The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-05-24

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of captives.'-
Ephesians iv. g.
zss1gzlzz6zssaN - This grand ex-
tlRASIOK RUSStLLl preston respecting
the glorious out
come OF the Saviors work is quoted
by the Apostle Paul from the Psalms.
FPS. xviii. 49,, The figure thus thrust
before our mental eye is that of a
~reat Conqueror whose victory Is be-
ing hera!ded. With the Romans we
know that it was a custom that gen.
erals returning from various wars
were granted what were termed "Tri
umphs is to say. triumphal pro-
ceSsiOns, that the people might have
tangible evidence Of their victories.
Thus. for instance. Titus. returning
from the war upon the Jews. In A. d.
20. brought with him certain notable
persons. and the Golden Candlestick
from the Temple. and these were dis
played to the eyes Of the people fol
lowing the conquerOr. They were sub
sequently sculptured on the Arch OF
Titus. still standing in Rome. And
evidently the custom was still older
than the days of the Romans. since ii
was so prophetically set forth by the
Prophet David.
Let us permit our mental eye to
feast upon the scene presented in our
text Jesus. in fulflment Of the d.
vine Program. had left the heavenly
condition and descended to earth. tax.
ing bondman's form or nature in or
der that He. by the grace of God
might taste death for every man," in
order that He might rescue Adam and
his race from the dying and death con
dition in which they were-under Di-
vine sentence and under the power of
Satan.
Therefore the Redeemer counted not
His life precious to Him. but freely de-
livered Himself up for our offences and
died. the Just for the unjust" that He
might bring mankind back into har-
mony with God. His humiliation end
ed in death. but His triumph began
when. as is recorded. God raised Him
from the dead by His own power, and
set him at the right hand of His own
Majesty-"far above angels, principal
ties and powers and every name that
is named"
He Tha. Assembled First Descended
The prophecy says nothing about our
Lords descending from the heavenly
glory to the earthly nature. but st.
Paul supplies this feature saying, "He
that assembled. what is it but that He
first descended. into the lower condi-
ton of the earth?" Thus the Apostle
asserts that He that descended is He
that ascended above all heights. that
all things may be fulfilled through Him.
An important thought here noted is
that our Lord not only left the heaven.
ly glory. but that He returned to a
still more excellent glOry-He did not
suffer the disastrous loss of the heaven
ly nature as result of His obedience
left the heavenly nature to take the
human. so in returning He left the
human nature to ascend again to that
which He had before. with the addi.
tional glory of the divine nature.
Leading Forth the captives.
With most of the conquerors in olden
times the captives were made slaves.
Not so. however, will be the result of
Jesus victory He leads forth to lib
erty and eternal life those who have
been slaves Of sin and death. His train
of captives Is long one indeed: the
procession has already occupied eight
cen centuries. and is yet to be the great
work of the thousand years of that Mes
sianic reign!
First of all in the procession are the
saints-"the Church Of the First-born,
whose names are written in Heaven"
In the forefront Of them we see the
twelve Apostles. st. Paul taking the
place of Judas. The Apostles are to be
Kings who are to reign with Christ in
pre-eminent positions: but following
them are some others of the sanity
company of kings-in all "little
flock"
Then will come company. more nu-
Inerous. but less herOic-"a great null
titude." uncrowned. but with .'palm
branches" not anti-typical Priests, but
anti-typicdl Levites. associates and ser.
wants of the Royal Priesthood. the
Bride Then will follow Hebrews xi.
3S,4O other faithful ones of the past
the Ancient Worthless. The Prophet
speaks also of the "rebellious house."
The classes previously specified were
not rebellious. but gladly and willingly
fOrsoOk all to do the will of the Father
and to attain the liberty Of sons of
God as the first fruits of the triumph
of the Lamb.
But during the thousand years Of