The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-03

the glorious outcome of the Savior's
work is quoted by the Apostle Paul
from the Psalms 1xviii, ISL The fig
ure thus thrust before our mental eye
is that of great Conqueror whose vic.
tory Is being heralded With the Ro.
mans we know that it was custom
that generals returning from wars
were granted what were termed ''Tri-
umphs'-or triumphal professions.
Let us permit our mental eye to feast
upon the scene of our text. Jesus, in
fulfilment of the Divine Program. had
left the heavenly condition and de
scended to earth. taking bondman's
form or nature IN order that He, by
the grace Of God. might taste death for
every man. that He might rescue
Adam and his race from the death con
dition under Divine sentence and un
der the power of Satan.
Therefore. the Redeemer counted moi
His life precious to Him. but freely de
livered Himself up. and died. THE Just
for the unjust that He might bring
mankind back into harmony ,oith God
His humiliation ended in death. but
His triumph began when God raised
Him from the dead by His own power
and set Him at the right hand OF
His own Mnjesty-"far above angels.
principalities and powers and every
name that is named"
Leading Forth the capsives.
With most conquerors. in olden
times. the captiyes were made slaves.
Not so. however, will he the result OF
Jesus victory. First of all In the pro-
cession are the saints-.fhe Church OF
the First-born." Then will come com
pany. more numerous. but less heroic
"a great multitude uucrowned. but
with palm branches not antitypica
Priests, but antitypical Levites, asso
ciates and servants of the Royal
Priesthood. the Bride.
Then will follow Hebrews H. 3S-40
other faithful ones of the past. The
Ancient Worthless. The Prophet speaks
also of the "rebellious house" The
classes previously specified were moi
rebellious. but gladly and willingly for
sock 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
Christ's reign He will lead forth the
"rebellious house"-the world of man
kind-not all of them. we may be sure
for some. the Scriptures positively de-
clare. will die the Second Death. be.
cause. after realizing their deliverance
they will love sin and will therefore
be destroyed as enemies Of God.
"He Gave Gifts Unto Men"
In this prophetic reference to our
Lords ascension it is declared. not
only that He would lead forth a multi
tude of captiyes. granting them free
dom. liberty. blessings. but also that
He would confer gifts.
The Apostle proceeds to explain the
matter and tells us what gifts are
meant He says. And He gave some
Apostles. and some prophets. and
some evangelists. and some pastors
and teachers" 1t behooves us to no
tice that the Apostle does not intimate
that Jesus gave to some Methodism
TO others Presbyterianism. and to 9th
ers Roman Catholicism. etc. No. when
we held such thoughts it was because
we failed to see. first, that there is
but the zone Church of the Living God
whose names are written in heaven,
and second. that that one Church Is
not any Of the various sects and par
ties. but includes the snintIy in all OF
these. For the Lord knoweth them
that are His"
Noting carefully the Apostles argu
ment we perceive that the Master did
not give these gifts for the conversion
of the world. He does specify, how
ever. what they were for. namely, "fol
the perfecting of the saints, for the
work OF the ministry. for the edifyinl
Of the Body of Christ'-the Church
The Bride. Is 1t supposable that the
Apostle erred in this statement anG
that the fact is the reverse-tbat these
gifts were provided for the conversion
of the world, and that the Apostle
thoroughly nisunderstand the matter
MOI We are to be taught by the Apos
ties, and may be sure that there is nc
mistake.
The Lord from time to time has rails
ed up evangeiists. pastors and teachers
for this glorious service of prepa ring
the ''chaste virgin" the Church. to be
the Bride in glory. but the Apostolic
Office. as represented in The Twelve
specially provided by the Father. haf
continued and needs no replenishment
We still have their instructions rs fully
as the early Church. that the man OF
God may be perfect. thoroughly fur
nished unto every good work .
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