The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-12-17

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tors thought that
in itself an earthquake is a sign of
the end of the Age, but that the prev
alence of earthquakes since the begin
ming of the twentieth century properly
enough attracted his attention to what
the Scriptures say upon this subject
His text is part of the Masters de-
scription of the trouble to come upon
the world in the close of this Gospel
Age, preparatory to the Inauguration
of the Millennium.
The Master was answering a ques-
ton asked by His disciples respecting
the signs which would mark the con-
clusion of the Age. IN the context He
had replied that they might expect to
hear of wars and tumults, but that
they were not to be terrified; for such
things would not indicate that the
end was near. Then. mentioning the
events to be expected at the close of
the Age-earthquakes famines, pesti-
lences, etc.-He also declared that His
disciples would suffer persecution in
tIC Ia 49, uCos NiluANlICSs SlCs, IOI LIS
sake and the Truths sake.
Fire of This Day Symbolic.
Our Adventist friends have also been
calling attention to Scriptures predict
ing great tribulation upon the world
in the very near future. The Pastor
pointed out the wide difference be-
tween his views and theirs. Their mes
sage is that the commissions of nature
now due will result in "a wreck of
matter and a crush of worlds'-in the
utter destruction OF humanity and the
reduction of earth to n mass of Gin
ders. The speaker holds no such ideas.
On the contrary, he quoted Scriptures
to prove that the earth abideth for
ever; that cold and heat, summer and
winter. will continue as long as the
earth abideth; and that God made not
the earth in vain"
1t was then demonstrated from Scrip
ture that the fire of this Day of the
Lord will be symbolic. just as the fiery
trials that have tried the Church
throughout this Age have not general
ly consisted of literal fire. The fiery
troubles coming upon the world will
overthrow present institutions and en-
gulf the whole world in anarchy. In
the Scriptures this condition is sym
bolized in some places by food. in
others by consuming fire that will
devour the whole earth. Then will be
established the new heavens and earth
the McsSiantc Kingdom.
No attempt was made to prognosti-
cate the character of the fearful signs
referred to in the text. Attention was
called to the fact that the Prophet Joel
foretold these signs. In Hebrews II:
26-2S st. Paul refers TO the same thing.
He shows that the wonderful manifeS-
tations of Divine Power at the estab-
lishment of the Law Covenant at Sinai
were typical of the still more wonder
full shakings, signs, ETC.. to be expect
ed at the close of this Gospel Age.
when the New Covenant is about to go
into effect at the hands Of the great
er Mediator than Moses.
Earthquakes Symbolic of Revolution.
St. Paul was quoted as saying that
Gods Word implies that at this transit
ton period all shakable things will be
removed, and only the unshakable
things associated with the Kingdom
will remain. In the Revelation this
shaking is described as mighty earth
quake, the greatest ever known. What
we are to expect in fulfilment of Rev.
citation 1G:lS is a great revolution.
great shaking Of present institutions,
overthrowing everything not of the
Lords establishment and approval.
In the Divine order there seems to
be harmony between the literal and
the figurative: therefore literal earth
quakes have their part in the great Pro-
gram. Not only are they to serve the
Church as signs corroborating the
prophecies respecting the approach of
the Time of Trouble closing this Age,
but they serve another purpose.
The Scriptures clearly intimate that
our earth has not yet attained the
grand physical perfection which God
designs it to have. in order to be fit
for the blessed ones who are to in
habit it throughout all eternity. While
the faithful Church are to experience
change of nature from human to
spiritual, which will prepare them for
Heavenly conditions, yet for the re-
mainder of mankind Gods provision is
different-a restoration to the perfec-
ton of human nature which Adam lost
and the development of earth to that
perfect condition which will make it
as whole the antitype Of the Garden
of Eden Paradise restored, to be the
everlasting home of nappy race.