The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-07-30

were written.
The first letters
which the apostle wrote were the 1st
and End epistles to the Thessalonians,
and they were written upon just one
theme, the second advent of Christ.
History Unrolling.
The Jews for hundreds of years had
coming of a Messiah. For them,
world-history had unrolled itself in
this order, viz: chosen man, Abra-
ham, was called out of Ur of the Chal-
dees, and this chosen man had be-
come the head of chosen family,
Hebrews, and this chosen family had
become a chosen nation, Israelites,
and this chosen nation should produce
chosen, supreme teacher, Jesus.
That was as far as they went. And
right here the apostles took up the
chart, and taught that this chosen
Jewish Messiah is the Saviour of all
men, and that this chosen Supreme
teacher has founded chosen church,
and that to this chosen church shall
ultimately be given all nations.
The Gentiles on the contrary-the
Greeks, Romans, and barbarians could
not be reached by that argument. The
Old Testament, and the Jewish
prophets were nothing to them.
Whether Christ was the Messiah or
not was Of no particular force so
far as they We're concerned. What
they wanted was a living Lord,
mightier divinity than Jupiter, or
Jove, one who could appropriately be
termed King of Kings, and Lord of
Lords. To them, therefore, Paul
| preached a Mighty Redeemer of all
men, now enthroned in heaven, vic
| tor over death and the grave, and a
| king who was destined sooner or later,
to ride down the skies in clouds and
great glory, to judge the world in
righteousness. The thought of the
imminence Of the second advent, that
| the judge was even then at the door,
! that the trump of the archangel might
shake the earth at any moment, was
mighty incentive to repentance, and
cordial for every fear in the days of
! tierceSt persecution.
The Kings Return.
1t is doubtless true that the early
church anticipated that Christ would
return to earth in person within the
lifetime Of those then living. They
felt that they were living in the last
days and they looked with longing
eyes for the absent King to burst
upon the world with the voice of the
archangel and the trump of God, de-
stroy their enemies, restore the an
cient glory of David's kingdom, and
make the twelve apostles his prime
ministers of state, to rule over ma.
tions.
The tendency of the doctrine was
to make people Indifferent to anything
that made for permanency. If every
thing was going to be so completely
revolutionized so soon, what was the
use of trying to evangelize the world,
| or establish institutions only to have
them wiped out of existence when He
came. Therefore, to correct that err
ror, Paul wrote his second letter, not
to deny what he had already pro-
claimed in any way, but to dispel the
idea that Christ had already returned
or was just on the eve of it.
Two thousand years have rolled
away and the Parousia or appearing
of Christ has not yet taken place. Two
thousand years is a long time as men
count time, but not in the clock of
eternity. According to the chronology
of heaven, "a thousand years in thy
sight are but as yesterday when it is
passed" And, "A thousand years is
with the Lord as one day." That be-
ing so, it follows that it is not yet two
days since Christ ascended from
Olivet, and it Is still perfectly proper
to say, THE Lord is not slack con
cerning His promise as some men
count slackness, but is long-suffering
to usward, not willing that any should
perish but that all should come tC
repentance"
Now, suppose the tidings should
suddenly go forth that He was com
ing tomorrow. Suppose it should be
definitely established that at precise
ly IL o'clock. noon, August 8, 1909
the heavens would roll together like &
scroll, the throne of the universe
would appear In the clouds, and every
eye should see Him, on whose hea(
are many crowns! What do you sup
pose would happen? Wouldn't there
be some revolutions in society? Wha
would happen in the individual life
In the homes Of the people2 In bust
ness, in legislation, crooked thing
would be made straight, injustice an'
oppression would cease, the churche
would be crowded. the halls of pleas
ure would be deserted. Well, II thes
things would happen then IN view o
His coming, can any one give an
nnnd and snflcient reason WhY the