Man's Versus God's Rule
By F. W. Stray
For thousands of years sinful man has been demonstrating himself a failure in the government of his fellows, and now in the end of the age, with the great increase of knowledge and with all history to draw upon for instruction and warning, we should reasonably expect the world to be better governed than ever in the past. Instead of this, however, we find men of all classes, rich and poor, high and low, declaring that all nations are misgoverned, and a survey of the field at once confirms their testimony. Discontent is everywhere prominent, and this is one of the clearest evidences of misgovernment; for a government that is unable to insure peace and prosperity among all classes of its citizens, but favors the few at the expense of the many, is not succeeding in the object of government. As a result, earnest and devoted men in all nations are advocating new forms of government for the future. The basis of all these movements, such as socialism in the world and the Progressive movement in this country, is that government must be taken from the few and restored to the many, the people, before the many can obtain justice. A Moses who will lead the people out to establish a new commonwealth is the hope and expectation of multitudes. What have Seventh-day Adventists to offer as a solution to meet this cry of the world's need? This gospel (good tidings) of the kingdom, is the answer. But do we frame the answer so that the world can understand, and have hope kindled, to the extent of laying hold of the promises that we hold out to them? A socialist embraces the promises of socialism and immediately begins to talk it earnestly, enthusiastically, with his neighbors, and thus the world is being permeated with socialistic doctrine. What is our message? First, “The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people.” Dan. 7:27. Positively, unequivocally, we answer that what the world feels ought to be done, shall be done. We go back to the beginning of things and find that “God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them [collectively and equally] have dominion over . . . the earth.” Gen. 1:26. In the seventh chapter of Daniel, already quoted from, the prophet delineates the rise and fall of the great monarchical governments of earth, so out of harmony with the original plan of God, finally picturing the last as one “whose look was more stout than his fellows” (verse 20), which we know is the Papacy, in principle and practise the most absolute monarchy the world has ever seen, denying every individual right of action, thought, and conscience even, and making all the people absolutely subservient to the ruling class, the priests, who are chosen without the people's having any voice in the selection whatever, and who claim, in addition to priestly service, princely dominion of the whole world. This is the climax of Satan's endeavor to rule the people of this world by brute force. “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom . . . shall be given to the people.” Dan. 7:26, 27. This is the gospel of the kingdom; by what means shall this kingdom be established? First, with others we realize that it can only be accomplished after the absolute overthrow of government by the few. Hence our message concerning the present world's system of government: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” Ps. 2:8, 9. “And . . . no place was found for them.” Dan. 2:35. Are these promises certain of fulfilment? Are they more sure than the promises of the same thing embraced by the socialist? Hear the One who makes these promises: “I am God, and there is none like me; . . . declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: . . . I have purposed it, I will also do it.” Isa. 46:9-11. He declared that he would overthrow the world empire of ancient Babylon, and he did it. His Son wept over Jerusalem and declared that it, too, would be destroyed, and be no more the capital of a Jewish nation, and it was done; and so he has demonstrated the fulfilment of his promise to overthrow the nations, and restore the dominion to the people. Now, how does the kingdom promised compare with the nation of the future that men hope to usher in through the gateway of politics? Suppose for a moment that men should be able so to govern as to abolish industrial oppression and to establish even-hand justice for all alike. Surely413that would be a wonderful government: and yet every house in the land would be built for fire, flood, or funeral; still there would be heartaches and tears; there would be cripples, and blind, and deaf, and dumb; there would be work for the physician and the nurse; hospitals and asylums would still be needed, in spite of man's best efforts; insect pests would prey upon the fruit and grain; floods, destructive storms, and earthquakes could never be legislated away. But, hear the good news of the kingdom that is really coming:— “The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick.” Isa. 33:24. “The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing.” Isa. 35:5, 6. “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.” Rev. 21:4, 5. Who will come and establish this glorious kingdom? “I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; . . . I shall give thee . . . the earth for thy possession.” Ps. 2:7, 8. He came to earth about two thousand years ago, but not to take possession, and upon leaving, said, “I will come again.” He came down here and demonstrated his power and willingness to fulfil every promise that he has given us. At his voice death was banished from the grave itself, the eyes of the blind were opened, the deaf heard, the dumb sang, the lame man leaped to his feet and danced for joy. He was entombed, dying publicly in the sight of all the people, but the grave could not hold him. He was afterward seen of many; and then, publicly, with many men observing his departure, he left the earth by way of the air above them, having made the promise, “I will come again.” Every time in history that the people have arisen and overthrown a tyrannical government, that which they have established upon the ruins of the old has been but an additional monument to sinful man's incapacity properly to govern his fellows. The leaders chosen of the people have failed, but not so in the coming kingdom. The kingdom shall not be given to people who are sinful, but “to the people of the saints of the Most High,” and the unanimous choice of the redeemed people for governor is Jesus, the Son of God. “And the government shall be upon his shoulder.” Isa. 9:6. The only government of the people, and by the people, and for the people, that shall not perish from the earth, will be the kingdom of the saints. “And the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but . . . it shall stand forever.” Only saints can ever establish upon the earth a righteous government, and that only through divine intervention and leadership. “All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power; to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.” Ps. 145:10-12. Brethren, let us be saints, and talk this thing to the sons of men.