The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-12

longed to Christ (Col. |, 16), in which He
had deposited the seed of righteousness,
the truth spoken by Him duke WILL III,
which produces good men (verse 3S), the
children of the kingdom. Into this field
the devil enters slyly and unseen, ana
deposits falsehood (Gen. iii, 49, as the
father and author of lies. when come
children of wickedness. The harvest, Is
the end of the world (Rev. xiv, 15), some
say the end of the age, the closing up
of the present order of things. The
reapers are the angels, the messengers
of God, those who behold this mixed
condition on the earth and wonder and
wait until the order shall go forth de-
claring the end, those snless beings who
minister now to the righteous, but shall
administer justice to the wicked.
APPLYING.-The terminology having
been thus made plain Jesus proceeded to
apply His teaching oversees Al to 43). He
showed that the present mixed condition
of affairs in this world. the mingling of
the righteous and the wicked, will be
brought to an end. A definite time has
been fixed unknown to men Matt XIV,
S6), styled the end of the world frequently
mentioned in Scripture. 1t will be ush-
cred in by phenomena of a startling char
acter. The rightful sovereign, who has
so long and patiently endured the pres
ence of evil in His kingdom (Heb. xiii,
-, will then exchange His attitude of
mercy to one of justice. By the instru-
mentality of angels whom He will send
forth He will gather out of His king
dom all who offend. They will be doomed
to destruction. Shall we call 1t figura-
tive language, as many do, or shall we
hold it to be a literal account of their
fate? They shall be cast into a furnace
of fire! This is the statement of the
meek and lowly Jesus However the
words are understood the destiny is GER
tain and awful (Rev. xix. 20). After this
fearful visitation shall come a better era.
better world. "The righteous shall
shine forth as the sun" CDan. xii, 81,
fulfilling the prediction of the prophet
The implication here is that the pres
erce of the ungodly prevents the saints
from appearing in their true glory.
CONCLUSION.--Our lesson suggests
some difficult questions. Whence came
the evil that is in the world? Why is
the evil permitted to remain? How long
will II continue? These and other in.
quiries of like import have engaged the
minds of the thoughtful in all ages and
lands. Many volumes have been written
in the attempt to answer, but nothing
satisfactory has thus far appeared, and
men are left to speculate and wonder
There is as much mystery here as in the
realms of physical science, probably nc
more. But the teaching of Jesus sheds
light on the subject, and we do well tc
remember what he has said. The evil Is
here through the work of a malignant
| spirit. 1t remains only by permission fol
| the sake of the good. Some day. in the
| time of infinite wisdom, ana by Divine
| fiat and power, ii will be cast out. A
| bright and glorious morning will dawr
upon a world of righteousness lisa. XII
, 81, when they who love the Lord will be
seen in all their excellence (Rev. iii, 81
| clad in white robes. All hail. blessed
| day! And what need men do, but tC
| choose the right ana hate the wrong. tC
| stand in their lot and place, assured tha
| what is now so mysterious will be mad,
| plain. The world is under government
The Ruler is working out His plans, anc
| His name will be glorited and His wis
dow displayed in the result (Rev. xix
| 1-2).