Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-05-31
LESSON TExT-Mark 1871, 14:s.

struction of Jerusalem as adumbrating
the revelation Of the Son of God in
glory, we shall hive no serious trouble.
l. The Occasion of the Prophecy
wv. 1-4).
As Jesus was passing through the
temple for the last time on his way to
the Mount of Olives, where he gave
this discourse, the disciples reminded
him of the splendor of the building, to
which he replied that not one stone
should be left upon another. When
seated upon the mount three disciples
came privately with a threefold ques-
ton, according TO Matthew "a, request
ing further information.
1. When shall these things be?
2. What shall be the sign of thy
coming?
3. And of the end of the age?
That which follows is given in an
swer to these questions.
II. The characteristics of the Age
During the Absence of Christ (vv.5-23).
1. Appearance of deceivers wv.
5, 6).-
Since Jesus went hack TO heaven
many false Christs from time to time
have pressed their claims as being the
Christ. AS the age draws to a close
these claims doubtless will increase.
2. Wars and strife among the ma
tions (vv. Z, 81.
The history of the centuries since
Christ is written in blood, and the river
increases in volume as the age goes
on toward its consummation. Jesus
warns against making any particular
war the sign of his coming. Many good
people have seriously blundered in this
respect because they did not heed this
warning.
3. Earthquakes and famines ". 81.
Though these calamities grow in
creasingly severe as the days lengthen,
the intelligent, believing disciple is not
surprised or alarmed, for these are
the precursors of a new order, the
birth pangs of a new age, the estab-
lishment of the Kingdom of Christ
upon this earth. Let the child of God
in this present darkness look up, for
his redemption draweth nigh Ouke
81 :2S).
4. Universal evangelism ". 10).
The gospel of the Kingdom, accord
ing to Matthew "a IA, shall be preach
ed in all the world for witness. This
is not the Gospel of the grace of God
which we now preach, but the new
evangelism which shall be proclaimed
by elect Israelites Immediately pre-
ceding the coming of Christ to estab-
lish his Kingdom (see Rev. 7:471O;
Rom. II :15).
5. Universal hatred Of the believing
Israelites (vv. 10 :13).
They shall be severely prosecuted.
Civil government shall be against
them, and even their relatives and near
kin shall hate. hunt and kill them.
Their one duty, Notwithstanding, shall
be to preach the Gospel, depending
upon the Holy Spirit for wisdom and
power. For this specific duty they are
sealed with the seal of God in their
foreheads (Rev. z :3). This will be the
real PentecOst, of which the outpour-
ing of the Spirit at the beginning of
the Church was type (Joel 2 1882 ;
Acts 2:16). Eternal salvation is prom
ised as an encouragement to fidelity
". 13). 1t is the great tribulation wv.
1929. This is the consummation of
the age Immediately preceding the glo-
rious appearing of Christ. Out of the
missionary propaganda of converted
Israel shall eventuate the unparalleled
horrors so glowingly pictured Lere
Daniels denominations of desolation''
| is the anti-Christ, the imam of SIM
Daniel 8: :26, 81; II 80; 2 Thess., 2 :3
4) will direct this reign of horro. In
mems desire for deliverance from this
reign of terror they will be. easily led
astray by false Christs who shall pc
culiarly appear at this time.
III. The Lords Glorious Return wv
242D.
This is the superlative event, the
oneto which all prophecies.have point
! ed, and all ages are moving with un
failing precision. 1t will usher in the
| golden age of which the wise anG
great of all ages have dreamed, ant
for which they longed. The coming
of the Lord will put an end to earth:
sorrows: wars and strife will not enc
until the kingdoms of this world be
come the Kingdom of our Lord and hi.
Christ (Rev. IL :15). This event will
be accompanied by great physical dis
turbances and Jesus will gather hi
elect from the ends of the earth.
w. Applications of the Prophec,
wv. 26-37).
/. AS these events multiply in tn,
earth we know that the coming of tn,
Lord draweth nigh wv. %, 29), as tn,
putting forth of the leaves of the Fl,
tree prove the approach of summer.
2. The Jewish race shall retain it
integrity till the end ". 3O).
The perpetuity of Israel is the mil
acle of the ages.
8. Certainty of fulfillment ". 81.
The unfailng guarantee is tn
words of Christ.
4. The time of Christ's coming ur
known ". 32).
In view of this it is utter folly to sc
the time. The devil keeps people fror
the truth of Christ's coming as long a
possible. When he can no longer SUE
ceed in this, he then tries to get ther
to set the time.
5. The proper behavior in view Q
Christ's imminent coming wv. 1887,
1t is watchfulness and prayer. TIL
coming of the Lord is the grand incer
tive for watchfulness and earnes
prayer.