Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1916-11-24
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1.-THE literature of the world shows
that intelligent men have refused to
believe that the Divine Purpose in the
creation of our earth has yet been
attained. Continually we find refer
ences to 1.-THE Morning of the New Day.
to the Golden Age" etc. Yet not to
the longings of mems hearts, but to the
promises of our God, do we look for
real instruction on this subject. The
Bible most emphatically declares that
the entire period of human history thus
far has been night time.
The Prophet David explains, weep.
ing may endure for a night, but JOY
cometh in the Morning." Psalms 3O:5.)
Thus prophetically we are assured that
there will be Morning whose glory,
brightness and blessings will fully com.
pensate for all the dark shadows of the
Night time past. Our text is another
prophecy along the same line. The
message of the Lord is, 1.-The Morning
'cometh!" St. Paul writes that up to
this time the world had been under a
Reign of Sin and Death. not under
Reign of Righteousness and Life.
(Romans SILL He points out also that
the Day of the Lord will come, and will
come gradually, stealthily, taking the
world unawares-''as a thief in the
night. FL Thessalonians 5:l-6.
All of the Apostles assure US that it
is not Gods purpose to permit the Reign
of Sin and Death to continue for ever.
They tell us that the Divine Program is
that Messiah, in the. Fathers appointed
time, will take to Himself His great
power and reign King of kings and
Lord of lords putting down sin and
every evil thing, uplifting humanity and
granting Divine blessing where for
six thousand years there has been =
Divine curse. The Bible writer's explain
that this does not signify a change in
the Divine Purpose, but that God had
planned this thing in Himself from
before the foundation of the world; and
that although He had permitted Sin to
enter and Death to reign, He had made
fullest provision for the Redeemer to
die for our sins and eventually to
become the Restorer and Life-giver to
Adam and his race-to as many of them
as will accept everlasting life on the
Divine terms
The Apostles tell US that during the
might time" since Jesus death, God
has been doing special work-select-
ing from mankind a special class, q
sanity few-''the Church of the First
horns, whose names are written in
Heaven" These are not taken from
any one nation or denomination. This
little flock" to whom it is the
Fathers good pleasure to give the
Kingdom duke 12:32), is composed of
all the sanity followers of Jesus, who
walk in His steps in the narrow way
during this Gospel Age. Their expert
ences are to qualify them for sssoeia-
ton with their Redeemer in His Mes
sianic Kingdom. Their trials, their
obedience and their sufferings for
rixhteousness' sake are to work out for
these far more exceeding and eternal
weight of glory. Suffering with the
Master for the Truths sake in the
present life they are to share His glory,
honor and immortality in the life to
come. They are to be His joint-heirs
In His Kingdom Galatians 3:29; 2 Tim
othy 2:11,12.
THE KINGDOM SUNRISE NEARING.
Amongst the Lords people even, few
vet understand that Jesus distinctly
teaches that the 'Sun Of Righteous.
ness, " which will arise with healing in
His beams and whose light will consti-
tute the New Day, will be composed Of
the Church of Christ glorified-changed
from human to Divine nature by partici-
nation in the First Resurrection. Our
Lord Jesus tells this in the parable of
the Wheat and the Tares. He declares
that in the end of this Gospel Age all
of the wheat class will be gathered
into the Heavenly Garner, and that
-.then shall the righteous shine forth
rs the Sun in the Kingdom of their
Father" Matthew 13:43.) We must
not think, hewever, that this signifies
the Church without the Redeemer, but
must remember that Jesus Is 1.-The
Head over the Church which is His
Body. -Ephesians :22,23.
How wonderful, how beautiful, how
are the word-pictures OF
the Bible! No one but the Lord knew
Of The GREAT Divine Plan. No one but