Evening star., 1922-07-08
Sunday School Lesson

spirit. They are all founded on hu.
man ambition. They are all antag-
enistic to God and to His truth This
BODY has many members, bat all these
members are moved by one will. So
the successive world monarchies have
all been pervaded by one spirit which
has striven through them to gain its
own ends" This results in their de-
terioration. This was indicated in
| the image, where gold was supplant-
ed by silver, which gave way to brass
that was set aEide by iron Human
power at its best and highest period
| is not equal to Gods power. The
huge colossus was no match for the
small pebble cut out of the mountain.
None of these kingdoms passed
away without performing some den
nate service for the advancement of
the kingdom of God. 1t was during
their exile in Babylon that the He
brews were cured of their idolatry.
During the rule of the Medo-Persians
the Jewish eXiles were permitted to
return to Jerusalem, rebuild the city
walls and the temple. 1t was under
their protection that the worship Of
collected and the people instructed
! in the word of God. The Medo-Per-
slams contribution was permanent
It resulted in keeping the divine
nres OF religious truth burning until
Christ appeared.
In the providence of God, the Greek
language. which had become as a re-
suit of the worldwide Grecian rule
a universal medium for literary and
scientific speech, as well as for COM
which the Old Testament had been
translated. The richness Of its re-
ligious. ethical and philosophical
terms made the Greek the best suit
cd OF all languages to express the
lofty ideals and fundamental truths
OF ChTlStlAnlfy The nc hx,t he;
system or public roads and jurispru-
dence prepared the way for the rapid
publication Of the gospel and the
protection or the preachers who car
and the Masters spiritual supremacy,
All the aid that a hostile heather
world was competent to give had
been provided when Jesus was born
In accordance with Jehovah's prom
ises and prohpecies to the Jewish
people. He came at the midday of
the imperial greatness of Rome. lust
as Daniel had pointed out to Nebu-
hcadnezzar that He would come ..in
the days Of those kings" The work
cally that of unif1cation. 1t was des-
tined to-fall because it lacked the
essential element needed to unite
the various races, and religions of
the world kingdom into unity Force
cannot unite humanity. Faith and
love unites.
Our country faces today a similar
peril to that which destroyed Rome
recent writer has pointed out that
about 5S per cent of all the inhabit-
ants OF America are Of no church. and
pay no regard to any religion"
Pershing last Tuesday pointed out
the nations menace revealed by
laxity in reference to law and morals.
II public opinion is to efface the
menaces of our country, as pointed
President I'd -;
Marion centennial address, it must be
by making "a little more permanent
and little moro influential the tend
ency to religious worship, which is
the softening influence of American
/ life" There is no greater power than
the faith of the Lord Jesus to eradi-
cate the, tendency of government by
force, which usually follows a period
OF warfare. 1t has demonstrated its
superior unifying power among ma
seal upon the authenticity of His
atonement. Jesus established His
innocence before a Roman tribunal
The soldiers of Rome. who crucifed
Him. testify to the reality of His
death Those who watched at His
tomb have helped to establish the
genuineness of His resurrection He
came and died according to the Scrip
lures.
The stone "cut out of the mountain
supernatural origin and divine char
acter of the personality who was to
master the kingdoms of men and
dominate the world powers by His
spiritual supremacy. 1t points with
out question to Christ. the stone
which the builders rejected" Daniel
identifies the mysterious stone with
the Son of Man. who takes possession
of the Kingdoms of the earth G.13.1D
World empires built upon force al
ways perish. History is the grave
yard of such Kingdoms. A number
Of them have been overthrown in our
own times. The needs of humanity
demand that the spirit of militarism
be crushed, and a brotherhood of ma
tions and of men be established
where the rule of force and selfish
greed shall give place to governments
and associations, dominated by love
and revealed in friendship, Justice
equality and liberty.
The Interchangeable Christ Is the
worlds hope today. The issue of His
work is not complete. 1t will not be
until His rule shall completely change
those nations built upon force by the
Transforming power of love. All the
His will last forever. His kingdom
is destined to dominate all the other
powers and nations until His su-
premacy is acknowledged. Just as
NebuchadnezZar bowed down and rev.
erently worshiped the God of Daniel.
so every knee will bow and every
tongue confess that Jesus is the King
of kings and Lord of lords. The time
of His coming Is rapidly drawing
near and We can hasten the hour
when angelic voices will proclaim
"the Kingdom of the world is become
the kingdom of our Lord and his
Christ; and He shall reign forever
,pd