The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-08-25

3 pEeCldJSu as LuS
yGA& days and weeks
NASEQR RgSSElg) go by. continues
to be presented
both at home and abroad. The Pas
tors topic was from q text we have
never before heard discussed in the
pulpit-"Then shall appear the sign Of
the Son Of Man in heaven; and then
shall all the tribes Of the eartH mourn,
and they shall see the Son OF Mar
coming in the clouds Of heaven with
power and great glory."-Matt 24:9O.
The speaker pointed out that various
suggestions have been made by schol-
ars respecting the import OF this
prophecy by the Master. Some guess
ed that the sign would be a Cross in
| the sky. Others thought that it would
be Christ Himself, who would appear
In some wrathful form to humanity,
causing diSmay.
The Pastor Surmised that his hearers
had read the published reports Of his
sermon Of last Sunday respecting the
Second Coming Of Christ in its two
phases-the Parousia, or invisible pres
ence, followed by the Epiphania, or
b~right-shining in flaming fire, or judg-
ment He asked his hearers to remem-
Der the findings Of last week-that we
cannot say that the sign Of the Son Of
Man in heaven will be His Parousia.
On the contrary, the Parousia Of Christ
will not be known to the tribes, or
families, of the earth in general, but
will be known only to the most sanity
ones of the Church of Christ. Conse-
quently, the sign of the Son of Man
must in some sense stand related to
His E%piphania, or shining forth in the
flaming fire" of judgment, which the
whole world Of mankind will recognize.
The hearers were reminded that the
word sign is Of broad meaning;
for instance. crepe is a sign OF mourn
ing; the Cross represents Christianity;
the Crescent, Mohammedanism. In
other words, n sign is merely an indi-
cation. So when we read Of the sign
Of the Son of Man in heaven" the
thought might properly be that some
thing will occur indicative Of the pres
ence of the Son OF Man-that He has
taken to Himself His great power and
has begun His Reign. Since the Son
Of Man is to be revealed in flaming fire,
taking vengeance, 1t follows that this
sign must be some sign Of vengeance,
some indication Of righteous indigna-
ton against wrong.
The question, then, arises, How would
such a sign, or indication, appear in
the sky, in the heavens? The Pastor
replied that this is not the thought. On
the contrary, he urged his hearers to
remember that the Bible repeatedly
uses the words heaven, mountain, sea,
In a symbOlical manner-the earth rep
resenting organized society: the moun
tains representing kingdoms, as the
backbones of this organized society;
the seas representing the restless
masses of humanity, continually seek
ing to swallow up the social "earth."
In the same symbolic terms the heav-
ems represent the ecclesiastical pow
ers of the world-churchianity. The
sign appearing in the heavens, the
Pastor believes. signifies that the be-
ginning of Christ's judgments will fall
upon the ecclesiastical systems Of u
day. The flaming fire Of judgments
will first manifest itself in ~ecclesiasti-
cal affairs and circles
Mankind will gradually become awak-
ened to the thought that q new Gov
eminent is in control, and that it's pol
icy will be the law of Judgment to the
line and righteousness to the plum
met" Since unrighteousness is preva-
lent rs a re"ult of mans fallen condi-
ion, the consciences Of the whole world
will be awakened. quickened; and fear.
dread, will come upon all classes every
where. This will be not only because
they will see the primary sign Of
Christs righteous judgments in reli-
gious circles, but because they will see
Him conIn0-drawing nearer and near
er in judgment: and they will recognize
that they. too. must shortly be in
volved. Hence there will be mourning
because Of Him.
Furthermore, it will be remembered
that all the families of the earth have
very crude and incorrect views Of Mes
siah and of the object of His Second
Coming and Kingdom. The doctrines
Of DEVILS" brought into the church
creeds during the Dark Ages. have 30
made void the Word Of God that the
majority of mankind fear the Almighty
dread Him as their Almighty Foe, in.
stead Of realizing Him to be the God OF
all grace and the Father Of all mercies,
from whom cometh every good and
perfect gift"
The eyes of the world have been
blinded to the goodness of God. Ter.
rible dread in the hearts Of humanity
will lead to the wall of fear as they
perceive Christ's righteous judgments
encircling all the earth
The signs and ~groanings promised
To precede q second birth"