The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-04-14

1
according to the Scriptures. the final
catastrophe will occur. How near that
day may be who can tell Quite
good many earnest Bible stuGents con-
cur in the thought that such II climax
is indicated in the prophecies, for the
year 1916. But be the date as II may,
the fact remains. The prophecy we
are examining is nearly three thou
sand years old, but it is as good. as
sure and as meaningful today as.ever
It was.
We are not OF those who would
| harass the minds of our fellows with
fear. rather we would point them to
the fact that behind this cloud of trou-
BILE there is a glorious silver lining
of Millennial joy and blessing for all
the families of the earth. Rather we
would encourage all who have the
hearing ear to zeal and faithfulness
in their conservation, that they may
make their calling and their election
sure" to a share in the Kingdom glo-
rles and escape those things coming
upon the earth" duke xxi, 3G). In a
word, the Gospel of Christ is not a
message of damnation and fear and
torture, but, as the angels declared
"Good tidings of great joy which shall
be unto all people" duke ii, 10Y.
DeIiverance Of the Church Pictured.
| In the fourth and fifth verses fol-
lowing our text the Church is sym
bolically pictured as the City or King
dom of God, his dwelling-place. And
the stream of Truth is represented as
a river making the. City clean and
fresh and glad. The proclamation is
made, God is in the midst of her!
She shall not be moved! God shall
help her early in the morning" early
in the Millennial morning. The Church
is to be "a first-fruits unto God" Her
salvation as the Bride of Christ will
be accomplished early in this Mil
lennial morning. Oh, how glad will
be all those accounted worthy Of a
place in that elect Church-"the
Church Of the First-borns, whose
names are written in heavenw "She
shall not be moved" is in agreement
| with the first verse in assuring us that
Gods people will be preserved from
fear and doubt and misunderstanding
Of the events of that time Of trou-
BILE" and that their faith will enable
them to triumph at a time when 9th
ers will be in great distress and per-
plexity duke xxi, 26).
The GentiIes Ragged.
Beginning with the 9th verse the
Prophet gives brief synoptical pic
ture Of the time of trouble and its
contamination and the Inauguration Of
universal peace. THE heather Gen
tile peoples) raged!" These words
describe the tumult which will pre-
vail amongst humanity in the great
time of trouble before the climax is
reached. Raging" angry voices arise
from public meetings, and in the more
private meetings Of the lodges Of La
Dor and Capital, and through the col
umns of the Press to the extent per.
mitted. In Germany the raging
Press for some time has been muz
zled The same is true in other ma
tons. In Great Britain. in the United
States and in France there is feaI
of tumut through public Press rag
ing" and everything possible is done
to restrain it. Whoever sees that an
archy is the most dreadful terror con
fronting Civilization must realize the
wisdom of reasonable restraints upoT
his own tongue and upon the tongues
of Others Nevertheless the Scriptures
show us that all effort to suppress the
tumult and the angry voices Of mer
selfishly raging out against eacl
other will fail.
The prophetic picture continues
God uttered his voice; the earth melt
ed" The unfaithfulness of humanity
the clamor Of greed, both in rich anC
in poor. will be answered by the AL
mighty, "Giver of every good and per
feet gift" He will utter his voice.
or, as another prophet declares. "Ht
will speak to the people in his anger,
for their correction. for their reproval
The result will be that the symbolica
earth Society will melt-the socia
structure of civilization will disin
tegrate. Another Scripture declares
WAT tidt uiSihtSSia'ioh wiz Dc S'
great that every mans hand will b'
against his neighbour
, But the Prophet hastens to assure III
that in the midst of all this tumult tn,
Lord will be with his consecrated peo
pie. We read, 1.-The Lord of hosts Il
with us. The God Of Jacob is oul
refuge" This promise applies primari
ly to the consecrated Church of Chris
Spiritual Israel. But it also sec
ondarily applies to feshly Israel thu
Jewish nation. which will participate
in this time of trouble, but be savet
out Of it, as the Scriptures declare
Jeremiah XXX. .. In this time o
trouble the Lords jewels. his saints
will be gathered to their heavenl!
home, after which Divine favor will
begin to return to Israel Romans xi
.5-3Ol.
The Psalm closes with n picture o
the devastation which will prevail
;, throughout the world as a result o
human selfshness and blindness
:, Capital and Labor will rise up to
q terrible cataclysm of anarchy, awfu
for rich and poor alike. Only Godi
= saints will then have peace. and tina
because of their knowledge of tn,
grand outcome; because of their faitl
a in God and their willingness to &C
! cept whatever his providence SHOULD