Graham guardian., 1916-02-11

lRa9l&lK- -kQo9tLLU The Pastors in,
PRODUCTION to his
theme was resume of the worlds
history. Six thousand years ago God
created man. gave him the dominion
Of cn.th and put everything into sub
lection to him. But Father Adam lost
this dominion through sin. God then
imposed upon him the death penalty.
which has been shared through heredi
ty by all his pOsterity. FOreknOwing
mans fall from his holy estate. how
ever. Jehovah provided beforehand for
his recovery. More than four thou.
sand years after the pronOuncement OF
the death sentence. Jesus came to
earth TO give Ransom-price whereby
man might be restored to Divine favor
and have an opportunity to gain life
eternal. Jesus death was the turning
point In the worlds history.
The Jews. Abraham's natural seed,
expected the fulfilment Of Gods prom
ises regarding the Kingdom Of Mes.
siah. But there was to be accomplish.
cd another feature Of Gods Plan which
they did not see. The Church. Abra.
hams Spiritual Seed, was necessary
to bring the promised blessings to the
world The Church is now almost com.
pleted; and today we are entering upon
the seven thousand years since mans
creation and fall. The time has come
for the setting up Of the Kingdom.
Therefore we are living In the most
important period Of history.
Time Of Trouble Necessary.
Then the speaker showed that the
world will enter into that Kingdom
through much tribulation. Men do not
appreciate their needs. They have
thought that they could accomplish al
most anything. Leading minds have
fancied that they could heal the world,
could properly and wisely govern 1t for
the good OF humanity. But now it is
gradually dawning on the people that
their plans are abortive. Now we see
their schemes going to pieces, especial
ly the theories and projects Of those
Christian people who a short time ago
assured us that soon they would con-
vert the world.
Nations which have long claimed to
be Christian nations, "Christendom"-
Christ's Kingdom-are demonstrating
that they have not understood the real
Kingdom at all. They have proved
themselves to be kingdoms OF blood.
shed. kingdoms Of this world God
will bring In His Kingdom through
great tribulation, as the Scriptures
have foretold. Daniel 12I: Matthew
A:21D This tribulation has already be-
gun. But present distresses are only
the beginning Of sorrows. The Scrip.
lures declare that times will grow
darker and darker until mems hearts
shall utterly fail them. Then, upon
the ruins Of the Present Order. the
world shall see arise a glorious New
Order. the desire Of all nations"
God cannot introduce His Kingdom
through peace and blessings; for men
do not realize their need Of Him. The
coming tribulatiop will thoroughly
awaken them. Then they will begin
to cry unto the Lord. As when on the
Sea Of Galilee the disciples cried to
Jesus, He arose and rebuked the wind
and the waves, so will 1t be with the
world. Very soon they will see the ter.
ribe storm that Is approaching; and
there will be no escape unless the Lord
he their Helper Matthew S:24-27.
The text, however, refers TO the
Church. not TO the world, as is shown
by Its context. Living at the very be-
ginning of the Gospel Age, the Apostle
was telling the Church Of the tribula-
tion necessary for thorough prepara-
tion for Kingdom honors. II our great
Redcemer needed tribulation to perfect
Him as Son. to demonstrate His love
for the Father and His loyalty to the
Divine will. surely the Church could
he prepared in no other way.
The Body Of Christ will not share
the worlds tribulation. but will be &C.
counted worthy to escape the things
coming upon the earth. luke q 1:3e)
Their tribslnti0n has been different In
Kind from the worlds. Like their
Lord. they must love righteousness
and hate iniquity. He loved Gods
ways and hated Satan's ways. He
could not be hypocritical, He must
tell the truth. must follow the Golden
Rule This course put Him out Of bar
mony with the religious leaders of His
day. who cast out His name as evil be-
ranse Of His honesty
Throughout the Gospel Age His fol-
lowers have had similar experiences,
Their qualifications for positions In the
Kingdom have been attained, not by
miracles, but by trials. difficulties,
trlbulntion: for in no other way could
they be made ready for a share In the
OF the overcoming Church