Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-12-20

(RAsI0R RUSSELD)2, 8.
For more than
four thousand years before the Savior
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
obliterated 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 obedient. But all these
blessings were to come through a Re
deemer, the Mediator of the New Cove
nant, the 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 Passover lamb and Atone
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 ac-
complished by the death Of the very
Redeemer who subsequently would be
the Restorer.
Their minds naturally dwelt eSpe
cially upon the great fact that Mes
siah 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
tiOnal blessing. Seemingly, they over
looked the fact that the blessing would
be an individual one, in harmony with
the Divine arrangement. They hoped
for a resurrection from the dead "at
the last day,"-in the great Seventh
Thousand Year Day or Epoch, and eX-
pected 1t to bring them from the sleep
Of death back to earthly conditions.
Some of them hoped for n 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 lnheri-
tancef st. stephen points out that
Abraham never received, in fulflment
Of Gods promise, as much of that
land "as to set his foot upon" (Acts
VII, 5) Undoubtedly, therefore, the en-
tire promise of the land is future The
possession will come to Abraham and
will be given to his seed. his posterity
after him.
Heavenly Promises--"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 hoth Jews and Gen
tiles. Without explaining the full de
tails, He invited all VINO 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 httain unto that
Age and the resurrection, would nei-
ther marry nor be given in marriage
'like unto the ngels"-sexless.-L
Xxx, 35, SO.
No wonder the Apostles We're sur
orised 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 perplexing
when He said, "Ye must be born
again!' No wonder Nicodemus, in per
plexity, asked about this spirit birth
and found the answers perpleying,
Jesus did not attempt to give him a
full explanation, but merely said that
If he had difficulty in understanding
earthly things, how could he expect to
understand Heavenly things. - John
i'll, H.
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 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
change OF nature from human to spir
itual. This was difficult for the Apos-