Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-09-13

, who love Righteousness and hate In
iqulty will be welcomed to associate
themselves under Messiah's standard,
whether they be rich or poor. inhuen-
tial or otherwise.
AZ Seen In Former Times.
However strange it may appear to
us now, a serious misinterpretation of
this very prophecy of the Second
Psalm was made by our well-intention-
ed forefathers. And that misinterpre-
tation brought into the world vast
amount of trouble and persecution.
1t came to be generally believed that
the Redeemer would not come to set
up His Kingdom. to bind Satan and to
bless the world. A new theory rose,
gradually eliminating in the year 800
A. D. 1t claimed that the Church, be-
fore experiencing the resurrection
change at the Second Coming Of
Christ, was already the Kingdom Of
God and fully authorized to reign. Un-
der this theory, missionary work was
carried on with a vengeance. The
sword, the thumb-screw, the rack and
the stake, as well as the national wars,
were all considered proper agencies
for the enforcement Of the Christian
faith. This Second Psalm was espe-
cially appealed to as the authorization
for such unchristian conduct.
1t was claimed that, although Jesus
was absent His Church was author
lied to reign over the kingdoms Of the
earth, and to bring them into subjec-
ton. All kinds Of intrigue and schem-
ing were considered to be justihable
to the accomplishment of the Divine
purpose; that Messiah through the
Church should conquer the world, that
the nations might be broken with
religious sceptre Of iron and dashed
to pieces, or plotted against and torn
in pieces by their subjects, as might
be possible. The kings and the
judges of the earth who recognized the
Church as Messiah's Kingdom were
accounted wise. They must serve with
fear and literal trembling. On many
occasions verse IL was quoted as a
warning to kings and to princes that
they must keep In line with the be-
hests Of the Church-kiss the son,
claimed vice-gerent of Chrlst-lest he
be angry and they perish by the way.
AS Revelation 20;1-5 tells us that the
Reign Of Messiah's Kingdom is to be for
thousand years, and that during that
time Satan Is to be bound, so it was
claimed that this ecclesiastical system
must thoroughly bind and dominate
Satanic power, as represented in every
thing that opposed it. In full harmony
with this misinterpretatlon were some
Of the facts.
For exactly thousand years Ec-
clesiasticlsm prospered and ruled the
world-from A. d. 500 to A. d. 1899
The spell which had held Europe and
much Of the world for ten centuries
was broken by Napoleon When he
carried the Pope prisoner to France
the world wondered. Could 1t be that
the spiritual power of Christ's King
dom was ineffective against the great
General, Napoleon? What did it mean?
The answer came promptly enough
that this was merely another fulfil
ment of Scrlpture-the loosing of Sa.
tan at the end Of the thousand years
Revelation 207-10) The prediction
was made, and fully believed, that
very soon the adverse conditions would
pass away, and the ecclesiastical
throne be re-established in greater
power and glory than ever before. But
instead, Ecclesiasticlsm has waned
In September 1870 its last support gave
way in the French defeat Of Sedan.
Forthwith the King of Italy took away
the last vestige Of temporal power.
Awakening Of Bible Students.
Since then, Bible students, and in.
deed the whole world, are awakening
to the fact that no real Millennium
Of blessing was enjoyed during the
thousand years Of the past. We see
instead that 1t was a period Of great
darkness, superstition and ignorance.
Furthermore, the whole world is be-
coming convinced that the blessings
that have come to us during the past
century are not Of Satan, but Of God.
Indeed, we are learning more and
more to appreciate the fact that all
these wonderful things Of steam pow
er and electricity, with their hundreds
Of applications for the advancement of
science and the blessing of humanity,
are foregleams Of the true Millennium.
More and more we are realizing that
we are in the dawnlng Of that New
Day, and that the present time of sci.
entitic development and enlightenment
Is but preparatory epoch, making
ready for the coming blessings Of Mes.
slah's Kingdom, The Scriptures indeed
describe the present as "the day Of His
preparation" preparation for the
thousand years Of Messiah's Reign and
the blessing Of mankind.
It Is not for us to say dogmatically
how soon these blessings will burst
upon the world in fullest measure.
Some Scriptures indeed seem to indi.
cate that they are very close-lmpend.
Ing but the great Time Of Trouble
with which these blessings will be in.
augurated is almost upon us. The dis.
content prevalent everywhere il lead
Ing on rapidly toward the trouble.
How much need we have to remem.
ber our text! How much the kings
and princes OF the world need to be I'm.