Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-06-17

sE.zzzs gEa -, ~ -,
SltseAe !oe tSsSaae! y lated TO make the
hearers sit up and take notice. We
report one OF these discourses from
text we never before heard treated
and did not even know was in the 81
Bile (Acts H. 80: For David is not
assembled into the heavens"
The Old Testament Scriptures we ac-
cept ms OF equal authority with the
New Testament, said Pastor Russell.
because Jesus and the Apostles so ac-
ceptcd them. and indeed based all of
their teachings upon them. The false
impression which has gone abroad
amongst Christian people, that the Old
Testament Scriptures are obsolete,
that their predictions have al, been
fulfilled. is very erroneous. This has
greatly hindcred Bible study. and has
paved the way to frievOus errors. II
should be remembered that the Old
Testament represents the only Divine
revelation made TO man during the
4iJS years from the creation TO the
time when Jesus at Ills baptism was
proclaimed the Lamb of God which
taketh away the sin of the world"
In all the Old Testament. from Gen
esis to Malachi, not single suggestion
is offered OF change of nature from
human TO spiritual, nor of any other
heaven than that which God had orig
inally provided for man--the Garden
of Eden. The hopes inspired in Israel
10y the Divine promises pointed them
forward TO the time when Gods bless
Ing would oblitcratc the curse OF sin
aud death and upllft mankind from
present degradation, back 10 the orig
inal perfection. The Seed of the wo-
man, II was promised. should ulti-
mately "cruSh the Scrpent's head de-
stroying the evil that is In the world,
and establishing a reign of righteous
ness instead of the reign of sin and
death Messiah as Emmanuel. would
bring these great blessings to Israel;
and. through Israel. they would he
spread amongst all nations by Divine
power Paradise. LOST through disobc-
dience, will bc restored through Mes
sinh
Instead Of expecting change of ma
ture from human to spiritual. the
teachings of the Old Testament led
the lsracltes 10 expect that God
would make no change from Ills orig
lnal purpose. lie made not the earth
to be destroyed by fire nor to be per
petually under the cloud of sin and
death ltcclesiaSteS I, 3. He formed
It to be inhabited by n human race, in
His own image and likeness. Adam in
his original purity being sample.
Dsvid's Soul In He'll.
As the Old Testament tells nothing
about heavenly condition. likewise II
tells nothing about he'll of fire or
torment. Such dcyilsh theories were
invented by the heather, from whom
many Christians have since absorbed
more or less Of the false doctrines
rhc Law ana the Prophets do refer TO
he'll some sixty-six times. but the he'll
which they teach Is the grave. the
tomb the state OF death. From first
to last an mankind. both good and
bad. so to he'll. sheol. The tomb. Abra-
ham. isaac and Jacob and all the
Prophets died without giving the
slightest intimation Of purgatorial
suffering for anybody. or hcH Of
eternal torture.
The writer's of the New Testament
we're also Jews. and It might here he
noted that nowhere did tley describe
the He'll and Purgatory which we
ProtestantS and Catholics cOujured up
during the Dark Ages, The New Tes-
lament. written IN Greek. Is IA full ac-
cord with the Old Testament, written
in Hebrew-the shcol Of the latter Is
the hddes of the former. Unfortunately
our transators have, In the English
Bible. mixed things M In terrible
fashion. giving US he'll and pit and
grave as Synonymous interpretations
OF she0l and hides. Orthodox" made
hell fiery and thus our eyes Of under
standing have been durkeued through
the Vaccinations OF cur great Adj
ycrsary, the Prince OF darkness"
But all this demoniacal misrepresen-
tation of the Divine character and
Plan Is soon 20 be scattered The
morning is at hand: the Prince of light.
the Savior, Messiah and Ills glorious
Church. VIII soon shine forth as the
Sun IN The Kingdom OF the Father.
while Satan will be bound for that
thousand years that he may deceive
the people no more. Then all the
blind eyes shall be opened aud all the
deaf ears shall be unstopped." and the
knowledge Of the glory Of the Lord
ahau ali tho whola earth, !" and sstn