The Mankato free press., 1912-09-13

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testimony critically. For thirteen cen
turtles the Bible was almost unknown.
The bishops of the Church We're errO-
neOusly supposed To he successors of
the Apostles and 10 speak with the
same Divine inspira ton and authority.
Printing was not yet invented and
education was confined 10 Il wealthy
few No wonder the inspired Mes
sage WAS lost in q mass of human
tradition. much of which was deyilish
nonsense! We have been gradually
progressing from darkness 10 light.
though fettered by hobgoblin figures
and each others threats aud perver.
sions OF the Divine Message 1t is
safe to say that the Bible is being
more critically studied today by ear
nest Christians of all denOmina tons
than 1t ever was before. The result
Of this study. and the advantages Of
our time. are manifeSting themselves.
Divine harmonies are filling heads and
hearts once distracted by clashing
creeds. Take our E
IeSt dS an tituStTdtIOUs
Once blindly we read this Para BILE of
the Sheep and Goats and applied it to
rewards and puniShments as result
of things done In the present Age.
Now we see that its proper application
belongs altogether to the next Age Of
Messiah's Kingdom. 1t distinctly
states this. 1t is introduced thus:
When the Son Of Man shall come in
His glory. and all the holy angels with
Him. then shall He sit upon the Throne
OF His glory: and before Him shall be
gathered all nations. and He shall sep
arate them one from another as the
shepherd divideth the sheep from the
goats"
The Church is not included in this
parable at all. 1t relates, as we see. to
the wOrld-"au nations" Other Scrip
lures show US that when the nations
shall thus undergo their trial for life
or death everlasting the Church will be
glorified. AS the Bride of Christ she
shall sit tcith Him in His Throne and be
associated in His work of judging the
world. Note how clearly st. Paul ex-
presses this, saying. "Know We not
that the saints shall judge the world:"
Il Corinthians vi. 2D Thus it is the
rorlds Judgment Day that he else
where mentions. saying. God hath ap-
pointed Day future-.a thousand
year Day-the Day Of Christi. in the
which He will judge the world in
righteousness by that Man whom He
hath ordained. Acts xvii. 81. g..
right understanding Of the doc
trine Of Election helps us gradually to
a proper view OF the Divine Program
The Church is being selected ont Of
the world according to faithfulness
and character-development. in prepara
ton for great service for the non-elect
The Messianic Kingdom, with Christ
and the Church in control as the Royal
Priesthood. is appointed for the very
purpose Of blessing the non elect
world-"all nations" For a thousand
years the work of bringing all to
knowledge of the Truth will progress
To this end Satan will be bound at the
very beginning OF the thousand years
and the light Of the knowledge of the
glory Of God will fill the wfole earth
as the waters cover the great deep.
With all thus brought to clear com
prehension OF righteousness each will
be on trial. and will either come into
harmony with the Kingdom or remain
an alien and lover of sim All the lat
ter are In the parable classed as goats
--wayward Ones-and will thus place
themselves at the left hand of the
King-in His disfavor. On the con-
trary, all who learn the ways of the
Lord and come into accord Herewith
are symbolically styled sheep in the
parable. and by their conduct will
gradually take their places at the
Kings right hand or place Of favor.
Sheep-Goats-Fire.
The Parable shows the conclusion
of the worlds Judgment All will
then have taken their places, either
as sheep or as goats-either in the
Kings favor or I'm His disfavOr. The
sheep class will then hear His "Well
DONE. Come. We blessed of My Fa-
ther, Inherit the Kingdom prepared
for you from the foundation Of the
world"--frOm the time the world was
Observation-Disclosures XIV. u. 90, "a.
The world was made for mankind
Adam being its representative was the
King OF earth. He lost his dominion
when he lost his relationship to his
Creator and lost his right to eternal life
by his disobedience. The sheep class
will represent all of Adams race
brought back to perfection by the proc,
esses of Restitution during Messiah's
reign. (Acts iii, 1929 To them will
come the dominion which Adam lost
and which Jesus redeemed at Calvary
and which He will gire to the worthy
ones at the conclusion Of His thou
sand-year reign Next, the fate of the
goat class Is stated-not in literal Ian
guage. but symbolically. Indeed. tue
Prophet and the Apostle declared Of
Jesus that He opened His mouth in
parallels" and that without para
Bile spake He not unto the people"
In other words. everything that Jesus
said to the people in general was fig-
urative. in order that only those of
right condition of heart might be able
to. understand Him.
The message of the great King to the
goat class will be, Depart from Me.
We cursed. into everlasting fire pre-