Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/310

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of Christ, as his vicegerent, in much the same manner as the Southern States were dealt with after the Rebellion by the United States government. The Southern States for a while v ere not permitted to govern themselves by elefting their own officers, lest they should not conform to the Constitutional laws of the Union; but governors, with full power to adt, were placed in control for the purpose of reconstru<5ling those state governments and bringing them back into full Larinony with the central government. Thus the special xeign of Christ over the affairs of earth is for a limited time and for a particular purpose, and it will terminate with the accomplishment of that purpose. Man, through rebellion, forfeited his God-given rights among others, self-govern- ment in harmony with Jehovah's laws. God, through Christ, redeemed all those rights, and secured the right for tpqn not only to return personally to his former estate, but also to return to his former office as king of earth. But to bring man back, as God designs, in the way best suited to impress the lesson of present experience namely, by re- quiring him to put forth effort toward his own recovery will require a strong, a perfeft government. And this honor of completing man's recovery, the right to which he died to secure, is conferred upon Christ; and "he must reign until he hath put all enemies under his feet" until none exist who do not recognize, honor and obey him. Then, having accomplished his mission as regards the re- construdlion or restitution of mankind, he will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, and mankind will deal dire<5lly, as at first, with Jehovah the mediation of the man Christ Jesus having accomplished fully and com- pletely the grand work of reconciliation. i Cor. 15 : 25-28. The kingdom, when delivered up to the Father, will still be the Kingdom of God, and the laws will always be the same. All mankind, then perfe<5tly restored, will be capa*

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