VOL. IV. January 1, 1921 No. 1 BEREAN
STUDIES IN THE REVELATION THE
REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST VOL. IV. January 15, 1921 No. 2 OUTLOOK
FROM THE WALLS OF ZION, THE
GROUND OF THE BELIEVER'S PEACE WITH GOD THE
REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST BEREAN
STUDIES IN THE REVELATION VOL. IV. January 1, 1921 No. 1 NEW YEAR GREETINGS, 1921DEEPEST thankfulness and praise should fill the hearts of all the sons of God as they cross the threshold of the New Year 1921. Grateful indeed may we be that His grace has kept us from falling unto the present moment, and that continuing in this earthly tabernacle so many of us are still of one heart and of one mind in respect to our Father's Word, His Will and His service. Our appreciation must be increased by the remembrance that every testimony of the Word is to the effect that the time in which we are now living is one of special testing to all professing to be the Lord's people--"every man's work shall be tried so as-by fire." When we remember that the Adversary is to be permitted to bring "strong delusions" upon the Lord's people for the very purpose of separating all not truly His, that they may believe that which is false and depart from the Truth and be condemned as unworthy, "because they received not the Truth in the love of it" (2 Thes. 2:10-12), it surely should call forth our thanks to God that the opening of another year finds us still stand ing fast, appreciating the Truth and in full accord with all the Divine appointments by which He has kept us from falling. The Scriptures remind us that rejoicings do not belong as properly to him that putteth on the armor as to him who, having fought the good fight to the finish, shall Jay aside the armor and put on robes of glory in the First Resurrection. (I Kings 20:11; 2 Tim. 4:7, 8.) Consequently we must not stop too long even to rejoice that we are what we are by the grace of God, but must go on! The new year is surely full of blessings for the faithful, according to all the precious promises of our Father's Word. We must grasp these afresh, allowing the Lord's faithfulness of the past to establish our trust the more firmly for the future. Without faith as the trolley to connect us with the current of Divine power we will fail to "go on unto perfection." "Faith can firmly trust Him,--come what may." Love, too, should be stimulated by a retrospective glance; discerning the mercies of the Lord toward us should enthuse us with loving zeal for Him and His. "We love Him because He first loved us!" We seek to do those things pleasing to our Lord because we love Him, and, in proportion as we love Him we will delight in such obedience and service-even at the cost of self-sacrifice. Good resolutions and the re-examination of our ideal and standards of life are appropriate at-this season, too. Not that the fully consecrated can add to their - consecration, for, if proper, it included our all. Not, either, that we should have an annual round up when we would seek pardon and start out afresh, as typical Israel did each "Day of Atonement" at the beginning of their new year. Spiritual Israelites, rather, are to live a daily, an hourly life of nearness to the High-Priest. We are to make use of the Divine provision of mercy -- the precious blood -- is to be continually invoked for the cleansing of the slightest defilement of conscience, that thus the wedding garment of our Lord's imputed righteousness may not become bedraggled, but that the slightest spot being removed, we may have it "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing." Nevertheless, self -examinations and good resolutions have a value at this season in particular. That reviews of business, taking account of stocks, ascertaining the profits and the losses of the year., etc., are profitable in respect to worldly affairs, all will admit; and the much more important affairs of the soul, the ascertainment of gains and losses as New Creatures, and how and when and where these came to us in the constant battle with the world, the -flesh and the devil, will surely profit all who make such reckonings with an eye single to the pleasement of the Lord. LOOK, YE SAINTS, THE SIGHT IS GLORIOUSConsidering the outlook for the new year we believe that all who are faithfully carrying out their consecration have reason to lift up their heads with confidence and courage in that we still have before us the Narrow Way with all the wonderful privileges of walking therein in the footsteps of our blessed Redeemer and of attaining the glorious prize at the end-the crown of immortality. Through our correspondence with the dear friends of the Cause throughout the world we are made acquainted with the general conditions, and our hearts rejoice at the strong indications that there is a good number of brethren whose spiritual condition is excellent -- better perhaps than ever before. During the recent years the facts have been repeatedly pressed upon us that many throughout the Harvest period have received more knowledge than they have made use of in their daily lives-that many have been more interested in the letter of the Truth-in the knowledge of God's Plan, than in con forming their lives to the spirit of the Truth. Consequently we have realized more and more the appropriate ness of drawing special attention to the necessity for. receiving not the grace of God in vain, but on the contrary of permitting the Truth which we so dearly love to work in our hearts both to will right and so far as possible to do right-God's good pleasure respecting us. (Phil. 2:3.) Apparently the Lord has blessed the efforts put forth to assist the friends to see the importance of this matter. EVIDENCES OF SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENTOne of the most convincing evidences of spiritual development on the part of the brethren is, noted in the fact of their diligent and impartial study and investigation of the Word, with the object in view of settling every matter of doctrine and faith by the infallible guide of God's holy revelation. Thus in harmony with St. Paul's advice, the motto of the brethren in these days very wisely is, "Prove all things, hold fast that which is good." And well indeed do we recall the timely advice of PASTOR RUSSELL on this point. The following brief quotation is full of solemn significance: "'Prove all 'things, hold fast that which is good.' However much they should ever come to respect prophesyings, or public preaching, the Lord's people should learn proportionately not to receive what they might hear without proper examination and criticism; they should prove all things that they hear, should exercise discrimination of mind, as -to what is logically, and Scripturally supported, and what is mere conjecture and possibly sophistry. They should prove what they hear, with a view to holding fast everything that stands the test of the Divine Word, and shows itself to be in accordance with the Holy Spirit; and they should as promptly and thoroughly reject whatever will not stand these tests. Alas! the Lord's people today greatly need to give attention to this exhortation; for much is being presented in the name of the Lord -and as the teaching of His Word that is neither logical nor Scriptural -- that is supported neither by the letter nor the spirit of the Word-much that is not good, and should be rejected."--Z '03-26. The letters we have received from the brethren the world over during the past year have generally been very refreshing and of much encouragement to us. We could wish that we might be able to answer these more at length and in detail, but owing to various duties in connection with the work, our limited time will not permit of this. We ask the friends to accept the message of the HERALD as our replies to your letters, which are always welcome. We rejoice that the communications received give evidence of a genuine work of grace in the hearts of the faithful. And truly it is the prosperity of the Lord's people from this standpoint, the standpoint of the New Creature, that specially concerns us and which we rejoice to see, rather than the outward prosperity represented in numbers and financial support, although the evidence in -this respect is by no means lacking. The friends will be glad to learn that the HERALD subscription list is gradually on the increase, and the loving zeal of a good number, is increasingly manifested in their substantial support of the work as represented not only in, the ministry of the HERALD, but in assisting brethren of ability to serve the household in a more public way, and in making possible the supply of free literature, to which we have called attention from time to time. The new home for the INSTITUTE, notice of which appeared in these columns recently, we believe will prove of much advantage in furnishing permanent and comfortable headquarters for our office and its work, as well as saving considerable expense -in the way of rentals, etc. We appreciate indeed the remarks in many letters received expressing gladness and rejoicing with us in the advantages and blessings of the home. "THE DAY OF SMALL THINGS"While as we view the various lines of service open at present, we could wish for larger opportunities and more favorable circumstances, yet we would not strive to run ahead of the Lord, nor plan for Him the amount of work that His people should accomplish in the ministry of the, Truth.. The entire situation we recognize is fully in the hands of Divine providence, and He expects us to make use only of those opportunities and powers that are at our disposal.- We attach special importance to our doing with our might what our hands find to do, therefore we have encouraged the brethren everywhere to be as active in the Father's business in giving a testimony for the Truth, both by word of mouth and by the printed page, as their circumstances and talents will permit, and then co leave the results with the Lord. If the numbers with whom we meet and have fellowship in the Truth are not large, let not this dishearten us. We have learned that from the Divine standpoint numbers do not count. Thus said our Lord, "Fear not, Little Flock." We believe by this time all the readers of the HERALD Well know that, in encouraging the ministry of the Truth we have no new sect, system nor organization to build up or support.We ask none to join anything, nor to subscribe to any system of faith. To the contrary, we extend the right hand of fellowship to all consecrated believers in Christ, whether they see eye to eye with, us or not on all the details of the Truth. Surely this was the broad basis for Christian fellowship and Christian liberty established by the Apostles in the early Church. More and more we-trust all are coming to realize the true mission of the Church in the flesh-primarily that of making herself ready for union with the Bridegroom. And are we not closely approaching that glorious event? OUR DELIVERANCE DRAWETH NIGHOf one thing we may be sure: We are rapidly approaching the "end of all things," so far as this dispensation is concerned, and near the end of the Church's career in the' flesh; then we should not be dismayed if the field of activity now is smaller than in former *times. May it not be that we have reached the time when the language of John the Baptist is applicable, as it was at our Lord's First Advent: "He [the Christ in glory, beyond the veil] must increase, but I [the remaining members of 'the Christ in the flesh] must decrease?" If this is true now, it will surely mean a still further narrowing down of the activities of the Christ in the flesh, even until the last member has passed beyond into glorification. It is to that most solemn and significant event, the Marriage of the Lamb, that the faithful have looked forward from the beginning of the Age, Surely it is of no less importance now that we give all diligence to make our calling and election sure. The ministry of the HERALD we desire shall more and more turn the minds and affections of the Lord's people toward the Kingdom and incline their hearts to keep in the Narrow way. Many of the letters received in our office tell of how -much blessing and encouragement has been realized from the. pages of the HERALD, helping in the direction of the heavenly, eternal things. To Him our glorified Master we gladly render the praise for the evidences we see through our correspondence that the friends are appreciating more and more not only the heavenly prize, but also the trials and difficulties which, under Divine providence, are intended to develop our characters, and make us copies of our Lord, and thus to prepare us for the Kingdom and for the great privileges and work of blessing others through it. It is our desire, and we believe yours also, to still progress in this "Narrow Way" of self-sacrifice; to still recognize the Lord's hand in all of life's affairs toward "the called ones according to His purpose;" and the advantage of every trial and discipline rightly received; and to still be helpful to all who are in the way, assisting them to put on the armor of God., and to be clothed with all the graces-of the spirit, and to be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace, that they may tread faithfully this royal way opened up by our Redeemer,, walking in His footsteps, until the Heavenly Kingdom has been attained. THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER THE KINGDOMWe do not mean to say that there are no drawbacks, no difficulties, no discouragements, in any part of the field. Quite to the contrary, there are many such; but these also, interpreted in the light of the Divine Word, are encouragements to us, since we know that they are needful. We realize that the Lord Himself is pruning His "Vine," taking away the, branches that will not bear fruit, and that unto perfection, fully ripe. When we say, therefore, that the outlook is encouraging; we mean the broad view, that the Lord is successfully gathering a faithful people unto Himself, and that soon this work will be completed. We have learned, too, that sometimes matters which seem to be dark clouds and troubles amongst the brethren are really, under Divine providence, messengers of blessing, which, rightly received, do good in showing the brethren their own weaknesses and imperfections and in leading them to seek more and more of the grace of God to overcome these, that they may be filled with all the fullness of God. It is along this line, then, that we congratulate you and bid you be of good courage and continue to press along the line toward the "mark" of perfect character -- perfection in love; assured that if faithful we shall ultimately obtain blessings far beyond our present conceptions. The thought that a certain standard or mark of character is necessary to all who will pass Divine approval as "overcomers," and hear the Lord's "Well done!" is an astounding one to many. Many have thought of the Christian race as merely an avoidance of open sin; others have included an avoidance of secret faults; others have gone still further, and have included a genera I disposition to sacrifice many interests of the present life; others have gone still further, and have understood the test of discipleship to be full self-surrender to the Lord, a full sacrifice of earthly life and all of its interests to the will of our Head, the, Lord; but very few have the thought that all our sacrificings and experiences and, self-denials must lead up toward and eventually bring us to the "mark" of character which God has set for the "elect," else they will not get the prize of joint-heirship with Christ in the Millennial Kingdom. Let us, then, set our spiritual aims, ambitions and endeavors still nearer to the perfect Divine standard; remembering the while our Lord's words, "Without me ye can do nothing," let us be strong and courageous in the strength which He supplies and promises to increase as we are able and willing. to accept it. BEREAN STUDIES IN THE REVELATIONSTUDY XLV-JANUARY 9 THE TREADING DOWN OF THE HOLY CITY(221) What is the significance of the "Holy City" used as a symbol in the visions of St. John, and particularly as referred to in Rev. 11:2? What further evidence bearing upon this matter do we gather from the Old Testament I as to the significance of Jerusalem, the Holy City? H Oct. 1, '19-282. (222) What does the treading down of the Holy City refer to? Has this been fulfilled; if so, when? Explain the significance of the symbolical forty-two months. H Oct. 1, '19-282, 283. (223) Explain the relationship between the treading of the Holy City forty-two months and the visions of Daniel regarding the "little horn" and the "time, times and a half time." When did this time period end? Dan. 7:24, 25; H Oct. 1, 119-283. (224) What is the significance of the Two Witnesses, and their witnessing in sackcloth 1260 days, and when was this fulfilled? Studies, Vol. 111-122; H Oct. 1, '19-283. (225) What is the meaning of the Two Olive trees and the Two Lampstands, and what is the connection between these and the "Two Witnesses"? What reference do we find in the Old Testament bearing upon this matter? H Oct. 1, 119-283. STUDY XLVI--JANUARY 16 THE TWO WITNESSES THAT PROPHESY(226) What is the lesson indicated in verse 5, "if any one desire to' injure them [the Witnesses], Fire proceeds out of their Mouth," etc.? In what sense will their enemies be killed? H Oct. 1, '19-283, 284. (227) What general statement do we have from PASTOR RUSSELL bearing upon and elucidating this matter of the Holy City, the Two Witnesses, measuring the Altar, etc., etc.? H Oct. 1, '19-284. (228) What is the import of, verse 6, "These have Authority to shut Heaven ... .. Authority over the Waters,'' "to smite the Earth," etc.; and to what incidents recorded in the Old-Testament do these symbolical statements evidently refer, and explain how they have been fulfilled? H Oct. 1, '19-285. (229) What is the import of the statement, "when they shall have completed their Testimony? Explain in what sense their Testimony was finished before the end of the 1260 years. H Oct. 1, '19-285, 286. (230) What is represented by the Beast that comes up out of the Abyss to make War with the Two Witnesses, and from what phase of life is this symbol drawn? H Oct. 1, '19-286, 287. STUDY XLVII--JANUARY 23 THE FATAL WAR AGAINST THE TWO WITNESSES(231) What general conditions and circumstances do we find recorded in history that appear to clearly fulfil this vision of the Papal Beast's War against the Witnesses? H '19-286. (232) Describe the methods used in the War against the Two Witnesses; how were the Lord's faithful people effected? H Oct. 1, '19-286. (233) In what sense were the Two Witnesses finally put to death, and how did the War that accomplished this matter differ from the previous persecutions of the faithful? At what point in the history of the Church did this occur? H Oct. 1, '19-286. (234) Are we to, understand that when the Two Witnesses were put to death that all the faithful had suffered martyrdom? Does the historian make mention of certain faithful groups of Christians who lived during this dark period, or. was there a time when there were none to represent the Lord? H Oct. 1, 119-287, (235) What is the significance of the statement, recorded in verse 8, "their Dead Body shall be on the Street of the Great City," etc.? H Oct. 1, '19-288. THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRISTSERIES XLIV THE OVERTHROW AND IMPRISONMENT OF SATAN"And I saw an Angel coming
down from Heaven, having the Key of the Abyss, and a great Chain on his Hand. And he
seized the Dragon,--the Old Serpent, who is an Enemy and the Adversary, and bound him a
Thousand Years, and cast him into the Abyss and shut up and sealed over him, so that he
might deceive the Nations no more, till the Thousand Years should be ended; after these he
must be loosed a Short Time."--Rev. 20:1-3. IN the vision preceding the one here recorded, St. John had portrayed to him in symbol the last act in the final overthrow of the present order, that which is generally termed Christendom. We have seen that this most significant event will result in a dreadful and unspeakable destruction of human life; and that which has hitherto been termed Christendom will be left in a chaotic condition, without a government, either civil or religious, standing. But notwithstanding this fact the Scriptures teach that a remnant of humanity will survive that great castastrophe, and with these the new dispensation will commence. Nearly all the ancient prophets of Israel have depicted the various aspects of this utter collapse of Christian (?) civilization. Nor is the reason far to seek-the time has at last come for the fulfillment of our Lord's prayer, "Thy Kingdom come," and before that Kingdom can control, the present kingdoms and arrangements. under Satan's dominion must first be displaced. The nations of Christendom have made boastful claims of being the most enlightened 'concerning what constitutes Christian ideals and requirements, and are therefore held the more responsible and will have more to answer for, on account of their inconsistencies, and unholy practices, and will consequently suffer most in these judgment troubles. (Isa. 24.) These judgments will also extend to those nations that have been in close commercial and other relationships with Christendom; but the heathen tribes and peoples will most naturally be the least affected and will suffer less, being less responsible than enlightened Christendom. When the new order of things is introduced-at Jerusalem, the heathen nations, together with the others, will then hear the true Gospel and become recipients of the great blessings of restitution that will then be due. -- Isa. 66:19. SATAN A WORLD EMPERORSuch a condition of affairs as is portrayed in the collapse of civilization in the end of this present evil world has occasionally in a limited, local sense occurred in past history. The French Revolution, particularly that aspect of it known as the Reign of Terror is an illustration in a local sense, of the conditions that will prevail in the whole civilized world when this present order is overthrown. All of these catastrophies in the past have been followed by a re-organization, a reconstruction of human affairs. Satan, the great adversary of God, is referred to by both Christ and St. Paul as the "prince" (ruler) and "god" of this world, or present order. This being true, it is most reasonable to suppose that at such times he has exerted a powerful influence in the work of reconstruction and reorganizing governments. In so far as Satan has been able to accomplish this work , he has had as his object the continuation of his control and the furtherance of his empire upon the earth. This was true after the French Revolution, when Papacy, his chief agent in ecclesiastical matters, was reinstated. It will therefore be seen that before the earthly phase of the new, just, righteous government can be successfully organized, Satan, whether operating personally, or through the other invisible agencies under his influence-the demons-must be, placed completely under restraint, and this is the principal thing evidently that is intended to be described in this vision of the binding of Satan. The recent world war, the most cruel in human history, the effects of which according to the world's statesmen, are even now threatening the overthrow of the present civilization, has made it necessary for the great leaders of the world to come together and formulate plans for a work of reconstruction, which would be better described from the Scriptural standpoint as a work of propping up the old world or order of things. This work is that which is occupying the time and attention of some of the world's greatest leaders and statesmen at the present time. We may be very sure that the "god" of this present order is, so far as he is able, exerting a molding influence in this work of so-called reconstruction. The reorganization of the affairs of Christendom, civil and ecclesiastical, in which the attempt will be made to prop up the present order, is portrayed in the Revelation visions which we recently considered. This, it will be recalled, is that of a great Federation of the three parts of Christendom. This, it would seem, will be Satan's final effort to continue his waning influence and power in human affairs and keep the present order from collapsing, but the visions plainly teach that it will fail, the present order will go down. Humanity in general has little or no conception. concerning the influence that Satan and the fallen angels (demons under Satan's control) have exerted in this world. Indeed, only a few, even of the Lord's people have any proper conception of this matter. However, when the Scriptures are carefully examined it will be found that he is at the head of a most gigantic and powerful organization of wicked, spirits whose chief interest and work has been to build up and establish a great empire over the affairs of this world, and to deceive and blind humanity concerning the attributes and character of God. The prime motive and incentive that has ever spurred Satan on to do this is not so much his enmity to man as it is his ambition to be exalted as a mighty ruler; hence his spirit of rivalry toward God and his hatred of Jehovah and righteousness. (Isa. 14:13, 14.) The Scriptures inform us that as the "god [mighty one] of this world," he it is that has "blinded the minds of them -that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel should shine unto them" (2 Cor. 4:4) ; that he is the "spirit that now worketh in the hearts of the children of disobedience" (Eph. 2:2) ; and that he is the author of false doctrines, called, doctrines of demons. (1 Tim. 4:1.), In the book of Revelation (chapter 12) it is plainly taught that his seat of authority, the place where he received homage -in the beginning of the Age, was in the great system of Paganism, and that when Paganism 'fell, in the fourth century before a perverted, nationalized Christianity, he transferred his throne, influence, powers, into that so-called Christian system of Romanism. SATAN AT THE COURTS OF EARTHLY GOVERNMENTSWe have a hint here and there in the Scriptures which indicates that Satan has his representatives at the courts of worldly governments. A remarkable suggestion to this effect was made by the angel Gabriel who had been sent from the court of heaven in response to the earnest importunate prayer of the saintly Daniel (who had discovered by reading Jeremiah's prophecy that the 70 years of captivity were closing) that his people might be 'restored from Babylon to the land of their fathers. The angel Gabriel's words to Daniel 'were, "Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy, words were heard, and, I am come for [on account of] thy words [prayer]. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of -Persia." (Dan. 10:12, 13.) It has seemed to expositors inconceivable that a human prince of Persia could withstand, hold back, for twenty-one days, a mighty angel who had been sent by God on so important an errand, and that before he could fulfill his commission the Arch-angel, Michael, would have to be sent to his assistance. For this reason the conclusion generally reached by expositors is that this one called by Gabriel the "prince of the kingdom of Persia," was a powerful, fallen angel" who secretly represented Satan at the court of Persia's king. It would not be a great strain on our imagination to believe that Satan has had in the past,, and has at the pre sent time, his ambassadors or representatives at all the worldly, national courts of earth. It will, therefore, be seen that the binding of Satan has its two aspects: one affecting his power and influence amongst the fallen angels, the other, as it has to do with human governments, organizations, individuals. Furthermore, it would not be reasonable to suppose that the binding or restraint of his power and influence in either -if these directions would be accomplished in a moment, but would rather be brought about in a gradual way. And,, as still further bearing on the matter, the binding process would refer particularly to the gradual taking away or restraining of his power and influence, which when completed, would be followed by what is symbolized by his being cast into the "Abyss," 'etc. TITLES APPLIED TO SATANThe vision of St. John, describing this binding and imprisonment of Satan, has reference to the time when not only will the restraint of his power and influence be complete but when that which is represented by his incarceration in the Abyss also will be effected. In brief, the vision is a symbolical description of the taking away from Satan his power and influence amongst fallen angels and men, resulting in his own imprisonment. In considering the, particular symbols, it will be noted that he has four names given to him by the Revelator: the Dragon, that Old Serpent, the Devil, and Satan. These names evidently describe his evil characteristics in their operation amongst men. The Dragon is first mentioned in chapter 12 and is there portrayed as a great monster having seven heads and ten horns. This, of course, is not Satan himself, but rather is it a symbolic picture-of Satan's connection with the earthly government of Rome-Pagan. Regarding the symbolical Dragon in Rev. 12:9 being called that. " old Serpent, the Devil, and Satan," it will be recalled that we explained it in this way: Satan, the wicked- spirit being, was the originator of Paganism and was the power behind the scenes, and in one part of the vision is represented as inciting and inspiring the Pagan Roman government in its warring against Michael and His angels. (H '19-351.) After the "Dragon" is cast down from his throne in the Pagan Roman power, at the- fall oil Paganism,, he is represented as giving his power unto the "Beast" (Rev. 13:2) ; the "Beast" being another symbol of the Roman power when it was changed from Pagan to Christian (?). The Dragon is next mentioned as continuing to receive worship (Rev. 13:4), which would signify that Satan continues to exercise the same power and receive the same homage in the professed Christian power of Papacy. There is no special mention made of the "Dragon" again until under the sixth vial (Rev. 16:13) he is seen acting in connection with the "Beast" and "False Prophet." In this mention of him, we have represented, it would seem, Satan's connection with the purely civil, political- governments of the present time. Coming now to the vision under consideration, we apply the "Dragon" symbol as having special reference to Satan's connection with earthy governments-political World-powers. When these political world-powers are destroyed, swept away forever, the Dragon phase of Satan's power forever ceases. There seems to be a special significance in the fact that this particular designation as applied to Satan ceases with his pre-millennial imprisonment. When the thousand years are ended and he is loosed out of his prison for a little season he is not called by the name "Dragon." The significance seems to be that he never again after-his imprisonment at the beginning of the thousand years exerts an evil influence or gets possession of the sovereignties of the earth. When Christ begins His reign with His saints, Divine power holds control of the sovereignties, both heavenly and earthly, forever. Whoever these are, therefore, whom Satan succeeds in deceiving when he is loosed at the end of the thousand years, they cannot be the governing or ruling authorities, but are, as stated (Rev. 20:8), those that come from earth's distant corners. The "Dragon" phase of Satan's power will forever cease when the confederated kings, etc., meet their final end at the close of Armageddon. "THAT OLD SERPENT THE DEVIIL"The name given to Satan--"Serpent of old" is evidently an allusion to the temptation in Eden, and designed to identify him with the one who tempted Eve and caused the fall of our first parents. The name "serpent" is also designed to refer to his subtlety, his character as a deceiver of mankind. It was in the form of a serpent that he deceived and beguiled Eve. It has been by the exercise of these same evil propensities that he has deceived the whole world, introduced his false doctrines and corrupted the Church. Since the temptation and fall in Eden and onward to the glorious apocalypse of Christ and His saints, Satan fulfils the character designation of the "Serpent." The word Devil (Gr. Diabolos) is found about thirty-five times in the New Testament, and means an accuser or slanderer, a calumniator or malignant falsifier. These have also been prominent characteristics -or traits of Satan from the very beginning of human history. "He was a murderer [murderous liar] from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, for he is a liar, and the father of it," are the words of our Savior concerning him. (John 8:44.) It was his lie to Eve, "Thou shalt not surely die," that has corrupted the Scripture teaching concerning the future life and more than anything else has caused God's character to be maligned and misrepresented amongst. the nations and peoples of the earth, as also the ecclesiastical systems. The word Satan means an adversary, an opposing spirit. It is a Hebrew word and is transferred into the New Testament. It is used in this sense very often in the Scriptures. It represents that characteristic of-the chief of the fallen angels Who is described as the great adversary of both God and men. PASTOR RUSSELL DESCRIBES BINDING OF SATAN It is the one possessing all these particular characteristics that is represented in this vision as being bound and cast into the Abyss by a mighty Angel. Who or what :is represented by this Angel is not stated. There have been several different interpretations by expositors concerning who this Angel represents. An interpre-tation given by PASTOR RUSSELL many years ago appeals to us as being the correct one, and his latest utterances concerning the same, as we shall endeavor to show, prove that he continued to hold to this interpretation up to the time of his death: "The word angel signifies messenger, and this picture (Rev. 20: 1) shows that God will send. some messengers with authority and power to subdue Evil-the adversary of truth and right. In this work of binding, many agencies will doubtless take part-an increase of knowledge probably being one of the strongest. Yet all of these agencies are typified by the one [angel] messenger. There is that about this figure which seems to indicate that Christ Jesus and His Body, the Church of the First Born is the one in whose hand is the power of authority to bind and control Evil--'To bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgments written, this honor have all the saints.'--Psa. 149:8, 9. "Many may be the instruments [angels] used in this work [of binding]; . . . some moral and upright infidels, honest in their unbelief; and some God-dishonoring and defiant unbelievers, to displace errors and prepare a place [the world] for the Truth. So too, among the nations,. He may make the wrath of man to praise Him, and perhaps use bloody-handed Communists, as advocates of civil rights, and for the overthrow of evil and oppressive governments. But the result will be that Satan shall be bound for a thousand years."--Z March '82-6. According to these words of PASTOR RUSSELL, it was his understanding when he wrote them that (1) The Angel who did the work of binding represented those agencies of various kinds that Christ uses to accomplish this work. (2) The binding of Satan is the restraining of his power and influence to do evil, etc. (3) This binding work is going on in the period of the Second Presence of Christ, and is caused by His exercise Of Divine authority. Concerning what is represented by the "key" and chain" PASTOR RUSSELL said that: "The key represents authority, and the chain represents strength."--Z March '82-6. Twenty-eight years after this he wrote an article entitled, "The Binding of 'the strong man."' In this article we discover only one change of interpretation and that is concerning what is represented by the "chain." In this article the subject is more fully dealt with and seems to us to be a most reasonable, correct and remarkable interpretation of the vision as far as it treats it. Concerning the significance of the expression, the binding of Satan, be has thus briefly and in a general way explained: "We believe that there is a personal Devil and that he will be literally restrained in some manner; but in the expression in the above text it, seems that the names 'Devil' and 'Satan' refer not merely to the person of the Adversary, but to all that system of things of which he has stood. as the representative or head or center; for instance, in Revelation 12:7-9, a great religious system [Paganism] is apparently spoken. of as the Devil."--Z '10-154. SATAN'S EMPIRE PLUNGED INTO DISORDERConcerning when this binding began and how it will proceed and when it will end we further quote his words: "The Lord's parable respecting the binding of the strong man' seems to imply that it will begin in a sudden manner. He says that if that 'strong man' knew at what time the thief would come he would watch and not suffer his house to be broken up. He thus intimates that Satan would not know at what time the catastrophe would come upon him and his arrangements and that therefore he would be taken somewhat at a disadvantage. "As to what constitutes the 'house' of this 'strong man' would be another matter. His 'house' here would stand. for 'his household, which at the present time would include the fallen angels. These fallen angels, who have been subject to Satan as their prince, will in some sense of the word be thrown out of harmony with him. The time at which we might expect this would be in the second presence of our Lord, and it would seem that, from about the time of our Lord's parousia, disorder began to operate in Satan's household and that these different endeavors that we see in many quarters [and in the world at the present time] to carry out certain schemes more or less antagonistic the one to the other, might be the result of this disorganizatiom It would further seem that there are different bands of evil spirits working upon humanity. These various hostile bands may work a great deal of havoc, perhaps equally as much as could have been done had they all remained in organized relationship to Satan himself. But still the undermining or overthrow of his authority, seems to be in progress."--Z '10-154. Concerning the binding of Satan's power and influence in human affairs, and as to what is represented by the "chain" that was in the hand of the Angel, we have .another very interesting, reasonable and helpful comment by PASTOR RUSSELL. In this comment it will be seen that he applies the action and effects of truth to the chain. We quote his words- in this connection CHAINS OF LIGHT"We believe that every advance step of light and knowledge is that much of a restraint upon darkness and evil and superstition. We properly enough speak of the chains of superstition, the chains of darkness, which bound mankind for a long time; and very properly we say that these are of the Adversary. Now, have we anything to indicate that light will serve as a "chain"? Did we ever hear of light being a chain? We answer that there has never yet been a manifestation of that kind. There is nothing in the past operation of light that served as a chain, but it seems that now it should operate thus. 'Whatsoever doth make manifest is light,' and that which makes manifest is a 'chain,' is a restraint upon that which is darkness. So here are the two-light and darkness; the Prince of Light and the Prince of Darkness. The Prince of Light has only recently invaded, as it were, the land of the Prince of Darkness to commence His work. This work is first, chiefly in the Church and in the restraining of the '[symbolical] 'winds' and the 'powers' and the troubles -coming upon the world; but meantime the whole world is getting awake, not necessarily to the light of truth, but -getting awake to the chains of darkness which are upon them and of which they are striving to rid themselves. . . ."In connection with the binding of Satan, we read that he shall be 'bound for a thousand years, that he might deceive the nations no more till the thousand years be finished'--implying that deception was one of the main things in which he had been previously engaged and that henceforth he would be so restrained or disabled, whether by the light of 'present truth,' or by light of science, or whatever it might be, that he would not be able to. deceive the world in. the same manner as formerly. "We believe that the restraining of his influence is in operation. In respect to the temperance question, also, we see that enlightenment is proceeding and people are making rapid advancement in the knowledge that alcoholic liquors are dangerous. "And so the education of the world goes rapidly on . . . The knowledge that is spreading is wonderful. And the thought that practically all this is being accomplished by the world itself, and that we [the Lord's people] have little or nothing to do with it, makes it appear still more wonderful. This work is being done by people who do not believe in the true religion; they do not know God aright; the majority of them, so far as we can gauge their own testimony, repudiate the Bible. They believe in a vague way in a God of some kind . . . Nevertheless they are free from the shackles of the darkness of the past and apparently have no desire to go back, but forward. It would appear, then, that all of the things peculiar to our day in the way of restraining error are part of the binding. of the Adversary.* We may be doing our little mite in that direction by advertising sermons, giving out literature, etc. "As to the question -when the great Adversary's binding will be accomplished, we believe that it will not be brought about until the time that the 'great company' class is completed."--Z '10-155. The above exposition seems most reasonable. Summing up the interpretation, we would understand that all the agencies that have had to do with the exposing of the errors of the great systems and' organizations termed Christendom are symbolized, by the Angel employed by Christ by which Satan is, in the Harvest period now closing, being bound; and furthermore that the chain represents truth. More than this we think it in perfect harmony with this exposition to conclude that the binding of Satan referred to in the vision under consideration applies more especially to the particular time of its completion after the change of the "Great Company" class. The period of Satan's -restraint is stated to be' for a thousand years. From the days of St. John down to the present time, expositors, with scarcely, an exception, though differing with one another regarding the nature and character of those times, have understood these years to be literal ones. IN THE BOTTOMLESS PITAfter Satan's binding and the restraint of his power and influence in the affairs of humanity have been accomplished, and the overthrow and collapse of the present order of things is complete, there would remain yet one more thing necessary to make further evil operations of his power and influence impossible. This could only be accomplished -by either the destruction of himself and his 'demoniacal followers, or their being placed in a condition in which they would be utterly helpless to deceive, or in any way injure mankind who during that period of a thousand years would be having their judgment, trial or probation. We learn in the symbolic words that follow that this latter is what is to be done. We read that he was cast -into the "Abyss,"' which was shut up and sealed that he might deceive the nations no more until the thousand years would be ended. Concerning the symbolical significance of the "Abyss" we have already explained in a previous article. (H '19-229.) Briefly stated, it would signify a state or condition rather than a place. The abyss being without bottom is strongly suggestive that in this condition of restraint Satan will be without any foundation in which to hope for anything-no basis on which to formulate any plans-all will be total' darkness, uncertainty , hopelessness; he will be awaiting his final punishment, which will be, as we shall see later, his utter destruction. The sealing up of the Abyss is designed to further strengthen the symbol-to show the utter powerlessness of Satan and his followers to do harm or to escape from the bonds that hold them. This binding and imprisonment of Satan and his hosts, portrayed in this Revelation vision, is not the only place in which it is mentioned in the Scriptures. Jehovah, through the Prophet Isaiah, had long before St. John's day anticipated, indeed, foretold it, as we read: "It shall come to pass in that day [see context], that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together, as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited." And it is also shown that it occurs in connection with the establishment of the Lord's Kingdom, as we read: "Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before His ancients gloriously. "-Isa. 24:21-23. In this Scripture we have just as clearly revealed as in the one under consideration, the judgment of the great evil governmental powers, both the unseen, spiritual, and the earthly; and it is just as clearly revealed that the Judgment is governmental, not individual, and that it is not the final one. It should be kept in mind that the Millennial period represents righteousness reigning on the earth, rather than righteousness in its full sense dwelling on earth. While it is true that righteousness shall flourish and be the predominating characteristic of those times, it is also a fact that the Scriptures teach that there will be exceptions to the general rule. We read in one of the prophecies respecting those times that "the strangers shall submit themselves unto Me." (Psa. 18:44.) In the margin this is rendered "lie" or "yield feigned obedience," which evidently means that they shall submit to superior power, but not in heart; and this is implied in the next verse which reads: "The strangers shall fade away, and be afraid out of their close places." (V. 45.) The Prophet Isaiah also describing Millennial conditions has said, "when Thy judgments are in the earth the inhabitants [in general, doubtless] of the world will learn righteousness," but further adds, "Let favor be showed to the -wicked [the goat class], yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness [the Millennial earth] will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord." (Isa. 26:9, 10.) In this way the Prophet Zechariah speaking of the same times pronounces the punishment of those who do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the glorious King."--Zech. 14:16, 17. THE FOUNTAIN OF EVIL REMOVEDWith the binding of Satan and his being cast into the "Abyss," the forces of evil lose their great inspirer and leader. Evil itself is thus deprived of its source or fountain. As one has truthfully said, "While the stream- of evil may no longer flow from its 'source,' there still remains that which already issued forth to deal with; thus while Satan may no longer be permitted to send forth a further stream of evil to corrupt the nations, that which lids issued and been. absorbed by humanity must be removed. This removal constitutes the work of Christ and His Church in the coming Age; and it is surely encouraging to know that the source of this evil- has been cut off, thus making the task of eradicating evil in the human heart much simpler than if the 'fountain' continued its supply. What evil has been absorbed by humanity, still abiding in the hearts of transgressors, must be annihilated and replaced by righteousness."--THOUGHTS ON REVELATION. The Divine reason given for Satan's being bound is stated to be, "that he might deceive the nations no more until the thousand years should be ended." A very important matter to decide in order to a correct interpretation of these thousand years as they are related to God's great Plan of the Ages is, Who or what is represented by the nations that are to benefit by this complete restraint of Satan and evil? In reply to this we will notice first, that the destruction described as occurring in connection with the great Armageddon battle resulted not in the destruction of the nation's or peoples, but rather of the great ruling powers. Governments may fall, and armies may be defeated, but the nations or peoples over which these governments rule may still continue to exist. To illustrate this matter, we may properly say that the defeat of Germany and overthrow of the Hohenzollern Dynasty, did not destroy the German people or the German nationality. The conquerors of Germany might have followed up the victory and given to the Germans entirely new laws and institutions and organized them under a new rule or government for an entirely new life. In such an event the conquerors would have done to and for the German peoples or nation something of a similar character to what is implied will be done to all the nations of the earth in the Millennium. They will all be placed under a new government. It will at first be an iron rule. PASTOR RUSSELL has thus described this matter "The nations will be ruled by force, irresistible force, until righteous order is established by a general submission; every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess Divine power and glory, and outward obedience will be compulsory."--STUDIES, VOL. IV-636. As another has described it, "The battle of the great day of God Almighty is one thing; the shepherdizing with the rod is another. The two are closely connected. They are both judgment administrations. The one is the sequel to the other. But they are wholly different in their immediate subject, character and results. The one is temporary, the other is continuous. The sword comes first and strikes down the enemy in the field; and then follows the shepherdizing with the rod of discipline and new rule over the peoples, whose kings and armies are no more. The two together fulfil what is stated in Psa. 2:5-12, Isa. 11, and Matt. 25:31-46, where the same rod power and shepherdizing are further described. The Shepherdizer is the same who conquers in the battle with, the Beast and -his confederate kings. He is the All-Ruler, and it is His power and dominion which are thus. enforced with justice and with. judgment. But His army of glorified saints accompanies Him. They follow Him in His victorious treading down of His armed enemies . . . And particularly in this shepherding with the rod of iron, the Scriptures everywhere assign to them a conspicuous part."--SEISS. It will be to the point to say in this connection that while this writer as well as many others of those who are termed Pre-Millennialists saw quite clearly the shepherdizing judgment features of these Millennial times, they failed to see that it would have any relation to the vast multitudes of the human family who lived and were deceived and blinded by the "god, of this world," and died without experiencing the enlightening influences of the great Shepherdizer. This is a matter that is described in a I another vision in this same chapter, the consideration of which will be taken up in a separate article of this series. It is the vision of the judgment of the "Great White Throne." Thou, Lord,
dost hold the thunder: the firm land Yet, mighty
God, yet shall Thy frown look forth -From Hymn of the Waldenses. JESUS TEACHING FORGIVENESS--JANUARY 9--MATT. 18:21-35. Golden Text.--"If ye
forgive men their trespasses, -your Heavenly Father will also forgive you."--Matt.
6:14. "SEVENTY TIMES SEVEN"AFTER Jesus had explained to His followers how best to avoid taking offense from the brethren and how best to help brethren out of the wrong position of being offenders and being injurious, the matter was brought up afresh by Peter's question regarding the number of times that one should be willing to receive injuries from ,another and take- them patiently, and, exercising a forgiving spirit, should try to have the injuries discontinued. It will be noticed that the Lord is not laying down any rule by which we may deal with the world, but merely the rules which should govern amongst His followers. As respects the world we are to expect opposition, misrepresentation, slander, opposition of every kind. "Marvel not if the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." "Whosoever will live godly in this present life shall suffer persecution. "-John 15:18; 2 Tim. 3:12. Such oppositions from the world we are to take as a matter of course, and not be surprised at the fiery trials that will try us, but to consider that the Lord is wise in permitting such experiences and able to make them all work out for our good. It is within the household of faith that the special trials sometimes come, from the very quarter whence we least expect them, but these also must be taken patiently; we must not render evil for evil nor railing for railing toward the Lord's members nor toward the world; we must, as the Apostle says, be patient toward all. Notice that Peter's query is, If my brother trespass against me how often shall I forgive him? Seven times? Peter no doubt had in mind the thought that seven was the symbol of perfection, and that this might mark the reasonable limit of mercy and forgiveness. He did not, of course, consider that if that were a Divine law it would mean that He Himself might be forgiven of the Lord not more than seven times for imperfections, shortcomings, etc. Our Lord's answer is broad and sweeping -- "I say not unto thee until seven times, but until seventy times seven." Some are disposed to translate this until seventy and seven times, but evidently the Lord's intention was to imply that forgiveness should be granted as often as it is sought with any manifestation whatever of sincerity. This is not merely advice from the Master to His followers--it is a command. It is not optional with us how we shall do toward our brother, for the great Teacher has assured us that if we have not the forgiving spirit we cannot be His disciples. His words are, "If ye do not from the heart forgive men their trespasses neither will your Heavenly Father forgive your trespasses." All, then, who realize their need of Divine mercy and forgiveness and who receive the great Teacher's instruction on ,this point will be careful to cultivate in their hearts in every sense a forgiving spirit, a loving, generous disposition. And by this all men may know the disciples of the Lord of mercy. Having seen in Dr. Peloubet's notes some good remarks by others whom we believe were godly men, we submit extracts which we think will be profitable to all: "Jesus saith. . . . Until Seventy times seven. The Greek is
uncertain here, and may be translated either ,seventy times seven,' that is, 490 times, or
'seventy and seven,' that is 77 times. Perhaps Christ made the words inexact purposely, so
as to emphasize His thought that the true Christian's forgiveness is to be unlimited. If a
person remembers wrongs enough to keep count of them, he does not really forgive them. '
"I can forgive, but I cannot forget," generally means, "I do not quite
forgive." We are not to take the pardoned offence, and carry it to a kind of
"suspense account," to be revived if another. is committed, but we are to blot
it out altogether.'--Alexander Maclaren. 'By proposing
any limit whatever to forgiveness, Peter showed that he still considered that to forgive
was the exceptional thing, was to forego a right which must some time be reassumed, was
not an eternal law of the Kingdom but only a tentative measure which at any moment might
be revoked; that underneath the forgiveness we extend to an erring brother there lies a
right to revenge which we may at any time assert. This feeling wherever it exists shows
that we are living with retaliation for the law, forgiveness for the exception. But
Christ's law is, that forgiveness shall be unlimited. Seven was with the Jews the number
of perfection. When time has run through seven days, it begins again; the circle is
complete. So that no expression could more forcibly convey the impression of endless,
ever-renewed, eternal iteration than "seventy times seven." '-Marcus Dods." THE DEBT OF A KING'S OFFICERBy way of impressing this lesson our Lord gave a parable to His disciples. This parable represented a great king who, making an accounting with his officers charged with the collection of taxes, found one of them short in his accounts in a very large sum, ten thousand talents, estimated to represent nine million dollars. Justice laid hold upon the debtor and was about to execute its penalty when he appealed for mercy and extension of time in which to make good the deficiency. The king was compassionate, forbore the collection of the debt and let the servant go free. This is our Lord's illustration of the proper exercise of mercy. The one thus dealt with does not represent the world of sinners, Adam and his race, for whose deliverance from the penalty a ransom price is demanded from justice. This parable is often thus used improperly against the Bible argument of the teaching of the ransom, that the death penalty against Adam and his race could not be lifted or set aside except by the- payment of the ransom price, the corresponding price, our Lord's death. That this is not the teaching is clearly shown by the statement, "The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a certain king which would make a reckoning with his servants," etc. This declaration respecting the Kingdom of Heaven lifts the parable entirely out of connection with the world in general, which is not either in embryo or otherwise the Kingdom of Heaven: it definitely locates the parable in the Church, and these servants of the king as amongst those who have already been justified through faith in Christ and, who have already made consecration of themselves to the Lord and become thus His servants entrusted with His goods. The signification of this feature of the parable, then, is that if any of the Lord's people, His disciples, come short they have a throne of grace and mercy to which they may approach that they may "obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."--Heb. 4:16. THE DEBT OF A FELLOW-SERVANTAs representing the wrong course, the reprehensible course of some, the Lord in the parable before us pictures the forgiven officer as going forth, from his king's presence with the latter's kind words still ringing in his ears and in the exercise of his unmerited freedom, and, finding a fellow-servant who owed him an hundred pence -a 'small debt, probably representing not more than a. hundred dollars proportionately in our money and time.. Instead of a proper and generous feeling toward his fellow-servant, instead of sympathy and love for him corresponding to that which had been bestowed by the king upon himself, this servant caught the lesser debtor by the throat saying, "Pay me that thou owest.'' The fellow-servant used toward him the very same words that he had used to the king, saying, "Have mercy upon me and 1 will pay thee all." But he did not, but cast him into a prison, He was hardhearted; not at all after the likeness of his generous master, the king. Even his fellow-servants recognized this; they felt a pity for the unfortunate one and told it unto their Lord, They knew well enough the king's generous disposition to be sure that He would not favor such an intemperate exercise of justice. The king sent for his officer and upbraided him for the matter, saying, I remitted thy debt because thou besoughtest me; I showed mercy to you. Should you not also have shown mercy to your fellow-servant? The question was left without an answer-the answer was clearly enough implied. He who had received so great mercy should have been moved with co ion toward a fellow-servant in a small affair. The king was wroth, was angry, with that servant, justly so. He had proved himself unworthy of the mercy bestowed upon him. Nor was it too late yet to punish him for the matter, for his. debt had merely been remitted or set aside, and not blotted out. Thus it is with all of the Lord's people; we are dealt with on the basis of faith; God is in earnest if we are in earnest. Our blemishes and shortcomings will not be permitted to stand between us and the glorious things, to which we have been called if we are faithful to the extent of our ability, and if as a part of that faithfulness we have the spirit of Christ, for if we have not the spirit of Christ, the spirit of love, the spirit of forgiveness, gentleness, etc., we are none of His. It is in line with this that the Apostle writes that sins shall be blotted out at the Second Coming of Christ. (Acts 3:19.), They will be blotted out when in the resurrection we come forth as New Creatures, sown in weakness, raised in power; sown in dishonor, raised in glory, sown natural or human bodies, raised spiritual bodies, glorious. Then that which is perfect having come, all the imperfections and blemishes will be fully blotted out, never to be revived either by the Lord or others. But meantime, while we have our standing of faith, our blemishes are merely covered while we are permitted to give a demonstration of the loyalty and sincerity of our consecration and earnestness of' desire to walk in the footsteps of the Lord. WHAT THE UNMERCIFUL MAY EXPECTOur Lord, after concluding the parable, makes a direct application of it to His -disciples, not to the world, although in a certain- sense or degree there is a general principle expressed which is applicable to the world in proportion as each comes under enlightenment and instruction., Our Lord says, "So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you if you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." How solemn these words, how clear cut, how unmistakable their import. In no uncertain terms they assure-us that whatever our faith, whatever our works, they all amount to nothing if we do not attain to that spirit of love which is merciful, generous, long suffering, patient toward those who do injury to us, whether they be brethren of whom we might expect the more, or whether they be enemies of the world from whom we must expect less, consideration. Mercy is an element of love, and love is the fulfilling of the whole law of God.. The propriety of the Lord in thus dealing with us is evident. He is seeking a special class for the Kingdom-to be associates with our Lord Jesus in the great work of ruling and blessing the world. If we fail to improve the various lessons and opportunities afforded by the Lord, to cultivate His character, then in the same proportion we fail to make our calling and election sure. The king delivered the unmerciful servant to the tormentors. Such was the custom of oriental countries at that time and to some extent still. We are not to understand that our Lord had sympathy with those se barbarous customs, but that He was speaking to the people from the standpoint of custom which they would understand. Elsewhere the Scriptures assure us that any who are the true servants of the Lord and who fail to come into accord with His it willingly, will be turned over to Satan, to tribulation to hard experience, that by these they may be profited and learn to appreciate things from the Lord's standpoint. I Cor. 5:4, 6.) These tribulations correspond to the torments of the parable upon the servant who did not exercise toward his fellows the spirit of mercy, As again it is stated, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."--Matt. 5:7. "FORGIVE US AS WE FORGIVE OTHERS"It will be remembered that in our Lord's prayer He sets forth this principle for our instruction and guidance, that we must not expect of the Heavenly Father mercy for our shortcomings and blemishes, and continuance in His favor and ultimately joint-heirship in- His Kingdom, unless we cultivate in ourselves the same spirit. How beautifully and how simply the Lord states this matter in the prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." (Matt. 6:12.) How emphatically the Lord states it again, saying, "If ye forgive men their trespasses your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." (Matt. 6:14, 15.) These trespasses, be it noted again, do not refer to the one original sin on account of which condemnation of death passed upon the whole .human family and on account of which Christ died and on account of which the curse is ultimately to be rolled from every member of the race so that there shall be no more curse. (Rev. 22:3.) These trespasses are our own individual shortcomings and blemishes which we have inherited and which the Lord is very willing to overlook and excuse for those who will comply with the conditions of their Covenant and be followers of the Lord Jesus, filled with His spirit and striving to walk in His steps. We quote again from Dr. Peloubet on the words, "So shall also my Heavenly Father do unto you:" 'This does not mean that God revokes the forgiveness which he has
once bestowed, but it is a symbolical way of saying that he who will not forgive another
has not really himself been yet forgiven.'--William
M. Taylor. 'If you get pardon from God, you will give it to a brother: if you withhold
it from your brother, you thereby make it manifest that you have not got it from God.'--Arnot. Notice the words, 'My Heavenly Father.' Some
think that God cannot be a loving Father if he does not, forgive every one, repentant and
unrepentant alike; but forgiveness implies reunion, and God can never draw near to one
whose spirit remains the opposite of His. If ye forgive not every one his brother. 'Many
Christian men read in their own private "Revised Version` of the New Testament:
"Whosoever speaketh a word or committeth a wrong against God, it shall be forgiven
him; but whosoever speaketh a word or committeth a wrong against me, it shall not be forgiven
him,"--certainly not in this world, even if it is forgiven in the world to come.'--R. W. Dale.
From your hearts. 'The offence is to be blotted out, is to become as though it had
never been.'--R.W. Dale. 'Of all the virtues which Christ inculcated,
this, perhaps, is the most difficult. Let us forgive for
our own sake. A an unforgiving spirit is always his own worst Let us 'forgive for our brother's sake. How much for my brother
my forgiveness may do! All love has within it a strange redemptive power. St. Augustine
used to say that the Church owed Paul to the prayers of Stephen. , Might he not have said
with equal truth that the Church owed Paul to the forgiveness of Ananias? Let us forgive
for Christ's sake, because of that which God
through him has done for us.'--Rev. George Jackson.
"'This is emphatically a parable of grace, forming a worthy
ending of Christ's discourse in Capernaum and of His whole ministry of love in Galilee;
teaching His disciples that the Kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom of grace; a kingdom among
whose blessings pardon occupies a foremost place; a kingdom, therefore, in connection-with
which ambitious disputes concerning places of distinction, and still more, vindictive
passions, are unseemly and intolerable."--Prof. A. B. Bruce. "Illustrations. 'Take care how you offend me, for I never forgive,'. said a man in the hearing of John Wesley. 'Then,' said Wesley, 'I hope you never sin; for with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.' "'The world knows no such thing as forgiveness. There is no
forgiveness in the business world for a man who has, served his term for forgery. People
say: "Forgive him! How do we know that he will not forge again?'--Rev. John Henry Hopkins. " 'There are a great many people in the world whose first and
last thought in life is of what is due to them. There are mothers and fathers in families
who are so absorbed in the thought of what is due them from their husbands or-wives or
children that life becomes a sharp, acrid, microscopic hunt for slights that were never
dreamed of and for discourtesies that were never intended.'--Bishop Potter." OUR ALL FOR THE KINGDOM--JANUARY 16--MATT. 19:16-30-- Golden Text.--"Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thyself."--Matt. 19:19. OUR lesson relates to what for centuries has been called "The Great Refusal." The rich young ruler, whose name is not given, although possessed of an abundance of the things of this life longed for an assurance of everlasting life. As a Jew he knew the Law; he understood that God had made with this nation, and with no other, through Moses the mediator, a covenant, under which everlasting life might be attained. He perceived, however, that even the best-men of his nation had failed to gain eternal life under this covenant-that all 'had died. He had heard of- Jesus, and that "never man spake like this man," and he knew that in many respects His teachings were of a very positive character, and that His manner and instruction were not like those of the Scribes and Pharisees, uncertain and equivocal;--that He taught as one having authority, and knowing what He taught to be true. He hesitated to go to this Teacher, but finally, seeing Him leaving a house in his own neighborhood, he ran out hastily and point-blank put the question: "Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal [everlasting] life ?" Instead of answering his question directly our Lord inquired why he thus addressed Him as "good." Jesus' words do not imply, as some have surmised, a denial of being good. Rather, He would impress upon the young ruler the import of his own language, that When he got his answer he might appreciate it the more. Our Lord's words might be paraphrased thus: Are you addressing me as Good Master from the heart, or only as a complimentary salutation? If you really believe me to be good, you must believe in me as a teacher sent of God-the All-Good. More than this, you must believe my testimony, that I proceeded forth and came from God, that I am the Son of God. If my testimony is untrue in any particular I am not good at all, but a falsifier, a hypocrite, a blasphemer. If, then, you call me Good Master from the heart, and believe that I am the "sent of God," the Messiah, you will be the better prepared to receive my reply as the Divine answer to that question. Without waiting to require that the young man should commit himself definitely on the point involved, but content with merely raising the issue in his mind, our Lord proceeded to answer the question. We are not to understand our Lord's answer to this young Jew, at a time when the Law Covenant was still in -force, to be the same that He would give, or that we should give in His name, to-day, in reply to a similar inquiry. The young man was living under a covenant of works, of which the Apostle declares, quoting from the Law itself, "He that doeth these things shall live by them." (Lev. 18:5; Rom. 10:5.) The New Covenant had not yet been sealed, nor indeed will it be, until all the members of the Christ have fulfilled their sacrificial mission and. the -blood applied for that purpose. Not until then could the New Covenant be' operative toward this young ruler or anybody else. Our Lord could not properly direct the young man's attention to any other -procedure than the keeping of the conditions of the Law Covenant which was still in force. Anyway; this was, what the young man inquired: "What good thing must I do that I may-have everlasting life?" It was for this reason that our Lord did not say, as we should say to-day in answer to such a question: Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ-believe that He died for your sins, and arose for your justification, and accepting Him as your Savior and Advocate, present, your life in full consecration of all its talents, powers and opportunities to the Lord's service, and enter into the Covenant of Sacrifice. Our Lord did point out to the young man the only way to life everlasting then open-the keeping of the Law. He well knew that the young man could not keep this Law perfectly, and hence could not obtain everlasting life through it; but He would bring the matter before his attention in the most favorable form to be comprehended. Hence the form of His reply. The Law was divided into two parts or tables, the first relating to Jehovah and the second to the neighbor. Our Lord ignored the first of these, realizing that the young man, so far from desiring to make or worship idols or another god, was seeking to know and to do the will of the true God. Our Lord would bring the answer down to the .simplest possible proposition, and hence referred merely to the commandments respecting duty toward his fellowcreatures, and got the response that so far as the young man had discerned the matter he had kept the Law; but although he kept its outward form he realized that something was still lacking. He had no evidence that he had received any special blessing of eternal life, and wished to know of the Master what hindered, what he lacked of being a perfect man, keeping the Law and meriting the reward of that Law, life everlasting. No wonder Jesus, looking upon him, loved him; everybody who loves righteousness loves those who are righteous, or who are striving to the best of their ability to come up to the mark of righteousness-perfection. THE GRACE OF ALL GRACESThen Jesus told him plainly, "One thing thou lackest." You have been endeavoring to keep God's Law, and have done well, so far as the outward is concerned; but the spirit of the' Law you have not apprehended at all--the spirit of the Law is Love. "The whole Law is comprehended briefly in one 'Word." "Love is the fulfilling of the Law'." (Rom. 13:9, 10.) You have been getting the outside, or shell of the Divine command, but have entirely overlooked the precious thing in it, the kernel, the essence--love to God supremely, and love toward your fellowman as toward yourself. Let me prove this to you by suggesting that you demonstrate your love for, your neighbors by disposing of your property for the assistance of poorer ones. Then consecrate your life in loving devotion to God's service, and come with me as my disciple, taking up the cross of self-denial thus involved. The test was a crucial one, and manifested clearly the distinction between the letter and the spirit of the Law. The cross was too heavy for the rich young ruler. He had gotten the answer to his question, but oh! it was so different from what he had anticipated. He had felt comparatively well satisfied with himself, although realizing that something must still be lacking; He had rather expected Messiah's commendation, and perhaps some further advice, but nothing so radical. It was too much for him; he went away exceedingly sorrowful, says Luke; his countenance fell, says Mark; it, was a sore disappointment, For the time being he could not think of accepting the Master's prescription, the dose was too bitter, and he must at least think the matter over well. Whatever course this young ruler may have subsequently taken we are not informed; but of one thing we may be sure; he had learned a great lesson respecting the scope and significance of the Law. He had ascertained the impossibility of his attaining -eternal life under the Law Covenant. It will be seen that we totally disagree with those who claim that the condition of this young man and our Lord's words to him apply to all young men or to those possessing wealth--though the spirit of the matter is applicable to all, under the different conditions of God's dealings. Under the Covenant of Grace, the Covenant of Sacrifice, God tells us, rich and poor, "Christ died for us, according to the Scriptures." He not only met the requirements of the Law, and fulfilled that Covenant and annulled it, but additionally He has appeared in the Divine presence with the value of that sacrifice and has appropriated of His merit to make good the weaknesses and imperfections of our flesh to which our hearts, our minds, do not assent. Accordingly, even if when some come to Jesus to inquire the way of eternal life, they :Should be unable to say, as did this young ruler, "All these things have I done from my youth up,"--if it should be even necessary for such to confess with shame, "All these commandments have I violated," nevertheless, the provisions of Divine Grace are such that even the vilest sinner who has turned from sin and who at heart desires henceforth to walk in the way of righteousness, and who,. repenting of the sins of the past, gladly makes such restitution as is within his power-all such are accepted in the Beloved One, and reckoned as justified freely from all things, from which the, Law could not justify them.. Then such are invited, as was the young ruler, to come, take up their cross, and follow Jesus--come, prove, demonstrate, their love for righteousness, their devotion to ,God and every feature of His will; come, crucify self and selfishness, and receive into their hearts instead the spirit of God, the spirit of holiness, the spirit of love. Love is the Holy Spirit, of which the Apostle declares, "If any man have not the spirit of Christ [love, in some measure] he is none of, His." "TRUST NOT IN UNCERTAIN RICHES"Our Lord took advantage of this episode to impart a lesson to His disciples, showing them the danger of riches--any kind of riches, honor of men, political in fluence, many and large talents or abilities, social. standing, fine education and material wealth-for one may be rich in any of these senses. "It is hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of heaven." (Revised Ver sion.) Our Lord does not here undertake to explain why there would be greater difficulties for, those possessing -riches. to enter into His Kingdom, but from other Scriptures we learn the reasons, and why it is that the heirs ,of the Kingdom will be chiefly found amongst the poorer 'classes. "Ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not ,many noble are called; but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the mighty." (1 Cor. 1: 26, 27; Jas. 2:5.) The rich are "'called," in one sense of the word, but not in another; they are equally invited but they are much less likely (than, others who are poorer) to accept the Lord's invitation and to present them selves according to the terms of the Kingdom call. In this sense of the word "called" only those who accept the call are meant; and they then divide themselves into two classes-those who make their calling and election sure, and obtain the, Kingdom, obtain a part in the First Resurrection to glory, honor and immortality, obtain, a place with Messiah in His, throne, to share with Him in His Millennial Kingdom; and others who do not make their calling and election sure, either by becoming repro bates, and subjects of the Second Death, or by a failure 'to manifest a sufficiency of zeal in the race for the prize, and on this account being remanded to the class known as the "great company," who must come through great tribulation, washing their robes in the blood of the Lamb.-Rev. 7:9-15. It is well that we note carefully what are the hindrances of these "rich," preventing them from having so favorable an opportunity as their (in earthly respects) less favored brethren. (1) The possession of earthly good things, "riches," is less favorable to the development of faith, without which it is impossible to be pleasing to God. (2) These earthly advantages are more likely to develop pride, a serious barrier to every grace, an impossible barrier as respects the Kingdom, which can be attained only through humility. (3) Riches of any kind bring with them friends and associates of the earth, whose hearts being generally out of sympathy with the Lord and the, Kingdom will constitute them adversaries to the new mind, from whose influence it will be the more difficult to break completely away. (4) And summing up all of the foregoing, those possessed of such earthly riches have proportionately more -to sacrifice than those who are poorer in these respects; and the greater the things sacrificed the greater the difficulty in performing the sacrifice. However, on the other hand, it may be said that whenever one who is rich in this world's goods (talents, etc.) does present himself a living sacrifice to the Lord and His service, it witnesses to a deeper heart-loyalty than if he were poorer. It implies a greater sacrifice, and it implies also the exercise of greater opportunities in the Lord's service. The servant who has five talents and who uses them faithfully, and doubles them, accomplishes a greater work-than the servant who, having one talent, uses it faithfully and doubles it,, and our Lord's understanding of this matter is shown in the fact that according to the parable the one will have granted to him authority over ten cities, and the other authority over two, although both will be commended--"Well done, good, faithful servant."--Matt. 25:14-30. If we would look for illustrations showing wherein the rich (in talents, etc.) have been faithful, we would find at the head of the list our Lord Himself, "who was rich, but for our sakes became poor." As He was richer than all others in every sense of the word, so proportionately His sacrifice was greater than that of all others in every sense of the word, and His honor, glory and power are greater. "He is Lord of all." "Him hath God highly exalted and given a name that is above every name.", Similarly the Apostle Paul was rich-if riot in money and property, he was at least rich in education, in social advantages and privileges,. and in life's opportunities; and we may say that since the Apostle so faithfully sacrificed all these earthly riches for the sake of the Privilege of preaching the Gospel of Christ, his must -have been a much larger sacrifice than that of the majority of men: and proportionately we anticipate that his reward in the Kingdom will be great because he counted these earthly "riches" but "loss and dross that he might win Christ and be found in Him [a member of the Anointed One.]" -Phil. 3:8, 9. So then, while we call attention, to the fact that few will be in the Kingdom who have had great opportunities, privileges, property or other "riches" of this world, we nevertheless encourage those who possess this world's goods of any kind, to consider that they thus hold within their grasp grand opportunities which rightly used will yield riches of grace, not only in the life that now is but also in the life that is to come; working out for them a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, proportionate to their sacrifices and faithfulness in their stewardship. PROMOTION IN THE KINGDOM--JANUARY 23--MATTHEW 20:17-28-- Golden Text.--"The Son of man came, not to be ministered unto to but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." -- Matt. 20:28. THIS lesson takes us down near the close of our Lord's earthly ministry. He with His twelve Apostles was en route for Jerusalem. He had just explained to them more particularly the ignominy, shame and death which He would experience, and repeated His assurance of His resurrection. The rich young ruler had just visited Him, and gone away sorrowful upon learning the terms of discipleship. Jesus had just said, How hardly shall they who have riches enter into the Kingdom; the Apostles had inquired what they should have since they had left all, 'and Jesus assured them that they should have a hundred fold more in this present time, with persecution, and in the world to come everlasting life. The account given by another (Mark 10:32) says that Jesus was walking in advance of the twelve, who were discussing matters amongst themselves, overawed by the stupendous things which the Lord had declared to be imininent. The courage of our Lord in the Narrow Way fills us with admiration. What a strong character was 'His! He had no thought of turning back; He was intent upon accomplishing His Father's will-upon sacrificing Himself in the interest of others. A noble pattern the Apostles saw before them-greatness in humility, victory through service. A GOODLY HERITAGE DESIREDIt was at this time that James and John approached the Lord in a private manner. Matthew tells us that their mother, Salome was with them and really made the re quest for them in their names. Salome is supposed to have been the sister of Mary, the aunt of Jesus, in which event James and John were His full cousins. Realizing that matters were drawing I to a crisis they sought of the Lord an assurance that they two might be very close to Him in the kingdom, one on His right hand and one on His left, the two positions of chiefest favor. Our Lord did not reprove them, for doubtless He read in their hearts a great love and loyalty toward Himself and the desire for the positions indicated not merely the desire for the honors and authority implied, but specially because this would bring them closer to Himself. Had the Lord seen in their hearts an evil form of ambition, undoubtedly He would have reproved it on the spot. His -answer, however, was so framed as to impress these brothers and all of His followers since with what is implied in joint-heirship with the Lord in the Kingdom. Very forceful is the expression, "Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I drink of, and be. baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" Our Lord did not refer to the Memorial Supper cup, but to the experiences which- it symbolized, even, as He did not refer to water baptism, but to the baptism into death which is symbolized by the. water immersion. How heart-searching was this question! "MY GRACE IS, SUFFICIENT FOR YOU"That these two noble Apostles were not inspired by selfish ambitions in this request is evidenced by their prompt reply to the Lord's searching question, and later on evidenced by their faithfulness even unto death. They said, "We are able"--that is, "We are willing. God helping us, we will sacrifice everything to follow in your footsteps; we will count nothing dear unto us; we will lay aside every weight and every sinful besetment; we will run with patience the race set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith." This we may assume to be a larger statement of their devotion. Our Lord's love and sympathy went out to them afresh as He answered them, guaranteeing that with such willingness. of heart they should indeed have the experiences necessary to fit them for a place in the Kingdom. What a comfort this is to even the weakest of the Lord's followers who are sincere. The Lord looketh at the heart, and if He sees there full devotion to Himself, He is pleased to grant to such His blessing, His aid, saying, will never leave thee nor forsake thee." "My grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness." We, too, are desirous of sharing the Kingdom with our Lord, yet not from love of exaltation above others, but from a desire to have this evidence that we please our Father and our Lord Jesus--to have this closeness of relationship to Him, and to have the privilege of participation with our dear Redeemer in the great work of blessing all the families of the earth in due time. It is well that we should have the Lord's answer clearly before our minds, and know that unless we partake of His cup and are immersed into His death, we can have no share in His Kingdom of glory. Let us then count all things else as loss and as dross to obtain this necessary experience. As it comes to us let us not be fearful, nor think strange of the fiery trials that' shall try us, as though some strange thing had happened unto us. On the contrary, even hereunto were we called, that we might now suffer with the Lord, and by and by be glorified together with Him. As for the particular place to be occupied in the Kingdom by the sons of Zebedee or by us, our Lord pointed out that the assigning of such positions Was in the Father's hands-the choicest positions shall be given to those for whom they have been prepared by the Father. Not that we are to understand that the Father prepared the places in advance by any arbitrary divisions, but rather that the Father's pre-arranged plan is that each of the followers of Jesus shall have positions of honor in the Kingdom proportionate to the zeal of their faithfulness in the present time-for none shall have any part in the Kingdom who do not now prove faithful. THE MEEKEST AND MOST ZEALOUSIt is not for us to decide the zeal and faithfulness of the Apostles-to say which two would better fill these positions of chiefest honor. The Father will make no mistake. It will not surprise us, however, should we find the Apostle Paul in one of these two positions. His faithful, loving zeal and loyalty seem to shine out conspicuously even amongst those who were also faithful and loyal. It is not for us to have any ambitious feelings respecting this -matter, except that we desire always to serve the Lord and be pleasing to Him, and eventually to be as. close to Him as possible. When we remember that the closer we come to Him in the present trials and experiences and sufferings with faithfulness, the closer we will be to Him in the future, it explains to us the meaning of the Apostle's words when speaking of his severe trials: he called them light afflictions but for a moment, working out a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.-' 2 Cor. 4:17. When the ten other disciples learned the special mission of Salome and the request made by her for James and John, they were indignant at them. Possibly some of them, Judas included, were very anxious for the authority and power and dignity of the throne, but without the very special love and longing to be near the Master Himself which seem to have influenced James and John in their request. But Jesus set matters straight with them all, and turned their displeasure into an opportunity for another good lesson, by the assurance that the chief positions in the Kingdom should be given along the lines of meritorious serivce, and that thus each one of them would have his opportunity to strive for the chief position by striving to render service to the others. No other lesson requires to be so carefully learned by the Lord's people as this lesson of humility. It has to do with the very humblest of the flock, as well as with those who are teachers and elders and pilgrims, etc. but the degree of force that seems to come with the besetment or temptation seems to multiply in proportion to the position and attainments of the individual. Pride and ambition may be in those who have no official position in the Church, often asserted in fault-finding and criticism which, to the hearers, is intended to imply superior wisdom or ability on the part of the critic – that his wisdom and ability only wait for opportunity to manifest above his fellows. We are not objecting to a kindly brotherly word of criticism given privately with a view to helpfulness, but merely to the kind which vaunteth itself and seeks to do injury to the reputation of another occupying a preferred position. "BE NOT MANY OF YOU TEACHERS"As the Apostle intimates, however, this besetment bears chiefly upon those who have some talent, some ability, and whom their fellows have to some extent honored as teachers. Little men, like little ships with broad sails, are in great danger of being capsized if too strong a wind of popularity play upon them. Not only so, but we believe that even the most humble, the most faithful, the most zealous to be servants of the cause, have continual need to be on their guard lest their good intentions should be. used of the Adversary as a trap-for their ensnarement, Let us remember the Apostle's words, "Be not many of you teachers, my brethren, knowing that a man [who is a teacher] shall receive greater condemnation"--he is exposed to greater trials and temptations as a result. This must not hinder any who have talents from using, them, but it should make each one very careful that he does not think more highly of himself than he ought to think, but to think soberly,. If the judgment of the majority of the congregation does not recognize his adaptation to the service of a teacher, he should humbly accept its conclusion as correct, no matter how highly he had thought of himself previously. And even if the majority should conclude that he is worthy of a position as a teacher in Zion, he should tread very softly before the Lord, very humbly, realizing that those who in any degree attempt to impart instruction in spiritual things to others are to that extent acting as representatives and mouthpieces of the Lord Himself, the Head of the Body;, and all should keep in mind the Lord's words in this Golden Text and His own exemplification of the matter--that he who serves lost and not he who lords it most should have the chief respect of the Lord's people. ENCOURAGING MESSAGESKEENER APPRECIATION OF THE- MASTER'S LOVEDear Brethren: I am writing you this to testify my appreciation of the visit it of dear - Pilgrim Brother Blackburn. I so much enjoyed his sweet fellowship. He seemed so, charged with the Message of love-the Gospel of Glad Tidings that there was no room for malevolent backbiting and -slander of fellow-servants . . . Brother Blackburn, in all his discourses, emphasized the possessing of the spirit of -Christ Jesus as the all-important, qualification of Christian character . . . Ali! how can those 'Who have tasted of the heavenly gift be so lacking in the spirit of love as to smite brethren who cannot accept every wild speculation and vagary thrust before them! If those who do such things are thereby manifesting the spirit of the Lord, then I have read the Divine Word in vain. Every noble impulse of even the fleshly heart recoils from any such manifestation of vindictiveness. Our dear Pastor so beautifully shed forth the spirit of Christian love that it ,endeared him to every honest heart. He was surely a shining example of a true, faithful and obedient servant of the Lord. God bless his memory. Well, we are told by the Word of Truth to expect severe trials -and. that from among the brethren. We have Just been reading from 1912 Tower where Brother Russell warned that we were likely to have some of our severest trials from false brethren. Now, dear brethren, you who hold such a prominent and responsible place in the Lord's work, look steadfastly to Him who is mighty to save, for.. He- is -able to keep you safe. I do so thank, Him that He has kept you humble and submissive, and that you have been saved from any spirit of pride and unholy ambition. God be praised for this great blessing. I do so appreciate the sweet letters appearing from time to time in the HERALD, freighted with the sweet incense of holy love rising up'-from consecrated hearts. Precious indeed is the fellowship :of kindred spirits. The Heavenly Father has doubtless permitted these recent fiery trials to come' upon His Church' to make us more and more appreciate His loving kindness and the privilege of fellowship with those who manifest His 'spirit. After pas sing through fiery trials and persecutions we are caused to have a keener appreciation, of our dear Master's love, and also the warmth of the love of fellow members who have not, manifested the prevalent spirit of strife and bitterness. I pray the Master continually to keep you, by His holy power and make you able and loving ministers of His Word. There are doubtless many and heavy trials yet before us, but let us take courage from our recent fiery trials, carrying the knowledge that' our Lord has kept us from falling victims of the strong delusion now sweeping over the world. I sometimes tremble when I think of how I escaped by, a seeming narrow margin. As I told Brother Blackburn, I was glad indeed to praise the Master for having kept me safe from. the "snare of the fowler." Sister A. joins me in Christian love to you all. Your brother by His grace, J. G., A.-Ala. HOW DIFFICULT THE NARROW WAYDear Brethren: Greetings in the name of our Lord! We have so much enjoyed, your service and message to us through the HERALD that we feel bound to extend to you some such expression of our appreciation as shall be of encouragement to you in your service, whereby you may be able to continue in the service of the Lord and the friends, even though it be through much toil and sacrificing, which is after all a reasonable service, and to be rewarded with an "exceeding and eternal weight of glory" when our work is done. And our appreciation of your efforts to serve us is the greater as we realize more clearly how it has brought you in contact with the class called "thorns and briars," whose only mission seems to be 'to scratch and pierce, even as their ambition to be considered great and to be courted, flattered and admired has led them to oppositions and misrepresentations of those who are standing fast in the faith and in the liberty wherewith Christ makes free. We see the many snares and delusions set for the unwary and how difficult the Narrow Way has become in these last days. Therefore, as we behold your calm and dignified conversation in the Lord, we rejoice that, by the grace of God our Father, His people are able to maintain such an attitude in the face of such manifold difficulties as are preresented now when there are "divers and strange doctrines" being set before the babes in Christ the immature ones who know not the) way of Truth and who have no power either to "stand" or to "withstand", in this-'evil day. With Christian love, Your Brother in Christ, C. F.-Ohio. VOL. IV. January 15, 1921 No. 2 OUTLOOK FROM THE WALLS OF ZION,TO ALL the faithful Watchers the daily press presents news items and reports that testify in no uncertain tone that all things are onward moving. While the old order of things, the old world of the reign of sin and death still exists and while we are not, therefore, yet authorized to announce that it has passed away, contrary to the facts, yet we are privileged to observe 'the signs about us that mark the approaching end of the Age and the incoming of the new. Both our Lord and the Apostles admonished us so to do. The agitation toward the closer union and federation of the ecclesiastical powers continues on, as noted in recent gatherings and conferences called for the purpose of discussing the matter. Some of our readers will have noted the report of one of the late conferences of this character recently held in the city of Boston. We submit the account contained in THE BOSTON HERALD of December 28, 1920, under the following headlines' "PRELATE URGES CHURCH UNIONBISHOP LAWRENCE'S PLAN WOULD
INCLUDE SPIRITED DEBATE. AT MEETING OF CLERGY "A plan for church unity, to include the Roman. Catholic and the eastern churches, was presented. by Bishop Lawrence at a meeting of clergymen and laymen of various denominations held yesterday in the Swedenborgian Church, Beacon hill. "Bishop Hughes of the Methodist church presided, and after Bishop Lawrence had outlined his plan there was a spirited discussion, and questions were put to the speaker from the floor. The plan of Bishop Lawrence is based on the conclusions of the Lambeth conference in England. "INTERCHANGE OF ORDINATION "Briefly, the plan suggests the interchange of some form of ordination through which one church will recognize and accept the minister of another denomination in the celebration of the one great sacrament of all churches-the holy communion. Bishop Lawrence expressed the opinion that, while the, plan might not lead to very great and practical results immediately, it was arrived at by earnest and sincere deliberation and indicated a possible avenue towards unity. " 'I have felt, he said, that the re-union of churches can come by the quiet, subtle influence of prayer that will melt the differences. In the holy communion there is the test of unity. Let us have a vision of all Christian people, including the whole world, including the Roman Catholic church and the Russian church. If you are going to have unity you cannot do anything that will shut out that great body of Christian people.' "The first question put to the speaker was whether the validity of the service of the other churches was recognized by the Church of England. Bishop Lawrence answered that much depended upon the meaning of the word validity. 'In the war,' he said, 'clergymen were sent out to minister to all.' "Another asked whether, according to the Church of England an ordination in that church gives more grace and authority in the interpretation of the Scriptures! "ADMINISTRATIVE FEATURE 'That is an administrative feature,' the bishop replied. "I do not believe I had any more authority or power the day after ordination than the day before.' "Bishop Hughes then entered the discussion, saying he would not take another ordination for $1,000,000. Referring to the historic part of' the Episcopal church, which Bishop Lawrence had named, the speaker said: 'Of course, to me the apostolic succession is only a superstition. I could have you,' turning to Bishop Lawrence, 'at any time to take part in the service in my church, but I would have to decline to be ordained anew to take part in yours.' "'I am not quite sure that I agree with you about the apostolic succession,' Bishop Lawrence replied. 'There are 500 interpretations of it and you can knock down one and have 499 left. So it may be well to speak carefully of this subject.' "Bishop Hughes then said that it was difficult for the brethren to speak of the apostolic succession doctrine and keep within the bounds of courtesy. He immediately explained that it was by an appreciation of the great knowledge, and authority lodged in Bishop Lawrence that the audience was sincere to obtain. information. "'Go slow, conferring, praying, thinking, talking together , was Bishop Lawrence's parting advice, and he then pronounced the benediction." Along with the above the following is also of interest, under the caption': "UNION OF CHURCH AND STATE"REFORMER ADMITS WORKING FOR THAT RESULT WASHINGTON, Dec. 13--Dr. Wilbur F. Crafts, founder of the International Reform Bureau, announced today that within the next three years he is going to spend $1,000,000 in safeguarding prohibition, extending the blue laws and amending the federal constitution so that the United States will be designated as a 'Christian Nation.' "'The work of securing the Christian amendment to the constitution has been one of the pet ideas of the International Reform Bureau for a number of years,' said Dr. Crafts. 'The Supreme Court on Feb. 26, 1892, in an unanimous opinion delivered through justice Brewer, declared, reviewing the nation's many recognitions of religion, that 'this is a Christian nation.' "LINK CHURCH AND STATE "'One of the reasons which have prompted my seeking to get the Christian amendment into the Constitution has been that there might no longer be any excuse for the plea that Bible readings in the schools and similar American Christian institutions are unconstitutional., "'You believe then that church and state should be linked by an amendment to the federal constitution?' "'My reply to that is,' said Dr. Crafts, 'that the main thing is to get the laws of Christ adopted as our laws as far as possible, and when we have so built up a Christian structure of law it will probably not be so difficult to get the Christian amendment put on as the logical roof.' "EXPECTS MILLIONS SOON "Asked when he expected to get the $1,000,000 he requires in his enlarged reform program for Christianizing and dry cleaning and dyeing blue the United States, he replied quite seriously and in a very matter of fact way: "'Oh, I am expecting that million almost any day now. I could have had it long before this if it were not for the fact that I am so busy- with other things I had not quite- got to it."' Still another item is of no little significance as relative to the above, and as revealing the inward desires and purposes of the Papal system. This report recently appeared in the NEW YORK AMERICAN: "DIPLOMATIC LINK WITH POPE TO BE ASKED OF HARDING"INFLUENTIAL
CATHOLICS CITE FRENCH 'WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.--A group of influential Catholics is urging that the new administration sanction establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and the Vatican, so says a report received in Washington today. "To bring this about it would be necessary for Congress to pass enabling legislation, at the request of President Harding, to provide funds for the maintenance of a legation in Rome. "The action of France in re-establishing diplomatic relations with the Pope and the decision of Great Britain to make its war-time mission to the Holy See a permanent body have been cited, according to the report, as reasons why the United States should take similar action. "At present the only representative of the Pope in Washington is an apostolic delegate, Archbishop Bonanzo. His activities are confined to matters of church discipline. "It is understoood that American Catholics have already selected a delegate to go to Rome to confer with the Vatican on the advisability of establishing closer diplomatic relationship." Activities looking in the direction of the restoring of the Holy Land and the return thither of God's ancient people also continue to interest, all who are waiting for the consolation of Israel and are watching for the fig tree to put forth his leaves. The following, published in THE CHICAGO DAILY NEWS is suggestive and significant: "RESTORE HOLY LAND BY SCIENCE, IS PLANCORRESPONDENT
OF THE DAILY NEWS IN JERUSALEM "JERUSALEM, PALESTINE, Dec. 8--Palestine is not 'flowing with milk and honey," but the Zionist commission has now perfected a program for introducing modern science to bring, water from the rock and manna from heaven by means of the $125,000,000 Zionist fund sought by a drive in the United States in the next few weeks. This marks the end of the preliminary stage of Zionist diplomacy and propaganda and the beginning-of the practical stage of development and hard work. "How hard this work is I discovered when I saw the Zionist co-operative agricultural group at Diln transforming the rocks of a mountain into a fertile farm. Where formerly only scrub bushes grew there will be raised grain, vegetables, cattle, poultry and trees under scientific direction. This is typical of the heroic program of the Zionists, who are undertaking to apply science and religious zeal to make an impoverished land capable of sustaining hundreds of thousands of immigrants. The. foundation fund, according to the leaders here, is to be devoted solely to economic development in conformity with the justice Brandeis' plan and not to charity or relief as heretofore. "PRODUCTIVE INVESTMENT SEEN "'Twenty per cent of the fund,' said Mr. Ussishkin, chairman of the local Zionist commission, 'will be devoted to the purchase of land and the remainder to house building, industrial and farm cred its, immigrants' settlements and public works. This will be an entirely productive investment. The Jewish pioneer thus 'aided will earn a-living. Immigration is now strictly limited, but eventually under scientific development the land will be able to support 2,000,000 more people than are now here.. It will be a refuge for Jews who are victims of pogroms in eastern Europe and a center. of Jewish art and literature! "Typical of the economic development scheme is. the program of Pincus Ruthenberg for industrial power from the River Jordan, in which Jesus was baptized. "'This river,' said Mr. Ruthenberg, 'is capable of supplying power to all the industries in Palestine, large and small, and also to giving power to lighting and street railway plants. The plan will include the irrigation of a large part of northern Palestine and the draining of extensive malarial regions. This will make possible the eventual support of upward of 1,000,000 purely industrial people. The chief- dam will be just below the Sea of Galilee. We expect to begin work next spring and complete the main structures in two years at a cost of $10,000,000.' "BRITISH FAVOR SCHEME "The Ruthenberg scheme has the full approval of the Zionist commission, and it is understood that the British government is favorable to it. Since immigration was formally permitted three months ago pioneers have been arriving at the rate of about 500 a week. Many are university graduates. The average age is 22 and the percentage of women is 17. Most of the work now being done is rock breaking and road mending under co-operative contracts with the government because funds for land development must be awaited. "For the time being the Zionist organization is so poor that it cannot buy shoes for these pioneers, many of whom crossed the seas as fourth class passengers and came here from the coast on foot. One man came without any belongings save a complete set of Spinoza's philosophical writings. But all are warned that Zionism means terrific labor and ,suffering for years. The immigration, now limited to about 30,000 annually, will be increased as the pioneers develop land that will support an increased population. The technical and economic difficulties would make the Zionist program hopeless without religious zeal. Only sweat and faith can make Canaan a land of promise." Still a further item reports continued progress in the pilgrimage of the Jews to the Promised Land:. "EMIGRATION OF JEWS TO PALESTINE IS INCREASING"VIENNA, Dec. 4.--Emigration of Jews to, Palestine is increasing rapidly in central and eastern Europe, and the new Palestine immigration regulations would allow of a controlled immigration of about 17,000 Zionists of the pioneer class during the coming year, said S. Landmann, secretary of the Zionist organization, in an interview. "Mr. Landmann, now in Vienna on a special mission in connection with Jewish emigrants to Palestine, said the selection of the emigrants is being made by the Zionist organization, which has established Palestine offices in the important Jewish centers. Preference is given to young people, strong in body and determined in spirit, who have had actual experience in agricultural or other manual work and who know Hebrew. "Several thousand such pioneers-known by the Hebrew name of Chalitzim--have already left and others are waiting in the large centers until proper arrangements for their transport can be made and until new openings for employment in Palestine are reported. "One of the features of the pioneer movement is that it includes a fair proportion of girls of well-to-do families, who have decided to devote their lives to the new Palestine. They act as land girls and take care of the domestic arrangements in the Jewish colonies.' The following, recently published in the TOLEDO NEWS BEE, will also be read with interest: "KOSHER SHIP FOR JEWS"STEAMER DE KALB TO HAVE SPECIAL BUTCHER SHOP "Persons of Hebrew faith in Toledo are deeply interested in the recent announcement that an especially designed steamship now is nearing completion in New York, which will observe the ancient dietary laws of Moses. "This ship, is probably destined in the near future to be one of the greatest mediums in, encouraging immigration both to America, and Europe by those of the faith. "In the past the. Jewish, immigrants have virtually been compelled to become vegetarians at sea because there have been no dietary provisions for them by steamship companies. "KOSHER GALLEYS "The name of the new ship is the De Kalb, an overhauled transport which, when finished will carry 1800 steerage passengers., The vessel is a complete 'Kosher ship' with specially 'designed galleys for those of the Hebrew faith. All of their religious rites will be observed on the ship, it is announced. "Many Jews have hesitated in making sea voyages because of the inconveniences they suffer on board ordinary steamships. 'The Jewish dietary laws are very strict. It was to meet this condition that the 'kosher ship' was designed. Jews are not allowed to eat meat slaughtered or treated in the ordinary manner, and on most steamships, for this reason, cannot eat meat at all. Fresh meat kept in refrigerators, which have been approved according to dietary laws, will be served on the 'kosher ship.'. There will be a separate butcher shop for the Jews. "MOSAIC LAWS "Moses made the dietary laws and modern scientists have agreed that because of conditions in those ancient days they were excellent laws. "According to his laws, if a knife is used for meat it cannot be used for butter. There are many other laws which Moses probably set because he knew they would check the spread of disease." DR. STRATON'S VIEW OF THE MILLENNIUMThe Rev. Dr. John Roach Straton, Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church, famous in New York- City on account of his vigorous campaign against moral and social evils, has issued a statement describing his conception of the Millennium. It is quite evident that Dr. Straton has been reading the Bible prophecies, and in his application of them has reached conclusions remarkably in harmony with the expositions of PASTOR RUSSELL. We quote from the NEW YORK AMERICAN of January 10, 1921: "At such a time as this, when there is so much vice and crime abroad in the world, we need to reassure ourselves with the inspiring thought that these things will not always be so. "There is a good time coming. The human race has always dreamed of 'A Golden Age.' Plato, in his 'Republic,' Sir Thomas More, in his 'Utopia,' and many other high dreamers of the race have endeavored to picture for its the conditions which must prevail in the ideal state. "But the Bible has given us the only authoritative presentation of this great theme. It teaches that the devil-the great deceiver and enemy of mankind-is finally to be driven out from the walks of man forever, and that there will be 'a new heaven and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.' CRIME CONQUERED "And with this elimination of the devil from the affairs of earth, all the sin and suffering and sorrow which he caused will disappear. Every plague spot of vice and infamy will be blotted out; all the marshes and bogs of crime, all the gambling dens and drinking hells, and brothels, and haunts of shame, all the. loathsome pest holes of hideous diseases, done away forever. "All the depraved cabinets and the vainglorious courts and the self-seeking legislatures of the world adjourned. All rotten rulers and corrupt public officials, who use their offices for private gain through public plunder and to serve the advancement of their own political fortunes, banished in utter disgrace from before the children of men. All the cannon melted into church bells and the swords beaten into reaping hooks. All the emptiness and vanity which now characterize social life exploded and true brotherhood and human sympathy smiling in their stead. "SWINDLERS SIDETRACKED "All the cheats and swindlers, and bogus goods, and frauds, and dishonest advertising and wooden nutmegs and half-cotton 'wool' and watered milk and pasteboard 'leather,' and excelsior breakfast foods and wildcat stocks and inflated securities sent into eternal limbo. Yes, all the awful lies that we now have to read and see, and wear, and even eat, banished -- and truth, in its simplicity and beauty, established forever. "All the selfish and infamous cliques and combinations and rings-political rings, and whiskey rings, and vice rings, and society rings, and railroad rings, and mercantile rings, and bankers' rings, and labor rings, and building contractor rings, and walking delegate rings, and dancing masters' rings, and bolshevistic rings -- yes, and preacher rings -- and a thousand other rings-broken up, and in their place fraternity, love and sweet fellowship established! "Every jail emptied out, every penitentiary in the hands of a receiver, every law court closed, every judge given a permanent vacation, all the forces that have to drive and restrain and coerce the sons! of men, and all those who work iniquity in any form, putting through rotten laws, crippling honest industry , corrupting the press exploiting the poor--whatsoever maketh iniquity or worketh a lie-ended by the power of the Almighty, and a clean, honest, healthy, pure-minded, straight- limbed, red-blooded, home-loving, woman-honoring, God-fearing race of men walking in the midst of a redeemed creation, lighted with beauty and blessed by the smile of an approving God! "THE PERFECT FLOWER OF HUMANITY "All that is, moves to some climax of self-expression. We see a root in the mud at the bottom of a lake, but there is no meaning in that alone: Then from that root we see a stem reaching tip through the darkness of the water and groping toward the light, but there is no meaning in that alone. Then we see a leaf spread upon the bosom of the lake, but there is no meaning in that alone. But pass that spot another day, and you will find there one of heaven's jewels, as lovely as an angel's dream. There you will find a water lily, with leaf of snow and heart of gold, wooed by the winds and kissed by the waves, and exhaling its sweet perfume to the breeze. Then the meaning of root and stem and leaf becomes plain. "Surely, our poor old humanity is moving to some better goal than we have yet attained!" THE GROUND OF THE
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