The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1909-11-20
KINGS.

hNAANAN e sAAAA AA AnN
end entirely satisfactory.
Kings to De Elected.
What an interest we properly take in
this matter of u election. after learn
ing that the ol.ce for which we are
running is a combination e.. priesthood
and Engship, The elect are to be
priest,y kings, or. otherwise styled. IA
Royal Priesthood" Their glorious
service is TO be for Il period Of one
thousand years, during which they will
be kings aud priests unto God and will
reign over the earth Revelation Xxx. 4;
/ Peter ii. 81.
They will not reign on the earth in
the ems OF being earthly beings. hay
Ing earthly courts and thrones; their
resurrection change will constitute
them heavenly or spirit beings: they
will be invisible to mankind, as now
the Prince OF this world" is invisible
and as the holy angels are Invisible.
But they will possess heavenly power
and authority and wisdom and grace.
BY these glorious attributes they will
be able to serve God and humanity by
a reign of righteousness. whose up
lifting or restitution influences (Acts
iii. 21l will begin with the living gen
eratious. but eventually extend to 'all
the families of the earth" who have
been going down for the past six thou
sand years into the great prison. house
of death-"prisoners of hope" how
ever, because Of the promise Of Gods
Word and the redemption sacrifice of
Jesus.
My beloved hearers. II your hearts
are not moved by this message of
Gods grace and this information re-
speeding his Kingdom and of your pros
poets Of becoming kings and priests In
that Kingdom, ii is because you do not
believe the message because your
faith does not properly grasp the EEK
ceeding great and precious promises
of Gods Word I'll Peter I. ~. | am
aware that this whole message by
Jesus and his apostles has been so
long covered by the rubbish Of the
dark ages" that 1t was lost to our
sight for a long while. and sadly we
missed its encouragement to faithful
ness. | am glad. however. that now
the eyes Of understanding are opening
to see the length aud breadth and
height and depth in the great Divine
Plan Of the Ages.
The Value Of Earthly Crowns.
Consider for a moment what fabu.
lous prices have been paid for earthly
crowns. Thousands of lives have been
sacrificed and millions Of money. to
gain an earthly crown. And thousands
who paid this price knew we'll that
uneasy rests the head which years
the crown" They knew well. too, that
its tenure would be precarious and
that the attainment of 1t would bring
them lasting hatred from others who
aspired to the same position and who
considered that their right to II was
as good or better.
What comparison should we institute
~ between the value Of such a crown
and the crown Of glory" honor and
immortality which God has promised
to his elect-to such Of them as make
their calling and their election sure!
Has God placed too high a valuation
upon the heavenly crown, In demand
ing that those who would share II
with the Redeemer must prove their
loyalty to him and to the principles
Of righteousness, and to the spirit OF
love. to the extent Of laying down
their lives in his service and in doing
good unto all men as they have op,
portunity, especially to the household
Of faithY'
Our Lord asked wherein would be
the profit to any mar II he were &c
gain the whole world and lose bis
own soul-lose his future life. Fol
the purpose Of our present topic We
might ask a modified question. name
ly. If n should gain the empire Of
the whole earth and all OF It's riches
and II another should gain this heav
emily ele ion TO the heavenly King
dom of one thousand years and L
subsequent eternal blessings with tn,
Lord. which of these would choos'
the better part-which would show
the real wisdom, and which would b,
the foolish one? But the contrast in
creases when we note that the domin
ion of earth cannot be secured by on
sailing through bloody seas. and tina
a mere competency Of earthly wealtl
is attained by only one of u lhousan,
who strive for It day and night. Sure
ly from the standpoint OF the rather
Word all earthly honors are v~anities
in comparison with the heavenly glO
ties and blessings which may be sure
" attained by the called Of thi
Gospel Age-if they will but FOLLOW
the Divine directions.
Terms and Conditions Of Election.
In our context 81. i'eter tells US upoI
what terms the called and accepte,
may make their election sure. Afte
calling our attention to Gods exceed
ing great aud precious promises b
tells us thar they were given US {
the intent that they should operate 4
our minds 50 as to Influence our livei
In harmony with The Divine viii. an