STUDY IV.
THE EPOCHS AND DISPENSATIONS MARKED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIVINE PLAN.
GOD'S PLAN DEFINITR AND SYSTKMAIIC. THREE GRUAT EPOCHS OP THK WORLD'S HISTORY. TIIKIR DISTINCTIVK FEATURES. "Tun EARTH AiiiDirrxi FORFVBU." TUB WORLD TO COME, THE MEW HEAVENS AMD EAIITIT. SUHDI-
VlblONS OH TlIIIM! GltBAT El'OCIIS. TlIB IMPORTANT FltATURCS OP Gou'S PLAN
THUS BROUGHT TO VIIAV. -ORDR& RECOGTNUHD Bit CLOSES HARMONY. RIGHTLY DIVIDING TUB WORD OF TRUTH.
A S some ignorantly misjudge the skill and wisdom of
- * a great architect and builder by his unfinished work,
so also many in their ignorance now misjudge God by his unfinished work ; but by and by, when the rough scaffold- ing of evil, which has been permitted for man's discipline, and which shall finally l>e overruled for his good, has been removed, and the rubbish cleared away, God's finished work will universally declare his infinite wisdom and pow- er; and his plans will be seen to be in harmony with his glorious character.
Since God tells us that he has a definitely fixed purpose, awl that all his purposes shall be accomplished, it behooves us, as his children, to inquire diligently what those plans are, that we may be found in harmony with them. Notice how emphatically Jehovah affirms the fixedness of his pur- pose: "Jehovah of hosts hath sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, 'so shall it come to pass ; and as I have pur- posed, so shall it be." "The Lord of hosts hath pur- posed, and who shall disannul it?*' "I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. * . My counsel shall stand, and I will do all wy
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