The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-11-17
The Usurper.

~ a 80 The usurper.
--- However, the
execution of this judgment has been
delayed and during our Lords alb
sence, the one whom he calls the
prince of this world is "the god Of
this age" He is none other than Sa-
tan himself who is also called "the
prince of the power of the air, the
spirit that now worketh in the chill
dren of disobedience." (Ephes. 2:2.)
Our ideas of Satan have been gain
ed largely from the way in which man
has depicted him. According to the
Scriptures, Satan the usurper is not
that hideous monster man so often
portrays him to be. On the contrary,
he is being of great dignity, so lofty
that when Michael the Archangel
disputed with him about the body of
Moses, he burst not bring against him
a railing accusation, but said, the Lord
rebuke thee"
This Age.
Now we should expect, if he is the
god of this age, that the age will In
character be like it's god. This is
precisely what it is, for he is "the
evil one" and the age over which he
reigns is called an "evil age" (Gal.
l "A II. W To say this as the Scrip
lures DO, does not necessarily imply
that the age is grossly immoral. In
fact, we believe it is the most ethical
age the world has ever seen, and that
4 ha Of RI
far as possible it's vice and crime.
Its Progress.
To prove the evil character of the
age, it is not necessary to deny its
progress, it's achievements, it's civili-
Zation. In these the world has made
giant strides, but they do not, of them
selves, indicate that the world is near
er God. Indeed, to these a self-satIs-
fed, self-centered, goddess world points
with pride, and they are the very
things with which the god of this age
would have us occupied. He hates the
cross and the crown, the atonement
of our Lord and his coming glory, and
nothing suits his purpose better than
to obscure them both.
Blinded Eyes.
We are told that "the god of this
age hath blinded the minds of them
which believe not, lest the light of the
glorious Gospel Of Christ should shine
unto them" And it does seem as If
he were succeeding very well; for we
hear in these days less and less of the
cross and very little of the crown. The
age, like its god, is utterly and abso-
lutely opposed to the purpose and plan
of God to redeem mankind by the
blood Of his cross, and the world by
the coming of its king. 1t is satisfied
with it's own self-righteousness and its
own self-suiliciency.
Christ Not Enthroned.
Whatever we may think of the char
acter of this age, it is very evident
from the facts as they are, that our
Lord is not now reigning over the
earth as the Scriptures predict he
shall reign. "All kings do not fall
down before him :" call nations do not
serve him :" call enemies are not under
his feet ~ she does not execute judg-
ment and justice in the earth :" "the
of this world have not be-
come his :" che does not have dominion
unto the end of the EARTH" 1t is also
true that wrongs are still unrighted; |
that poverty and riches dwell side by
side; grinding competition and servile
toll are the lot of many; the earth Is
not free of famine, pestilence, and
earthquake; Europe 10 wet with blood
and there are wars and runors of war
on every hand for swords are not
beaten into plowshares, nor spears in
to pruning hooks; iniquity and vice
abound the love Of many wakes cold
many are departing from the faith,
giving heed to seduc,ng spirits and
doctrines Of demons, and many false
teachers are bringing in damnable
heresies, even denying the Lord that
bought them. These facts are SO pal
pable no one can deny them.
A Ray Of Light.
But In the midst Of all this dark
ness there is ray of light, for Christ
is coming to the earth to reign and
rule. The earth which was the scene
of his humiliation is to be the place
of his exaltation; here where he was
crucified, he Is to be crowned. The
usurper has only short time to reign
for "Yet little while and he that shall
come will come and will not larry"
(Heb. 1O:37.) Then "the god Of this
age" shall be dethroned, and the world
shall have Its rightful and lawful king