Let us know if you find the advertise speech on-line.
The 4 Sexual Deviants
by Farkel 70 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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TD
There's nothing scandalous in the "Advertise" discourse. The striking thing is the bombastic tone about things that JW's no longer believe and would be quite embarrassing today. (e.g. Russell was the faithful and wise servant, Christ returned in 1874, etc.)
For example, JW publications today make a big deal over the line, "Advertise, advertise, advertise the King and his kingdom." But they fail to mention that the actual message the Bible Students were being told to advertise was that the earthly resurrection and the dawn of the millenium would commence in 1925.
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Satanus
Here it is, from the 1922, nov 1 wt, staring around pg 333. Hope it fits.
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DISCOURSE BY BROTHER J.F. RUTHERFORD
"The 1,,i,ngdom of heaven is at hand."--Matthcw 4:17.
N INETEEN hundred years ago Jesus tn the flesh was
on the earth. John ills fo,'erunner had announced
his eondng with the message: "The kingdom of
heaven is at hand." Shortly thereafter Jesus I)egan his
ministry with the self-same message: "The ldngdo,n of
heaven is at hand." It was important then. It must be of
greater importance now. The fact that both John and
Jesus emphasized the message shows its paramount im-
portance.
All the parabolic teaching of Jesns related to the kingdom
and he continued to advertise that as the parnmount
Issue. Many heard the announce,nent; a less nu,nber be-
lieved it; and a far smaller number adhered to what they
did hear and believe. (How like the closing days of the
present order!) Those who heard and apl)reciated the
announcement made by John and Jesus were thrilled with
the message. Why7 Because a climax in the history of
the nation of Israel had been reached. What was then
true and being revealed had been foretold and fore-
shadowed. The importance of a coming event may be
approximated by the time, wisdom and painstaking dfforts
put forth preparatory for that event.
At the beginning of Israel's national existence hloses,
by Jehovah's providence, lind delivered that people from
the oppressive hand of the Egyptian ruler. Then Jehovah
said through Moses to that people: "The Lord thy God
will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee,
of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
(Deuteronomy 18: 15) Thereafter God through the mouth
of his holy prophets time and again foretold the coming
of the greater than Moses to be the deliverer of man from
Satan, the mighty evil one of whom Pharaoh of Egypt
was a type.
Not only did God foretell the coming of the mighty King
and his kingdom, but he caused Israel to enact living
pictures foreshadowing that kingdom. They were taught
both by precept and by example, and yet failed to believe
and fully trust the announcement of his coming.
Even John, who made the original announcement, became
perplexed and in doubt, and sent word to Jesus to know
whether or not he was the Messiah or whether they should
look for another. Tim nation of lsrael did not see or
appreciate the day of favor, when the Lord did come to
them. The minds of the majority were blinded to the
blessings of that (lay; and hence the King, long foretold
and foresimdowed, was rcjc~'led; and Isr.'iel was east off.
The reason for lsrnel's being c:~st off was unbelief, which
unbelief was induced by the machinations of the mimic
god, Satan, that ohl sml)(.nt, the adversary, the devil
The coming of the Lord was to the Jews tim most vital
of all their days. God had provided the Law to lead them
to Christ and to prepare them against this day of unbelief.
The second coming of the Lord, as the great reigning
l~[essiah, and the setting up of his kingdom are of vital
importance to all of this day, but especially to the Chris-
tians. To these God has given the Bible, the inspired word.q
written by the prophets, Jesus, "rod the apostles, to lead
the Christians to this very day. Jehovah tenderly led the
people of Isrnel from Moses to John ; and yet the adversary
so overreached the majority of them that they did not
know of his I)resenee. Today history is repeating itself.
The present unbelief, as with Israel, is induced by the
machinations of Satan. We therefore do well from time
to time to review the organization o£ Satan's empire, why
it was organized, what have been its operations, and what
will be the final result, in order that we may not forget
tim wily enemy that wars ag'tinst us. l~Iay the facts enable
us to stand more firmly together in Christ.
More than six thousand y,:.ars ago a brigi~t shining one
of the reah~ of the heavenly host conceived in his heart
that he would be like the Most High God. Because of such
wicked ambition he fell; and Jehovah then clmnged hla
name from Lucifer and gave to him four names, each of
which depicts his despicable character. The name dragon
signifies devourer. Satan has sought to devour the people
of God from the time of Abel until now. 8crpeJ~t means
deceiver. He has deceived and continues to deceive from
Eve until the present hour. Devfl means slanderer. He
has slandered Jehovah, the Lord Jesus, all the propheta,
and all the followers of the Lord; .~i.nd he continues so tO
do, and injects into the minds of others, thoughts of
slander. Sata~ means adversary or opposer. He has op-
posed every step in the development of the kingdom class,
He is the enetay of God, the enemy of man. the deadly foe
of the righteous class.
Jehovah, the great ruler of tile universe, in whom all
dominion rightfully lies, planned the redemption and de-
liverance of the human race and organized the nation of
Israel to foreshadow such. With thftt nation he organized
the true religion, commanding that they should worship
him as the only true God. Satan, the opposer, tile mimic
God, organized amongst the people round al~out Israel tho
false religion, and caused them to worship him and other
devils. The power exercised by Jehovah upon his people
is the holy spirit. The tie that binds Satan to his followers
is the evil spirit. Because of yielding to his macitinations
Israel was overreached by him. God pronounced a decree
ag~tinst the nation, and enforced that decree in 606 B.C. ;
and there Satan became the god of this world. He is also
called the prince of tim power of the air, thus indicating
his organization visible and invisible.
THE KINGDOM CLASS
While the Law was intended to lead Israel to Cllrist,
only a remnant of that nation escaped the wiles of the
adversary. God had promised a seed through wMch all
the f-lmilies of the earth should be blessed. Satan devel-
oped an opposing seed. The seed of promise is the Christ.
The seed of the evil one consists of his emissaries visible
and invisible, warring against the seed of promise. The seed
of promise is made up of the truly consecrated and attointed
Christians on this side of the vail and of the Lord and the
glori/ied saints on the otlmr side of the will. The seed
visible of Satan organized into a body is desig~lated as the
"beast." Tim "beast" is conlposed of the three elelnents;
big business, big politicians and big preachers. Satan's
purpose is to control mankind and keep them subjected to
wickedness. Ttie purpose of the Messianic kingdom is to
relieve mankind, to lift them tip and bless them with life
everlasting. This benevolent work must be done by the
kingdom class
Satan's kingdom must be overthrown by the Messianic
kingdom. Therefore there could be no kingdom without a
king; and the l~:ing must be present and acting before the
overthrow could take place.
The development of the kingdom class began at the
consecration of .Jesus at the ,Jordan. As a new creature
he was there assignmd to the olliee of king; hence it was
proper for John and Jesus to say: "The kingdom of heaven
Is at hand,"because the K.ing was present. But Jesus must
die and arise from the dead before lie could become the
King of glory.
God ordained that there should be associated with the
King of glory as a part of the kingdom class the members
of his body, desig'nated his bride, the church. After Jesus
had announced his kingship he said to his disciples: "I go
to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, ~nd receive you unto
myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John
14:2,3) From the time of his ascension into heaven for-
ward, Christians have looked for his return as the great
event of all time. After his resurrection ,Jesus began to
make known the mystery of God. He brought forth the.
true and faithful religion, of which he was the true and
faithful Witness. Satan then organized the mystery of
iniquity, bringing to the fore a faithless religion, a religion
that claims to worship God but that in truth and in fact
worships the devil and obeys his commandments.
HE IS HERE!
All the prophecies focused upon the coming of the Kinfi
of glory. Not only did Jesus promise the disciples that ha
would come, but he taught them to pray: "Thy kingdom
come." The apostles looked with eagerness for his coming,
and declared that there would be a special blessing to
those who would be preaching and loving his appearing
at the time of his coming. The prophet Daniel, looking to
that time, exclaimed: 'OIL the blessedne~ of him who live~
and comes unto that time!' It is the all-important time,
because it is the climax of the world's history.
The Scriptures show that Satan's empire will concludl
with a deadly battle between Satan and his seed on the
one side and the Lord and his seed on the other; and that
the King of glory will triumph, resulting in the deliveranc~
of the church and the world of mankind. The Scriptures
furtlmr show that at that time Satan's kingdoms would
h-rye control of the earth, and Satan's representatives in
earth would be subjecting the people to oppressive measures.
But God tllrough his prophet says: "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 con.
sume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
(Daniel 2: 44) For this reason Christians have eagerly
looked and waited for the coming of the Lord and his
kingdom.
Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for
the second time in the 5'ear 1874. Fulfilled prophecy shows
beyond a doubt that lie did appear in 1874. Fulfilled proph-
ecy is otherwise designated the physical f;tcts; and these
facts are indisputable. All true watchers are familiar with
these facts, as set forth in the Scriptures and explained
in tile interpretation by the Lord's special servant.
Jesus himself declared that in the time of his presence
he would conduct a harvest of his people, during which lie
would gather unto hin~self the true and Iojal ones. For
some years this work has been in operation and is nearing
completion. I-Ie stated that during his presence he would
have one who would /ill the office of a faithful and wise
servant, through whom the Lord would bring to his people
meat In dire season. All the facts show t!~. *~'"e proph-
ecies have been fulfilled.
DAY OF PREPARATION
Why has the King come? To set up his kingdom and
reign as I,:ing. But he had a work to do before his reign
began, and that is a preparatory work. Since there are
to be associated with him in his reign his body members,
these must be gathered together and prepared for the be
ginning of the reign. The gentile times under the super-
vision of the god of this world ended August 1, 1914.
Before tlmt date it would not have been consistent for the
Lord, the King of glory, to take unto himself his great power
and reign. (Ezekiel 21:27) Since he has been present
from 1874, it follows, from the facts as we now see them,
that the period from 1874 to 1914 is the day of preparation.
This In no wise militates aguinst the thought that "tile tinm
of the end" is from 1799 until 1914. The period from 1799
to 1874 could not be said to be a day of preparation, but
a day of Increasing light. It is not reasonable to think
that the King began to make preparations until he was
present.
The Lord foreknew, of course, that Satan would not
peaceably yield the kingdoms of earth. He knew that there
would be a great conflict, and hence he must prepare for
that conflict. The prophet Nahum, speaking with reference
to tile time of the second presence of the Lord, shows that
this was a preparatory period. He says: "He that dasheth
in pieces is come up before thy face; keep the munition,
watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power
mightily." (Nahum 2: 1) Amongst other things done during
the day of preparation have been the gathering together of
the true followers of Jesus, the instructing of them in the
truth and the preparing of them against the great and
terrible day.
ELIJAH WORK
The Lord, referring to the con¢lltions immediately pre-
ceding the establishment of the kingdom, said: "Behold,
I will send you Elijai~ the proplmt before the coming of the
great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the
heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the
children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth
with a curse." (Mal'mhl 4:5, 6) The "dreadful day of the
Lord" is a day of trouble. It is spoken of as the "great
and dreadful day of Jehov:~h," and also as the "day of
vengeance," and as the "great day of wrath." This day of
wrath and vengeance of God could not come until the end
of the gentile times; and indeed the Lord definitely fixes
that, saying, "Bee:rose thou hast taken to thee thy great
power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry,
and thy wrath is come." (Revelation 11:17, 18) The facts
show conclusively th'tt that day began in 1914. It follows
that the Elijah work muse be done hefore then.
l?rom the writings of the Lord's serwmt we read : "Elijah
was a type and John the 1;aptist a continuation of tlmt
type .... Elijah pictured the church doing a work 'in tim
sl)irit and power of Ellijah,' amlouacing the Lord." (B252,
253) It will be observed th.'tt while a woman is used to
prefig'nre the church alone, here 't nnm is used. The reason
assig3md for this is that our Lord is the head of the church
and the church does no work separate from him; there-
fore the Elijah work pictures a particular work done by
the church nn(ler tile supervision of the Lord. (1;255)
follows, then, that tile Elijnl~ work must be done between
the beginning of the Lord's presence and the day of wrath.
This is in harmony with Mal-mhi's prophecy. The Elijah
work was to convert Christendom to a hmnble, ehihllike
condition, making them teaelmble as children, and turning
their hearts from error, sin .rod unfaithfulness and leading
them back into lmrmony wilt1 God and righteousness. (B249)
This is in herin(my x~iih the direction given to tile Lord's
servant and his associates tixrough the Prophet, saying,
"Go through the midsl: of the city, through the midst of
Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of tile men
that sigh "rod that cry for all the abominations that be
dora., in tile midst thereof."--Ezckiel 9:4.
,~,peaking of this same time, the Lord Jesus himself said
in answer to a question: "],;lijah truly shall lirst (:ome,
and restore all things." (Matthew 17:11) The Elijah work
is not the restoration of man. Tile rester'ilion work referred
to, therefore, must be a restoring to the true followers of
Jesus the great fundamental truths which had long been
hidden under the debris of hunmn traditions. This exactly
corresponds with the work that was done by the church
from 1874, and 1878 particularly, until 1914.
It could not be said that the period from 1874 to 1914
was a day of great stress, a day of darkness and black-
ness. On the contrary, it was a most favorable time for
giving a witness to the truth.--B 2(30.
The Lord through the l'rophet then showed that unless
the Elijah work succeeded in turning the heart of the
fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to
their fathers, then the Lord would cast off the systems
and there would follow a great, burning, destructive time
of trouble. It is well known to all that the work did not
succeed in turning nominal Christendom to the Lord. On
the contrary, only a remnant heard and believed and came
together; while the great mass has p~rsecuted these,
smaller in number. While the Elijah class were pointing
to the presence of the Lord and the great and terrible
day coming, as late as 1913 the clergs' of the leading
church denominations of the world were boasting that
another war was impossible. The gentile times ended
August 1, 1914, and immediately followed the World War;
and since that day there has been upon earth distress of
nations, with perplexity. It Ires been a day of increasing
darkness and blackness and suffering. The physical facts,
then, clearly show that the (lay of preparation was from
1874 forward; and that the Elijah work was done from
1874 forward, ending in 1918.
Elisha was anointed to finish the work that Elijah be-
gan. Elisha therefore would picture and does picture a
work somewhat different from that known as the Elijah
work. The Elisha work must be performed by tim Lord
and the members of his body during the great and terri-
ble day.
COMING TO HIS TEMPLE
The temple of God is the Messianic class, Jesus and
the body members. "For ye are the temple of the living
God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk
in them; and I will b.e their God, and they sh'tll he my
people." (2 Corinthians (3: 16) During the day of the Lord's
preparation he has been gaUml'ing together the living
stones of his temple. Many of these are ulready beyond
the vail, and some of these are still on this side the vail,
as we believe.
Through the prophet Malachi the Lord said: "Behold, I
will send my messenger, and he sh.dl prep-ire the way
before me: and the Lord, whom ye ..-eek, shall suddenly
come to tHS tenlple." (Malachi 3:1) This further cor-
roborates the view that the day of prel,arati~Jn is the
period from the I.ord's second appearing until the he~m:a-
ning of the overthruw of Satan's empire. The word sud-
denly here means straightway. A time tlmt might seem
lon.g to man wouhl be soddenly with tim Lord. We be-
lieve, therefore, that tile day of preparation ended in 1914;
and that in 1918, or there:tbmlts, the Lord came to his
temple. '.12his coming to the temple was fox" judgment, be-
cause judgment must first begin at the house of God.
(1 Peter 4: 17) The judgment wouhl be UpOlX the true
church and also the nominal system. Then ~ays the Pro-
llhet: "Who may abide the dqy of his COmlngT' The
Scriptures indicate a time of great testing when the Lord
comes to his temple.
About October, 1917, 1)egan the Jex~ish year, 1918. It
w'~s at that time tlmt there was a great shaking up
of the people of God, who had been gathered to the temple
condition. Referring to the Lord's coming to his temple,
the Prophet wrote: "22he Lord is in his holy temple, the
Lord's 0wone is in heaven: his eyes behnld, his eyelids
try, the ehihlren of men. The Lord trieth the righteous;
but tim wicked and him that loveth violence his soul
hateth." (Psahu 11:4, 5) Again, concerning the same
thing: "Hear, all 30 people: hearken, 0 earth, and all
that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against
you, the Lord from his holy temple."--Mieah 1: 2.
Christ Jesus, the Head of the temple class, speaks
through various members of his body or through instru-
ments that he may use. Those Scriptures indicate the
beginning of his judgments upon the nations of the earth
and at the same tilne resulting in a test to the righteous
members of the temple class this side the vail. The facts
show that in January, 1918, a representative body of the
Lord's people assembled in convention at Pittsburgh,
Pem~sylvania, passed a resolution, causing a copy to bQ
presented to the President of the United States and ta
other officials of the Babylonish systems, calling attention
to the unlawful relationship existing between the church
nominal and the governments of earth. This was practically
the last work of the Elijah class, pictured more particu-
larly in the experiences of John the Baptist.
Surely from that time forward the Lord permitted his
Ilaints to be tested :rod tried. Throughout all tile land of
Americ't and Canada in particular, as ~xeli as in Europe,
man.y of the saints were arrested and thrown into jail, ninny
persecuted; and for a year or more there was great dis-
tress "tmongst the people of God, and a cry went up from
the temple class for help. This seems to be foreshadowed
by the I's;thaist when he says: "In my distre~_s I called
upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he beard my voice
out of his temple, and my cry came befo,'e him, even into
his ears." (Psahu 18:6) The Lord's people were in bond-
age, denied their personal liberty and the iibel'ty of preach-
ing the gospel. The Lord heard their cry and released
them.
ISAIAH'S VISION
Isaiah, the prophet of God, a type of the true people of
the Lord in the temple condition, had a vision. (Isaiah
6:1-11) In the picture he is represented as worshiping
the Lord in the temple. The context shows that the throne
here mentioned couhl not be the Millennial throne of
Christ, but that it does refer to the throne of the Lord
~Iesus Chri>t, his position of authority as the representa-
tive of Jehovah after taking unto himself his great power
to reign when he comes to the temple. Jesus quoted from
this recorded vision of Isaiah, and his words clearly slmw
that it does not refer to the Millennial throne. (Jolm
12:40) It does show, however, a time of judgment against
Christendom similar to that judgment which Jesus pro-
nounced against the Pharisees when he was on earth.
The prophet Isaiah says that it was in the year that
king Uzziah died that he had this vision. We believe that
Uzziah pictured the nominal church, which has claimed
to represent the Lord, but which in truth and in fact in
the latter times has departed from the Lord. Uzziuh was
king of Israel for more than fifty years. For a long while
he did right in the sight of God. I-Ie prospered and became
very rich. He fought many successful battles. He was a
great builder. He became a mighty king. Self-conceit,
leading to a wrongful and selfish act, was the cause of his
fall. He died a leper.
How clearly these facts fit the history of the church
nominal! That system was organized for a righteous pur-
pose at the beginning. The voice of the bride and of the
Bridegroom was heard in her. The system delivered the
message of the kingdom of God for many years. She
builded many churches and schools for the education of
the people. She did much toward the moral uplift of
society. But she became self-conceited and fell for the
same reason that Uzziah fell. St. Paul warned against
this self-conceit, thereby clearly indicating that such would
be the cause of nominal Christendom's downfall.--Ilomans
11 : 25.
Uzziah Its king had no authority to act as priest. It was
the prerogative of the priest to offer incense upon the
golden altar in the temple. Uzziah had become so im-
pressed with his own importance, however, that he con-
sldered himself above the rules of the temple, and went
in to offer incense. The duly constituted priest withstood
him to prevent him from offering the incense. But Uzziah
became angry and Insisted that he would offer it; and
he was immediately stricken leprous, became an outcast
and died as such.
Prior to 1878 the nominal church had grown mighty in
the earth. In 1878 G,:,,'s favor was withdrawn from the
nominal systems. From that time on Brother Russell and
the brethren who supported him went throughout the land
doing the Elijah work, endeavoring to turn the hearts of
Christendom back to a childlike faith In God. The nominal
church heeded not. In 1914 these systems were boasting
of their power and inlluence and s'tid: 'We are rich and
have need of nothing.' When the World War began in 1914,
nominal Christendom raised its voice in favor of the war.
Her preaclters preached the young meu into the trenches,
and told them that if they died upon the battlefield they
wouhl be a part of the vicarious atonement of Christ. The
bloody war continued; and nominal Christendom contin-
ued to support it, but failed to heed its meaning within
the words of the King then present.
We note again the words of the Prophet: "The Lord lm
in his holy teml)ie; let all the earth keep silence before
him." (l-labnkkuk 2:20) The great storm of the World
War blew itself out; and for a time tim fighting ceased,
and the nations in silence assembled in an attempt to
prevent another outbreak. Would not now nominal Chris-
tendom, her nobles, her ministers, her mighty men, learn
a lesson from the war and its effects as indicated by ful-
filled prophecy, showing that the Lord is present and that
his kingdom is at hand? They failed to learn such lesson.
They were drunk with power and riches gained during the
war. Their closer association with the other elements of
the "beast," big business and big politics, had completely
turned their heads.
The tinancial princes and the mighty rulers of earth
assembled in Paris for a peace conference, and the clergy
of nominal Christendom joined with them; and the result
was the bringing forth of the League of Nations, the
devil's final substitute for the kingdom of Messiah. Nom-
inal Christendom now not only wits allied with big busi-
ness and big politics, but boasted of the fact; and the
nominal church (now a part of the devil's organization,
with no authority to act in the priestly office) came for-
ward to offer incense. And what was the form of it7
In January, 1919, before the League of Nations was
completely born, the Federal Council of Churches boldly
issued the following blasphemous statement:
"The time hats come to organize the world for truth,
right, justice and humanity. To this end as Christians
we urge the establishment of a League of Free Nations
at the coming Peace Conference. Such a league is not
merely a peace expedient; it is rather the political
expression of the kingdom of God on earth. The
Le'tgue of Nations is rooted in the .gospel. Like the
gospel, its objective is 'Peace on earth, good will to-
ward men.' Like the gospel, its appeal is universal
"The heroic dead will have died in vain unless out
of victory shall come a new heaven and a new earth,
wherein dwelleth righteousness.--2 Peter 3: 13.
"The church [nomimll] can give a spirit of good-
will, without which no League of Nations can endure."
Thus they denied tile coming of the Lord and his king-
dora to bless mankind, and openly allied themselves with
the devil's scheme, and then blasphemously attempted to
offer this befm'e the Lord. lake their prototype Uzziah,
the leprosy immediately appeared upon the nominal sys-
tems. Thus we are eaal)led to locate the time of the ful-
fillment of Isaiah's vision.
ISAIAH'S CRY
When Isaiah beheld this vision he saw standing above
the throne the seraphim, each one of whom was saying:
"Holy, holy, holy, Is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth
Is full of his glory." 8er¢~phill~ means "bri.ght shining ones."
In connection with I.~aiah's vision we venture the sug-
gestion that it is connected with the saying of St. Paul
that the Lord is revealed in flaming fire. The Lord here
is revealed to his people in the time of flaming fire. The
Immediate effect of the vision upon Isaiah caused him to
cry out: "Woe Is me! for I am undone; because I am
a man of unclean Ups, and I dwell in the midst of a
people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King,
the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphim unto
me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken
with tile tongs from off the altar: and he laid it ulmn my
mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine
Iniquity Is taken away, and thy sit] purged."--Isaiah 6:5-7.
Prnplmey can be better understood when fulfilled. Often
God causes his people to enact the fulfilhnent of a prophecy
without their knowir~g it at the time, and later he reveals
to them the int,erpret-ttton.
As above stated, in 1918 the
temple c.lass this side the vail was in restraint of both
liberty of person and liberty of action in the proclamation
of the message. Until 1919 there was a practical silence
of the Lord's people, as far as proclaiming his message
was concerned. In that year there assembled in conven-
tion at Cedar Point, Ohio, a large number of representa-
tive followers of the Lord. Suddenly they awoke to their
privileges. Then they flung away their fears. Then they
came to a knowledge of the fact that the Elijah work
had ended, and that now the work pictured by Ellsha
must begin.
When Isaiah s,'tw the King he knew that an impure being
could not live in his presence. E:ence his cry: "Woe Is mel
for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips:
¯ . . for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."
Evidently his unclenmmss or iniquity had something to
do with the words of his mouth. 1-[e recognizes that he
ought to be found praising God as the seraphim were;
or that he had failed to speak the message that he should
speak. His penitent cry leads to his purgation. The seraph
then with aburniug coal cleanses his lips. Then he is no
longer silent, but ready to serve.
WHAT SHALL WE Dog
And so it was with the temple class In 1919. Realizing
that they had been silent for a time, a cry went up to
the Lord: 'What shall we doT' "While Isaiah thus stood In
awe, wonder, amazement and fear, one of the seraphim
flew unto him and cleansed his lips. So likewise was
the te,nple class, in the year above mentioned, purged of
any uncleanness of lips.
In 1919 the Lord doubtless permitted his people to see
the necessity of taking some positive action in a more
earnest witness of the truth, even though they saw it not
foreshadowed so clearly In his Word. Today, if we have
an understanding of tills vision, if we appreciate the fact
that the Lord is present and In his temple for judgment,
seeing this, wlmt shall we do?
There is a duty and obligation laid upon every one in
the temple condition; and seeing this position, the prophet
Isaiah instructs them what to do, saying, "Arise, shine;
for thy light is come, and tim glory of the Lord is risen
upon thee. For, behold, tim darkness shall cover the earth,
and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise
Upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." (Isaiah
60: 1, 2) Truly the glory of the Lord has been shining
upon his people for the past three years, and has blessed
their efforts wonderfully. At the same time darkness has
covered the earth, and gross darkness the people making
up Christendom especially.
CHANGE OF WORK
There has been a distinct change In the character of
the work of the churcl~ since 1918. The question is, Has
it been warranted? Tlmse who have walked with us but
who with us no longer walk say: "No." Let us look again
at Isaiah's vision in conjunction with other things that the
Lord has shown his people and then determine.
The temple class, having had their llps cleansed, like
Isaiah tile protot~sae stood tn a waiting attitude. Such
was the condition of the church from 1918 until the latte~
part of 1919. In 1919 the Lord purged their lips. Like
Isaiah, the temple class heard the voice of the Lord say-
in?, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" Tha
question is not asked, Who will go for the seraphim? but,
Who will go for the Lord Jesus and the Lord Jehovah?
Who now, having their lips purge<l, will voluntarily carry
the message? This vision seems to say to those to ~hom
It applies: Do not become conceited with the tlmught that
God has raised up certain Individuals to do his work. But
this vision has come to us that we may prove whether
or not our hearts are wholly devoted to the Lord¯ Those
who hear the voice, who appreciate the time in which we
are living, respond as did their prototype Isaiah, saying,
"Here am I, send me." As good soldiers o£ the cross,
they do not ask the reason why, nor when nor where they
shall go; but, wholly submissive to the Lord, they cry:
"Here am I, send me."
To the willing response, "Here am I, send me," the
messenger of the Lord replies: "Go, and tell this people."
Tell them what? That the kingdom is here; that the Lord
Is in his temple; that the world has ended; tlmt Satan's
empire is under Judgment; that the kingdom of heaven
has begun, and that millions now living will never die.
But will the ecclesiastic leaders and their flock supporting
the devil's organization hear? The Lord's pl'.lfllet 'tll-
swers: "Hear ye indee<l, but understand not; and see ye
Indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat,
and nmke their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they
see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, :tlld under-
stand with their heart, and convert, and be healed."~
Isaiah 6 : 9, 10.
Why, then, deliver the m~sage to those who do not un-
derstand? Will any one hear? The P,'ophet of the Lord
answers: "Bring fortll the blitld people that have eyes,
and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gath-
ered together, and let the people be assembh.'d : who among
them cat] declare this, and show us framer thiz~g~.": Let
them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justi-
fied; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are ,ny
witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have
chose,]; that ye may know and believe me, and under-
stand that I am he: before me there was no God formed,
neither shall there be after me. I, even I, ant the Lord;
and beside me there is no savior. I have de.chtred, -ted
have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange
god among you; therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the
Lord, that I am God."--Isaiah 43: 8-12.
q:lms we see that those of the tetnl)le class are clearly
desig,mted as the Lord's witnesses at this time, to bring
a message of consolation to the people, that the kingdom
of heaven is here, and tlmt millions now living will never
die. Thus it is seen that God purposes that llis name shall
be magnified, that the people shall know that he is Lord.
Tlms we see that God purposes to have a people in the
earth in this time of stress, clearly marked as separate
and distinct from all others, standing as his witnes.~es,
fearlessly ci'yirtg out the lnessage: "Tim kingdom of heaven
Is at hand l"
IIOW LONG?
But how long, 0 Lord, shall we continue to tell ferth
this message? M:~y we not make a mistake and make our-
selves obnoxious by telling it too ofteu? Should we not
preach some other message or keep silence altogether?
And the Lord answers: "Until the cities be wasted with-
out inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land
be utterly desolate." (Isaiah 6: 11) This is corroborated
by the Lord in Matthew 24: 14. Clearly, then, is set forth
the proof that the temple class must continue to declare
this message of the kingdom until their earthly career Is
endeo. They must be his faithful witnesses until Baby-
lon's walls crumble to the ground.
For six thousand years God has been preparing for this
kingdom. For nineteen hundred years he has been gath-
ering out tile kingdom class from amongst men. Since
1874 the King of glory has been present; and during that
time he has co~ducted a harvest and has gathered unto
hhuself the temple class. Since 1914 the King of glory
has taken his power and reigns. He has cleansed the lips
of the temple class and sends them forth with the message.
The Importance of the message of the kingdom cannot be
overstated. It is the message of all messages. It is the
message of the hour. It is incumbent upon those who are
the Lord's to declare It. The kingdom of heaven Is at
hand; the King reigns; Satan's empire ts falling; millions
;now living will never die.
Do you believe it? Do you believe that the King of glory
is present, and has been since 18747 Do you believe thai:
during that time he has conducted his harvest work? Do
you believe tlmt he has had during that time a failhfui
and wise serwmt through whom he directed his work and
the feeding of the househoJd of faith? Do you believe that
the Lord is now in his tmnple, judging the nations of
earth? Do you believe that tim King of glory has begun
his reign ?
Then back to the field, O ye sons of the most high God l
Gird on your armor! Be sober, be vigilant, be active, be
brave. Be faithful and true witnesses for the Lord. Go
forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon lies
desolate. IIerald the message far and wide. The world
must know that Jehovah Is God and tlmt Jesus Christ is
King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all
days. Behohi, the King reignsl YOU are his publicity
agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King
and his kingdom. -
Satanus
Oops, i guess once is enough.
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Satanus
It needs a bit of error correction. The line spaces are the page separations.
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Goshawk
heh Satanus - Hope it fits.
---- LOL that's what she said.
Thanks for the post.
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Satanus
Your welcome, goshawk.
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Satanus
Your welcome, goshawk.
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Satanus
If someone wants to correct the text and put it up on sendspace, or something , they are welcome to do so.
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Nathan Natas
"The KINGDOM"
DISCOURSE BY BROTHER J.F. RUTHERFORD
presented Friday, September 8, 1922. Printed in The WATCH TOWER November 1, 1922."The kingdom of heaven is at hand."--Matthew 4:17.
NINETEEN hundred years ago Jesus in the flesh was on the earth. John his forerunner had announced his coming with the message: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." Shortly thereafter Jesus began his ministry with the self-same message: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand." It was important then. It must be of greater importance now. The fact that both John and Jesus emphasized the message shows its paramount importance.
All the parabolic teaching of Jesus related to the kingdom and he continued to advertise that as the paramount issue. Many heard the announcement; a less number believed it; and a far smaller number adhered to what they did hear and believe. (How like the closing days of the present order!) Those who heard and appreciated the announcement made by John and Jesus were thrilled with the message. Why? Because a climax in the history of the nation of Israel had been reached. What was then true and being revealed had been foretold and foreshadowed. The importance of a coming event may be approximated by the time, wisdom and painstaking efforts put forth preparatory for that event.
At the beginning of Israel's national existence Moses, by Jehovah's providence, had delivered that people from the oppressive hand of the Egyptian ruler. Then Jehovah
said through Moses to that people: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
(Deuteronomy 18: 15) Thereafter God through the mouth of his holy prophets time and again foretold the coming of the greater than Moses to be the deliverer of man from Satan, the mighty evil one of whom Pharaoh of Egypt was a type.Not only did God foretell the coming of the mighty King and his kingdom, but he caused Israel to enact living pictures foreshadowing that kingdom. They were taught both by precept and by example, and yet failed to believe and fully trust the announcement of his coming.
Even John, who made the original announcement, became perplexed and in doubt, and sent word to Jesus to know whether or not he was the Messiah or whether they should look for another. The nation of Israel did not see or appreciate the day of favor, when the Lord did come to them. The minds of the majority were blinded to the blessings of that day; and hence the King, long foretold and foreshadowed, was rejected; and Israel was east off.
The reason for Israel's being cast off was unbelief, which unbelief was induced by the machinations of the mimic god, Satan, that old serpent, the adversary, the devil.
The coming of the Lord was to the Jews the most vital of all their days. God had provided the Law to lead them to Christ and to prepare them against this day of unbelief. The second coming of the Lord, as the great reigning Messiah, and the setting up of his kingdom are of vital importance to all of this day, but especially to the Christians. To these God has given the Bible, the inspired words written by the prophets, Jesus, and the apostles, to lead the Christians to this very day. Jehovah tenderly led the people of Israel from Moses to John; and yet the adversary so overreached the majority of them that they did not know of his presence. Today history is repeating itself. The present unbelief, as with Israel, is induced by the machinations of Satan. We therefore do well from time to time to review the organization of Satan's empire, why it was organized, what have been its operations, and what will be the final result, in order that we may not forget the wily enemy that wars against us. May the facts enable us to stand more firmly together in Christ.
More than six thousand years ago a bright shining one of the realm of the heavenly host conceived in his heart that he would be like the Most High God. Because of such wicked ambition he fell; and Jehovah then changed his name from Lucifer and gave to him four names, each of which depicts his despicable character. The name dragon signifies devourer. Satan has sought to devour the people of God from the time of Abel until now. Serpent means deceiver. He has deceived and continues to deceive from Eve until the present hour. Devil means slanderer. He has slandered Jehovah, the Lord Jesus, all the prophets, and all the followers of the Lord; and he continues so to do, and injects into the minds of others, thoughts of slander. Satan means adversary or opposer. He has opposed every step in the development of the kingdom class, He is the enemy of God, the enemy of man, the deadly foe of the righteous class.
Jehovah, the great ruler of tile universe, in whom all dominion rightfully lies, planned the redemption and deliverance of the human race and organized the nation of Israel to foreshadow such. With that nation he organized the true religion, commanding that they should worship him as the only true God. Satan, the opposer, the mimic God, organized amongst the people round about Israel the false religion, and caused them to worship him and other devils. The power exercised by Jehovah upon his people is the holy spirit. The tie that binds Satan to his followers is the evil spirit. Because of yielding to his machinations Israel was overreached by him. God pronounced a decree against the nation, and enforced that decree in 606 B.C.; and there Satan became the god of this world. He is also called the prince of the power of the air, thus indicating his organization visible and invisible.
THE KINGDOM CLASS
While the Law was intended to lead Israel to Christ, only a remnant of that nation escaped the wiles of the adversary. God had promised a seed through which all the families of the earth should be blessed. Satan developed an opposing seed. The seed of promise is the Christ. The seed of the evil one consists of his emissaries visible and invisible, warring against the seed of promise. The seed of promise is made up of the truly consecrated and anointed Christians on this side of the vail and of the Lord and the glorified saints on the other side of the will. The seed visible of Satan organized into a body is designated as the beast." The "beast" is composed of the three elements; big business, big politicians and big preachers. Satan's purpose is to control mankind and keep them subjected to wickedness. The purpose of the Messianic kingdom is to relieve mankind, to lift them up and bless them with life everlasting. This benevolent work must be done by the kingdom class
Satan's kingdom must be overthrown by the Messianic kingdom. Therefore there could be no kingdom without a king; and the king must be present and acting before the overthrow could take place.
The development of the kingdom class began at the consecration of Jesus at the Jordan. As a new creature he was there assigned to the office of king; hence it was proper for John and Jesus to say: "The kingdom of heaven Is at hand,"because the King was present. But Jesus must die and arise from the dead before he could become the King of glory.
God ordained that there should be associated with the King of glory as a part of the kingdom class the members of his body, designated his bride, the church. After Jesus
had announced his kingship he said to his disciples: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2,3) From the time of his ascension into heaven forward, Christians have looked for his return as the great event of all time. After his resurrection Jesus began to make known the mystery of God. He brought forth the true and faithful religion, of which he was the true and faithful Witness. Satan then organized the mystery of iniquity, bringing to the fore a faithless religion, a religion that claims to worship God but that in truth and in fact worships the devil and obeys his commandments.HE IS HERE!
All the prophecies focused upon the coming of the King of glory. Not only did Jesus promise the disciples that day would come, but he taught them to pray: "Thy kingdom
come." The apostles looked with eagerness for his coming, and declared that there would be a special blessing to those who would be preaching and loving his appearing at the time of his coming. The prophet Daniel, looking to that time, exclaimed: 'Oh, the blessedness of him who lives and comes unto that time!' It is the all-important time, because it is the climax of the world's history.The Scriptures show that Satan's empire will conclude with a deadly battle between Satan and his seed on the one side and the Lord and his seed on the other; and that the King of glory will triumph, resulting in the deliverance of the church and the world of mankind. The Scriptures further show that at that time Satan's kingdoms would have control of the earth, and Satan's representatives in earth would be subjecting the people to oppressive measures. But God through his prophet says: "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 for ever." (Daniel 2: 44) For this reason Christians have eagerly looked and waited for the coming of the Lord and his kingdom.
Bible prophecy shows that the Lord was due to appear for the second time in the year 1874. Fulfilled prophecy shows beyond a doubt that he did appear in 1874. Fulfilled prophecy
is otherwise designated the physical facts; and these facts are indisputable. All true watchers are familiar with these facts, as set forth in the Scriptures and explained in the interpretation by the Lord's special servant.Jesus himself declared that in the time of his presence he would conduct a harvest of his people, during which he would gather unto himself the true and loyal ones. For some years this work has been in operation and is nearing completion. He stated that during his presence he would have one who would fill the office of a faithful and wise servant, through whom the Lord would bring to his people meat In due season. All the facts show that these prophecies have been fulfilled.
DAY OF PREPARATION
Why has the King come? To set up his kingdom and reign as King. But he had a work to do before his reign began, and that is a preparatory work. Since there are to be associated with him in his reign his body members, these must be gathered together and prepared for the be ginning of the reign. The gentile times under the supervision of the god of this world ended August 1, 1914. Before that date it would not have been consistent for the Lord, the King of glory, to take unto himself his great power and reign. (Ezekiel 21:27) Since he has been present from 1874, it follows, from the facts as we now see them, that the period from 1874 to 1914 is the day of preparation. This in no wise militates against the thought that "the time of the end" is from 1799 until 1914. The period from 1799 to 1874 could not be said to be a day of preparation, but a day of Increasing light. It is not reasonable to think
that the King began to make preparations until he was present.The Lord foreknew, of course, that Satan would not peaceably yield the kingdoms of earth. He knew that there would be a great conflict, and hence he must prepare for that conflict. The prophet Nahum, speaking with reference to tile time of the second presence of the Lord, shows that this was a preparatory period. He says: "He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face; keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily." (Nahum 2: 1) Amongst other things done during the day of preparation have been the gathering together of the true followers of Jesus, the instructing of them in the truth and the preparing of them against the great and terrible day.
ELIJAH WORK
The Lord, referring to the conditions immediately preceding the establishment of the kingdom, said: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse." (Malachi 4:5, 6) The "dreadful day of the Lord" is a day of trouble. It is spoken of as the "great and dreadful day of Jehovah," and also as the "day of vengeance," and as the "great day of wrath." This day of wrath and vengeance of God could not come until the end of the gentile times; and indeed the Lord definitely fixes that, saying, "Bee:rose thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come." (Revelation 11:17, 18) The facts show conclusively that that day began in 1914. It follows
that the Elijah work muse be done before then.From the writings of the Lord's servant we read : "Elijah was a type and John the baptist a continuation of that type .... Elijah pictured the church doing a work 'in the spirit and power of Elijah,' announcing the Lord." (B252, 253) It will be observed that while a woman is used to prefigure the church alone, here a man is used. The reason assigned for this is that our Lord is the head of the church and the church does no work separate from him; therefore the Elijah work pictures a particular work done by the church under the supervision of the Lord. (B255) it follows, then, that tile Elijah work must be done between the beginning of the Lord's presence and the day of wrath. This is in harmony with Malachi's prophecy. The Elijah work was to convert Christendom to a humble, childlike condition, making them teachable as children, and turning their hearts from error, sin and unfaithfulness and leading them back into harmony with God and righteousness. (B249) This is in harmony with the direction given to the Lord's servant and his associates through the Prophet, saying, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of tile men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof."--Ezekiel 9:4.
Speaking of this same time, the Lord Jesus himself said in answer to a question: "Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things." (Matthew 17:11) The Elijah work is not the restoration of man. The restoration work referred to, therefore, must be a restoring to the true followers of Jesus the great fundamental truths which had long been hidden under the debris of human traditions. This exactly corresponds with the work that was done by the church from 1874, and 1878 particularly, until 1914.
It could not be said that the period from 1874 to 1914 was a day of great stress, a day of darkness and blackness. On the contrary, it was a most favorable time for giving a witness to the truth.--B 260.
The Lord through the prophet then showed that unless the Elijah work succeeded in turning the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, then the Lord would cast off the systems and there would follow a great, burning, destructive time of trouble. It is well known to all that the work did not succeed in turning nominal Christendom to the Lord. On the contrary, only a remnant heard and believed and came together; while the great mass has persecuted these, smaller in number. While the Elijah class were pointing to the presence of the Lord and the great and terrible day coming, as late as 1913 the clergy of the leading church denominations of the world were boasting that another war was impossible. The gentile times ended August 1, 1914, and immediately followed the World War; and since that day there has been upon earth distress of nations, with perplexity. It has been a day of increasing darkness and blackness and suffering. The physical facts, then, clearly show that the day of preparation was from 1874 forward; and that the Elijah work was done from 1874 forward, ending in 1918.
Elisha was anointed to finish the work that Elijah began. Elisha therefore would picture and does picture a work somewhat different from that known as the Elijah work. The Elisha work must be performed by the Lord and the members of his body during the great and terrible day.
COMING TO HIS TEMPLE
The temple of God is the Messianic class, Jesus and the body members. "For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people." (2 Corinthians (3: 16) During the day of the Lord's preparation he has been gathering together the living stones of his temple. Many of these are already beyond the vail, and some of these are still on this side the vail, as we believe.
Through the prophet Malachi the Lord said: "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple." (Malachi 3:1) This further corroborates the view that the day of preparation is the period from the Lord's second appearing until the beginning of the overthrow of Satan's empire. The word suddenly here means straightway. A time that might seem long to man would be suddenly with the Lord. We believe, therefore, that the day of preparation ended in 1914; and that in 1918, or thereabouts, the Lord came to his temple. This coming to the temple was for judgment, because judgment must first begin at the house of God. (1 Peter 4: 17) The judgment would be upon the true church and also the nominal system. Then says the prophet: "Who may abide the day of his coming?' The Scriptures indicate a time of great testing when the Lord comes to his temple.
About October, 1917, began the Jewish year, 1918. It was at that time that there was a great shaking up of the people of God, who had been gathered to the temple condition. Referring to the Lord's coming to his temple, the Prophet wrote: "The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. The Lord trieth the righteous; but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth." (Psalm 11:4, 5) Again, concerning the same thing: "Hear, all ye people: hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord God be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple."--Micah 1: 2.
Christ Jesus, the Head of the temple class, speaks through various members of his body or through instruments that he may use. Those Scriptures indicate the beginning of his judgments upon the nations of the earth and at the same time resulting in a test to the righteous members of the temple class this side the vail. The facts show that in January, 1918, a representative body of the Lord's people assembled in convention at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, passed a resolution, causing a copy to be presented to the President of the United States and to other officials of the Babylonish systems, calling attention to the unlawful relationship existing between the church nominal and the governments of earth. This was practically the last work of the Elijah class, pictured more particularly in the experiences of John the Baptist.
Surely from that time forward the Lord permitted his saints to be tested and tried. Throughout all the land of America and Canada in particular, as well as in Europe,
many of the saints were arrested and thrown into jail, many persecuted; and for a year or more there was great distress "amongst the people of God, and a cry went up from the temple class for help. This seems to be foreshadowed by the Psalmist when he says: "In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he beard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears." (Psalm 18:6) The Lord's people were in bondage, denied their personal liberty and the liberty of preaching the gospel. The Lord heard their cry and released them.ISAIAH'S VISION
Isaiah, the prophet of God, a type of the true people of the Lord in the temple condition, had a vision. (Isaiah 6:1-11) In the picture he is represented as worshiping the Lord in the temple. The context shows that the throne here mentioned could not be the Millennial throne of Christ, but that it does refer to the throne of the Lord Jesus Christ, his position of authority as the representative of Jehovah after taking unto himself his great power to reign when he comes to the temple. Jesus quoted from this recorded vision of Isaiah, and his words clearly show that it does not refer to the Millennial throne. (John 12:40) It does show, however, a time of judgment against Christendom similar to that judgment which Jesus pronounced against the Pharisees when he was on earth.
The prophet Isaiah says that it was in the year that king Uzziah died that he had this vision. We believe that Uzziah pictured the nominal church, which has claimed to represent the Lord, but which in truth and in fact in the latter times has departed from the Lord. Uzziah was king of Israel for more than fifty years. For a long while he did right in the sight of God. He prospered and became very rich. He fought many successful battles. He was a great builder. He became a mighty king. Self-conceit, leading to a wrongful and selfish act, was the cause of his fall. He died a leper.
How clearly these facts fit the history of the church nominal! That system was organized for a righteous purpose at the beginning. The voice of the bride and of the Bridegroom was heard in her. The system delivered the message of the kingdom of God for many years. She builded many churches and schools for the education of the people. She did much toward the moral uplift of society. But she became self-conceited and fell for the same reason that Uzziah fell. St. Paul warned against this self-conceit, thereby clearly indicating that such would be the cause of nominal Christendom's downfall.--Romans 11 : 25.
Uzziah as king had no authority to act as priest. It was the prerogative of the priest to offer incense upon the golden altar in the temple. Uzziah had become so impressed with his own importance, however, that he considered himself above the rules of the temple, and went in to offer incense. The duly constituted priest withstood him to prevent him from offering the incense. But Uzziah became angry and Insisted that he would offer it; and he was immediately stricken leprous, became an outcast and died as such.
Prior to 1878 the nominal church had grown mighty in the earth. In 1878 God's favor was withdrawn from the nominal systems. From that time on Brother Russell and the brethren who supported him went throughout the land doing the Elijah work, endeavoring to turn the hearts of Christendom back to a childlike faith In God. The nominal church heeded not. In 1914 these systems were boasting of their power and influence and said: 'We are rich and have need of nothing.' When the World War began in 1914, nominal Christendom raised its voice in favor of the war. Her preachers preached the young men into the trenches, and told them that if they died upon the battlefield they would be a part of the vicarious atonement of Christ. The bloody war continued; and nominal Christendom continued to support it, but failed to heed its meaning within the words of the King then present.
We note again the words of the Prophet: "The Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." (Habakkuk 2:20) The great storm of the World War blew itself out; and for a time the fighting ceased, and the nations in silence assembled in an attempt to prevent another outbreak. Would not now nominal Christendom, her nobles, her ministers, her mighty men, learn a lesson from the war and its effects as indicated by fulfilled prophecy, showing that the Lord is present and that his kingdom is at hand? They failed to learn such lesson. They were drunk with power and riches gained during the war. Their closer association with the other elements of the "beast," big business and big politics, had completely turned their heads.
The financial princes and the mighty rulers of earth assembled in Paris for a peace conference, and the clergy of nominal Christendom joined with them; and the result
was the bringing forth of the League of Nations, the devil's final substitute for the kingdom of Messiah. Nominal Christendom now not only was allied with big business and big politics, but boasted of the fact; and the nominal church (now a part of the devil's organization, with no authority to act in the priestly office) came forward to offer incense. And what was the form of it?In January, 1919, before the League of Nations was completely born, the Federal Council of Churches boldly issued the following blasphemous statement:
"The time has come to organize the world for truth, right, justice and humanity. To this end as Christians we urge the establishment of a League of Free Nations at the coming Peace Conference. Such a league is not merely a peace expedient; it is rather the political expression of the kingdom of God on earth. The League of Nations is rooted in the gospel. Like the gospel, its objective is 'Peace on earth, good will toward men.' Like the gospel, its appeal is universal.
"The heroic dead will have died in vain unless out of victory shall come a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.--2 Peter 3: 13.
"The church [nominal] can give a spirit of goodwill, without which no League of Nations can endure."
Thus they denied the coming of the Lord and his kingdom to bless mankind, and openly allied themselves with the devil's scheme, and then blasphemously attempted to offer this before the Lord. Like their prototype Uzziah, the leprosy immediately appeared upon the nominal systems. Thus we are enabled to locate the time of the fulfillment of Isaiah's vision.
ISAIAH'S CRY
When Isaiah beheld this vision he saw standing above the throne the seraphim, each one of whom was saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth Is full of his glory." Seraphim means "bright shining ones." In connection with Isaiah's vision we venture the suggestion that it is connected with the saying of St. Paul that the Lord is revealed in flaming fire. The Lord here is revealed to his people in the time of flaming fire. The immediate effect of the vision upon Isaiah caused him to cry out: "Woe Is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: and he laid it upon my
mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity Is taken away, and thy sin purged."--Isaiah 6:5-7.Prophecy can be better understood when fulfilled. Often God causes his people to enact the fulfillment of a prophecy without their knowing it at the time, and later he reveals to them the interpretation. As above stated, in 1918 the temple class this side the vail was in restraint of both liberty of person and liberty of action in the proclamation of the message. Until 1919 there was a practical silence of the Lord's people, as far as proclaiming his message was concerned. In that year there assembled in convention at Cedar Point, Ohio, a large number of representative followers of the Lord. Suddenly they awoke to their privileges. Then they flung away their fears. Then they came to a knowledge of the fact that the Elijah work had ended, and that now the work pictured by Elisha must begin.
When Isaiah saw the King he knew that an impure being could not live in his presence. Hence his cry: "Woe Is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips... for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." Evidently his uncleanness or iniquity had something to do with the words of his mouth. He recognizes that he ought to be found praising God as the seraphim were; or that he had failed to speak the message that he should speak. His penitent cry leads to his purgation. The seraph then with a burning coal cleanses his lips. Then he is no longer silent, but ready to serve.
WHAT SHALL WE DO?
And so it was with the temple class In 1919. Realizing that they had been silent for a time, a cry went up to the Lord: 'What shall we do?' "While Isaiah thus stood in awe, wonder, amazement and fear, one of the seraphim flew unto him and cleansed his lips. So likewise was the temple class, in the year above mentioned, purged of any uncleanness of lips.
In 1919 the Lord doubtless permitted his people to see the necessity of taking some positive action in a more earnest witness of the truth, even though they saw it not foreshadowed so clearly In his Word. Today, if we have an understanding of this vision, if we appreciate the fact that the Lord is present and In his temple for judgment, seeing this, what shall we do?
There is a duty and obligation laid upon every one in the temple condition; and seeing this position, the prophet Isaiah instructs them what to do, saying, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee." (Isaiah 60: 1, 2) Truly the glory of the Lord has been shining upon his people for the past three years, and has blessed their efforts wonderfully. At the same time darkness has covered the earth, and gross darkness the people making up Christendom especially.
CHANGE OF WORK
There has been a distinct change In the character of the work of the church since 1918. The question is, Has it been warranted? Those who have walked with us but who with us no longer walk say: "No." Let us look again Isaiah's vision in conjunction with other things that the Lord has shown his people and then determine.
The temple class, having had their lips cleansed, like Isaiah tile prototype stood in a waiting attitude. Such was the condition of the church from 1918 until the latter part of 1919. In 1919 the Lord purged their lips. Like Isaiah, the temple class heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" The question is not asked, Who will go for the seraphim? but, Who will go for the Lord Jesus and the Lord Jehovah? Who now, having their lips purged, will voluntarily carry the message? This vision seems to say to those to whom It applies: Do not become conceited with the thought that God has raised up certain Individuals to do his work. But this vision has come to us that we may prove whether or not our hearts are wholly devoted to the Lord. Those who hear the voice, who appreciate the time in which we are living, respond as did their prototype Isaiah, saying, "Here am I, send me." As good soldiers of the cross, they do not ask the reason why, nor when nor where they shall go; but, wholly submissive to the Lord, they cry: "Here am I, send me."
To the willing response, "Here am I, send me," the messenger of the Lord replies: "Go, and tell this people." Tell them what? That the kingdom is here; that the Lord is in his temple; that the world has ended; that Satan's empire is under Judgment; that the kingdom of heaven has begun, and that millions now living will never die. But will the ecclesiastic leaders and their flock supporting the devil's organization hear? The Lord's prophet answers: "Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." -- Isaiah 6: 9, 10.
Why, then, deliver the message to those who do not understand? Will any one hear? The Prophet of the Lord answers: "Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears. Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things.": Let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen, that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior. I have declared, and have saved, and I have showed, when there was no strange god among you; therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that I am God."--Isaiah 43: 8-12.
Thus we see that those of the temple class are clearly designated as the Lord's witnesses at this time, to bring a message of consolation to the people, that the kingdom of heaven is here, and that millions now living will never die. Thus it is seen that God purposes that His name shall be magnified, that the people shall know that he is Lord. Thus we see that God purposes to have a people in the earth in this time of stress, clearly marked as separate and distinct from all others, standing as his witnesses, fearlessly crying out the message: "The kingdom of heaven is at hand!"
HOW LONG?
But how long, O Lord, shall we continue to tell forth this message? May we not make a mistake and make ourselves obnoxious by telling it too often? Should we not preach some other message or keep silence altogether? And the Lord answers: "Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate." (Isaiah 6: 11) This is corroborated by the Lord in Matthew 24:14. Clearly, then, is set forth the proof that the temple class must continue to declare this message of the kingdom until their earthly career is ended. They must be his faithful witnesses until Babylon's walls crumble to the ground.
For six thousand years God has been preparing for this kingdom. For nineteen hundred years he has been gathering out the kingdom class from amongst men. Since 1874 the King of glory has been present; and during that time he has conducted a harvest and has gathered unto himself the temple class. Since 1914 the King of glory has taken his power and reigns. He has cleansed the lips of the temple class and sends them forth with the message. The Importance of the message of the kingdom cannot be overstated. It is the message of all messages. It is the message of the hour. It is incumbent upon those who are the Lord's to declare It. The kingdom of heaven is at hand; the King reigns; Satan's empire ts falling; millions now living will never die.
Do you believe it? Do you believe that the King of glory is present, and has been since 1874? Do you believe that during that time he has conducted his harvest work? Do
you believe that he has had during that time a faithful and wise servant through whom he directed his work and the feeding of the household of faith? Do you believe that the Lord is now in his temple, judging the nations of earth? Do you believe that the King of glory has begun his reign?Then back to the field, O ye sons of the most high God! Gird on your armor! Be sober, be vigilant, be active, be brave. Be faithful and true witnesses for the Lord. Go forward in the fight until every vestige of Babylon lies desolate. Herald the message far and wide. The world must know that Jehovah Is God and that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords. This is the day of all days. Behold, the King reigns! YOU are his publicity agents. Therefore advertise, advertise, advertise, the King and his kingdom.