Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-07-13
~ ~ .PLYMOUTH~BET ETHEL
! g. O. 18lI5Dg1b[g 2gI!gElI

TO fight with carnal weapons: rather they arr
exhorted TO seek first the Kingdom OF God ant
its righteousness and TO leave all else 10 tn.
Lord, assured of His willingness 70 make al
AS Christ in the flesh neither lifted hand moi
tongue to smite the earthly empire, nor op
posed Caesar and his representative Plate. 9
hts followers are to raise no opposition 10 tn
powers that be- but are strictly enjoined to h
subject 10 the powers that be, ana 10 recog
nize that they are ordained OF COD. II VIII d
after the Qualification of the church with mel
Lord that invisbIy 10 mankind this power VII
be exercised. Gentle governments VIII De over
thrown. and the whole world VIII be brought int
submission. to the reign Of the kingdom of right
eousness and its earthly representatives. Thn
our Lord taught in his last message that IN aus
, time He would take unto Himself His grea
power and reign and that then the nations
would be angry, and divine wrath would cont
Lord said respecting Ills followers. who in due
time win be glorified with Him. Ito him thai
overcometh will give power over the nations.
And he shall rule them with rod OF 1ronl
as the vessels of potter shall they be hrokef
TO shivers''-Rev. 2:2s-T.
/ ssHOw LONG, -LORD?' -
| 1t would be impossible for any child Of God
in heart sympathy with the Lord and righteous
ness. and in opposition to iniquity and appre
ciative of the divine promise OF the Kingdom
and hopeful Of a share in that kingdom, no
to desire some knowledge respecting II, ant
harmony with the divine program. Thy king
dom come. Thy viii be done on earth as 1t u
IN heaven" This does not imply impauence
nor desire to hasten matters before the DIVINE
! time but II does imply interest in the graeioui
! things of the heavenly Fathers plan. And q
! it pleased the Lord TO make known to soms
things of His glorious purposes, 1t would h
disrespectful our part not to feel deep in
! terest in them, and not to seek to know al
that He might be pleased inform respect
/ ing His plans and their times and seasons.
Nor should be deferred from Investigate
Bible on this subject because Of our Lorfi
words to His disciples, '0f that day and houi
knoweth man, no, not the angels Of heaven
/ neither the Son, but my Father only. Th1
passage does not tell us that no man wouN
! ever know, but that none knew at that time
| 1t does not tell as that our Lord Jesus would
/ ing, that the angels would never know. AZ
we surely believe that the Lord and the angel
advent so we may well believe that the Lordi
/ faithful saints will not be left In darkness OF
the same subject; Indeed THIS Is What ne apes
| in darkness, that that day should overtake yos
as a thief. Ye are all the children Of light
and the children OF the day" The apostle in
Inmates that those who do not have the ligh
in its due season would thereby justify the In
ference that they belonged not to the churcl
/ but TO the world. upon whom that day shall
come as thief and as a SNARE Thess. 6l-S.
GENTLE TIMES $3.50 YEARS.
| What we would Ike to know, II IL has pleased
the Lord to reveal IT. is. just how long period
| Is meant by the expression Times OF the Gen
tiles-or years Of the Gentes.1n wnacn u.
land OF Israel. II God has been pleased to re
veal the matter. let US enjoy II; Il He has mo-
Cannot find it. We are to remember. however
that th.s Ike other features of the divine reve
lation. was intended to be kept secret ron
who are in heart harmony with the Lord, In
terested. and very DESTROYS OF knowing the mimi
OF the Lord this and on every subject Henct
we NAV not look for a plain statement to tht
effect that in so many years from such an event
Gods kingdom he transferred to Israel again
Rather we should expect that the matter woult
be stated in more or less obscure FORM.
which II might be read over ana over agar
without attracting special attention except from
those especially interested led by the Lords
We believe that the period is what the scrip
! lures term seven times''-seven years. MOI
. seven literal years. but seven symbolic years
literal years In other words. each day OF
symbolic year is year, and hence tne sever
times. or seven years, would represent uln n
800, or $50 years. give II TO you as 10!
conviction dear friends, based strictly upon tnt,
Scriptures, but corrooorated. II seems to- ne
! by the events Of our day. that this ESQ years
That a "time'' or year has been scriptur
sllv used TO represent $50 days be very easily
| and very quickly demonstrated. FOR instance
in Revelation a period OF tine Is mentioned u
three different Ways namely t;S. o % s;sv
IatiOn are exactly one-half OF the seven times
] OF the Gentiles. The I2So years OF Revelation
! are exactly one-half Of the ESQ years OF tne
, times Of the Gentfles. And these g,bzo year,
we believe will expire with October, 1914; al
. that time we believe the Gentle lease OF
will set up His kingdom In Israel
!, We do not expect universal peace 70 lmme
diately ensue because Christ is styled the Prince
OF Peace. On the contrary, TO our understands
; ing the collapse Of the nations Will be tnrougf
fierce strife, "a time OF trouble ,sucn a.
there shall be no peace to him that goeta
out nor to him that cometh In" because GOO
will set every mans hand against his neigh
Dor Our belief is that the warfare betwee1
! be short. sharp, decisive and bring UNTOLD
i oaFa all concerned II people could
only discern II, they would avoid IT, rut fnen
eyes are holden; they see net, neither DO they
! understand All the parties 10 the conflict are
|. | plunefng into it. each intent gaining ita
! point, and each oblivious to It's own best IN
! IT Is here that the voice Of the Lord speaks
to HIS people and TO all with whom they hare
j influence, favoring peace and diseouraging vlo-
lence saying Seek Righteousness, seek meek,
J ness: IL may be ye shall be mid IN the day OF
! THE SEVEN TIMES.
. These seven times were foreshadowed in ths
. | experiences Of NebuchadneZzar, who irrRs
tionaI for seven years. and at the end OF that
( time recovered his reason and acknowledged the
Lord as the ruler Of the universe. SO history
E seems to show that during this period Of Gen.
1 measure insane putting light for darkness and
darkness for light Our trust is that at the
: close of the GENTLE times. and following the
: short. sharp. decisive time OF great trouble 10
1915 humanity will regain its sanity and praise
the God of heaven and acknowledge that all
authority. including power, comes from Him and
Lihewise the scriptures show these same seven
= times as being the period OF Israels chastise.
ment. At the beginning of their national careel
! the Lord set before them the possibilities OF
| their nation: II they would obey His law and
: keep His statutes they should be His peculiaf
people His peculiar treasure, and He would
bless them temporarily as well as refresh them
D with promises and favor; but If they wodld
= walk contrary TO Him. and ignore and neglect
His laws. He would deal to the contrary With
them, and punish them in various ways.
Amongst other things He said that Il for al
Of this they would not come back into proper
, relationship TO Him, He would seven
[ times to pass over them. until they would be
thoroughly humbled and ready to learn the les.
son and to appreciate the favor OF His pro.
, lection and direction.
These seven fines of the Gentiles are the
same seven times of Israel, only to the one they
? have meant seven times Of domination which
yould close and to the others they have meant
seven times (2530 years. Of being dominated I'M
ri the close Of these times, when at Messiahfs
, | advent Israel was again TO return 10 divine
favor and be used during the millennium as
| Gods agency for the blessing of every nation.
> people kindred and tongue throughout the
earth.
, To us, dear friends. the lesson is. seek re
I first the kingdom Of Coda joint-heirship with
Christ in His millennial kingdom. We should
- | make this first consideration In life. our
: primary aim. knowing that to gain place II
i the kingdom viii he the greatest boon hmagin-
able and realizing that orr Heavenly Father
and our Receemer have called us to this gIori-
Gus station. and that the requirement Of IL VIII
be cheap whatever IL NAV cost of self-sacrifice
of the things of this present life. Amen.
/,