The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1910-03-21

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real Israel. The nominal Jewish sys-
ten was tried and all but the Israel
ties inde,d' failed. Likewise will be
the experience of SPIRITUAL Israel. The
nominal Christian systems viii be
tried. and all will fail except the spir-
it-begotten and faithful. AS only a
remnant or small number. were found
In the proper condition at the first
advent, so the Scriptures clearly init.
mate that only small number will
be found sufficiently sanity and zeal
Gus and loyal to the Lord and the
principles of his Truth In the end of
this age, TO graduate with first honors.
As there was a special period OF
testing and trying at the close OF the
Jewish Age, lasting for forty years. so.
the Scriptures clearly indicate. there
Is special Sitting and testing due TO
come to Christendom during the clos
ing forty years of this Gospel Age
before the Inauguration of the glorious
Millennial blessings. AS the trials and
tests came upon the Jews I'm n subtle
manner. to test their faith and obe-
dience, so even more subtlety must
we expect will be connected with the
trials and testings in the harvest time
of this Gospel Age. OF this time the
Lord through the prophet said. "Who
may abide the day Of his presence,
and who shall stand when he appear
eth? for he Is like refiners fire and
like fullers' soap; and he shall SIT as
rehner and purifier of silver; and
he shall purify the sons of Levi, and
purge them as gold and silver, that
they may offer unto the Lord accept
able sacrifices" (Malachi Ill, 9, 3).
Both Houses Of Israel.
Natural and Spiritual Israel are con-
trasted. The Lord through the Proph-
ct foretold that Messiah would be
rock of offence TO both the houses of
Israel'--to Natural Israel and to Spir-
itual Israel. We have seen how the
first house stumbled on that Palm Sun
day-celebrated today. They stumbled
because they kneiD not the time of
their vlsitatlon"-they did not know
that the time had come for the estab-
lishment Of the Kingdom; hence they
were not alert to their privileges and
failed to be in the proper condition of
heart to receive the blessings. Or, we
might state the matter reversely and
say that those who did not know and
did not accept Messiah, were those
xxh hnn pfu NJ tn, tl,,, ,i,rl, -
ditlon, else they would not have been
left in darkness q Thessalonians V, A.
Many things indicate to us, now,
that we are living I'm time CORE
spending to that Palm Sunday! Many
things imply that .Christendom is now
undergoing It's great test and that only
the fully consecrated of heart and life
wifi be accepted of the Lord as his
Jewels" and be granted share with
Christ in his Kingdom. Many things
imply that we are now in the time
when the true people of God are be-
Ing divided into two classes, as pic
tured for us by our Lord in the para
BILE of the Wise and the Foolish Vir-
gins. AS only the Wise Virgins were
prepared to enter into the marriage, so
only the consecrated ones, the polished
jewels of the Lord, will be accepted as
fit for the Kingdom and be granted a
share in the glorious resurrection
change which will precede the great
time Of trouble, in which the Foolish
Virgin class, although not of the
world, will participate with the world.
True, that great time of trouble will
usher In the glorious Millennial dis
pensatlon, in which the Church in
glory with the Great Redeemer will
pour out upon all mankind the Won
derful restitution blessings which God
has promised by the mouth of all the
holy prophets (Acts III, 1929. True,
the Foolish Virgins may subsequently
get the oil and subsequently have n
glorious future. but they will lose the
choice place of Divine favor and bless
Ing. They cannot be of the Bride"
class, but will receive their blessing
under the figure OF "the virgins her
companions that follow her. psalm
xiv, 14).
1t is In order for all of Gods people
who now get awake from the slum-
ber of worldliness which has long
stupeied them, to join hearts and
voices In a great shout--the shout that
the Kingdom Is at hand! The shout
of Hosanna to the Son of David! And
that the time is Mt hand for the full
iillment of the passage, Gather to-
gether my saints unto me, saith the
Lord! those who have made cove
nant with me by sacrifice. They shall
be mine, saith the Lord. in that day
when come TO make up my jewels"
Individually NIalachi iii, 10.
"See That We Refuse Not Him."
As the Jewish nation was not ready
to receive Jesus as its King, on that
first Palm Sunday, neither is Chlsten-
dom now ready to receive him at his
second advent. AS it was, only the
'lsraelites indeed" in whom was no
guile, that then knew the voice of the
Shepherd, so 1t will be here an indl-
yidual matter The Inodicann narind