El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-25
Of MAN IS
NEARINGITSEND
"Pastor" RussellSays Great
European War Is Fulfill
ing Bible Prediction. =

when our good president called up
on the nation TO obserte one Sunday as
peace Sunday. I could not Join with
him This great war was ordained
2500 years ago-and don't think God
will listen to our prayers now and
change these long laid plans; especially
when we cannot always settle our own
little troubles"
This is Pastor RusseIFs opinion Of
the European war, as expressed Monday
night TO an audience that completely
filled the FL Paso theater. As he deliv-
cred his sermon, Pastor" Russell a
man OF IS years. paced up and down the
stage, often gesticulating to emphasize
his points His white hair and beard.
contrasting with a long frock coat OF
somber black made him q striking
figure
This conflict" he said, "can be con-
trasted with mageddon. As take it.
il viii first mean weakening of the
body Of mankind, then will follow a
great revolt, then anarchy and, out Of
this the fulfillment Of the kingdom. It
was prophesied that all the nations
should meet on a great battlefield and
so, at this time, we seem TO see it.
las to its causes, this warfare is a
sOrdid scramble for commercial Suprem-
acy- I see no reason why, under any
circumstances. we should be drawn into
il. I trust that our worthy president
will have the whole hearted support Of
every citizen at this time" Cheers
greeted this last remark
Why God FavOrs War.
.but how is II, Pastor Russell" that
God viii favor war; you ask Why
doesn't he interfere with disease, tor
nado. flood. flame|
The answer to one is the answer to
the other Sin is the answer. Because
each of US is born deformed, physically,
mentally, morally. Because we have
all inherited the original sin. and the
sentence that God prescribed was
Time after time. to emphasize his
points. Pastor Russell asked himself
imaginary questions, as though they
were coming from the audience If pro-
pounded questions TO the audience
which he himself answered At times
the audience smiled with him but, with
a few words or a gesture, he would
bring home his point, the audience
again serious and listening TO his every
word
BIiseOneeptiOn of He'll.
The greater part Of his sermon was
devoted to the hell as it has been gen
orally thought and the hell that he be-
lieves the Bible conceives. Hell Is the
tomb" he said 1T is written that ev-
cry man shall die. But he shall be res
directed Since we were children we
have been taught OF the he'll steaminS
and boiling, of the devils with cloven
hoofs and spiked tails. All this is for
eign to the Bible There are creeds,
creeds, creeds- And each creed reads
into the Bible its own meaning. its own
Interpretation, and TO its followers all
other meanings are wrong and lead to
damnatiOn. But there is one Bible and
its teachings, to the mind not hampered
with distorted creeds. is clear The hell
Of creeds has been used to frighten the
world into goodness Well, II has been
frightening the world for good many
years. and the result-the increase in
fitringly shown at this
time when half the world is killing
This war and the anarchy OF Arma-
geddon that will follow il, viii prove
the need of divine tuterpo-
sition in human affairs. As Jesus said,
speaking Of the present trouble and the
resulting anarchy. Unless those days
shall be shortened, there would be no
flesh saved
AMONGST other lessons which God
has been teaching mankind is the fact
that they are incapable Of establishing
government such as is necessary Tor
the real blessing and uplift Of the race
God appointed Israel after the flesh TO
be his typical kingdom for q time, and
selected king David and his posterity
to be rulers. BY and by he cut these
off. disseminating the earthly typical
kingdom
Certain scriptures indicate that the
period during which Gods Kingdom
would be removed would be seven pro-
Dhetic Times, each $50 years long sew
n Times would therefore equal zozO
years Reckoned from the time OF king
Zedekiah. the last of David's line, that
period ended in 1914; for, according 10
the scriptures. king Zedekiah's crown
was taken away in sos B. C. If so, 1915
marks the beginning of the period in
which. in a time Of trouble. Messiah
should take to himself his great power
md begin his glorious reign OF 1000
-ears.-DanieI 12-1: Matthew, 24-21.
Gods Kingdom.
when God removed his typical KING
lom. COS B. c., ne gave the Gentiles per-.
mission to do their best in governing
he world and bringing in Righteousness
md happiness Each government has
allied. This war and the following
.narchy Of ArmageddOn will prove con-
Iusively the need Of divine interposl-
ion in human affairs. As Jesus said, !
peaking Of the present trouble and
he resulting anarchy, Unless those
avs should be shortened, there should I
% flesh be saved. Matthew 24-z2-
Through confusing translation, the 1
bible calls this trouble the end of the /
world. 1t should read the end of the I
&c. It is to be followed by the world I
o come. wherein dwelleth righteous /
ess'-'new heavens the church IN glo- i
Y. and a new earth-the world IN &C
ord with Gods law. q Peter S;l5.) {
his trouble is also styled a WhlrlWlnd, I
tidal wave, a consuming fire Mlsun-
erstanding these symbols, our creeds /
ecIare that the earth is to be burned
D. on the contrary, Messlahs KING
ON will inaugurate a new dispense
til