The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-07-28

millennium, period of one thousand
years, detailed in Revelations, XX, in
which Satan would be restrained, and
the nations Of the world uplifted. He
said in substance:
AT present, although many live in
luxury, and a greater number in COM
parative comfort and ease, all must re-
alize that this existence falls short of
the ideal life, the millennium when all
care and sorrow shall vanish, and peace
and goodwill alone remain. Only those
who have the requisite faith to accept
the teachings of the gospel can real
ize that the present period of sorrow
will only cease, when Gods kingdom of
Righteousness is permanently estab-
lished.
when this day comes then will fol-
low the joyful millennium. After six
thousand years of sin, will come a
thousand years of righteous bliss.
Scriptures say it will be, as the day
follows the night. AT present the gos-
pei is the lamp which guides us through
the darkness"
In discussing the question of restitu-
ton, and the need of the worlds being
uplifted to higher ideals and nobler
deeds, Rev. Russell fOrcibly drew his
hearers attention to the penalty of
death, and again cited Scripture, with
the simple quotation that "the wages
of sin is DEATH"
IS GOOD PAYMASTER.
"Sin is a good paymaster," he re-
marked. He doesn't leave the male
factor so unpaid or keep him waiting
for his remuneration. The pay comes
sharp and sure. and wherever there is
sin you will find death close by, with
it's attendant cohorts of ills and pains
of the body"
The speaker argued that the theory
of eternal torture did not harmonize
with the statement that death is the
ultimate punishment, and stated that
no reasonable person could believe 1t
was part of the divine plan to bring
into being a race which now totals over
fifteen thousand million, with the pur-
pose in view of providing a future life
of torture.
Particular stress was laid by the
speaker upon the fact that Jesus Christ
came into this world as the Precipitation
for sin, and that in the Book 1T is eX-
plicltly stated that it was his death,
and not eternal suffering, which con-
stitutes release to true believers.
The prophet Daniel was quoted, and
much stress laid upon his portrayal Of
the ill-governed realms of the world,
and their supplanting by a government
of righteousness, "a stone cut out of
the mountain without hands which
filed the whole earth. And the king
dom under the whole heaven shall be
given unto the saints of the Most High,
and they shall possess it forever"
MADE a DISCLAIMER.
He discussed at length the question
of the nearness of time for establish
ing a kingdom of this nature. He de-
clared that the Messiah must not be
expected to return to earth again, in
mortal form, but that Chrst's next
mundane visit would be as beautiful
glorious spirit, as an unseen, mighty
Sovereign, and associated with him
would be His invisible spiritual church,
sharing in his glory. The object of the
return will not be to destroy, but to
bless in harmony with the heavenly
promise. According to the speaker, the
present unrest and perplexity of the
world is q token that Gods due time Is
at hand for a change of dispensation,
for an oyerthrowing of the govern
ments of the world, and the establish
ment of new order of arrangement.
He disolaimed any project, which Is
in the least Of a revolutionary charac-
ter, and declared himself heartily in
favor of every good movement which
can benefit the present existing condi-
tions, but spoke critically of the gen.
eral expectation that the world was
to be converted before the return Of
Christ to begin his reign.
There Is a good deal of trouble in
this world right now," declared Rev.
Russell and continued, in illustration of
his point, by speaking of the evidently
increasing tendencies towards dissatis-
faction on the part of the majority of
the people, which has been intensified,
on the one hand, by the growth of
business combines and trusts, and on
the other by the organization of labor
unions. The interests here conflict, and
will enter largely into the elimination
of a great deal of trouble. with which
the present dispensation is to end.
The speaker quoted Daniel again, as
authority for this statement pointing
out the significant line in chapter xii,
There shall be a time of trouble such
as was not since there was a nation"
The increasing divergence Of views.