THE HERALD
of Christ's Kingdom
VOL.
XLVI July/August 1963 No. 4
Table of Contents
Free Indeed
Rapid Travel or Much Study Foretold
Israel Today
World Population, Food Problems and the Hope of Mankind
The Fruit of the Spirit
The Question Box
Recently Deceased
"If the Son therefore
shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36.
THE
love of freedom is inherent in all of God's intelligent creatures. Moreover,
under certain limitations, it was manifestly his purpose that all enjoy
liberty--the limitations, in every case, being those of righteousness, of
respect of and submission to the divine law, and mutual love and respect for
the rights and liberties of fellow creatures.
However,
many have very different ideas of freedom from this. One of the world's great
champions of human liberty -- Abraham Lincoln -- once said:
"We
all declare for liberty; but in using the same word, we do not all mean the
same thing. With some, the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he
pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same
word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product
of other men's labor."
Again
he wrote:
"The
shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's throat, for which the sheep thanks
the shepherd as his liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act,
as the destroyer of liberty. Plainly, the sheep and the wolf are not agreed
upon a definition of the word liberty. "
As
we look around us today, it seems evident that there are yet many men who have
not repudiated the wolf's dictionary. Such are anxious to cast off all
restraints of God and man, to pursue a selfish course, untrammeled, and without
regard to either their obligations to God, or the rights of their fellow-men.
Such ideas of freedom (2) lead only to anarchy and destruction. And those who
hold them look upon all wholesome restraints of law and order as infringements
of their rights, and consider themselves in bondage under them. This is the
rapidly growing sentiment all over the world today among the masses of
mankind. And this is what makes the outlook for the future so ominous, threatening
the utter wreck of the present social order in world-wide anarchy.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE BIBLE
There
have been two main contributing causes which have operated to produce the
liberty known and experienced in the world to date. One of these is the Bible.
As we compare the various degrees of civilization throughout the world, and
note that the wisest and best laws and the wisest and best execution of them
and the greatest true liberty of the people within reasonable bounds are found
in those nations which have most reverenced the divine message, the Bible, it
is a strong argument that the Word of God has not only influenced the "little
flock," who take it most seriously, and who lay aside every weight and
hindrance and worldly ambition to run with patience in the footsteps of Jesus,
but it has influenced the minds of many who have never taken this step of full
consecration. In a word, the liberty wherewith Christ makes free is not the
liberty of license but the liberty of reason, of justice, of love; and in
proportion as any one has received the spirit of the divine teaching, in that
same proportion he is a free man. We thank God, therefore, for the measure of
national liberty which prevails throughout the world, even while we see
clearly from the prophecies of the Scriptures, as well as written on the pages
of the daily press, that a great misinterpretation of liberty is rapidly
spreading throughout the world, which will eventually wreck the present civilization
in anarchy.
THE FIGHT FOR LIBERTY
The
second contributing cause of the liberty known and enjoyed by mankind up to the
present time is warfare. We think it is not an overstatement to say that all,
or nearly all, the liberty there is in the world today has been paid for;
practically none of it has been attained without sacrifices. Why? Because
selfishness is so entrenched in the race that those who possess power,
authority, privilege, opportunity, would hold these for themselves to the disadvantage
of others -- to the enslavement of others -- were not the rights and liberties
fought for. Looking back over the history of nations and, regardless of one's
views as to the propriety of a Christian engaging in warfare, every reasoning
mind can see that only through wars have liberties come to the human race. The
mistake that is being made by many today is the supposition that humanity
would ever be able to attain the condition of absolute equality and
unselfishness through wars or any other means within the power of Adam's race.
The
Scriptures point out to us that there is a limit beyond which we must not
expect selfish humanity to make progress -- that any progress beyond that limit
must come from on High, through the establishment of the Kingdom of God's dear
Son; that while wealth and influence and tail ents will yield to the pressure
of the masses for their own protection and aggrandizement, they will not yield
everything, but would permit the entire social structure to dissolve rather
than to submit to a general equalization, such as is the aim of Socialism.
Hence Socialism, while not intending anarchy, will produce anarchy; while
striving for greater liberty and universality of blessings of earth, will
effect a wreck of all these. Thanks be to God that his program is that on the
wreck of present institutions he will establish the true reign of liberty on
the plane of love, under the guidance of the Master and his joint-heirs
However,
while we await that kingdom let us not despise one present national liberty,
imperfect though it be. Usually blessings are valued rightly only when they are
taken from us. It is not long since we were doing some sober thinking as to the
possibility of losing our national liberty. Such thoughts should lead us to
very earnest thankfulness to God that this liberty has been preserved to us.
Nor should it be difficult for us to be grateful also to those who bore the
brunt of the sacrifice, many of whom laid down life itself in the cause of
freedom.
LIBERTY TO BECOME SONS OF GOD
From
these reflections on the liberty known and experienced by mankind in general,
let us now turn to another phase of our subject: "The glorious liberty of
the children of God. " - Rom. 8:21.
Our
Lord well knew that we might have all the inalienable rights mentioned in the Declaration of Independence,
all the opportunities afforded by wealth, all the knowledge and skills
resulting from higher education, and yet not be really and truly free, in his
sense of the word. It was for this reason that he said to some who were
beginning to have faith in him: "If the Son therefore shall make you free,
ye shall be free indeed." - John 8:36.
St.
Paul knew how true this was. He had the freedom which came as the result of
having been born a Roman citizen. And yet he tells us, in Romans 7:19, that
"the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I
do."
Are
these the words of a free man? No, indeed! These are the words, not of a free
man, but of a slave.
Dearly
as we may love liberty, there is no man who actually possesses it yet, for as
the result of the fall of Adam all men became the slaves of Sin and, to a great
extent, the tools of Satan; and never, until the promised restitution of all
things is completed, will men enjoy the precious boon of liberty in its full
sense. This is one of the elements of the Gospel, that Christ is to bring
liberty to the captives of sin and death, and to let all the oppressed go free.
- Isa. 61:1.
Of
course, to those who believe that death itself is a great blessing, liberating
our spirits from their present bondage to earthly conditions, the Gospel
message is without meaning. But to us who have learned the true nature of man,
and who know that he is mortal, and not only mortal, but dying, this promise of
liberation from the prison-house of death, though stated centuries ago, holds
our interest with a stronger grip than would tomorrow's headlines, if we could
read them today.
While,
however, the actual freedom or liberty of the children of God is not yet
enjoyed by any, the inheritance of it being lost by Adam's fall, a few have
regained their title
to that
inheritance. How did they do this? By faith in Christ, who, with his own
precious blood, purchased it for all who will accept it as the free gift of
God's grace. And these few have, by faith, already passed from death to life
(John 5:24; 1 John 3:14) and are now, therefore, reckoned free -- free from sin, and
its condemnation, death -- righteousness being imputed to them. Thus they hold
a sure title to this glorious liberty, which all the sons of God will possess
when fully restored to the mental and moral image of God.
A ROBE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
As
above indicated, the full liberty of the children of God is not yet ours,
except by faith. However, while realizing this, let us not fail to note the
measure of that liberty which is ours even now. It is very considerable. The
liberty of the Christian is stated by the Apostle John to be the liberty, power
or privilege, of becoming a son of God. "As many as received him [Jesus],
to them gave he the power [liberty] to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on his name." (John 1:12.) That is to say, our Savior offers
to all who accept him, and who desire to regain the mental and moral image of
God, lost by Adam, and who desire to return to the relationship of children of God,
a release from the sin which brought condemnation upon us all six thousand
years ago; it means also that over such he will throw a robe of righteousness,
which will cover all their present imperfections and unavoidable weaknesses.
Clothed thus, in this white raiment, they need not wait for the Millennial Age,
but may at once go to God, by faith, and find immediate acceptance in his presence,
and secure grace to help them in every time of need. Thus may they continue
under this precious robe of righteousness throughout their earthly career
until, having proved, by their obedience in the present life, the sincerity of
their consecration to God's will and service, they shall ultimately be delivered
from all the present weaknesses into grand, perfect, spiritual bodies, like
unto their Lord's. This is the promise to the overcomers, who thus will be
received into final and complete sonship as heirs of God and joint-heirs with
Jesus Christ their Lord and Savior.
A
remarkably clear and, we believe Scriptural, presentation of the meaning of
the robe of righteousness, or "white raiment" as it applies to the
believer's standing in the present life, is found in the writings of Brother
Russell, under the caption:
"WHITE RAIMENT LOANED TO US"
"The
Scriptures give us to understand that at the very beginning of our Christian
experience we, figuratively, are clothed in white raiment. This white raiment
represents justification -- we are justified freely from all things. It is a
robe without spot. It is sometimes spoken of a: Christ's robe of righteousness
because it comes to us through Christ. It is to be had only through him. He is
able to impute to us, to loan to us, grant to us temporarily, this robe. It is
spoken of as the wedding garment. At an oriental wedding, a wedding garment of
white linen was used to cover over the clothing worn by each guest. It was
loaned to the guest at the wedding by the host, when he appeared at the wedding
feast. White linen signifies purity. So when Christ gives us the use of his
merit, it is as a white garment to cover
our imperfections. It is an imputation of his righteousness which is to us
justification. We are exhorted to keep our garments unspotted from the world.
The imputation of righteousness given us we are to preserve, to maintain. But
we cannot fully maintain it of ourselves. Our tongues may sometimes say things
that we wish they had not said, and our hands may sometimes do things we would
not desire. Hence God has provided a way by which our blemishes or transgressions
may be eradicated-those not willful. This way is our daily application for the
cleansing of these unwilling transgressions through the precious blood. Thus
we keep our garments unspotted from the world. Thus our justification, our
white robe, is maintained -- should be maintained."
White
raiment, however, is not only provided as a precious covering robe for the
believer to wear during this present life. It is stated as the reward of the
overcomer which he will realize in the future. "They shall walk with me in
white for they are worthy." "He that overcometh, the same shall be
clothed in white raiment." - Rev. 3:4, 5.
The
significance of this figure of the white robe in the sense of a reward to be
granted the overcomer after he has successfully completed his trial and been
faithful unto death, is also most clearly unfolded by Brother Russell in
another article
"THE WHITE RAIMENT OF THE KINGDOM"
"It
is not sufficient that we have the imputation
of our
Savior's righteousness. This imputation is only a temporary arrangement. We
need to come to, the place where we shall have a righteousness of our own. Our
flesh is imperfect. . . . In spite of our best endeavors, things are bound to
go more or less wrong. But we are to prove ourselves overcomers--more than
overcomers. The Lord has arranged that at the conclusion of our trial, at the
end of the present life, all the overcomers shall receive the new body. This
new body will be a body of actual purity. Thus, as the Apostle says, we shall
be 'clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.' So our raiment will be
changed from a garment of imputed perfection, our justification by faith, to
that which represents actual perfection. At the resurrection we shall receive
that body of inherent purity, without blemish, without spot, which is here
pictured as 'white raiment.'"
What
a wonderful Gospel it is, and how little do we need to be ashamed of it! And
all this grace comes to us merely by believing in the name of Jesus, and all
that that name implies. The name of Jesus signifies Savior or Liberator, as indicated
in Matthew 1:21, which reads: "Thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he
shall save his people from their sins."
But
is it only to believers in his name that our Lord grants this privilege or
liberty of becoming sons of God? Yes, we answer, only to these. Belief in no
other person will do, nor will the acceptance of our Lord by any other name
than the one which acknowledges his ransom-sacrifice avail. He must be
recognized as Savior, not merely as Teacher or Guide. He saves his people from
sins that are past, as well as teaches and guides them to abhor and avoid sins
in the future.
It
is worthy of notice, too, that this privilege of becoming sons of God was not
extended to the overcomers of the past ages, nor will it be offered to such as
prove faithful during the Millennial Age. These are represented in the
Scriptures as receiving their life from the Christ (Head and Body). They will
thus be not sons, but grandsons, if you please, of the Father. Though the race
in general will not become sons of God, they may secure, through the sons of
God, freedom from death, pain, etc. (Rom. 8:18-22.) The children of Christ--all
who receive the redemption life, will stand as dear and as close to the
Father, Jehovah, as sons, even as in the earthly family, the grandsons are as
dearly loved, and as kindly treated. But none of them can be made perfect,
without us, the sons and heirs, as the Apostle makes plain in Hebrews 11:40.
The
manifestation of the sons of God is, therefore, the great event for which the
whole race of mankind waits and hopes and groans, even though most of them do
so in ignorance. Their hopes and expectations, not being clear, may be summed
up as a vague longing for a Golden Age, a good time by and by.
Just
now we said that the privilege of becoming sons of God is extended, in this
Gospel Age, only to believers in Jesus as their Savior, their Liberator. Some
one has put this thought in a heart searching question and presented it in a
couple of verses which appeal very strongly. They read"
"It
means so much to me, that, when he came,
They
called him 'Jesus!' 'Tis a gripping name
That
takes a saving hold on one like me,
Who
lifts new-visioned eyes that now would see
All
false lights fade in presence of the true --
What
does it mean to you?
"It
means so much to me, in crisis hours
When
right seems baffled by opposing powers
To
hear his strong voice call,
'Be
of good cheer, For I have overcome this world of fear.
Here's
refuge in my word -- my word is true! --
'What
does it mean to you?"
Brethren,
let us appreciate to the full Christ's offer of freedom--the glorious privilege
he extends to us of becoming sons of God. Let us be strong, acquitting
ourselves like men, receiving now by faith the special favor to be brought to
us at the appearing of our Lord Jesus, who will himself present us by his side
before the Father, unblamable and unreprovable in love.
-
P. L. Read.
"Many shall run to and
fro (i.e., examine
a book thoroughly - Gesenius' Hebrew Lexicon) and knowledge shall be increased." -
Daniel 12:4.
THE
above mentioned text has received much thought from Bible students in our time
and is often quoted by writers on prophecy. The interpretations offered, however,
vary considerably as do also the translations in a number of versions which
the writer has compared. The rendering, for example, in Moffatt's Translation, "Ere then many shall
give way and trouble shall be multiplied on earth", sounds as if this
learned scholar were translating an entirely different Hebrew text than the one
the King James translators had before theme. The somewhat popular An American Translation has a reading similar to
Moffatt's: "Many shall prove disloyal, and troubles shall be many."
It
is proper to ask: "Are these recent translations of Daniel 12:4 more
faithful to the original than is the familiar reading of the Common Version, which is followed by the Revised Version and also by the Revised Standard Version? And why this
difference?" It is of prime importance to have an authentic text and a
correct rendering of it if a Scripture is to be properly interpreted. The
purpose of this article is to indicate how this principle applies to the text under
consideration, and our approach to the task is with a: lively sense of the
difficulties involved, but also with a grateful appreciation of the valuable
helps made available and used.
CHOICE OF HEBREW OR GREEK TEXT
To
us it is obvious that the Moffatt rendering quoted above, or any similar one,
is a translation not of the Hebrew text as it has come down to us, but seems to
follow loosely one of the two ancient Greek versions of Daniel which have been
preserved to our day. The later of these, made by Theodotion in the second
century A.D., reads: "Until many are taught and knowledge is
increased." The older Greek version, which is the original Septuagint
(commonly called the LXX), has a reading very different from the Hebrew text
"Many shall rage, and the earth shall be filled with unrighteousness."
The Century
Bible favors
the reading: "Many shall apostatize and evils shall be multiplied upon the
earth". (Compare the note in The Companion Bible).
It
should be realized that all such renderings which make Daniel 12: 4 a
prediction of evil are not based on the Hebrew text, but are based on the
Septuagint Greek. It is true that the Greek translation was made several
centuries before our present Hebrew text was fixed and provided with vowel
points by the Masoretes. This being conceded, those scholars who adopt the LXX
reading where it differs from the Hebrew will argue that the Greek translation
was made from an older (and therefore more reliable) Hebrew text than the one
in use since the ninth century A.D.
It
is not within the scope of this article to discuss at any length the respective
merits of the Masoretic Hebrew text and any Greek version. Competent scholars
have done that in the larger Bible dictionaries, to which we refer the reader.
Suffice it to say that their consensus is that although in certain passages the
LXX appears to be more correct than the Hebrew, taken as a whole it leaves much
to be desired as a faithful version. In view of this, and the circumstance
indicated above, namely, that the two Greek versions do not agree on the
reading of Daniel 12:4, it is not surprising that most translators have
followed the Hebrew text, though in their rendering of it they differ
somewhat.
TRANSLATING THE HEBREW
Having
decided that the Hebrew text has the true reading of the verse we are studying,
the translator is done with textual questions, for all Hebrew manuscripts are
in substantial agreement. The translation problem is centered on the Hebrew
verb which may be transliterated "shut" but is pronounced
"shoot." In Daniel 12:4 the particular form of this verb which there
occurs is rendered "shall run to and fro" in the Common Version and
several later translations including the Revised Standard Version. Leeser's
"will roam about" is a variation, but the "Margolis Translation"
(the 1917 Jewish version) agrees with the King James.
Now,
going to the best Hebrew-English lexicons, we find the Oxford Gesenius giving
the meaning of the intensive form of "shut", which is used in our
text, as "go eagerly, quickly, to and fro." The intensive forms of
the verb occur only six times and, in the Common Version (King James) are
always rendered "run to and fro" (Jer. 5:1; 49:3; Amos 8:12; 2 Chron.
16:9; Zech. 4 10; Daniel 12:4). An examination of the first five of these
passages will convince the student that "run to and fro" is a good
literal translation of the Hebrew verb form, for it suits the context well in
each case. In the sixth passage (Daniel 12:4), however, the context is not of a
kind which would definitely limit the verb to its literal meaning; here it is
conceivable that it might be used in a figurative sense. In the passage in
question at least two good Hebrew lexicons do assign to the verb a
metaphorical significance, namely, Tregelles' Gesenius and Davies' Hebrew and Chaldee
Lexicon, the
former stating it thus: "To run through a book, i.e. to examine thoroughly.
"
EVALUATING THE TRANSLATIONS
Obviously
the problem of the interpreter here is the choice between the literal and
figurative meanings of the verb "shut", both of which have lexical
support as above indicated. Scholars are well aware that usage is the criterion by which
questions concerning doubtful meanings of words must often be decided. Now, if
we apply this test to the Hebrew verb in question, we find in none of its
twelve occurrences (not counting Daniel 12:4) any reference to a book or to the study of a book. The conclusion,
then, is that if the word does have such a reference in Daniel 12:4, it is
exceptional and without parallel in the Hebrew Scriptures. While these
considerations cast some doubt upon the suggested figurative meaning of
"shut", students of the original languages know that unusual constructions
and usages of words are by no means uncommon in Biblical Hebrew and Greek.
Approaching
the question from a different angle, it may be asked, What Hebrew word would
most likely have been used in our text to denote diligent study-if that had been the thought
intended? There can be little doubt that the word would have been the verb
"dahrash", which is very common in the Hebrew Scriptures, and means
"to search, inquire or investigate." This is the word used by Prof.
Franz Delitzsch in his famous Hebrew translation of the New Testament for "search the Scriptures" (John
5:39). This word study would seem to indicate that the literal definition of
"shut" (run to and fro) is on a more sound linguistic basis than is
the metaphorical rendering favored by some.
KNOWLEDGE OR UNDERSTANDING?
Now,
turning to the latter half of our text, this also has been variously
understood by expositors. Those to whom the preceding clause is a prophecy of
diligent study of the Book of Daniel in the "time of the end", find
in the statement "knowledge shall be increased" a promise that a
better understanding of the prophecies will be the result of that study. On the
other hand, those who take the expression "shall run to and fro" as a
prediction of much and rapid travel in the latter days, see a fulfillment of
the following clause in the general increase of knowledge which the world has
seen especially in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The fact that in
Daniel 12:4 the Hebrew word for "knowledge" is used, rather than the
word for "understanding" (which occurs in Daniel 1:20; 8:15; 9:22;
10:1) would seem to favor the latter interpretation.
That
there has been a marked increase in understanding of the prophecies of the Book
of Daniel hardly any student of the Bible will deny, yet the words of Brother Streeter seem to the point: "It must be
admitted that the Common Version translation, 'Many shall run to and fro, instead of 'Many shall examine
it,' is the most popular, if not the most correct, translation of the verse.
Interpreting it from this standpoint, we find it has had a much wider and far-reaching
fulfillment". (Daniel the beloved of Jehovah, page 423).
To
sum up the results of this (exegetical) study, we would say that those
translators who follow the Hebrew text are on firmer ground than the few who
base their version on the Septuagint Greek. Also, we have found that on the
basis of its literal meaning and Biblical usage, the verb "shut" was probably chosen to denote rapid
travel. We would only add that no one could find fault with the expositions of
such writers as Uriah Smith, C. T. Russell and R. E. Streeter, who saw a
double fulfillment of the prophetic words.
-
W. A. Eliason
"Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy
peace, and be not still, O God. For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they
that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against
thy people, and consulted against thy hidden [protected] ones. They have said,
Come, and let us cut them
off from
being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance. For they
have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee.
" - Psalm 83:1-5.
THE Daily Express of London, England reports from Cairo that Gamel Abdul
Nasser of Egypt is planning a five-nation Arab military pact aimed at
formation of an Arab army equipped with Soviet submarines and jet-fighters. The Daily
Express adds that plans call for
Nasser to be the Supreme Commander of all Middle East Arab military forces,
with the goal of crushing Jordan and Saudi Arabia first and finally Israel.
With the recent federation of
Egypt, Syria and Iraq, in another attempt at uniting Arab nations, a formal
statement was issued expressing their common objective -- the liquidation of
Israel. This resolve to overthrow Israel seems to be one, if not the only, thing
that truly unites all the Arab leaders. Here are some sample quotations to
prove the point:
Nasser the modern Pharaoh of
Egypt, has stated: "Our peoples' determination to liquidate the Israeli
aggression against a part of the Palestinian homeland represents a
determination to liquidate one of the most dangerous . . . enclaves opposing
the struggle of peoples."
In a speech to the Jordanian
people, broadcast by Radio Amman, King Hussein of
Jordan said: "This part of our dear Palestine that includes the sector
west of the Jordan . . . has always served as a great base of Arab Palestine.
From its territory a great concentration of the Arab people will break out to
restore the holy rights of Palestine."
King Saud of Saudi Arabia,
quoted by Al-Jihad, Jordan Daily, stated: " Stolen Palestine will
not be returned except by its own sons. The Palestinian potential must prepare
itself for the day of revenge . . . The Saudi government and its nation will
support you materially, spiritually and morally."
The Commander-in-Chief of
Syrian Armed Forces, Major-General Abdul Karim Zahr ad-Din, at
passing-out-parade of Naval Officers' Course, declared: "The Arabs and
their enemy, Israel, have a common naval front on the Mediterranean. This naval
front is the only lung through which the Zionist monster, closed in on its
three sides by strong Arab walls, can breathe. In order to strangle Israel and
to liquidate it, the Arabs must sever this lifeline by a strong Arab naval
striking force."
In view of this avowed open threat
to Israel's security, let us examine some of the basic facts of this volatile
situation. What lies at the bottom of the hostility of the Arab leadership
toward Israel is that in 1948, when the Jewish State came into being, the Jews
in Palestine at the time, having very little in the way of armaments, were nevertheless
able to defeat the combined armies of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt.
Needless to say, the pride of the Arab rulers was so badly wounded that to
this day they haven't been able to forgive Israel. To top this off, in 1956
Israel gave Egypt a very stinging defeat in the Sinai campaign, which was a personal
affront to Nasser, the touted head of the Arab world.
HOW THEY COMPARE
The total population of
Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia and Yemen is in excess of
50,000,000, whereas Israel has just over 2,000,000 inhabitants. So the ratio of
population is 25 Arabs to one Jew in the Middle East. Thus the contest takes on
the semblance of the boy-David and-giant Goliath struggle. According to the
Encyclopedia Britannica, the standing army of Israel numbers 50,000 as against
about 300,000 in the regular troops of the seven Arab armies. On the surface it
would appear that Israel just could not possibly withstand such overwhelming
forces. While the Arabs have lost two rounds
with Israel, it is very evident that they are intent upon a third
confrontation.
One favorable aspect in this
whole affair as far as Israel is concerned has been the actual disunity
existing among the Arab nations and their leaders. Their dealings with one another
have been full of treachery. There is a lot of mistrust in their midst. We must
remember that in 1958 the nation of Lebanon called for assistance from the
United States to protect its sovereignty because of the attempt of Nasser to
overthrow the existing regime. Simultaneously King Hussein of Jordan asked the
British for aid.
"THE SWORD OF THE LORD"?
Observers of the Middle East
scene have frequently stated that the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan exists today
only by the grace of Israel. David Ben-Gurion has made it known that if Egypt
should invade this neighboring Arab State, the Israel Army would move in and
take all of the Arab section of partitioned Palestine, even to the Jordan
River.
In Joshua's day Jacob's
posterity took possession of the land by conquest, with the blessing of God.
Will the expansion of Israel's borders take place in like manner in our time?
The manner of reoccupation of Israel by the Jews under Nehemiah may throw
further light on the way in which the Lord may permit his ancient chosen people
to take full possession of the land that was deeded to them - Gen. 17:8.
A MOST UNHOLY ALLIANCE
Many people around the world
were very shocked and disturbed by the revelation that there are presently in
Egypt well over 250 highly paid German scientists and technicians working for
Nasser in the development of missiles in his master plan to wipe out Israel.
This disclosure led the members of Israel's Parliament to unanimously adopt the
following resolution
"The Knesset
[Parliament] of Israel states that the activity of German scientists and
experts engaged by the Government of Egypt in the development of destructive
armaments against Israel constitutes grave dangers to the security of Israel
and its population.
"The German people
cannot relieve itself of the responsibility for the continuation of this
criminal activity. It is the duty of the Government of the Federal Republic of
Germany to stop immediately this dangerous work of its citizens and to take all
necessary measures to prevent their collaboration with the Government of Egypt.
"The Knesset of Israel
calls upon the enlightened public opinion throughout the world to exert without
delay its influence in this matter until the deplorable activity of the German
experts, which aims at the total destruction of the State of Israel, is
brought to an end.
"The State of Israel, in
which have gathered the remnants of the Nazi holocaust, cannot and will not be
indifferent in the face of this most dangerous plot."
The Israeli Foreign Minister,
Mrs. Golda Meir, has charged that these German scientists are also developing
some kinds of deadly armaments for Egypt which are forbidden by international
law and which are electronic and bacteriological devices meant for
destruction. So while Hitler may be dead and buried, yet Naziism is still
rampant.
MORE AID FROM "NORTH QUARTERS"
Columbia
Broadcasting System diplomatic
correspondent Marvin Kalb has reported the sale by Russia within the last two
months of 160 strategic weapons for Egypt. Attributing his information to
authoritative sources, the correspondent, who is considered one of the topmost
experts on Soviet Affairs in the United States, cited sale by Russia of 80
antiaircraft missiles, 80 sidewinder-type missiles usable with Soviet-made
MIG-21 jet fighter planes as well as supplying Egypt with technological
assistance for deployment of 30-50 ground-to-ground missiles built in Egypt.
The 80 antiaircraft missiles reported by Mr. Kalb are located in Cairo, Aswan,
and at both northern and southern terminals of the Suez Canal.
Drew Pearson, in his
syndicated newspaper column entitled Washington Scene, states that Russia has shipped arms to Egypt the like of which she did
not even send to Cuba. He says that the arsenal of weapons which have been
piled up in Egypt include Ilyushin-28 bombers, the Badger or TU-16, the new
SA-2, a crack antiaircraft gun, and that the Atoll, a brand-new air-to-air
missile, has been promised the Egyptians.
Is it any wonder that Prime
Minister David Ben-Gurion, in addressing the Knesset, stated that "without
a shadow of doubt the Arab States are contemplating attack upon Israel"?
WHAT IS THE ISRAELI OUTLOOK?
We have reason to believe
that many of Jacob's posterity in the Land of Promise today share the
confidence regarding Israel's survival that was expressed in a published
letter written by Carla Schultz of Jerusalem to the editors of Time magazine, in which she makes reference to a cover
article of March 29 on Egypt's Nasser. Here is what she states:
"My attention was
riveted to Time
as I rode a bus climbing into the
Judean Hills from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. You could not have chosen a more
appropriate time than Passover to discuss the modern Pharaoh who glares across
the Red Sea at us. As the bus wound higher into the hills, the elderly lady
seated next to me looked at the expression of my face, then eyed Nasser's picture,
and, patting my arm, she said, 'Never mind, never mind. God will protect us.
Fifteen years ago we had nothing here at all. Now see,' and she nodded to the
'kibbutzim' [collective agricultural settlements] riding the crests of the
mountains."
"The
burden of the word of the Lord for Israel, saith the Lord, which stretcheth
forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the
spirit of man within him. Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto
all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah
and against Jerusalem. And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome
stone for all people: all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in
pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it....
"In
that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he, that is
feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall
be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them. And it shall come to pass in
that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
" - Zechariah 12:1-3, 8, 9.
-
Casimir Lanowick
"Marvel not at this:
for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in
the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth. " - John 5:28, 29.
(In
the April issue of Harper's magazine, "Population Explosion" is seen to be no longer an
academic question'' the solution of which may be deferred to the dim and
distant future, but to be a very practical matter of great urgency. According
to Editor John Fischer:
"In
the future the chief danger of war seems likely to come, not from an arms race
or even from the classic causes, but from an element new in history: the
pressure of population. Indeed, if the earth's population continues to rise
at the present rate', for another 40 years, major wars appear to be
inevitable."
There
is no longer any doubt in the minds of intelligent men and women, whatever
their beliefs on other matters. Population control rivals the problem of
controlling deadly nuclear weapons.
In
the November 23, 1959 issue of the weekly magazine, U.S. News & World
Report, an
interview is related with Sir Charles Darwin, distinguished British scientist
and grandson of the nineteenth century naturalist who originated the Darwinian
theory of evolution. Under the caption "Standing Room Only," this
leading expert expresses his views on the effect of population growth. He makes it clear that, in his
judgment, in a much shorter period than two hundred years, there will be on this earth
standing room only. Moreover, in response to an inquiry as to whether we might
find any place in space to put our surplus population, he replied in the
negative. According to his understanding, there are three essentials to human
life: (1) a reasonable temperature, (2) plenty of water, and, (3) oxygen, and
that not all three are present on other planets. The world food problem, in his
view, is even now, with more than half the world starving, very serious, and in
considerably less than fifty years, will have become increasingly so, and be urgently demanding solution.
In
view of the timeliness of these questions, we reprint below an article
published in these pages in October 1950. It not only discusses Population
and Food Problems, but indicates their scriptural solution, and offers some
observations on the "Hope of Mankind. " - -Ed. Com.)
ONE
OF the propositions which "to us the Scriptures teach" is stated on
the second page of this journal in the following words:
"The
hope for the world lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be
brought to all by Christ's Millennial Kingdom -- the restitution of all that
was lost in Adam, to all the
willing and obedient, at the hands of their Redeemer and His glorified Church
-- when all the willfully wicked will be destroyed. - Acts 3:19-23; Isa.
35."
Our
older readers are aware that nearly fifty years ago, in the celebrated
Eaton-Russell debates, these Millennial hopes were criticized by Dr. Eaton on
the grounds 'that there was not sufficient land surface on the earth to
accommodate all the people who had lived from Adam's day to ours, so that a literal resurrection,
as human beings on this earth, was an impossibility. His words, in part, were
as follows:
"This
Millennial doctrine encounters a very serious difficulty. If the
world's population had doubled each century for the past sixty-which seems a
very reasonable estimate -- the present population of the earth would be two
and one-third quintillions of people. That would cover over the fifty millions
of square miles of land surface on (this globe with people as thickly as they
could stand, four thousand deep. If each were five feet high, they would reach
up into the sky nearly four miles. No doubt enough people have been born to
make that number."
It
will also be recalled that Pastor C. T. Russell, in debate with Dr. Eaton,
thoroughly examined this criticism and showed:
(1)
That Dr. Eaton's estimate of two and one third quintillions of people was a
gross exaggeration -- seventy million times too large -- that a figure
somewhere between ten and thirty billions would be much closer and
(2)
That the ability of the earth to furnish all those with habitation and food was
ample; and that this was especially true when Making into consideration the
Lord's promise that in the coming Millennial day the earth would yield her
increase, and her desert and wilderness places become like Eden, the garden of
the Lord. - Ezek. 34:27; Isa. 51:3; 35:1.
However,
it will also be recalled that after proving the position of Anti-millennialists
to be untenable, Pastor Russell extended the discussion to show not only that
the Millennium, must come, but that it must come soon; that if it were to be delayed
(not fifty thousand years, as Dr. Eaton expected, but only one thousand, it
would be literally impossible;* and that even if it were delayed only three hundred years, "there would be
room for an argument on the possibility of God's promise of restitution of all
things spoken." - Acts 3:19-21.
-------------------------------
*In
this he was in agreement with the celebrated naturalist Charles Darwin, who, in
his "Origin of Species," wrote: "In less than one thousand
years, there would literally not be standing room for his [man's]
progeny."
Consequently,
since God's promise is sure, the result of the examination of the question was
to strengthen faith in the belief that its fulfillment, due to commence at the
Second Advent of Christ, could not be long delayed. The time was, indeed, at
hand.
Pastor
Russell's defense of the Bible doctrine of the World's Millennial Hope took
place nearly fifty years ago -- October 29, 1903 to be exact. What is the
outlook today? Today it seems that his 300 year computation is confirmed by
competent writers on the subject, as witness the following:
Guy
Irving Burch, in the Population Bulletin ** states that "in 1940 the
population of the earth was a little over two billion."
-----------------------------------
**
Published by the Population Reference Bureau, a non-profit scientific
educational organization located in Washington, D. C., founded in 1929 for the
purposes of gathering, correlating, and distributing population data.
Kingsley
Davis, of the Office of Population Research, Princeton University, is quoted
by Burch as saying: "Should the present global population continue to
increase at the same rate that prevailed between 1900 and 1940, the earth would
hold over twenty-one billion by the year 2240"; -- that is to say, by
approximately 300 years from now. (Pastor Russell's estimate was sixteen billion
in 300 years from 1903.)
Warren
S. Thompson, in his book "Danger Spots in World Population" tells us:
"China might send forth six million emigrants each year and still increase
in population at home."
The
Red Cross Commission to China in 1928-29 said: "It is estimated that if
all the ships in the world now engaged in passenger traffic on, the seven seas
were withdrawn from their usual routes and were devoted solely to transporting
Chinese from their native land to other countries, they could not keep up with the
growth of population."
Guy
Irving Burch, commenting on the last two items quoted, says: "The above
statements may be applied also to India, and if the high death rate of Russia
were lowered to the level of that of the United States, the statement might be
applied in a decade or so to that country." And again: "We have
mentioned before . . . that if India's death rate were lowered to the level of
that of the United States, with her present birth rate India could populate at
least five earths as large as ours, in a single century. The same statement
applies to China." Elsewhere he writes: "In India, according to
British official records, the population increased fifty million between the
1930 and 1940 census periods, notwithstanding that one out of four die on or
before their second birthday."
WORLD POPULATION AND THE "FOUR FREEDOMS"
"Today
the whole world is divided between human slavery and human freedom-between
pagan brutality and the Christian ideal. We choose human freedom -- which is
the Christian ideal."
Thus
spake the late President Roosevelt in his historic address on the evening of
May 28, 1941. Then, after observing that it was possible for the seeds of the
present menace to human. liberty to be planted and allowed to grow only in a
world such as the post-war world of the 1920's, which "we will not (again)
accept," he went on to say, "We will accept only a world consecrated
to freedom of speech and expression -- freedom of every person to worship God
in his own way--freedom from want and freedom from terrorism."
The
next day Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden stated Britain's war aims. He called
for permanent guarantee of the "four freedoms" mentioned by President
Roosevelt. He spoke of "a new moral order" in the world, in which
there will be no starving peoples, in which nations will trade
at will and to mutual advantage, in which there will be work for all and
assurances that chaos must not come again 'to this world. He envisioned the
establishment of social security in all lands.
Unfortunately
details as to how this "new moral order" is to be secured and the
"four freedoms" established do not appear in either speech. Nor are
'we ourselves able to furnish these details, much as we can and do sympathize
with their objectives. We know only that God has, indeed, promised a world such
as these statesmen hoped to see -- one even better than they hoped, and that
His promise is certain of fulfillment. Meantime we are determined not to think
or speak
or do anything
that might tend to discourage in the slightest degree, those who, in high
places, are filled with such ideals, and who are laboring to accomplish them in
the earth. On the contrary let us pray
for such, and, to the extent of our ability, cooperate with them to those
ends. - 1 Tim. 2:1-3.
We
must not, however, indulge in wishful thinking; and that is what millions of
people do engage in, when they suppose that good will and technology alone, or
even with the aid of a strong international police force, can free all the
people of the world from want. Certainly they are not free from want now, as
was pointed out by Clinton P. Anderson, who, as Secretary of Agriculture, in
his radio address June 15, 1946 said:
"The
present food crisis isn't an unusual situation-it's only unusually severe. There's never enough food in
the world to give every one what he needs to eat, at any given moment.
Two-thirds of the world's people are chronically undernourished."
During
the Second World War the U. S. Office of War Information issued a pamphlet
entitled "The United Nations Fight for the Four Freedoms," which
says:
"
. . . beyond any doubt, men now possess the technical ability to produce in
great abundance the necessities of daily life-enough for every one. This is a
revolutionary and quite unprecedented condition on earth, which stimulates the
imagination, and quickens the blood. . . . In the short space of a few decades we have changed scarcity to abundance and are now engaged in
the experiment of trying to live with our new and as yet unmanageable riches.
The problem becomes one not of production, but of distribution and consumption."
Characterizing
this statement as "a typical example of wishful thinking," Burch and
Pendell, in their book "Human Breeding and Survival" further comment:
"That
men now possess the technical ability to produce in great abundance the
necessities of daily life is true. But that men can produce enough for 'every
one' is certainly not 'beyond any doubt.' The huge death rates of two-thirds of
the earth's people indicate that man is not producing enough for healthful
living; and this fact suggests how much more is needed to provide for even the
present population of the world. Yet population is very much on the move, and
every one fifty years from now will mean something quite different from what
it means today. In 1900, 'every one' meant some 1,600,000,000 people. Today,
notwithstanding two world wars and very high death rates in Asia and parts of
Europe, it means about 2,500,000,000; and by the end of this century, at recent
rates of increase, it may mean as many as 3,300,000,000 people."
It
has been estimated that, with our present ability to produce, we could
probably care adequately for a world population of three quarters of a billion
people. H. G. Wells once said that one-half a billion was probably closer to a
"right-sized" world population, under present-day conditions. Others
who have carefully studied the subject are in agreement with Wells. Note the
following:
"If
each family in the world had a fair-sized house with its own yard; had meat to
eat at least once a day and an adequate supply of fruits and milk; had proper
medical care and lived in a healthful and stimulating climate; it is doubtful
whether all these good things of life could be spread over more than 500,000,000
people at the present time." (Population Bulletin, December, 1948.)
In
further support of this view we quote Colin Clark, the authority on
international levels of living. In his book, "The Conditions of Economic
Progress," he shows that:
"The
oft-repeated phrases about poverty in the midst of plenty, and the problems of
production having already been solved if only we understood the problems of
distribution, turn out to be the most untruthful of all modern cliches."
BRITAIN'S POPULATION PROBLEM
Some
idea of the vastness of this "population" problem -- and the urgency
with which its solution must be found, may be seen from a study of the situation
in Great Britain today. In the book by Colin Clark above referred to, figures
are given showing the relative levels of living of thirty-four nations. The
first seven are listed in the following order: United States, Canada, New
Zealand, Great Britain, Switzerland, Argentina, Australia. Included in these
it will be noted are five New World countries, where the ratio of population to
land and natural resources is relatively low. Switzerland, of course,
maintains its high level of living largely because of the rich tourist trade it
enjoys.
Britain
owes her place in this fortunate list because of her empire, on which "the
sun never sets." But this list was prepared in 1940. It may be questioned
if it would remain unchanged today. According to the June, 1949 Report of the
Royal Commission on Population, Great Britain has more than two and one-half
times as many people per square mile as Europe, and more than eleven times as
many as the United States.
During
the nineteenth century Britain was supreme in industrialization, trade, naval
force, and investments abroad. Today this is no longer true, and the trend in
her vital coal production, her exports and foreign investments has been
decidedly downward. This trend was inevitable, but it has been hastened, since
1913, by two world wars. As a result she is caught with a surplus population;
that is to say, a population larger than she can support from the combined
yields of her land, industry, and foreign trade.
This
large surplus population, estimated to be at least fifteen million, is almost
certain to continue Britain's chronic crisis. Britain, -of course, has other
problems. One which is perhaps better known is her acute "dollar"
shortage-coming as the aftermath to World War II. However, this surplus population
is not her acute
problem; it
threatens to be her chronic problem.
In
the St. Louis Globe Democrat for December 26, 1949 there appeared an article
containing a solution to this problem. It was captioned:
"FIFTEEN MILLION MUST EMIGRATE
IF ENGLAND IS TO SURVIVE"
This
solution was the suggestion of Dr. Burch, from whom we have already several
times quoted. According to Burch, the emigration of some fifteen million, or
approximately one-third of Britain's present population, to more thinly
inhabited British areas, such as Australia, Canada, and parts of Africa, would
not only prove advantageous to the emigrants themselves, but would help to make
the United Kingdom self-supporting. The suggested mass migration, of some
half-million a year for thirty years, would not be an easy job, Dr. Burch
admits, and it would doubtless be at :the expense of the United States. It is nevertheless
his contention that it would be cheaper to move a 140 pound person once, than to move some 1,400
pounds of food, plus other raw materials, every year, to support that person if he remains in
Britain.
The
case of Britain, which has statesmen "at their wit's end" to solve,
is not mentioned here because it is the world's foremost population and living
problem. Quite to the contrary. It is intended to show that if in the case of
such a country these problems have become so grave as to defy solution, what
must they be in the rest of the world? How much we need to continue, and never
to cease, to pray: "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth."
"MAN'S EXTREMITY GOD'S OPPORTUNITY"
Just
how ,the Almighty will bring Order out of this chaos we know not. That he will
do so we are sure. This earth is his footstool (Isa. 66:1; Matt. 5:35; Acts 7:49), and he has
declared it to be his intention to make the place of his feet glorious. (Isa.
60:13.) With us this would be impossible --not so with him.
The
food question will be solved-miraculously if need be, but more than likely it
will be, done naturally. If a miracle is necessary our faith will not falter.
Did not our Lord Jesus show us, in the feeding of the five thousand with five
loaves and two fishes, that to the power of the Creator, in his hands or in his
Father's, it could be no greater difficulty to produce bread for a few thousand people, in an
extraordinary (supernatural) way, than it is to produce, by ordinary (natural)
methods, food for the supply of the teeming millions who daily feast at God's
bountiful table. - Matt. 14:15-21.
But
we doubt if such miracles will prove necessary. Under the new government shortly to be established
when out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the Lord
from Jerusalem, the nations shall beat their swords into ploughshares and
their spears into pruning-hooks. That is to say, the money now spent on the
armies and navies of the world will be channeled into agricultural pursuits. That miracle
will be enough, we think. - Isa. 2:2-4.
The
population question will be
solved-and that in a manner clearly stated by our Lord Jesus. Our readers will
recall his answer to the Sadducees. (Luke 20:34-36.) At the close of the
Millennium, when perfection shall have been reached, mankind will have become
sexless -- in that respect they will then be like unto the angels. The marriage
relationship, instituted (with the human family only) for the special purpose
of producing a race, will have accomplished its purpose. The earth will be
filled -- not over crowded with holy, happy, human beings, all doing right,
not from compulsion, but from choice. Then he, our Lord Jesus Christ, having
put down all rule, and authority, and power, having reigned until all enemies
are under his feet, with death itself destroyed, shall deliver up the Kingdom
to God, even the Father, that God may be all in all. - l Cor. 15:24-28.
"No
place shall be in that new earth
For
all that blights this universe;
No
evil taint the second birth --
There
shall be no more curse.
Ye
broken hearted, cease your moan;
The
day of promise dawns for you;
For
He who sits upon the throne
Says,
'I make all things new.'
"We
mourn the dead, but they shall wake
The
lost, but they shall be restored!
O!
well our human hearts might break
Without
that sacred word!
Dim
eyes, look up! sad hearts, rejoice!
Seeing
God's bow of promise through,
At
sound of that prophetic voice:
'I
will make all things new."'
-
P. L. Read.
"The fruit of the
spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. " - Gal. 5:22.
AT
the conclusion of the "Whitsuntide Meditation" published in the
May-June "Herald," after noting that that all of the several graces
mentioned are to be developed together in the character of each consecrated follower of the Master, we paused to
compare the teaching of our text, first with that of our Lord, in the
Beatitudes (Matt. 5), and then with the well-known passage from St. Peter's
pen, where the one who "has obtained precious faith," is exhorted to
give all diligence to furnish in his faith fortitude, and in his fortitude
knowledge, etc., etc., and thus to develop, not a one-sided, but a well-balanced Christian character.
This
passage from St. Peter, moreover, should caution us against a disproportionate
inference from the imagery of "fruit" suggested by St. Paul in Gal.
5:22 and by our Lord in the parable of the Vine. (John 15.) The ideas suggested
by "fruit" and "fruit-bearing" are not those of effort and
care in the fruit-bearing branches; effort and care are the cultivator's part.
But St. Peter's exhortation reminds us that the analogy between the impersonal
fruit-tree and the personal believer cannot be in all respects complete. In the
conscious and responsible man there is a place for "all diligence."
As Brother Russell, commenting on 1 Peter 1:14, 15 has well observed:
"Some Christians have the erroneous idea that God does all the fashioning,
and that his children are to be merely passive in his hand; but Peter does not
so express it. He exhorts us to fashion ourselves according to the divine instructions.
There is work to be done in us and about us, and those who are not up and
doing, but who passively sit and wait for the Lord to work miracles on their
behalf, are greatly deceived and are giving the enemy great advantage over
them, which he will certainly use to bind them hand and foot and cast them into
outer darkness, unless they bestir themselves to work out their own salvation
with fear and trembling." - Manna, March 19.
But
when this is said, by way of balance and clearness, then without reserve we may
give our thankful attention to the blessed suggestions and significance of the
word "fruit." What does it tell us? It tells us, the branches of the
true Vine, that in us, but not of us, there is a mighty, fructifying principle.
It tells us that the Christian character is not something to be worked up by
weary efforts out of the material of self. Rather it is the result of growth. It is not something to be manufactured. Nor is it to be acquired
from our surroundings; it is produced in the midst of them, not because of
them, but often in spite of them. To quote again from our late Pastor:
"As
members of the fallen race we were incapable of doing any work which our holy
God could accept. Our present standing, therefore, as New Creatures, is not
the result of anything that the old creature did, or could have done. It is
not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. This lesson must be thoroughly
appreciated, else we will be continually in danger of falling.... So far from
considering the New Creature as an evolution of the old creature, the Apostle
would have us understand distinctly that it is a new and separate creation. We
were created in Glarist Jesus, God's workmanship -prepared for good works, but not by good works. " - Manna, March 29.
"Contrast,"
says our Lord, "the glory of Solomon with that of the lily of the
field." Why was it that Solomon's glory could not be compared with but only
contrasted with that of the lily? Because the lily grew, and all the
colors of the lily came from within, while all the glorious raiment worn by Solomon was a
glory not his own, put on him from without.
Let
the anxious, the discouraged, Christian, ponder this word "fruit"
recollecting this, its special significance. Let him be at rest concerning the
adequacy of the mighty power working within him to will and to do God's good
pleasure -- and to complete the good work begun in him. (Phil. 1:6.) Let him in
humble faith
"lay aside" all known hindrances; and then, in the same humble
faith, watching and praying, yield himself unto God, that he may have his
"fruit unto holiness," "fruit unto God." - Rom. 6:13, 23;
7:14.
THE THREE TRIADS
Commentators,
generally, have suggested that the nine elements of fruit mentioned in St.
Paul's inspired analysis may be taken in three triads, or sets of three, corresponding
to three sides of the much diversified Christian experience. The first three,
Love, Joy, and Peace find their sphere of operation in the inner life of
fellowship with God, which is known only to God and to the individual
Christian's own consciousness; Long-suffering, Gentleness, and Goodness
describe the Christian's character in his relationship with men; Faithfulness,
Meekness, and Self-control manifest themselves in the personal character,
which interprets itself in words and deeds, yes, even in face and manner. In
those who possess it, and (if we may use the expression) are themselves
possessed of it, the spirit of Christ bears fruit in every region of human life.
The
essence, then, of the life and character'' of one producing the fruit of the
spirit is Love, Joy, and Peace. These cannot be called duties; they should not be thought
of as virtues,
even; they
are simply the result of communion or fellowship with God -the fruit of the spirit. The love of God has been shed abroad
in the Christian's heart by the Holy Spirit. (Rom. 5:5.) The exalted Head of
the Church was anointed with the oil of gladness and this anointing flows down upon the members of
the Body as righteousness, peace, and joy,
in the Holy
Spirit. (Rom. 14:17.) These three elements of the fruit are in the private,
inner life which God alone beholds. Nevertheless when Love and Joy and Peace are within, they cannot but
find outward expression, and make their possessor loving, joyful, and peaceful; loving towards God, the brethren
and all men; joyful
with a calm
but contagious and beneficent happiness; peaceful, with a sense of rest which cannot but diffuse
itself in the direction of those with whom he comes in touch.
Again,
in his relationships with the brethren and with all men, the fruit bearing
Christian is seen to be Longsuffering, Gentle and Good.
"Longsuffering," it has been observed, "is the capacity to
present the same calm surface today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, in
spite of anything and everything." It is long temper, as contrasted with
short temper; the ability to "bear all things." (1 Cor. 13:7.)
"Gentleness" is to touch others lightly, and then only with a
healing touch; to manifest a disposition at all times to be tender in one's
treatment of others -- tender even in one's just reproofs.
"Goodness" in this connection, is to be good to others; to pronounce benediction
upon them; to be benevolent to them, to see that they benefit from their
association with us.
Finally,
the true Christian character, as it develops, results in a practical, alert,
circumspect outward life. Bright with a secret happiness, long-suffering with
an infinite forbearance, the fruit of the spirit will be seen in Faithfulness,
Meekness, and Self-control. The truly spiritual man will be faithful in every duty, loyal to
every promise. He will be dependable in business. His friends will receive
faithful and careful counsel. His employers will get a service out of him in
which their just interests will be as his own. His employees will find him
watchfully equitable, considerate, courteous. He will take
great care to owe no one anything. The local ecclesia will be well and truly
served by him, be it ever so large, or small, or unresponsive. He will be known
to be one who will take trouble for others, and who is glad to be their servant
indeed for Christ's sake. He will be meek, avoiding a manner and habit of self-assertion among
his brethren in matters of opinion or of work. And with and over it all he will
be self-controlled.
He will,
for the glory of the Master, his Master, and that he may be truly serviceable in his
ministry to others, watch and pray over his own acts and habits; over bed, and
board, and literature, and companionship, and recreation, and imagination, and
tongue - over thought, word, and deed.
Will
he progress thus, to perfection? No -- not in this life. Indeed, as though to
caution against such a thought the Apostle immediately presents the case of a
brother overtaken in a fault, urging all, as they seek to restore the erring
one, to do so in the spirit of meekness, lest they also should be tempted.
(Gal. 6:1.) No -- perfection in this life is not present to the Apostle's mind,
here or elsewhere, for them or himself. In Phil. 3:13, he emphatically declares
"I count not myself to have apprehended. "
"THIS
ONE THING I
DO"
But
he did not stop with that confession. His further words show that he had an
objective which reached beyond the present life. "This one thing I do,
forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things
which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus. " - Phil. 3:13, 14.
Let
us follow him as he followed Christ. As the Apostle Peter declares: "If
ye do these things ye shill never fall." "The contingency is not in
the doing of these things perfectly and regardless of the righteousness of Christ to cover our
transgressions and compensate for our daily shortcomings; but if, added to our faith in the
imputed righteousness of Christ, we have cultivated all these graces to the
extent of our ability, we shall not fall. When we have done all that we can do,
we are still unprofitable servants, not daring to trust in our own righteousness
but in the ample robe which is ours by faith in Christ, while, with consistent
'diligence,' we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, knowing
that the righteousness of Christ is only applied to such as desire to forsake
sin and pu °sue that 'holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.' " - Manna, Nov. 20.
"We seek not, Lord, for tongues of flame,
Or
healing virtue's mystic aid;
But
power Thy Gospel to proclaim
The
balm for wounds that sin has made.
"Breathe
on us, Lord; Thy radiance pour
On
all the wonders of the page
Where
hidden lies the heavenly lore
That
blessed our youth and guides our age.
"Give
strength, blest Savior, in Thy might;
Illuminate
our hearts, and we,
Transformed
into Thine image bright,
Shall
teach, and love, and live, like Thee."
- P.
L. Read
"We all, with open face
beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,
are changed into the same image...."
- 2
Cor.
3:18.
Question:
In
the "Herald" for October 1952, in answer to the question "' What
is the present mission of the Church?" you replied that its mission,
throughout the Gospel Age, has been twofold, namely: (1) To grow in grace and
(2) To bear witness. How is growth in grace accomplished?
Answer:
I
do not wish to over-simplify the matter, but it is nevertheless true, that the
answer to this question is very simple, and may be stated in two words:
"Beholding" and "Reflecting"; beholding and reflecting the
glory or character of the Lord. In the New Testament St. Paul expresses the
thought that, as we gaze into the Lord's Word, as we continually meditate
therein, we behold there his character and, beholding it, there is created in
us a desire to reflect it, and, as we continue to behold it, and to the best
of our ability to reflect it, we become like him; that we actually
become-gradually, of course, but none the less surely like him; changed into his image. The text to which I allude is
given at the head of this "Question Box." "We all, with unveiled
face, beholding [or reflecting] as in a mirror the glory [or character] of the
Lord are transformed into the same image from glory to glory [from one degree
of character development to another] even as from the Lord the Spirit."
In
this passage St. Paul is applying to us what appropriately enough has been
termed the law of influence; and he is showing how the influence of Christ on
his Church conforms to this law in accomplishing her transformation. Let us
look at this law of influence briefly.
It
is a well-known fact that we become like those whom we habitually admire.
Children, especially, are apt to imitate -- are apt to have their characters
molded by -- those whom they love and esteem, and this same law of influence
carries over into adult life. I wonder if we are sufficiently grateful, not
only to God, but to all the human beings whose influence has played so great a
part in the development of our character to date. Think how large a part good
parents and teachers have played, who guided us in our early years! How much we
owe to the authors, most of whom we have never met, whose thoughts and emotions,
expressed in words or music, have contributed so much to our education along
many lines; particularly along moral and ethical lines!
Try
to contrast what your own character today would have been, regardless of your
parentage if, immediately after you were born, you had been separated from
your parents, dropped in the midst of a heathen nation, and allowed to grow up
like a weed; contrast, I say, the character you would have become in such an
environment with what you are
today, and know that for much of your attainment you are indebted to the men
and women who founded this country with its institutions -- of liberty, and
justice, and opportunity for all. While part of what we are is the result of
the operation of the law of heredity, traced back to Father Adam, a very great
deal of our personality, today, is the result of our environment, of the various
influences to which we have been subjected, and to which we have subjected
ourselves, since birth.
How
important then, that, insofar as it lies in our own power (and to a very
considerable extent it does lie in our own power), we should endeavor to secure
the best possible environment, and submit ourselves to only the most elevating
influences.
When
Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians, he himself was a changed man; a very
different man from what he was when he had met and been conquered by Christ on
the Damascus road. And he knew, exactly, how this change had come about. He
had been spending his whole life since then, absorbed in the Master. He had been giving heed to no other influence except the
influence of Christ and, occupied thus with Christ, he had become more and more
like Christ.
As
in the case of Paul, so it
is to be with the rest of us. We all, says he, with unveiled face, beholding
and reflecting the character of the Lord are transformed into his image.
The
operation of this principle (this law) of influence may be clearly seen in the
Book of Psalms. While the Psalms may be studied with profit from many
standpoints, their chief appeal to us lies in the encouragement they lend us
in our endeavors to walk worthy of our high calling; in the strength we gain
from them to lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us;
in the incentive to holy living their continual use affords.
And
yet, while this is true, it is instructive to observe that they do not accomplish this
result directly, but indirectly. Here and there indeed, we find direct exhortations and
warnings; exhortations to righteousness, and warnings against unrighteousness.
But in the main this is not the method of the Psalmists. No! instead of
continual exhortation to holy living, instead of stressing the importance of
developing a character like to our Lord -- a character which we have been
called to develop, and which we so greatly desire to possess; of which we are
deeply conscious of coming far short-instead of continually urging us to
"grow in grace," the grand mission of the Psalmists seems to be to
display the character possessed by Jehovah. By concentrating our minds on the
surpassing excellence of Jehovah, the Psalmists knew that they would thereby bring us
under an influence which itself would transform us, if we did but continue
under it. Acting on the self-same principle which, a we have seen, is so
lucidly set forth by the Apostle in 2 Cor. 3:18, the Palmists set their songs
purposely to display before our eyes the wondrous perfections of our God. If
only they can get us to continually behold him, they feel, we will nee no
urging to become like him. It will be the one all-absorbing passion of our
lives. For example, listen to these words from Psalm 146, verses 7-10 (Psa.
146:7-10)
"(Jehovah)
who executeth justice for the oppressed;
Who
giveth food to the hungry.
Jehovah
looseth the prisoners;
Jehovah
openeth the eyes
of the
blind;
Jehovah
raiseth up them that are bowed down;
Jehovah
loveth the righteous;
Jehovah
preserveth the sojourners;
He
upholdeth the fatherless and widow;
Praise
ye Jehovah."
How
could one continually meditate on the character of Jehovah, as portrayed in
these words, without having his heart drawn towards him; and longing to be like
him.
Or
again, in that very familiar Psalm 103:2-4:
"Bless
Jehovah, O my soul;
And
forget not all his benefits;
Who
forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who
healeth all thy diseases;
Who
redeemeth thy life from destruction;
Who
crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies."
One
related question has been raised, which ought to be considered here. It is
this: Is our transformation into the likeness of Christ the work of he Lord or
our own work?
I
answer: It is the work of both. Let me give you two illustrations, which may
help to make the matter clear. My first is that of an astronomer in the
observatory, photographing the spectrum of a star. From one point of view it
is the star which takes the, picture. It is the light of the star on the
photographic film which takes the picture. But if the astronomer doesn't have
his instrument properly focused and brought to bear on the star, there will be no picture, let the star shine
ever so brightly. Another thing: While the star's position in the heaven is
fixed, the earth moves. And since it requires a time exposure to get the
photograph desired, the astronomer must make allowance for this motion of the
earth.
It
is thus with us. Our great star, Christ Jesus, will keep on shining, but he
will shine in our
hearts,
only if they are properly focused, and brought to bear on him. And just as the
astronomer's telescope has to be continuously in adjustment to allow for the
motion of the earth, throughout the entire time of film exposure, so we must
allow for the drifting motion of the world, which will otherwise quickly carry
us out of the line of vision. And we must do this throughout the entire time we are here
in the flesh. We do this by the exercise of our wills, setting our affections
on Christ -- and keeping them there.
It
is the star that takes the picture; it is also the astronomer. It is the Lord
who accomplishes our transformation; it is also our own work.
My
second illustration is that of two sailing boats. There they are, out at sea,
lying motionless in a calm. Suddenly a strong wind begins to blow, and both
ships start to move. What causes them to move?? You reply The wind, of course.
True enough, I answer. But why does one go east, and the other west? Let the
poet tell us:
"One
ship sails east, another west,
By
the self-same wind that blows;
'Tis
not the gale, But the set of the sail,
Which
determines the way they go.
"Like
the winds of the sea
Are
the ways of time,
As
we voyage along through life;
'Tis
the set of the soul
That
determines the goal
And
not the calm or the strife."
In
conclusion then, let us examine, and constantly reexamine, ourselves, to make
certain that there are no baneful influences in our lives to which we are
voluntarily submitting, and, in the words of our text, let us all, with
unveiled face, beholding and reflecting (or, to use Rotherham's choice
translation: mirroring) the glory of the Lord, become ourselves changed into
his likeness, the change being wrought upon and in us, by the power of the holy
spirit of our Lord.
-
P. L. Read.
Br.
William W. Clowers, San Bernardin, Calif. (April)
Br.
Herbert C. Cooper, Gibbstown, N.J. (Mar.)
Br.
Thomas M. Dunagan, Dallas, Tex. (April)
Sr.
Josephine Dziedzic, Milwaukee, Wis. (May)
Sr.
Christina M. Farrington, Dundee, See (Feb.)
Sr.
Angeline Glupker, Grand Rapids, Mich. (April)
Sr.
Edna M. Goranflo, Binghamton, N. J. (May)
Br.
Harry Joosten, Grand Rapids, Mich, (April)
Br.
Henry R. Moore, Taft, Tex. (May)
Br.
John Rozella, Grand Rapids, Mich. (Feb.)
1963
Index
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