The evening world., 1912-12-02


Advent for month.
(RASI0R RVSSEllQ Now comes Pastor
Russell. telling US
that It will never be destroyed BY
literal IRE. According to him the
great event Of Christ's coming will
bring blessings such a. We all desire.
He seems to have the Bible and logic
on his side. too!
Pastor Russell declared that false
concepts of the Second Coming of
Christ had done great injury. The
view set forth in all orthodox creeds
ia that Christ will come again In the
flesh. The resurrection will take
place within twenty-four hours. The
sanity will rise In the air to meet
the Lord. Then fire will come down
from Heaven, and consume the whole
earth. A few-Premillennia
claim that Christ will reign in fleshy
glory for a thousand years to bless
the living Of mankind. The majority Of
Christians disown all this as ridicu-
lous nonsense because they believe
little or nothing, either OF the creeds
or the Bible. A minority dlsown II
because they perceive its inconsis-
tency with the Scriptures.
More than three hundred Bible
texts refer to Messiah's glorious Sec
ofid Advent. Our inquiry shall be
first, Why does the Master come
again? Did He not properly estab-
lish His Church? Has his Gospel Age
been q failure? VIII He come to
rectify matters and to start His
Church afresh in the work Of world
conversion and blessing?
Not at all. His work has carried
out exactly as intended. Not a sug-
gestion Of Scripture implies that the
Church Is to convert the world dur
ing this Age. On the contrary, her
mission has been to act as Gods
mouthpiece in calling . class to be
joint-heirs with the Redeemer, Mes
siah. Properly enough, Jesus said:
II pray not for the world, but for
those whom Thou hast given me-" He
loved the world. He died for the
world. In due time. by His Messianic
Kin gdom, He will bless "all the fam
lilies of the earth" But first, q spe-
cial class Is invited to become sepa-
rate from the world, to become sane
titled or set apart to God and His
service, following In the footsteps Of
Jesus. These, like their Master. must
demonstrate their love for God, their
loyalty to Him and to the brethren,
even unto death. Their reward IL to
be a share with their Master In His
Heavenly Throne Of Glory, which for
a thousand years will rule, Bless and
uplift humanity.
THE KINGDOM NOW IN EMBRYO.
Our Lords parallels refer to His
Church as a Kingdom class. This
does not signify that He intended
them to occupy places Of distinction
now. The Master Himself was neither
King nor a Priest on earth. His 10
the Melchisedec Priesthood Of the
Messianic Ago. Then He will also
be the great King over all the earth,
AZ we'll 10 the Great Prophet or
Teacher. and tho Great Judge or
Ruler. Well did He declare to PLATE,
MY Kingdom IL not Of this world
[Age]. John 1850 As His
sanity followers are to share in His
Kingdom, they must also wait for
its establishment. While waiting,
they are to pray. Thy Kingdom
come: Thy will be done on earth, as
1t Is done in Heaven"
OF this Royal Priesthood the
Apostle declares, 1.-THE world
knoweth us not" We are kings and
priests only from the Divine stand.
point, which none are able to recog-
mise except the brethren" Only In
embryo are Gods saints spoken OF
as the Kingdom class. They are or
probation. Jesus says that the over.
corners will be granted TO sit with
Him on His Throne, as actual mem,
bers Of the Royal Priesthood, te
reign with Him a thousand years.
Revelation 1921; POS.
"HE MUST REIGN UNTIL"
st. Paul, telling about the resur
rection of the dead, explains tina
the resurrection OF the Church t.
glory, honor and Immortality will b,
first on the programme. Subse
Quently all will be resurrected, Ever.
man In his own order" and Chris
will reign until He shall have pu
down all INSTRUMENTATION. Othe
Scriptures inform us that the lengtl
OF Ills Will NC u yCdI
st. Paul adds that after Jesus shall
have accomplished the work AZ
signed to Him In connection witt
rebellious man, He will deliver u
the Kingdom to God. and Himself b
subject to the Father.--1 Corinthian
15:22-28.
MESSIAHS KINGDOM INVISIBLE
Some OF the noblest minds hav
been repealed from faith In the Sec
ond Advent by the thought that q
earthly Kingdom with Christ an
the saints In regal state Is unres
sonable. They were quite right I
thinking that earthly court and stat
would be beneath the dignity Of Mes
siah and His Bride. The Scripture
declare that Jesus left His glor!
humbled Himself to become . ma
in order that He might be the gres
Sin Offering for our race. But th
Redesmer prayed to be glorified wit