The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1889-05-03
Compiled from Lesson Helper Quarterly by per.
mission Of Fl. S. Hoffman, publisher, Philadel

great srfferings OF the people, as recorded i'll
history at the time Jerusalem fell, A. D. 70,
there arc many who think that that was the |
great tribulation here referred to; but |
scripture is a better expositor of scripture
than any history possibly can be, and however
great We're the Affections of the people at that |
time, our lesson today in the light of prophecy
makes it very clear that the tribulation here |
spoken of is yet future and will come in the
last week of Daniels prophecy, the last seven
years of Israels history ere the kingdom is |
restored to her.
%. "The stars of heaven shall fall, and the |
powers that arc in heaven shall be shaken" |
This in addition to the darkeiing Of the sun |
and moon, mentioned in the previous verse.
In Luke xxi, 25, 26, the Spirit says there shall
be signs in the sun and in the moon, and upon
tho earth distress of nations with perplexity. |
Similar language is found in reference to
these very times III Isa xiii, 9-l3; xxxiv, is;
Joel ii, 30; iii, 2; and in each place it is in
connection with tho punishment of tho world
for iniquity, vengeance upon the enemies Of
Gods people, and the redemption of Israel.
26. "And then shall they see tho Son of Man
coming in the Clouds with great power and
glory" AS His subject is Israel and the Holy
City, this is His return in power and glory to
the Mount of Olives for tie judgment of the
nations and tho deliverance and conversion
of Israel as a nation; that they may become
missionaries to tho whole earth, bringing in
tho millennial kingdom.
81. And then shall He send His angels,
and shall gather together His elect from the
four winds" A large ray of light falls upon
this from the words of Isa. xi, H. ''And He
shall set up an ensign for the nations, and
shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and
tbayf forra tbor bn II 1/,f
the four corners of the earth"
2S. "Now learn n parable of the fig tree"
Nature itself has many things to say to us if
VIC only had ears to ear, OF time to stop and
listen; and our Saviour was always finding
illustrations in everything about Him; tho
trees, the birds, the flowers, the seasons, the
weather, the children, the farmers oil had for
Him some liEeness to spiritual things But
the fig tree, like tho vine, was a special SYM
bol of Israel, SO used by the prophets lisa. v,
Z; Joel i, y; and the fig tree to which He
came expecting fruit, because it made great
professions, and which withercd away at His
word CHAP. Xi, 12-2D, was symbol Of what
Israel then was and was about to be.
so Verify say unto you, that this gen
Grafton shall not pass, till all these'things be
done" While it is true that many who were
then living must have been living at tho de-
struction of Jerusalem, there is nothing in
this verse to limit it to that event Your
dictionary will tell you that generation
signifies race or family, and no one need be
told that the unbelieving Jewish race still
continues, among all nations and yet sep
arate, distinct, the miracle of the ages, await
| ing the fultillment of all these things.
( 81. Heaven and earth shall pass away,
but Ny words shall not pass away" Some
thing similar is found III lisa. Sl, S, in connec-
ton with the restoration of Israel and the
coming of the Lord, ''The grass withercth,
tho flower fadeth, but the word of our God
shall stand forever" and the same is quoted
in Pet. j, 25.
80. But that day and hour knoweth no
man; no, not tho angels which Gre in heaven,
| neither tho Son. but the Father" There is
TO authority in the Scriptures whereby we
nay say that He will come in such q year
or i.lonth Or day; We only know that though
! He tarrY He will surely come, and we may
know when lie is near. That the Son should
| not know seems strange indeed but as Mark
is the Only one who mentions this, and he
writes of Jesus specially as the servant of
I Cod, that ma" give some light upon it. 1t is
/ somewhat Oh the line of His doing and speak
| ing only what the Father told Him. and yet
that is found in Johns gospel. John xii, 49
xiv, lG.)
3D. Take ye heed, watch and pray; for ye
know not wi.cn the time isn Luke says that
we are to t. heed lest we bc filled with the
pleasures OF cares Of this life, but that we
are to watch and pray always, so as to es-
cape the great tribuation. duke xxi, 34-3GJ
The one thing to take heed to is the Word of
God, which is food for our souls, girdle for
cur loins, Il sword with which to defeat our
enemy and light upon our path. The one
person to take heed to is "Jesus only"
81. "To every man his work" The "far
journey" Of this verse reminds lis of tho 'far
country" of Matt. XIV, II; Luke xix, 122, and
the parallels of the talents and pounds in
those chapters. 1t is oil ono story, tho king
dom is postponed because tho king was re-
jccted. lie has gone back to heaven until
this time Of restoration of tho kingdom to
Israel, and meantime He is gathering out of
ail nations company of tried and faithful
followers, to whom He gives work to do and
talents according to their several ability,
commanding them TO be faithful and to oc.
cupy OF do business (Idis bllsiness) till He
comes 1t is q glance at this present dispensa-
ton in which we now live.
35. Watch ye therefore, for so know not
when the Master of the House cometh >
Matthew speaks OF tho days OF Noah and tells
US that as it was then SO will it be at tho com
ing of the Son of Man; Indifference to eterna
things, and peoples minds wholly taken III
with the things Of this life Ihespnit also say!
through him that some tcl"!,crs who ought
to TO giving tie people tilo food for theil
souls VIII be scoiitlls at the idea of tho Lord'
coming and be found enjoying then,selve:
, with The wolii; lie al;o tells us that som,
: who love lis appearing, and start out t.
wait for Him with their lamps burning, shall
bo SMUT cat from tle marriage through lacl
2 of Gil.
81. Lest coming sut,leu., 10 found Vol
sllep.lg." Let rs cry u.:to Cod to awasel
Us ard Keep Us ;:wsl,c; ict US doYwith or
2 might what or i.al:ss ii.!ei Go; let us no
be dsleartonc by :he l:ilres CT mconsis
tomces OF ourselves c oiiiera; hut remember
t Ing lhat We serve Tie Lord Christ, and will
respect to The rcc',Elip2tse of the reward, ma,
lis love colistr;,i.l Is TO lie ever waEetul am
watchlul
81. Ard What | say unto you say unit
t, all, wutcA' This is the fourth tinle i'll thes
, lust !i,5c verses, how intensely Ec must inca,
5 it, how important it must be. Would you b
,. surprised il He should come as you read this
II SO that is a proof tt 1T you at least are no
watching.