The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-23
Pastor Russell Says 1t Is
Blasphemous to Even
Think That God Rules
Over an Evil World.
~HlS KINGDOM TO COME"
Christian People Misled by
Clergy, He Thinks--Bless-
ings Of Second Coming
to Embrace All.

Pastor c. T. Russell. of Allegheny,
Pa. gave two chart talks" at the Co
umbia Theater yesterday to Interested /
audiences. In the afternoon Pastor 4
Russell spoke on How to Study the /
Bible Dispensationally,' and in the /
evening his subject was The Restitu- j
ton Of All Things Spoken by the Mouth /
of All the Holy Prophets Since the |
World Began" Acts iii;21.
ITO be understood" said Pastor Rus |
sell yesterday afternoon, the Bible
must be studied dispensationally A
large part OF It Is historical and illus
trates great lessons. The period of
1856 years from Adam TO the food St
Peter calls the world that was, which
being overlooked by water, persisted.
The second period, from the food TO
the second coming of Our Lord TO es-
tablish the reign OF righteousness is
the ore for which we pray Thy king
dom come. Thy will be done on earth
as il Is in Heaven" St. Peter men
tons this second epoch or dispensation,
also calling it the world that now is"
/ which is reserved unto fire-a fire which
we viii show by the Scriptures is sym
| bOlic fire, representing a great cata-
clysm OF trouble. which will, hgurative-
". set on fire the entire course of hu-
man affairs in the close of this age,
eventuating in appalling anarchy, which
would consume every human hope II not
overcome by the establishment of the
millennial kingdom.
Present Word Evil.
st Paul also speaks eof this period,
styling it the present evil world. as
indicative Of the fact that evil and I'M
righteousness prevail or reign now and
in contrast with the new dispensation
to follow our Lords second coming.
which he styles the world to come
wherein dwelleth Righteousness. He
gives US clue as to why the present
dispensation is an evil one by referring
10 Satan as its ruler and prince and as
the god (ruler) OF this world Our Lord
Jesus repeatedly expressed the same
thought. styling Satan the prince OF
this world the ruler Of this world de-
claring also My kingdom is not OF this
world
The third period is indicated as "a
world without end St Peter styles It
world TO come St Paul describes II
as the dispensation OF the fullness Of
things IN which God will show forth his
favor toward his people.
God Does Not Reign"
History shows US most eonclusively
that the present dispensation has been
an evil one from its beginning until now.
It has been marked by trouble upon
trouble. crime upon crime. calamity
upon lamity-individual and national,
a warfare along lines Of selhshness and
sin Some tell US that God has been
reigning and thai all these evils. physi-
cal and moral. are the result Of his gov
eminent storms. earthquakes. cpl
denies OF diseases, moral Ieprosy.
weaker ones OF his subjects.
such a thought even is blasphemous.
The facts, as we know them. unite with
the Scriptures n teaching that God is
not now exercising the kingship Of the
world. Our Redeemer taught US TO
/ pray. Thy kingdom come, Thy viii be
done in earth as IN heaven The apos-
ties so believed, and taught also. and
all who know and love the Lord are
bound TO believe that His reign VIII
not be weak and Infamous, but, as the
{ Bible declares, His reign win be gio-
rious-a period Of Righteousness.
The MiIlennial Age
r with the close Of this present evil
! world. or dispensation, and the Opening
= Of the world. or dispensation, which IS 10
have no end. all election and prefer
ence seems TO disappear, according tc
Scripturai teaching. So far as the mil
lennial age is concerned, It appears not
to be one of choice or election. but
\ rather one OF free grace, IN which al
the families OF the earth shall bt
j blessed with full. clear knowledge OF
Cod, and with full opportunity for serv-
ing and obeying Him, and attaining
this everlasting life.
9 Concerning the millennial age. tbs
Scriptures assure US that in that day o.
Christ's reign the world in general vii
be blessed They specify that th'
knowledge Of the Lord shall I'LL TIT
whole earth, as the waters cover tn
o great deep, so that none need say TO hi
lie neighbor Know thou the Lord for al
shall know him from the least even L
)t the greatest Of them. They declare y
F. US that in His day. the day Of His king
dom. when lie shall have taken Hi
b, great power and exercised IL 10 the re
P straint Of satan and 10 the dispensing
N Of the truth-in His day righteousness
shall flourish and evil doors shall b
y cut on
Wilderness Shall Blossom.
T. Again the Scriptures tell US that fl
n that time the wilderness shall blossom
as the rose and the solitary place shall
be glad; that all the blind eyes sinai
be opened. the d.saf ears unstOpped. an
- there viii be a tine OF rejoicing in tn
] times OF refreshing which viii com