Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/153

 world under that glorious reign of him whom God hath ap- pointed to judge the world in righteousness. Among the greatest of the blinding influences which Satan has devised to keep men in ignorance of the truth regarding the judg- ment day have been the errors which have crept into the creeds and hymn books of the various religious ses. Many have come to esteem these errors as of paramount impor- tance to the Word of God.

How differently did the prophets and apostles regard that promised day of judgment ! Note the exultant prophetic utterance of David (i Chron. 16 : 31-34). He says : " Let the heavens be glad,

And let the earth rejoice;

And let men say among the nations, Jehovah reSgneth,

Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof;

Let the fields rejoice, and all that are therein.

Then shall the trees of the wood sing aloud

At the presence of Jehovah,

BECAUSE HE COMETH

TO JUDGE THE EARTH.

give thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good;

For his mercy endureth forever."

To the same day the Apostle also points, assuring us that it will be a glorious and desirable day, and that for it the whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain together- waiting for the great Judge to deliver and to bless the world, as well as to exalt and glorify the Church. Rom 8: 21, 22.

In John 5:28, 29 a precious promise for the world of a coming judgment-trial for life everlasting is, by a mistrans- lation, turned into a fearful imprecation. According to the Greek, they that have done evil that have failed of divine approval will come forth unto resurrection [raising up to perfection] by judgments, "stripes," disciplines.^- See the Revised Version.

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