The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-10-17


against governments. When the "heav-
ems" Ecclesiastical powersl OF the
present time shall be dissolved" 1t
Will be with great noise, with great
confusion. commotion. Ecclesiastical
institutions of the present time are in
very troubled condition, though they
are in no danger of immediate col
lapse. The principal outcry is that
few attend church services, and that
the collections are small.
st. Peters words indicate u crisis in
ecclesiastical affairs still future. The
scriptures show us that n great Fed
Grafton is seemingly bringing Ecclesi-
asticism into greater power than it
has exercised In years. Other intima-
/ tons of Scripture lead us to expect
that that federative organization will
| attempt rigid control of the world
| through afIiiation with political and
| civil power. and that considerable
measure of success will lead to intoXi-
cation on .he subject and an attempt
20 take away the liberties of the peo-
| pie entirely. the result of which will
| be n great explosion, or u great earth
quake" in the symbolica language of
| Scripture. 1t will be then that the
| heavens will take fire and he consum-
ed with a great noise, commotion, dis
astel etc. And the commotion will
include the social order. The elements
| will melt with the intensity of the
heat the strife, which will then be
engendered. The elements of society
are those mutual advantages and as
sistances of good people. upon which
the stability of government rests.
The Bible clearly intimates that the
condition of affairs symboized by the
melting of society and the disntegrat-
ing of its elements in the great heat
| of strife at that time will be the re-
suit of superstition and fear. The end
| will be anarchy, or as the Bible de-
clares, Every mans hand will be
against his ncighbor." Sellshness will
be the predominating, ruling principle.
The Symbolic Fire Useful.
The question arises, Why should
God permit the fall of our Christian
systems, which certainly have done
much that Is morally assistful to the
world? And why should He permit
the overthrow of the present order of
things, which certainly Is much more
advantageous than anarchy and dis
order? The Bible answer is that God
Is not forcing this issue, but Is merely
allowing mankind to work out these
| In nd eft will
come as the natural result of ignoring
the principles of Divine Law. Ecclesi-
asticism is unauthorized to claim that
IT Is Gods Kingdom, invested with
Divine power and authority to rule the
world. This falacious claim and the
attempt to enforce it will bring upon
1t the fire" which will consume.
The world, neglectful of the Golden
Rule, and obeying the false standard
that might makes right" will over
throw society by preciptating con
dict between the two great PARTIES
the capitalists, trusts, kings and princes
OH the one hand and labor unions and
the masses on the other hand. Each
will feel that a death struggle has
arrived and that the battle must be
fought Each will feel unwarrantedly
self-conhdent Of victory. According to
the Bible, the result will be the com
plete wreck of our present society
symbollcally pictured as fire
But the Lord through the Prophet
Icphunah points out that, following
this tilne Of fire" and trouble, will
come blessing to the earth. So also
He declares through st. Peter, that
following the symbolic fire, will come
~ New Heaven" and II new earthly
condition, the basic principle of which
will be righteousness and the Prophet
Zophanuh says that then Gods Mes
sage, In its purity, shall reach the
people. Both statements are true.
On the ruins of our present civilian
tion. when mankind will be sick mt
heart with the failure of what they
had considered to be the Brain Age,
they will look to the Lord, TO whom
they should have looked sooner, They
Will perceive the coming reign of right
eOusness and will say, "Lo this is our
God, we have waited for Him and He
will deliver u.s." Qsaiah XIV, o. Then
tHN l'fuInct ueClUTtS l ne ueSlTe VI
all nations shall come" QIaggui IL, ~
All nations are desiring blessing,
prosperity, and God desires that all
shall have these very favors, and they
will he obtainable through Messiah's
Kingdom. Then the blessing OF man.
kind will begin. The Messlanic King
DOM Invisible but All-Powerful, will
be thoroughly manifest In Its dealings
and its righteous judgments win have
control, The blessing will come
through Israel, extending to and in-
cludlng "all the families OF the earth
How grand the thought that the
New Heavens will be the new ecclesi-
astical powers--the glorlded Church
Christ and His Bride in glory and
power, The New Earth mentioned by
the Apostle will be tho new organiza-
tion of human society, along The lines
of righteousness--the Golden Rule,
We have not forgotten our text.