Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-05

:
Protestant, Christians have been de-
veloped: but not all who are mem
bers of these denominations will even
claim to be the sacrificial followers
of Jesus. A real Christian Is one who
follows in Christ's footsteps, and 1t
has pleased God to permit them to
pass through special trials and suf-
ferings because He purposes to exait
such faithful ones. to positions in
the spiritual phase of His kingdom.
was made perfect through sufferings;
and the members of His body are
called to follow in His footsteps and
lit is given unto them as privilege
not only to believe in Him. but to
suffer for His sake; for "if we suffer
with Him. we shall also reign with
Him" Jesus Himself said, IF We
love you; but because I have chosen
you out of the world therefore the
world hateth you" It was Jesus who
said that Satan is the prince, or
ruler, of the present evil world. He
has been ruling in the hearts Of the
children of disobedience and he has
injected into the minds of men the
thought Of charging Christians with
the crime of sedition and Furnishing
them as such. Jesus Himself was I'M
lawfully convicted and put to death
on the charge of sedition. st. Stephen
suffered death for the same reason.
st. Paul was in prison four years on
the charge of sedition. st. John the
Revelator suffered Punishment. and
Imprisonment on a false charge Of
sedition. John Bunyan was In prison
for a like cause, and SO have been
many other Christians. The great
war beginning in 1914 furnished an
opportunity for certain extremists to
bring about influence and cause the
persecution and death of Christians
in Germany, Austria Hungary, Great
Britain, Canada and the United States
and other places, who conscientiously
held to their views that it was their
duty to serve God and do good to
all and injury to none. The war and
the accompanying Espionage Act in
the United States furnished the OPP
portunity for much unjust persecu-
ton and prosecution, imprisonment
and suffering of men and women
Imprisonment, indeed, of men and
women who had no thought Of doing
injury to the government or. any
body else. Some of it occurred in
Scranton, Pa, where citizens of long
residence and high standing were
taken away to prison because they
had devoted much IF their time to
serving the Lord and preparing liter
allure for other Christians to read.
Members of the International Bible
Students Association were sentenced
to as long as so years in prison be-
cause of their faithfulness to the
principles of Christianity; but after
the excitement passed away they were
released and the cases reversed and
the government exonerated them by
dismissing the cases and setting them
free.
1t is of interest here to note that
st. John the Revelator suffered a
term of Imprisonment, and the in
depreciation of Revelation, and Eze-
kiel in that wonderful commentary,
"The Finished Mystery" was the
cause of the persecution and impris-
onment Of many other Christians
BY reference to the Scriptures it is
seen that these things had to come
to pass. and no Christian is complain
ing. but rather rejoices in the fact
that he is counted worthy to be par
taker of the sufferings of Christ. 1t
would be we'll for all Christians to
measure themselves by the Lords
standard and see whether or not they
have this testimony mentioned by
the Master Himself.
1925 Important Date
Jehovah inaugurated amongst the
Jews the jubilee system, which pro-
vided that when they entered the
land of Canaan every 80 years there
after should be to them, a jubilee
year; and, under their law, given to
them by Jehovah through Moses, on
the jubilee year every man should be
restored to the full possession Of all
that had been taken from him or
that he had lost. ST. Paul shows us
that these things were typical, fore
shadowing greater things to come.
The law provided that for seventy
periods should these jubilecs be kept;
that is to say, every so years for 70
times, which would mean a period of
$500 years. The Jews entered the
land of Canaan in the year 1876 B. c..
at which time this law was given and
the time began to count. Seventy
periods of so years thereafter, or
$500 years. would of necessity end
in the year 1925 A. D. That, then,