MILLENNIAL
MORNING
We chose the
name Millennial Morning for our publication because a new era in earth’s
experience is beginning. Everyone sees
it. It’s a time of change. We believe that these changes have all been
planned by God and described in the Bible.
Our purpose is to present the Bible’s description of what God’s plans
are. It is directed to those who think
the scriptures might have some answers.
Some have
wondered about the Bible, but haven’t heard anything about it that has appealed
to them, and have avoided it. We invite
such to give it a try. Check the
citations we use, and then make more knowledgeable judgment. If you have cast off the Bible as
superstition, please listen to another viewpoint. If you accept the Bible and have studied the scriptures, think
carefully about our suggestions. Do not
discard them at once if they do not follow the exact pattern of traditional
church doctrine. Weigh them with
reason.
We believe that
if the Bible is of God, its teaching must be consistent. Our object, then, if we seek truth, is to
try to understand the plan it may contain.
And if that plan fits with what we would expect of a just and loving
God; if it explains the path of man through thousands of years of suffering; if
it gives us an understanding of the reasons for the changes which the world has
gone through in the past century; then we can begin to have faith in that plan.
The established
churches which have held false traditions of what the Bible says are rapidly
losing ground. They are becoming more
"liberal," and banding together in ecumenical movements for
preservation. They are troubled because
they have no real answers.
One question
needs an answer more every day. Last
week, Israel celebrated the twenty-third anniversary of their independence as a
nation. Why are they back from
centuries of exile? God’s plan has the
answer.
Paul says their
exile was to be temporary. "I want
you to understand this mystery, brethren:
a blindness in part has come upon Israel, until the full number of the
Gentiles come in." That is, until
enough Gentiles have come in to complete the church of Christ. "So all Israel will be saved as it is
written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness
from Jacob:’ "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away
their sins.’" ( Jer 31:25-27)
Verse 27 shows that it is Israel that is meant.
Paul quoted
from Old Testament prophecies to support his argument. The first was taken from Isa 59:20, a
"Redeemer shall come from Zion."
What does "Zion" mean?
Heb 12:22-24 shows that Zion is the word used for the spiritual kingdom
of God, "heavenly Jerusalem."
So Paul says that deliverance will come to Israel from the heavenly
kingdom—not deliverance by man, but by Christ.
His second
quotation, from Jer 31:33, tells the result of Israel’s deliverance. "This shall be the covenant that I will
make with the house of Israel; I will put my law in their inward parts, and
write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my
people." The prophet Ezekiel saw
the same future: "I will take the
stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh that they
may walk in my statutes." Eze
11:19. This process is nothing short of
a conversion of both mind and heart to follow God—not by evangelizing
ministers, but by the spiritual rulership of God’s kingdom. The blessings of this kingdom will not be
limited to Israel. As people see this
conversion, their attitude will be "we will go with you, for we have heard
that God is with you." Zec 8:23
What exactly is
this "kingdom?" A mountain is
used to represent it in Mic 4:1, 2:
"The mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the
top of the mountains ... and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come and say, let us
go up to the mountain of the Lord; and he will teach us of his ways, and we
will walk in his paths: for the law
shall go forth of Zion (spiritual rulership) and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem." But this kingdom will do
more than passively admit people.
"And he shall judge among people and rebuke strong nations afar off
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up
a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." Mic 4:3.
See also Isa 2:2
Daniel also saw
the mountain kingdom of God which in a dream "filled the whole earth"
(Da 2:35) just as God’s kingdom will eventually spread over the world. Daniel’s conclusion: "In the days of these (Gentile) kings
shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed ... it
shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand
forever." Dan 2:44
One other Old
Testament prophecy—Isa 35 —gives a poetic portrayal of the earthly
kingdom: deserts in blossom, eyes
unblinded, ears unstopped, lameness cured, "and parched ground shall
become a pool."
This is the new
age our generation longs for. "The
ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting
joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and
sighing shall flee away."
Back to the New
Testament. Speaking to the Jewish
people, Peter said, "He shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached
unto you; whom the heaven must receive until the Times of Restitution of all
things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the
world began." (Ac 3:20, 21). He’s saying that the return of Christ and
the setting up of His Kingdom—the "Times of Restitution" —is to
restore to men what was lost. What was
it that man had and lost? In Heb 2:6-9
we find the answer. "What is
man? Thou madest him a little lower
than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him
over the works of thy hands. Thou hast
put all things in subjection under his feet ... he left nothing on earth that
is not put under his feet ... he left nothing on earth that is not put under
him." Then there was a
change. Man through disobedience lost
the possession given him. "Now we
see not yet all things put under him."
But man has hope of getting back his lost possession. "We see Jesus, who was made a little
lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor
(of a perfect man) that he by the grace of God should taste death for every
man."
This means that
Jesus took the penalty of man’s disobedience—the penalty of death—so that
penalty could be lifted from mankind and make possible a full restitution of
what he formerly enjoyed—a perfect life and dominion under the loving care of
God.
And in Ro 11
Paul makes a clear link between Israel’s restoration and the benefits of
restitution to the world. "If the
fall of them be the riches of the world, how much more their fulness? For if the casting way of them be the
reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be but life from the
dead?" (Ro 11:12, 15)
To free all of
mankind from that penalty of death means bringing them back from the dead. "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ
shall all be made alive." (1Co
15:22) "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," —some to life quickly; others to judgment
and a long walk back to perfection (Joh 5:28).
We have said
that we believe this kingdom is beginning.
The 12th chapter of Daniel (Da 12) describes the events of recent years
which are the first part of the kingdom:
"At that time shall Michael (Christ) stand up, ... and there shall
be a time of trouble ... many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be
increased." These are signs we can
see. The increase of knowledge has
spiraled up geometrically in the last 100 years to reveal a wealth of
technological truth. This improves
man’s potential for a dominion over the earth.
It also uncovers the injustice of men to men, and the failings of every
form of government man has tried. It
shows the hypocrisy of most of the churches.
And it is causing people all over the world to demand liberty. It is Christ’s truth that shows us how bad
things really are ..." for the winepress is full, the vats overflow; for
their wickedness is great." —Joel 3:13, Re 14:19, 20
God’s plan for
restitution is the only cure that will work.
And He is beginning that cure.
Good
(Millennial) morning.
_____________________________________________
And God shall
wipe away all tears from their eyes; there shall be no more death, neither
shall there be any more pain: for the
former things are passed away. Re 21:4
For the
knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Isa 11:9
Then will I
turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the
Lord. Zeph 3:8
For he must
reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1Co 15:25, 26
Of the increase
of his government and peace there shall be no end. Isa 9:7
Thy will be
done on earth as it is in heaven. Mt
6:10
_______________________________________
"when
HIS judgments are in the earth ..."
When a man is
in court, does he get justice? Did
Manson? Did Calley? The accounts of these trials haunt the
public. The front pages of the daily
newspapers reveal how hideously man can treat his brother man. Some say the death penalty is too good for such
men as these; others, that insanity or the insanity of war is a reason for
mercy. And no one can look deep into
the recesses of a man’s heart to see the extent of his guilt—or to search out a
potential for rehabilitation. Is
justice possible in this warped world?
But something’s
happening. There’s a thread of justice
that is becoming increasingly apparent in all these events—a sort of settling
of the accounts of the nations of earth.
For centuries we’ve exploited the earth, and now our polluted environment
is closing in on us. The threats of
famine and overpopulation are very real indeed. And for centuries, men have exploited each other. Now people won’t take it any more, and riot
and anarchy increase.
"I will
punish the world for their evil and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will
cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and I will lay low the haughtiness
of the terrible. I will make a man more
precious than fine gold, even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." Isa 13:11, 12
The judgments
of God now showing themselves in our troubled headlines will not be appreciated
by the selfish, who act at the expense of others. These judgments fall upon the whole world—and it will not be
easy—but it will be for their benefit.
The result will place man’s welfare above every earthly thing. More precious than fine gold. Even money.
Amazing.
"Yea, in
the way of thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for thee; the desire of our
soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee ... for when thy judgments
are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn
righteousness." Isa 26:8, 9
When God deals
with man there is a marked departure from the way man deals with man. The outcome of His justice is rehabilitation
in the highest sense of the word. The
inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
And it is all
beginning. Christ has returned, and is
present as King of the earth. "For
as the bright shining (sun) cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the
west, so shall the presence of the Son of Man be." (Mt 24:27)
It is His MILLENNIAL MORNING.
And those who truly love their fellow-man will welcome true justice at
last.
"With
trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the
King. Let the sea roar, and the fulness
thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands:
let the hills be joyful together before the Lord; for he cometh to judge
the earth: with righteousness shall he
judge the world, and the people with equity." Ps 98:6-9
_____________________________
FREE — DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES—Topically arranged
Bible Study of God’s Plan, Magazine Edition.
Send to: P.O. Box 4614, San
Diego, CA 92104
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The thoughts
herein contained do not necessarily represent the opinions of San Diego State
College
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MILLENNIAL
MORNING
An Open
Letter to the Jewish People
Millennial
Morning is a Christian publication.
However, in the aftermath of the tragedy at Munich, we wish to extend
our sincere sympathy to all who bear the proud name of Israel.
Millennial
Morning’s position toward the Jewish people is strictly non-proselyting. In this period of bereavement, we urge you
to turn to your Scriptures for comfort.
We find there’s a message in Scripture given by God to the Jew alone—of
comfort, hope, and a special place in His plan for Israel.
The Holy
Scriptures inform us that it is now time for national favor to return to the
Jewish people. Indeed, since 1878, the
secular evidences have been growing that favor has been returning. We have seen the Zionist movement, the
rebirth of Israel, and three successive Israeli victories, culminating in the
recovery of the Old City of Jerusalem (a foretold event.)
This return of
favor implies, of course, that there was a period of national disfavor. Thus, the Jews have been without a homeland
since the fall of Jerusalem, 70 C.E., until quite recently. Some rabbis feel this is described in
Scripture as a period without king, prince, sacrifice, pillar, ephod, or
teraphim, for "many days." (Hos
3:4, 5) But ever during this dark
period, Divine providence was over the Jews of the Diaspora, preserving them
separate and distinct from all other nations.—Le 26:44
The mere fact
that God has preserved the Jews, should be proof that He has something
important for them as a people or nation in the future. Indeed, not only shall Israel receive God’s
full blessing, but they shall fulfill the prophetic vision of being a
"light" to the Gentiles. (Isa
42:6; 49:6; 60:3) And, "Thus said
the Lord of hosts: In those days it
shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the
nations, shall even take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying: We will go with you, for we have heard that
God is with you."—Zec 8:23, Masoretic Text
A humbling
experience, we may be sure!
Israel will
also have to undergo a humbling process in order to be fit for the Kingdom
arrangements. The Israelis, proud of
their military powers, must become more "God-conscious" before they
can be useful to God and be in a heart-condition to receive His blessings.
This is the
most solemn part of our message, and we would that it need not be uttered; yet
Scripture reveals that it must and will be.
Israel, the "Pleasant Land," and Jerusalem, the "Golden
City," will fall once more to the oppressors. This time, known as "Jacob’s Trouble" (Jer 30:7), will
be the dregs of despair for Israel.
But, thank God, it will only be temporary. Our heart goes out to her, but we comfort ourselves and Israel
with the Scriptural promise that God shall actually and literally intervene on
behalf of Israel before all is lost.
(Eze 38:18; 21-23) After
"Jacob’s Trouble" there will be found in Israel a
"God-conscious" people who will be the nucleus of God’s kingdom on earth.
What of your
personal responsibilities?
A voice is
sounding from the wilderness, and the Jews everywhere are hearkening to
it. It does not call them to become
Christians, but to remain Jews and to realize, as Jews, the ideals set before
them by the Lord in the Law and in the Prophets. We invite our Jewish friends to believe what their Scriptures
say, and to make their future in the land of Israel, for the Scriptures plainly
declare that God’s favor is to be found in Israel and upon those who have
enough faith to seek Him there.
Why go to
Israel if there is to be so much trouble there? Simply because there will be trouble and anarchy world-wide at
that time, but in Israel God promises a deliverance!
What do we
expect in Israel within the next decade or so?
1. A further
immigration from Russia.
2. Probably more
land gains—at the expense of Lebanon and Jordan.
3. Probable period
of peace and prosperity followed by definitely more trouble when "Gog and
Magog" invade Israel from the north.
4. The Old City of
Jerusalem will remain in Israeli hands, despite the opposition of the entire
world, until "Jacob’s Trouble."
What do we, as
Bible Students, hope to accomplish by proclaiming this message?
God, our God
and yours, loves Israel with an unfailing love. Our hearts are compelled by the Scriptures, ours and yours, to:
1. Respond to the
plea of Isa 40:1, 2: "Comfort ye,
comfort ye, my people—Israel.
2. Identify
ourselves as non-proselyting friends of Israel
(See Herzl Yearbook, Vol. V, pp. 180-189. Herzl Press, N.Y.)
3. Proclaim to each
individual Jew his God-given responsibility to believe and act upon the
promises and prophecies of the Torah.
4. Urge all Jews to
avoid the current ecumenical dialogues with Christian denominations, either
Catholic or Protestant, for we do not wish the Jews to become entangled with
the false doctrine of the Trinity (three-in-one god).
To further
explain the Scriptures on these various features of God’s plan, we have
prepared a booklet entitled, "The Time to Favor Zion is Come." The booklet does not contain a proselyting
message.
We appreciate
the opportunity of speaking with you on matters at once personal and yet of a
national interest.
Shalom, in the
hope of God’s kingdom and Israel’s share in it,
MILLENNIAL
MORNING
"Thou wilt
arise, and have compassion upon Zion; for it is time to be gracious unto her,
for the appointed time is come."
Ps 102:14
Not
printed with ASB funds
MILLENNIAL
MORNING
Post Office Box
4614
San Diego, CA
92104
Please send me
a free copy of: THE TIME TO FAVOR ZION
IS COME
Name_____________________________________________________________
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VOL. III NO. 1
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MILLENNIAL
MORNING
If I were
elected...
The Christian
today could be tempted to get involved in politics. The campaign speeches are full of noble, attractive
ideals—promises of peace, prosperity, and justice for all. The thought may cross a Christian’s mind,
"If I were elected, I could use my Christian background and teachings to
help mankind." If Christian
influence could be used politically, would it improve the world’s
condition? A glance at history shows
that even Christians have been unable to bring their hopes to fruition. WHY?
There are at
least two reasons. "As it is
written, There is none righteous, no, not one." (Ro 3:10) All of mankind
are equal in once sense: we are all
sinners. Our judgments are not
infallible. Our reactions are not
always loving. Our efforts to do what
we set out to do fall short of perfection.
As Christians we can be forgiven our sins, but we still sin. Even our greatest effort to help mankind
would miss the mark, because we are imperfect.
Satan, the
price of the power of the air, does not control every move of every government,
but influences them through selfishness.
For centuries, kings claimed to rule by "Divine right," but
that era died in World War I. Countries
are referred to as Christian governments, because Christianity is the chief
religion taught. However (and this is
the second reason), Jesus withdrew all claims to man-made governments when he
said, My kingdom is not of this world ..."—Joh 18:36.
The time
factor.
The way of a
Christian is not easy. We are not to
see solutions for men’s problems through man-made organizations. On the other hand, our fellow-men appeal to
our noblest sentiments by pleading, "GET INVOLVED!"
WHERE SHOULD A
CHRISTIAN STAND?
(illustration)
Conservative, Middle of Liberal,
Very Conservative the Road Radical Left
The key to the
dilemma is the time factor. At the
first advent of Jesus, he healed many people.
He resurrected the dead. His
Apostles healed and spoke to thousands in his name. But the time for the setting up of the kingdom of God was not
yet. The world was not then relieved of
its sin and pain and death and injustice.
The time for carrying out the solution had not yet arrived.
"Who gave
himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1Ti 2:6)
Jesus died for the sinners of the world, yet we continued to live in a
sinful world. The Apostle Paul ties in
the time feature by saying that this ransom of Jesus’ life would be made
manifest in due time. When is the due
time?
"For the
earnest expectation of the creature (the world) waiteth for the manifestation
of the sons of God ... For we know that the whole creation groaneth and
travaileth in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the
Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for he adoption, the
redemption of our body."—Ro 8:19, 22, 23.
Everyone is
waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God, the Church, whether they are
aware of it or not. The hopes, desires
and ideals of all nations are to be satisfied (after their present
"shaking" experiences) when the kingdom of Christ is manifest to all
(Hag 2:7) But before it can be
revealed, the governing body of this kingdom must be complete.
Who will be the
governing body? The Christ, The
Anointed, Head and body. It will be the
combination of Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church. The Church is promised to "live and
reign with Christ a thousand years."
"If we suffer with him we shall reign with him." "To him that overcometh will I grant to
sit with me on my Father’s throne."
And who will they govern? All
the rest of the world of mankind, for whom Jesus also died. "He is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." (1Joh 2:2)
Also please read: Jer 31:34, Isa
40:5; Zeph 3:9; Isa 35.
To attempt to
reform present governments would be but a waste of effort; for they are already
beginning to be removed and replaced by Christ’s government.
"And in
the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall
never be destroyed: and the kingdom
shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all
these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." —Dan 2:44
"Looking
for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on
fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise,
look for new heavens and a new earth (a new heavenly rulership and a new
society), wherein dwelleth righteousness." —2Pe 3:12, 13
Involvement.
What are
Christians supposed to be doing now until the "due time"
arrives? There is something in which
they can "get involved." The
Church of God should give its attention and effort to preaching the kingdom of
God, and to the advancement of the interests of that kingdom according to the
plan laid down in the Scriptures. If
this is faithfully done, there will be no time for dabbling in the politics of
present governments. The Lord had no
time for it; the apostles had no time for it; nor have any of the saints who
are following their example.
The true
teacher and lightbearer (Mt 5:14), the true Church, the body of Christ, is not
to be left in darkness to learn of her Lord’s dealings by the manifestations of
his wrath and power, as the world will learn of it. By the sure word of prophecy, which shines as a light in a dark
place, she is clearly and definitely informed that the King of Glory and his
blessed kingdom are the only remedy for the wrongs and woes of man. She can point the groaning creation to this
kingdom, rather than to the poultices of their own contriving which can do no
real good. Through the prophetic word,
she shall not only be shielded from discouragement, and enabled to overcome the
besetments, snares, and stumbling stones so prevalent in the "evil
day," but she becomes the lightbearer and instructor of the world.
The Church is
thus enabled to point out to the world the cause of the trouble, to announce
the presence of the new Ruler, to declare the object of the new dispensation,
and to instruct the world as to the wisest course to pursue in view of these
things. Although many will not heed the
instruction until the lesson of submission has been forced upon them by the
trouble, it will greatly aid them in learning the lesson. It is to this mission of the feet, or the
last members of the Church, who will declare upon the mountains (kingdoms) the
reign of Christ begun that Isa 52:7 refers.
"How
beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings,
that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth
salvation, that saith unto Zion, Thy God Reigneth!"
Not printed
with ASB funds
MILLENNIAL
MORNING
Post Office Box
4614
San Diego, CA
92104
Please send me
a free copy of:
THE DIVINE PLAN
OF THE AGES
Name_____________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________
Comments_________________________________________________________
VOL. III NO.3
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MILLENNIAL
MORNING
ANASTASIS
"a
standing up again, i.e. (lit.) a resurrection from death ... raised to life
again, resurrection, rise from the dead, that should rise, rising
again."—Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible
What is
resurrection? Many Christian people
speak of the resurrection of Lazarus, the resurrection of the son of the widow
of Nain, the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter.
The Scriptures promise a resurrection of the dead to take place during
Christ’s kingdom, and we might think of this in the same terms. This mistake has greatly clouded thought
upon this important subject. It isn’t
true that Lazarus and the others mentioned were resurrected! They were awakened, reanimated. There is wide difference between a mere
awakening and a full, complete resurrection out of death. To awaken signifies to start again the vital
life signs—resuscitation. This is all
that was done for Lazarus or for the son of the widow of Nain, or for Jairus’
daughter. They were still under the
sentence of death, and only experienced an extension of the present dying
conditions.
The word,
"resurrection," as found in the English New Testament, is derived
from the Greek word, anastasis, in every case except one.* The word anastasis occurs 43 times in the
New Testament, and means to stand again, or to raise up again. It is never used to mean merely the raising
of a corpse to a standing position out of a tomb. It doesn’t mean the mere revivifying or starting up the machinery
of life. It means something far more
important. It is used as the
antithesis, or opposite of death—the recovery out of death. A careful examination of the 43 texts of
Scripture in which this word anastasis occurs will find them all in absolute
agreement with the definition: a re-standing,
a recovery from death, an entrance or re-entrance into perfect life.
*Mt 27:43
To get a proper
view of the meaning of anastasis, we must understand the Creator’s view of what
constitutes life. We must also discern
what constitutes dying and death. Then we
can grasp the thought of resurrection, the rising up again out of death into
the full perfection of life from which all in Adam fell.
Only two men
ever possessed full life: Adam, before
his transgression, before he brought upon himself the curse or sentence of
death; and the man Christ Jesus. At the
moment of disobedience, Adam’s life was forfeited, and the dying process
began. Adam sank lower and lower into
death, until finally he was completely dead, as he was judicially dead from the
moment of his sentence. "Dying
thou shalt die." (Ge 2:17
—margin) Adam’s posterity has never had
life. (Ro 3:10) The spark which flickers for a few years is
not recognized by God as being life in the full sense, in view of the fact that
the death sentence rests upon all ("As in Adam all die ...) Those presently born into the world are born
merely to a dying condition. From the
standpoint of justice, all are dead.
(Ro 3:24; Mt 8:22) God
recognizes only those who come into Christ as having life, those who accept Him
as their Savior. ("... so in
Christ shall all be made alive." —1Co 15:22)
Let us keep in
mind what constitutes life and what constitutes dying. Remember from what a glorious height and
perfection of life man fell into his present condition of degradation and
death. Then, and only then, can we
appreciate the meaning of the word anastasis as a standing again, a raising up
again to the condition before The Fall occurred—the condition of perfection in
which Father Adam stood. It is to this
condition of perfection that God proposes to bring all of mankind. (1Ti 2:4) The requirement is that when brought to a knowledge of the Truth,
they accept divine favor, and demonstrate their loyalty by obedience to the
spirit of the divine law.
Anastasis is
raising to life again. This is where
the beauty of God’s plan comes to life.
Anastasis is
Isa 35:5, 6: "Then the eyes of the
blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and
the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the
wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert."
Anastasis is
Job 33:24, 25: "Then he is
gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a
child’s: he shall return to the days of
his youth. He shall pray unto God, and
he will be favourable unto him: and he
shall see his face with joy: for he
will render unto man his righteousness."
Anastasis is
Mal 4:2: "But unto you that fear
my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings ...."
Anastasis is Re
21:4: "And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more pain:
for the former things are passed away."
The "New
Creation" is privileged to participate in the resurrection. It is part of their inheritance. While "all who are in their graves
shall hear the voice of the Son of Man and come forth," the New Creation,
the Little Flock, the Church of Christ, or those in Christ, shall rise first. For a further aid in studying this important
subject, we recommend the topically arranged book, The New Creation. It not only covers the resurrection of the
New Creation, but also 16 related studies such as: The Call ... The Organization ... The Judgment ... The Baptism
... The Foes and Besetments ... of the New Creation. There’s also a scriptural index in the back of the book.
_______________________________
Fantastic?
Too good to be
true?
Hard to
believe?
For most
people, the whole idea of a resurrection of the dead is hard to accept. To those who place their confidence in
Scripture, the resurrection becomes a precious promise. Will everyone receive the same type of
resurrection? When will it happen? Who will be included? These questions and many more are covered in
The Divine Plan of the Ages, a topical study aid which we offer free. Note especially the chapter entitled, "Ransom
and Restitution." The further
examination of scriptures on this subject will enable you to harvest a deeper
appreciation of God’s wisdom, love justice and power.
Not printed
with AS funds
SAN DIEGO BIBLE
STUDENTS
Post Office Box
15701
San Diego,
California 92115
__Please send me a copy of THE NEW
CREATION, hard bound, $1.00
__Please send me a free copy of THE
DIVINE PLAN OF THE AGES
Name_____________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________
Comments_________________________________________________________
VOL. III NO.4
**********
MILLENNIAL
MORNING
If it’s
morning,
why is
everything so dark?
Because it’s
morning.
"If ever
there was a year that marked the end of an era and the beginning of another, it
was 1914. That year brought to an end
the old world with its sense of security and began a modern age whose chief
characteristic is insecurity on a daily basis." —Rowse, Oxford Historian
and Biographer, June 28, 1959.
"A world
mesmerized by Science and Progress mocked the mysticism of religious sects
which had long predicted that the world would end in the year 1914; fifty years
later the world isn’t so sure that it didn’t end in 1914 ..."— The Great
Ideas Today, 1963, Britannica Great Books, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., pp.
107, 108.
Historians mark
1914 as the ending of the world. The
convulsions since are at once the processes of its disintegration and the birth
pangs of a new world. Britannica
editors observed that a religious group, actually known as Bible Students,
predicted that 1914 would mark the ending of a world in just this manner.
What’s new in a
prediction that the world would end?
Religious zealots have always set dates for the earth to be burned up.
What was new
was the Bible Student concept that the word "world" as it appears in
the Bible is a translation of the Greek word kosmos which means "a social
order or arrangement of things" and not the planet earth.
Bible students
said this "present evil world" (Ga 1:4) —composed of corrupt social,
political, economic, religious elements—would reap a whirlwind of destruction
by war, revolution and anarchy.
Inherently
corrupt and destruction inevitable was the sweeping indictment of the Christian
world by Bible Students in the book The Day of Vengeance, first published in
1897. One of the reasons for its divine
judgment was given on pages 52 and 53:
"The civil
powers of Christendom have been warned frequently when again and again empires
and kingdoms have fallen with the weight of their own corruption. And even today, if the powers that be would
hearken, they might hear a last warning of God’s inspired prophet ..." God
standeth in the congregation of the mighty [of those in authority]; He judgeth
among the gods [the rulers, saying], How long will ye judge unjustly, and
accept the persons of the wicked?
Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy;
deliver the poor and needy: rid them
out of the hand of the wicked.’ (Ps
82:1-4)"
Knowing that
the Christian world would not heed this "last warning," Bible
Students predicted as far back as 1882 the destruction which began in
1914. Zion’s Reprint, November, 1882:
"... This distress and trouble will all
come about in a very natural way. Very
many scriptures teach that nations will be overthrown by a rising of the
people, goaded to desperation by the oppression of unjust governments. Such a rising and overturning, socialists,
communists and nihilists will gladly bring about when they can. All the kingdoms of the world shall be
thrown down and instead the kingdom of the Lord fills the whole earth. Dan 2:34, 35."
The corrupt
practices of the
Christian world
are centuries old.
Why the
revolutionary foment
of our century?
The accumulated
evil practices of the Christian nations have "reached unto
heaven." (Re 18:5) The cry of the masses who have been
defrauded has reached unto the Lord. (Jas
5:4) Since 1914 the status quo is
finally alarmed. Welfare state
concessions are grudgingly made. As
segments of the masses are raised to a higher living standard, they then become
a part of the establishment’s bulwark against revolutionary changes to
alleviate the plight of the under-privileged of the community and the
world. Our civilization is still
reeling with hate, vice, intrigue, graft, corruption, power politics, war,
discrimination and exploitation. It
must go.
Christ as
conquering king has launched an invasion that will not stop short of the total
destruction of the "present evil world" (Ga 1:4) and upon its ruins
He will establish His kingdom. Christ
has a devastating secret weapon. It is
truth. "His lightnings enlightened
the world, the earth saw and trembled."
(Ps 97:1, 4) Truths—religious,
philosophical, humanitarian, revolutionary, scientific—like lightning flashes
are startling the world. Seemingly the
use of these truths is rocketing man to his apex. In reality, their selfish abuse is drawing the civil, religious,
social and financial systems of this world into the vortex of revolution and
anarchy. These lightning flashes of
truth will expose all human endeavors at government and lay bare the basic
flaw. No matter what the political or
economic ideology, it will not work because of man’s sinful heart.
The
establishment is sick.It must go.
But the
revolutionaries, whether they be anarchists, communists, black militants, or
hot-headed radicals of any brand, have nothing better to offer. They, too, are sick with sin. Their ideologies are honeycombed with
selfishness. They will accomplish one
thing—the destruction of our social order.
Then they, with all masses of mankind, will be swept into the utter
chaos of anarchy to taste the bitter agony of despair wrought by man’s
selfishness.
Out of this
chaos
a new order
will rise.
Not by the
revolutionaries,
but by God.
Not the old
hell-fire god of the establishment, nor the importent god of the modernist, but
the God of all mankind.
"Michael" (a title for Christ which means God’s
representative) stands up in the "time of trouble" to deliver the
masses from every human ideology of the right and the left. Da 12:1, 2; 1Th 4:15, 16
_________________________
Christ’s
Kingdom will work. It will have an
enforced rule of righteousness and justice.
It will have the spirit of wisdom, understanding and love. It will change the stony hearts of men into
hearts of flesh, love. Satan and the
powers of evil will be restrained. And
only thus can the desire of all nations come.
Wars will
cease. None will be permitted to hurt
or destroy. There will be no more
death, sorrow, crying or pain. In fact,
the dead will be brought back to life.
Blind eyes will be opened and deaf ears unstopped. The lame man will leap and the dumb tongue
will sing. Vitality and beauty of youth
will return.
The earth will
be full of glory (no more pollution) and yield its increase (no famines). There will be economic security (no more poor). Even the animals will be tamed for man’s
pleasure. The perfect life and dominion
of man will be restored.
The human
family will worship God with one pure religion. And the most important thing—heart harmony with God. He will be their God and they will be His
people. This kingdom will endure—of the
increase of His government and peace there will be no end.
Re 2:27, Isa
9:7; 28:17, Ps 72:1-8, Ac 3:22, 23, Isa 60:12; 65:20; 11:2-5, Ez 11:19; 36:26,
Isa 35:9, Re 20:3, Hag. 2:7, Mic 4:3, Isa 2:4, Ps 46:9, Isa 11:9; 65:25; 25:8;
33:24, Re 21:4; 20:1, Joh 5:28, 29, Isa 35:6, 7; 29:18; 32:1-4, Job 33:25, Isa
60:13; 30:23; 6:25, Ps 67:6, Mic 4:4, Isa 65:21-23; 32:15-20; 11:6,7, Ac 3:19,
Zeph 3:9, Isa 35:10, Re 21:3, Isa 65:24, Jer 31:33, Ps 145:13, Isa 9:7.
Not
printed with AS funds
MILLENNIAL
MORNING
Post Office Box
4614
San Diego, CA
92104
Please send me
a free copy of your Bible Study textbook,
THE DIVINE PLAN
OF THE AGES
Name_____________________________________________________________
Street/City_________________________________________________________
State/Zip__________________________________________________________
Comments_________________________________________________________
VOL. III NO.5