Churches of Christ e-bog

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. During the ministry of John, the Messran was manifested to Israel, and acknowledged from on high as the Son of God in his baptism. It was not long now tiu John's ministry ended in his imprisonment and death, and Jesus, the greatest of all prophets, assumed the func tions of the prophetical office, and repeated the message that John had proclaimed, saying, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. We are now in a time that is pregnant with intense interest and importance, for an event that concerns the world's greatest needs is about to take place. Six hundred years before this a young prophet stood in the pres ence of the mighty Nebuchadnezzar, and de clared that God would set up a kingdom in the days of the Caesars; and now, in the midst of those days the Son of God gives assurance that this prophecy is very near its fulfillment, and urges the people of his generation to be in readiness to receive the new kingdom. This was a part of the burden of his preaching during the period of his brief earthly min istry. Toward the close of his life he elicited from Peter the Good Confession in this lan guage: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. This confession called out the following significant declaration from the Messiah: Blessed art thou, Simon bar-jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.