Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-01

born suggested the overthrow of the
Herodian dynasty and the establish
ment on Israel's throne of king in
the line of David and Solomon.
! Herod's disquietude is easily under
stood, but the fact that the people of
I Jerusalem in general should be dis
fturbed by the annunciation of a king
of their own awakens thought. Under
the Romans they were experiencing
great prosperity. Herod, the Edomite,
had built them temple, the grandeur
of which outshone that of Solomon,
Evidently the people were feeling SO
satisfied with their attainments that
they had ceased to specially long for
and pray for the coming of the Mes
siah, the long promised king of tho
line of David. They were disturbed lest
any change should be for the worse
lest it should mean internal strife as
between Herod and another and lest
it should mean strife with the Roman
empire, which at that time was treat
ing the Jews quite generously.
A very similar condition of things
may be expected in conjunction with
the second advent of Christ. The pow.
ers that be today are styled Christ's
Kingdom, "Christendom," but they are
really Kingdoms of this world" Any
announcement today that Messiah's
kingdom is nigh-that he will soon
take unto himself his great power and
reign (Rev. ri, 10 meets with resent
ment. If in surprise we ask why this
Indifference respecting the fulfillment
of our prayer, "Thy kingdom come"
the answer is, Let we'll enough
alone; do not agitate that subject; 1t
may bring in strife and contention, be-
cause many are prospecting so we'll
under the reign Of the Prince Of this
world that they could not look upon
a change as likely to bring any i'm
provement in their condition-indeed
some of them have reason to fear that
Messiah's kingdom would seriously
disturb their entrenched privileges
and monopolistic control OF the won
derful blessing Of our day"
Priestly Indifference on the Subject.
Although King Herod called the
priests and teachers of his day to in
quire particularly respecting the
prophecies of Messiah's birth, and al
though they answered him correctly,
nevertheless the records show no joy,
no enthusiasm on the part of the re-
ligious teachers in respect to the pro-
phetic fulfillment which they had pro-
fessed to trust in and long for. They
were Indifferent; none OF them fol-
lowed to Bethlehem to find the new
born king of the Jews. They had be-
come higher critics and no longer be-
lieyed the prophecies; they had less
faith in them than had Herod.
And do we not find an antitype in
this day? Are not the chief priests and
religious leaders generally so out OF
harmony with the divine promises and
so faithless as respects the glorious
Messianic kingdom of which the bible
tells. that they are ashamed to iden-
tify themselves in any degree with
those who seek the Lord and wait for
his kingdom?
Alas! even the Mohammedans and
Brahmins of the east are waiting for
Messiah and the Golden Age and are
disposed TO seek the evidences but
amongst the most prominent ministers
of "Christendom" there is apparent
unbelief. Higher criticism, evolution
and general opposition to Messiah and
his kingdom. Let the civil government
fight it down if it chooses everything
associated with the new dispensation.
These are quite Indifferent; they have
plans and schemes of their own by
which they are hoping to accomplish
the work predicted for Messiah; they
are anxious to raise money and to
convert the world without disturbing
the present order of things. Alas Tor
them! how clearly they are mistaken!
how terrible will be their disappoint-
ment when their cherished plans
shall all fail in great time Of trou-
ble which will prove to be the fore
runner of the reign Of Righteousness
for the blessings of all the families
of the earth--for the ushering in Of
1.-The times of restitution
Nearly nineteen centuries nave
passed since the events OF this lesson.
Israel, instead of being exalted as
Messiahs kingdom, has been wrecked.
Was it by mistake that Jesus was an
nounced King of the Jews at his birth,
or did God change his plan because
the Jews refused Jesus and crucified
him? -.
Neither suggestion is correct. Jesus
is vet to be the King of the Jews and
the king of the world. The "mys-
terry is cleared when we understand
that there are two classes of Jews,