Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/339

 men thrown out of employment in this way will finally be- come desperate. Then law and order will be swept away the mountains will be swallowed up in that stormy sea. Thus the social earth will melt, and the governmental heav- ens (church and state) will pass away ; and all the proud, and all who do wickedly, will be as stubble. Then the mighty men will weep bitterly, the rich will howl, and fear and distress will be upon all the multitude. Even now, wise, far-seeing men find their hearts failing them as they look forward to those things coming upon the world, even as our Lord predicted. (Luke 21 : 26.) The Scriptures show us that in this general rupture the nominal church (including all denominations) will be gradually drawn more and more to the side of the governments and the wealthy, will lose much of its influence over the people, and will finally fall with the governments. Thus the heavens [eccle- siastical rule], being on fire, will pass away with a great hissing.

All this trouble will but prepare the world to realize that though men may plan and arrange ever so well and wisely, all their plans will prove futile as long as ignorance and selfishness are in the majority and have the control. It will convince all that the only feasible way of correcting the difficulty is by the setting up of a strong and righteous government, which will subdue all classes, and enforce prin- ciples of righteousness, until gradually the stony-hearted- ness of men will, under favorable influences, give place to the original image of God. And this is just what God has promised to accomplish for all, by and through the Millen- nial Reign of Christ, which Jehovah introduces by the chas- 3<5 : 25, 36 5 Jer. 31 : 29-34 ; Zeph. 3:9; Psa. 46 : 8~io.

Though this day of trouble comes as a natural and una- voidable result of man's fallen, selfish condition, and was fully foreseen and declared by the Lord, who foresaw that

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