Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-31

souls in all the storms and trials and
difficulties of life. in all the opposition
of the world, the flesh and the Adver-
sary, If we do not know what the hope
Is, if we have not even recognized the
promise upon which this hope is based?
GOD FORESAW THE PRESENT
This is the pitisble condition of many
of Gods true children; for they are
merely babes in christ. using the milk of
the Word. They have need of the strong
meat of Gods promises, as the apostle
speaks of it, that they may be strong
in the Lord and in the power of His
might" that they might have on the
whole armor of GOd-helmet, breast
plate, sandals. sword and shield-and be
able to quench the fiery darts of the
Wicked One-able also 10 help the
weaker ones in this day when the Ad-
versary is assaulting the Word of God,
the citadel of the truth. with various in
fidel arguments in the hands and
mouths of those who profess to be min
listers of the Word.
Need 1 quote the promise, the one so
repeatedly referred to in the apostolic
writings: the one which is the basis or
anchorage for our souls? 1t was made
to Abraham, and reads thus: I'm thy
seed shall all the families Of the earth
be blessed" 1t was a promise for the
time The world was not blessed in
Abraham's day, nor did he even have
a child at the time this promise was
given Isaac did not fulfill the prom
Use; ne was merely a type of the great
er seed of Abraham, who in due time,
would fulfill it. Jacob and his II tribes
|-fleshIy IsraeI-did not fulfill the
promise, but still looked for greater
Messiah to fulfill ito bless them, and
through them. all the families or the
earth.
The Apostle Paul referred to this very
promise, declaring that the seed OF Alb
raham mentioned therein is Christ. All
Christians agree to this. although they
have not distlnctively and properly asso-
ciated it with the declarations or the
promise. But the apostle makes clear
to us that in saying that Christ is the
seed of Abraham, he had in mind not
only the Lord Jesus as the Head or the
BODY, the Head of the Christ, but also
the overcoming saints of this Gospel
Age as the Body of Christ. This ne
distinctively states in many places Ior
instance. Galatians 1868 Here he
declares the matter expressly, saying:
five be Christ's. then are We Abraham
seed. and heirs, according to the prom
ise"
The seed Of Abraham is the gospel church.
with her head the Lord Jesus; as the aPosue
states again, saying: I'VE, brethren, as isaac
was typified by Isaac. are the children OF
PROMISE (Gala.. 4:2S). 1t follows tnat ue
seed Of Abraham mentioned IN me tha f1i close
of this gospel age the harvest time OF WHICH
we believe are now In $500 4,
But what wonderful Thought Is lnNoiv Wo-di
this plain Interpretation OF the divine WY.
II is big with hope for spiritual Israel the
spiritual seed. and no less IT means uessns
for fine natural seed-fleshly Israel-and ulll-
4ha v,tlIauufal blessings TO all Ine
lies OF the earth. Let us examine these three
hopes The hopes for these three classes ee !n
IN this great oatbOund covenant Let US Ihus
obtain what the apostle tells us was the LoIu
intention for us, namely, strong consolation
strong encouragement ,..,a
the sufferings of Christ and the glOries that
should follow; nevertheless, the glories 10 follow
have been granted much more space IN the III
vine reveIation than have the sufferings OF the
present time The implication suggested by the
apostle Is that, when the glories OF the future
shall be realized, the trials ana suIierlhss anu
difficultles OF the present time Will be found
not worthy to be compared; but those giorles
end blessings have been yelled Iron hS our aver
the future in the minds OF many OF the Loru
people. With some IT is merely mist OF
doubt and of uncertainty; with others IL is tne
smoke OF confusion blaekness and despair, as
they think of their own friends In conneeuoh
with an eternity of torture, ana prooaDnI MY
that a large majority Of those they love Will
spend an eternity of horror In torment. we
know however, that these clouds and DARK lore,
holdings TO US from uaNA asSSs o-N
through theological twistings handed down from
'iH' nisToRT SIMPLE LANGUAGE.
Many Of us have learned to distort the simple
Language of Gods Word in such a manner as to
cause anguish and distress. For instance;
DESTROY: perish .snot,or etc terms used By
the Lord to represent the ultimate, complete
humiliation of those who will not come INTO
harmony with Him after Iuil pon tbs RS
verse Of what they say-life, preservation In
torture. etc. -.
learn that Gods Book is not the foundation
of these horrible nightmares which have az
flicted us. and which in the past hindered many
of ms from a proper love and reverence OF our
Creator IT is high time that we should take
the explanation which the apostle gives US OF
this matter and of all The errors which assai
moor humanity respecting the future. He says:
1.-The god OF this world has blinded the minds
of them that believe not. lest the glorious
light of the goodness of God as IL shines In the
face of Jesus Christ Lord should shine into
their hearts q Cor, 4:4).
We cannot here and now discuss this SUBJECT
but have provided in the hands Of the ushers,
some free pamphlets on What Say the Scrip
lures About Helll" Should the supply prove in
cbeeTfnIiv send from Brooklyn what will satisfy
both your head and your heart
Now what hope and interest has the church
of Christ In this promise made TO AbrahamF
To ms belongs the very cream OF the promise,
1.-THE riches of Gods grace" The promise I'M
plies the greatness Of the seed OF Abraham
This greatness is 50 wonderful as to be almost
bevOnd human comprehension The Overcomers
of tbis gospel age, who make their calling
and election sure in Christ. are to be joint
heirs with Him in the glorious millennial king
dom which is to be Gods agency or channel
for bringing about the promised blessings-the
blessings OF all the families Of the earth.
The great blessing Of forgiveness Of sins which
are past and even the blessing Of being awak-
ened from the sleep Of death. would profit man
Kind but little. If the arrangements of that
future .time-the millennial age-were not on
such scale as to permit a thorough recovery
from present mental, moral and physical weak
nesses Hence we are reJoiced 10 learn mat
in that time Satan will be bound. every evil In
fluence and every .unfavOrable condition viii be
brought under restraint and the favor Of God |
through the knowledge OF God VIII be turned
upon the people. 1.-The knowledge Of the Lord
shall fill the whole earth as the waters cover
the great deep" Blessing. aye, favor upon
favor blessing upon blessing, is the Lords ar
rangement and provisioni All shall know Him, |
from the least unto the greatest, and none shall
need TO say to his neighbor his brother, |
s.Know thou the LordT' lisa. 11:9; Jer. 81 34b.
The prophets spoke repeatedly OF these bless
ings due to the world in the future. Mark
how Joel tells that, during this gospel age, |
the Lord pours out His spirit upon His ser
wants and handmaidens, so after these days. in
the millennial age, He viii pour out His spirit
upon an flesh. There will be worldwide bless
ing through the knowledge Of the truth. Marx |
how Moses the prophet, spoke of these coming
blessings and told how God would raise M
greater lawgiven than himself, q greater !