The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-12-20

came, no suggestion had been made re-
specting any home for humanity aside
from this earth. The paradise Of
Eden. lost through disobedience, and
Gods image in humanity. almost
oblterated by sin and death, God
promised TO restore. The right to life
forfeited by Adam for himself and his
race. God purposed to restore to all
the willing and obedieut. But all these
blessings were to come through Re-
deemer. the Mediator of the New Cove
nant. tue Messiah. ~. .
Humanity knew not the possibilities
of Restitution. but Israel had the fact
typified in their Jubilee year Of Resti-
tuition, which occurred every fifty
years. They also had typical sacri-
fees Of a Passover lamb and Atoue
ment Day offerings. representing some
means by which God justly met for
them the requirements of His own
Law. They realized not that this
satisfaction of Justice would be &C.
complished by the death Of the yery
Redeemer who subsequently would be
the Restorer. : ~ ..r:.5
Their minds naturally dwet espe-
cially upon the great fact that Mes
slab was to be of Jewish stock: and
that Israel was TO have the first chance
OF the choicest blessings In connection
with Messiah's Kingdom. As, they
waited for Messiah and His Kingdom,
they fondly anticipated their own ma
4
looked the fact that the blessing would
be an individual one ia harmony with
the Divine arrangement. They hoped
for n resurrection from the dead lat
the last day,"-in the great Seventh
Thousand Year Day or Epoch. ard ex-
pected il to bring them from the sleep
of death back to earthly conditions.
Some Of them hoped for a better
resurrection than the majority. be-
cause Of their loyalty to God and their
Willingness to suffer for righteousness;
but even these expected to be. not an
gels. but men. Was not Abraham him.
self promised that all the land which
he could see should. eventually, be his?
What could this mean except that he
would be resurrected, as an earthly
being, to enjoy this promised inberi-
lance? st. Stephen points out that
Abraham never received, in fulfilment
Of Gods promise, as much of that
land las to set his foot upon (Acts
vii, 81 Undoubtedly, therefore. the en-
possession will come to Abraham, and
will be given to his seed. his posterity,
after him. ". .s..
Heavenly Pronisss-"Like Unto An.
gels" .....
Gods plan was allowed to rest as
though forgotten until Jesus began to
accomplish another and different work.
He began to call the Bride class from
amongst mankind-both Jews and Gen.
tiles. Without explaining the full de-
tails, He invited all who desired to be-
come associated in His Kingdom to
take up their cross and follow Him
He promised them a joint-heirship
with Himself in His Kingdom. He told
them that those who attain unto that
Age and the resurrection, would nei-
Their marry nor be given in marriage
like unto the angels" Luke
IL, S5, 36.
No wonder the Apostles were sur.
prised! No wonder Nicodemus hesitat
ed. to endorse something so different
from what he had anticipated in the
way of blessing: and he came to Jesus
by night to inquire further! No wonder
the Masters words were perpleIing
when He said. I'VE must be born
again." No wonder Nicodemus. In per
ple1ity, asked about this spirit birth
and found the answers perplexipg!
Jesus did not attempt to give him a
full explanation. but merely said that
If he had difficulty in understanding
earthly things. how could be expect to
understand Heavenly things. - John
iii. IL.
Restitution Waits, but Not Abandoned
The whole matter is plain in the light
Of the New Testament teaching. Be-
fore the time for blessing the world,
God is selecting therefrom a class to
constitute the. Bride Of Christ, the
faithful Little Flock. The Church is to
be associated with Him in blessing the
human family with Restitution. But
the Bride class itself is to experience a
change of nature from human to spir-
itual This was difficult for the Apos.