The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1911-06-22
OF the
Resurrection
q By Pastor Russell
OF Brookiyp Tsberuscie

Bible as an enemy Merely hymn
book theology presents II as a friend.
an angel sent Of God. Death In intro.
duced 10 our attention in the Bible as
the penalty for sin. with the distinct
understanding that had Adam not
transeressed the Divine commands he
need not have died. nor even have
been cast out OF his Eden home. ST.
Paul emphasizes the fact that death
is the penalty OF sin and that the res
direction OF the dead will come to
mankind as the result Of the redemp-
tive work OF Christ. He says: Since
by man comes death, by man also
comes the resurrection Of the dead.
For as all in Adam die, even so all
in Christ shall be made alive but
every man in his own order" band or
cohort II. Corinthians l5:21.23).
In the poetic language OF Scripture
death Is symbolically represented as
great monster which has been swal.
lowing up the human family. never
satisfied. Millions on millions have
already been devoured. Mankind In
vain has looked for a deliverer--for
one able TO vanquish death and to de
liver the prisoners from the great
prison house OF sheol. hsdes. the
grave. This monster was granted per.
mission TO devour the race by him who
created us, because we were unworthy
OF eternal life. Death, therefore. is
backed by the mandate Of the Al
mighty, and he cannot overthrow hif
own decision.
The Scriptures assure us that the
sacrifice that Jesus offered thimself)
was a satisfaction. "ransom-price,'
for the sins Of the whole world. They
tell us that the heavenly father mani
Tested his approval OF the sacrifice
when he granted the Pentecostal bless
ing. and that Jesus is even now at the
fathers right hand waiting Hebrews
1912. I3) until the time shall come
when the heather and the uttermost
parts OF the earth shall be given &c
him. that he may establish his reign
OF righteousness. blessing the world
and releasing all the prisoners Of sin
and death.
The delay 10 not In any sense an In
dicstion of weakness. nor OF any
change In the divine program. II
merely indicates that there is another
feature OF the Almighty's purpose
which We did not for a time discern
The work Is to be a great one. Twen
~ thousand millions are to be deliv
cred from deaths prison house. And
all OF them Will need instruction, up
lifting. clustering. schooling. to pre-
pare them for the divine blessing OF
life everlasting. The time for instruc
ton and uplifting is declared TO be q
thousand years. The power for the
instruction 10 the Messianic Kingdom
the Rulers OF which will be Messiah
and His Bride-joint heir with him In
his kingdom. During the past nine
teen centuries God. by his word and
providences. has been calling and
drawing a little flock" to Christ tc
be his bride.
st. Paul points us to the great de
liverer. the glorified Messiah. at the
time when he shall take the kingdom
under the whole heavens and begin
the fulfllment Of the prayer he taught
us. Thy kingdom come: thy will be
done on earth as in heaven" He tells
us he must reign until he shall have
put all enemies under his feet-''tht
last enemy that shall be destroyed ID
death" q. Corinthians 1920. The
meaning is clear. Messiah's kingdom
will address itself promptly TO the rec
tincation OF every form OF upright
eousness. financial. political. social. re
| ligious. He will rule the world with
rod OF iron and every nation and
every system or element contrary &c
the divine standards of Righteousness
will be broken to shivers with his
iron rod" Thus will righteousness
he established In the earth in the
midst OF "a time OF trouble such as
never was since there was a nation.
by the close of the thousand years
OF Messiah's reign. his victory over
Sin and Death will be complete. Every
member OF Adams race will have beer
lifted from the prison house OF death
Il will be prison house no longer
for there will be no prisoners In IL;
mankind will have been lifted out OF
the clutches of Sin and Death. weak
ness and depravity. by the processes
OF restitution, resurrection. uplifting
Acts III: 1929. The victory over sir
will be complete.
Then will be brought to pass the
Divine prophecy. 20. death. where !,
thy sting? O. grave. where is thy
victory?" Il. Corinthians xv:55).
Every member Of Adams race is e
be delivered to him who redeems all
A key Is symbol OF authority anC
symbolizes legal power to open the
prison house and TO release the pris
oners Adamic death has been a lega
penalty upon our iace-a Just penalty
But. although all shared the condem
nation. and weakness, God foresaw tina
some OF the rate. n granted the op
portunity. would gladly return TO 10y
atty 10 his laws. He has. therefore
made provision through Jesus fo
every member OF the race. great anG
/ s.A