Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-08-22

lRASIOR RUSSELD) go by. continues
to be presented
both at home aud abroad. The Pas
tors topic was from text we have
never before heard discussed In the
lpulpit-"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 Man
coming in the clouds OF heaven with
power und great glory."-Matt "a 80.
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 Cross In
the sky. Others thought that 1t would
be Christ Himself. who would appear
in some wrathful form to humanity.
causing dlsmay.
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
bright shining in flaming fire, or judg-
ment He asked his hearers to remem.
her 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
win 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 Epiphania, 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 sign of mourn
ing: the Cross represents Christianity;
the Crescent, Mohammedanism. In
other words, 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 ID
, the sky, In the heavens? The Pnstor
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 symbolical manner-the earth rep
resenting organized society; the noun
!, tains representing kingdoms. as the
, hackbones of this organized society
the seas representing the restless
masses of humanity, continually seek
4 ing to swallow up the social earth
: In the same symbolic terms the heaV
ems represent the ecclesiastical pow
ers of the word-churchianity Tht
sign appearing In the heavens, TN
: Pastor believes, signifies that the be
!, ginning of Christ's judgments will fai
y upon the ecclesiastical systems OF ou
4 day. The flaming fire Of Judgment
e will first manifest itself in ecclesiastl
d cal affairs and circles
Mankind will gradually become awak
!. encd to the thought that new GOV
ernnent is in control, and that Its pol
lev will be the law of Judgment to tn
y line and Righteousness to the plum
Z met" Since unrighteousness is preva
lent MS a result of mans fallen condi
zion. the consciences Of the whole worl'
S will be awakened. quiekened; and feaE
s dread, will come upon all classes every
where. This will be not only becaus
they will see the primary sign 0
8 christ's righteous judgments In rel
. gious circles. but because they WIN Sc
Him cominO-drawing nearer and neal
= er in judgment; and they will recognlz
that they. too, must shortly be II
y volved Hence there will be mournin
because of Him.
Furthermore, it will be remembere
a that all the families Of the earth nav
very crude and incorrect views OF Me'
siah and of the object Of His secon
Il f.urninr and Kingdom. The doctrine
OF deyils.v brought into the churc
s ereeds during the Dark Ages. have
made void the Word of-God that I'd