The Messenger—1927
Download: PDF — The Messenger—1927
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS CONVENTION AT TORONTO, (TUESDAY, JULY 19, 1927)
__L-i___.______*____________________________________________■_____:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________•__________'■ - •__________________ ■ ■■________u_________________,______________
GREAT THRONGS OF BIBLE STUDENTS TAKE POSSESSION OF CITY j
City Theirs, Says Mayor. Spread Out All Over Toronto.
The Bible Students are coming!
They have been planning for it for months. Up in the great wheat fields of Saskatchewan is a wheat grower who requires twenty-five horses to do his work. • His fa-rm is a big one. It is one of the granaries of the world. His responsibilities are great. He makes a study of wheat growing, and makes a success of it ; but he has something of far greater,importance on his mind.
There are college graduates here, plenty of them," and mingling with them are the rank and file of the common people that have had to be content with common school educations. A few will be found, here and there,, whose education has been limited to a few weeks of schooling in some district school; but some of these will be found surprisingly versed in God's Word.
There are manufacturers here who have left large busineSfcTiTTrr the hands of subordinates, so that they might have a share, in the good things that will be brought forth : from the Bible at this convention of God’s people. There are real ' estate operators and others here who have been blessed with temporal prosperity; but they are not ; purse-proud.
They are using their surplus funds in the spread of the truth, and jithough they have come from long distances and in the finest of autoinobiles that money can buy, yet when you talk with them about the Bible you find that they are jtist jcommon folks.
There are all kinds of cars here, mostly rather good ones, because the Bible Students are particular people! and are not just satisfied with anything that will turn on four wheels; but there are some of the cheaper ones too, and thousands have (come by train, instead of autombbile, for the very good reason that they had no automobiles. Two <5f the earlier arrivals started to walk to the convention from . southern Illinois, but by the kindness ot good-hearted folks along the road, ‘giving them a lift now and then, (they managed to cover over a hundred miles a day and got through quicker than they had expected.
greeting!
TO THE LORD’S ANOINTED
Please accept my greetings and best wishes for your happiness in the Lord. You are welcome to this convention. Have you come here with the determination to honor Jehovah’s name? If so, then you will receive a blessing and be a blessing to some others. The anointed ones now on the earth compose God’s temple class. In His temple everyone speaks of Jehovah’s glory, because it is His will that the witness to His name shall now be.-given, and it delights His servants to obey Him,
Jesus came to the earth to bear witness unto the truth and counted it the greatest privilege s.o to do. There could be no greater privilege than to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Those who come in contact
with His anointed brethren should be able to say of and concerning them; They have learned from Him to be faithful witnesses unto the truth.
During the convention opportunity will be afforded for every one of you to have some part in giving testimony to Jehovah’s name and to the name of His King, whom He has placed upon His throne. You will watch for these opportunities and joyfully embrace them. May this be the happiest convention you ever attended.
Your brother and servant
by His grace,
CONVENTIONERS ENTHUSIASTIC
Probably never in the history of the International Bible Students Association did a convention start off with greater enthusiasm than the one which opened yesterday at Toronto. The Opening Rally was a grand success. .
In other-words. 11 was a good bit like a foretaste of heaven to be at' thdfOpening Rally, but that lets us in for a serious thought. The convention is not merely a place for the meeting of those that have loved one another in years gone by, but it is like heaven in a more important sense.... It is, or is to be, a place of order.
Let us think about this a little. Here arc thousands of men and women, earnest children of God, who have came, many of them, thousands of miles, to meet in Christian assembly. They have come in obedience to what they believe to be the will of God. If you ask them of their motives they will tell you, one and all, that they have no other aim in life than the doing of God's will; and that is the truth.
Well, then! The doing of God's will, which was their main reason for coming, should be the touchstone of their every act while here. It is not the doing of God’s will to spend the time allotted for meetings in any other way than at the meetings, unless press of duties require one's absence.
That means to get out of bed in the morning in time to be sure to be at every meeting before the meeting opens. There is not as much exmse for, a conventioner being late at the Lord’s business as there would be in being late at the business of his earthly employer; and there is no excuse in either case. The matter of getting up in the morning is purely a matter of going to bed the night before.
And the doing of God's will in the meetings means to sit with perfect silence and with perfect attention throughout the entire service, just as the Germans always do at every meeting. Would anybody say that it is God’s will for him to annoy the listeners all about him, or distress the speaker by coming in late, whispering, shuffling about, going out early, etc.? To ask the question is to have the answer. IPe have come to the convention to do the will of God. Let us do it, and have done with disorder.
Our God is a God of Order, and it stands to reason that He will be far more likely to smile upon those who try to serve Him in an orderly fashion than upon those who follow their own will, and, to that extent, the example of the lawless one.
Judge Rutherford Arrives
The President of the Association Takes up the Reins of the Convention at once on Arrival
The President of the International Bible Students Association is a unique figure in the world, from many points of view, and would
attract immediate attention in any concourse of humanity. This
would be partly because of his physical size, which is' unusual, partly because of his rather boyish smile, often upon his face, and partly
because of the clear, limpid depths of his brown eyes and the wealth
of benevolence, real love of his fellow-man, which shines out of them.
The Judge, as his fellow-workers love to call him, had those supreme advantages which comb from the necessity of having to fight his way up in the world. As a boy he longed for education, and at sixteen years of age this Missouri boy, even then over six feet tall, braved all winds and weathers selling books among the farmers of his community, far and near. On one of these occasions his weight crushed the thin ice of a stream, and in freezing weather he was drenched from head to foot, and only escaped pneumonia that night by rising from his bed and resorting to the most extreme exercise to bring about a perspiration.
Three or four years later he was earning ten dollars a day as a court reporter and using in that work his own system of shorthand, a great achievement in itself. In that best of all possible law schools he; gained an intimacy with law and lawyers, judges and juries, plain-.iffs and defendants, questions and answers, arguments and phrase-olpgy, and soon gravitated natuYally into a skillful lawyer with a arge and lucrative practice, and from that to the bench.
J. R. RUTHERFORD ENROUTE TO THE CONVENTION
For a few years, while still in his twenties, Judge Rutherford gave much attention to politics, and was for some years a staunch advocate of the policies, or what he supposed to be the policies, of that one of the two great parties in the United States which makes loudest claims that its motives are the blessing of the common people.
But in a short time his heart was torn with the evidence piling up about him that the way .of the common people is a way of sorrow, and that there are forces at work in earth, and in league with each other, which tend constantly to place, privilege, (opportunity, education, wealth and power in the hands of those who already have more than their share of the good things of life; while the burdens of pain, sorrow, disappointment, disillusion, poverty and dread are carried forever on the shoulders of those who are least able to bear them.
(.Continued on Page 2)
COLPORTEUR MEETING TODAY
PROGRAM TODAY
This afternoon, 1.30 to 2.30
Chairman, R. S. Emery of Brooklyn
Place of meeting, Transportation Building, facing the lake
Morning
Evening
9:30
Praise and Testimony E. J. Coward
8:00
Radio Program
Music • '
10:30
Discourse
W. E. Van Amburgh
8:20
Lecture Behold,' I make
11: a 5
Discourse
F. H. Dougherty
8:55
E. L. Beaulieu •'•Aff Things New
Music
Afternoon
2:00
Praise and Testimony
A. M. Graham
9-I5
9A5
Listening in on Prof.- .Sjand-., . , .. ,
well and Harry Goodwin .‘
■■■ .I.- ‘(Os at mm ?
Music - . ::cn- v.u ot
3:00
,3:45
Discourse J. C. Watt Discourse George Draper
/ • .1; L.gnivif ■
STATION CKCX (291 ■ Metres X-u !o( 5.')
. Hid U'iOfl
--------------------------------—----u----,----*----
•1.
ATTENTION!
SERVICE WORKERS!
As soon as possible this morning, get territory assignment for rural ■ and city service work.
Automobile owners please select . .,own parties for rural district service .-work.
llAppIy 'at service book room in MDolisfentt.
J. R. RUTHERFORD ENROUTE TO THE CONVENTION
JU®
(Continw*f% While Judge
RUTHERFORD ARRIVES
l)
Jrfierford, facing these things in his daily practice,
CHAIRMAN OF CONVENTION, CANADIAN BRANCH MANAGER
and on the bench, was pondering over these injustices, in the providence of God the d’vine plan was brought to his attention, and provided him then, and since, as it has provided every honest soul who comes in contact with it, a new and thrilling motive in life.
W. F. Salter, Manager of the Toronto Office, Chairman of the Convention Sessions
The Judge saw that the one hope of humanity is in the kingdom for which the Lord instructed His disciples to pray, and which Jesus Himself preached and taught HL disciples to preach; and, as far back as 1906, when he was still a young man in his thirties, he left the bench, resigned from his law firm, sold his law books, and took to the
. GENERALISSIMO OF THE STUDENTS' ORGANIZATIONS
The chairman of the Toronto convention of the International Bible Students Association, who will guide the proceedings of the convention, is W. F. Salter. Mr. Salter has been in charge of the work in Canada since 1918. For some time the work was directed from the Headquarters Office, but in later years it seemed advisable that the Canadian field should be directed from local headquarters. In keeping with this spirit, Mr. Salter is the chairman of the international convention of the Bible Students, now bfeing held jn territory under the jurisdiction of the Toronto Office. Managing arrangements for the convention to get on smoothly is in the hands of the chairman. He has appointed various committees in charge of different phases of the work, who have their instructions as to what is to be done. The chairman acts on behalf of the President of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Judge J. F. Rutherford, in so far as the convention activities are concerned and, with daily conferences, the chairman is in a position to know the President’s wishes and desires in connection with convention proceedings.
public platform to tell, the people, not about some or any political parijq.but about the great King that he saw clearly from the Script-i res would begin to oust Satan from his position as the god of this world in events of unparalleled magnitude that would begin in Jthe
A corrimittee has been appointed having information regarding railroads and other general information items. The committee in charge of rooms will help you to get located comfortably. Any complaints of service or rooming conditions should be brought to the attention of the rooming committee, so that your comfort might be taken care of. The committee will be only too glad to see that you are located comfortably so that you can enjoy to the full the convention proceedings. The bookroom committee is in charge of publications for sale. Books are not admissable into Canada free of duty; hence, purchases should be limited for
’ desired to be used in the States can be ordered in the bookroom and shiplment will be made from the Brooklyn Office, or one of the United States depots.
fall of 1914.
Today there are thousands of med in their thirties who will remember the stirring lectures which Judge Rutherford gave to them from tbe University platforms while they were still in their teens and millions since then, and millions now, have heard and are hearing from his lips the story of God’s wonderful arrangement for blessing all the nations, kindreds and families of the earth living and dead, by the reign of Christ Jesus, God’s anointed King, which reign, Judge Rutherford proclaims, has already begun.
If Judge Rutherford’s ideas are correct, and Bible Students who have followed his arguments on the question do not admit any likelihood at all that his conclusions are not correct, then we are living at the most important, most stupendous time in all the history of the world. But it is not our place in this little sketch to tell what his arguments are. That is for him to do. We merely draw attention to the man so that his motives may be seen. Those motives are clear as crystal, white as snow, and the logic with which those motives are balanced makes Judge Rutherford the most commanding public figure of the day.
But the Judge is more than a lecturer, and more than an author. He is a born organizer and executive. Surrounded by men who have the same motive as himself, he is the hardest worker of them all and thinks nothing of working twelve, fourteen and even sixteen hours a day. He is an inspiration and an example to all around him.
A recapitulation of his duties reads like a fairy tale; but it is no fairy tale. The stern realities of writing books that will be read and
WALTER F. SALTER Canadian Branch Manager
studied by millions, writing regularly, week after week, articles that will constitute the most important features of The Watch Tower and The
Golden Age, lecturing regularly every week, answering thousands of letters on every conceivable subject, planning 'the construction of buildings, watching the finances, directing the work of the Association in every corner of the world, supervising the legal affairs of the Society, makes demands upon his vitality that could not be carried by a man of less robust physique.
Sometimes the Judge gets overworked, but he understands how to care for his body, knows what to do, and does it. His favorite recreation is doing a little work on the grounds of WBBR, such as ploughing or dragging a field, chopping down trees, or riding to an appointment by automobile. He is shown in the accompanying photograph just as he is about to leave for the Toronto convention.
Judge Rutherford is busy, but he is a happy man. He is doing * the work which he knows the Lord wishes him to do, and that is the most supreme happiness that can come to any man. His friends think that he does that work as no other living man could do it. Anyway, they are gla'd he is here, and on the job. They hope that he will keep well and they look forward with keenest anticipation to the blessings which the Lord will shower upon him and which he will pass on to them and millions of others while he is here.
This is Walter F. Salter, Chairman of the Convention, who will necessarily be much in evidence throughout the whole allotted eight days. He will carry out Judge Rutherford’s prearranged plans for the convent'on.
A service committee will be in ■ charge of the distribution of books, assignments of territory, etc. A committee of doctors will have charge of a temporary hospital. A grounds committee will look after the condition of the convention grounds. The chairman will appreciate it if you will get in touch with the different committees in order that your wants may be taken care of.
If there is some important matter that you would like to see the chairman about, you might get in touch with him through the brother who is to speak at the next session of the convention.
OFFICE PERSONNEL TO BE KEPT
INTACT
Judges’s Secretary Will Arrange for an Appointment and ' Interview
DONALD HASLETT
Judge Rutherford’s Secretary
Donald Haslett, private secretary to J. F. Rutherford, has charge of appointments and interviews. In order that There may be no unnecessary delays in taking care of the volume of mail, preparation of articles for magazines, newspapers, radio talks, etc., Judge Rutherford has opened an office in Toronto. Any communication with Judge Rutherford by letter or otherwise can be placed in the hands of Donald Haslett, and he will see to it that the Judge’s attention is called to the matter. The Judge, has set^aside-certaimdayx ■fer ""tTHT"!views' ijlTfl LUnsultationsr He asks, however, that such interviews and consultations be mainly regarding the interests of the work and will appreciate it if all who wish to see him, confine .their visits to the discussion of plan<F fbr the' advancemerif;^ ta orte sum other, of the work of the International Bible Students Association.
Donald Haslett can be seen at the convention sessions and Can be reached at the Judge’s office. He will be glad to make appointments for all who have some pertinent and important matter regarding the work of the I. B. S. A. that requires the Judge’s personal attention or decision.
Obviously, Judge Rutherford’s time for such interviews is limited; and if there are matters that come within the scope of the different departments, such as the Service Department, Foreign Department, etc., it would be well to first get in touch with the members of the office organization at headquarters^ It is quite likely that the Judge has handed down a certain rule that will apply to your particular query. If the department is unable to be of assistance, then a consultation will not only be necessary but welcome.
WHERE ALL THE ENGLISH SESSIONS OF THE
CONVENTION -ARE HELD
ADVANCE REPRESENT* ATIVE REMAINS
.THROUGHOUT
CONVENTION
A. H. Macmillan to Continue Efforts in the Interests of the Convention.
A. H. Macmillan preceded |he conventioners" by some twb'wee|cs and has been; in Toronto Ap tend what help was possible in arranging for’ the comforts of tfi’e81"cop-ventioners. A. H. Macmillan is acquainted with the different rnfeS .established by the Canadian am} United States Customs Officials regarding ingress to and egress froffl Canada,. L If you .haVe had difficulties in getting across the border, Mr. Macmillan will help you get straightened out.
It is hoped that there will be little trouble with the rooming arrange-ments; but, whether little or mupfi, the purpose of the rooming cofji? mittee is to look after the ppmforts and conveniences of the convert? tioners. It is their desire to makb you comfortable and they stptpl ready to see that you are comfortably located. Mr. Macmillan wishes to state that if your accommodations are not to your liking; the rooming committee stands ready to arrange for such changes as wj|l make you comfortable.
Judge Rutherford sent Mt. Macmillan that he might report tq him directly of the progress being made; and Mr. Macmillan styj occupies this position and will bring all matters of importance regarding conveniences to Judge Ruther-fordls attention. He will see' to it that whatever can be done to arrange for your comfort will be done. Whatever needs the official action of the President during tbe convention will receive such actiqp.
The different City departments and City heads want the conven-tioners to feel that Toronto has ex?-tended them a welcome hand. They are glad that a representative sucp as Mr. Macmillan can come to them with the feelings and attitude of the attendants at the convention.
THE JUDGE’S ADVANCE
REPRESENTATIVE '
A. H. Macmillan is well acquainted with the Bible Students throughout the United States and Canada, and he is, therefore, well fitted to take care of their individual comfort and convenience.
GENERALISSIMO OF THE BIBLE STUDENTS' ORGANIZATIONS
DONALD HASLETT
Judge Rutherford’s Secretary
WALTER F. SALTER
Canadian Branch Manager
THE JUDGE’S ADVANCE REPRESENTATIVE
WHERE ALL THE ENGLISH SESSIONS OF THE CONVENTION ARE HELD
WATCH TOWER SECRETARY HERE.
task that falls to Mr. Wise. Under
W. E. Van Amburgh Reports After Long Road Trip.
W. E. Van Amburgh, Secretary and Treasurer of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, has arrived at Toronto for the convention ses-
his the of the the
supervision are, the upkeep of Bethel Home, repairs, alterations the building and supervision of mechanical equipment, under direction of the President, Judge
become very much interested in field work, distributing the publication of the Watch Tower Bible &
sions. absent
Mr. Van Amburgh has been for the past month and a
W.C. VAN AMDVRGK
E. Van Amburgh, Sec.-Treas.
J. F. Rutherford. Housing activities are divided into different departments, but directly representing Judge Rutherford is the Vice-President, Mr. C. A. Wise.
Though released from his immediate activities for two weeks due to the convention and vacation period at headquarters, yet Mr. Wise will be concerned with assisting as best he can, looking after the comforts of the conventioners, acting as an
assistant to Mr. Macmillan.
Wise will be glad to hear your
Mr. ex-
pression regarding convention ar
rangements and will do what he
can
to make the arrangements entirely agreeable.
Service!
w.
half that
on an extensive lecture trip carried him to the Pacific
Coast. One of his first moves upon arrival was to report to the President, Judge J. F. Rutherford, his observations and findings on his long lecture trip. He comes to the convention particularly fitted to represent the field as a whole, especially those not able to be in attendance.
Mr. Van Amburgh has been in long association with the activities of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society. For over thirty years he has served the interests of the Society in one way or another. While in attendance at the convention Mr. Van Amburgh will be serving in the capacity of his office aaSecretnry b»
available for such help-'as /be ..may be able to lend those conventioners who are anxious for information regarding features of the work in his hands.
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY AT CONVENTION
ln Charge of Brooklyn Home Accommodations for Bethel Workers ,
C. A. Wise has put in an appearance at the convention and plans to be here at all of the sessions. Mr. Wise is the Vice-President of the Watch Tower Bible & Tr<ct Society and is in charge of the housing arrangements for the Bethel workers. Brooklyn headquarters takes
C.
Wise, Vice-President
care of the comfort of those who work in the office and factory; rooms are looked after; meals are prepared rjnd the comforts of its workers Dre supervised; so that they mav be fit to keep up their duties. This housing of the workers is a
Tract actual most B. S. hands
Society. He has gone into field work and is one of the successful workers of the I. A. in placing literature in the of the people. On several
RADIO DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE HERE
Mr. Barber is here to lend what assistance he can to those who are planning to make arrangements for broadcasting and to do what is
occasions he h^s been instrumental in placing over 200 books rnd booklets in the hands of the people in one day. .
This but emphasizes that activities need not necessarily be confined to one field, but that their scope can take in many branches of I. B. S. A. work.
C. J. Woodworth hr's been the editor of the Golden Age since its very beginning in 1920. He hopes that the convention sessions will enable him to become better acquainted with contributors who send articles for publication in the Golden Age.
R. H. Barber, Now Busy in Organizing Radio Department at Brooklyn Headquarters, Here to Advise Regarding the Extension of Radiocasting Through Local Stations.
R. H. Barber arrived with the Bethel Special. For some years he has been in charge of the Pilgrim Department, arranging for appointments of the traveling lecturers of the International Bible Students Association in the United States. He was in charge of the Bethel Special, which arrived today, bringing the co-workers at the
Service!
Service!
There will be two service days, Thursday, July 21st and Saturday, July 23rd. The rural territory will be worked, as well as the outskirts of the City of Toronto. If you are unable to get in with an automobile* party, you may get your individual territory and work on the edge of the City.
All owners of automobiles, please report for service at once.: Ar-' range your own auto parties of workers.
Books. There is a specially prepared bag containing 30 books and 20 convention souvenirs, all of which will cost you $3.00. When you receive your territory card it will give you all information as to the selling price of the books. As soon as you receive your territory, which we hope will be the first thing you do, you may then buy a ticket at a cost to you of $3.00. With this ticket you may obtain your books at any time.
A bag containing seven Volumes of Studies in the Scriptures, an entirely different package, will cost you $2.00. Please secure a ticket,
R. A. Johnson, Convention Service Director
value $2.00, for one set of Volupies. We encourage all the friends to try to sell the volumes first. Where there are several going together, one or two sets of Volumes should be sufficient.
When you get your territory, we urge you to immediately study your card and carry out the instructions. There will be some phase
of service for everyone, so ALL will please report at the Service partment, which will be located at the rear of the Coliseum.
Experiences in the service: We desire to publish in
Messenger the exceptional experiences. If you have such an
perience, please write it out plainly on the back of your report.
Convention Souvenirs. Everyone is pleased with the convention souvenir, and you will receive twenty in your bag of books. These are not to be sold, but are to be given away with each sale of books, as explained on the back of your territory card.
GOLDEN AGE EDITOR HERE
C. J. Woodworth Transfers Activities to Convention.
The Golden Age is one of well-known bi-weekly journals
His
the of
the United States. The editor, C. J. Woodworth, is in attendance at the convention. There will be much to report to Golden Age readers and Mr. Woodworth is here to get firsthand information. He will cover the lectures to be given by Judge Rutherford, so that $ie Golden Age will contain the report of the one lecture that the Judge will use as his keynote speech of the convention. The Judge has not yet given anj inkling as to what he will talk about, nor has he taken any one into his confidence rs to what is most important in his mind. Conventioners will hear this, and Mr. Woodworth will report it to Golden Age readers in a forthcoming issue of that magazine.
Mr. Woodworth has many interests. He is a very busy man. He does .not confine himself to any one effort, but his activities are widespread. During the past year he has
C. J. Woodworth, Editor Golden Age
R.'H. Barber, Radio Department Head possible toward advancing the radio* work throughout the United States and Canada.
WBBR PROGRAM DIRECTOR ARRIVES
Judge Rutherford Will Direct Radio Program Through WBBR’s Organization.
The principal station of the International Bible Students Association, Station WBBR, New York, will be closed during the sessions of the convention. The program direct~ tor, musicians, choral singers and lecturers will assume their roles in connection with the programs to be broadcast through Station C K C X. Judge Rutherford thus brings the-
De-
The ex-
headquarters of here to enjoy sessions,
the I. B. S. A.
the
convention
The enlarging
of the
radio work
made it necessary f__ J-2O-
Rutherford to arrange for the organization of the radio department. Judge Rutherford’s idea is
for Judge
that the broadcasting of lectures representing the International Bible Students Association’s views should be brought as nearly in accord with the lectures of the principal station, W B B R, as is possible. To this end he has arranged for the radio department to collect all lectures, dialogues and dramalogues, etc., and to have these lectures, dialogues, etc., put into use wherever lectures will be broadcast.
R. H. Barber has been asked to assume charge of the radio department. His duties are to receive and examine the manuscripts and to forward copies to the different stations radiocasting for the I. B. S. A. An interview with Mr. Barber disclosed that over 49 stations are now radiocasting for the I.B.S.A., and it is hoped that more local ecclesias of the Association will be able to use the facilities of their local stations for broadcasting I. B, A. lectures.
V. F. Schmidt, Announcer at WBBR radio organization of the I. B. S. A.’s principal station to assist and direct the activities of radiocasting during the convention sessions. Programs are to be arranged; lectures are to be broadcast; musicians, singers and other helpers will have a share. The program director of Station WBBR will act for Judge Rutherford in the radio division. Victor Schmidt will be in attendance during the entire convention and will be glad to assist, as his time may allow, those who are serving as announcers or otherwise in connection with one or another of the forty stations that broadcast weekly for the International Bible Students Association.
Made Popular by WBBR
R. H. Barber, Radio Department Head
R. A. Johnson, Convention Service Director
V. F. Schmidt, Announcer at WBBR
Wise, Vice-President
Woodworth, Editor Golden Age
Made Popular by WBBR
EARTH’S GREATEST EMPIRE
Since the days of Eden it has been' the expressed purpose of. Jehovah to establish for man’s benefit a universal empire on the earth.. It is through this empire that God has promised that He will bless all the families and nations of the earth. By and through the peoples of Israel God organized a typical empire, which foreshadowed the real and greater empire" thrpugh which the blessings shall come to mapkiiid-Because of unfaithfulness to God He overthrew the nation of Israel and there , permitted the Gentiles to establish a • world-wide empire under Nebuchadn'ezzar. ^It was- at that time that God said, in. substance, that the Gentiles would continue without, interruption until He -.whose right it is shall com?,’ and. to Him will I give 'the. kingdom. ’ ' ■ . ■ - •
Shortly thereafter God caused His. prophet Daniel to briefly sketch the history of the world powers, from the overthrow of Israel
irom lire ovenmuw ui a*a<*** , <
tire endL of . the ' Gentile ' P e^s.ure"
Having done this, He added; “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for
ever.”—Daniel 2 :44. • ;
Here is the positive statement that God intends to erect a universal kingdom or empire that shall exercise dominion for the good of mankind forever. Further reference to the time and the establishment of that universal empire is made by the prophet when he wrote: “And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.”—Daniel 7:27.
As a further evidence that the great King who shall reign in that empire shall rule for the benefit of man and that the dominion there-' ' of shall be. universal, it is written: “In 'His days *shall the righteous ’ flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endhir'eth. He , shall .have dominion also from sea' to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”—Psalm 72:7,8.
That great King is The Christ of God, the great Messiah of Jehovah.: That He will have associates with Him, made up of those who have; been faithful to Him, is evidenced; by the Scriptures: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with
My Father in elation 3:21) cometh, and unto the end,
Me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with “ ‘ " Flis thron’e.” (Rev-“And he that over-keepeth My works to him will I give the nations: And
power over ----------
he shall rule them with a rod of
iron; as the vessels of a potter shall, they be broken to shivers ri even as I received of My Father.”! —Revelation 2 :26,27. i
In the outworking of the divine1 Plan God has moved forward majestically, notwithstanding the opposition of the enemy Satan and his representatives. On this occasion we examine some of the Biblical proofs concerning the preparation for this mighty empire.
Empire means a vast government possessing and exercising supreme power, sovereignty, sway and con-; trol. The empire herein referred to is God’s government or kingdom, organized, possessing and ex-; ercising supreme power for the benefit of His creatures, and particularly for the benefit of man. That government or empire is delegated to His beloved Son; hence,, it is properly called the empire or government of Messiah. The supreme power proceeds from the God of heaven, and, therefore the empire ‘is properly called the kingdom of heaven. We must not infer that God has not always governed his obedient . creatures. There is no record of the beginning of the exercise of Jehovah’s sovereign power. In fact, the Scriptures speak of the prie«t "Melchizedek, priest of the Most High God, as picturing the executive officer of God carrying out the divine Plan at all times. There is no record of the beginning of his days nor the end of his life.
But here we consider God’s plan and provisions pertaining to man. God created the earth for the habitation of man. (Isaiah 45:12, 18.) The expressed purpose of God is to< the effect that the perfect man shall have dominion or rule over
the earth. Man’s first overlord, Lucifer, who committed the great crime of treason against God, in-dueed man to turn awAy-from God; and man thereby lost life and the right to. lifers Lucifer, who is now Satan the Devil, builded a great organization of his own to hold 'man in subjection to himself and to keep the mind- of man turned away from Jehovah, to the end that Lucifer might receive the worship of man. God’s plan and purpose is to deliver man from the power and influence of SatAn and to restore him to his former condition of life and of blessings incident thereto. To this end God
builds a mighty empire or king-dv,.n, with’ His beloved Son as
dom3
-King. His arrangement is that Christ Jesus shall have associated •with Him one hundred and forty-four thousand ■others who shall form a part of His empire. In .building this empire God has made no haste, but has majestically prd-'gressed with it according to His
A Both Zion and Jej-usalem- ace:
names applied to God’s organiza-
RUTHERFORD, AUTHOR, LECTURER, ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN BROADCASTERS ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT
tion. t ion must
It is out of this organiza-of Zion that the Deliverer come. (Romans 11 :26) Of
organization. Therefore
it is
necessity, the foundation of the great empire must be laid in God’s written : *“Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a Stone, a tried Stone, a precious corner Stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (Isaiah 28:16) This prophecy without doubt refers to Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of God, to Whom He has committed all power in heaven and in earth. The great empire is symbolically represented as a stone structure, the foundation stone of which is Christ. He was tried and tested, and under the most severe test proved His loyalty and faithfulness to God. It is certain that God can always trust Him. He justly earned the title, “The Faithful and True.”
Jesus is called the “precious coroner stone” because He is the, dearest treasure of Jehovah’s heart. He is the fairest of ten thousand and altogether lovely. “Gird Thy sword upon Thy thigh, O most Mighty, with Thy glory and Thy majesty. . . . Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefpre God, Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.”—Psalm 45 :3,7.
i Jesus is the “sure foundation,” the One that can never be removed, always upholding the dignity and honor and good name of Jehovah God. This foundation stone is the foundation and chief corner of the empire that shall carry into operation God’s great plan for the deliverance of man.
As to the time of the laying of this foundation, we have the proof ‘from the Scriptures that it was at ■the time of the consecration of Jesus at the Jordan. About that time John said of, and concerning him: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) About this time Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by John, and it was there that the prophecy written of and concerning him was fulfilled, to wit: “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the bpok it is written of Me, I delight to do Thy will, O My Gerd: yea, Thy law is within My heart.”--—Psalm 40:7,8; Hebrews 10:7.
Jesus is also pictured as a lamb slain. From that time He was counted as slain and as the great sin offering; on behalf of man. It is written concerning Him: “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) Thus is fixed the time of the laying of this precious, foundation; namely, at the time Jesus was baptized in the Jordan and begotten of the holy spirit.
Associate Rulers
Before Jesus’ first advent God had made His plan. That plan provides that there shall be a building upon this precious foundation stone, composed of other stones that shall form a part of the mighty empire. It necessarily follows that the class of persons to be thus made a part of the empire, also the manner of their selection, testing and completion, was prearranged according to the good pleasure of God. Hence it is written: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation' of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure
/
Radio Lecture by J.
of His will.” (Ephesians 1:3-5.) These words of the apostle apply to those, and. to those only, who shall constitute a part of God’s great empire which in due time shall govern and rule all the nations of the earth..
It is of keen interest to note that those who are to be associated with Christ in His empire are not selected from amongst the angels of heaven. It is God who selects them through Jesus Ghrist, acting as the representative of the Most High God. He lays hold upon, or takes them from the human race, that is to say, he selects, men possessing the faith of Abraham, as it is written: “Besides, he does not in any way take hold of angels, but he takes hold of, the seed of Abraham.”—Hebrews 2:16, Diaglott.
bers of the. royal line. This
is
in
That which distinguishes Abraham above any who preceded him is his faith- in God. Trusting implicitly in Jehovah,. Abraham deported himself accordingly. Such faith as exhibited by him furnishes the criterion for the selection of the memharmony . with . the lesson which Jesus impressed upon His disciples as of paramount importance; namely, “Have faith in God.” (Mark 11 : 22) It is clearly manifest from the Scriptures that God grants His great favor to those, who implicitly rely upon His Word.
Much that Jesus taught His disciples they could not comprehend at the time. Much He did not teach them until after His. resurrection and ascension on high. Without doubt He guided the minds of the disciples then. On the last night He was with them in the flesh He said: “I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.” (John 16: 1?) Why could 'they not understand at that time? The answer is, Because the holy spirit had not been given. It was essential that Jesus die, be raised from the dead and then appear in heaven in the presence of Jehovah God and present the. merit of His sacrifice unto Jehovah, before the holy spirit could be giveri. The giving of the holy spirit to the disciples was an evidence that His sacrifice had been accepted as the great sin offering on behalf of those for whom it was presented.
Jesus had said to His disciples : “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is expedient .for you that t go
F. Rutherford
away: for if I go not away, the comforter will not come" unto you; but if I depart, I will send him ;unto you.” (John 16:7.) The comforter here mentioned is the holy ■spirit. (John 14:26) The promise ;here is that when the holy spirit should be given, then the disciples1 would understand all that Jesus had }taught them and what He should ’’ yet teach them. .“Howbeit when he, ‘the spiritxff truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he jspeak: arid he will show you things to come.”—-John 16:13.
The holy spirit is the invisible power of God, operating upon mind of matter as God may will. Prior to the- coming .of Jesus the holy spirit, by Qod’s.will, operated upon tfie minds of only such men as God chose for servants and as prophets. These holy men as prophets spoke as1 God, by His spirit, moved their minds to speak or write.—2 Peter 1;,21.
Joel was one of the prophets, ’ He prophesied that the time would come when God would:, pour owi Hjs spirit upon all those w.puld call upon His name. (Jdei2‘:28, This, prophecy of Joel" had fts/fttk filment at Pentecost. Pentecost $v,as the fiftieth day affer the resurrection of Jesus. At the time of the ascension of Jesus into heaven He had assembled His disciples on the , side of the Mount of Olives. He there commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem until they had received the holy , spirit, and promised therh that then they should receive power and that they should become His witnesses unto the uttermost parts. of the. earth.-—Acts 1 :4-8.
In obedience to this command the disciples remained at Jerusalem. “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues, Irkc'as <j£.4»re, and it sat \ upon each of’them: and they.,were all filled with the holy spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2: 1-4) Thus was made manifest the fulfilment of the prophecy of Joel above mentioned, as specifically : stated7 by the apostle.—Acts 2:16-20. . _ .
A city is a symbol of a government or empire. It is written concerning the empire or kingdom: “And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the tyVelve apostles of the Lamb.” (Revelation 21: 14) The Lord Jesus Christ is the chief corner Stone in that kingdom, and the apostles of the Lamb are the twelve foundations. —1 Peter 2:6.
Prior to His crucifixion the Lord Jesus'had promised that He would confirm in heaven what these faithful apostles did on earth. (Matthew 18 :18) It was at Pentecost, and after receiving the holy spirit, that. Peter testified concerning Jesus Christ, as follows: “This is the Stone which was set at nought c-f yoti builders, which is become; the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”—Acts 4:11, 12.
The Jews had thought to build an empire; and they looked forward to that empire which, ’under the Messiah, would rule all nations of the earth. The clergy of that time especially thought that they were the builders; but when the chief corner Stone was laid they rejected Him, even as the prophet had foretold they would do. (Isaiah 53. 3; John 1: 11, 12) The fact that the Jews rejected the chief corner -Stone in no way hindered or), delayed the progress of the buildihg, for the chief corner Stone and foundation of the new and glorious empire was laid, its building began and progressed according to the will of God. The holy prophet had testified that pn thjs chief corner Stone should reSt the new government which should bring deliverance to the people. “For upto us a Child is born.* unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Couriseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase- of -His government and peage?there, shall be no end, upon the.. throne ..of David, and upon ,his . kingdom^,tp order it, and to .establish it. with judgment arid with justice, from
J. F. RUTHERFORD, AUTHOR, LECTURER, ONE OF THE BEST KNOWN BROADCASTERS ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT
henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”—Isaiah 9 : 6, 7.
The apostles were also prophets because they, under inspiration from God, foretold things to come to. pass in the distant future. A true prophet is one who gives testi mony by divine authority. That Jesus Christ and His apostles con stit.ute respectively the chief corner Stone and foundation of the great empire, and that others are added thereto, the Apostle Paul, who also Was a prophet, under inspiration testified: “Now, therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief, corner Stone; in whom all the building . fitly fraped together
grpyveth unto an holy temple in the. Lord: in whom ye also are, builded together for an habitation tjf God through the spirit.”—Ephe sians 2:19-22.
How Chosen.
The members of the empire are not chosen by men nor by manmade organizations. It is God who has chosen them through His beloved Son Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:4; 2- Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 24; James 2:5; 1 Peter 2:4.) Those who are chosen to be of the royal line are called or invited by the Lord God, through .His beloved Son, Christ Jesus. (1 Corinthians 1:2; 7:15; Ephesians 4:4; Colossians 3:15; 1 Thessa . lonians 2:12.) Cannot priest or clergyman of some church denomination call a sinner to become part of the kingdom of God and then choose him for that purpose? Neither a priest, nor any other clergyman possesses any such power or authority. The Scriptures alone must be the guide as tb how these are called and chosen. The only way for sinners to come to God is through Jesus Christ, as He
States: “Jesus saith unto him, am the' way, the truth, and the life no man cometh unto the Father. . but by me.” :(John 14:6.) _ The
tures, of coming to God tferdfigh
Jesus Christ is as follows: knowledge, faith, consecration and justi-} fication.
Faith means to know the Word of God and then to rely upon it. Therefore knowledge must precede faith. “So then faith cometh by bearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10 :l,7i) From . the Word of God man learns that he was born a sinner, that there is no other name given under heaven whereby he can come again into harmony with God, except through Jesus Christ. He learns that Jesus died upon the cross, and that whosoever believes upon Him should not perish, but have an opportunity for life, everlasting. (John 3: 16, 17) Coming to a knowledge of this fact man is thereby drawn to Jesus, learns that Jesus is nis Redeemer, and that to please God he must — follow the direction that the Lord Jesus points out. The one thm seeking the Lord God must now exercise faith; and the first thing of importance is to believe that Jehovah exists, and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11 :6.) To such Jesus
says: “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”— Matthew 16: 24.
Self-denial means a willingness to completely surrender oneself unto God, agreeing to do the wil’ of God, while trusting in the merit of Christ Jesus’ sacrifice. This is consecration. This is what Jesus did when He appeared at the. Jordan, as it is written of Him: “I come to do thy will, O my God.” This is an agreement that thereafter the will of the man will be exercised in harmony with the wil1 of God, and that he will use his mind to ascertain Gfid’s will and then do it. /
, Now the Lord Jesus presents the man who consecrates to Jehovah It is Jehovah God who judicially determines whether or not the one thus presented is right. Justification means made right with God and it therefore includes the judicial determination by Jehovah thal the one thus consecrating is right The Scriptures, therefore, show three separate and distinct things involved in justification (1) Faith-(2) the blood of Jesus; (3) the judicial determination by- Jehovah-as it is .written: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace
with God .through.our Lo^d '■'Jesus Christ”’,. (Romans 5 ::11 )..;..< “Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” --(Romans 5:9); “It is Gqcl.that justifieth.”— Romans 8:’ 33. 4
Justification, between the time of Pentecost and the completion oi the empire, is by faith and for the
purpose of enabling the one thus justified to sacrifice all T>f his earthly hopes and prospects, particularly his right to. live on earth, to the end that he might participate in the chief resurrection and -reign' with Christ as a member of that empire. (2 Timothy 2:11; Revelation 20: 6): The justification by Jehovah therefore constitutes a call* or'invitation1 to membership in the kingdom on empire. Thereupon God begets j such an one by His spirit.
To beget means to begin; and the) begetting or beginning is to a hope: of life and to an inheritance in-:]
corruptible, spirit is a
This begetting of the covenant that God
makes with the one consecrating. God gives to such a.n one His Word* of Truth; and then He causes His* invisible power to so operate upon the one to whom He gives this Word as to begin to carry on the transformation of .the one thus be-J gotten into the likeness of the, Head, Christ Jesus, the chief, cor J ner Stone laid in Zion. . I
It is written: “Of His own will begat He us with the Word of Truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” (Jame 1:18) The ones thus begotten are] addressed by the Apostle Peter in these words : “Elect according to; the foreknowledge of God the. Father, through sanctification oi‘the spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be muL. tiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to His abundant, mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to, an inheritance incorruptible, and •mdefiled, and that faded not away.; reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the i powem of^ God
u„ro!SKttoh“ eS?
Jo .be revealed in the last t’imeA4-|1 Peter
1:2-‘5.
These are begotten to the divine nature. God has promised such the divine nature if they are faithful o their part of the covenant. God is always faithful to His*. “Accord; ng as JJis divine power hath given into us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called is to glory and virtue whereby arc given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through ’ust.”—2 Peter 1 : 3, 4.
Living Stones,
The one begotten of the holy spirit is now a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5: 17) Hi; Ihope of life is on the spirit plane
with Christ Jesus, lead as a human vis right to live as ixpired with the
He is counted being, because a human being acceptance o'
iis sacrifice. To him thq. apostle says: “Set your affections on things above, not On things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”-— Colossians ’3 : 2, 3;
• The one now addressed must be builded up as . a living stone in the temple of God, if he would be or the royal line and participate in the great empire. Because he is just beginning he is spoken of as r babe newly born; and addressing such the Apostle Peter says: “A- । newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that, ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living
stone, disallowed indeed of, men but chosen of God, and precious ye also, as living stones, are buil' up a spiritual house; an holy priest hood, to offer up- sacrifices, a-rentable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it' is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner Stone, elect, precious : and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded. Unto you, therefore, which believe He is precious but unto them which be disobedient, the Stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the' head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock, of offence, even to them which
stumble at the, word, beihg disobedient; whereunto also they were • appointed.”—1 Peter 2: 2-8.
When Peter wrote this the leaders of the Jewish people in particular .had rejected Jesus, the .chief corner S.tone. The apostle adds -. “He that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.” To believe means - - to remain steadfast and faithful; we must show our faith by what we do. “Unto you, there fore; which believp He .is precious.’ , It: is a.precious thing, to observe, the chief corner. Stone and to be conformed according to His way. Such are .called to follow in HL] steps. (1 Peter 2 :21) The one who is thus designated a living stone to be builded up into the building; of God is anointed. To anoint.
i means to designate to some posi-i tion in the empire, “Now He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, - and hath anointed us, is God.” (2 . Corinthians 1: 21) These are anoint-ed to represent Jehovah and the
, Lord Jesus Christ.
' God having made this promise, i and as His promises are nevei 1 broken, He. counts His anointed. 1 ones as now a part of the new kingdom or empire or nation.. Hence the apostle says concern-, ing them: “But ye are a chosen ‘ generation, a royal priesthood, an-holy* nation, a peculiar people; that-ye should shew forth: the praises of Him who hath called you out of- darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2 :9.) In order to show forth the praises of Jehovah, God they must not only believe Jehovah is God, but must joyfully] obey His will, represent His cause . and use the faculties with which, they are endowed to testify to His great name and His goodness and His purposes. To do this one could not conform himself to the evil world, but must stand aloof from it and serve the Lord God. The Word of God is his guide. The Word informs. him that he must not conform himself to the world, because Satan the- enemy is the god of this: world. Concerning such the apostle: writes: “Be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed Dy the renewing of your mind, that ye hjay prove what is that good, ^and perfect? wik.
■JThe transformation * process now j is-carried on by the Christian build-]] irfg up his mind by studying the Word of God; from it ascertaining the will of God and by it proving what is-the good and acceptable and‘perfect will of God? It can be easily seen that the Lord would not make any one a fnember of that empire unless he is in full and complete * harmony with the Lord Jesus, the chief corner Stone, as it is written: “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be' conformed to the image of His Sow, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8: 29) This, means that each one who will ultimately be a member of that empire must grow in. the likeness of the Lord Jesus, being transformed day by day by virtue of the spirit of the Lord working in him to will and tc do God’s good pleasure.—2 Corinthians 3: 18. '
This world, means the people of this earth organized into forms of government under the supervision of their overlord, Satan the enemy (2 Corinthians 4: 3, 4) The Devi, is the prince or ruler of this world (John 14.30) He is the enemy of the Lord Jesus Christ, the enemy of God, and the enemy of every one who attempts to do God’s will The .one who will ultimately be oi the empire of righteousness must
not love the world, as it is stated by the apostle: “Love not the world, neither the things that arc in the world. If any man love th world, the love of the Father i not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride or life, is not of the Rather, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”—1 John 2: 15-17.
Early in the experience of the church it was manifest that those whom God will approve must be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. Christ Jesus is Flead over the house of sons, and all the other members of the household must honor Jehovah as Jesus honors Jehovah. They do, and must, love God with a supreme devotion, and delight to show forth His •'raises and to testify that He is God. Their very course in the way of righteousness would ’ drkw against them the opposition of Satan the enemy.
Antichrist.
After Jesus was 'put to death Satan the. enemy thought that he had succeeded in destroying the heir of promise, who was promised a kingdom. Satan therefore rea-
soned that he would continue to rule the world without any successful interruption. He must have been disappointed when Jesus arose from the dead. He must have ob-
course, was to turn the minds of the people away from Jehovah. Crucifixes were erected, and the worship of the people was turned to these rather than to the intelligent worship of th£ Lord Jehovah and the Lord Jesus. Christ. Beads, so-called holy water, and like things were used, and are still used, to blind the people. Gradually, subtly, seductively and wickedly the Devil, through willing instruments, corrupted those who called themselves Christians.
served what transpired at Pentecost, and there noted the begin ning of the building of the other living stones in conformity with the chief corner Stone, Chris Jesus. It is reasonable to presume that he was familiar with the in structions given by the inspirec apostles to those of the church ----- >
He would understand that these | government. Thereby who were united in Christ were tc form part of the seed of promise, even as Paul had testified.' (Galatians 3:16, 27-29.) Destruction of this seed, would bring reproach upon God, and now this became the objective and purpose of Satan the enemy. He saw that the Lord Jesus Christ, exalted to the divine
Rome was then the great world power of which Satan was the god, (2 Corinthians 4 :3,4) It was in the fourth century that this great world power adopted Christianity as the religion of the state or
____y the Devil ' succeeded in having the people call themselves by the name of God and of His Christ and at the same time; constantly bring reproach Upon the* name of the Lord, and, in fact; represent the Devil. To show how stealthily and fraudulently the Devijf overreached the people and turned' their minds from the true God the: following is quoted from the history! Old Roman World:
. nature, was now beyond the influ-; ence of his (Satan’s) power. He realized that he must now do something to counteract the influence and power of those who were
1 being brought into Christ, if he ■ would thwart the divine plan.
…