Democratic messenger., 1911-11-04

n covering for their blemishcs. by
which alone their sacrifices were rem
dercd "holy ard acceptable TO Cod
Romans XII. /
Sewing Follows Reapina.
The reaping work Of the Jewish Age
merged into the sowing work Of the
Gospel Age as the invitation to be
come joint.sacrificcrs with Jesus was
extended to those having hearing ears
amongst nations aside from the Jews.
For eighteen centuries this sowing
work. with narrowing" experiences and
various cultivations. has been In prog.
ress. Now in turn we have arrived ut
the harvest OF this Gospel Age-the
reaplng time. the time of gathering
into the garner-beyond the veil-by
the power Of the First Resurrection.
"None of the wicked shall under
stand, but the wise shall understand"
Daniel XII. l0l. Is the Lords declara-
ton. Our text declares that "Ye.
brethren. are not In darkness" respect
ing this time. This implies. either that
the brethren are very few. or that
considerable number OF them have not
yet become sufficiently awake TO dis
cernment of the times and seasons In
which we are living. Many of the
brethren and many of the world and
many Of the wicked" do realize that
we are living in strange times and un-
der peculiar conditions. Thesetry to per
suade themselves. however, that what
we see today is merely recurrence OF
what has repeated itself time and
again during the past centuries. Thus
these lull themselves. saying. Peace
and safety
This attitude IL what the Scriptures
foretold. "When they shall say peace
and safety. then sudden destruction
cometh upon them." II is only "ye.
brethren" who are privileged TO have
the clearer light respecting present
and future conditions. We know that
we are In the Harvest time of this Age
the reckoning time-the testing time
the time when the wheat" Is 10 be
gathered into the heavenly garner
the time when the field is TO be cleared
OF all "tares' in a fiery trouble-the
time when tho plowshare OF trouble
will be run through the world OF man
kind TO prepare tho whole world for
the New Dispensation just about to he.
gin.
The Plownan overtakes the Reaper.
Illustrating the Divine methods and
the rapid following OF events In the
Divine Program. the Lord through the
Prophet tells us that the plowman
will evertake the reaoer." (Amos tx
49, So accurately timed is every fea-
turs OF the Divine Plan that part fits
to part and work TO work closely. The
Harvest 6 the present time is the
gathering of the frultage of this Cos
pei Age-the gathering OF the Church
OF the First-born. whose names are
written In heaven"-those who have
made Covenant with Jehovah by sac
ritice.
The Head of the sanity Messiah. de
veloped and glorified eighteen centur
les ago. IS Jesus. The members OF the
Body Of this Messiah have been gath
cred from every nation. first from the
Jews and then from all nations. Gods
call and selection of sanity sncriiicers
in this Gospel Age ignores all sec-
tartan. all UNCONVENTIONAL. all national
linee-"The Lord knowet. them that
are His" The winds OF viole. re. the
powers OF the air" which will shortly
be loosed. and which will produce the
terrific storm" are being held back
until the sealing OF Gods servants in
their foreheads shall have been accom-.
plished.
This sealing in the forehead implies
an intellectual appreciation Of heaven
ly things. and is intimately associated
with the harvest work--the sealed are
the ripe wheat being gathered for the
heavenly garner. As soon rs the seal
Ing work shall have been accomplish
ed the winds Of strife aud trouble will
be lei loose according TO the Masters
declaration. and the result will be q
time OF trouble such as never was
since there was natlon"-no. nor
ever shall be the like again. The uw
ful lessons which VIII then be learned
BY humanity will be sufficient for all
time The strife. the hatred. the mn
lignity. the anarchy Of that day Of
trouble are depicted In various places
In the Word nf God
The trouble time impending is indeed
declared "a be- time OF Divine wrath
aud we must not lose sight OF that fca
ture OF II. Divine Justice has indigna
ton against ln-equity and seltishness
In general. for seltshness Is but an
other napn for sin. All sin is selfish
and all selfishness is sin The cap
tains OF industry. the captains OF edu
cation. aud captains OF wealth have
today greater opportunities aud there
fore greater responsibilities than the
kings OF the earth for their dealings
with their f"llowmen.
Similarly. there are leaders OF the
people. presidents and secretaries ~
unions. etc. who are also captains