to all who need grace. The elective or selective grace of the ages past finds its justification and glory in the grand object to be gained. The few were chosen, called out, diseipled and exalted to glory. Not that all the rest of mankind s liould he consigned to eternal torture or death, but that all nations should be blessed under the administration of the! few as a royal priesthood. They rule to bless; it can but enhance our high calling in the believer’s heart to know that it will result in bless ing to mankind. The marriage of the La mb or the perfect nnion of the church to Christ, the head having taken place, the manifestation of the Son of God will be due and the complete introduction of the New Jerusl aeon’s reign which must result in theenlightenment and deliverance of the growing creation. Rom. 8.19-39; Rev. 21. 22-24; 22,1-3. Then the blessed truth shall no long* er he confined to the hearts of a few as a well of water springing up- into everlasting life, hut it will be a flowing river from the glorious throne to which all may come and drink. Then indeed' the spirit and the bride say come. This could 1 not be- applicable until after the marriage; ’Till the* the chnrch is a’virgin not a bride.- It may be truly said that the work of the Milleaiau age Is @aty for the living nations, at the hands of all the risen saints, these live and reign during the thousand years,, but the rest of the dead live not again until,‘afterward. Rev. 20. 4 6,. The Millenian age being,the-seventh thousand of man’s history fills God’s week of thousands. Is not this why Paul calls it the dispensation of the fullness of times, in which he declares that all things in- heaven and' earth will be gathered together in Christ. Eph. 1-10.

This pays nothing of the dead nations, those u ndsr the earth while Paul includes them'as in du e liavebowing to Christ and so giorifying God ill e Father who had long before premised that all should be blessed. Phil. 2. 9 11. Then t hose under the earth are to be dealt with after the Millenian aDd its little season are past. This ha rmoniz.es with Paul’s statement in Ist Cor. 15 chapter that Christ must reign until he puts down all rule and authority and power, all living and organized enemies. But yet one and only one enemy remains, death, which is not a living enemy hut a state. But this last eii etny shall be. destroyed; this then must be after the thousand years. The only conceivable way Jor the destruction of the death state to be accomplished is by mailing- its victims alive ia Christ. They can not he - enemies, we know that death was abolished ia the person of Jesus by Ilis resurrection from-the ; dead.and us Jesus was tho representative we may als knowhow it will be destroyed or abolished: ia man. Whoever can see and appreciate this outlineof the ages and see the relation of the different parts of the plan will see a place for the execution of all the threatened judgments of God in aDy age past, present, or future, and yet see that mercy and life will in due time triumph over judgment arid death, lie shall s wallow up death in victory, then there shall be no more death. These grand truths can not stand iu the way of seeking; after. holiness- and life to any one that sees them. To those who don’fcaec them their effects will be nothing. In t iiis-piaa all the passages that Calvinists can quota to sn stain election have tlleir place; so a Iso of all thstArmeniansandUnivorsalists can quote; they are all in harmony. There is nothing hideous in the Bible; doctrine of grace, or favour and Ssalvation. God promised' it To Abraham, the angles announced it at the birth ;.lesusdeclared it. John 12.. 30-31. TSa apostle Paul saw it in the-final utter destruction of all the works of the devil. Sin in the flesh must cease, we are in good company when we proclaim it io all who will- hear it. Then cheer up brethren for beyond the winter we shall find summer;., beyond night we shall find the dav; beyond the sorrow, peace ; and victory; beyond death, the immortal life This is the way of of peace. Peace that is final ; peace eternal; the way of heaven is the way of the cross ; to the crown,, through sorrow; to peace, through death,to the eveil King; in day when the well done shall be spoken, saying, “come yeblessed of my lather inherit thefcingdom prepared for yoa from the foundation of the world.’, Ohl may that be youis. may that he mine to inherit; thekingdom of God in the new earth and new heavens; the world to com e wherein 5 dwelleth righteousness or righteous men and women dwell. Now friends I ask you to accept the new and living way through Christ, the lile giver, that you may have a right to pass through the gates into the city and share with aU.the redeemed of earth in singing the new song thanking Christ for your redemption from mortality to immortality, saving to Christ, thou art .worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou, wert slain and hath re deemed us to God by thy blood out of every nation, kindred tongue, and people and bath made us unto one of God’s kings and priests and we shall reigu o i the earth. >’es earth, the beautiful earth, with the curse rolled off; and fcsee the King in His beauty, ’tis then we can shout victory over death and the (trave through Christ the life giver. Oh mar I he there to swell the shouts of viejary over death arid the grave, singing, gjpfy to God tn the highest, yea peace on earth good will towa rd ail men; glory to God ,in the big best. Amen, bo licit.

CHRISTIAN.

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