The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-06-13

ASIo&5sl21GAlJ lated to make the
hearers sit up and take notice. We
report one OF these dlscourses from
n text we never before heard treated
md did not even know was In the Bi-
ble (Acts ii, 3N; "Tor David is not
ascended into the heavens"
The Old Testament Scriptures we ac-
sept as of equal authority with the
New Testament, said Pastor Russell,
because Jesus and the Apostles so ac-
~cepted 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 nj! been
fulfilled, is very erroneous. This has
greatly hindered Bible study. and has
paved the way to grievous errors 1t
ahould be remembered that the Old
Testament represents the only Divine
revelation made t07hpan during the
4l5S years from thsf creation TO the
time when Jesus at His baptism was
proclaimed "the Lamb Of God which
takeih away the sin OF the world"
In all the Old Testament, from Cen
gsis to Malachi, not single suggestion
Is offered of u change of nature from
hunan TO spiritual. nor Of amy other
heaven than that which God had orig
inally provided for man-the Garden
az Eden. The hopes inspired In Israel
sby the Divine promises pointed them
forward to the time when Gods bless
Gng would obliteratc the curse Of sin
and death and upiift mankind from
present degradation. back to the orig
lnai perfection. The Seed Of the wo-
naan, 1t was promised. should uit-
nasfely "crush the Serpent's head" de-
ntroying the evil that Ii In the world,
nnd establishing n reign Of righteous
mesa instead of the reign of sin and
death Messiah as Emmanuel, would
tring these great. biessings to Israel;
and, through Israel. they would be
spread amongst all nations by Divine
power. Paradise, lost through disobe-
dl.nee, win be restored through Mes
slah.
Instead of expecting change or ma
9nre from human TO spiritual, the
teachings of the Old Testament led
8he Israeites to expect that God
would make no change from His orig
iirIal purpose. lie made not the earth
,se be destroyed by Gre nor to be per
lty9tnally under the cloud OF sin and
leszth lIicclesiastes |. ~. He formed
az 70 be inhabited by human race. In
Esis own image and likeness Adam II
Ibis original purity being sample.
tDavid's Soul IN He'll.
As the Old Testament tells nothlnl
About a heavenly condition. likewise l
Ssriis nothlng about hell of fire OF
.sornpeIIt Such deviiish theories wer'
f91gtpted by the heather. from whom
sIrbny Christians have since absorbe'
isnTs cc Less Of the false doctrines
Tho Law and the Prophets do refer Il
Acu some slxty.sx times, but the bel
(which they teach Ia the grave, tn
tomb. the state OF death. From ars
40 hast all mankind. both good AM
bad. go to hoil. sheol. Nse tomb Abra
s1am, Isaac and Jacob and all tn
Prophets died without giving tli
slightest intimation OF Purgatorlt
Suffering for anybedy, or he'll
eternal torture.
The writer's OF the New TeStamer
wern also Jews, aud II might here |
nDied that nowhere did they dcscrll
yhe Hell aud Purgalory which W
.Protestnn,B and Catholics conjurcd 4
sfnriug the Dark Ages. The New Tc
lament written IN Creek. IL In full a
cord with the old Testament, write
In Hebrew the shoot of the latter
the hddes OF the former Unfortunate
our translators have. la The EngIIi
Bible mixed things up In a terrib
fnRhion, giving us hell and pit al
grave az Synonymous. Interpretation
of she0l and hgdes Orthodoxy maj
hell ilery and thus our eyes OF und'
standing have been darkcned thr0uI
Ihe mnchlnations of our great A
sgersary, "the Prince OF darkness"
But all this demOnlacai mlsreprese
4 aoAhan OF the Divine character al
~ teint ~ soon to he scattered II
snnrnhsg Is at hand: the Prince of ilgl
t1ise sbSVior. Messiah and His glorlo
Chuth, will soon shine forth NJ
Sun bin zhe Kingdom of the Fath
vhiin ssaaan win be bound for u
fngusaue years that he may decei
.lhe people no more. Then all
blind eyes shall he opened aud all
dear ears shall be unslopped;" and "t
knowledge OF the glory OF the IL
'-aAhall all the whole earth;" and