Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1913-03-08
Pastor RusselEs Sermon

DtlOlt 6lu tultltu Nut Nbllhs
All such theories, therefore, are un.
scripural For this reason they are
in antagonlsm to the Bible view, that
man fell from Gods image six thou
sand years ago; that he has passed
through six great Days in which has
prevailed a reign Of sin and death, in.
duced by Satan at the beginning, and
still, to some extent, influenced by him.
Under this reign of sin and death, man
has lost much of the Divine image, and
has become brutal-more or less.
The redemptve work Of Jesus is not
to be understood as a change of the
Divine Plan and an abandonment Of
the earth as a Paradise, populated by
humans in the mental and moral like.
ness of the Creator. God changes not.
The mistake was merely one Of ours,
not authorized by the Bible,
The time for Restitution was not due
when Jesus gave His life as mans
Redemption.pr price; but those times"
or years, of Restitution are due now;
for we are living in the dawning time
Of the great Seventh Day Ia Thousand
Year Day. Messiah's first work as
the great King Of earth is about to be
innugurated. He is about to bind
Satan-"that old serpent, the Devil"
He Is about to bless, not only the EARTH
but also humanity, by rolling away the
original curse.
Messiah's Kingdom is pictured as a
Day ushered in by glorious sunrise
Of truth and grace. In contrast with
its light and knowledge, all the past
six thousand years are 6guratively
spoken of as darkness isaiah 60:2l
But the Sun Of Righteousness now
arises with healing in His beams
Gradually, not suddenly, the sun arises;
and 80 the Restitution blessings are
coming in gradually, not suddenly.
Sometimes In the early morning
there is a thunder storm, which for
brief space hlnders the dawniDg Of
the day. But 1t results in the drench-
ing Of the earth with refreshing
shower. So. according to the Bible,
will this New Day of Messiah's King
dom be ushered in, by terrific storm
Of trouble. But it will be short; and
its effects upon the earth will be re-
freshing. The great contrast between
the Righteousness of the future and
the sin Of the present will be so con-
spicuous that all will enjoy the new
condition. THE desire Of all nations
shall come,"-Haggai 2:7.
"God Moves In a Mysterious Way"
God has withheld the knowledge Of
certain features of His Divine Pro
gram-for our good, we may be sure.
The supposition upon which many OF
us went In times past is untenable.
We supposed that God in the Bible
had set forth In plain terms every
thing respecting His Plan, When we
could not find 1t, we tried to manufac-
ture 1t. 1t is good to study the Word,
even If we do not understand. And
If our forefathers got themselves into
difficulties through errors of judgment
in studying Gods Word, we may be
sure that they we're not especially dis
advantaged thereby. Not seeing the
Divine purpose, they were required to
exercise more faith. But that greater
amount of faith was not then more
difficult, probably, than the less
amount now necessary.
Christian theologians become so in
tent in their reasoning upon the Heav
enly things appertaining to the Church
that they forget all about the world
AS cruelty became more pronounced
the Word Of God was less studied, 1t Is
not strange that our forefathers con
cluded that all except the Churcl
would be eternally tormented. AnC
when they concluded this to be Gods
Plan, 1t is not surprising that they con
cluded to Join in the persecution them
selves Thus 1t comes that the pages
Of history are the records Of bloody
persecutions-sometimes directly from
Christians, and sometimes indirectly
from Christians through earthly gov
ernments.
Thus the entire civilized world hai
become intoxicated with the wine o
false doctrine from the cup Of the wo
man who sat upon the beast, falsel!
representing herself as the Bride o
Christ, but living in GguratIve harlotr.
with the kingdoms Of this world
! Reveatlon l7.l.5; 1881 AS we sc
over the stupefnction Of our intoxlca
ton Of error, reason begins to returl
| to us. The Apostle calls this "the splr
II Of sound mind"
We must not boast There is still
considerable darkness, But we ar
nearing the glorious light! The Divin
Character is shining out as 1t was neve
seen before! Divine Love and Mere,
are conspicuous. Divine Justice I
seen In lts true light Proportionatel,
as we see these things, our souls mag
nifty and glorify the Lord, who is good
and whose Mercy endureth forever.
Gathering OF tho Elect Now
The work Of this present Age Is nm
questlonably the gathering Of God
Elect It is equally unQuestonabl
that the sanity are the Elect, st. Pau
points out to us that this Is Gods fore
ordination; namely, that all who vii
be elected In this present Age must b
copies Of Gods dear Son, This Is wha
is predestlnated terms and cond
tions, the requirements and qualinco
tons, Of the Elect tRomnns S2I
I