The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-09-12
Pastor RuSsell's Sermon

righteous, unholy. On the contrary. all
who love righteousness and hate in
EQUITY will be welcomed to associate
themselves under Messiahs standard.
whether they be rich or poor. influen-
tial or otherwise.
As Seen In Former Times.
However strange it may appear to
us now. a serious misinterpretation of
this very prophecy of the Second
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. I'm
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.
olnip IIof olf TaCnc
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 justitiable
to the accomplishment of the Divine
purpose; that Messiah through the
Church should conquer the world. that
the nations might be ArOken with a
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 II was quoted as
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 Christ-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
a 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 misinterpretation were some
of the facts.
For exactly thousand years Ec
clesiasticism prospered and ruled the
world-from A. D. 800 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 it 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 Scripture-the loosing of Sa-
tan at the end Of the thousand years
Revelation 2O:7-10.J The prediction
was made, and fully believed. that
very soon the adverse conditions would
pass away. and the ecclesiastical
throne be re-esta blished in greater
instead. Ecclesiasticism has waned.
In September 1870 it's 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
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 dawning of that New |
Day, and that the present time of sci |
entific development and enlightenment
is but a preparatory epoch. making |
ready for the coming blessings of Mes
siahs Kingdom. The Scriptures indeed
describe the present as 1.-The day of His |
preparation" preparation for the
thousand years of Messiah's Reign and
the blessing OF mankind
1t 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-impend-
ing; but the great Time of Trouble |
with which these blessings will be in
augurated Is almost upon us. The dis
content prevalent everywhere is lead
ing on rapidly toward the trouble.
How much need we have to remem.
Der our text! How much the kings
and princes of the world need to be in
y