Washington, DC, January 12'Pastor Russell preached this afternoon at the Temple, comer 13th Street and New York, to a large congregation. He made be the rather startling declaration that the Millennium is already here; that chronology proves that we have been living under some of its blessings for the past thirty-eight years; and that our modem conveniences and progress are attributable to the beginning of the rolling away of the curse, and the substitution of the Divine blessing.
The Pastor said that the reign of Messiah for a thousand years not only will bind Satan and hinder his further deception of mankind, but will also bring light, knowledge, illumination, to every comer of the earth. He pointed out the beginning of these blessings as already with us; but they are only the faint dawnings of the greater light which will flood the world, when the Sun of Righteousness, Emmanuel's Kingdom, shall be manifested.
The speaker went on to say that immediately before us is a terrific storm which will convulse the present order of things'social, financial, political and religious. The momentary chaos will yield to the Prince of Peace, who will then take to Himself His great power and reign. He will say to the billowy waves of trouble, "Peace, be still," and there will be a calm, even as was illustrated on the Sea of Galilee.
Pastor Russell showed that the storm of trouble which will precede the establishment of Messiah's Kingdom will be the natural result of the operation of the laws of Justice. This principle always operates along the line of cause and effect. Humanity are not using the wonderful blessings of the present as they should. Selfishness prevails amongst rich and poor. The earth's abundant supply for the needs of all is bringing discontent, because the natural heart is full of selfishness.
God will allow selfishness to lead on to its inevitable result, and thus will demonstrate to mankind the sinfulness of sin, selfishness, meanness and the beauty of holiness, righteousness, harmony with God.
The Pastor then called attention to Isaiah 35, the first verse of which declares, "The desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose." He showed that irrigation is literally fulfilling this prophecy and bringing about marvelous results. Our government is co-operating with our intelligent fellow-citizens to reclaim what was once supposed to be worthless land.
A similar work of reclamation is going on in Arabia. Shortly the land of the "Arabian Nights" will realize in a natural way changes far more wonderful than those of the fairy tales which entranced our childish imaginations. The great Sahara Desert, also, has been examined by engineers, who have ascertained that much of it lies below sea level. At comparatively small cost it can be inundated and brought to a high state of cultivation. The speaker also said that the Scriptures prophesy that the Dead Sea will one day be connected with the ocean.
Pastor Russell then applied Isa. 35:3 to our day, and declared that he is trying to carry out its commands. The Scriptures show that before the world can receive its share of blessings, the Church of Christ must first be gathered and changed to spirit beings by the First Resurrection.
After this has been accomplished, mankind will receive earthly blessings through the Messianic Kingdom. These will surpass anything which humanity has ever dreamed.
Then he showed that Jesus' miracles were merely illustrations of the work of His Second Advent. During the Millennium, our Lord and His Church will remove, not only physical blindness, deafness, lawlessness, etc., but also human weaknesses and frailties resulting from the fall of Adam. What a new aspect earth will present when sin, sickness, sorrow and death will forever have passed away!
The context mentions a Highway of Holiness to be established. This will distinctly differ from the broad road and the narrow way. Everything will be removed that will hinder human progress back to perfection.
The reward at the end of the way will be very different from that given to those who now walk the narrow way of self-sacrifice. Adam was a man, not a heavenly being. God changes not. He made Adam king over earth, with dominion over its creatures. God's purposes are the same today as in the beginning.
Christ died to redeem humanity. In due time, all will awake from the sleep of death to an opportunity to return to perfection as human beings.