Graham guardian. [volume] (Safford, Ariz.) 1895-1923, 1916-05-05

/ ~
ny S2%# G 0SpCl Of The
s!S$:$$ 4 &@ kingdom shall be
! Ia Bs3I preached In all the
| rs VA world for n wit
| lE ness to all nations;
Ms and then shall the
end come" tMut,
| ye1s:ssel52SSs& 10y thCw 34:1N. We
| llIASlGS= RUSSElLJl give short re-
| port
The end mentioned in our text is not
the end Of the world, but the end Of
! tho preaching of the Gospel. after that
| preaching has done its work. The Mas
| tcr'S thought, as here expressed seems
| to be that the work Of the Gospel Age
has been, not tho conversion of the
world, rs many have enormously sup
posed, but the preaching Of the Gospel
as n witness to the world. After the
present Age is closed, Gospel preach.
Ing will no longer be necessary: for it
will have done Its work.
There is distinction between the
Gospel Of the Kingdom and the King
dom itself. The Gospel Of the King
dom is the Message concerning the
Kingdom the Glad Tidincs of the
Kingdom. When this Message shall
have accomplished its work of gather
ing out a special class to constitute the
Bride Of Christ, then the Kingdom it
self will be inaugurated and will begin
Its work. which will be for the saliva
ton Of the world at large. The Scrip
lures inform us that since our Lords
ascension, He has been waiting until
His enemies be made His fOOtStOOl
(Hebrews 1912, 10; Psalm 1lO1D In
other words, He is waiting the inau.
guration Of His glorious Kingdom.
Meantime those who hope to reign
with Christ have had an important
work to accomplish in themselves. co
operating with their Lord in the
preparation for their great future eX
altntiOn. They have had also a sec,
Ondary work IN proclaiming the Gospel
Message to every one who has an ear
to hear. that the full number Of the
III NIdNN llltlN bt S'tl lNlNNl III uli
fitted for their positions IN the King,
dom. Only a few have hearing ears;
for the great majority Of mankind are
absorbed in their own ideas and prof.
ects. Thus it has been all down the
Gospel Age The Message Is designed
only for a little flock" duke 1880:
and these will constitute the Royal
Family in the Messianic Kingdom.
Pearl Of Joint Herohip With Christ.
The earth is the one rebelliOUs
province I'm Gods Universe. Our minds
are all more or less twisted by nature
because of Adams fall. But there are
some who have q heart disposed to
righteousness. 1t Is to such that the
Kingdom Message appeals, and such
will he prepared for Kingdom honOrs.
God Is seeking those who. when they
learn of His wonderful Plan. will be-
come so thoroughly absorbed in it that
they will practically forget everything
elsc-lay every weight aside.
Some Of us have had this experience
All things else have become Of only
secondary interest to us. We are like
the merchantmen who found n pearl
Of great price. and who sold all that
he had in order to obtain it. (Alat-
thew 1915, 49, Whoever obtains this
pearl will be privileged to come into
full harmony with God, will share
with our Lord in the glory, honor and
Immortality Of the Divine nature, will
be associated with Jesus in the work
Of helping mankind up out of ignO-
rance, superstition, sin and death, dur
ing the Mlllennial Reign of Christ;
and after the worlds uplift Is accom-
plished. he will be further privileged
to be associated with our Lord for
ever. and to show forth Gods riches
of grace throughout eternity.
But whoever would have the pearl
must pay the priCe-"all that he had"
Whether he has little or much he must
give all that he possesses, This In.
Cludes his will lie must give him
self wholly and unrGSPrvcdly TO God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Thence
forth he must have no will of his own
in anything. but must submit himself
fully to the Lord. lie must suffer re-
prOaCh, SCUrn. persecution, loss of
friends. trihulations-but MI necessary
to his preparation for future service
in the Kingdom, IN one sense the
cost is considerable; but whoever has
once gotten a glimpse OF the Pearl
will gladly pay the price.
The Gospel Of the Kingdom has been
preached in all the world for a wit
ness unto all nations. The Bride of
Christ will soon he completed beyond
the veil. Let US. then, be faithful
unto death. The time Of our dcliv-
Crancc is not far away Day by day
we are learning patience, cheerful en-.
durAnCe. submission TO the Divine will.
in all the affairs of life. soon we shall
get the Pearl Of Great Price.