The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-01-03

reminded his hearers that his text is 2
prophecy by the Redeemer, who il
these words declares the work of Hi
Messianic Kingdom. Similarities arc
found on every hand between the close
of the year and the close of the Age
The sowing and reaping of the year
with their associated hopes aud fears
and labors with sweat of face, have
been accomplished. The harvests have
been gathered; and on well ordered
farms the brush and brambes. thorns
and thistles. have been destroyed by
gchenna fires. In general it is time
of preparation for fresh start.
In the business world the closing Of
the. year is the time for taking stock
and for taking account of the profits
and losses OF the year. In other words.
1t is a tive OF judgment, or decision.
1t is time for dropping the unsatis-
factory and for. putting the business
On a proper footing for the next year.
II is time for issuing dividends. or
rewards. to those who have made wise
investments. 1t is time for the meet
ing Of directors and for the electipg
Of officers and servants for, the new
year So. at the close of this Age, its
affairs are being wound up. The Lord
is judging His people and is about 10
reward the faithful in glory, And the
worlds. condition must be set in order
for the new arrangement of things
shout TO he ipaugurated.
"He That Sat Upon the Throne"
Earth is the one province of creation
which is in rebellion against the Crca-
tor and at variance with His laws.
Man. the king of earth was crea ted in
the image of God. with the Divine Law
written i'm bis heart. and only "a little
lower than the angels But this earth
ly king. Adam. rebelled against his
Overload. Jehovah. disobeyed His
laws and brought himself under sen
tence Of death, Dying, thou shalt die
The laws of beredity have SO OPP.
Grated that today the children OF
AdanJ .find the average Of life only
thiry.6ve years. and but few individ-
uals pass the century mark. But Adam
In his perfection, less favorabIy circum-
stanced. was nine hundred and thirty
years in dying. The dying experiences
OF the race are manifested in mental
and moral degradation. as well as in
With all our knowledge and
medical skill the race continues to
weaken. and the ratio Of the insane to
increase.
Once. Bible students would have stat
ed that God is upon the throne and de-
lights in the present order. which the
Bible declares to be reign of sin and
death. Once Bible students would
have declared that. not satisfied with
the present awful conditions. the Crea-
tor has arranged that at death all hu-'
manity except the Elect Church shall
be turned over fully to the control Of
demons. These by Divine foreordina-
tion will be empowered to everlasting
ly' torture the poor unfortupates of
Adams family beyond the power of
human tongue to tell.
These same Bible students would
have resented the suggestions that God
is not reigning over the earth-that in
stead. the world is under the DONNA
ton Of Satan. the prince of this
world tAse). John 1880.
But with facilities for Bible study
far superior to anything enjoyed by
our forefathers, Bible students End
that Christian people have overlooked
many features of the Divine record. AS
the eyes Of their. Understanding grad
ually open more widely. they are see
ing lengths and breadths and heights
and depths of Gods Wisdom. Love.
Justice and Power. Of which they new
pr dreamed before
We are finding that our horrible
teachings Of the past. which have so
generally caused spiritual nausea,
came not from the Bible. but were
doctrines Of demons" promulgated
during the Dark Ages. Now the Spir.
It speaketh expressly, that In the latter
times some shall depart from the faith.
giving heed to seducing spirits. and
doctrines of devils. II Timothy Al.
1.-THE God of This World"
st. Paul tells us that the present
blindness aud ignorance. which hinder
from seeing and approaching
I'od's real character and Plan, are de-
'eptions, by Satan. He says. THE god
IT this world FAgel hath blinded the
minds of them which believe not. lest
the light OF the. glorious Gespel Of >
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