The Way To Paradise (1925)

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The Way to Paradise

THE BOY JESUS BEFORE THE LAWYERS

The Way to Paradise

A brief history of the 7,000 years of sin, from the time ■when sin was unknown to the time when again there ■will be no sin.

Brief Scriptural biographies of MICHAEL who became the Christ, and of LUCIFER who became the devil.

In simple, pictorial language with many Scripture citations and quotations adapted to Intermediate Students of the Bible

100 000 Edition

By W. E. Van Amburgh

Published by International Bible Students Association Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A.

London, Toronto, Melbourne, Cape Town, Magdeburg, Berne, etc.

TO THE ONLY GOD OUR SAVIOR THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

OUR LORD

BE GLORY, MAJESTY, DOMINION, AND POWER, BEFORE ALL TIME AND NOW, AND

FOR EVERMORE.

Jude 25

R. V.

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

“Oh how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day.

Thy commandments make me wiser than mine enemies; for they are ever with me.

I have more understanding than all my teachers; for thy testimonies are my meditation.

I understand more than the aged, because I have kept thy precepts.

I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might observe thy word.

I have not turned aside from thine ordinances, for thou hast taught me.

How sweet are thy words to my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth.

Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”—Psalm 119:9, 97-104, R. V.

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them;

and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Jeremiah 15:16

Introduction

To Parents:

HAVE you considered your responsibility to your children? You want your children to succeed. Have you considered the way that leads to certain success? Children are God-given. "Lo, children are an heritage of the Lord.” (Psalm 127:3) The fact that God made it possible for you to have children implies that he intends for you to make provision for them. He so instructs in his Word. The Christian who provides not for his children is worse than an infidel. (1 Timothy 5:8) Such provision is not limited to natural food and raiment. These are but temporary. It is of greater importance to provide for the education and training of children, because these things are lasting. "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”—Proverbs 22: 6.

If you would have your children succeed and bless your name in years to come, then train the child aright. Begin early and continue the training as long as the children are under your jurisdiction. Proper training will bind them to you with unbreakable ties of love.

The Lord Jesus loved children. Concerning this it is recorded that "he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.” (Mark 19: 13, 16) Jehovah manifested his love for the children by commanding his chosen people to be diligent in teaching the children concerning his law. (.Deuteronomy 6: 7) "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, . . . that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do.”—Deuteronomy 31:12.

Parents are admonished to make provision for the future aid of their children. (2 Corinthians 12:14) The lasting provision that will bring success and happiness i

to your children is to educate and to train them in the proper way. You may be sure that the proper way to train a child is God’s way. That you may thus train them, and as an aid to training themselves, you should provide them instruction upon God’s Word. This knowledge they cannot acquire by merely reading the Bible. They must have some help to divide rightly the Word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15) This book is published to provide that much-needed help. It tells the plan of God for the ultimate blessing of mankind with endless life and happiness, and tells it in such simple and plain phrase that it not only is interesting and fascinating, but makes a lasting impression upon the mind cf the child. It points out the perfect, divine, and therefore the only possible, way that leads to success in the broadest sense of that term. It affords an opportunity to lay the foundation upon which the child may build enduring character. Its real value cannot be measured in gold.

To the Children:

EVERY good child has a keen desire to grow into manhood or womanhood and to become useful and important in governmental affairs. For many centuries your ancestors have diligently sought ways and means to establish a righteous and enduring government. They have been greatly disappointed. Long ago Jehovah, the great Giver of every good and perfect gift, promised that in his own due time he would establish on earth a righteous government which will rest upon the shoulder of his beloved Son, the Prince of Peace, and that this government will be the desire of all good people, showering upon them blessings of riches beyond man’s dreams. We have now approached the time when God is beginning to establish that great government. The greatest favor, then, that could come to a child just now is to learn God’s way and manner of establishing and conducting that government and then to prepare himself or herself to have part in the affairs of that government. This would insure you a blessing, and make you a bless-ii

ing to others and make your name honored among mem

The Bible contains a statement of God’s plan of action for the establishment of his great and good government. The Bible could not be understood until God’s due time to have it understood. That due time is here now because the time has come to establish his government. Now it is possible for even the children to understand the divine plan as set forth in the Bible.

This book is prepared for the express purpose of enabling boys and girls quickly to grasp a knowledge of the new order of things which the Lord is beginning to establish in the earth, and to point them to the way that will lead each boy and girl who obeys to complete success, joy and happiness. It describes in detail the Ruler of this new and righteous government. It shows what great love he has for the children and for their parents. It tells that he will restrain the oppressor, lighten the burden of the people, make the way of each one equal who does right, and bless them with peace. It points out that the blind eyes will be opened and the deaf ears again will hear; that the lame and the crippled will become strong, and grow up to perfection; that the sick will become well, and that in due time sorrow, suffering, and death will cease. It shows that the thorns and the thistles will be removed from the fields; that the fresh grass and flowers will replace them; that the desert shall blossom as a rose and all the earth become a blessed and happy place in which to live. It shows that every family will own a home and enjoy the blessings thereof, sit under their own vine and fig tree and eat the fruits thereof, and none shall make them afraid. It tells that the new Ruler, in the administration of the governmental affairs, will make all happy, until every one will be joining in praise to God and manifesting kindness to each other.

The Bible is a treasure of countless value for it points the way that leads to endless life and happiness. The more you read it the more you will love it, and the more will be your love for God and for your fellow men.

J. F. Rutherford.

Contents

Chapter Page

I The Story of the Bible .......

II The Creation of the Earth

III The Creation of Man

IV Why Did Adam Die?

V World Number One

VI World Number Two

VII The Prince of This World

VIII The Kingdoms of This World .... 151

IX The New Covenant, or Contract .... 175

X World Number Three, the Kingdom of Christ 187

XI Princes in All the Earth

XII The Kingdom of God, God’s Perfect Work 237

Chapter I

The Story of the Bible

IN ALL the world there is no book like the Bible. It is not a single book, but a library of books. The first five books of the Old Testament Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy, are called the Pentateuch, from the Greek words, “pente,” five, and “teuchos” book. They were written by Moses, during the forty-year wanderings of the Children of Israel in the wilderness, between the years 1615 and 1575 before Christ.

These books contain the record of the creation of the earth and of man, its sovereign. They give a connected chronology from Adam to Moses. They relate the origin of the Jewish nation. They contain the code of laws which God gave to that nation, and a record of his dealings with it for forty years. They record an agreement, or covenant, between God and Israel. The word testament also means covenant; hence the title, Old Testament. “These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which Jehovah made bell

tween him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses.”—Leviticus 26:46.

These books contain the record of the construction, setting up, and ceremonials of the Tabernacle, which the apostle Paul tells us were “a shadow of good things to come” (Hebrews 10:1), or a picture of better things to follow. They relate the incidents of Jewish history which occurred during their forty years wandering, of which St. Paul tells us: '“All these things happened unto them for types: and they were written for our admonition.” (1 Corinthians 10:11) These first five books, are also called the “Book of the Law.” (Joshua 1:8) They close with the death of Moses, 1575 before Christ.

The next twelve are known as the Historical Books; for they continue the history of the Jewish nation for approximately eleven hundred years, 1575 B. C. to about 450 B. C. We do not know the names of the writers of all these books. Only a few connected their names therewith, and no records now extant give the information. Some take their names from the credited writers, such as Joshua, Ezra, and Nehemiah, though these made no mention of themselves as the writers. Some are named from the principal actor mentioned; as Ruth, Samuel and Esther. Judges, the First and Second Kings, and the two books of Chronicles are brief epitomes of long histories. These are very valuable for they give the only reliable connected history of those times. The books of Ruth and Esther are interesting side lights on the family and social life of those times, in addition to the valuable historical information which they supply.

The next five books, Job, The Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon, are known as the Poetical Books. Therein is found some of the best and most inspiring poetry ever written.

The story of Job and his friends and their discussions is acknowledged to be one of the world’s masterpieces of literature and logic. It was written about the time of Moses.

The Book of Psalms is a collection of one hundred and fifty poems, mostly written by David, the Beloved, who in some phases of his life typified Christ. David, known as the Poet King, was also an expert musician, and many of his psalms were chanted by the priests in their Temple service. “There is no other Book of Praise so pregnant with expression of the heart’s emotions under all the vicissitudes of life, or so adapted to all climes and ages, as to be the universal medium of praise for all nations of the world.” The Psalms also contain some bits of history not found in other books.

Proverbs is a manual of rules for daily living which are applicable to all ages and conditions of life. Solomon is credited with having written most of them.

Ecclesiastes is also credited to Solomon; and was probably written near the close of his eventful life. In this book the writer calls attention to the emptiness of the present life, even though surrounded with all the luxuries, pleasures and honors which he was privileged to enjoy.

Song of Solomon, or The Song of Songs, is the best of 1,005 songs composed by Solomon, and the only one now extant. The claim has been made by some that it was a Marriage Ode composed by Solomon on his nuptials with the daughter of Pharaoh. In many features it is figurative of the marriage of Christ and the church.

The Jews hold all these poems in high esteem. They are gems of literature, mines of knowledge, filled with reverence and praises to G-od, and contain many of his promises concerning his coming kingdom.

The next seventeen are known as the Prophetical Books, written by sixteen different writers. They contain some history, many messages of admonition from G-od, and many prophecies relating to the Jews and also to the Gentile nations. Some of these are short-time prophecies of events to follow soon; others, of events that would come to pass hundreds of years in the future. These prophets lived during a period of about 450 years, approximately from 860 to 400 B. C. Exact dates cannot be ascertained in all cases. The Prophetical Books overlap part of the time covered by the Historical Books. We will make a closer study of some of these later.

Over two thousand years ago there were given by those men of God prophecies which are being fulfilled in our own times. To locate them and watch their fulfilment is intensely interesting. The evidence is clear that God, and not the prophets, was the real author of the Bible. St. Peter tells us they wrote “as they were moved by the holy spirit." (2 Peter 1:21) We know that only God could foretell the future with accuracy.

In all these thirty-nine books, containing many messages from God, and touching upon a great variety of subjects, there are none written by Gentiles, nor do they contain any messages direct to the Gentiles with the exception of the message sent to Nineveh through the prophet Jonah. But even Jonah was not commissioned to try to convert the Ninevites to accept God or even to worship him. There is much said about the Gentiles, but nothing to them directly. Through his prophet Amos, God said to the Jews, “You only have I known [recognized'] of all the families of the earth.”—Amos 3: 2.

This completes what is known as the Old Testament. The last prophet before the time of Christ was Malachi, about 400 B. C. Only one more prophet was sent to the Children of Israel, John the Baptist, about 29 A. D. He was the herald of the Lord himself; Jesus said that John was one of the greatest of all prophets.—Matthew 11:11.

In the New Testament also there is mention of a covenant—that between God and the Christ. The New Testament has twenty-seven divisions, sometimes called books, many of them in the form of letters, written by apostles to various little churches or classes of Christians, or to individuals. The first four, Matthew, Mauk, Luke and John, are known as the Gospels, messages of Good News. They are brief histories of the events connected with our Lord’s first advent, and records of some of his sermons, sayings, parables, and miracles. The fifth, known as the Acts, or the Acts of the Apostles, was written by the physician Luke, who was much with the apostle Paul. It is a history of the early church for a period of about thirty years after the death of Jesus.

Following the Acts are twenty-one letters, called Epistles, of which the apostle Paul is said to have written fourteen, the apostle John three, the apostle Peter two, St. James one, and St. Jude one. These were written between the years 45 A. D. and 65 A. D. The Revelation, the last book in the Bible, was written last, about 95 or 96 A. D. It is the record of a vision given to the apostle John, while he was a prisoner of the Roman government, confined on the rocky island of Patmos in the Aegean Sea, south from where Constantinople now stands. The first verse suggests the title: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he [Christ] sent and signified it [sign-i-fied it—told it by signs] by his angel unto his servant John."

The time for writing the entire Bible was. from about 1615 B. C. to 96 A. D., approximately 1,700 years. The most prominent personality of the Old Testament is Jehovah God; the most prominent nation is Israel; and the most prominent theme in type and prophecy is the kingdom of God to be established on earth. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is the most prominent personality of the New Testament. “The church,” sometimes called “The saints,” “The body or Christ,” “His brethren,” “The bride of Christ,” “His wife,” is the most prominent class. The principal, theme of the New Testament is the selection of these “saints,” their sanctification, their training, and their perfecting, necessary to their preparation for the kingdom of God, in which they are to participate as kings, judges and priests, associated with Christ.—Revelation 3:21; 1 Corinthians 6:2; 1 Peter 2: 9.

The New Testament is not addressed to the world nor to sinners, nor is there any hope held out that the world will be converted before Christ returns for his bride. The object of his return is to establish God’s kingdom, for which he taught his disciples to pray: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as in heaven.” The apostle Paul in his second letter to Timo-othy (3:16,17) says: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” It is the textbook of God’s law for Christian students in the school of Christ, who must pass a critical examination before they can secure the greatest of all prizes ever offered by Jehovah to any of his creatures. (2 Peter 1: 4; 1 Peter 4:12,13) The apostle Paul expresses the key-note of the New Testament in his letter to the Philippians (3:13,14): “This one thing 1 do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prise of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

No other book has been so loved by its friends as the Bible. Millions have testified of their love for it and of their faith in it, and have died in its defense. It radiates an influence for good such as has never been known of any other book. It is remarkable that without exception those who follow its principles and precepts become enlightened, just, peaceful, loving, contented, and happy.

On the other hand, no other book has ever been so hated and persecuted by those who oppose its teachings. Again, the records of history show that individuals and nations that have opposed the Bible have manifested a disposition to be unjust, intolerant, merciless, unhappy, revengeful, and in many instances have resorted to murder. Following the great persecution of the Bible and of those who believed in it, which began shortly after the time of Christ, the world went under the darkest cloud of cruelty and prejudice known since the time of the flood. Historians have named that period the Dark Ages. "Whole nations dropped into ignorance, superstition, and persecution. Many of the persecutors acted like demons. Is not this a most remarkable testimony in favor of the Bible ?

The Bible contains the only clear record of the origin of the human race, and traces that record from father to son for over two thousand years, then by reliable statistics to the year of the world 3,592, which it calls the “First year of Gyrus, king of Persia." This particular year is known in secular history as 536 B. C. After bringing the record of man down thus far and connecting it with a reliable secular record, the Bible history becomes disconnected; and it is impossible to follow further chronologically. This again manifests an oversight by Jehovah in preserving the Bible record correct to such time as we can rely on secular history.

The Bible gives the only intelligent, logical, and scientific description of the formation of the earth. As scientists further uncover the hidden secrets of nature’s record, these are found to coincide fully with the statements of the Bible. Chancellor Dawson, who has given this subject a most patient and critical examination, thus expresses the result of his investigation: “The order of creation, as stated in Genesis, is faultless in the light of modern science and many of its details present the most remarkable agreement with the results of sciences born only in our day.” Professor Dana, a writer of much prestige, says of the Mosaic record account of creation: “The first thought that strikes the scientific reader is the evidence of Divinity, not merely in the first verse of the record and its successive fiats, but in the whole order of creation. There is so much that the most recent readings of science have for the first time explained, that the idea of man as its author becomes utterly incomprehensible. By proving the record true, science proves it divine; for who could have correctly narrated the secrets of eternity but God himself ?” He further says: “The grand Old Book of God still stands; and this old earth, the more its leaves are turned and pondered, the more will it sustain and illustrate the sacred Word.”

One of the most remarkable features of the Bible is its prophecies of future events, some reaching forward over two thousand years. Many of these have already been proved true by the records of history; some are being fulfilled now. The only ones unfulfilled are those for which the time of fulfilment has not yet arrived. We will briefly notice a few which have already been fulfilled.

God told Noah to build an ark; for there would be a great flood of waters upon the earth about one hundred and twenty years later. (Genesis 6:3, 13-16) The Bible record is that the flood came on time, 1,656 years from the creation of Adam. The records left upon the earth’s surface give evidence in harmony with the Bible. The great alluvial deposits in Mesopotamia; the snow, the glaciers and the ice-caps at the poles; the paths of great glaciers moving equatorward; the fact that animals have been found frozen in solid ice, with undigested food in their stomachs—these and many other evidences prove that there was a great and sudden change in the earth’s atmospheric conditions at some time in the past, though, of course, these records do not give dates in years. The traditions of nearly every heathen nation make some reference to the fact that there has been a great flood upon the earth.

In the second, seventh, and eighth chapters of Daniel, the prophet outlined four monarchies, bearing world-wide rule: The Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Grecian and the Roman. Every reader of history knows that these followed in the succession stated in the prophecy. In the eleventh chapter, Daniel gives such clear descriptions of some notable characters to appear on the scene of world powder activities that they are easily recognized in the records of history; as for instance, Alexander the Great, Caesar Augustus, Tiberias Caesar, Mark Antony, the queens Cleopatra and Zenobia, and later Napoleon Bonaparte. The expression in the 29th verse, “At the time appointed,” refers to the defeat of Napoleon by the English under Admiral Nelson in Aboukir Bay, in 1798. This was foretold two thousand three hundred and thirty-two years before that great naval battle actually occurred, and it was further specified that the event would occur “at the time appointed.” How could Daniel know thus far ahead, unless God had told him? In the twelfth chapter he also foretells that shortly after Napoleon’s time “Michael shall stand up, . . . and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: . . . many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” We are now in that time of trouble, and we see the running to and fro and the increase of knowledge.-—Daniel 12:1-4; Matthew 24:21.

Another prophet, Nahum, tells us of the modern methods of land travel, saying, “The chariots shall be with flaming torches in the day of his preparation, . . . the chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings.” Whenever we ride at fifty miles an hour behind a fiery torch, we are riding in one of the fiery chariots which Nahum said would come “in the day of his preparation.”-—Nahum 2:3, 4.

The apostles frequently call attention to the fact that some of the things which occurred in connection with the life of Jesus or with the

nation of the Jews or with the work they were doing, were done in order "that it might be fulfilled" which was previously foretold by some of the prophets. (Matthew 2:15, 17, 23; 4:14; 8: 17) We shall find many more remarkable things about the Bible as we proceed with our study.

Not only is the Bible God’s message to man, but it has been remarkable in a commercial way also. Complete Bibles are published in over one hundred different languages, and partial copies in over four hundred languages and dialects. There are nearly eighty different Bible Societies engaged in its pubheation and circulation. The British and Foreign Bible Society alone issues nearly two million copies annually. Hundreds of thousands of copies are given away to those who desire a copy but who are too poor to buy. Many periodicals, daily, weekly, semi-monthly, and monthly, carry some quotation from the Bible in each issue.

Truly the Bible is a wonderful book, in whatever way we may view it. And why not, if God is its Author and Protector? Through his prophet Isaiah, chapter eleven, verse nine, he tells us: "For the earth shall be fitill of the knowledge of Jehovah, as the waters cover the sea.”

This is but a partial view, so to speak, of the outside of The Book. In our next chapter we will begin our study of the Story in the Book with a brief view of the Creation of the Earth.

Land and Amphibious Animals

C/GANT0SAERFS-/6OETZOTC(r— THE 1ARGEST ANIMAL KWOWW— COMPARES WITH 10ELEPHANTS ANSA SIRLOSOCPS.

Chapter II

The Creation of the Earth

WE HAVE all watched the erection of new buildings. At first all we saw were stone, cement, brick, lime, lumber, lath, shingles, kegs of nails, or paint, and materials of other kinds in irregular piles without any particular form or relation one to the other, and void of usefulness while in that condition. When the master builder came with his men, he set some to work excavating for the foundation, some to selecting and preparing the stones for the foundation walls, others to sorting the timbers for the sills, the studding, the sheathing, etc. As soon as the foundation was completed, the erection of the framework began. It progressed in regular order until ready for the finishing work; and then the painters and decorators completed it. It became a home or an office or a public building. It was planned and built for a purpose.

In other words, the mind or spirit of man decided upon a plan; and after certain work was done with his materials, lo! there was a building. There was enough stone, brick, lumber, shingles, and all else needed; but there was nothing left over. This showed careful forethought, and ability to work according to the plan. When the scaffolding was removed and the yard cleaned up, the people soon moved in. What a change!

Where before had been a vacant lot was now a beautiful home. Some one had said: “Let there be a house,” and there was a house. Of course it took planning, materials, work, and time to bring it about.

Whenever we see a building, we know that some one constructed it. It could not have built itself. If it is a large building, we know instinctively that the designer had large ideas, and large ability to carry his plans to completion.

As we look at the earth on which we live, large, well made, and well adapted to the needs of the creatures that live upon it, we know that the Creator had large plans, great ability, and the needs, comforts and pleasures of his creatures in mind. It is hung on nothing, speeding through space at nearly seventy thousand miles an hour, and revolving on its axis every twenty-four hours, thus giving day and night to the entire surface. There are oceans, seas, lakes, and rivers. There are mountains, plains, and valleys, decorated with trees, flowers, and grass. There are fruits, nuts, grains, and vegetables; fish, birds, and animals, living and enjoying life. There are cotton, wool, and silk for our clothing ; lumber, stone, and clay of which to make mortar and brick with which to build our houses. There are all sorts of minerals and metals with which to make tools, machines, shops, railroads, and ornaments of every kind. We have a great variety of colors in ochres and chemicals with which to paint our houses and our pictures.

The laws of nature have been so arranged that water will expand and make steam, and gasoline will explode and supply power. The mighty giant Electricity can be harnessed to almost every kind of machine to do our work; from lighting our homes, running our machinery, street-cars, and elevators to warming our houses, sweeping our floors, washing and ironing our clothes. It will carry our voices over the telephone so that we may talk with our friends hundreds of miles away; and now by means of the radio it will bring concerts and lectures from thousands of miles away and deliver them immediately in our homes. Light is another servant ready to photograph for us the beautiful scenes of nature, and the faces of our friends.

Did you ever hear of such a fairy house in all your life? How could God think of so many things? And we are finding more and more wonderful things almost every day. We wonder where it will end. The most of these are of no use to the animals or the birds; therefore they must have been designed for man. God thinks a great deal of man, and has prepared many things for him to enjoy.

When we examine our bodies, we are still more surprised. The human body is the most wonderful machine on earth. It sees, hears, tastes, smells, and feels; it thinks, loves, enjoys, and delights in its surroundings. When in perfect condition it will, if given proper food and environment, keep itself well, and never wear out, as we soon shall see. It is its own chauffeur. It brings forth after its own kind. Whoever heard of an automobile keeping itself repaired, or of bringing forth baby automobiles and having them grow up ? Truly the Sweet Singer of Israel says: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well"; and “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."—Psalm 139:14, 6.

If we think that the earth is large, what about the sun around which we circle every year? It is 866,200 miles in diameter, large enough to take in the earth and the moon 240,000 miles away, and its orbit. If we turn our telescopes to the sky we find there are millions of suns, many of them much larger than ours, each keeping strictly to its own race course, guided by some mighty power. The mighty sun Betelgeuse is said to be twice as much larger than our sun as our sun is larger than the earth, or 240,000,000 miles in diameter. If it were as close to ns as our sun is, it would cover our entire sky, and the heat would be so intense it would melt the earth. Again does David sing: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork." (Psalm 19: 1) The prophet Isaiah (40:25, 26) says: “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bring eth out their host by number: he calleth them, all by names, by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power: not one faileth."

THE SUN

The orbit of the Moon would fill only about one-half of the sun’s diameter

How did God make the earth ? How long did it take him to make it suitable for human habitation? The Bible answers our questions. We are not given all the details, but enough so that we can easily fill in the rest. The story is simply

told, in few words that all can understand. Let us carefully read the account as given in the first chapter of Genesis:

Verse 1: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” This refers to the time when God began the creation of this earth and its heaven.

Verse 2: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved [Hebrew, brooded'] upon the face of the waters.” We shall

BINGS IN FORMATION

see later this beginning of the ordering of the earth to make it suitable for habitation was approximately 48,000 years ago. The statement is that the materials of which God formed or created the earth and heaven were there, without form, and void of any usefulness in that condition. Science tells us that the materials of which this earth is composed were at one time in such superheated state as to be in gaseous form, and that it was whirling through space at a terrific speed. The mind of God, here called the spirit of God, began to work upon this seething mass to bring it into a condition of usefulness. These two verses would be very properly rendered as follows: “In the beginning [of the present order of things'] God created [that is, formed or shaped according to his oivn idea] the heaven [above] and the earth [below]. The earth had been waste and wild; and darkness was upon the face of the roaring deep. But the spirit of God was brooding on the face of the waters. And [this being the condition of things] God said [gave orders what to do],” etc.—Rotherham Translation.

Verse 3: “And God said, Let there be light: and there ivas light.” Light is a marvelous power. Just how it works, we may not fully understand; but that it does work is evidenced in nature all about us. The sunlight warms and fructifies the soil; it raises millions of tons of water in particles so small that we cannot see them, and other forces condense them into clouds which carry the rain over the surface of the earth. God set in operation this great power, to work upon the roaring deep of seething gas.

Verse 4: “And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.” God exercised intelligence and wisdom, and also employed intelligent beings, the angels of heaven, to whom as assistants he gave instructions. The work was progressing properly. God saw that it was good.

Verse 5: “And God called the light day, and the darkness he called night. And the evening and the morning were the first day." We do not need to search far in the Scriptures to learn that the word day does not always mean twenty-four hours. It means a length of time, and may refer to an entire year, or a thousand years, or seven thousand years, or as we shall see later, in one instance to 42,000 years. (See Psalm 95: 8; Isaiah 19:18, 19; 2 Peter 3:8) When our study reaches that point, we shall see that the seventh day was 7,000 years long; and logically each of the other six would be of the same length. Science is in harmony with that thought.

Verses 6, 7: “And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of [between'] the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so [done].” The power of light from some outside source, probably from the sun, during the first day had accomplished the desired result. There was a gradual cooling and condensation ; the heavier materials became molten, or liquid, in form. We may have seen melted lead or iron. Melted lead dropped through a sieve breaks into little drops, which by falling for some distance form into perfect globes. Thus shot is made. So the great molten mass which formed the earth whirling through space would become a globe. This would first be molten-hot, then white-hot, then red-hot, and still later, darker, but very hot, too hot to retain water. Any water or moisture falling upon the heated surface would immediately become steam, and constantly rise and fall again. The earth’s surface would finally become sufficiently cool for water to remain, but it would be boiling hot for a long time. Still later it would become merely warm.

SECOND DAY OR EPOCH

Thus there would be water on the earth, and water as great steam clouds above it, with a space between. This space was called heaven, the heaved up. “And God called the firmament heaven, and the evening and the morning were the second day.”—Verse 8.

If the earth and the heaven were cut in two like an apple

1. Centrifugal force stronger.

2. Centripetal force stronger—Windows of Heaven.

EARTH WITHIN THE RING OF WATER

Verses 20-23: “And God said, Let the zvaters wnder the heaven [those on the earth’s surface'] be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it ivas so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw thai it zvas good."

LAND APPEARS

Gradually the surface solidified, and formed a crust which was able to sustain more or less weight. Water always seeks the lower spots; and the crust, something like a rubber ball which if pinched in one place will bulge out at another, bulged out here and there and formed dry land. The water washing against the shores wore away particles; and thus sand was formed, which constituted a basis or soil for the roots of plant life later.

Verses 11-13: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed and the fruit tree yielding fruit after its hind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his hind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his hind: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the third day.”

It took another day of 7,000 years to bring about gradually the next great change. The earth was then ready to support plant life in its many thousands of forms. The statement is very simple; but we have the witness all about us in the great variety of vegetation, and we know that every seed will bring forth its own kind and no other. How many kinds of fruit trees can you name? How many varieties of apples can you name? Write a list and see.

As yet the direct rays of the sun could not penetrate the thick clouds which still surrounded the earth. The light was similar to that in a dimly lighted room; yet plants will grow even in very limited light. The clouds were gradually thinning; the light was becoming brighter.

Verses 14-19: “And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth: and it was so[the work was done according to his instruction]. And God made tivo great lights [great in comparison to the darkness which had prevailed to that time]; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night', he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven, to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.”

LIGHT APPEARS

The work of creation was going on orderly, and as rapidly as God had designed. It was all very good, and on time. We might ask the superintendent in charge of the building when he only had the framework up how he was getting on; and he would reply: “Very well, right up to time, and according to plan.”

We are not to understand that the earth was created long before the sun was. The sun is the center of our solar system, and the earth was probably revolving around it all this time; but the clouds about the earth were so dense that the direct light from the sun could not penetrate them.

Can you remember a day when it was so cloudy that you had to light the lights to see to work in the house? You could see to get around, but not to do much work. Later it cleared up; and you did not need the lights, even though it continued to be so dark that you could not see the sun. It was so in this creation day. The clouds around the earth had been so dense that nothing could be seen distinctly. Gradually they thinned until it became light enough to distinguish between day and night. As there was some light to rule the night, it could not have been absolutely dark at anyplace.

We may easily illustrate this by supposing that we were in a room shaded with light curtains, with the windows facing the east. When the sun rose in the morning, bright and clear, it would flood the room with light, although we could not see the sun itself. At evening the light, coming from the west, would be much less in our room, though it would not be dark; for the air would reflect some of the light into the room. The brighter light would rule the forenoon, and the lesser light would rule the afternoon; it would not be entirely dark, but we could easily tell the difference. So the statement here. There was more light for the day and less for the night, whether the light came from the sun or from the moon.

Suppose we try a little experiment: Take a ball, and run a small stick or wire through the center. Let the ends stick out, so that you can hold them in your fingers. Fasten the wire so tightly that you can turn the ball with it. Dip the ball entirely into water, and then let the loose water drop off, but with the surface still wet. Now twirl the ball as fast as you can by the little ends of wire that you hold in your fingers. Then examine it carefully. You will find that it has become dryer near the poles, but wetter at the outside or at what might be called the equator. Possibly some drops flew off. What caused that? The outside of the ball was going very fast, but the poles were moving slowly. The speed at the outside tended to throw the water off. If your ball is made of strings, with the ends loose, the loose ends will fly out like the hair on your head in the wind. The force that tends to throw the water off is called centrifugal, or the throwing-off force.

If the earth is turning so fast, why does it not fly to pieces? By putting a good cover on your ball you could hold the water or the ends of the strings down tight. So God provided a cover to hold the earth down tight. This cover is not made of leather, but is very powerful, and is called gravitation, or that which holds the earth together. This is sometimes called the centripetal or pulling-together power. It is this power of attraction that keeps the earth from flying to pieces while it is going so fast; just as the cover on your ball keeps it from going to pieces when you throw it. The clouds, not being held down tight, however, on account of their great speed gradually worked from the poles towards the equator, and became thinner at the poles. Thus more light would shine in there. In time the clouds near the poles might become so thin that if any one were on the earth, the stars could be seen at the north or south poles.

The great cloud-belt of superheated steam would also act as a protector, like the glass covering of a green-house, keeping the cold out and the heat in. There would be no torrid, temperate, and frigid zones. All would be alike; and animals and plants of all kinds could live at the poles as well as the equator. That this was true has been proved by the discoveries of animals frozen in great masses of ice, in the polar regions; also remains of tropical plants have been found, broken off, where some of the great glaciers have melted, showing that at some time they were growing there.

Verses 9,10: "And God said, Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let the birds fly over the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created the great seamonsters and every living creature [Hebrew, living soul] that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their hinds, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply; and fill the waters in the seas; and let the birds multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth. day.3’

The work was proceeding well. During the fifth 7,000-year day there appeared sea life of

FIFTH DAY—FISHES

all kinds, and birds of great varieties and numbers. In the museums are to be found skeletons of some of the monsters of those early ages; such as the ichthyosaurus, and gigantosaurus. Fossils of the latter have been found 160 feet long. As these monsters lived and died, their bodies added to the fertility of the soil, thus preparing for the next epoch. God has a great variety of means and processes for bringing about his desired purposes. At the end of the fifth day there was great life activity upon the earth. A further step could now be taken.

Verses 24, 25: "And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature [living soul] after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and the beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and God saw that it was good.” Simply and clearly the story continues. God then brought forth land animals of many kinds: Some very large, such as the mastodons and elephants; and the smaller varieties, like the horse, cattle, dog, sheep, goats, squirrels, etc.

There was no intermingling of species, but each was "after its kind,” and we see the same law continuing today. Each variety brings forth after its kind. God carries on his work in an orderly way and without confusion. How many varieties of sea life or of birds or of animals were created is not stated; but judged from the fossil remains found in the earth’s surface, and from the number now known to exist, there must have been a great many. We marvel at God’s ability, as we see that it is not necessary for him to duplicate his works.

ANIMAL CREATION

Another day had almost passed; and the one-for whom all this preparation had been made had not yet been created. For whom could it be that God was making so great preparation? In our next chapter we shall learn about the creation of the king of earth.

THE PERFECT MAN KING OF EARTH

Chapter III

The Creation of Man

THE work of creation was progressing properly and nearing completion. At the beginning of each day “God said,” gave his servants the angels instructions for the day. (Genesis 1: 3, 6, 9, 14 and 20) As occasion demanded he looked over the work already completed and commended it, saying that it was good.—Genesis 1:4, 12, 18, 21 and 25.

We may speak of Mr. A. as building a house, though personally he may do no work upon the building. He drew up the plans, furnished the money, and superintended the work. Jehovah had the plans, supplied everything necessary, and passed upon the work.

“For thus saith Jehovah that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited [by man]." (Isaiah 45:18) “The heaven, even the heavens are Jehovah’s, but the earth hath he given to the children of men." (Psahn 115:16) “Blessed are the meek [among men]; for they shall inherit the earth." (Matthew 5:5) These and many other scriptures state positively that God made the earth to be the home of man.

In verse 26 of the first chapter of Genesis we

notice a difference in expression when it conies to the creation of man. It reads: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Who are the “us” here mentioned?

The apostle John answers in the first three verses of his Gospel. We quote it from the original Greek, as that gives the clearer thought: “In a beginning [the beginning of creation] was the Logos [the Word—Christ], and the Logos was with the God [Jehovah God], and the Logos was a God. This [One—the Logos] was in a beginning with the God [Jehovah]. By it [the Logos] was everything done, and without it not even one thing was done which has been done.”

Here we are informed who were the two who were consulting together in regard to the creation of the king of earth. He was not to he in their image as to the form of body or place of habitation, but in the sense of being ruler over a dominion, as is clearly stated in the remainder of the verse. To be fitted to be a king he would need suitable qualities of mental powers of reason, memory, judgment and will, and the moral qualities of justice, benevolence and love.

In the second chapter of Genesis we have another, though much shorter, description of the creation. Beginning with verse four we read: “These are the generations [history] of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day [Here the word day covers the whole six days of chapter one, or 42,000 years.] that Jehovah God 'made the earth and the heavens, and every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for Jehovah God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground." By the close of the sixth day all the animals had been created, but not one was capable of tilling the soil or of having charge of the earth.

Therefore "Jehovah God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul [living being].” (Genesis 2:7) This was the one for whom God had created the earth. Where did he come from ? He did not come from anywhere. God created him, right here on the earth, from materials of the earth. "And Jehovah God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he placed the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river tvent out of Eden to water the garden. . . . And Jehovah God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.”-—Genesis 2: 8-10, 15.

The word Eden means Place of Delight. God had specially prepared it for this king of earth as his royal abode. Picture in your mind the most beautiful park and grounds you have ever seen: Beautiful trees of every kind—fruit trees, nut trees, and flower trees, tall trees, and wide-spreading shade trees; flowers of every variety, form, color, and fragrance; birds of almost endless variety, some with gorgeous plumage, and others singing their songs of gladness and joy aS they flitted among the trees, or stopped to be fondled by their master and friend; squirrels, chipmunks, and other lively little creatures frisking up and down the trees, playing with each other; other animals lounging on the grass or feeding in the meadows or among the trees and shrubs; the rippling water of the river flowing over the stones and the fish sporting in it; every creature happy in its sphere and nothing to harm or make afraid. The sheep and the lions, the cows and the bears, fed together and never harmed each other. Take time to think it over. Truly it was rightly named a Place of Delight, fit for the king and his queen. There was delight for the eye, the ear, the nose, the tongue, and the touch. Every fruit was delicious to Adam as he ate his meals in the shade of some bower, while the birds furnished the music, and the saucy squirrels watched and possibly shied up to get a nut or fruit. Their furry little coats were soft to the touch of the hands that fondled them. Then they might play hide and seek with their master as he walked in the garden. Would you like to live in such a Place of Delight?

A GLIMPSE OF EDEN

Jehovah himself. We cannot imagine that God would have an unpleasant dwelling spot for the one for whom he had already made so great preparation. What was Adam created for? Just to have a good time and a pleasant place to live in? Or did God have some work for him to do ? "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [fill] the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26-28) In Psalm 8:4 we read: "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crozvned him with glory and honor. Thou modest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands: thou hast put all things [on the earth] under his feet."

Look at the picture here drawn in such few words. If Adam were created in the image and likeness of God, he could not have been imperfect ; for God himself is perfect, and all his work is perfect. (Matthew 5:48; Deuteronomy 32:4) In Genesis 1:26 God twice stated that it was his purpose to create Adam in his image, and in the twenty-seventh verse he twice stated that he did so. Adam would in this sense be in God’s image.

God was the great Ruler of the universe. He had dominion over all the heavens and the angels of heaven. Adam was given dominion over all the earth and over all the creatures upon the earth. In this respect also, he was in the image and likeness of his Creator. He could reason and talk and enjoy and appreciate the things which God had given him. He was king of the earth, with full ability in every way to fill his position with honor and dignity, as God filled his position as King of the universe.

God had a further work for Adam; he was to "oe fruitful and multiply and replenish, the earth [with children in his own likeness after his image}." (Genesis 1: 28; 5: 3,. 4) How could he do this by himself? He may have seen the animals bring forth their young, and the birds brooding over their little ones. The earth was very large for only one human being. God’s plan was to have an earth filled with people like Adam. He was to be their father but not their master, as he was the master or king of the animal creation. To this end one thing had not been provided for Adam, though it may be he had not yet missed it. He had been busy enjoying the blessings he already had.

God had arranged a pleasant experience for Adam, that he might feel his need of something else. God caused all the animals and all the birds to pass before Adam, and gave him the pleasure of naming them. This may have been as he was daily walking through the garden, studying all the various species of animals and birds he saw; or it may be that God caused them all to pass before Adam in a grand parade. As details are not given, we may think of it in either way we prefer.

Consider for a moment what a memory he had, to be able to recall all the names he had given. If he were like some of us, he would have had hard work to remember more than twenty or thirty; but when we know that there were hundreds of varieties and probably by that time many of each variety, we realize more the capacity of the memory of a perfect man. His mind was perfect; therefore it was no great task for him to remember every individual animal or bird that he had seen and the name that he had given it, even if there were many thousands of them. He would know all his subjects, and in this respect also he would be “in the likeness of God”; for God knew and had named all the hosts of heaven.—Psalm 147:4; Isaiah 40:26.

History mentions some men who had very remarkable memories, even though they were not perfect like Adam. It is related of General Xenophon, who led an army of Greeks on their retreat from the Tigris to the Black Sea after the defeat of Cyrus the Younger at Cunaxa, that he could call every one of his 10,000 soldiers by name. It is said of James G. Blaine, who was twenty years in Congress, that he could instantly recognize and call by name any person to whom he had ever been introduced. We have heard of men who could quote the entire Bible word for word, and of men who could read a book, lay it aside and rewrite the book word for word from memory. When God gave Adam a perfect mind, he gave him a treasure far more valuable than we can at present estimate. The loss of a perfect mind is part of the lost estate of our father Adam. Suppose we were able to read a dictionary through and then recall the definition of every word therein. It would not be so hard to remember our lessons, would it?

Adam could talk to the animals, but they could not talk to or with him; for they had not the gift of language. It is true that animals and birds have a limited means of communication with each other, and often manifest affection to man; but they have no means of expression in comparison with their king, man. Think of reading a book to your dog, or of asking your bird how much two dozen eggs would cost at forty cents a dozen, or of asking a cat to count twenty!

After Adam had become acquainted with them and named them all, he probably felt somewhat lonesome. He had the privilege and pleasure of fellowship with the angel who walked and talked with him in the cool of the evenings; but how delightful it would be if he only had a companion with him all day, one who had a mind and body like his own, to enjoy his blessings with him. All the animals and birds had mates, and paired by themselves, and rejoiced in mutual fellowship, and brought forth each after its kind; but there was no mate for Adam. It is often well for us to feel our needs beforehand, in order that we may better appreciate the favors when they are supplied.

"And Jehovah God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make a help meet [suitable'] for him. And out of the ground “Jehovah God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them; and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. And Adam gave names to all the cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him." (Genesis 2:18-20) No doubt but Adam wondered why there was no companion for him.

“And Jehovah God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof, and the rib which Jehovah God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." —Genesis 2: 21, 22.

Can we imagine the surprise and joy of Adam as he first beheld his beautiful Eve? If everything God had made was very good, both Adam and Eve must have been beautiful, Godlike creatures, as they came direct from the hand of their Creator. Not an imperfection about them. "What more could they ask than their loving Creator had supplied? It would have been a pleasure to see them in their beauty and in their delightful home.

But we have not examined it all yet. God had provided that they might live in this Place of Delight forever, and bring forth their children to enjoy it with them. God had built the earth to last. (Psalm 104:3) He also made man to live forever and provided for his everlasting life. "And out of the ground made Jehovah God to grow every tree that is pheasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden. . . . And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat." (Genesis 2:9, 16) The tree of life was there, that he might eat and live forever. Again, "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of the earth, and every tree in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat [food]. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth wherein there is life [Hebrew, living soul] I have given every green herb for meat; and it ivas so. And God saw everything that he had made; and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning was the sixth day."—Genesis 1: 29-31.

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The Way To Paradise (1925)