The Watchtower, May 1, 1918
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Vol. XXXIX
BROOKLYN, N. Y., MAY 1, 1918
No. 9
ZION'S TRIUMPH NEAR
"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after
ye have done the will of Qod, ye might receive the prorrtise" — Hebrews 10:35, 36.
With bated breath and joyful heart the watchers in Zion
beihold the closing of the harvest. Next the dark night, followed
shortly by the glorious sunburst of everlasting happiness
. Wonderful is the present privilege of the faithful watchers
. The graduating test is now upon the church.
By the words of our text St, Paul clearly proves that
patience (cheerful endurance) is the final test, and that this
test must come after we have done the will of God. What,
then, has been and is the will of God for the members of Zion
in the closing days of the age? During the past forty years
the harvest of the age has been in progress. That the harvest
began in 1878, there is ample and convincing proof. The end
of the harvest is due in the spring of 1918. During the period
of the harvest the will of God concerning his people finds
expression in the words of the Master: 'In the time of harvest
I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the
tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather
the wheat into my barn." (Matthew 13:30} In that time,
according to nia word, he has sent forth his messengers with
a great sound of a trumpet, to gather his elect from one end
of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:31) Again God expressed
his will concerning his people, saying, "Gather my
saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant
with me by sacrifice." (Psalm 50:5) Again Jesus expressed
the will of out Father: "Thrust in thy eicfcle and reap; for
the time is come for thee to reap ; for the harvest of the earth
[order-loving people] is ripe." — Revelation 14:15.
The sickle here mentioned is the message of truth; thrusting
it in means to send out the truth to those who hunger for
it. Again God expressed his will concerning the called ones
when he commissioned them to preach the good tidings to the
meek, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to
the captives, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and
the day of vengeance of our God (Isaiah 61:1-3); and that
this vengeance should be declared against Babylon. (Jeremiah
51:6) Jesus makes it clear that the latter part of the work
of the harvest is the gathering of the vine of the earth. (Revelation
14:18) If, then, we see these things fulfilled and we
have joyfully participated in the work o«f their fulfillment, we
have been doing the will of God; and it is after thus doing
his will that we moist cheerfully endure "before receiving the
promise.
HOW FULFILLED
It is doubtless true that every saint this side the vail who
has a knowledge of present truth came to such knowledge
of God's plan since 1878 — the opening of the harvest work.
At that time the church nominal was composed of both wheat
and tares, true and false Christians. During the time of the
harvest these classes must be separated. In outward appearance
the two are much alike. The great Master had personally
instructed that there should be no attempt at separation until
the harvest time.
He himself has been present, directing the work of separating
the two classes; and he has used various ■consecrated instruments
as his messengers to do this work. The separating
and gathering work has been accomplished with a sickle,
which is the message of truth, and which necessarily must
be understood by the consecrated. The thrusting in of that
sickle of truth has had the effect of causing all denominations
or religions systems to bind themselves together in bundles;
thus uniting to oppose the message of truth. This binding together
in bundles, according to the parable, must take place
before the destruction of the tares. That these bundles have
for some time been bound together cannot be gainsaid. The
tacit union of the systems is complete, all together composing
Babylon, mother and daughters. The doom of Babylon is
sealed and has been announced. God has smitten her with
plagues (Revelation 16:20, 21); and her destruction will follow
shortly.
SEALING OF THE SAINTS
During the entire forty years of the harvest the sealing
of the saints progressed. A knowledge and appreciation of
God's plan has served as both a sealing and a separating
agency. To those who hungered and thirsted for the truth,
God gave the satisfying portion; and those who appreciated
it have been prompt in doing his will concerning them by
gladly engaging in the harvest work. These heard tae call,
"Come out of Babylon," and joyfully obeyed, took up the
trumpet and engaged in sounding forth the message of the
kingdom.
The great Master of the harvest, through St. John, shows
that this sealing is in the forehead and must be accomplished
-before the storm of destruction breaks, upon Babylon. This
seems clearly to indicate that every one who will be of the
kingdom claas must have a knowledge and appreciation of
God's plan by the end of the harvest. If the harvest has
ended, then the sealing is complete. The evidence strongly
indicates that all the saints are sealed. This would mean
that all the saint3 have been gathered into the "barn" — into
the condition of separateness from the world.
Concerning this point, the Laodicean messenger wrote:
"When this night cometh, when the reapers must cease
their labors, it will prove that this final work of the Gospel
age is accomplished; that the elect number of the bride of
Christ have al] been 'sealed/ and 'gathered' into a condition
of separateness from the worldly — into the barn condition;
for God will not permit anything to put an end to his work
until it is finished. Then all the true and faithful servants
of God will have been sealed in their foreheads; and, the
work of the Gospel age being finished, no more can enter into
that work or reap its rich reward." — C 211, 212.
"The forehead sealing indicates that a mental comprehension
of the truth will be the mark of seal which will separate
and distinguish the servants of God from the servants
and votaries of Babylon. And this agrees with Daniel's testimony
: 'The wise [of thy people shall understand; but none
of the wicked [unfaithful to their covenant] shall understand.'
(Daniel 12:10) Thus the classes are to be marked and separated
before the plagues come upon rejected, cast-off Babylon
."— C 165, 166.
PLAQUE OF HAIL
It has heretofore been shown (Z. 1918-119) that the firstborn
of Egypt pictured or represented the clergy of Christendom
, claiming to be the first ones of importance in the systems
. The exposition of the prophecies of Ezekiel and Revelation
in "The Finished Mystery" shows to the world that the
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THE WATCH TOWER
Brooklyn, N. V.
clergy are not what they have claimed and think themselves
to be. The Bible Students Monthly which contains the
article on "The Fall of Babylon" is likewise a pointed message
directed against the same class. In the picture, the angel
that smote the first-born of Egypt passed through the land
about midnight; and, as heretofore suggested in The Watch
Tower, "about midnight" in the antitype would apply to about
January 1, 1918. On December 30 and 31, 1917, and
January 1, 1918, approximately 10,000,000 copies of the above
mentioned issue of The Bible Students Monthly — the message
against Babylon, and particularly the clergy of Babylon
— were placed in the homes of the people of the United States
and Canada. This was like a great hailstorm, and brought
to the attention of the people the fact that Babylon is not
whet she claims to be, Nothing has so angered Babylon as
this. Twenty-seven years before that "hailstorm," the Laodicean
messenger wrote:
" After the truth, which Babylon now begins to regard as
her enemy, and as calculated to accomplish her destruction,
shall have become more generally known and widely circulated;
after 'the hail' has to a considerable extent swept away the
refuge of lies; and after the now smoldering and menacing
hatred of the truth is thereby roused to an opposition so
violent and so general as to effectually stop the further progress
of the great work in which the saints are engaged," will
be 'the approximate time of the deliverance or 'change' of
the last members of the body of Christ."— C 231, 232.
MANTLE OF ELIJAH
After Elijah smote the Jordan with his mantle, he crossed
over with Elisha; and while the two walked together on the
other side, Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven.
Elisha then took up the mantle of Elijah, that had fallen
from ihim, and went back over the Jordan. It -seems quite
reasonable that the mantle represented -the message of truth
which the Elijah class has possessed throughout its journey
during the harvest period. (Psalm 91:4) Elijah had this
mantle with Mm all the way from Gilgal to the Jordan. Elijah
and Elisha stood at the Jordan, talking; then Elijah wrapped
up his mantle and smote the waters. This seems to explain
the waiting period from 1914 to 1917, when the smiting of
the antitypical Jordan began by the message "wrapped up for
the slaughter." (Ezekiel 21 ;15) "The Finished Mystery"
contains the message of truth in brief, compact form, specially
directed against Babylon. It was used particularly from the
latter part of 1917 to the spring of 1918.
About the middle of March, 1918, the distribution of "The
Finished Mystery" was suddenly stopped. The suggestion
does not seem unreasonable that, "The Finished Mystery" being
the mantle, the quantity of these printed and not distributed
will be used by the Elisha class for a second smiting
of the waters (peoples).
HAS THE HARVEST ENDED?
The saints need not be disturbed by the suppression of the
message against Babylon. This is not man's work, but the
Lord's work. God nas permitted it to be interrupted for some
good purpose and will overrule it to his own glory. "The
Finished Mystery" has been suppressed on the theory that it
interferes with the prosecution of the war. (Jeremiah, 38:4)
Doubtless the clergy have represented to officials that it is
interfering with the war. We cannot agree that the circulation
of this book in any manner interferes with the war's
prosecution. Those having to do with its distribution have
had no intention whatsoever to interfere with the prosecution
of the wa r. Something, however, must interfere with the
harvest work. Excessive use of authority may be expected in
this time of stress. In many places, petty officials of the law
have arrested, without warrant, some of the faithful Colporteur
brethren; have thrown them into jail and refused to
give them opportunity to arrange for bail; and after several
days have turned them loose with the warning that they
should not sell any of the Studies in the Scriptures or any
publications of the Society. Undoubtedly officials have thought
it absolutely necessary to suppress this message. The Scriptures
indicate that such a course would be taken. In 18ft 1,
the faithful messenger of Laodicea, discussing this point
said :
"When repressive, restrictive and coercive measures are
thought to be necessary, such measures will probably include
not only labor organizations and the publications which advocate
their rights and wrongs, but also such others as point
out the plan of God, and the real cause and only remedy for
the great distress of the nations. Yes, the time is probably not
many years distant, when repressive measures may be brought
to bear against every effort of the saints to spread the good
news of the coming kingdom, all on the plea that the general
interests and the public welfare demand such a course.
"Thus would be fulfilled the predictions of the Second
Psalm, and probably in the end with more 'bitterness than can
now well be imagined, though it has been partially fulfilled
upon the Head of the body. — Acts 4:25-20.
"The same necessity for restricting liberty on political and
social questions will probably be supposed to apply equally to
freedom of expression on religious questions which really lies
at the foundation of all liberty. It would not be surprising
if a 'strong government* would some day replace this present
great republic; and it is entirely probable that one common
standard of religious belief will be deemed expedient and will
be promulgated, to teach outside of which will be treated and
punished as a political offense. Such a persecution would
not only furnish, in the end or harvest of this age, another
parallel to the harvest of the Jewish age, but would also give
a wider and deeper significance to the words of the Apostlea
Paul and John, and to the typical illustrations of the close of
the earthly career of the true church, as represented in Elijah's
whirlwind departure and John the Baptist's imprisonment
and beheading."— B 263, 264.
THE DOOR CLOSING
The door which toy the way, our Lord calls a gato — represents
the way of entrance into a certain condition or privilege
. (Luke 13:24, 25) In this instance it represents entrance
into the race fox the prize of the heavenly calling to
joint-heirship with Christ Jesus in his kingdom. That door
opened at Pentecost. It must be closed some time. It must
remain open until all the "wise virgins" have been sealed in
their foreheads. While open, it means that those who enter
have the blessed privilege of sacrificing and suffering with
Christ Jesus, which, suffering is not ordinary suffering, but
such suffering as results from faithfully walking in the footsteps
of the Master in loving devotion to the cause of righteousness
, and in joyfully defending the truth, which is unpopular
, and in exposing errors which are popular. It means
a zealous and energetic promulgation of the truth as we
have opportunity, at all hazards. It means to be true, loyal
and faithful to the Lord under all conditions, even unto death.
Such privileges are the greatest ever afforded to any creature
. The ceasing of such privileges to any and all persons
would seem to mark definitely the closing of the door. "The
night cometh when no man can work." (John 9:4) That
time will mark the closing of the door. Discussing this point,
the last messenger to the church said :
"There are three ways in which the closing of this door
might be indicated: first, by a definite Bible statement of the
exact date; second, by such a reversal of public sentiment with
reference to the truth that fidelity and zeal in its service would
no longer meet with opposition, and when suffering with Christ
for the truth's sake, would be no longer possible; or third,
by .such a condition of affairs obtaining in the world that all
opportunity for such service would be effectually obstructed,
thus leaving no opportunities for candidates to enter into
the work and to develop and prove their love and faithfulness
by their activity and endurance. . . . We have a clear
intimation that the door will be shut in the manner last
named; for, before the Millennial day breaks, we are forewarned
of a dark night wherein no man can labor." — C 207,
208.
"The closing of the 'door/ in the parable of Matthew 25,
marks the full end of all opportunity for any, even of the
'called* ones, thereafter to attain the prize of the high calling.
It marks the end of all opportunity to prove worthy of the
prize by faithfulness in the service: all opportunity for
service will there terminate in the 'night 3 wherein no man
can work."— C 213.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
" 'The morning cometh, and also the night.' The night
cometh wlien no man can work.' When that is true, you may
know that 'the door is shut/ that all the wise virgins have
entered in, that all have been proved, and that all vacancies
have been acceptably filled."-— C 225.
"Ere long our work will be cut short — gradually at first,
and then completely and finally, when 'the night cometh, when
no man can work/ And the gloom of that 'night' will be
dispelled only by the Millennial sunrise. When our work is
done, and that night closes in around us, we may expect not
only to see the storm-clouds grow much darker, but also to
hear and to feel the rising 'winds' which will culminate in a
wild hurricane of human passion — a whirlwind of trouble.
Then, having finished our appointed work, it will be our part
to 'stand/ patiently, until our Change' comes." — C 230.
We record here some of the trying experiences through
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May 1, 1918
THE WATCH TOWER
(133-134)
which our brethren are caused to pass because of their faithfulness
to the Lord. About the 14th day of March, the Attorney
General instructed the District Attorneys throughout
the country to prevent the further sale and distribution of
"The Finished Mystery/' but to arrest no one who had sold
or distributed the book prior to that date without wrongful
intent. Notwithstanding this order, local Government officials
in different places have exceeded their authority. Some of
the dear friends have been arrested and thrown into jail for
distributing The Bible Students Monthly, others because
they were selling the first six volumes of Studies in the
Scriptures; others, 'because they sold the Scenario of the
Photo-Drama of Creation. Two were arrested and brought
into court because they had distributed the Kingdom News.
After yieir incarceration, some one induced a woman to make
a false affidavit against one of them. When the case was
heard, the affidavit was proven to be false and both brethren
were released.
EEPOBTS FROM THE FRIENDS
Following are a few extracts from letters such as have
been received here every day during the past few weeks:
» County Jail. In harmony with the Lord's will,
I am having a quiet season of study and fellowship with him
here." — Conn.
« j a ii. We shall bo taken from here by an officer
to the District Attorney's office for distributing Kingdom
News."— X. Y.
"Your telegram received yesterday in the Jail. They
turned us loose yesterday, after keeping us four days and five
nights, making us promise to quit selling any of the Studies
i n County before they would release us. As the
people are so stirred up there, we thought best to take up the
work in the new territory in Illinois." — Ind.
"Wo are experiencing considerable opposition. Thursday
four sisters went to a neighboring town and distributed The
Bible Students Monthly — 'Clergy Ordination Proved Fraudulent
.* Just as they got through with the distribution, the city
marshal, with another, insisted that they go and gather the
tracts up, and then they had a public burning." — 111.
"Sheriff's Office. Last night I was placed in jail here for
selling 'The Finished Mystery.' "— N. Dak,
"Last Saturday I went to to attend the trial of
two Colporteurs, and, while looking for them, was arrested.
They could not prove that I had circulated any of the book3
since the ruling was made." — Okla.
"While busily engaged in cutting out the pages objected
to [in "The Finished Mystery"], an officer of the federal government
arrested us. My request to show me his warrant was
completely ignored. We were conveyed to the police station
and no one was allowed to communicate with us. From the
press account, next morning, I learned that two of my friends
came to bail me out, hut were not allowed to see us at all.
After spending several nights in jail, we were released without
any explanation whatsoever. Two people told me that the
officer gave them several books, with instructions to burn them
when they had finished reading them." — La.
"We are undergoing great persecution while trying to do
colporteur work. The officers are gathering up all the Seventh
Volumes and the question booklets; also The Bible Students
Monthly, 'The Fall of Babylon.' Wc have been working some
with the other volumes and the Scenario and 'booklets; but
hear threats of arrest every day." — Tex.
" . County Jail. There are three brothers and myself
in jail here for selling 'The Finished Mystery.' We are
rejoicing that we have a share in drinking the Lord's cup." —
Calif.
"At my brother and I were stopped from selling
the six volumes of Studies in the Screptubes by a secret
service man. He told us if we tried to sell any more books
we would be arrested. We were not selling any Seventh Volumes
." — Wash.
In Texas two of the pilgrims have been arrested for preaching
the Gospel, one of them being held in $10,000 bond for appearance
'before the Grand Jury. Another of our traveling
ministers was waited upon by the mayor and chief of police
in a western town and warned not to preach. When he attempted
to do so, a mob chased him out of town, but captured
hi9 companion and tarred him. The governor co-operated
to furnish protection. This mob violence indicates that the
demons are loose and inhabiting the minds of men, inciting
them to lawless deeds.
DEMONS LOOSE
St. John the Revelator wrote: "And I saw. another angel
ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God;
and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom
it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, saying, Hurt
not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have
sealed the servants of our God in their foreneads." (Revelation
7:2, 3) The conclusion to be drawn from this is that
the demons will be loosed when the saints are sealed and the
door is closed. The Scriptures clearly show that the demons
will inhabit Babylon. (Revelation 18:2) It is reasonable to
conclude that, after being loosed, some little time might be
occupied by the demons in influencing the minds of the willing
one3 in Babylon and in the formulation of plana for
operation against the last members of the body of Christ, and
that during that time the saints would .be concluding their
work. These demons will inhabit the members of Babylon
by taking control of the body and mind, as in the days of
Noah. They will probably first vent their spleen or vengeance
upon the members of the kingdom class.
Conditions which have recently developed in Russia strongly
indicate that the evil spirits are loose. It is well known
that the czar of Russia consulted the demons through mediums
. The violent disposition recently manifested by the clergy
toward some of our brethren indicates that the demons are
occupying their minds. Wo may expect this violence to increase
in the near future. Let U3 not be surprised if within a
short time every avenue for the promulgation of the truth
is closed.
A BRIEF RESPITE
We need not be at all disturbed because the opportunity to
distribute "The Finished Mystery" has been taken from ua.
The work is the Lord's. Our business, as nis ambassadors,
is to deliver the message. In the days to come the clergy
will not be heard to say that they did not have opportunity
to know of this message. This message must he delivered to
Babylon. Only the faithful will engage in delivering it. If you
have had anv opportunity to do so, rejoice and give thanks to
the Lord. Tne fiery chariot that took away Elijah represents
the fiery experiences that would come to the faithful ones
who persist in making proclamations of the message of the
kingdom, and who are anxious to enter the fiery chariot and
be taken home in the Lord's own due time.
Some, when seeing these fiery experiences — the fiery chariot
— appearing, have sought a place of safety by ceasing their
labors in the harvest field and by refusing to speak anything
concerning Babylon, declining even to mention it in class
stud^. It seems^that this shows a lack of faith in the Lord.
Let us have in mind the Apostle's woraa: "Now the just
[the justified, having the robe of Christ's righteousness] shall
live by his faith; but if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him." (Hebrews 10:38) This is the
time above all times to stand firm and trust in the Lord.
Even though we see the persecution becoming more violent
day by day, because of our faithfulness, let us keep in mind
that he who is on our part is greater than all that can be
against us. Let us not waver. Let us proceed in the declaration
of the message of the kingdom as long as the Lord gives
us any opportunities. "And probably at this juncture the
Elijah class, persisting in declaring the truth to the last, will
suffer violence, pass into glory and escape from the severest
features of the great time of trouble." — C 231.
The Lord has permitted some of his people to remain to
this time in order to leave records concerning his kingdom
that will be valuable to the undeveloped great company class
and to the world in general. It therefore becomes the privilege
of all the consecrated, as opportunity offers, to make
proclamation of the message of the kingdom. The time is
short. Let every one be active. Let every one who is able
to give a public address, and who can find an opportunity,
do so, using the subject, "The World Has Ended — Millions
Now Living Will Never Die." It is a great privilege to announce
this message of the kingdom to the poor world in this
hour of distress. If we are privileged to be the very last
ones on the earth, to do this, such will be a great honor. "To
be among those who remain is no dishonor; and to be the
very last one of those to be 'changed* will be no discredit.
Several Scriptures show that there is a special work for the
last members of the body to do on this side the vail, as important
and as essentially a part of kingdom work as that
of the glorified members on the other side," — C 235,
SPECIAL WORK
Seeing, then, that some avenues of service are closing, let
us look quickly for some other avenue remaining open. Soon
all will close. Gradually the work will close down, and then
suddenly will stop completely. But let us remember that the
feet members — the last members — have some work to do even
yet.
"The mission of the feet, whioh is no insignificant part of
the kingdom work, will be accomplished. Though their message
is popularly hated and discredited and they ar« despised
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THE WATCH TOWER
Brooklyn N. Y.
by the world as fools (for Christ's sake) — as all his faithful
servants have been throughout the Gospel age — yet, before they
are all 'changed.' and joined to the glorified members beyond
the vail, they, as agents of the kingdom, will have left euch
records of that kingdom and its present and future work aa
will be most valuable information to the world and to the
undeveloped and over-charged children of God who, though
consecrated to God, will have failed eo to- run as to obtain
the prize of our high calling.
"And let it not be forgotten that all who are of the 'feet'
will be thus engaged in publi«hang these good tidings and in
saying to Zion, *Thy God reigneth!' — the kingdom of Christ
is begun! And all who are true watchmen can at this time
see clearly, as one man, and can together harmoniously sing
the song of Moses and the Lamb."—-C 237.
Keeping always in mind the peat honor conferred upon us
by being granted the opportunity to make proclamation of
the kingdom, and rIbo by faith beholding the glories of the
kingdom in full operation, our faith will he strong and we
will keep our faces to the enemy and valiantly press on.
Plainly we can -see the disintegration of the present order.
Let us rejoice to proclaim to the peoples of earth the blessings
? of the great King, who has come to reign and bring
righteousness in the earth. Long ago the prophet of the Lord,
beholding the privilege now enjoyed by the last members of
the body of Christ on earth, in ecstasy exclaimed: "How
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringe
-th good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good
tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto
Zion, Thy God reigneth!"— Isaiah 52:7.
P AMENDE PERFECTING HBB WOEK
Let no one slack his hand as long as any opportunity for
proclaiming the truth is afforded. Remember the words of
the Apostle: "Ye have need of patience [cheerful endurance],
that after ye have done the will of God ye might rctive the
prornise." 'The will of God is that we do all in our power
to give testimony to his glorious character and coming kingdom
. Having done this, we must wait and behold the salvation
of the Lord, patiently biding his time to call us home.
The Apostle Paul, again speaking to the church, says: "Having
done all, stand." (Ephesians 6:13) This clearly indicates
that the last of the feet members must-stand a while
after the door is closed, stand, letting patience perfect Iter
work ; waiting until the Lord Jehovah shall deliver us. Some
will be required to stand in enforced idleness for a time, despised
and rejected of all men. deprived of opportunities to
labor either for the production of the necessities of life or in
testifying of the kingdom. Let us remember in thi3 connection
the words of the Master: u He that shall endure unto
the end, the same shall be saved." (Matthew 24:13) Nearly
twenty years ago, the faithful Laodicean messenger wrote:
"How lonar the Lord may be pleased to let his saints stand
in enforced idleness so far as his work is concerned, we do
not know, but probably only long enough to let faith and
patience* have their perfect work. Here, these virtues will be
most fully developed, tested and manifested. This test of
patience will be the final trial of the church. Then 'God will
help her, at the dawning of [her] morning.' (Psalm 46:6 —
Leeser) — not the morning which is to dawn on the -world at
the brightness of her rising with her Lord as the
sun of righteousness, but at the dawning of her morning,
in which she is to be changed to the nature and likeness of
her Lord. Her morning is to precede the Millennia] morning
."— C 230, 23L
TRIUMPHANT ZION
Having made a consecration unto death, the child of God
understands that he must die before he can gain the promised
prize. "Ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."
(Psalm 82:7) The journey of the consecrated has not been
one strewn with flowers. It has not been one of ease. God
permitted it to be otherwise, in order that by trying experiences
a strong, firm, crystalized character might be developed.
The last of the feet members have come to a very trying time
in the church's history. Poor, bruised and despised ones;
misunderstood by all in the world, persecuted, ridiculed, the
victims of scoffers, charged as violators of the law and denounced
as the offscourgings of the earth. And yet they have
pressed along and are still pressing along the narrow way!
No one appreciates them; indeed, none except the consecrated
can appreciate them. But how beautiful they are and how
wonderful their privilege! They are highly honored and esteemed
by the Lord himself and greatly loved by him — not
because of their own merit, but because of faithful, loving
devotion to duty and to his cause. They are now performing
their precious mission of proclaiming that the kingdom of
heaven is at hand. A little while, and their journey will be
ended, and their "change" shall suddenly come. And that
"change" will bring them into fellowship and glory and
power already possessed by those who have preceded them
into glory.
Of the last members, St. Paul says: "They shall be caught
away to meet the Lord in the air; and so shall they ever be
with the Lord." The term "caught away" is rendered "removed
by force" by some translators. It seems that some
of the Lord's dear saints may go down into the very anarchy,
yet at all times protected by the Lord. When the true church's
hour seems the darkest, then God will help her. She will
emerge from the turmoil and distress of earth into glory and
beauty, in the likeness of her Lord and Head. Triumphant
Zion she then shall he. Thus will God help Zion in the dawning
of her morning — in the morning of the eternal day of
Christ's triumph.
"Triumphant Zion, lift thy head
Prom dust and darkness and the dead !
Though humbled long, awake at length,
And gird thee with thy Savior's strength.
"Yea, soon astonished men shall see
The laurels of thy victory;
And thou, with grace and glory crowned,
May'st lavish blessings all around."
JESUS TRIUMPHANT OVER DEATH
June 23.— Mark 16:1-11.
IMPORTANCE OF OUR LORD'S RESURRECTION — ERRORS OF DARK AGES LEAD TO CONFUSION IN MAN? MINDS — PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION
NUMEROUS AND WFJ/L SUBSTANTIATED — THE WITNESSES MOST RELIABLE — OUR LORD'S RESURRECTION CHANGESPURPOSE
OF HIS VARIOUS APPEARANCES IN DIFFERENT BODIES OF FLESH— HIS EXALTATION "FAR ABOVE ANGELS, PRINCIPALITIES
AND POWERS, AND EVERY NAME THAT IS NAMED" — HIS GREAT REWARD.
"Now hath Christ been raised from the dead." — 1 Corinthians 15:20.
Few seem to realize the importance of the doctrine of the of him as being alive during f Ixat time, and that it was merely
resurrection of the dead, its bearing upon the entire Gospel
message. The Apostle indicates how much d^epended upon our
Lord's resurrection when he wrote: "If Christ be not risen,
then is our preaching vain, and vout faith is also vain. . . ,
They also who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." (1
Corinthians 15:14, 18) The number of the Lord's professed
followers, both clergy and laity, who fail to appreciate the
resurrection, yea. who actually do not believe in it, is very
large. The number of those who really believe in it is very
small.
Under the teachings which have come down to us from the
dark ages, the majority of professed Christians fail entirely
to realize that death means a cessation of life, ag the Scriptures
clearly teach. On the contrary the masses of Christendom
have come to believe that there is no death, that the
dead are more alive than they were before they died. Applying
this erroneous thought to our Lord, as well as to others, they
do not appreciate the Scriptural declaration that "Christ died
for our sins and rose again on the third day." They think
his fleshly body that was inanimate in the tomb, and that the
resurrection which occurred on the third day was not his resurrection
to life, but merely the reanimation of his dead body.
Confused thu3 by the errors of medieval times, which were
also adopted by the reformers and which are engrafted upon
the minds of the civilized world today, the great majority of
Christian people cannot appreciate the Scriptural declarations
in respect to the importance of the resurrection of our Lord^
Instead of believing the Apostle's assertion that our faith is
vain, our preaching vain, if Jesus did not rise from the dead,
the majority of Christendom would be inclined to say just
the reverse of this. Hence only those who realize that the
dead are dead, that until awakened from the sleep of death
they can have no conscious existence — only these can really
appreciate the importance of the resurrection.
CONFUSION THE RESULT OF EBBOB
Some one may ask: "What difference would it make to
our beloved dead, what difference would it make toourpreacb-
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THE WATCH TOWER
(136-137)
ing, what difference would it make to our faith, if Jesus had
been left in the tomb?" We reply: If Jesus had not been
raised from the dead we would have had no basis for the
preaching of the Gospel; for the Gospel message is that by the
grace of God the death of our Lord Jesus provided the ransom
-price for father Adam and his posterity, and that therefore
in God's appointed time Adam and all his posterity will
be released from the death sentence and be brought back to the
original perfection of nature lost in Eden. Ohrist Jesu3 as
the great King of earth is to establish the kingdom of God
in the earth, and through it to lift from mankind the burden,
the penalty of death. All that are in their graves shall hear
the voice of the Son of God and come forth to the glorious
opportunities of the Millennial kingdom, opportunities for
reconciliation with God and for release from all the imperfections
and weaknesses resulting from Adam's fall from perfection
With the fact before us that Jesus had died, but without
any proof of his resurrection, the preaching of any such gospel
would be vain preaching, foolish preaching, deception of the
people. To believe such a gospel under such circumstances
would be to brand ^ourselves as simpletons; and to have any
hope that our dead friends could ever be benefited by a dead
Christ would be absurd.
Seeing, then, that every feature of the Gospel is dependent
upon the great fact of our Lord's resurrection, we understand
why it was that the apostles based everything upon the fact
that Jesus not only died for our sins a3 our ransom-price,
but also arose from the dead for our justification, for our
deliverance from the sentence, the guilt, the penalty, that is
upon the human family — the death penalty. No wonder that
our Heavenly Father arranged that we should have so explicit
an account, so detailed a statement, of everything pertaining
to our Lord's resurrection! No wonder that the Evangelists
recorded matters with such minuteness! No wonder that in
all the preaching of the apostles this great fundamental truth,
which was the basis of their own faith toward God, was set
before the church as being all important! From this viewpoint
the lesson for today must he of deep interest to all of the
Lord's people for all time, until the outward manifestations
of the kingdom shall attest the things which the household of
faith must now accept by faith.
PBOOFS OF THE EESUBEEOTIOK
Summing up the proofs that our Lord arose from the dead
on the third day we find that they are numerous and well
substantiated, as follows:
( 1 ) Our Lord's death could not have been a case of suspended
animation. The spear-thrust made this fact evident,
not only because it was a mortal wound, but because it furnished
proof that our Lord was already dead, for water as
well as coagulated blood issued from his side.
(2) The centurion charged with the execution was convinced
of his death, and so reported to Pilate, the Roman
governor.
(3) The request of the chief priests that the stone against
the door of the sepulcher be sealed and a guard be placed
around the tomb, so that no one could remove the body and
then pretend that he had risen, was a further evidence that
Jesus was dead.
(4) His friends believed that he was dead, and wrapped
him in spices for burial. Indeed, in their grief they seem to
have forgotten his promise of a resurrection, so much so that
even after he had arisen it was with difficulty that they were
convinced of the fact.
(5) The record that the guards dissembled and declared
that the disciples stole Jesus' body while the soldiers slept,
being bribed by the Jewish rulers, served at least to prove
that the guard had been set and that everybody recognized
that Jesus was dead.
(6) The tomb in which Jesus was buried was a new one,
in which no one had previously been buried, so there could be
no doubt as to the identity of the one who arose. We are
glad that there is such satisfactory evidence that Christ died,
and that thus we have further foundation for the Scriptural
assurance that he died as man's Redeemer.
TWO VIEWS OP THE BEflURBEOTIOtf
The view held by the majority of Christian people is that
our Lord arose from the dead to exactly the same conditions
that he had during his life upon earth — a man, subject to the
same limitations that he had before he died. The other view
is that he arose from the dead a spirit being; but that since
spirit beings cannot be seen by the human eye without injury,
our Lord clothed himself, as it were, with flesh and clothing
in order to be seen by his followers, to demonstrate to them
that he was no longer dead. The latter we find to be the
Scriptural view.
The majority of Christian people are greatly confused over
the matter of the resurrection; for they believe the doctrines
received from heathen philosophy during the dark ages, the
very same doctrines which were communicated by the devil
to all the heathen 3 namely, that the dead are more alive than
they were during their life-time. Consequently people often
wonder why the Scriptures lay such stress upon the resurrection
and why there should be any necessity for a resurrection
. They properly enough reason that if, as they are usually
told at the time of the funeral, their dead friend is now
"free, no longer trammeled with his earthly body," why need
he be trammeled with it in the future any more than in the
present, and if some have gotten along for centuries without
bodies, why should they need bodies thereafter any more than
before ?
All this confusion of thought is directly traceable to
Satan's falsehood, "Ye shall not surely [really] die," and the
rejection of God's statement, ( ln the day that thou eatest
thereof, thou shalt surely die." (Genesis 3:4; 2:17) When
we accept the teachings of the Word of God that the dead
are really dead, then we perceive that there is no hope whatever
for them to have any knowledge or consciousness except
by a resurrection. Then we realize the truthfulness of the
Scriptural statement that there is neither knowledge nor
device nor wisdom in the grave, sheol, the death state, whither
all go.— Ecclesiastes 9:5, 10; Job 14:21; Psalm 146:4.
The cause of popular confusion on this subject is due to
the error of supposing that the dead are not dead, and to the
failure to see that our Lord was "put to death in the flesh,
but quickened in the spirit," as the Apostle Peter explicitly
tells us. (1 Peter 3:18) Thank God that with the morning
light now shining upon the divine record these shadows, so
confusing to heart and mind, are gradually fleeing away, disclosing
to us new beauties in our heavenly Father's Word,
consistencies, harmonies! When permitted to interpret themselves
, the Scriptures* are beautiful, reasonable, irrefutable.
A COMMON BUT GROSS EEEOR
The Apostle Peter informs us that Christ was "put to death
in flesh, but quickened in spirit," as we have said. These
words being true (we give a literal translation), those who
declare that our Lord arose from the dead a fleshly being are
grossly in error. Indeed, it is evident that they have misconceived
the entire subject of the atonement; for if our
Lord, a3 the man Christ Jesus, gave himself a ransom, he
could not be restored to manhood in a resurrection without
annulling the ransom — taking back the price he had provided
for the sin of the world. The Scriptural thought i3 that as
man had sinned and been sentenced to death, it was necessary
that the Redeemer become a man and give his manhood
as the ransom-price for Adam and his race. Moreover, the
Scriptural declaration is not that this ransom-price was
taken back, but that God raised our Lord from the dead a
new creature of a new nature, not in flesh, not in human
nature, but in spirit, a spirit being.
St. Paul agrees with St. Peter's testimony, that Jesus
was quickened in spirit, saying that Jesus was "declared to be
the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness,
by the resurrection from the dead." (Romans 1:4) Again,
he says in describing the first resurrection: "Thus, also is
the resurrection of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it is
raised in incorruption ; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in
glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is
sown a natural [animal] body, it 13 raised a spiritual body."
(1 Corinthians 15:42-45) Elsewhere he declares, that the
church's highest ambition is to be a partaker in this first
resurrection, which he denominates "his resurrection," the
Ghrist-resurrection, the resurrection to spirit conditions, nature
, which came first to our Lord and in which all of his
body, the church, will have a share. — Philippians 3:10; Revelation
20:6.
OTJB LORD'S EESUBBECTION CHAKGE
This being true, we know that the time when our Lord
received his spirit body was at his resurrection and not subsequently
* Speaking of our Lord's humiliation and his subsequent
exaltation at his resurrection, St. Paul assures us that
Jesus left the glory which he had with the Father and humbled
himself to become a man; and that in due time he humbled
himself unto death, even the death of the cross. , "Wherefore
God hath highly exalted him and given him a name above
every name." The exaltation came to him in his resurrection
change. It was true of him then, as in due time it will be
true of all the members of his body, that he was sown in
weakness, raised in power; sown a natural [animal, human 1
body, raised a spirit body.
This spiritual body- was just as glorious in the moment of
onr Lord's resurrection as it was at any subsequent time. It
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THE WATCH TOWER
Brooklyn, N. Y,
had all the powers properly granted to spirit beings in harmony
with Jehovah God. He was not, as previously, the man
Christ Jesus merely, but the Lord of glory. As such he was
able to associate himself with his disciples, either visibly or
invisibly, to appear as a gardener, as a traveler, as a stranger
on Galilee's shore, or in any manner he might see fit. He
was the same glorious being who subsequently appeared to
Saul of Tarsus, shining as the lightning, imich as the angel
appeared when the Roman guard was overcome.
Some may inquire, 'Why did not our Lord appear to the
women and the apostles in the same glorious manner, with
shining features?' We answer that to have done so would
have been to hinder the very object he had in view. How could
his followers, who were not then begotten of the holy Spirit
and who consequently were unable to understand spiritual
things (1 Corinthians 2:14), have understood that a being
shining like an angel was the Master whom three days before
they had seen crucified? Even if they could have associated
the two in some manner, what evidence would there have been
for others who have lived since then?
The removal of our Lord's remains from the tomb was an
essential to the faith of the disciples of that day and of all
who would believe on him since that time through their word.
Manifestations of his being alive from the dead were also necessary
to all these. The instructions which our Lord gave,
his expositions of the prophecies and his application of these
to himself, given at that particular time, were necessary as
a firm foundation for faith. None of these objects could have
been so well served in any other way than that which was
adopted.
THE VARIOUS ACCOUNTS HARMONIZED
To harmonize the various accounts of the resurrection we
must suppose that the women charged with the work of embalming
our Lord's body lived in different parts of Jerusalem,
and did not all arrive at the same hour. Mary Magdalene
arrived first, and finding the tomb empty hastened to tell
some of the disciples. First she found Peter and afterward
John, both of whom at once ran to the sepulcher, while Mary
probably returned more Blowly, arriving there after the two
disciples and the other women had gone. It was at this second
visit that our Lord revealed himself to her. She had been
weeping, and had stooped down to look through the low doorway
of the tomb, as if to reassure herself that it was empty.
Then she saw for the first time two angels in white, who
inquired respecting her sorrow. Doubtless the angels had
been there when she was there before, but had not chosen
to manifest themselves.
Doubtless holy angels had in charge not only our Lord's
body, but also the interests of his bereaved followers; and
now and then some of these appeared as young men, though
they were not flesh, but spirit beings, assuming fleshly bodies
for a time, that they might render the service necessary. They
are said to appeal, because they could not be seen except as*
they manifested themselves. In Luke 24:4 these same angels
appearing as men are said to have been clothed in shining
garments, so that they might not be understood to be men,
but might at once be recognized as heavenly messengers. On
the contrary, when our risen Lord as "a quickening spirit"
similarly appeared in flesh in order to come closer to his followers
, he did not appear in shining garments, hut in ordinary
apparel, assumed for the purpose, in order that he might
have the 'better opportunity for giving the instructions which
his followers needed.
IMPORTANCE OF OTJB LORD'S RESURRECTION
That our risen Lord is no longer flesh, but a spirit being
with celestial glory, is clearly established by Paul's narrative
of his own experiences. He explains that it was necessary
that the twelve apostles should be able to bear witness to
the fact that Jesu3 had risen from the dead. There could
have been no Gospel message of hope of divine favor through
a dead Savior. If Christ had not risen from the dead, who
would there have been who could establish the Messianic
kingdom? Who would there have been who could have given
the church a share in the first resurrection and in the heavenly
glory? Who would there be who could call forth from the
tomb the sleeping thousands of millions of Adam's race,
awakening them to the opportunities of life everlasting
through obedience to the laws of the kingdom?
All this the Apostle calls forcibly to our minds, saying,
'Tf "Christ be not risen from the dead, your faith is vain;
and all who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished." (1
Corinthians 15:16-18) From this we see that St. Paul in no
way shared the views of those who unscripturally claim that
Jesus, while dead, was really alive, and that the resurrection
of the dead is a mere formality, quite unnecessary to the
carrying out of God's plan of salvation. On the contrary the
divine teaching is that the dead know not anything, and that
the resurrection of the dead 13 an absolute necessity to future
life or blessing.
The fact that Christ has risen from the dead is a guarantee
of God's power to raise the dead. Additionally, it is a guarantee
that Jesus accomplished the work which he came into
the world to do. It proves to us that he must have kept the
divine law perfectly; else he would not have been worthy of
a resurrection from the dead. It also proves the value of his
death, its efficacy as the offset of Adam's sin, and thus as the
ransom-price for the sin of the world.
POST-RESURBEOTIOH MANXFE STATIONS
Our Lord's manifestations in the flesh during the forty
days subsequent to his resurrection correspond exactly to
those manifestations which he had made long before, one of
which was to Abraham, The Logos ate and talked with Abraham
, but the Hebrew thought of him only as a man, because
the- heavenly guest appeared in human form and ordinary
clothing. He vanished from Abraham's sight just as he did
from the apostles' sight and from the sight of Saul of Tarsus.
When he appeared to Abraham, he was a spirit being, and he
was a spirit being again after his resurrection, when he appeared
to his apostles. But in the meantime, he had been
made flesh for the very purpose of suffering for the unjust.
Having accomplished the suffering, taere was no further
reason why our Lord should remain flesh. The heavenly Lord
of Glory is not flesh, not a man. If he were, he would still
be "a little lower than the angels." But the Scriptures assure
us that in his resurrection he ascended "far above angels." —
Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrews 1:3, 4.
It was just as easy for Jesus to appear in one form as in
another, in one kind of clothing as in another. He appeared
in various forms to impress the double lesson that he was not
dead and that he was no longer a man. His second appearance
, with the wounds with which to convince St. Thomas, is
especially noteworthy. Our Lord was ready to give any demonstration
that was necessary to convince his disciples that he
had actually risen from the dead; for unless they were so convinced
, they could neither do the work before them nor receive
the holy Spirit at Pentecost. The holy Spirit was given
only to those who believed in Jesus, those who accepted the
fact of his death as the sacrifice for sin and who trusted in
him as the Savior through whom would come the divine bless -
ing.^ This impartation of the holy Spirit had the effect of begetting
them to a new nature, and restoring them to fellowship
with God as his children and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ
their Lord.
NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
June 30. — quarterly review.
the reasonableness of st. paul's teachings — the false gospel of the dark ages a travesty on justice and love the
true gospel, of which the great apostle was not ashamed cross and crown shame and glory— spiritual seed
of abraham to bless all the eamilies of the earth — the millennial kingdom.
"/ am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth." — Romans 1 :16
Whoever has studied the masterly writings of the Apostle
Paul, constituting so large a portion of the New Testament,
must surely have been impressed with the reasonableness and
logic of his mental positions as therein stated. While it is
true that not many really understand tha Bible, yet even those
who do not grasp the full import of the Apostle's teachings
can see enough therein to convince them of the soundness of
his logic; and the comparatively few, begotten of the holy
Spirit, who really understand the depth of his writings
unanimously give his epistles the first place among the books
of the Bible as well as in general literature.
Now we ask all who recognize St. Paul's ability and sterling
honesty of expression: Is it possible to suppose that
when the Apostle wrote the words which constitute our Golden
Text he had in mind anything akin to the gross travesty on
justice and love which during the dark ages was branded the
Gospel of Christ, and which has been handed down to us under
that caption? Could we suppose that the great Apostle had
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THE WATCH TOWER
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in mind a race not only born in sin and shapen in iniquity,
but condemned by its Creator to an eternity of torture since
the time of Adam's disobedience? Gould we suppose that St.
Paul had in mind for such a race a message that Christ had
died and that the net result of the Savior's sacrifice for sin
would affect only about one in ten thousand of earth's thousands
of millions, to open the eyes of their understanding
and to lead them from sin to righteousness, to obedience as
saints with a reward of heavenly glory?
Even in the Apostle's day he had noted the tendency of
the adversary to bring false doctrines and to put "another
gospel" instead of the true one. (Galatians 1:6-9) The
faithful Paul was not only ashamed of this false gospel, but
denounced it and forewarned the church to be on guard against
the wiles of the devil, who would attempt to present himself
as an angel of light in order to deceive the followers of Christ.
(2 Corinthians 11:13-15) To what extent Satan has been
successful as a theologian and teacher in the church let all
the creeds of the dark ages bear witness!
MANY ASHAMED OF THE PERVERTED GOSPEL
For many years past, and especially since the beginning of
the harvest of the Gospel age, thinking people have been perplexed
and fretted in respect to the creeds of Christendom,
Both heart and head told them that these creeds are wrong,
that such a plan as therein outlined, so far from being a
heavenly one, is earthly, sensual, devilish, far beneath the
standard of moral honesty and decency among men — not to
speak of love for our neighbor as for ourselves, which would
do for others as we would that they should do for us. This
false gospel contradicts entirely the Lord's statement that as
the heavens are higher than the earth, so are his ways higher
than man's ways. — Isaiah 55:8-11.
Many of our fallen race, alas! are very mean, and are
impelled 'by very wicked, malicious influences at times. But
we have yet to find a man or a woman so wretchedly degraded,
so unjust, so unsympathetic, so unloving, so fierce, so venomous
, so deficient, that he or she would purposely, knowingly,
intentionally, bring into being a creature, human or brute,
and then take continual pleasure, year after year, in torturing
that creature, in witnessing its sufferings, its groans and its
agonizing cries. Yet by following Satan's delusion foisted
upon humanity during the dark ages, many Christian people
have unwittingly ascribed to the God of wisdom, justice, love
and power a plan which would make him more detestable
than any other being in the universe.
Alas, for such a slander of our heavenly Father, for such
blasphemy of his holy name, we might well mourn in sackcloth
and ashes for the remainder of our earthly life. But
he is gracious to us, and does not impute our transgressions
to us. He remembers that we are fallen dust, and that as a
race we have come largely under the deceptive influence of
our adversary, who has blinded mankind with ignorance and
superstition. It is high time that all mankind awake, that
they learn to use our God-given reasoning faculties upon religious
matters, as well as upon the affairs of daily life.
THE GOSPEL OF OHEIST
How different from the false gospel of the dark ages is
the Gospel of Christ! The Bible teaches that man was created
in God's image and likeness, but that he fell into sin through
disobedience of his Creator's commands, and so incurred the
penalty of death, extinction. The Gospel of which the Apostle
Paul was not ashamed declares that God in mercy provided
Jesus as our Redeemer. It shows that no member of the
fallen race could redeem it because each child of Adam was
himself under the divine sentence of death. It explains that
Christ's death was the offset to Adam's sentence, and that
as the whole race suffered through Adam's disobedience and
sentence so likewise God could with equal justice permit the
redemptive work of Jesus to apply not only to Adam but to
all of his posterity.
This Gospel of which St. Paul was not ashamed is clearly
set forth in Romans 5:12-19. The Apostle does not say that
the penalty upon Adam was eternal torment, but that it was
death; nor does he say that the penalty upon mankind ia
eternal torture. He does not say that Christ went to eternal
torment to pay the penalty -upon man, but that "Christ died
for our sins according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians
15:3) He does not say that mankind is to be recovered from
eternal torment, but rather brought back from the dead, that
"there is to be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just
and of the unjust." — Acts 24:15.
Delineating still further the Gospel of which he was not
ashamed, the Apostle explains that during this Gospel age
God is gathering out of the world a special elect class to be
the bride, the Lam'Vs wife, to suffer with him that they may
be also glorified with him, to die with him that they may
also live with him. (Romans 8:17) He declares that there
has been a mystery connected with this subject which is designed
of God to be understood only by the spirit-begotten
ones, the faithful. He tells us that this mystery consists
in the fact that the heavenly Father foreknew and predestinated
that the great Messiah, the Seed of Abraham through
whom all the families of the earth are to be blessed, would
be composed not only of our Lord Jesus, but also of the elect
church, which symbolically is the body of Christ. — Galatians
3:8, lb, 29.
The false doctrines of the dark ages, of which we are greatly
ashamed, declare that after the elect church shall have
been gathered, all the families of the earth shall forever be
condemned and eternally tortured. But the Gospel of which
the Apostle Paul was not ashamed declares to the contrary,
teaching that after the elect church shall have been completed,
its mission as the Seed of Abraham, as the glorified kingdom
of Christ, the Millennial kingdom under the whole heavens,
shall be to bless all the families of the earth, to convert
them, to lift them up out of sin and death conditions, to give
all the willing and obedient a full opportunity to return to
divine favor as Adam at first enjoyed it and to an earthly
Paradise restored.
WHAT KINGDOM HONORS WILL COST THE ELECT
The Gospel of which the Apostle was not ashamed, and
which he preached faithfully, invited those having hearing
ears to consecrate their lives to God in order that they might
be of the elect church. It gave assurance that the cross of
uhe present time would, if faithfully carried to the end of the
way, bring glory, honor and immortality, a share with our
Lord Jesus in his Millennial kingdom and its glorious work
of blessing all mankind. In view of this sure reward'believers
were urged to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God through Christ, and then to suffer with him
now, to be sharers in his ignominy, shame and death in order
that in due time they might be sharers with him in his kingdom
and its blessed work.
In all of his teachings our Lord kept before the minds of
the church the fact that the cross and the crown are inseparably
united in the divine program. "If we suffer with him,
we shall also reign with him." At the second advent of Christ
his faithful followers were to receive a crown of glory which
fadeth not away. (1 Peter 5:4) In their glorified condition
they are to be the exalted Seed of Abraham with the glorious
mission of blessing Israel after the flesh and ail the other
families of the earth. (Romans 11:25-32) Even the casting
away of the Jews from divine favor upon their rejection of
…