The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1915-04-15

yS42@9z9.z9zs@ Nssz95 jcct of the Drama
kRASIQ2 RGSSktLl is declared to be
the re-esta blish-
ment Of faith in the Bible Manifesty
it is we'll adapted to this end. Few can
witness it without deeper reverence for
God and great personal benefit.
Pastor RusseII's text today was,
when Christ shall appear. then
shall We also appear with Him in
glory. "-ColosSianS 3:4.
The Pastor began 10y showing how
foolish and unscriptdIai We're many of
the suggestions handed down from the
Dark Ages respecting the object and
the manner of Christ's Second Advent.
The Bible declaration that our Re
deemer would come again ana receive
His faithful people to Himself was
once surmised to imply that all the re-
mainder Of mankind would experience
eternal torture. But now, in the bless
ed enlightenment of our day. we see
that the gathering of the Church in the
First Resurrection is merely the com
pleting of the Seed Of Abraham (Gala-
tians 3:16, 90 whose work thenceforth
will be the blessing of all the families
Of the earth. according to the Divine
Promise and Oath.
The declaration that at our Lords
Second Coming He will judge the
world in righteousness, we once mis-
understood to mean that the Redeemer
would merely confirm a judgment, or
decree, Of eternal torment against man
kind. the speaker asserted. He then
briefly outlined the Divine Plan for hu-
man salvation from the sin and death
conditions brought upon the race
through Adams disobedience and ex-
tended as a judgment TO all his pos
terity. He showed that since Jesus
Christ, by the grace of God, tasted
death for every man." Adam and all
his race would have another trial for
life-individually. however This new
trial has been delayed until the Church
class is tried and qualified to be the
worlds judges during It's trial-durng
the 1000 years Of Messiah's Kingdom
The Pastor explained that in this
trial right and wrong. truth and err
ror, viii be set before mankind with
the full explanation that whoever
chooses sin will choose the Second
Death, but that whoever chooses right
eousness will choose life everlasting.
He then contrasted this Scriptural
view of the Judgment Day with that
handed down from the Dark Ages
twpntU- fOIlr- hOI1r 20
afresh the poor race already suffering
from the original condemnation.
How Christ VIII Come.
Next was pointed out the unreas0n-
ableness Of the unscriptura theories
respecting Christ's Coming received
from darker time. According to
these. the Redeemer would come again
in the flesh. the only glory Of which
would be shining skin The speaker
then quoted Scripture after Scripture
TO prove that our Lord was put tC
death in the flesh, but was raised from
the dead spirit being. Our Lords
flesh was given for the life of the
world: and all His human rights will
in due time be given to humanity.
1t was also shown that since the
Scriptures declare that flesh and bloot
cannot inherit the Kingdom of God
the Church must be changed by thu
power of the First Resurrection-mad
spirit beings like our glorified Re.
deemer, whom they shall see as He is
Misconceptions respecting our Lords
10
gardinS The manner OF His Second
Coming, the Pastor declared Think
ing of Him as fieshly being, we were
unable to comprehend the Scriptures
telling of His Parousia (presence) in
the end of this Gospel Age and of the
twofold work then to be accomplished
first, a separating work in His Church
unseen and unknown by the world; sec
ond, manifestation to mankind, not
TN flesh. but lin flaming fire"
Parousia and Epiphania.
The speaker then discussed at length
two words used in the Greek MSS. IL
reference to our Lords Second Com
ing. He said that our English trans
Christ's ParOusia, presence. was shown
to refer to Il period when, las a thiet
in the night unknown to the world
He will judge His Church, giving re
ward to the faithful. This includes
the resurrection of the dead saints
and the change of the living ones.
After the Church has been glorified
the Epiphania, or shining forth Of the
Lord in glory, will take place. This
will mean a sudden blazing forth OF
Gods righteous indignation against al
unrighteousness. Severely awful al
these judgments will be, nevertheless
they will manifest the Love of God
By the fire of that tribulation mankind
will be uplifted and blessed.