Graham guardian., 1916-01-07


The speaker began by pointing out
the similarities between the opening
Of a New Year and the opening of a
new ledger. 1t Is favorable time for
putting into effect good resolutions for
governing the New Year. Those who
make no resolutions make very little
progress in character building, he as
serted; for poor fallen humanity needs
all the supports which a well-directed
will can give 1t. He did not advocate
hasty, and sometimes unreasonable
VOWS. resolutions and pledges, thought
essly taken and soon forgotten, but a
thoughtful consideration of the matter,
and full determination to pursue the
proper course.
The close Of the year, he declared, Is
the time for taking stock and for esti
mating the profits and losses of the
year. 1t is q time of judgment, deci
sion-a time for issuing dividends, re
wards; time for the meeting Of di
rectors and for the election Of officers
and servants for the incoming year
So at the close of this Gospel Age, its
affairs are being wound up. The Lord
is judging His people, and is about to
reward the faithful In glory. And the
world must be set In order for the new
arrangement about to be inaugurated.
Real Cause Of Present Conditions.
Pastor Russell then discussed the ap-
preaching Messianic Kingdom. He
showed that the earth is the one prov.
ince Of creation IN rebellion against
Jehovah, the Emperor of the Universe
Man, the king of earth, was created
in the image and likeness Of God. with
the Divine Law written In his heart.
But he rebelled against his Overload
and brought himself and all his de.
sCendants under death sentence.
Genesis 3:17-10.) The laws Of hered,
ity have so operated that today Adams
children find the average Of life less
than fifty years. The dying experiences
of humanity are manifested In mental
moral and physical degradation. With
all our knowledge land medical skill,
the race continues to weaken, and the
proportion Of the insane to increase.
Once Bible students would have said
that God is upon the throne of earth;
and that, not satisfied with present ap.
palling conditions, the Creator had ar
ranged that at death all humanity ex-
cept the Elect Church should be turn.
ed over fully to the control of demons,
empowered by Divine foreordination to
torture everlaStingly. the poor unfortu-
mates Of Adams family. These same
Bible students would have resented
any suggestion that God is NOT now
reigning over the earth; that instead,
the world Is under the domination of
Satan, John 1870; 2 Corinthians 4:4)
But with facilities far SUPERIOR to those
enjoyed by our forefathers, Bible stu
dents are finding that the horrible
teachings of the past came not from
the Bible, but are doctrines of de.
mons" promulgated during the Dark
Ages.-1 Timothy Al.
God gave the dominion Of earth to
man, But as he lost his perfection, he
became the slave of sin and of Satan
The Adversary and his fallen angels
have exercised all their power for
mans enSnarement and degradation.
Their influence would have effected
mans overthrow had not the Almighty
provided humanity with will power
and to n large extent forced the evil
spirits to respect 1t. AS result, hu
man depravity has made much less
rapid progress than 1t might otherwise
have done. If mankind realized the
true situation, undoubtedly the human
will would more persistently oppose
the wiles of the Devil. Evil spirits
hide their Identity, and through spirit
mediums personate the dead, who ac.
cOrding to the Bible are asleep in death
-ECcl 90. @. 10; Psalm l4G:4; etc
BY JehOvah's appointment, mans Re.
dcemer is to be the great King OF
Glory. who will reign thousand years
and make all things new" Our Lord
Iikcned His Second'Advent to the com
ing OF thief In the night, when men
would be off guard. not expecting
change in earth's rulership. He init
mates that His loyal saints will first
lie taken. while mankind will be In ig-
norance Of the fact Next He will
blind the strong man, and then spoil
his house" MATTHEW l2:22-29; "a :42-44.
This implies II struggle; for the strong
man Satah--has n great host serving
him. ignorant of the fact that he Is
usurper Thus many will be found
lighting against God. thinking that
they are doing Him service. When
the Kingdom honOrs are distributed,
some very prominent in the ministry of
Christ's own Church will be surprised
that they receive none.-Matthew 7:22,
%. IIE,. IO.lS1S