The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-10

tells His people concerning this time
OF trouble that they need not be IN
darkness that that day should over
take them unawares." n Thessa-
lonians 5:4.) Gods people should
have general information regarding
His plans and arrangements.
Many have seen only small portions
OF the divine plan, and so have failed
10 grasp the great lengths, breadths.
heights and depths OF Gods great
purpose. But whoevlr has an under
standing OF the great plan OF God will
ever after be able rightly to appre-
ciate and to locate not only the events
81 today, but also everything that is
coming: for the Bible outlines the his
tory OF man. The Scriptures clearly
teach that our earth is the only re-
bellious province in all Gods fair Gre
alton. In this little planet Cos has
permitted sin to take its course-to
bud, to blossom. to bring forth its
fruitage-that both men and angels
may see the dire results of OPPOSITION
to the Divine government -
God foreknew just what would &C.
cur, however. He foreknew Adams
sin and fall, as well as the mental.
moral and physical deReneracy which
would result from the disobedience Of
our first parents. He foreknew our
weakness and imperfection, our at-
tempts at moral, religious and mental
reform and physical health. Yet He
permitted this to come to pass Sin
, entered the world and has continued
to rest upon the human family for
! 5000 years.
Gods penalty upon man Is death,
and IL matters not whether that death
comes through war or pestilence or
F-.v, ,f,,.. l,x-o ~
Tins, God would use all of mans ex-
pertences OF the past 5000 years as d
great lesson on the exceeding sinful
ness Of sin and on the utter hopeless
ness of any other help than that
which God Himself has provided.
From the creation of Adam until
now Has been period of six thousand
year days--man's work week--dur-
ing which he has been permitted TO
try everything he could imagine for
his eWn-relief from sin and-lt pen
atty of death. After the sixty CEN
turtles humanity is still dying-men-
tally, morally and physically. Our
only hope is in God. and He has ar
/ ranged that His blessing shall come
through Messiah's Kingdom, when we
shall have reached our extremity
Mans extremity in anarchy will be
! God 8 opportunity.
Divine lnterposition Needed.
So far from gaining life everlast-
ing for our race, all our efforts have
accomplished nothing. Our most
learned physicians and specialists de-
clare that the world is on the verge
Of collapse. and that at the present
rate OF increase there would not in
/ so years, be enough sane people In
The world TO care for the insane. They
tell us that various diseases are in
crcasing so rapidly as to endanger the
race in very short time; and that
this is true Notwithstanding that san
itary conditions are made necessary;
even to the extent OF individual drink
Ing cups.
Our only hope lies in the great
seventh day. the antitypical Sabbath.
In = Messiah. associating with Him.
self the sanity ones of this gospel age,
will set up the Divine Kingdom
amongst men-a spiritual kingdom
not an earthly one. but ruling
amongst mankind. blessing and up
lifting them For n thousand years
the work OF uplift will progress, UNI
ill all the willing and obedient VIII
hava attained again the lost likeness
of their Creator; and thewhoie earth
will be their paradise.
This war ard the following anarchy
of Armageddon will prove conclusive
~ the need Of divine interposition In
human affairs. As Jesus said, speak
ing of the present trouble and the
resulting anarchy: Unless those DAYS
should be shortened. there should no
flesh be saved" Matthew "a :22-)
Doubtless earth's great rulers have
done their best Having a false idea
of what constitutes Messiah's King
dom. each seems TO think il his mis-
sion to conquer the world. They also
believe they feresee general upris-
ing of Socialism, and their hearts are
failing them, fearing the things COM
ing on the earth.
While they knew this would be the
worst war ever known. they preferred
IL to what they were striving TO ward
off ard have succeeded In warding off
, for the present. But they have lost
their best blood. their best energy,
money, commerce. etc. and when the
war is ended. their disappointed peo-
pies will be greatly angered at their
rulers. Then viii come the deteru1i-
nation for something like Socialism.
This .the governments will endeavor
to put down and will succeed par
tally. Then will come the great ex-
pIosIon-the Armageddon of the
Scriptures. This time of trouble will
lust precede Messiahs' Kingdom --
Daniel i2:t.