Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/281

 coufd have brought blessings which, however good, could have been of only a temporary character, since all of man- kind were under condemnation to death. To make the blessings of his kingdom everlasting and complete, the race had first to be ransomed from death and thus legally released from the condemnation which passed upon all in Adam.

That in explaining the prophecies Jesus revived the dis- ciples* hope of a coming kingdom is evident from the fact that afterward, as he was leaving them, they inquired, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" His answer, though not explicit, did not contradict their hopes. He said, " It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. ' ' Acts i : 6, 7.

True, the disciples at first, in common with the entire Jewish nation, had an imperfect conception of the King- dom of God in supposing it to be exclusively an earthly kingdom, even as many to-day err in an opposite direction in supposing it to be exclusively a heavenly kingdom. And many of the parables and dark sayings of our Lord Jesus were intended in due time to correct these misconceptions. But he always held forth the idea of a kingdom, a government, to be established in the earth and to rule among men. And he not only inspired in them a hope for a share in the king- dom, but he also taught them to pray for its establishment " Thy kingdom come; thy will be done ON EARTH as it is in heaven."

To the worldly-wise among the Jews, our Lord seemed an impostor and fanatic; and they considered his disciples mere dupes. His wisdom and tact, and his miracles, they could not well gainsay, nor reasonably account for; yet, from their standpoint of unbelief, his claim that he was the heir of the world, and would establish the promised kingdom which should rule the world, and that his followers, all of them from the humbler walks of life, would be joint-rulers

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