The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-08-05

...s.ssz zsz-e.al were written.
The first letters
which the apostle wrote were the 1st
and 2nd epistles to the Thessalonians,
and they were written upon Just one
theme, the second advent of Christ.
History Unroling.
The Jews for hundreds of years had
been living in anticipation of the
coming of a Messiah For them.
world-history had unrolled itself in
this order, viz. a 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
nlen, 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 were concerned What
they wanted was a living Lord, O
u1iohIinr divinity thpn A.
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 q
king who was destined sooner OF la.cr,
% ride down the skies in clouds ard
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
gho',e the earth at any moment, was
mighty incentive to repentance, and
cordial for every fear in the days Of
ucrcest 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
2rchangel and the trump of God, de-
stroy their enemies, restore the an
eient glory of Dayd's kingdom, and
make the twelve apostles his prime
ministers of state, to rule over ma
tions.
The tendency of the doctrine was
20 make people indifferent to anything
that made for permanency. If every
thing was going 70 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
10 deny what he mad 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 Parousla or appearing
CT Christ has not yet taken place. Two
thousand years is 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
oliyet, and it is still perfectly proper
TO say, THE Lord is not slack con
eerning His promise as some men
count slackness, but is long-suffering
TO usward, not willing that any should
perish but that all should come to
repentance"
Now, suppose the tidngs should
suddenly go forth that He was COM
ms tomorrow. Suppose it should be
definitely established that at precise
y IL o'clock, noon, August 8, 1903,
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 head
are many crowns What do you sup
pose would happen? Wouldn't there
be some revolutions in society? What
would happen in the individual life?
In the homes Of the people? In busi-
ness, In legislation, crooked things
would be mado straight, injustice and
oppression Wou.d cease, the churches
would be crowded, the halls of pleas
ure would be deserted Well, If these
things would happen then in view OF
HIS coming, can any one give any
Good and sufficient reason, why they
should no. tata 9lcc2 low?