In July, 1917, it
appeared to many that the work might be violently
overthrown and the dark night set in. The darkness
increased until the spring of 1919. Seven years from
the date when the truth seemed to go under a cloud
it is shining forth with greater brilliancy than was ever
known before.
Some may be inclined to make light of all this.
So were the people of Nazareth when Jesus said that
the words of the prophet were being fulfilled before
their eyes. To us it is a matter of rejoicing as we see
these indications of God's care and interest in his peo-
ple, and his overruling in their work; and we are
stimulated to push on with greater zeal than ever be-
fore, assured that the Lord is still in direct charge, and
that he is carrying on his work exactly on schedule
time. It is not often that he calls the attention of
his people to the fact while they are passing through
some pre-dated experience. In the face of all the fore-
going historical and physical facts, who shall say that
the date of the Columbus Convention was not in the
mind of Jehovah when he sent Nebuchadnezzar to fore-
close the mortgage, July 606 B.C., 2530 years ago?
Does it not also indicate, according to the dates above
given, that the last chronological typical jubilee began
in July, 1924, instead of October; and that the anti-
typical jubilee may begin about July-August, 1925?
Would it be unreasonable to expect that Jehovah will
mark that date to the world as clearly as he did the
year 1914? and as clearly as he has marked the begin-
ning of 1925 to the Church?
WHAT ABOUT 1926?
That 1925 will be a phenomenal year in many
respects is evident.
The Catholics are celebrating their "jubilee", which
began Christmas Eve, December 24th, 1924. The
"jubilee door" of St. Peter's at Borne was opened by the
Pope at that time, and is to remain open for one year.
All who pass through the door are promised his special
blessing. Rome is expecting hundreds of thousands to
take advantage of this special favor, and is making
great preparations to take care of the throngs which will
visit the city during 1925.
The Jews also are looking upon 1925 and expect to
receive some special blessing from Jehovah, though they
do not seem to he certain what it may be. We do
not know where they received their intimation, unless
they have been reading some of our Society's litera-
ture. Nevertheless they are expectant. Various Pro-
testant denominations are becoming worried over the
loss of interest in religion on the part of their congre-
gations, and are trying by various means to overcome it.
It seems to be a weakness of many Bible Students
that if they locate a future date in the Bible, im-
mediately they center as many prophecies upon that
date as possible. This has been the cause of many sift-
ings in the past. As far as we recall, all the dates
foreseen were correct. The difficulty was that the friends
inflated their imaginations beyond reason; and that
when their imaginations burst asunder, they were in-
clined to throw away everything. No doubt Mr. Miller
was correct in locating 1844 as a Bible date. But he
expected too much. 1874 was also easily located. 1878
was also a marked date, and one which caused Brother
Russell a severe trial until he corrected his expectations,
as noted in his "Harvest Sittings", of April, 1894,
now out of print. Many can remember how "absolute-
ly sure" some were about 1914. No doubt the Lord was
pleased with the zeal manifested by his servants; but
did they have a Scriptural basis for all they expected to
come to pass that year? Let us be cautious, therefore,
about predicting particulars. The Lord will make them
clear as fast as they become meat in due season. How-
ever, we feel sure that lie will not chide us if we earnest-
ly and reverently search for what may be revealed,
watching also the facts about us.
We may reasonably expect that 1925 will be a
very active year for the saints on this side the vail; and
also that the adversary will be increasingly active in
his opposition, as he knows that his time is shortening.
The world will be so engrossed with its own troubles
that it will not have much time to think of other
tilings, until people wake up to the facts that their
schemes have been soap bubbles, and that the truth
has been scattered all over the world. The adversary
will he quick to suggest that the scattering of the truth
has been the cause of their disappointments. This will
anger them, and they may attempt strenuous measures
to sup press it, in order to direct attention from them-
selves and to hold their power over the masses. How
long before they attempt this we may not know, nor
need it trouble us. Our Captain is in full control of
the situation, and victory is sure.
No one needs "glasses" to see that the world—polit-
ical, financial, religious, national, and international — is
perplexed and anxious. No one may safely predict
exactly what will take place, even within the next year;
but God has given general indications in his Word of
many things which are yet to come to pass, He has not
specified exactly their chronological order. Therefore
let us first note some of the prophecies which are still
unfulfilled.
Babylon is yet to be east down, as a stone thrown
into the sea. (Revelation 18: 21) The battle of Arma-
geddon is yet to he fought. (Revelation 16: 16) The
"time of trouble such as never was" has not come upon
the earth. (Matthew 24:21,22) The devil is yet to
be bound and east into prison. (Revelation 20:1-4)
The last of the saints are to be changed. (1 Thessa-
lonians 4:15-17) The Lamb is to come forth vic-
torious. (Revelation 17 : 14) The ancient worthies are
to be brought forth and made princes in all the earth.
(Acts 7:5; Daniel 12:13; Hebrews 11:13; Psalm
4S: 16) Jacob is to have his time of trouble. (Ezekiel
38: 14-23) All the prophecies relating to the Millen-
nial Age are yet to be fulfilled.
BLESSING THROUGH THE JEWS
We know the work of restitution must come to the
Jews first, and through them to the rest of the world.
As the Scriptures state that Jerusalem is to be the
capital of the world and that the ancient worthies are
to be princes in all the earth, we are warranted in ex-
pecting that the kingdom work will begin at Jerusalem.
(Isaiah 2:3; 27:13; Zechariah 14: 17) Jerusalem
will need a great deal of cleansing before it will he in
condition to he the capital of the world. The city may
be undergoing changes during all the Millennial Age,
but it will take several years to do some necessary
preliminary work.
According to prophecy we look for a season of great
prosperity to come to Palestine, which will not extend
to the Gentiles. It will he necessary for the Gentiles
to make application for it, as stated in Isaiah 2 : 2-4.
It will take time for some of the Gentiles to overcome
their natural prejudices against the Jews and to humble
themselves sufficiently to accept favors through them.
They may need some of the severe experiences described
in Zechariah 14 : 17-19, R. V.
Whether the blessings here referred to as rain are
literal or not, they refer to something that represents
God's favor. If literal rain be meant, it might take
several years of drought before the Gentiles would at-
tribute the lack of rain to their refusal to make applica-
tion for God's blessings at the hands of the Israelites.
All this will take more or less time.
In the past God's dealing has been with the Jew
first and then with the Gentiles; and the prophecies
state that this rule will continue to be his method.
(Zechariah 8 : 20-23) As the Jews increase in the favor of
God by accepting the ancient worthies as the represent a-
tives of Jehovah and by falling into line with his ar-
rangements, disease and death will rapidly decrease and
shortly cease altogether. The Jews will be going up
the highway of holiness, physically as well as other-
wise. These blessings to the Jews will be quickly
noticed by the Gentiles, and will create in them a desire
for similar favors. It will be one of the means used
by Jehovah to cause them to seek him. Possibly these
are the blessings referred to as "rain" in Zechariah
14:17. As the literal rain refreshes the mown grass,
so a rain of blessing will refresh the withered hopes of
mankind.— Psalm 72 : 6-9 ; Acts 3:19.
We know of no scriptures which state that all dy-
ing will cease immediately throughout the earth as soon
as the kingdom is set up at Jerusalem. On the contrary
Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1,2, and Zechariah 14:16-19
state that the nations will have to go to Jerusalem for
their blessings — not individually, but representatively,
at least. "Ask and ye shall receive," will doubtless be
the law in the age to come. All the blessings of resti-
tution will be supplied in abundance, but will not be
forced upon any.
From scriptures already quoted, and from many
others, we have reason to expect that after the kingdom
is established at Jerusalem its influence will rapidly
radiate to the uttermost parts of the earth. How
rapidly we are not informed, but with all the modern
conveniences it should not take very long. Probably
those of the righteous who will be carried through the
great time of trouble will be dealt with first, before
those in the graves will be brought forth. It does not
seem unreasonable, therefore, to think that twenty-five
years, possibly more, will pass before the awakening of
the dead shall begin.
WHAT ABOUT THE TIME OF TROUBLE?
Some may conclude that we are expecting a tranquil
transfer from the present condition to the kingdom of
Christ. We have no warrant from the Scriptures for
such expectation. If we had but the present situation
of the world to judge from, reason dictates that with
the high-pressure tension throughout the world—politi-
cally, financially, religiously, fanatically and ignorantly —
with the wheels of activity already grating and heated
with the friction of selfishness and superstition, it would
be impossible to make the great changes outlined in the
Bible without clashes between the contesting parties,
which must result in great trouble, distress and loss of
life and property. However, the Word of God does not
leave us any doubt about it. Isaiah 13: 1-13; Joel 2:1-
11; Psalm 46:7-10, and Matthew 24:21,22 speak
in no uncertain terms. The people of the world are
not yet willing to acknowledge their inability to save
themselves, or to accept the leadership of even Jehovah
himself. God's power will be necessary. "I will cause
the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low
the haughtiness of the terrible." — Isaiah 13. 11.
Recent inventions can be used for the destruction
of life and property which almost makes one's blood
curdle to think about. God will permit the destruction
to go far enough to sober mankind by its very horror,
The exposing of unrighteousness in high places is pre-
paring the people to take vengeance into their own
hands, and great will be their wrath when once they
start.
The French Revolution gives a picture of what a
maddened people can do. The world held its breath in
horror and sought to cover its eyes from the sickening
sight. It took the French nation many years to re-
cover from the shock. How long it will take the world
to sober up after its debauch is not stated.
How much of all this will come to pass in 1926 is
not stated. At present we do not find any definite date
beyond 1926 indicated in the Scriptures. When the
Bible Students found 1914 in the Bible they heralded it
far and wide, but the Lord left the curtain down at
that date until we had reached it. God set his seal
upon 1914, and the work started that year is still go-
ing on. We find the date 1925-1926 clearly indicated
in the prophetic outline, and the Lord has not lifted
the curtain sufficiently for us to sec distinctly beyond.
We feel sure that he will set his seal upon that date
as clearly as he did upon 1914, and he will then let us
see beyond as soon and as far as will be good for us.
Let us learn from experiences of the past not to be
too positive about details. We need have no worry.
We know that God knows. So
'We'd rather walk with him by faith
Than to go alone, by sight;
We'd rather go with him in the dark,
Than go alone in the light.'
Many of us may be called home during 1925 and
1926. Whether we shall be called, or whether Jehovah
shall leave some of us here for a little further work,
what does it matter? If we are faithful, we are just
as acceptable and commendable on this side the vail,
and just as sure of our reward. With such a glorious
hope and the evidences all about us of the divine power
and protection and leading, every consecrated heart should
be inspired to put forth all the energy possible to
complete the race victoriously. Let us go forth con-
fidently, carrying high the banner of the King, pro-
claiming, "The Lord reigneth!" — Psalm 96:10;
Isaiah 52: 7,8.
As we thus keep diligently at work,singing as we
go, trusting in Jehovah for all things necessary, we
will fortify our minds against the darts of the adversary
and increase our own courage, and also be a greater
encouragement to others. —-Romans 16 : 20.
