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The Harp of God: Proof Conclusive That Millions Now Living Will Never Die

by J. F. Rutherford · English · Gutenberg #12868 · 652,301 chars · public domain (US)

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Title: The Harp of God: Proof Conclusive That Millions Now Living Will Never Die

Author: J. F. Rutherford


        
Release date: July 9, 2004 [eBook #12868]
                Most recently updated: October 28, 2024

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HARP OF GOD: PROOF CONCLUSIVE THAT MILLIONS NOW LIVING WILL NEVER DIE ***

[Illustration]




The Harp of God


_Proof Conclusive that_

Millions now Living will never Die



A text-book for Bible study specially
adapted for use of beginners; with numerous
questions and Scripture citations


510,000 Edition


By J.F. Rutherford, Author of
"_Can the Living Talk with the Dead_?"
"_Millions now Living will never Die!_"
_etc., etc._.


_Publishers_:
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and
International Bible Students Association
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A.
_Also_: London, Toronto, Melbourne, Cape Town, Orebro, Barmen,
Berne, _etc._




     To the invisible King of Glory now present

     in the interests of
     the generation now on earth who
     will become his loyal subjects

     this book is dedicated


_"This generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled_."
--Matthew 24:34



1921






Preface

There is need of a textbook for beginners in Bible study. This book is
intended to meet that long-felt want. The subject matter is arranged
progressively and orderly. A list of questions follows each point
discussed, thus enabling the teacher to direct the mind of the student
to the subject under consideration. The numeral following each question
refers to the paragraph of the text where the answer may be found, each
paragraph being numbered to correspond.

Jehovah had a great plan before the foundation of the world; but no one
knew about it. During the first four thousand years of man's history
God's plan was kept a secret. He began to reveal it to man nearly
nineteen hundred years ago, and then only to those who are consecrated
to do his will. Promise was made that greater light should come at the
end of the age, and this promise has been kept. We are at that time, as
is clearly proven by the contents herein. This book points out the
salient features of the divine plan, which plan is both orderly and
progressive.

People generally have not been thoroughly instructed in the Bible. Even
those who have attended the Sunday schools have merely learned the text
and not the meaning of the text. Like the prophets of old, they have
heard but understood not. The real reason for these conditions is that
God's plan could not be understood until his due time to reveal it. His
due time is here.

Because of the dispensational change taking place at this time, Bible
study was never so important as now. If important to educate the rising
generation in the things taught in our common schools, with stronger
reasoning is it important to educate them concerning that which is now
being revealed of the divine program for the uplifting and blessing of
mankind.

There is no disposition, desire, nor attempt to induce any one reading
this book to become a member of any organization, sect, or denomination.
The sole purpose of the book is to aid honest seekers for truth in
their endeavors to understand the Bible, to learn the meaning of the
present-day events, and to prepare some at least to receive the
blessings that are soon due to mankind.

If you knew that there was to be a radical change in the government for
the better, and that your children might have a part in the affairs of
the new government, you would be anxious for them to acquire all the
knowledge possible concerning the new order of things. The greatest
changes of the ages are now taking place. It is conceded by everybody
that these changes began with the World War and that they continue. But
what do they mean? The real answer is that the old world, or social and
political order, has ended and is passing away, and that a new and
better order is due and will shortly be established. Every parent owes
it to his child to instruct him insofar as possible concerning the
incoming new order or government. The contents of this book will start
you in the right way.

The subject matter herein treated is not discussed at great length. The
interested reader is referred to the STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES and
kindred publications of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, wherein
these matters are treated in greater detail. The King James Version of
the Bible is used in the quotations, except as otherwise indicated. The
reader should consider each point herein made with his Bible before him,
proving each proposition, that he may be thoroughly convinced in his own
mind.

The harp is an instrument which, when used by a skilled performer,
brings happiness and cheer to those who listen. The harp of God, when
understood and skillfully used, brings peace of mind and gladness of
heart. The title of this book suggests the thought of good cheer and
happiness. The message herein contained, taken from the Word of God, is
sent forth with the prayer that it may be a blessing to many, that it
may cheer some who are sad, bind up some broken hearts, comfort some
that mourn, and give all who earnestly read a deeper appreciation of
Jehovah and the Savior of mankind.

Brooklyn, N.Y., October 1, 1921.




CONTENTS


The Harp of God

Creation

Justice Manifest

The Abrahamic Promise

The Birth of Jesus

The Ransom

Resurrection

Mystery Revealed

Our Lord's Return

Glorification of the Church

Restoration




The Harp of God




CHAPTER I

"_I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark sayings upon
the harp."--Psalm 49:4._


The harp is a musical instrument invented many centuries ago. When
properly strung and played upon it yields sweet music, making glad the
heart. The first mention of the harp made in the Bible is in Genesis
4:21, and the inventor's name was Jubal. He was therefore called "the
father of all such as handle the harp and organ".

[2]It was 1812 years before the coming of Jesus in the flesh that God
organized the twelve tribes of Israel, the descendants of Jacob, into a
nation, which nation thereafter was known as the nation of Israel. It
was the only nation with which God made a covenant, and he did not
recognize any other nation in the same way. (Amos 3:2) The nation of
Israel was used to make living pictures or types, foreshadowing better
things to come; and those who study the Scriptural account of Israel's
experiences are able to approximate closely future events which will be
good for mankind.--1 Corinthians 10:1-13; Hebrews 10:1.

[3]With the nation of Israel the harp was an instrument consecrated to
joy and exaltation. David, who for forty years was king of Israel, was
an expert player on the harp, and it will be noted that in the Psalms
often the harp is used to symbolize or teach some great truth. The Jews
used this instrument on occasions of joy, such as jubilees and
festivals.

[4]Josephus, a writer of Jewish history, is authority for the statement
that the harp usually had ten strings, but that at times it was smaller
and had only eight strings. The number _ten_ is used in the Scriptures
to symbolize that which is complete or perfect as pertaining to man. We
would understand, then, that the harp with ten strings pictures the great
fundamental truths concerning the divine plan. When two of these strings
were absent, there being only eight, the indication is apparently given
that there would be a time when two important features of the divine plan
would not be seen by men. God promised that greater light should come
upon his Word at the end of the age, or end of the world, which means the
social order of things. Since we have reached that time, we confidently
look for more light and thus we find it.

[5]The Book of Revelation is written largely in symbols. In Revelation
14:2,3 and 15:2,3 we find a brief description of a class of glorious
beings who are playing upon their harps, and these are described as the
'harps of God'. The harp here is used as a sign or symbol of some great
truth, or feature of the divine program; in fact, a great deal of the
Bible is written in symbolic phrase. The Lord uses objects which we know
to illustrate great unseen things which we do not know; and the harp is
so used.


WHO IS GOD?

[6]Before we can know God and understand his great plan it is first
necessary for us to believe that he exists and that he rewards all who
diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) But how can we believe? We must
first have some knowledge. But how can we know that there is a great
God? Let us look at some of the simpler things about us and reason upon
the matter.

[7]Look at the flowers in your garden. Out from the same soil grow the
many varieties of different hues and colors. Likewise from the same soil
spring the divers kinds of trees, bringing forth different fruits at
different seasons of the year. Some wisdom superior to man's must have
arranged these things. Observe the broad fields, the lofty mountains,
the mighty rivers, and then behold the ocean, exhibiting unlimited
power, upon the waves of which majestically ride the great ships. Are we
not compelled to conclude that there was a wise One, who created these
things, greater than anything we see?

[8]Now gaze into the silent heavens above you, and there number, if you
can, the stars and planets which are noiselessly moving through space.
Many of these are far greater than the earth, and yet each one hangs in
its place and moves noiselessly about in its orbit. Surely they could
not have come there by chance, but the reasonable mind must say that a
Creator greater than the planets put them there. When King David looked
at these wonders of creation he was so impressed with the greatness of
their Creator that he wrote: "The heavens declare the glory of God; and
the firmament showeth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and
night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language,
where their voice is not heard. Their line is gone out through all the
earth, and their words to the end of the world."--Psalm 19:1-4.

[9]Consider man. What a wonderful piece of mechanism is his body! The
framework is there; the muscles that hold each part in place; the
nerves, like a great electrical system by which messages are conveyed
from the brain to all parts of the body. He has power to reason and to
plan and carry out these plans. Truly no machine can be compared to man
for intricacy of construction and harmony of action. Who, then, is the
Creator of this wonderful thing? We must conclude that there was a
great First Cause who made and put into action all things visible in the
universe, as well as things to us invisible. And who is he? Jehovah is
his name; the great God of the universe.--Psalm 83:18; Genesis 17:1;
Exodus 6:3; 20:2-5.

[10]The name Jehovah means self-existing one. He was without beginning
and without end, and of him Moses wrote: "From everlasting to
everlasting thou art God". (Psalm 90:2; Isaiah 26:4) He is the great
Almighty Jehovah God and there is none other besides him, and his honor
and dignity none other possesses. (Isaiah 42:8) He is the great all-wise
Creator of all things that are made. (Isaiah 40:28; Genesis 1:1) The
four great and eternal attributes of Jehovah are justice, power, love,
and wisdom. (Ezekiel 1:5,6) These attributes work together in exact
harmony at all times; and in various times and ways he makes manifest
these attributes. At certain times he has specially manifested such
attributes.

[11]His justice was made manifest by inflicting punishment for the
violation of his law. Power was particularly manifested in the great
flood that destroyed all things on the earth. His love was especially
exhibited in the sacrifice of the dearest treasure of his heart, his
beloved Son, that mankind might have an opportunity for life. His wisdom
is particularly manifested in his great plan, which he gradually unfolds
and permits man to see. His attributes have no limitations. He is so
wise that he knew the end from the beginning and outlined all of his
great plan to the very minutest detail.--Acts 15:18.


HIS REVELATION

[12]It is conceded by all that man is the very highest type of all
living creatures on the earth. His intelligence is far superior to that
of any other earthly being. Truly man is fearfully and wonderfully made.
Is it not reasonable for him to expect that the Almighty God would
reveal to man something of the divine greatness and plans and purposes?
Yes, and such revelation is found in that wonderful book, the holy
Bible.

[13]Who wrote the Bible? What is known as the Old Testament was written
by holy men of old who were moved upon by the invisible power of Jehovah
to write it. (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Samuel 23:2; Luke 1:70) The New Testament
consists of the spoken words of Jesus, the Son of God, who spake as
never man spake, and whose words were recorded by those who heard him
and witnessed his acts; and in addition thereto, the written testimony
of his disciples, who wrote under inspiration from God.

[14]The holy spirit means the invisible power or influence of Jehovah--
holy because he is holy. This power of Jehovah operated upon the minds
of honest men who loved and who were devoted to righteousness, directing
them in the writing of the Bible. The spirit of God, i.e., his invisible
power and influence, moved upon the waters and thereby he created.
(Genesis 1:2) In like manner his invisible power and influence operated
upon the minds of men and directed them what to write. Thus did Moses
write the first five books of the Bible. The invisible power or influence
of God, which is the holy spirit, operating upon Moses' mind enabled him
to make a record of the chief events that had occurred and to write the
law of God, as given to his people through Moses. In no other way could
the true history of creation have been written. These facts and truths
were, therefore, written by inspiration of God. (2 Timothy 3:16; Job
32:8) There are twenty-four prophetic writers of the Old Testament, who
foretold the great events that were to transpire in the earth. Their
accounts were written at different times and under widely different
conditions, yet their testimonies agree. Their testimony foreshadowed
future events.

[15]History, when written, is a recorded statement of facts and events,
arranged in a chronological order.

[16]Prophecy, which is true, is a statement of facts and events foretold
to take place at some future time. Otherwise stated, prophecy is history
written before it transpires.

[17]No human mind could actually foretell facts or events to happen in
the future. Only the divine mind could do that. If, then, we find that
the Bible foretold certain facts and events to happen and the record of
the same was made centuries before these facts and events did happen,
and these events and facts are now definitely established as having
taken place, such would be the strongest proof that the persons
recording such facts and events were directed in so doing by the divine
mind; hence that such writing was under divine inspiration.

[18]As an illustration of this point: Wireless telegraphy and airships
are modern discoveries; yet since they have been discovered we find that
God, through his holy prophets, foretold centuries ago the use of such
inventions. (Job 38:35; Isaiah 60:8) The railway train has been in use
less than a hundred years; and yet the prophet of God many centuries ago
gave a clear and particular description of the railway train and the
manner of its operation, and prophesied that the same would be in vogue
at the time of the end, at the time the Lord is making preparation for
the establishment of his kingdom. (Nahum 2:3-6) And he also foretold
that at that time there would be a great running to and fro by other
means of transportation, such as automobiles, electric cars, etc.
(Daniel 12:4) There is no one living in modern times who is wiser than
Solomon; yet during the past 125 years there has been a great
development in invention and a marvelous increase of knowledge; because
it is due time, and because the prophets of God centuries ago foretold
that such would come to pass.

[19]Through his holy prophets God foretold that at a time future there
would come into the world a mighty man; that he would be born a Jew
(Deuteronomy 18:15), specifying the place where he would be born (Micah
5:2); that he would come to his own people and they would not receive
him; that he would be despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief (Isaiah 53:1-3); that he would ride into Jerusalem
upon an ass, the foal of a like animal, and offer himself as king to the
Jews (Zechariah 9:9); that he would be rejected by the Jews (Isaiah
53:3); that he would be betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah
11:12); that he would die, but not for himself (Daniel 9:26); that there
would be no just cause for his death (Isaiah 53:8,9,11); that
nevertheless he would be numbered among the transgressors (Isaiah
53:12); that he would die a violent death, yet not a bone of his body
should be broken (Psalm 34:20); that his flesh would not corrupt, and
that he would arise from the dead (Psalm 16:10)--all of which and many
more similar prophecies were completely fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth,
the great Teacher who lived about and died at Jerusalem. Later we will
examine the Scriptures proving a further fulfillment of all these
prophecies.

[20]All of the foregoing facts show that the Bible was written, as it is
claimed, by holy men of old, who were directed in writing it by the
power of Jehovah, and that it is a record which God caused to be kept
and has given to man for his guidance in righteousness, and which
foretells the course and final destiny of man.

[21]The prophets who made record of the divine arrangement did not
understand what they wrote. They knew they were writing something that
would take place in the future, but just how and when they did not know.
They inquired and searched diligently all sources of information open to
them as to what these prophecies meant and when they would be fulfilled
and in what manner of time. Particularly with reference to the coming of
Jesus, his suffering, death and resurrection they prophesied and did not
understand, although they attempted to understand. (1 Peter 1:10,12)
Even the angels of heaven knew that the prophets were thus writing, but
they did not understand, although they desired to look into these
things. God revealed his great plan only in his own due time, and until
that time he kept it all to himself.

[22]The divine plan means the arrangement made by Jehovah for the
creation of everything that has been created and for carrying out his
purposes with reference to his creatures. The first one to understand
the divine plan was Jesus, who prior to coming to earth was known as the
Logos, which means one who speaks and acts for Jehovah. In Revelation,
chapter 5, a wonderful picture is given in symbolic language. Jehovah is
pictured as seated upon his throne, holding in his right hand a record
or scroll of his great plan. The hand is a symbol of power and holding
it in his hand foreshadowed the fact that Jehovah held it exclusively in
his own power and keeping. The picture then shows a strong angel or
messenger speaking with a loud voice and asking the question: "Who is
worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?" In heaven there
was a host of holy beings or angels. No one of them was able to open
the book or scroll, neither to look on it. No one in earth was able to
look upon it nor to open it.

[23]One of the titles given to Jesus is "Lion of the tribe of Judah".
This great and mighty One, the beloved Son of God, afterward designated
Jesus, was granted the privilege of opening the book and of loosing the
seals that kept it secret, thus picturing how Jehovah made known his
plan to his beloved Son. The picture describes him thus: "And I beheld,
and, lo, in the midst of the throne ... stood a Lamb as it had been
slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, ... and he came and took the
book out of the right hand of him [Jehovah] that sat upon the throne".

[24]_Seven_ is a symbol of perfection; horn a symbol of power; and eyes
a symbol of wisdom. Therefore this One is pictured as having perfect
power and perfect wisdom to perform this wonderful privilege and duty.
This is the first time that the great mystery of Jehovah, his great plan
or program, was made known to any one; and since then, from time to
time, he has been pleased to reveal portions of his plan to men who have
honestly and faithfully sought to understand it. He has promised to
reward those that diligently seek him and who seek a knowledge of him.
Therefore we can come to the study of his plan, confidently expecting
that he will grant us from time to time such a vision and understanding
of it as pleases him and as would be for our good and happiness.

[25]The harp is used to symbolize the grandeur and beauty, the exquisite
harmony and majestic sweetness of the divine arrangement or plan. The
record of this great program or plan is found in the Old and the New
Testaments. This record reveals the purpose of God concerning man, gives
a record of his fall, a prophetic vision of his redemption and
deliverance, and ultimately the blessing of all obedient ones of mankind
with life everlasting. The great fundamental doctrines or truths stated
in the Bible and which constitute the fundamentals of his plan
concerning man would, therefore, constitute the strings upon the harp of
God. These fundamental truths were spoken by Jehovah through the
prophets, through Jesus, and through his disciples. God's law is his
expressed will. Law means a rule of action, directing that which is
right and prohibiting that which is wrong. The Bible contains the law of
Jehovah for the governing of mankind.

[26]The name David means beloved one. The beloved One of Jehovah is his
Son, Jesus, the Christ. David was therefore used by Jehovah to picture
or to make a type of Christ, including Jesus and his faithful followers.
David used the harp of ten strings and was an expert performer upon it.
This would seem to picture how that the antitype of David, Jesus and the
members of his body, his faithful followers, would have an understanding
of this harp of God and that God would use them to make it plain to
others who would want to understand it. The ten strings of the harp,
therefore, very fitly represent the ten great fundamental truths or
doctrines of the divine plan. These ten fundamental doctrines appear in
the order named, as follows:

   (1) CREATION
   (2) JUSTICE MANIFESTED
   (3) ABRAHAMIC PROMISE
   (4) BIRTH OF JESUS
   (5) RANSOM
   (6) RESURRECTION
   (7) MYSTERY REVEALED
   (8) THE LORD'S PRESENCE
   (9) GLORIFICATION
  (10) RESTORATION

[27]When one understands these ten fundamental truths and can
appreciate the beauty and harmony by them expressed, he is thereby
enabled to use the harp of God, and the use of it brings joy to his
heart and fills his soul with sweet music. Without doubt the great plan
of God pictured by the harp was all made and arranged at one time, but
we will here consider each one of these fundamental truths, represented
by a string, separately and in the order above named.




What is the harp? and when was it invented? ¶ 1.

Who invented the harp? and where is mention made of it in the Bible?
¶ 1.

When did God organize the twelve tribes of Israel into a nation? ¶ 2.

What arrangement did God make with the nation of Israel? ¶ 2.

For what purpose was that nation used by Jehovah? ¶ 2.

To what did the nation of Israel consecrate the harp? ¶ 3.

What king of Israel was skilled in the use of the harp? ¶ 3.

Where in the Scriptures is the harp used symbolically? ¶ 3.

On what occasions did the Jews use the harp? ¶ 3.

How many strings were there on Israel's harp? and what did these
symbolize? ¶ 4.

Did the harp at any time have a less number of strings? and if so, what
did that picture? ¶ 4.

In what phrase or language is the book of Revelation written? ¶ 5.

Where in the book of Revelation is the harp mentioned? and what kind of
beings are pictured as using it? ¶ 5.

What is the first essential to an understanding of God's plan? ¶ 6.

Name some visible proof of the existence of a Supreme Being or Creator.
¶ 7.

How was David impressed with what he observed of creation? ¶ 8.

How does man's organism prove the existence of a Supreme Being? ¶ 9.

Who is the Supreme Being or Creator? and what does his name signify?
¶ 10.

Give some Scriptural proof of the existence of Jehovah. ¶ 10.

Name the four primary divine attributes. ¶ 10.

How was divine justice manifested? ¶ 11.

How was divine power manifested? ¶ 11.

How was divine love manifested? ¶ 11.

How was divine wisdom manifested? ¶ 11.

Is there proof that God foreknew the end from the beginning? ¶ 11.

Why should man expect some revelation of the divine plan? ¶ 12.

Has man found a revelation of God's plan? and if so, where? ¶ 12.

By whom was the Bible written? and what are the two general divisions of
it? ¶ 13.

What is meant by the holy spirit? ¶ 14.

What relationship does the holy spirit bear to the Bible and its
preparation? ¶ 14.

Who wrote the first five books of the Bible? and under what influence?
¶ 14.

Was the Bible written under inspiration? ¶ 14.

How many prophetic writers contributed to the Old Testament? and does
their testimony agree? ¶ 14.

Define history. ¶ 15.

Define prophecy. ¶ 16.

Can a human mind accurately foretell future events? ¶ 17.

What is one of the strongest proofs that the Bible was written under
inspiration? ¶ 17.

What relationship do wireless telegraphy and airships bear to fulfilled
prophecy? ¶ 18.

Were railway trains foretold by the prophets? and if so, where? ¶ 18.

What other means of rapid transit did the prophets foretell? ¶ 18.

Why did not Solomon give the world great inventions such as we now have?
¶ 18.

Did the prophets point to the coming of any special one to earth? ¶ 19.

What prophecy, if any, did the coming of Jesus of Nazareth tend to
fulfill? ¶ 19.

How did the coming of Jesus tend to confirm the authenticity of the
Scriptures? ¶ 20.

Did the prophets understand the meaning of what they wrote concerning
the happening of future events? ¶ 21.

What effort did they make to understand? ¶ 21.

Did the angels in heaven understand what the prophets were writing?
¶ 21.

What is meant by the term "the divine plan"? ¶ 22.

Who was the first one to understand the divine plan? ¶ 22.

What was the name of Jesus before he became a man? and what is the
significance of his prehuman title? ¶ 22.

What is pictured by the fifth chapter of Revelation? Give the details of
the picture. ¶ 22.

Who is the "Lion of the tribe of Judah"? ¶ 23.

What is the symbolic meaning of the words "seven", "horns," and "eyes"?
and what do these words signify as used in Revelation 5? ¶ 24.

Is there reason to expect that God would grant certain ones from time to
time an increased understanding of his plan? and if so, why? ¶ 24.

What does the harp symbolize? ¶ 25.

Where is the record of the divine plan found? ¶ 25.

What does this record reveal concerning man? ¶ 25.

By whom has God spoken his fundamental truths? ¶ 25.

What is the law of God? ¶ 25.

Define law. ¶ 25.

Where is the law of God found? ¶ 25.

What is the meaning of the word David? ¶ 26.

Whom did David picture or typify? ¶ 26.

What did David's use of the harp typify or picture? ¶ 26.

What is pictured or symbolized by the ten strings of David's harp? ¶ 26.

Name the ten fundamental truths represented by the strings on the harp.
¶ 26.

How can one learn to use the harp of God? ¶ 27.

What effect is produced upon one who skillfully uses the harp? ¶ 27.




OMNIPOTENT GOD

  Harps of eternity! begin the song,
  Redeemed, and angel harps! begin to God,
  Begin the anthem ever sweet and new,
  While I extol Him holy, just, and good.
  Life, beauty, light, intelligence, and love!
  Eternal, uncreated, infinite!
  Unsearchable Jehovah! God of truth!
  Maker, upholder, governor of all:
  Thyself unmade, ungoverned, unupheld.
  Omnipotent, unchangeable, Great God!
  Exhaustless fullness! giving unimpaired!
  Bounding immensity, unspread, unbound!
  Highest and best! beginning, middle, end.
  All-seeing Eye! all-seeing, and unseen!
  Hearing, unheard! all knowing, and unknown!
  Above all praise! above all height of thought!
  Proprietor of immortality!
  Glory ineffable! Bliss underived!
  Of old Thou build'st Thy throne on righteousness,
  Before the morning Stars their song began,
  Or silence heard the voice of praise. Thou laid'st
  Eternity's foundation stone, and saw'st
  Life and existence out of Thee begin.

  --_Pollok_

[Illustration]




CHAPTER II

String 1: _Creation_


The subject of creation here treated relates particularly to the earth
and the creatures of the earth, the chief one of which is man. We will
not attempt to discuss at length the creation of other planets, nor of
the other creatures. Attention is merely called to the Scriptural
statement that the beginning of God's creation was the Logos, which term
is translated in our Bibles "the Word". The record reads: "In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with [the] God and the Word was
[a] god". (John 1:1) God is a name applied to Jehovah, the Almighty One.
It is sometimes applied to other mighty ones also; whereas the name
Jehovah applies exclusively to the great eternal God. The Logos, the
Word, was a god, a mighty one. "The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that
was made." He was Jehovah's great active agent in the creation of all
things created.

[29]Since the Bible was written for _man's_ benefit, the Genesis account
of creation has to do with man and his place of habitation. There we
read: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". He
created the sun, for light by day; and the moon, for light by night,
upon the earth. God then created the birds and fowls that fly through
the air, and the fish of the sea. He created the cattle and the creeping
things, and all the beasts of the earth. All this was before the
creation of man. He had formed the earth many centuries before man's
creation, and he created it that man might have a place to live. He
caused his prophet to write: "I have made the earth and created man upon
it. For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that
formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not
in vain, he formed it to be inhabited."--Isaiah 45:12,18.

[30]God created the first man and woman out of the elements and gave
them power to produce and bring forth children, and all the human race
sprang from the first pair. God was the Father and the earth the mother
of Adam. The first man was named Adam; the first woman, Eve. "God
created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male
and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto
them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air,
and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."--Genesis 1:
27,28.

[31]We are all interested in knowing how Jehovah created the first man,
Adam. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul." (Genesis 2:7) God did not give man a soul separate and distinct
from the man. The word soul means being; living, breathing creature.
Every man _is_ a soul. No man _has_ a soul. Every living creature is a
soul. God called all moving creatures that have life souls. (See Genesis
1:20, _margin_) He designates various animals as souls.--Numbers 31:28.

[32]Jehovah then made a beautiful home for man, which is designated in
the Bible as Eden--a garden, a beautiful park. Everything in Eden was
perfect, because all the works of Jehovah are perfect. (Deuteronomy
32:4) "And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he
put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground made the Lord God
to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the
tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge
of good and evil. And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the
garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it."--Genesis 2: 8,9,15.

[33]God next gave to man a law to govern him. He told him what he might
do and what he might not do; and informed him that a violation of this
law would bring death upon him. "And the Lord God commanded the man,
saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in
the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."--Genesis 2:16,
17.

[34]God then created Eve to be a helpmate or companion to Adam. (Genesis
2:21-25) If Adam and Eve had been obedient to Jehovah at all times,
there would have been no sickness, sorrow, nor death amongst the human
race.

[35]In the Scriptures Jesus, the Logos, is designated as "the bright and
morning star". (Revelation 22:16) He at all times was and is the joy and
delight of the heavenly Father, Jehovah. A star is used to symbolize a
heavenly creature. The morning star is the most honored one in all the
divine realm, Jehovah alone excepted. Other heavenly creatures are
designated as stars.

[36]Many times you have heard the question asked, Who made the devil,
Satan, the evil one? The correct answer is, He was not always the devil
or Satan. He was created a perfect and beautiful creature. He was also
designated a star of heaven. His original name was Lucifer. The prophet
Ezekiel says of him that he was "the anointed cherub that covereth",
which seems to indicate that he had authority over some others.
Continuing, the prophet records: "Thou wast upon the holy mountain of
God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till
iniquity was found in thee." (Ezekiel 28:14,15) He is described as a
beautiful creature. Thus the Prophet speaks of him: "Thou hast been in
Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the
sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper,
the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship
of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that
thou wast created".--Ezekiel 28:13.

[37]Other angelic hosts in heaven are designated the sons of God. When
God created the earth, laying its foundations as a habitation for man,
when he created these beautiful earthly creatures upon the earth, these
two great stars of heaven sang together a song of gladness, and the
angelic sons of God shouted for joy. (Job 38: 4-7) It appears that at
that time all the creatures of Jehovah were in harmony with him and
obedient to him, and of course they would watch the creation develop;
and when the highest earthly creatures were made, perfect man and
perfect woman, endowed with the attributes of wisdom, justice, love, and
power, made in the image and likeness of Jehovah, there was great joy in
heaven. Hence the occasion for the song and shouting by the heavenly
hosts.

[38]In the unfolding of the divine plan, therefore, we see that creation
is the first part and is properly designated as the first string upon the
harp of God. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John
1:5) All the works of Jehovah are perfect. (Deuteronomy 32:4) Hence we
must conclude that all the creatures of Jehovah were in the light, were
creatures of light, all happy, all joyful. And when the perfect man and
perfect woman were placed in the beautiful garden of Eden, everything
there was joyful.




To what does the subject of creation herein briefly treated relate?
¶ 28.

Who is designated in the Bible as the beginning of God's creation? ¶ 28.

To what does the Genesis account of creation relate? ¶ 29.

What earthly creatures did God create before making man? ¶ 29.

For what purpose did God create the earth? ¶ 29.

What human beings did God create? ¶ 30.

Who was the father and who the mother of the human race? ¶ 30.

Who was the father and who the mother of Adam? ¶ 30.

What power and authority did God give to man at his creation? ¶ 30.

How did God create man? ¶ 31.

Define the soul. ¶ 31.

Does the word soul apply to any creatures except man? Give Scriptural
proof. ¶ 31.

Describe the original man's first home. ¶ 32.

What is the meaning of the word Eden? ¶ 32.

What law did God give to man by which he was to be governed while in
Eden? ¶ 33.

Describe the creation of Eve. ¶ 34.

By obeying God's law, how long could Adam and Eve have lived in Eden?
¶ 34.

A star is used in the Scriptures to symbolize what? ¶ 35.

What is the meaning of the Scriptural term "bright and morning star"?
¶ 35.

Who is the most highly honored one in the divine realm? ¶ 35.

Who is the devil or Satan? and who made him? ¶ 36.

What was his original name? ¶ 36.

How does the prophet Ezekiel describe Lucifer? ¶ 36.

What other beings in heaven are called sons of God? ¶ 37.

When God created man, what was the effect upon the host of heaven who
observed the creation? ¶ 37.

What is the first string upon the divine harp? ¶ 38.

Does the revelation of this string cause rejoicing? and if so, by whom?
¶ 38.

Who is light and without darkness? ¶ 38.

Has God ever created an imperfect creature? ¶ 38.

What is the disposition of God's creatures while in harmony with him?
¶ 38.

What was the condition in Eden when man was created? ¶ 38.

[Illustration]




CHAPTER III

String 2: _Justice Manifested_


One of the divine attributes is justice. "Justice and judgment are the
habitation of thy throne." (Psalm 89:14) Divine wisdom devised the great
divine program or plan. Divine justice must perform its part in harmony
with the other divine attributes. God's law must be unchangeable. Being
unchangeable, his creatures can have absolute confidence and faith in
him, that he always does exactly as he says. A violation of Jehovah's
law must be followed by punishment in the exercise of justice. The
prerogative of justice is to see that the law is enforced. The
manifestation of justice magnifies the name and the dignity of Jehovah.
Without the manifestation of justice it would have been impossible for
Jehovah so fully to manifest his love toward man in providing for his
redemption and subsequent blessing. When one understands the office of
justice and why it was manifested, he rejoices. A failure to understand
and appreciate the divine attributes makes it impossible for one
properly to appreciate Jehovah's goodness and loving kindness to
mankind. Jehovah is too good to be unjust. He is too wise to make a
mistake; he is too loving to be unkind; and his power is always
exercised in such a way that ultimate good may result.

[40]The manifestation of justice is one of the strings upon the harp of
God; but we must see and appreciate it in order to understand the beauty
and harmony it brings when used in connection with the other springs.

[41]Good and evil are antagonistic principles or rules of action. Good
is the law or rule of action by which God is always governed. Evil
becomes active only when some creature of Jehovah violates his law. God
made man a free moral agent. He did not compel him to do or not to do
certain things. He told man that if he did certain things he would be
blessed; and that if he did other things contrary to divine law he would
suffer punishment; and the punishment prescribed was death. Mother Eve
was deceived by Satan, the devil, and thereby induced to violate the law
of God. Father Adam, seeing that his companion and helpmate had violated
the law and judging that she must die, preferred to join her in the
transgression and die with her. (1 Timothy 2:14) It will be of interest
here to examine the circumstances leading up to the violation of the law
of God and to see why his justice toward man was manifested in
sentencing him to death.

[42]All dominion rightly belongs to Jehovah. He had given man dominion
over the things of earth. Lucifer observed Adam and Eve, the perfect
ones, in Eden; and knowing that they were endowed with authority from
Jehovah to multiply and fill the earth, he conceived the thought in his
own heart or mind that he should have a dominion of his own, and that he
could have this by separating man from God and by inducing him to come
under his (Satan's) dominion. The prophet Isaiah gives us some light
upon this subject when he says: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O
Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which
didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will
ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I
will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the
north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like
the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of
the pit"--Isaiah 14:12-15.

[43]Thus we see that Satan had an ambitious desire to be like the Most
High. God manifested his justice toward Lucifer by expelling him from
his presence and has decreed that he shall be ultimately destroyed.
(Ezekiel 28:14-18; Hebrews 2:14) When Lucifer was expelled from the
presence of Jehovah because of his wickedness, he thereafter was and is
known by the names of dragon, that old serpent, the devil, and Satan.
(Revelation 12:9) In Genesis 3 he is spoken of as the serpent. The name
dragon means devourer; Satan means adversary; devil means slanderer;
while serpent means deceiver; and all these names indicate the
characteristics of Satan, the evil one.

[44]According to the Genesis account, the old serpent, the devil,
deceived Eve in this manner: As we have heretofore observed, Jehovah had
told Adam and Eve that they must not eat of a certain tree in Eden,
known as the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Appearing to mother Eve
in the capacity of a serpent, a deceiver, the devil said to her in
effect: 'Hath God said that ye shall not eat of every tree in Eden?' To
this question Eve responded: "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of
the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the
garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch
it, lest ye die". The old serpent, the devil, replied: "Ye shall not
surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your
eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil".
In other words, he told Eve that Jehovah was trying to keep her and her
husband in ignorance and thus take advantage of them. Doubtless the
devil himself ate of the fruit in the presence of Eve and then
deliberately lied to her by saying: "Ye shall not surely die"--God
knows that you will not die. And by this means he induced mother Eve to
eat of the fruit--which was a violation of God's law. We know that Satan
is a liar, because Jesus said of him: "He was a murderer from the
beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and
the father of it."--John 8:44.

[45]The fact that Eve was deceived and thereby induced to violate the
law of God in no wise changed the law or affected its enforcement. Adam
deliberately ate of the fruit and he was also in the transgression.
--1 Timothy 2:14.

[46]After they had violated Jehovah's law, Adam and Eve hid amongst the
trees in Eden. Jehovah spoke to Adam and asked: "Hast thou eaten of the
tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" Adam
responded that Eve had given him the fruit to eat; and Eve said that the
serpent had deceived her. They both stood before Jehovah and confessed
their guilt. The majesty of the law of Jehovah must be upheld. His law
being unchangeable (Hebrews 6:18), there remained nothing to do but to
enforce that law. Then Jehovah pronounced his judgment against them, the
record of which reads: "Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply
thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth
children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over
thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice
of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee,
saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in
sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; thorns also and
thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of
the field; in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou
return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou
art, and unto dust shalt thou return,"--Genesis 3:16-19.

[47]Thus the perfect man forfeited his life. He had been endowed with
perfection of home, liberty, peace, happiness, and life everlasting on
earth. Now he must die and return to the dust from whence he was taken.
God did not put him to death immediately, but permitted him to have 930
years of experience that he might learn the baneful effects of sin. Eden
contained perfect food that would have sustained the perfect man and he
would not have died had he remained in Eden, unless Jehovah had put him
to death in some direct manner. But God drove him out of Eden, took him
away from the perfect food, caused him to gather his food from among the
thorns and thistles and from other imperfect elements of the earth that
were found outside of Eden; and in this condition he continued to sicken
and to die until at the end of the period of 930 years he was dead.

[48]A kind and loving parent sometimes inflicts punishment upon a child
because the child has violated a rule. The parent punishes the child not
because he loves to see the child suffer, but for the good of the child,
in order that it might be disciplined and might learn the proper
lessons. If the child always did good and never did evil it would not
merit nor receive any punishment from a loving parent. One of the chief
purposes of Jehovah in dealing with mankind in the manner he does deal
with them is that humankind might be disciplined and learn the lessons
of good and the effect of doing wrong, and thus learn to appreciate the
love of the heavenly Father.

[49]When God sentenced our first parents to death and drove them out of
Eden, he had in mind and had already planned for their future blessing,
as we will see upon a further examination of his plan. Hence it was love
that prompted his action in sentencing Adam to die. Every act of Jehovah
is prompted by love; for God is love. He always acts that good may
result. The manifestation of his strict justice was essential that the
dignity and greatness of Jehovah might be maintained. At the same time,
in so doing, love was the motive that prompted his action. It must have
brought sorrow to the heart of Jehovah to be compelled thus to punish
his creatures, because God takes no pleasure in evil things; yet having
in mind the ultimate blessing and restoration of them, there would be
pleasure in thus manifesting justice that ultimate good might result.

[50]We therefore might with propriety speak of the manifestation of
justice as the minor chord in the music of the harp of God. The minor
chord seems necessary in music to produce exact harmony.

[51]Job in his suffering seems to picture the world of mankind under
condemnation; and when suffering he said: "My harp also is turned to
mourning". (Job 30: 31) The perfect man and his helpmate, deprived now
of their perfect home, toiling as they sought to gather their food from
the unfinished earth, suffering in body and in mind because of their
separation from God, truly would have said, and doubtless did say: 'Our
harp is turned into mourning'. Since that time the whole world has been
in a state of mourning; and mankind still suffers and groans in pain.
The world of mankind in general has not appreciated the manifestation of
the justice of Jehovah. The Christian, however, who has come to a
knowledge of Jehovah's plan, and sees and appreciates his purposes for
the blessing of mankind, can rejoice and does rejoice at the
manifestation of divine justice.

[52]During the gospel age God has been developing a church, the members
of which are designated as the body of Christ. (Philippians 1:29;
Colossians 1:18) These are also designated members of the royal
priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9,10) During their earthly career they are
counted as members of the sacrificing priesthood, of which Aaron was a
type. Aaron and his sons were required to serve before the Lord in the
ceremonies in connection with the tabernacle in the wilderness. Two of
Aaron's sons were stricken dead because they offered strange fire before
the Lord. Aaron and his two remaining sons were forbidden by the Lord to
mourn the death of their kinsmen. Evidently this is a picture which
shows that those who have come to a knowledge of the divine plan do not
mourn because God sentenced our first parents to death, but rather that
they will rejoice at this manifestation of justice when they understand
that it was necessary in order that the great plan of redemption should
be carried out as outlined by Jehovah from the beginning. And when we
see and appreciate this divine plan we can truly exclaim: "Great and
marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways,
thou King of saints".--Revelation 15:3.


MEN'S SOULS

[53]Against what did God manifest his justice? Did he sentence the body
or the soul of man to death? Is it true that the soul of man is
immortal; and if so, how could God put it to death?

[54]It is profitable to define terms before attempting to discuss them.
The definition given should be supported by proof from the Bible. This
we will attempt to do before answering the question here asked.

[55]Immortal means that which cannot die; something that cannot be
destroyed in death. Soul means a moving, breathing, sentient creature,
or being; a creature or being that possesses faculties and uses them. To
understand whether or not a soul is immortal it is first essential that
we determine from the Bible what constitutes a soul. "The Lord God
formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of lives; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7) The word
soul is synonymous with the words being, creature, and man. The dust out
of which Jehovah formed the body was not conscious. It had no life in
it. After God had used these elements to form the man, he breathed into
his nostrils the breath of lives, which animated the body, caused the
lungs to begin to work, sent the blood tingling through the arteries and
returning through the veins; therefore there resulted a moving,
breathing, sentient being, a man, which is a soul. The body aside from
the breath does not constitute the soul; but it requires the uniting of
the breath with the body to constitute the soul. And when we separate
the breath from the body the soul no longer exists. The Scriptures do
not say that God breathed into this body immortality, but merely that
the soul resulted by animating the body after it had been created; and
this resulted from the breath which he breathed into the nostrils.

[56]A locomotive may be used as an illustration. It stands upon the
track with no fire in the box, no water in the boiler, hence no steam.
We speak of it as a dead engine. Then the steam is produced by heating
the water; it is forced into the cylinders, the throttle being open and
the machine moves. Withdraw the steam and it stops.

[57]Just so with man. When the body is formed it would be inanimate and
inactive without breath. When the breath of life is breathed into the
nostrils and his organs begin to functionate, it is said that man then
is a breathing creature; hence a soul. When he ceases to breathe he is
dead.

[58]Man is a soul. He does not possess a soul. Every creature that
breathes is a soul. God applied the words living soul to the lower order
of animals long before man's creation. (Genesis 1:20, _margin_) That
all breathing creatures are designated as souls by Jehovah is proven by
these words: "Levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war which went
out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the
beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep". (Numbers 31:28) All souls
die alike. "For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts;
even one thing befalleth them: as one dieth, so dieth the other; yea,
they have all one breath; so that a man hath no preëminence above a
beast: for all is vanity. All go unto one place; all are of the dust,
and all turn to dust again,"--Ecclesiastes 3:19,20.

[59]In the manifestation of divine justice God said to Adam: "Of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat; ... for in
the day that thou eatest thereof, dying thou shalt die". (Genesis 2:17,
_margin_) This sentence was pronounced against man, the being, the soul.
If there could be any doubt about this, it is definitely settled by
another statement in the Bible which reads: "The soul that sinneth it
shall die". (Ezekiel 18:4) "What man is he that liveth, and shall not
see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave?"--Psalm
89:48.

[60]The thought of immortal souls originated with Satan the devil. He
approached mother Eve and said: 'If you eat of this tree, you shall not
surely die'. Jesus denounced this statement as the first lie ever told,
and Satan as the father of lies. (John 8:44) Satan has been trying to
blind the people to the truth concerning God's great plan in order to
keep them away from God and from the blessings they would receive by
obeying him. The Apostle says of him that he is "the god [mighty one] of
this world", meaning the present evil social order; and that he has
blinded the minds of men to the truth, lest the glorious gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ should shine into their hearts. (2 Corinthians 4:4)
From the day of Eden until now Satan has been blinding the minds of men
to the truth by getting into their minds a false conception of Jehovah's
arrangement; and the basis for this blindness is chiefly the lie first
told: "Ye shall not surely die". All false doctrines are based upon this
first lie.

[61]If man possessed an immortal soul it could not be put to death.
Hence we see that God would be unable to enforce his judgment against a
sinner, and justice would fail. The Scriptures, however, plainly tell us
that the quality of immortality belongs originally only to Jehovah, "who
only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach
unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see". (1 Timothy 6:16) Immortality
will be given as a great reward to faithful Christians and to none other
of the human race. Such Christians who live and continue faithful until
death are promised the divine nature, immortality, the crown of life.
(2 Peter 1:4; 1 Peter 1:3,4; Romans 2:7; Revelation 2:10) We may be sure
that a man does not seek that which he already possesses; and the apostle
Paul plainly says: "Seek for ... immortality". And again he says to those
who will be faithful Christians: "This mortal must put on immortality".
(1 Corinthians 15:53) If a soul, a man, were already immortal, he could
not subsequently _put on_ immortality. No one of the human race will
ever be made immortal except the faithful Christians. God has a different
reward for others who are obedient to him.


DEAD UNCONSCIOUS

[62]Another of Satan's deceptions by which he has blinded the people is
the teaching that the dead are still conscious after death. This is not
supported by the Bible, however. Those who die are never again conscious
unless they are resurrected by the Lord. The resurrection of the dead we
will discuss later on. If the soul were immortal it would be conscious
somewhere. Let us observe the Scriptures which show that the dead are
not conscious.

[63]"In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall
give thee thanks?" (Psalm 6:5) Thus is shown that they have no memory
while dead. "The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into
silence." (Psalm 115:17) Hence they could not speak while dead.

[64]The dead cannot breathe, think, or feel. "Thou takest away their
breath, they die, and return to their dust." (Psalm 104:29) "His breath
goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts
perish." (Psalm 146:4) A person when unconscious does not feel. This is
illustrated by the fact that when a person is taken to a hospital for an
operation the surgeon puts the patient under an anesthetic, puts him to
sleep so that he cannot feel during the operation.

[65]Again the Scriptures read: "The living know that they shall die, but
the dead know not anything. Also their love, and their hatred, and their
envy, is now perished." (Ecclesiastes 9:5,6) Being unconscious, they
know not anything when dead. "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it
with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor
wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest."--Ecclesiastes 9:10.

[66]Again speaking of man, God says of him: "Nevertheless man being in
honor abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish". (Psalm 49:12)
Anything that perishes cannot be conscious, cannot be in existence and
of course cannot be immortal.

[67]It was Jesus who said: "God so loved the world, that he gave his
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life". (John 3:16) Here the proof is conclusive
that death means the perishing of all unless redemption is received
through Jesus Christ. This would absolutely disprove consciousness of
the dead and would disprove also the immortality of the soul.

[68]Death is spoken of in the Bible as a sleep, for the reason that God
intends in his due time to awaken all of the dead and give them an
opportunity of life. The Bible abounds in the expressions referring to
the dead as asleep. A few of these expressions are: "David slept with
his fathers, and was buried in the city of David". (1 Kings 2:10) "The
fathers fell asleep." (2 Peter 3:4) '"The greater part remain until this
day, but some are fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:6) "I would not have
you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them that are asleep; ... them
also which sleep will God bring [forth] by Jesus [in the resurrection]."
--1 Thessalonians 4:13,14.

[69]We must conclude from these Scriptures that the dead are wholly
unconscious from the moment of death until such future time as the Lord
may be pleased to awaken them out of death and give them an opportunity
of life, which he purposes to do, as set forth in his great plan. (John
5:28,29) Man was made of the dust. He was sentenced to return to the
dust; that is, the condition of the dead. And the Lord said: 'They that
sleep in the dust of the earth shall arise'.--Daniel 12:2.


DOES GOD TORMENT ANY ONE?

[70]For a long time men have been taught that the punishment for the
wicked, those who disobey God, is everlasting torment or torture in a
hell burning with unquenchable fire and brimstone. Many have been
frightened away from studying the Bible because of this terrible
doctrine. Many have refused to believe in God and the Lord Jesus because
of it. It is another doctrine of Satan, used to blind the people. The
doctrine of eternal torment cannot be true for at least four separate
and distinct reasons: (1) because it is unreasonable; (2) because it is
repugnant to justice; (3) because it is contrary to the principle of
love; and (4) because it is entirely unscriptural.

[71]It seems strange that men with reasoning faculties should ever reach
the conclusion that the all-wise Creator would eternally torment any of
his creatures. What could be the purpose of such torment? Could it
accomplish any good? Would it result to the glory of God?

[72]There could be no eternal torment of any of God's creatures except
by God's will. A reasonable, loving God could not torment any of his
creatures. A Creator that would put in operation a system of endless
torment would be a fiend and not a reasonable God. Man is not perfect,
yet he has some love. God is perfect. He is love. A man or a child would
not torture his horse, his dog, or his cat.

[73]Suppose we have a dog that becomes mad and tries to bite every one
in the neighborhood. He must be killed; but we would not torment the
poor brute by putting it into a slow fire. We would kill it in the
easiest way, so that it would not suffer much pain. Why would a person
do this? Because his sense of justice and love would deter him from
doing anything else. Man has not as much love as God. Every thing that
God does for man he does for man's good.

[74]The doctrine is unreasonable because no one could be eternally
tormented unless that one were eternally conscious; and the Scriptures
above cited show that the dead are not conscious. Furthermore, there
could be no eternal torment of the soul unless that soul were immortal,
indestructible; and the Scriptures above cited and all other Scriptures
bearing upon the subject show that man is not immortal, that none are
granted immortality except those who receive it as a reward for
right-doing and who are made joint-heirs with Christ Jesus in his
glorious kingdom. Then it is easy to be seen that this is a doctrine of
Satan; and the two doctrines or teachings of inherent immortality and
eternal torture must stand or fall together. And since they are both
false, they must both fall.

[75]The doctrine of eternal torture is _un_just, because God is _just_.
Justice is the foundation of his throne. God plainly told man that if he
sinned he would die. If thereafter he put him into eternal torment, then
he increased the penalty after man had violated the law, and this is
contrary to every principle of justice. All of Adam's children were born
imperfect. "There is none that doeth good, no, not one," (Psalm 14:3)
Every child is born imperfect. It would be very unjust for Jehovah to
permit such a one to be born under conditions over which he had no
control and then, because he could not obey perfectly, to put him into
eternal torture. Man's sense of justice is shocked at the thought of
torture of any creature. The justice that man possesses is a God-given
quality. The more Godlike a man is the more just he is. We must know,
then, that God deals justly with all of his creatures.

[76]The doctrine of eternal torment is devoid of the attribute of love.
Every good father loves his children and children love their father. The
mother loves the children and the children love the mother. When the
children are disobedient, it becomes necessary for the father or the
mother to discipline them; and sometimes by using the rod. But no loving
parent would for a moment think of torturing his or her child. Just
punishment is always for the purpose of doing ultimate good, and where
the parents are compelled to punish or discipline their children they do
it because they love them. The apostle Paul, discussing the discipline
by earthly parents and by God said: "We have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather
be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily
for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our
profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness."--Hebrews 12:9,10.

[77]Only a wicked fiend would want to torment anybody, such a one as
loves dark and wicked things.

[78]Our great God is love. (1 John 4:16) "God is light and in him is no
darkness at all," (1 John 1:5) Everything that Jehovah does is good. God
created the first man Adam and gave him the power to transmit life to
his offspring. All the human race are the children of Adam. Only by
God's permission could these children have come into existence. Adam was
God's son and all the human race descend from Adam; and thus they bear
relationship to Jehovah.

[79]None of Adam's children were born perfect. Some were born under
very depraved conditions. God's love, then, for the human race is so
great that he made provision for the redemption and ultimate blessing
of all, and it would be wholly inconsistent with his attribute of love
to arrange to torture any of them at any time. The doctrine of eternal
torment is a libel upon the great and loving name of God, and Satan is
responsible for it. But in God's due time he will make it clear to all
that he is love; and that all of his dealings with the human race are
for their good.

[80]The eternal torment teaching is not supported by any Scripture text
in the Bible. There are some texts that are written in symbolic phrase,
parables and dark sayings, which were written to illustrate another
great truth, but with no reference to the eternal punishment of the
human race. These Scriptures must be considered elsewhere. Our space
does not permit us to consider them here. What we will examine are the
direct Scriptural statements.

[81]All the Scriptures show that the wicked will be punished, but
punishment does not mean torment. There is a wide distinction between
everlasting punishment and everlasting torment. Everlasting punishment
is a punishment that lasts. Everlasting torment would be a torment that
never ends, but one would be consciously suffering all the time. The
laws of the land punish the wicked who violate the law, and the duration
of punishment is short or long in proportion to the enormity of the
crime committed. One who steals a loaf of bread violates the law and he
may be punished by confinement for a day or a month in prison. One who
destroys his neighbor's house by fire is punished, and his punishment
may be a number of years in prison. Another takes the life of his
neighbor, and his punishment is death. No law of any nation on earth
permits the violator of the law to be tormented. The stealer of bread is
punished for a short period; the one who destroys the home is punished
for a longer period; and the one who takes his neighbor's life
deliberately is punished by the full penalty of the law, and his
punishment is lasting. Death is the highest penalty inflicted by the
law. It is also the greatest punishment inflicted by Jehovah. Life is
the dearest thing to any creature, and to be deprived of life would be
the greatest punishment that could be inflicted. Therefore eternal or
everlasting death, with no hope of a resurrection, would be an
everlasting punishment. But it would not be an everlasting conscious
torture. God plainly declared: "The wages of sin is death" (Romans
6:23), and not eternal torture.

[82]Having fixed this penalty, God could not change it afterward,
because God could not be inconsistent; he cannot deny himself.
(2 Timothy 2:13) It was by the disobedience of one man that sin came
into the world and death as the result of sin; so death has been the
penalty upon all mankind. (Romans 5:12) And this will continue until
God's due time to awaken them out of death and give all an opportunity
for life; and this we will discuss later. "The Lord preserveth them
that love him, but all the wicked will he destroy." (Psalm 145:20) The
Apostle plainly says that all the wicked shall be punished with an
everlasting destruction.--2 Thessalonians 1:9.

[83]But do not the wicked go to hell?

[84]It is true that all who have died from Adam until now have gone to
hell. But hell does not mean a place of conscious torture. Wherever the
word hell occurs in the Bible it means the condition of death. Hell is
not a place, but a condition. Those who go into the grave are not
conscious there; but they have gone into the death condition. Their
bodies decay and return to the dust. The word hell is translated from
the Hebrew word _sheol_, as used in the Old Testament. This same word
is a number of times translated grave and sometimes pit. In the New
Testament the same word hell is translated from the Greek word _hades_
and likewise means grave, the condition of death, the tomb.

[85]Some Scriptural illustrations of this prove that hell means a
condition of death. Job was a good and godly man, who tried to obey
Jehovah. He had suffered the loss of all his earthly possessions and
then his neighbors taunted him because of his suffering; and while he
was thus suffering, he prayed that God would permit him to go to hell,
saying: "O that thou wouldest hide me in hell [_sheol_, the grave] until
thy wrath be past". (Job 14:13) He desired to be hid in the grave until
the time of the resurrection, hoping in God's promise that some day the
dead would come again. Then Job says: "If I wait the grave is mine
house: I have made my bed in the darkness". "Our rest together is in the
dust." (Job 17:13,16) Thus he pictures the grave as a condition of
darkness, where there is no knowledge, no wisdom or device. Again he
said: "A man's sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are
brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them". (Job 14:21) Why? Because
those who are in hell, in the tomb, in the grave, in the condition of
death, have no knowledge of anything. They are out of existence, waiting
for the resurrection.

[86]Jacob's beloved son Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brethren.
Joseph's coat was dipped in the blood of an animal and brought to Jacob,
and it was told Jacob the father that his son Joseph was dead. In his
grief he exclaimed: "I will go down into hell [_sheol_, the grave] unto
my son mourning". (Genesis 37:35) Jacob was a good man and approved of
the Lord; for the Apostle says he was. (Hebrews 11:9,39) Jacob meant
that he was going to the grave, to the death condition, mourning for
his beloved son.

[87]Benjamin was Jacob's youngest son. After he lost Joseph his
affections were centered upon Benjamin. His elder sons came to him and
requested that their younger brother be permitted to go down with them
to Egypt. Their father Jacob objected to their taking him, saying, "My
son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left
alone: if mischief befall him by the way in which ye go, then shall ye
bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to hell [_sheol_, the grave]".
(Genesis 42:38) We know, then, that the hell here described could not be
a place of fire and brimstone, for the gray hairs of Jacob would not
last long in the fire. What he really meant was that as an old,
gray-headed man he would go down to the grave in sorrow if anything
befell his beloved son.

[88]Jesus came to earth and lived and died and was buried; and it was
written of him that he went to hell. "Thou wilt not leave my soul in
hell." (Psalm 16:10) If hell is a place of endless torment and Jesus
went there he could not have been released. The fact that he did not
remain in hell is proof conclusive that hell is not a place of eternal
torment.

[89]Jehovah established the true religion in the earth, which was and is
to worship him and glorify his name. Satan established a false religion
in his attempt to be like the Most High. God established his covenant
with the nation of Israel and commanded that they should keep themselves
separate and distinct from the heathen nations round about. Satan
established a false religion amongst the heathen nations and caused them
to worship images and other things aside from Jehovah. These heathen
idolaters built an altar in the valley of Hinnom for the purpose of
offering sacrifices to their gods. The Jews forsook their covenant with
Jehovah and became worshipers of Baal, one of Satan's deified ones. In
practising Baal worship they offered their children as sacrifices, and
upon this has been based the doctrine of torture by fire, concerning
which Jehovah says: "They have built also the high places of Baal, to
burn their sons with fire for burnt offerings unto Baal, which I
commanded not, nor spake it, neither came it into my mind". (Jeremiah
19:5) Again said the Lord: "They built the high places of Baal, which
are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their
daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech, which I commanded them
not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination,
to cause Judah to sin". (Jeremiah 32:35) The things which the heathen
sacrificed they sacrificed to devils and not to God. (1 Corinthians
10:20) This false or devil religion established amongst the deluded
people of the world was another means employed by Satan to blind the
minds of men to the true teachings of the divine plan.

[90]In exercising divine justice, Jehovah at no time employs torture;
but he denounces such doctrine as an abomination in his sight. Divine
justice exercised destroys the evil doers; therefore that which is
destroyed eternally is everlastingly punished. Some Scriptures proving
this are: "Evil doers shall be cut off; but those that wait upon the
Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the
wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and
it shall not be.... But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the
Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall
they consume away.... For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the
earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.... For the Lord
loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved
forever; but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.... Wait on the
Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land:
when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.... The transgressors
shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut
off."--Psalm 37:9,10,20,22,28,34,38.

[91]The doctrine of eternal torment is a defamation of Jehovah's
character. It is a foul stain upon his lovable name. The chief purpose
of man is to glorify God. It is therefore his privilege and duty to
remove from the minds of others this misconception of Jehovah and enable
others to understand that God is indeed love. An understanding of his
plan shows that everything he does is prompted by love. No sooner had he
sentenced man to death than he began to reveal his plan for his
redemption and ultimate deliverance. The more clearly we see and
understand these great truths, the more do we rejoice in the divine
attribute of justice and the divine arrangement in making it manifest.




What divine attribute is mentioned as the habitation of God's throne?
¶ 39.

What divine attribute devised the plan of God? ¶ 39.

Is it necessary for the divine attributes to operate harmoniously? ¶ 39.

Is God's law unchangeable? ¶ 39.

What mental effect is produced upon God's creatures by the
unchangeableness of his law? ¶ 39.

What must follow violation of the divine law? ¶ 39.

What is the prerogative of divine Justice? ¶ 39.

How does the manifestation of divine justice affect the name and dignity
of Jehovah? ¶ 39.

Was it necessary for divine justice to be manifested in order for
divine love to be fully exercised? and if so, why? ¶ 39.

What is essential to a proper appreciation of divine loving kindness?
¶ 39.

Why is Jehovah never unjust nor unkind? ¶ 39.

Does Jehovah make mistakes? ¶ 39.

To what end does he use his power? ¶ 39.

What is symbolized by the second string upon the harp of God? ¶ 40.

Define good and evil. ¶ 41.

When did evil become active? ¶ 41.

Did God compel Adam to do or not to do certain things? ¶ 41.

What punishment did God prescribe for a violation of his law? ¶ 41.

Why and by whom was Eve induced to violate the law? ¶ 41.

Why did Adam violate the law of God? ¶ 41.

To whom does all dominion rightfully belong? ¶ 42.

What dominion did God give to man? ¶ 42.

Why did Lucifer induce Eve to sin? ¶ 42.

What did Lucifer meditate in his heart? ¶ 42.

What was the cause of Lucifer's fall? ¶ 43.

How was divine justice manifested against Lucifer? ¶ 43.

By what names is Lucifer known since his fall? Give the meaning of each
of the names. ¶ 43.

Describe how the devil induced Eve to violate God's law. ¶ 44.

What reply did Eve make to the devil's suggestion that she violate God's
law? ¶ 44.

Who told the truth, God or Satan, relative to the result of Eve's act?
¶ 44.

The fact that Eve was deceived by Satan, could that in any wise change
the penalty of the law? ¶ 45.

What did Adam and Eve do after they had violated the divine law? ¶ 46.

What action did Jehovah take toward them, and why? ¶ 46.

Give the details of the judgment or sentence pronounced by Jehovah
against Adam and Eve. ¶ 46.

What was the result of the judgment pronounced against man? ¶ 47.

How long did Adam live after he was sentenced to die? ¶ 47.

How did God enforce the sentence against man? ¶ 47.

Would Adam have died if he had remained in Eden? ¶ 47.

Why does a parent punish his child? ¶ 48.

If the child always obeyed, would punishment he necessary? ¶ 48.

What is one of the chief reasons for God permitting man to suffer the
effects of wrongdoing? ¶ 48.

Why did God enforce his judgment against man? What was his purpose?
¶ 49.

What motive prompts all the acts of Jehovah? ¶ 49.

The manifestation of divine justice may be likened to what chord in
music? and why? ¶ 50.

What did the suffering of Job picture relative to the harp? ¶ 51.

How could Adam and Eve apply the sayings of Job to themselves? ¶ 51.

Has the world of mankind ever appreciated the manifestation of divine
justice? and why not? ¶ 51.

Why can a Christian appreciate the manifestation of divine justice as
one of the strings of God's harp? ¶ 51.

As a sacrificing priest, what did Aaron typify? ¶ 52.

How did the experiences of Aaron and his sons teach Christians not to
mourn because of the exercise of divine justice? ¶ 52.

When a Christian appreciates the divine plan, what does he say? ¶ 52.

What did God sentence to death, the soul or the body? ¶ 53.

If the soul of man were immortal, how could it be put to death? ¶ 53.

Is it important for us to define terms before freely using them in the
study of the Bible? ¶ 54.

Define immortality. ¶ 55.

Define the soul. ¶ 55.

State fully the Scriptural account of how the soul was created. ¶ 55.

Give some illustration of the soul. ¶ 56.

Does man possess a soul? ¶ 58.

What creatures beside man are souls? ¶ 58.

Is there a difference in the manner of the death of souls? ¶ 58.

Give some Scriptures to show that the soul is not immortal. ¶ 59.

With whom did the term "immortal soul" originate? ¶ 60.

When and by whom was the first lie told? ¶ 60.

How has Satan blinded the people? and what has been his purpose in so
doing? ¶ 60.

What is the basis for all false doctrines? ¶ 60.

If all souls were immortal, could God destroy a willful sinner? ¶ 61.

Who possesses the quality of immortality? ¶ 61.

To whom has immortality been promised as a reward? ¶ 61.

Give some Scriptural reason why men are not inherently immortal. ¶ 61.

What other false doctrine has Satan employed in deceiving mankind? ¶ 62.

Are the dead conscious at any time after death? ¶ 62.

Do the dead remember anything? Do they praise the Lord? ¶ 63.

Can the dead breathe, think, or feel? ¶ 64.

Give an illustration showing that the dead do not feel. ¶ 64.

Do the dead have knowledge or wisdom? Can they love or hate? ¶ 65.

Give some Scriptural proof that death means to perish, and define
perish. ¶¶ 66, 67.

Why is death sometimes spoken of as sleep? Give Scriptural proof.
¶¶ 68, 69.

How has the doctrine of eternal torment affected many? ¶ 70.

Who is responsible for the doctrine of eternal torment? ¶ 70.

Give four reasons why eternal torment cannot be true. ¶ 70.

Would eternal torment accomplish any good? Would it result to the glory
of God? ¶ 71.

Could any creature be eternally tormented contrary to the will of God?
¶ 72.

Could a reasonable God torture any creature? ¶ 72.

Why would not a sane person torture his child or his dog? ¶ 73.

Since the Scriptures declare that God is love, could he torment a
creature? ¶ 73.

Why is the doctrine of eternal torture unreasonable? ¶ 74.

Why is the doctrine of eternal torture unjust? ¶ 75.

Why is the doctrine of eternal torment devoid of love? ¶¶ 76-79.

What is the difference between everlasting torment and everlasting
punishment? ¶ 81.

What is the severest punishment inflicted for the violation of human
laws? ¶ 81.

What is the severest punishment God inflicts for the violation of his
laws? ¶ 81.

Could God change the penalty for the violation of his law after the
penalty has been once fixed and the law violated? and if not, why not?
¶ 82.

Do not the wicked go to hell? ¶ 84.

What is the meaning of the English word hell? and from what words has it
been translated? ¶ 84.

What did Job say about going to hell? ¶ 85.

Is anyone conscious while in hell? ¶ 85.

What did Jacob say about going to hell? and whom did he expect to meet
there? ¶ 86.

If hell means a place of fiery torment, how could Jacob preserve his
gray hairs there? ¶ 87.

Jesus went to hell, as the Scriptures declare. If hell is a place of
eternal torment, how could Jesus get out? ¶ 88.

What religion did God establish on earth? ¶ 89.

What religion did Satan establish on earth? ¶ 89.

What does Jehovah's Word say about burning children in fires as
offerings to Baal? ¶ 89.

To whom did the heathen sacrifice their children? ¶ 89.

What has been Satan's purpose in teaching the false religion? ¶ 89.

What punishment has God fixed for the willfully wicked? Give Scriptural
proof. ¶ 90.

What is man's duty toward God and toward his fellow men in regard to
teaching the doctrine of eternal torment? ¶ 91.

How are we affected by a proper understanding of the manifestation of
divine justice? ¶ 91.




WITHOUT THE GATES

Alas! how changed from bowers of Paradise
  That desolate region, overgrown with thorn
  And thistle rank--a trackless waste forlorn,
Unblessed by God, o'erarched by sullen skies,
There stand that guilty pair, now sadly wise,
  Their hearts with grief, their feet with briers torn,
  Vainly their faded innocence they mourn,
And toward the gates of Eden turn their eyes.
No more to see the beauty and the bloom
  Of that blest garden was to sinners given;
To weep and labor wearily their doom,
  Out of God's holy, blissful presence driven,
Till through life's sorrows, and death's dust and gloom,
  By woman's promised seed they're blest of heaven.

--_Pollok_.

[Illustration]




CHAPTER IV

String 3: _The Abrahamic Promise_


Some time after Adam and Eve were driven from Eden children were born to
them, who grew to the estate of manhood and womanhood and they in turn
had children. Cain obtained his wife by marrying his sister. Thus the
peoples of earth gradually increased. They all wandered about in the
earth, earning their bread in the sweat of their face. Some of these
children were bad and some were good. God showed his favor to the good,
as he always favors those who are good. Satan exercised his wicked
influence amongst the people and most of them turned to evil.

[93]Noah was a good man and he and the members of his family served the
Lord Jehovah. Sixteen hundred years and more passed from the time of the
judgment in Eden (during which time the people became very wicked) and
there was great violence in the earth. God purposed to destroy all the
wicked of earth; so he directed Noah to build an ark and to take into
the ark the members of his family; and this done, a great flood of
waters came upon the earth and all living creatures were destroyed
except those in the ark. There were only eight persons left on the earth
after the flood. (Genesis 7:21-23; 1 Peter 3:20) Noah and his sons begat
children and the peoples of earth again increased. Amongst them were
some good and some bad. Amongst those who tried to do the will of God
was a man named Abram, which name was later changed to Abraham. He is
spoken of in the Scriptures as the friend of God. Abraham's wife was
named Sarah.

[94]When Abraham was 75 years of age, Jehovah said to him: "Get thee out
of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto
a land that I will show thee: and I will make of thee a great nation,
and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a
blessing; and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed".
(Genesis 12:1-3) Abraham with his wife and others left Haran for the
land of Canaan. When they had reached a point in that land known as
Sichem, the Lord appeared unto him and said: "Unto thy seed will I give
this land". Abraham builded an altar there, and the place has since been
known as Bethel, which means the house of God. Afterward Abraham dwelt
in the plains of Mamre, which is just above the present site of Hebron
in the southern part of Palestine. While there, God made a covenant with
him, saying: "Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of
Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates".--Genesis 15:18.

[95]Thereafter, when Abraham was 99 years old, the Lord appeared unto
him and said: "I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will
multiply thee exceedingly, ... and thou shalt be a father of many
nations. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land
wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting
possession; and I will be their God." (Genesis 17:2,4,8) Some time
later, when Abraham was sitting at the door of his tent, which was
pitched in the plains of Mamre, there stood before him three men,
messengers from Jehovah. In the plains of Mamre, a short distance above
the town of Hebron, still stands a very ancient oak tree. It is about
thirty feet in circumference. It is claimed that this is Abraham's oak,
where he pitched his tent at the time these holy messengers appeared to
him. Of course we cannot believe this is true, because an oak would not
live that length of time. It is interesting, however, to note this
ancient tree standing approximately at the point where Abraham is
supposed to have resided in his tent. Here it was that Abraham prepared
refreshments for his distinguished visitors; and "he stood by them under
the tree, and they did eat". Here it was that the messenger of Jehovah
told Abraham that he and his wife Sarah would be given a son.--Genesis
18:1-14.

[96]In due time a son was born unto Abraham and Sarah and his name was
called Isaac. (Genesis 21:1-3) Afterward, when the son Isaac had grown
up, Jehovah put Abraham to a great test, and in doing so he made a
picture which foreshadowed the redemption of the human race. This record
appears in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. God said unto Abraham:
"Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee
into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt-offering upon
one of the mountains which I will tell thee of". (Genesis 22:2) It is
interesting here to note that Mount Moriah is inside of the walls of the
present city of Jerusalem. It was the site of the temple of Solomon, and
supposed to be the very spot where Abraham was met by Melchizedek. It is
the place where Abraham was directed to offer and did offer up his son
Isaac.

[97]Providing himself with wood to be used for the fire, Abraham and his
son and servants journeyed for three days from the plains of Mamre to
Moriah; and arriving there, he at once prepared for the burnt-offering.
Isaac was not aware of the purpose of his father to offer him; so he
said to his father: "Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the
lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide
himself a lamb for a burnt-offering." Abraham then informed his son that
he was to be the offering. Then he bound Isaac and laid him upon the
altar and stretched forth his hand and took the knife with which to slay
his son. This was a great test to Abraham's faith. Isaac was his only
son and he loved him dearly; but Jehovah had commanded him to offer him
up as a sacrifice, and because of his love for Jehovah he proceeded to
obey God's command. As he raised his hand to strike dead his only
beloved son, "the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and
said, Abraham, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any
thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast
not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me". When Abraham looked he
saw a ram caught in a thicket nearby and he took the ram and offered it
for a burnt-offering.

[98]Then "the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham the second time, and
said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done
this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in
blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed
as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore;
and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed
shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed
my voice."--Genesis 22:15-18.

[99]In this wonderful picture Abraham was a type of Jehovah, while Isaac
was a type of Jesus, the beloved Son of Jehovah. Abraham's offering his
beloved son on the altar, pictured how God in due time would offer his
only beloved Son as a great sacrifice that mankind might be redeemed
from death and have an opportunity to live. Abraham did not, as indeed
he could not, understand God's purposes, for the reason that Jehovah did
not reveal them to him; but he knew that God had here made a covenant
with him and bound it with his oath; and that by these two certain and
unchangeable things, his word and his oath, God would carry out his
covenant in due time, and that covenant would result in the blessing of
all the families and nations of earth.

[100]The word covenant means contract; and it is the solemn form for
expressing a compact, agreement, or contract between parties, or
particularly on the part of one whereby he promises to do a certain
thing. With Jehovah a covenant or a contract is sacred and inviolate,
because Jehovah changes not. (Malachi 3:6) Having promised it, he will
fulfill it. (Hebrews 6:18) It is always necessary that there be two
parties to a contract. There may be more. Where one party only is bound
to do a certain thing that contract is called unilateral, or one-sided;
and where both parties are bound to perform certain things, the contract
is called bilateral, or two-sided.

[101]It will be observed that this oathbound covenant that Jehovah made
with Abraham contained no conditions or limitations, but was merely a
promise of Jehovah bound by his oath, and is therefore properly called a
unilateral or one-sided covenant; for the reason that God's purpose was
and is to carry out his plan to bless the human race, regardless of what
any one may or may not do. There was no need for him to make any
conditions to the covenant. He merely announced his benevolent purpose
toward mankind. The covenant does not even say that the blessing of the
people will follow upon the condition that Abraham should do a certain
thing, or that the people should seek him. The covenant does not say
that every person will be blessed with life everlasting; but it does
say that all the families of the earth shall be blessed, which means
that every one must in God's due time have a full, fair opportunity for
life everlasting. It means, furthermore, that in God's due time
knowledge will be brought to all in order that every one may avail
himself of the opportunity thus provided for life. It means,
furthermore, that assistance will be given to every one, that he may
profit by this blessed opportunity; and all who prove their loyalty
under the test that will come by reason of the opportunity will be
granted life everlasting.




How was the earth originally peopled? ¶ 92.

Where did Cain get his wife? ¶ 92.

To whom does Jehovah show his favor? ¶ 92.

What effect does Satan's influence have on the people? ¶ 92.

What kind of man was Noah? and whom did he serve? ¶ 93.

Why did Jehovah direct Noah to build the ark? ¶ 93.

How many persons escaped destruction at the time of the flood? and who
were they? ¶ 93.

How was the earth peopled after the flood? ¶ 93.

What man is mentioned in the Scriptures as the friend of God? and what
was the name of his wife? ¶ 94.

What was the age of Abraham when God spoke to him? and what did Jehovah
say? ¶ 94.

What was Abraham's native land? and to what land did he go in obedience
to God's command? ¶ 94.

At what places did Abraham stop in Canaan that are specially mentioned
in the Bible? ¶ 94.

What promise did God make to Abraham at Bethel? and what promise did he
make while Abraham dwelt in the plains of Mamre? ¶ 94.

Describe the place of Abraham's residence at the time Jehovah promised
him a son. Quote the Scriptural account. ¶ 95.

How many sons did Abraham have by his wife Sarah? Give Scriptural proof.
¶ 96.

To what special test did God put Abraham with reference to his son
Isaac? ¶ 96.

Describe in detail the offering of Isaac. ¶ 97.

Repeat God's promise to Abraham at the time of his offering of Isaac.
¶ 98.

Whom did Abraham typify in this offering? and of whom was Isaac a type?
¶ 99.

What did the offering of Isaac picture? ¶ 99.

Did Abraham understand the full meaning of God's promise? ¶ 99.

What is the meaning of the word "covenant"? ¶ 100.

How does God regard his covenants? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 100.

How many parties are required to make a covenant? ¶ 100.

Where only one party is bound, what kind of covenant is it? ¶ 100.

Where both parties are bound to perform certain things, then what do we
call the covenant? ¶ 100.

Why was God's covenant with Abraham a one-sided covenant? ¶ 101.

What is the important statement of the Abrahamic covenant or promise?
¶ 101.

Whom will the Abrahamic covenant ultimately affect? ¶ 101.



"IS IT COME?"

  Poet and seer that question caught,
   Above the din of life's fears and frets;
  It marched with letters, it toiled with thought,
   Through schools and creeds which the earth forgets.
  And statesmen trifle, and priests deceive,
   And traders barter our world away;
  Yet hearts to that golden promise cleave,
   And still, at times, "Is it come?" they say.

  The days of the nations bear no trace
   Of all the sunshine so far foretold;
  The cannon speaks in the teacher's place;
   The age is weary with work and gold;
  And high hopes wither, and memories wane;
   On hearths and altars the fires are dead;
  But that brave faith hath not lived in vain;
   And this is all that our watcher said.

--_Brown_.

[Illustration]




CHAPTER V

String 4: _The Birth of Jesus_


It has pleased Jehovah to use men and women to picture or foreshadow
various parts of his plan. For instance, Abraham at times pictures or
represents God; while Sarah his wife was used to picture or typify God's
covenant with Abraham through which he promised to bring forth the seed
for the blessing of all the families of the earth. Sarah was the mother
of Isaac, her only son. Isaac was used to typify or foreshadow Jesus,
the son of God, the Redeemer of the world. Hagar had a son by Abraham,
and Hagar typified or foreshadowed the law covenant, which was made by
Jehovah with Moses as a mediator for the children of Israel at Mount
Sinai. As Hagar was a bondwoman, the servant of Sarah, so was the law
covenant one of bondage that brought forth no real blessings to the
Jews; but it was made for the purpose of teaching the Jews their
inability to lift themselves up to life and to show them the absolute
necessity for a redeemer. After the death of his wife Sarah, Abraham
married Keturah and by her had many children; and Keturah is used as a
type foreshadowing the new covenant that is to be made by Jehovah with
Christ as the Mediator for the world of mankind, through which all will
have an opportunity to gain life everlasting.

[103]The apostle Paul speaks of these figures or pictures relating to
the covenants, as follows: "For it is written, that Abraham had two
sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was
of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was
by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two
covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage,
which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to
Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But
Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it
is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry,
thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than
she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the
children of promise." (Galatians 4:22-28) Isaac pictures the entire
Christ, head and body--Jesus the Head, the church the body members.

[104]It is noted that God's covenant with Abraham stated that there
would be an offspring or seed which would bless all the families of the
earth. This seed is the Redeemer, Christ Jesus, the Savior of the world;
and by adoption into the family of God the true Christians, the church,
the members of Christ's body, become a part of that seed. "And the
scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all
nations be blessed. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made.
He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed,
which is Christ."--Galatians 3:8,16.

[105]Before the blessing promised could come to the peoples of earth,
the seed which was promised must first come. The Israelites, otherwise
called Jews, therefore expected that one of the natural descendants of
Abraham would become their king and that through that king and his
kingdom all the nations of the earth would be blessed by receiving the
benefits first given to them. For this reason the faithful Jews looked
forward with great expectancy to the birth of the one who was to be
their king. They based their hopes upon the repeated promise made by
Jehovah. Without doubt it was thought by some that Isaac, the son of
Abraham, would be the one through whom the blessing would come. "After
the death of Abraham, God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the
well Lahai-roi." (Genesis 25:11) When Isaac was about sixty years old
there were born to him and his wife Rebekah two sons, twins, who were
named by them Esau and Jacob.--Genesis 25:26.

[106]Isaac then went to live in the land of the Philistines, and while
there, God said to him: "Sojourn in this land, and I will be with thee,
and will bless thee; for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all
these countries, and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham
thy father; and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven,
and will give unto thy seed these countries; and in thy seed shall all
the nations of the earth be blessed". (Genesis 26:3,4) Thus the
Abrahamic promise was renewed to Isaac. Before the death of Isaac, he
pronounced his blessing upon his son Jacob, and Jacob thereby became the
successor of his father to the Abrahamic promise.

[107]Under the rule of descent, the firstborn or eldest son was the heir
of the father's estate and any other rights or privileges that went with
that estate, unless for some cause there should be an exception to the
rule. Esau having been born a few moments before his brother Jacob,
under the operation of this rule would be the successor to the Abrahamic
promise and heir to his father. His birthright, therefore, would include
the promise made to Abraham. But the Lord clearly indicated that there
should be an exception to the rule in this case and that Jacob should
be the heir and not Esau. When it was known that the mother would bear
two sons, and just before the time of their birth, Rebekah the mother
inquired of the Lord concerning the expected children and the Lord said
unto her that two sons would be born to her and that the elder should
serve the younger. (Genesis 25:22,23) This definitely shows that it was
God's purpose that Jacob, who was born last, should be the heir and
successor to the Abrahamic promise.

[108]These two sons grew to manhood's estate. Esau became a great
hunter and loved the outdoor sports; while Jacob was a plain man,
remaining quietly at home. Esau showed that he did not appreciate the
birthright, viz., the Abrahamic promise, even if it were his, which in
fact it was not, since God had foreordained that it should belong to
Jacob. Esau thought more of his own selfish, immediate comfort than
anything that might come to him by reason of this promise. On one
occasion he was in the field hunting. He returned hungry and faint. He
found that Jacob had prepared a pot of lentils. When Esau smelled this
appetizing food he said to Jacob: "Feed me, I pray thee, with that same
red pottage, for I am faint". And Jacob said: "Sell me this day thy
birthright". "And Esau said, Behold I am at the point to die: and what
profit shall this birthright do to me? And Jacob said, Swear to me this
day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. Then
Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentils; and he did eat and drink,
and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright."
--Genesis 25:27-34.

[109]Genuine, real right and title to the birthright was now Jacob's
for two good and sufficient reasons: (1) because it was so ordered by
the Lord before his birth, as above stated; and (2) because he had
bought it in an open and fair transaction with his brother Esau. These
two brothers were not mere children at this time. They were past forty
years of age (Genesis 26:34), both capable of entering into a contract;
and they made a contract which was binding upon both.

[110]Notwithstanding these two good reasons why Jacob was justly
entitled to the birthright, Esau attempted to deprive him of it. The
birthright carried with it the privilege of the special blessing from
their father. Isaac was old and his eyes were dim, so that he could not
see; and he knew that the day of his death might be near. (Genesis
27:1,2) He directed his son Esau to go into the field and take some
venison and bring it to him that he might eat; and give Esau his
blessing.

[111]The Bible does not clearly show that Isaac knew God had
foreordained that this birthright should belong to Jacob, nor that he
knew Esau had sold it to Jacob; therefore we can excuse the old father
for thinking it was his duty to bestow his blessing upon his son Esau.
Rebekah the mother, however, knowing of both these reasons why Jacob was
entitled to the birthright, knowing that Esau did not appreciate it, and
knowing of his wrongful intent to deprive his brother Jacob of the
privileges and blessings incident to the birthright, advised Jacob what
to do in order to protect his own rightful and proper interests. The
mother therefore was carrying out God's will in this respect. She was
doing what all honest persons should do--try to protect the rights and
privileges of those that are near and dear to them. She therefore
directed Jacob to slay two kids of the goats and bring them to her and
she prepared some savory meat; and then, in order that the blind father
might not obstinately refuse to aid them in carrying out the divine
purposes, and in order that he might think he was blessing Esau, the
mother Rebekah fastened upon the arms of her son Jacob the skins of the
kids and also put the skins about his neck that he would appear as a
hairy man like unto his brother Esau.

[112]Jacob then came in before his father and presented the savory meat.
His father kissed him and laid his hand upon him and gave to Jacob his
blessing. The old father then spoke in prophetic phrase, evidently under
the direction of the Lord, saying unto his son Jacob: "Let people serve
thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let
thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth
thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee".--Genesis 27:29.

[113]Almost immediately Esau returned from the field and found that
Jacob had received his father's blessing and that he (Esau) had been
unsuccessful in carrying out his purpose of defeating the open and fair
transaction which he had made with Jacob when he had sold his
birthright. He hated his brother Jacob and determined to kill him as
soon as his father Isaac was dead.

[114]It seems rather strange that many Christian people have severely
criticized Jacob and his mother Rebekah in this transaction. It has
evidently been due to the fact that they were ignorant of the record. No
part of Jacob's action in connection with the birthright is
reprehensible. Everything with reference to Esau is reprehensible. God
subsequently showed that Esau pictured the peoples of earth who are
Christians in name only, but not in truth and in fact, who are
hypocritical, and who persecute the true Christians; while Jacob
pictured or foreshadowed the true followers of Christ who have been
misrepresented and persecuted by the merely nominal Christians. God
showed his approval of the conduct of Jacob and his mother Rebekah, and
showed that it was his purpose and intention that Jacob should receive
the blessing going with the birthright. Jacob had shown his great desire
for the birthright, which was merely a promise; while Esau had despised
it. Acting upon the advice of his mother, Jacob now fled from the wrath
of Esau; and as he went away, he lay down and slept at a place situated
north of the present site of Jerusalem and which afterward he named
Bethel, which means the house of God. There he had a dream, in which God
signified his approval of Jacob and pronounced a blessing upon him.

[115]"And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night,
because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and
put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. And he
dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it
reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending
on it. And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God
of Abraham, thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou
liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as
the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to
the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy
seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And, behold, I am
with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will
bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have
done that which I have spoken to thee of."--Genesis 28:11-15.

[116]Whom God approves and blesses all others should approve. We may be
assured, then, that Jacob was blameless before Jehovah in this
transaction. It shows how carefully Jehovah was guarding his promise and
the seed which would spring from it ultimately and through which the
families of the earth should be blessed.

[117]Some years later God showed his further favor to Jacob by changing
his name from Jacob to Israel. The name Israel means, _He will rule as
God_. "And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be
called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his
name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and
multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings
shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I gave Abraham and
Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give
the land." (Genesis 35:10-12) According to the promise given to Jacob at
this time, a nation should spring forth of him.

[118]Jacob had twelve sons. There were born to him by his wife Leah the
sons Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; and by his wife
Rachel, Joseph and Benjamin. His other sons were Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and
Asher. Jacob's wife Rachel was the most beloved by him, and she was the
mother of his beloved son Joseph. After Jacob had been deprived of
Joseph's presence and fellowship, he devoted his affections to Benjamin,
the other son by his beloved wife Rachel. The Scriptures show that these
two sons typified those who will be born on the spirit plane, Joseph
being a type of the royal family of heaven; while Benjamin typified the
great company or tribulation class born on a spirit plane lower than
those possessing the divine nature.

[119]Jacob spent his last days with his family in Egypt. Just before
his death he called before him his sons, that he might bestow upon them
his last blessings. From this time forward dates the history of the
nation of Israel. While pronouncing the blessing upon his various sons,
he said concerning his son Judah: "Judah is a lion's whelp: from the
prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion,
and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart
from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and
unto him shall the gathering of the people be." (Genesis 49:9,10) This
prophetic promise definitely shows that the mighty one to come through
whom the blessings of the people would flow must spring from the tribe
of Judah, the word Shiloh being one of the titles applied to the great
Prince of Peace, the Deliverer, the Savior of mankind.

[120]After the death of Jacob his offspring were known as the children
of Israel, or Israelites. Joseph when a lad had been sold into Egypt,
had grown to manhood, had become a mighty man and ruler in Egypt under
the king, and was dwelling there in power and glory when his father
Jacob and the other members of his family moved into Egypt to live.
During the lifetime of Joseph the Israelites were well treated. After
his death, however, a new king came to the throne of Egypt, who began to
oppress and persecute the Israelites. God raised up Moses and used him
to deliver the Israelites from the land of Egypt and the oppressive hand
of Egypt's king.

[121]We incidentally remark that here are some other pictures
foreshadowing portions of the divine plan. Egypt under the rule of a
wicked king pictures or represents the world of mankind in darkness
under the rule of the unrighteous one, Satan, who is the god of this
world. The Israelites in Egypt picture the people of God and those who
shall ultimately come into harmony with him; while Moses was a type
foreshadowing the great Messiah, who is to deliver all mankind from the
bondage of sin and death.

[122]Moses was a prophet of God and God spoke through Moses, using him
as a mouthpiece or messenger. After the Lord had delivered the children
of Israel from Egypt by the hand of Moses, he spoke through Moses, who
prophesied unto Israel, saying: "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; Acts 3:22) From that
time forward the Israelites watched and waited for the coming of the
great prophet, priest, and king who should be like unto Moses and of
whom Moses was a picture or a type. They knew that such a one must come
from the house of Judah, because God had promised as much. David was a
direct descendant of Judah.--Luke 3:31-34.

[123]From time to time God's prophets gave utterance to words that kept
alive in the minds of the Israelites the hope that God would send them a
mighty one, through whom the promise made to Abraham would be fulfilled.
In time this promise was specifically limited to the house of David, the
Lord causing his prophet to write thus: "The Lord hath sworn in truth
unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I
set upon thy throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my
testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon
thy throne for evermore."--Psalm 132:11,12.

[124]David himself was a prophet of Jehovah, and the Lord spoke through
him with reference to the heir of the Abrahamic promise who should be
king over Israel. "Then David the king stood upon his feet, and said,
Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to
build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for
the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building: but God
said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou
hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood. Howbeit the Lord God of
Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel
for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of
Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked
me to make me king over all Israel: and of all my sons (for the Lord
hath given me many sons) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the
throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel. And he said unto me,
Solomon thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have
chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. Moreover I will
establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments
and my judgments, as at this day,"--1 Chronicles 28:2-7.

[125]Thus far the divine record definitely establishes the fact that
the great heir or king of Israel, the seed through which the blessings
of God would be bestowed, must come through David's line; and that also
it should come through Solomon, provided, of course, the conditions laid
upon Solomon were fulfilled. In any event, it must come through David's
line, and through his son Solomon provided Solomon met the requirements.
We repeat the words for emphasis: "Moreover I will establish his kingdom
for ever, _if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments_,
as at this day". And then David said: "And thou, Solomon, my son, know
thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with
a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all
the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of
thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever".
--1 Chronicles 28:9.

[126]The question is, Did Solomon receive the approval of the Lord? If
so, the great Messiah must come through his line. If not, then he could
not come through Solomon. This question is answered by the Scriptures,
as follows: "For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives
turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect
with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father.... And the
Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord
God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him
concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept
not that which the Lord commanded. Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon,
Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and
my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom
from thee, and will give it to thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy days
I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of
the hand of thy son. Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but
will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for
Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen,"--1 Kings 11:4,9-13.

[127]After Solomon's death the nation of Israel was divided. The last
three kings of Solomon's line to rule over Israel were Jehoiakim,
Jehoiachin (also called Coniah) and Zedekiah. Zedekiah became a wicked
ruler and of him it is recorded: "And thou, profane and wicked prince of
Israel, whose day is come, when iniquity shall have an end, thus saith
the Lord God: Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not
be the same: exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will
overturn, overturn, overturn it; and it shall be no more, until he come
whose right it is; and I will give it [to] him." (Ezekiel 21:25-27) This
shows a complete overthrowing of the line of Solomon and definitely
settles the proposition that Messiah could not be counted through the
line of Solomon, but must be some other way. Seemingly God's promise to
bring the mighty deliverer through the line of David had failed, because
of Solomon's failure. But not so. David had another son, whom the Lord
used. Solomon's line had been exalted. Now this line must be abased, and
the lower line must be exalted.

[128]The obscure line of David was his son Nathan. Mary the mother of
Jesus was a direct descendant of Nathan of the house of David.

[129]Jeremiah prophesied concerning the coming of Messiah, as follows:
"Behold the day is coming, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David
a righteous branch and a king shall reign and prosper.... In his day
Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is the
name that Jehovah proclaimeth him, Our Righteousness."--Jeremiah 23:5,6,
_Young_.

[130]Mary, the mother-to-be of Jesus, was approached by the angel of the
Lord, who said to her: "Fear not, Mary; for thou hast found favor with
God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son
and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called
the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne
of his father David: and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said
Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the
angel answered and said unto her: The holy spirit shall come upon thee,
and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that
holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of
God."--Luke 1:30-35.

[131]Then Mary, seemingly directed by the power of Jehovah, said: "My
soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden; for behold, from
henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty
hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on
them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed
strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of
their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted
them of low degree." (Luke 1:46-52) Her words draw the contrast between
the once favored family of Solomon and the humbler family of Nathan,
Solomon's family being abased and Nathan's now exalted. Thus the proof
is brought forth that the Lord did raise up unto David a righteous
branch.


IN EXPECTATION

[132]The promise made to Abraham, which was subsequently repeated to
others, thoroughly impressed the minds of the devout Israelites with the
thought that at some future time there would be born of a woman of the
Jewish people a holy child, and that in some way to them not understood
this child would be the means of blessing all the families and nations
of the earth. They expected the Jewish nation to become the greatest
nation of earth, and looked for all other nations to flow unto it, be
subservient to it and receive their blessings through it. These
conclusions they based upon the words of the prophets, even though they
did not fully understand the meaning of those prophecies. To them the
prophet Isaiah had said: "And it shall come to pass in the last days,
that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of
the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations
shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let
us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob;
and he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out
of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from
Jerusalem." (Isaiah 2:2,3) And again: "For unto us a child is born, unto
us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and
his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The
everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his
government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David,
and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and
with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of
hosts will perform this."--Isaiah 9:6,7.

[133]The prophet Zechariah said: "And it shall come to pass that every
one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall
even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and
to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not
come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the
King, the Lord of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain."--Zechariah
14:16,17.

[134]These prophecies, while relating in a measure to the birth of
Jesus, had only a partial fulfillment at that time. Their far greater
fulfillment is yet future, as we shall see.

[135]The birth of Jesus, the greatest event in the world's history, was
about to be enacted. Two thousand years had passed since God had made
the promise to Abraham of the coming of the mighty One through whom all
the families of the earth should be blessed. During that time Jehovah
was executing his preconceived plan, renewing his promise to keep it
fresh in the minds of the faithful, and shaping the course of those who
should participate in this great transaction. And now, as the day drew
near, the stage was being set.

[136]The place selected was Bethlehem, situated on an elevation south
of Jerusalem. It was once the home of Boaz, whose fields the beautiful
Moabitish woman Ruth had gleaned whom Boaz redeemed and afterward took
as his wife. Here Jehovah had used Boaz as a type of Christ Jesus and
Ruth as a type of the church, his bride, foreshadowing things yet to
come.

[137]Later Bethlehem was the home of Jesse and of David his son. The
name David implies 'beloved one'; and it was here that he was anointed
to be king over Israel, from which time he typified Jesus, the mighty
Son of God. Jehovah had selected this as the birthplace of Jesus; hence
here the birth must take place.--Matthew 2:5,6; Micah 5:2.

[138]Away to the north in Galilee stood the humble and despised city of
Nazareth. It was the home of Joseph the carpenter, a meek, little-known,
yet honest, man. He was espoused to Mary. We should expect that Jehovah
would time everything exactly; and so he did. The scepter had departed
from Judah; the Romans were in control of Palestine, and the time for
the birth of the mighty One was due. Exercising his perfect wisdom and
power, Jehovah was overruling all things to the accomplishment of his
purpose. Augustus Caesar, then the emperor and ruler over all Palestine,
issued a decree that all the people should be taxed. Every one must go
to the city of his nativity, there to be numbered and taxed. Joseph the
carpenter, although a resident of Nazareth, was of the house of David,
and hence must go to the city of David to be numbered and taxed.
Naturally his espoused virgin would accompany him to that city. She
likewise was of the house of David through another line--another reason
why she should go there. But above all, the Lord directed them there
because it was a part of his arrangement.

[139]At that time there were no means of easy and rapid transit. It was
a long journey, a tedious and tiresome one. Joseph, with his espoused
seated upon an ass, journeyed through the hills along the Jordan
probably for three days, and late in the evening reached the city of
Bethlehem. The city was crowded; the private homes were full; all the
hotels, inns, and other places were crowded out. Tired, worn, and weary
from their long journey, they were jostled by the crowd in the narrow
streets of the city. Applying to various places for lodging, at each
place they were turned away; until finally they found a location where
they could sleep in a stall with the cattle. And they retired for the
night's repose.

[140]Over the brow of the hill, in the field once owned by Boaz and
gleaned by the beautiful Ruth, the faithful shepherds were watching
their sheep. According to custom, they had four watches during the
night. Some would watch while the others slept.

[141]The earthly stage is now set. But behold that there was no great
earthly splendor or show! In truth the condition of poverty of Joseph
and his espoused, and the like poor condition of the shepherds who were
now shortly to be used of the Lord, was the only fitting way that we
should expect the Lord would have it. All the pomp and glory of earthly
preparation would have been but tawdry tinsel, detracting from the
glorious things that were shortly to follow. Each one of the earthly
players whom Jehovah had assigned to perform a part upon this stage was
humble, meek, and possessed of faith in the promises of God. In heaven
there was a host of angels that should participate in the great drama;
and all the hosts of heaven were witnesses to this unparalleled and
never-again-to-be-performed event.

[142]On earth it was night, picturing the fact that the whole world was
lying in darkness and a great light was coming into the earth. The time
had now arrived for the birth of the mighty One, and all the heavenly
hosts were awake to the importance of the hour. Doubtless while others
slept, Mary was pondering in her heart the great events that had taken
place during the few months past; and while she thus meditated there in
the silence of that night, without pain and without suffering there was
born to her Jesus, the Savior of the world. And the shepherds watching
their sheep in the field were attracted by the angel of the Lord, who
came upon them, "and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and
they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for,
behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all
people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior,
Which is Christ the Lord."--Luke 2:8-11.

[143]When this heavenly messenger had finished his wonderful speech to
the astonished shepherds, then it was, as if waiting a given signal, the
multitudinous heavenly host stood forth and sang the good tidings of
great joy which ultimately shall be to all people. Their song was but
the reflex of what had been announced. There sweet singers told in words
of praise of God's beneficent purpose ultimately to bless all the
families of the earth. It was a song of glory from heaven, and the hills
of Judea echoed the message of peace and good will toward men. And
throughout the gospel age this sweet anthem has filled with joy the
heart of many a sad wanderer; and seemingly again and again these have
heard the song from heaven: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace, good will toward men".

[144]The world is now entering its darkest period, and when mankind
reaches the point of extremity, then will be God's opportunity to reveal
to all sad hearts that the birth of Jesus was the greatest event in
history to that time; and that shortly this same great Jesus, now in
glory, will extend the blessings of life, liberty and happiness to the
whole groaning creation.

[145]The place of Jesus' birth was truly according to and in fulfillment
of prophecy, thus showing that God had foreordained and prepared the
conditions for his birth. (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:4-6) Jesus was not born
on December 25, as is generally supposed; but his birth occurred about
the first of October. Midwinter would have been a very inopportune time
for the shepherds to be watching their sheep in the fields and sleeping
in the open. In addition to this circumstantial evidence, all the facts
show that the birth of Jesus was in October, and that December 25, nine
months previous, was probably the date of the annunciation. (Luke 1:30,31)
For a full discussion of this subject see STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES,
Volume 2, page 54.

[146]Much has been said and written concerning the three wise men who
journeyed from the East to pay their homage to the babe Jesus, born in
Bethlehem. Particularly at Christmas time is our attention called to
this by pictures on cards, etc., of the wise men journeying to the West,
supposedly being guided by the star sent by Jehovah. It has been
presumed that Jehovah by the star led these wise men to the place of
Jesus' birth. The Bible proof shows, however, that these three wise men
were not sent by the Lord God, but that they were directed by the great
adversary, the devil, in his attempt to destroy the babe. Whether they
knew it or not, these three wise men were parties to a great conspiracy,
originated and carried out by the master mind, Satan, the devil, in his
attempt to destroy the seed of promise, the great Savior of the world.

[147]When Jehovah drove Adam and Eve from Eden he likewise pronounced a
condemnation upon Satan. He said concerning Satan and the woman: "I will
put enmity between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and
thou shalt bruise his heel". (Genesis 3:15) From that time forward,
Satan the great adversary has attempted to destroy every one whom God
has favored and who he thought might constitute the seed of promise.

[148]Jehovah has given to Satan four separate and distinct names, all of
which have a deep significance. Besides the name _Satan_ he is
designated as the _dragon_, that old _serpent_ and the _devil_. Dragon
means devourer or destroyer; and Satan has at all times been seeking to
destroy or devour Jesus and his true followers, who constitute the seed
of promise. His name Satan indicates adversary; and he has opposed in
every way the development of the new creation, consisting of Jesus and
his bride. His name serpent means deceiver; and he has applied all of
his wily methods to deceive, and as Jesus has declared, he would
deceive, if possible, the very elect, but God will not permit him thus
to do. His title devil means slanderer; and he has constantly carried on
a campaign of slanderous propaganda against the people of God even unto
this day, and has never lost an opportunity to try in his various ways
to destroy them.

[149]When it was announced to Mary by the angel that she should bring
forth a child whose name should be called Jesus and that he would be the
Savior of his people, Satan recognized this promised and unborn babe as
the one who would ultimately bruise his head. The apostle Paul plainly
states to us that God sent Jesus into the world, one of his missions
being ultimately to destroy the devil. (Hebrews 2:14) The enmity of
Satan toward the seed of promise has never abated. Learning of the
promised birth of the child, Satan at once began to lay his plans for
its destruction. He attempted to induce Mary's espoused husband Joseph
to put her away and cause her to be put to death under the terms of the
Mosaic law; but God prevented this by advising Joseph through his
messenger in a dream to fear not, but to take Mary for his wife.
--Matthew 1:18-24.

[150]Stars do not move above the canopy of heaven in such a manner as to
lead men. It seems unreasonable that Jehovah would have made a star move
from the East and stand over Bethlehem. Satan and his emissaries, the
demons associated with him, have power to produce lights; and many
instances are cited in history of these lights appearing near the earth.
The "star" or light that guided the wise men was without doubt such a
light and not a star moved by the power of Jehovah.

[151]The wise men residing in the East were sorcerers and magicians.
They were star-gazers. They were followers of the false religion. They
sacrificed to and worshiped the devil. (1 Corinthians 10:20) Pharaoh the
king of Egypt was a type of Satan the devil; and Pharaoh used wise men
like unto these sorcerers and magicians to oppose the Lord and his
messengers in the day that they were in Egyptian bondage. (Exodus 7:11)
These were devotees of astrology and demon worship. Doubtless many of
them were sincere, but they were the dupes of a false religion
inaugurated by Satan. The Biblical record definitely fixes the fact that
Herod, then ruler in Jerusalem, was a wicked man, under the influence of
Satan.

[152]"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod
the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his
star in the east, and are come to worship him." (Matthew 2:1,2) Be it
noted that these wise men went directly to Herod, a representative of
Satan. If the star guiding them was sent by the Lord Jehovah, why would
he guide them to Herod, a representative of Satan, and a mortal enemy of
the babe Jesus? If the sole purpose of the star was to guide these men
to the place of Jesus' birth there was no need for them to go to Herod
at all. The reasonable answer, then, is that Satan had prepared a great
conspiracy with the object of destroying the babe. A conspiracy is a
design to commit a wrongful act in which two or more join in committing
the act or some part of it. Sometimes persons are involved in a
conspiracy and participate without knowing the real purpose of the one
who forms the conspiracy. Such may have been the case with these wise
men; but without doubt Satan had formed and directed it.

[153]When these wise men came into the presence of Herod, he was
troubled, because he feared the new king would interfere with his reign;
and he "gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people [the
seed of Satan and also his representatives--John 8:44] together and
demanded of them where Christ should be born"--in other words he
demanded to know where the babe Jesus could be found. Then Herod, in
furtherance of the conspiracy, privately consulted with these wise men.
We now see Herod manifesting one of the characteristics of Satan, viz.,
deception, in this, that he pretended to desire himself to find the babe
Jesus, that he might go and worship him; whereas all the facts and
circumstances show that his real purpose was that he might find the babe
in order to destroy him. "Then Herod, when he had privily called the
wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And
he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the
young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may
come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed;
and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it
came and stood over where the young child was."

[154]We cannot for a moment believe that the heavenly Father would use a
wicked one like Herod and aid him in carrying out his wicked purpose by
having a star to direct these three wise men to the place of Jesus'
birth, in view of the fact that the king had demanded that they should
return and report to him, and when it was King Herod's purpose to
destroy the babe. The fact is that the devil and his instruments, Herod
and others, would have succeeded in this wicked conspiracy and have
caused the death of the babe Jesus had not God intervened to save the
child.

[155]The wise men reaching Bethlehem found the babe and brought their
presents and worshiped. Without a doubt it was their intention to return
and report to Herod. And the result of such a return would have been the
death of the child. But God here intervened and warned them in a dream.
These wise magicians relied upon dreams. "Being warned of God in a dream
that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own
country another way." Satan again was thwarted in his wicked purpose.

[156]The real intent of Herod in sending these wise men is disclosed by
what subsequently happened. "Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked
of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the
children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two
years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently
inquired of the wise men." (Matthew 2:16) Determined not to be thwarted
in his purpose, Satan and his instrument Herod were willing to destroy
all the babes in and about Bethlehem, with the hope of destroying the
one that was to be the King and Savior of the world. Jehovah saved the
babe Jesus from this slaughter by directing his mother and Joseph to
take the young child and flee into Egypt, which they did.--Matthew 2:13.

[157]We would not be justified, then, in presuming that God was using
these devil worshipers, the "wise men"--"Magians," Magicians--for the
purpose of being his witnesses to the birth of his beloved Son. But on
the contrary, the facts show that it pleased him to reveal this great
truth to the shepherds and to use them as his witnesses.--Luke 2:8-18.

[158]There is nothing whatsoever in the account of this experience of
the wise men to indicate that their mission was in any wise beneficial
to mankind; but the most charitable view we can take of it is that they
were dupes of a deep-laid plot by Satan, the arch conspirator, to
destroy the seed of promise; and that Jehovah let the conspiracy proceed
to the point where it would fully demonstrate the wickedness on the part
of Satan and his instrument, and then demonstrated his great protecting
power. Without a doubt Satan has attempted to deceive and has deceived
multitudes of honest people into believing that these wise men were the
witnesses of the Lord, and hid from their minds the fact that they in
truth and in fact represented Satan.

[159]All the wicked persecution that came upon the Lord Jesus afterward,
and upon his followers to this day, has been because of the influence of
Satan the devil. And yet at all times the Lord has protected his own at
the very critical moment, just as promised: "The angel of the Lord
encampeth round about them that fear [reverence] him, and delivereth
them".--Psalm 34:7.


HOW UNDEFILED?

[160]St. Paul says: "As by one man sin entered into the world, and death
by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned".
(Romans 5:12) "There is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Psalm 14:3)
These Scriptures being true, and since Jesus was born of a woman, was he
not born like other children? And if so, was he not a sinner like others?

[161]Jesus was not a sinner. He was born pure, holy, sinless, without
spot or blemish. He was not begotten and born like other children. While
he was born of the woman Mary, Joseph was not his father. Joseph was
espoused to Mary, Jesus' mother, and before they were married she was
found to be with child. (Matthew 1:18) Mary was a virgin, yet she was
about to give birth and did give birth to the babe Jesus. (Matthew
1:20,23) The holy child that was born of the virgin Mary was and is the
Son of God.--Luke 1:35.

[162]The words translated in our Bibles _Holy Ghost_ should be properly
translated _holy spirit_. The holy spirit is the invisible power, energy
and influence of Jehovah. God is holy; therefore his power, energy, and
influence are holy. Father means life-giver. Jehovah is the Father of
Jesus because he gave life to Jesus; hence Jesus is called the Son of
God. The spirit, energy, or influence of Jehovah operating upon earthly
substance produced earthly creatures. (Genesis 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:47)
The same holy power, energy, and influence begat the child Jesus, who
was born of his mother Mary. Therefore the life of Jesus was without sin
or imperfection. The germ of life of him who was born Jesus was
transferred from the spirit plane or nature to the human plane or
nature.

[163]Jesus was our Lord's human name. It implied his humiliation and
lowly estate, in comparison with the glory which he had with the Father
before the world was. (John 17:5) He existed long before he became a
human being. His prehuman name was the _Logos_, which is translated in
our common version Bible "the Word". The word _Logos_ is therefore one
of the titles of Jesus and should not be translated at all. It means the
spokesman, active agent, or messenger, of Jehovah. St. John, writing
concerning the Logos, who later became Jesus, says: "In the beginning
[which means the beginning of God's creative activity] was the Logos,
and the Logos was with God [the God, Jehovah], and the Logos was a God
[a mighty one]. The same was in the beginning with God [the God,
Jehovah]. All things were made by him [the Logos]; and without him [the
Logos] was not anything made that was made"--he was the active agent of
Jehovah in making all things,--John 1:1-3.

[164]The beginning here referred to could not mean the beginning of God
the Father, because he is from everlasting to everlasting and never had
a beginning. (Psalm 41:13; 90:2) The _work_ of Jehovah, however, had a
beginning, and his creative work is clearly what is here meant. The
Logos was the first and only direct creation of Jehovah; and thereafter
God's creation was performed through his Logos. This is the thought
expressed by the apostle Paul, who says of Jesus: "He is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; for by him were all
things created that are in heaven and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or
powers; all things were created by him and for him, and he is before all
things and by him all things consist."--Colossians 1:15-17.

[165]As further evidence of Jesus' prehuman existence, we have his own
words: "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will
of him that sent me". (John 6:38) "I proceeded forth and came from God;
neither came I of myself, but he sent me." (John 8:42) Again: "Before
Abraham was, I am". (John 8:58) Again: "I came forth from the Father,
and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the
Father". (John 16:28) "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own
self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was." (John
17:5) Again Jesus said: "I am the beginning of the creation of God".
(Revelation 3:14) Furthermore, the apostle Paul under inspiration
states: "God ... hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom
he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds".
(Hebrews 1:1,2) And again he states: "For ye know the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich". (2 Corinthians 8:9) He
was in the form of God before he became a man. "Who, though being in
God's form, yet did not meditate a usurpation to be like God, but
divested himself, taking a bondman's form, having been made in the
likeness of men."--Philippians 2:6,7, _Diaglott_.

[166]Some have earnestly believed that Jesus was God himself. But such a
conclusion is not warranted by the Scriptures. John said: "The Father
loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand". (John 3:35)
Again Jesus said: "The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all
judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they
honor the Father. He that honoreth the Son honoreth the Father which
hath sent him.... For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he
given to the Son to have life in himself." (John 5:22, 23, 26) Again
Jesus said: "It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two
men is true. I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that
sent me beareth witness of me." (John 8: 17, 18) Thus Jesus definitely
fixes the fact that he and the Father are separate and distinct beings.

[167]Again Jesus said: "My Father, which gave them me, is greater than
all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my
Father are one." (John 10:29,30) It may be asked, Does this not prove
that they were one being? Our answer is that it does not; but that it
does show, in connection with the other Scriptures quoted, that Jesus
and the Father, Jehovah, are one in spirit, one in purpose, one in
harmonious action; just as Jesus subsequently prayed to the Father that
the church, his followers, might be made one with him, when he said:
"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe
on me through their word; that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art
in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world
may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I
have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one." (John
17:20-22) Thus Jesus definitely shows what is meant by being one with
the Father.

[168]Again Jesus prayed to the Father, saying: "Father, save me from
this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify thy
name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified
it, and will glorify it again." (John 12:27,28) Jesus could not have
been praying to himself here, but he was praying to Jehovah God, from
whom he came.

[169]That the Father is greater than the Son, Christ Jesus, he shows
when he says: "I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye
would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is
greater than I."--John 14:28.

[170]Many others have believed that Jesus, while on the earth, was still
a spirit being and that his flesh was merely a covering or house in
which that spirit being resided. Otherwise stated, that he was merely an
incarnated creature and not wholly a man. The incarnation theory is that
a spirit being inhabits for a time the human body, or a human body is
created for the express purpose of that spirit being's occupying it for
a time. The incarnation of Jesus is Scripturally erroneous. Indeed, if
he had been merely an incarnated being, he could never have redeemed
mankind. It is not disputed that he could have appeared as a human
being; and such is attested to in the instances given in Genesis 18:1,2
and 19:1.

[171]Some insist that Jesus when on earth was both God and man in
completeness. This theory is wrong, however. We should never formulate a
theory concerning God's plan in direct contradiction to his plain Word.
We should have faith in God and in his Word. Faith means to have a
knowledge of his Word and then to rely upon that Word confidently. The
Bible is the revealed Word of God, given to man for his instruction; and
where plain statements of the Bible are given, we should take them at
their face value. Following this course, we find that the plan of God
everywhere appears harmonious and beautiful.

[172]The adversary takes advantage of an honest desire on the part of
some and leads them into error. Every conscientious and reverential mind
desires to honor God. For fear they might dishonor him, they are easily
led into failure to give proper consideration to plain statements of the
Bible. Some have been induced to believe that should they say that Jesus
when on earth was a man and not God, such would be a dishonor to God.
We should not permit ourselves to be beguiled or misled by sophistry or
theories, but should follow the plain teachings of the Bible and then
reach a conclusion in the light of that revealed Word after a full
examination.

[173]The record concerning Jesus' prehuman existence, his being
begotten and his birth, entirely disproves the theory that he was
incarnated. The Scriptures above cited plainly show that he was begotten
in the womb of a woman, Mary, by the holy spirit, the power, energy or
influence of Jehovah; that thereafter he was born in the same general
manner that other children are born of a woman (Luke 2:9-11); that he
grew to manhood's estate and increased in wisdom and stature and in
favor with God and man. (Luke 2:40,52) None of these things would have
been necessary were he merely an incarnated being, a spirit being
inhabiting a body of flesh. He worked at the carpenter's trade until he
was thirty years of age, at which time he began his ministry. At that
time he went to John to be baptized in the Jordan. (Luke 3:21-23)
Immediately following that he spent forty days and nights in the
wilderness, fasting and studying Jehovah's plan. (Luke 4:1-14) If he
were God incarnate, this experience in the wilderness would seem wholly
unnecessary.

[174]Jesus was not an angel or spirit being, because we have the
positive statement of the Apostle to the effect that, "We see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels". (Hebrews 2:9) And again:
"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also
himself likewise partook of the same". (Hebrews 2:14) Furthermore, he was
at one time rich in heavenly power and glory and became poor for the sake
of mankind by taking upon himself the nature of man. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
He was made in the nature and likeness of man. (Philippians 2:8) The
Apostle, writing under inspiration, speaks of Jesus as the man: "For
since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the
dead.... The first man is of the earth, earthy; the second man is the
Lord from heaven."--1 Corinthians 15:21,47; see also 1 Timothy 2:5,6.

[175]Had Jesus been merely an incarnated being it would not have been
necessary for him to be born as a babe and grow to manhood's estate.
While he was born of a woman, yet he was without sin, because from his
Father, Jehovah; for he was "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from
sinners" (Hebrews 7:26); "and he was manifested to take away our sins,
and in him is no sin", (1 John 3:5) He was without spot or blemish;
therefore perfect and holy.--1 Peter 1:19; Hebrews 9:14.

[176]God says to us: "Come now, and let us reason together, ... though
your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be
red like crimson, they shall be as wool". (Isaiah 1:18) We should reason
upon God's plan as revealed in the Bible, because he thus invites us to
do. When we see the reason why Jesus was made a man, why it was necessary
for him to be a perfect man while on earth, then we are glad and give
praise to God. Had he not become a man, there would have been no hope for
any of the human race to get life through Christ Jesus; and the Apostle
declares that there is no other name given under heaven whereby mankind
can live.--Acts 4:12.




In what peculiar manner has Jehovah used men and women in the Bible?
Give some examples. ¶ 102.

What was typified by Hagar? ¶ 102.

What was the purpose of the law covenant God made with Israel? ¶ 102.

Give the name of Abraham's third wife; and what did she typify? ¶ 102.

Give the apostle Paul's statement as to what the wives of Abraham
typified. ¶ 103.

What did Isaac typify or picture? ¶ 103.

What constitutes the seed of Abraham, according to the promise? ¶ 103.

Quote the words of St. Paul concerning the seed of Abraham. ¶ 103.

What is first necessary relative to the seed before the people can be
blessed? ¶ 104.

What was the expectation of the Jews concerning this seed? ¶ 105.

Give the names of Isaac's two sons; and what was Isaac's age when they
were born? ¶ 105.

After the birth of his sons, where did Isaac go to reside? and while
there, what did God say to him? ¶ 106.

Which of Isaac's sons became successor to the promise? and why? ¶ 106.

What really determined who would be the successor to the father's
estate? ¶ 107.

Did the Lord indicate that there should be any exception to this rule
relative to Jacob and Esau? ¶ 107.

How did the Lord indicate this to Rebekah the mother? ¶ 107.

How did Esau occupy his time generally? ¶ 108.

What different disposition did Jacob possess? ¶ 108.

Did Esau show an appreciation of the birthright, particularly the
Abrahamic promise? ¶ 108.

Relate the circumstances of Esau's selling of his birthright. ¶ 108.

Why did the birthright properly belong to Jacob? ¶ 109.

About what was the age of Jacob and Esau at the time of this
transaction? ¶ 109.

Was their contract binding on both? ¶ 109.

What privileges did the birthright carry with it? ¶ 110.

State the circumstances under which Esau attempted to deprive Jacob of
the birthright after he had sold it to him. ¶ 111.

Was the mother of these men justified in her action in this matter? and
if so, why? ¶ 111.

Relate the conditions under which Jacob obtained the blessing from his
father. ¶ 112.

What blessing, as shown by the Scriptures, did Isaac bestow upon Jacob?
¶ 112.

After Esau failed in his attempt to defeat his own contract with Jacob,
what did he do toward obtaining the blessing from his father? ¶ 113.

Why have Christian people severely criticized Jacob and Rebekah because
of this transaction? ¶ 114.

Who was the more reprehensible, Jacob or Esau? and why? ¶ 114.

Whom did Esau picture or typify? ¶ 114.

Whom did Jacob picture or foreshadow? ¶ 114.

Did God approve or disapprove Rebekah's action? ¶ 114.

Why did Jacob flee the country? and upon whose advice? ¶ 114.

At what important Biblical place did Jacob spend the night? and what
occurred there? Give the Scriptural account. ¶¶ 114, 115.

Why should we disapprove any one whom God approves? ¶ 116.

How did God later show his favor to Jacob? ¶ 117.

What is the meaning of the name Israel? ¶ 117.

What promise did God make to Jacob after his name was changed to Israel?
¶ 117.

How many sons did Jacob have? ¶ 118.

Give the names of his wives, and the sons by these wives, respectively,
¶ 118.

Which one of his wives did he love most? ¶ 118.

Which was Jacob's beloved son? ¶ 118.

Under what circumstances was Joseph taken away? and upon whom did Jacob
bestow his affection thereafter? ¶ 118.

Whom did Joseph typify? and of whom was Benjamin a type? ¶ 118.

Where did Jacob spend his last days? ¶ 119.

What marks the beginning of the nation of Israel? ¶ 119.

In pronouncing the blessings upon his sons, what special prophecy was
made by Jacob concerning Judah? ¶ 119.

Who is foreshadowed by this prophecy? ¶ 119.

After Jacob's death, by what name were his offspring known? ¶ 120.

What position did Joseph now hold in Egypt? ¶ 120.

How were the Israelites treated during Joseph's lifetime? ¶ 120.

How were they after Joseph's death? ¶ 120.

Whom did God raise up as a deliverer of the Israelites from Egypt? ¶ 120.

What did Egypt typify or picture? and what was typified or pictured by
Egypt's ruler Pharaoh? ¶ 121.

Whom did the Israelites in Egypt picture? and of whom was Moses a type?
¶ 121. Who was Moses? ¶ 122.

What prophecy did Moses speak relative to a mighty one to follow him?
¶ 122.

After hearing this prophecy, for whom were the Israelites looking? ¶ 122.

From what tribe did David descend? ¶ 122.

Through whom did God repeat the promises to Israel? ¶ 123.

To what particular house or line was the promise finally limited? ¶ 123.

What promise did the Lord make to David relative to the throne of
Israel? Quote the prophecy. ¶ 123.

When David was king, what prophetic utterance did he make concerning the
building of a house unto Jehovah? ¶ 124.

Why did God not permit David to build the temple? ¶ 124.

Which one of David's sons was permitted to build the temple? ¶ 124.

Upon what condition was Solomon's to be the line from which the great
Deliverer would descend? Give the Scriptural proof. ¶ 125.

Did Solomon receive Jehovah's approval? ¶ 126.

Why was the kingdom taken away from Solomon? ¶ 126.

After Solomon's death, what happened to the nation of Israel? ¶ 127.

Name the last three kings of Solomon's line to rule over Israel. ¶ 127.

What did Jehovah pronounce through the Prophet concerning Zedekiah? Give
the Scriptural statement. ¶ 127.

In view of this, was it possible for the Messiah to be counted through
the line of Solomon? ¶ 127.

What other son did David have who was subsequently exalted? ¶ 128.

From whom did Mary the mother of Jesus descend? ¶ 128.

What did the prophet Jeremiah prophesy concerning the coming of Messiah
through David's lineage? ¶ 129.

What message did the angel of the Lord bring to Mary relative to the
Messiah? ¶ 130.

What did Mary say in response to the messenger? ¶ 130.

Why did Mary say: "From henceforth all generations shall call me
blessed"? ¶ 131.

What was meant by her prophetic statement: "He hath put down the mighty
from their seats and exalted them of low degree"? ¶ 131.

Why were the Jews looking for some child to be born who would be a great
ruler? ¶ 132.

Why did they expect their nation to become great? ¶ 132.

What prophetic utterances led the Jews to believe that there should be
raised up amongst them a great king? Quote the prophecies. ¶¶ 132, 133.

Did the prophecies of Isaiah and Zechariah relating to the coming king
have a complete fulfillment at the birth of Jesus? ¶ 134.

Of what relative importance was the birth of Jesus? ¶ 135.

How much time elapsed from the original promise made to Abraham until
the birth of Jesus? ¶ 135.

During that time, what was Jehovah doing relative to the promise? ¶ 135.

Where was Jesus born? ¶ 136.

How was Bethlehem foreshadowed by the Prophet? ¶ 136.

Give a brief statement of the important things which occurred in and
about Bethlehem. ¶ 137.

Where was Nazareth situated? ¶ 138.

State the relative importance of the city of Nazareth. ¶ 138.

Who were in control of Palestine at the time of the birth of Jesus? ¶ 138.

What important decree was issued by the ruler of Palestine that led
Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem? ¶ 138.

Why must they go to Bethlehem and not to some other city? ¶ 138.

How did Joseph and Mary journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem? and at what
time did they reach the latter city? ¶ 139.

Where did they find lodging? ¶ 139.

What important field lies near Bethlehem? and who were watching their
flocks there? ¶ 140.

How many watches were kept in a night? ¶ 140.

Was there great earthly splendor and show at the birth of Jesus? and if
not, why not? ¶ 141.

What kind of people had God chosen to participate in the events of that
night? ¶ 141.

Who in heaven were participating in this great event? ¶ 141.

What did the night on the earth picture? ¶ 142.

At what particular place was Jesus born? ¶ 142.

What attracted the attention of the shepherds? and what message was
delivered to them? Repeat the message. ¶ 142.

Repeat all the text of Luke 2:8-11. ¶ 142.

What song did the shepherds hear from the heavenly hosts on this
occasion? ¶ 143.

What effect has this heavenly message had upon the hearts of men for
centuries past? ¶ 143.

Under what conditions will the peoples of earth learn of the importance
of the birth of Jesus? ¶ 144.

What was the date of Jesus' birth? ¶ 145.

Tell what you can concerning the three "wise men" that journeyed from
the East to Bethlehem at the birth of Jesus. ¶ 146.

Who sent the "wise men" to Herod? ¶ 146.

Why should we expect Satan to try to form a conspiracy to destroy the
babe Jesus? ¶ 147.

Explain the significance of the names given Satan; and how do these
apply to his operations against Jesus and his followers? ¶ 148.

When the promise was made to Mary that she should be the mother of
Jesus, how did Satan regard this promise? ¶ 149.

What was one of the purposes of Jesus' coming to earth relative to
Satan? ¶ 149.

What attempt did Satan make to destroy Mary and her babe before the
birth of Jesus? ¶ 149.

What was the "star" or light that guided the "wise men" to Bethlehem?
¶ 150.

Who were these "wise men" and whom did they worship? ¶ 151.

Had Pharaoh the king of Egypt employed similar men? and for what
purpose? ¶ 151.

What kind of man was Herod? and under whose influence was he? ¶ 151.

Give the Scriptural account of the "wise men" going to Herod. ¶ 152.

Why would they go to Herod, the enemy of Jesus? ¶ 152.

Define a conspiracy. ¶ 152.

Is it possible for one to be involved in a conspiracy without knowing
the real purpose? ¶ 152.

What did Herod do when the "wise men" approached him? ¶ 153.

What characteristics did Herod manifest in his consultation with the
"wise men"? ¶ 153.

Would we expect God to help a wicked man like Herod carry out his
purpose to destroy God's beloved Son? ¶ 154.

Where did the "wise men" find the babe? ¶ 155.

Why did they not return to Herod? ¶ 155.

How did God thwart Satan's purpose here to destroy the babe? ¶ 155.

What wicked thing did Herod do when he found that the "wise men" had not
returned to him? ¶ 156.

Who prompted Herod to do this wicked act of slaying children? ¶ 156.

How was Jesus saved from this slaughter? and where did his parents take
him? ¶ 156.

Could we presume under these circumstances that God would use the "wise
men" for his witnesses to the birth of Jesus? ¶ 157.

What humble, honest creatures did he use as such witnesses? ¶ 157.

Was there anything in the mission of the "wise men" that is beneficial
to mankind? ¶ 158.

Why would God permit this conspiracy? ¶ 158.

Does Satan deceive honest people? ¶ 158.

Who has been responsible for all the persecution of Jesus and his
followers? ¶ 159.

Who has protected them, and how? ¶ 159.

Why are all the descendants of Adam sinners? Quote the Scripture. ¶ 160.

Jesus being born of a woman, was he a sinner? and if not, why not? ¶ 161.

What is meant by the words "holy ghost"? ¶ 162.

What is the meaning of the word father? ¶ 162.

Why is Jesus called the Son of God? ¶ 162.

Why was our Lord named Jesus? and what does the name imply? ¶ 163.

Did he exist before he became Jesus? and what was his prehuman name?
¶ 163.

What is the meaning of the word Logos? and what relation has the Logos
to all of Jehovah's creation? ¶ 163.

Did Jehovah have a beginning? ¶ 164.

What is meant by the term "in the beginning" as used in John 1:1,2? ¶ 164.

Give further Scriptural evidence of the prehuman existence of Jesus.
¶¶ 164, 165.

Are Jesus and Jehovah one and the same being? Give the Scriptural proof.
¶ 166.

In what sense are the Father and the Son one? Give Scriptural proof.
¶ 167.

When Jesus prayed to the Father, did he pray to himself or to another?
¶ 168.

Who is the greater, Jehovah or Jesus? Give Scriptural proof. ¶ 169.

When Jesus was on earth, was he a spirit or a human being? ¶ 170.

What is meant by the incarnation theory? ¶ 170.

Do the Scriptures warrant the conclusion that Jesus was an incarnated
being? If not, why not? ¶ 170.

When Jesus was on earth, was he both God and man? If not, why not? ¶ 171.

By what must we determine these questions? ¶ 171.

What is the meaning of faith? ¶ 171.

How does Satan sometimes lead persons of honest heart into error? ¶ 172.

Should we follow sophistry or the Bible in reaching a conclusion on
these questions? ¶ 172.

Briefly review the argument of the begetting and birth of Jesus which
disproves that he was an incarnated being. ¶ 173.

If Jesus was God incarnate, why should he have had the experience in the
wilderness? ¶ 173.

Angels are spirit beings. What Scriptural proof have we that Jesus was
not an angel? Cite the Scriptural proof. ¶ 174.

Give further Scriptures to show that he _was_ a man, made in the
likeness of men, and that he _is_ the Lord from heaven. ¶ 174.

Had Jesus been an incarnate being, would it have been necessary for him
to be born as a child? ¶ 175.

Why should we reason upon God's plan? ¶ 176.

Could there have been any hope for the redemption of the human race except
by Jesus becoming a man and by his death providing the ransom-price? ¶ 176.




THE ANGELS' SONG

  It came upon the midnight clear,
     That glorious song of old,
  From angels bending near the earth
     To touch their harps of gold:
  "Peace to the earth, good-will to men
     From heaven's all-gracious King!"
  The world in solemn stillness lay
     To hear the angels sing.

         *       *       *       *       *

  Yet with the woes of sin and strife
     The world has suffered long;
  Beneath the angel-strain have rolled
    Two thousand years of wrong;
  And men, at war with men, hear not
     The love-song which they bring:
  Oh! hush the noise, ye men of strife,
     And hear the angels sing!

  And ye, beneath life's crushing load
     Whose forms are bending low;
  Who toil along the climbing way
     With painful steps and slow,--
  Look now! for glad and golden hours
     Come swiftly on the wing;
  Oh! rest beside the weary road,
     And hear the angels sing.

  For lo! the days are hastening on,
     By prophet-bards foretold,
  When with the ever-circling years
     Comes round the age of gold;
  When Peace shall over all the earth
     Its ancient splendors fling,
  And the whole world send back the song
     Which now the angels sing.

  --_Sears_

[Illustration]




CHAPTER VI

String 5: _The Ransom_


The great ransom sacrifice is the most vital to man of the strings upon
the harp of God, because without it no real lasting joy could be had by
mankind. In due time its benefits shall result to the entire human race;
and all who appreciate it will sing aloud and rejoice with exceeding
joy. They will have melody in their hearts and upon their lips because
of this wonderful provision made by Jehovah for man's benefit. For
thousands of years divine wisdom has been working out his plan concerning
man; and the ransom sacrifice is the very pivotal part of that plan. Its
importance cannot be overstated. It is the gateway that leads to life
and happiness. It is the means of bringing back man into harmony with
God. To appreciate this great doctrine we must understand it. Therefore
let us reason together in the light of the divine Word, that we may
understand.

[178]The most precious thing possessed by any creature is life, because
without life everything else would be useless and could not be enjoyed.
Even now we observe that a man with but a small spark of life clings to
that with desperation. It is only when a creature is perfect and
enjoying complete life and the right to it that he can properly glorify
Jehovah, his great Creator. God's great arrangement must ultimately
bring glory to his name.

[179]Jehovah created Adam the first man in his own image and likeness.
He created him perfect; for all the works of Jehovah are perfect.
(Deuteronomy 32:4) He gave to man life and the right to life. Life means
any conscious existence. Right to life means the full authority to
maintain existence. Adam and Eve in Eden were perfect in their bodies,
without pain, without sorrow; and were beautiful creatures. They had not
a scar nor a mark upon them anywhere. They enjoyed life and all the
blessings incident to that life. Their home was perfect; and even all
the animals and birds of Eden were subject to them, and they had
absolute dominion and control. God gave them all these privileges to
enjoy eternally, upon one expressed condition, namely, that they be
obedient to his law and thereby honor him. He informed man that a
violation of this law would bring upon him loss of life, loss of the
right to life, loss of all the blessings incident to it.

[180]Satan induced mother Eve to believe that God was keeping back
something from them and, therefore deceiving Eve, induced her to violate
the law. There was no real wrong in the fruit which Eve ate. The wrong
was in disobeying the Lord. When Adam found that she had violated God's
law, knowing that she must die he preferred to be with her in death
rather than to be separated from her; so he became a party to the
transgression also by voluntarily and willingly violating the law of
God. Jehovah in the exercise of his perfect justice, sentenced man to
death. This sentence deprived Adam and Eve of the right to life. They
were driven out of Eden and in due time they lost life itself. For 930
years they were compelled to go about in the earth and earn their bread
by digging in the soil and partaking of such food as they produced,
which was imperfect and poisonous. In this manner they were put to
death.

[181]This sentence of death passed upon Adam had an indirect effect
upon his offspring. Before he was driven from Eden he and Eve had not
exercised the authority given to them by Jehovah to beget and bring
forth children on the earth. This they did exercise after being driven
from Eden. Being now under the sentence of death and undergoing that
death penalty, it was impossible for their children, born under such
conditions, to come into existence perfect. It would follow, then, that
when the children were born, while they would have a measure of life and
the rights incident to that measure of life (and these we call "life
rights" as distinguished from right to live), they would have no right
to life, because Adam having no right to life could not bring children
into the world who would have greater right than he had.

[182]Any human being that is living possesses the right to food, air,
light and certain privileges in society; and these are called life
rights; that is to say, they are incident to animation, privileges
belonging to creatures that live in any measure. The right to live,
then, means a just right of existence which cannot be properly taken
away.

[183]Because the parents possessed no right to life, every child born
into the world from then until now has been born imperfect, unrighteous,
a sinner, disapproved in God's sight, under condemnation, and therefore
with no right to life. The life that any of us has lived has been merely
by permission; and all who have died have died justly; for nothing but a
perfect creature is entitled to life. For this reason the Prophet wrote:
"Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me".
(Psalm 51:5) St. Paul writing under inspiration, expressed the same thing,
saying: "Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by
sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned".--Romans 5:12.

[184]All the human race, then, from Adam until now having been born
imperfect, it follows that if any ever get full life and the right to
life he must get it through the loving Jehovah God. Unless God had made
some provision for the redemption of man from death and the lifting up
of him again to the condition of life, the time would come when there
would be no people on the earth. We remember that Adam lived 930 years;
and now a man scarcely lives to be half a century old. The race has been
degenerating for centuries, growing weaker and weaker, and ultimately
all would come to that condition in which they would be unable to
transmit even the spark of life, and the earth would be depopulated.
Hence we see our utter dependence upon God; and if we find the great
Jehovah has made a provision for us to live, that ought to fill our
hearts with gratitude; and as we further examine his great plan it
should fill our hearts with boundless love for him. And surely that
provision would bring joy to the heart and enable one to see that such
provision constitutes one of the strings upon the great harp of God.


REDEMPTION FORESHADOWED

[185]At the time that Jehovah entered the judgment or sentence against
man he vaguely hinted at a time coming when man should be released from
that judgment. Satan, one of whose names is the old serpent, was the
first inducing cause of sin. And God at that time said to him: "I will
put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her
seed; it shall bruise thy head". (Genesis 3:15) This foreshadowed the
fact that ultimately Satan should be destroyed and that the same would
result as a blessing to man.

[186]But we must remember that the judgment of God entered against man
must stand forever. It could not be reversed or set aside or annulled,
for the reason that Jehovah cannot deny himself. Nor could any of his
creatures have faith in him if he changed his mind. While it is true
that this judgment must stand forever, it is equally true that God could
make a consistent provision for having the terms of the judgment met by
another, equal to Adam; and this is exactly what we find the Scriptures
to disclose that he did.

[187]Jehovah desired that man should understand the necessity and
reason for providing redemption, that when man does understand it he
will rejoice in the loving-kindness manifested by God toward him. For
this reason God caused certain pictures or types to be made by his
people.

[188]On the night that Jehovah led the children of Israel out of the
land of Egypt he caused a lamb to be slain and its blood sprinkled upon
the doorposts of the house and the people to eat that lamb, and arranged
that at midnight the death angel would pass through and smite the
firstborn of every house where the blood did not appear upon the
doorposts. The firstborn here pictured the church, about which we shall
see later, and which first must be saved before the blessing can come to
the world in general. The lamb pictured the one who should be the
ransomer or redeemer of mankind. The blood pictured the life poured out
to provide a redemptive price.--Exodus 12:3-17.

[189]When Jesus appeared at the age of thirty years, John the Baptist
pointing to him said: "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin
of the world". (John 1:29) And we read in the Bible concerning Jesus,
that he is "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world".
(Revelation 13:8) These Scriptures and others show that the sacrifice of
the lamb foreshadowed the sacrifice of the great One who should become
the redeemer of mankind and take away the sin of the world.

[190]A few days after this passover in Egypt, the Israelites were all
delivered when God commanded Moses to smite the waters of the Red Sea
and they passed over on dry land; and when the Egyptians attempted to
follow they were swallowed up in the sea and drowned. The deliverance of
Israel here pictured the deliverance from the great enemy, Satan and
death, of all the human race that will ultimately be obedient to God's
holy will.

[191]After the children of Israel were on the other side of the Red
Sea, they marched on in the desert; and when they came to Mount Sinai
God made with them a covenant, which is known in the Bible as the law
covenant. In connection with this covenant animals were sacrificed. This
covenant was instituted at the hands of Moses as a mediator. Moses here
was a type of Christ Jesus, who in due time will make a covenant on
behalf of all mankind for their deliverance.

[192]In connection with the law given to the Israelites at this time,
God instructed Moses to erect in the wilderness a tabernacle, which was
to be used by the Israelites in connection with their ceremonies of
sacrifice. One day of each year was known as the atonement day, and what
was done on that day particularly foreshadowed the great sin-offering to
be made on behalf of mankind.

[193]The tabernacle was constructed of two parts. It was 45 feet long,
15 feet wide, and 15 feet high, built of boards and then covered over
with a tent of three thicknesses of material. The first division of the
tabernacle was called the Holy. It was 15 feet wide and 30 feet long.
The second or rear apartment was known as the Most Holy, it being 15
feet long, 15 feet wide, and 15 feet high--an exact cube. The tabernacle
was situated inside of a court or yard, which court was 75 feet wide
and 150 feet in length. The fence enclosing this court was made of linen
curtains, suspended from hooks which were fastened on wooden posts, the
posts being set in copper sockets at the base.

[194]On the atonement day the high priest took a bullock, which must be
without spot or blemish. Inside of the court he killed the bullock, took
its blood in a vessel went from the court into the Holy and from there
into the Most Holy, and sprinkled the blood upon the mercy seat which
was in the Most Holy. Then he went back and slew a male goat, which
likewise must be without defect, and did the same thing with its blood.
This was known as the atonement sacrifice. (See Leviticus 16:1-34) It
was an offering for sin, made for the people of Israel, but in fact
foreshadowing the great sin-offering that is to take away the sin of the
world.

[195]St. Paul plainly tells us that the things here done foreshadowed
better things to come. (Hebrews 10:1) God required in the law that the
Jews should keep this day of atonement and offer these sacrifices
through the high priest once each year. We remember that God had
promised to Abraham: "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be
blessed". So St. Paul says that the law "was added because of
transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made;
and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator"; and that the
law was a schoolmaster to bring the people unto Christ. (Galatians
3:19,24) In other words, Jehovah was teaching the children of Israel
concerning the great sin-offering that must be made on behalf of mankind
and he was using them to make living pictures; and the record of the
events concerning them has enabled all students of the Bible since to
see how Jehovah foreshadowed the redemption and deliverance of mankind
from the bondage of sin and death. To foreshadow means to foretell
something coming; and this shows how important the great ransom is to
mankind, that God would take so much time and go into so much detail to
teach the people by these pictures. Hence this should encourage us to
study the subject earnestly that we might see, understand, and
appreciate it.


RANSOM PROMISED

[196]Adam was sentenced to death, and when he actually went into death
after 930 years, justice was satisfied. The law demanded the life of a
perfect human being. It had received it when Adam died. Between the time
of Adam's sentence and the time of his death he begat many children that
were born into the earth. These being born imperfect had no right to
life; hence the living of the children was only by permission of
Jehovah, and every one who died, died because of imperfection resulting
from the sin of father Adam.

[197]The Scriptures clearly show that God planned long in advance for
the redemption and deliverance of the human race. Hence his wisdom led
him to embrace in the effects of this death sentence all of the human
family, all of the offspring of Adam, so that in due time he might
redeem them all through the sacrifice of one. (Galatians 3:22) The
sentence against Adam and the resulting effects upon all of his
offspring must stand. An earthly court may reverse its judgment because
imperfect, but God cannot reverse his, because it is perfect; and he
cannot deny himself. He could make provision, however, for another man
exactly equivalent to Adam to go into death voluntarily; and by thus
dying his life could be given as a corresponding price for Adam and his
offspring, that Adam and his offspring might be released from death and
given a trial for life. The Scriptures definitely show that it was
God's purpose and intention from the beginning to make just such a
provision. He made a specific promise to this effect when he said: "I
will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from
death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy
destruction". (Hosea 13:14) This promise of Jehovah to ransom the human
race must be carried out, because God is unchangeable. Having made the
promise, he will perform it.--Malachi 3:6; James 1:17.

[198]It is very important, then, that we understand the meaning of
ransom; hence we here define it. _Ransom_ means something to loosen
with; that is, a redemptive price. It is the means or price or value
which can be used in loosening or releasing something that is in bondage
or in restraint or imprisoned. Necessarily the ransom price must be
exactly equivalent to, or corresponding with, that which justice
requires of the thing or being that is in bondage or imprisonment. Hence
we say that ransom means an exact corresponding price. A perfect man
sinned and was sentenced to death; hence an exact corresponding price
would be the death of another perfect man and the value of that life
presented in place of the one who first sinned and was held in bondage.

[199]_Sin-offering_ means the presentation and use of the ransom-price.
On the atonement day performed by the Jews in type, the blood of the
bullock represented the poured-out life; and therefore it stood for the
ransom-price or value of the life. The carrying of the blood into the
Most Holy and sprinkling it there pictured the sin-offering, that is, a
presentation in the Most Holy (which represented heaven itself) of the
value or merit of the perfect life. We will see, therefore, as we
examine this question that the ransom-price was provided on earth by the
death of Jesus; that preparation for the sin-offering was begun on earth,
but must be finished in heaven, where the value of the ransom-price is
presented.

[200]Other Scriptures show that it was intended by Jehovah that the
great Redeemer should pour out his life in death and that this should
constitute the ransom-price, which should be made an offering for sin.
God foretold this--which is equivalent to a promise--through his prophet
when he wrote concerning the great coming Redeemer the following:

[201]"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord
revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a
root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we
shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is
despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we
esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our
sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his
stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he
opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a
sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. He was
taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his
generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the
transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with
the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no
violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord
to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul
an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of
the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall
my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall
divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul
unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the
sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors."--Isaiah 53.

[202]Because of this death sentence standing against Adam, he was and
is held in restraint or imprisonment of death. He and his offspring who
have died are in the great prison-house of death, and the grave is thus
spoken of by the Prophet--Isaiah 42:6,7; 49:9


QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

[203]The dead could never again live, nor could those who are living
ever hope to have eternal happiness unless the disability resting upon
mankind because of sin be first removed; and the Scripture is quite
clear, as above noticed, that this can be removed only by means of the
great ransom sacrifice. Since ransom means an exact corresponding price,
the ransomer must be exactly like the perfect Adam in Eden.

[204]A perfect man had sinned and lost everything; therefore none but a
perfect man could provide a price sufficient to buy and release Adam and
his race from this sentence of death and its effects. Divine justice
demanded the life of a perfect human being and this was received when
Adam went into death. It followed that divine justice would accept
nothing more or less, as a price for releasing Adam and his offspring,
than a perfect human life. In order to meet these divine requirements,
the ransomer must be a perfect human being.

[205]When God gave the law to Israel at Mount Sinai he indicated by the
promise of that law that the only means by which the human race could be
redeemed or ransomed would be by the giving of a perfect human life in
the place of Adam's perfect human life, which he had forfeited by his
disobedience. We remember that St. Paul said that this law was a shadow
of better things to come. That law required an eye for an eye, a tooth
for a tooth, a foot for a foot, a life for a life; that is to say, a
price exactly corresponding to that which had been lost. As an
illustration: Under the law if one man knocked out another's tooth, he
must lose one of his own teeth. If he struck out a man's eye, he must
give up his own eye. If he took the life of his fellow creature, he must
give up his own life. Thus the law pictured that the great ransomer
would correspond exactly with the perfect man Adam when Adam was in
Eden.--Exodus 21:23-25; Leviticus 24:17-21; Deuteronomy 19:21.


MAN'S EXTREMITY

[206]But who in all the world was able to bear this burden or meet the
requirements of the divine law? Adam could not redeem himself. All of
his offspring were imperfect and God could not accept an imperfect human
being as a ransom. Was there nobody, then, on earth who could redeem the
human race from death according to God's promise? The Prophet of the
Lord answers: "None of them [no creature on earth] can by any means
redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him". (Psalm 49:7) For
this reason, then, it seemed hopeless for man ever to expect to be
released from the condition of death.

[207]Furthermore, this judgment and sentence against Adam was entered
in the divine court of heaven and it follows that the ransom-price,
namely, the value of a perfect human life, must not only be provided by
the death of a perfect human being, but the value of that life must be
presented to divine justice in heaven itself; and no human being has
access to heaven.

[208]Hence there were two reasons why it was utterly impossible for any
of Adam's stock or offspring to redeem mankind: (1) Because all were
imperfect and could not provide the price; and (2) if the price were
provided, it could not be presented in heaven by any such.

[209]Thus is presented to the human race a condition of absolute
helplessness. Thus we see that mankind was wholly without power to
release itself from the condition of death, and that there never could
be any hope of any one of the human family enjoying life everlasting in
a state of happiness unless God, in the exercise of his loving-kindness,
should make some provision. He had promised to make such provision. His
great plan provided for such. It is first necessary, however, for us to
see man's absolute extremity in order that we might appreciate God's
opportunity for blessing mankind, and the great debt which the human
race owes to Jehovah and his beloved Son for the provision made.

[210]If a man found himself and his family in a dungeon and a million
dollars were required to release him, and he had not one penny, but a
friend of his appeared and provided the money and released him and his
family, that man would owe a great debt of gratitude to his deliverer.
He would feel much gratitude in his heart. He would surely love his
deliverer and would be anxious to do anything he could for him. Adam and
all of his family are either in the prison-house of death or under the
effects of death; and if we find that the great Jehovah God has made
provision for the release and deliverance of all such from the tomb,
the prison-house of death, with a view to granting them everlasting
life, liberty, and happiness, then such fact should bring joy to the
heart of every one who learns of it.


THE GREAT RANSOMER

[211]The apostle Paul, having in mind these things, wrote: "We were
children in bondage under the elements of the world: but when the
fulness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made
under the law". (Galatians 4:3,4) How did God send his Son? Since a
perfect man had sinned and the life of a perfect man must be given as a
sin-offering, it is now important to see if the Son of God whom he sent
was qualified to meet the requirements of the law and be the ransomer or
redeemer.

[212]It is easy to be seen that Jesus when on earth could not have been
merely an incarnated spirit being, because that would constitute a
fraud, and God would not sanction anything wrong. He must be a man,
perfect in every respect, equal and corresponding to the perfect Adam
while in Eden. It is also easy to be seen that Jesus could not be part
God and part man, because that would be more than the law required;
hence divine justice could not accept such as a ransom. The divine law
definitely shows that the ransomer must be exactly corresponding to
Adam, a perfect human being. How, then, did God send his Son? And when
he sent him, was he part man and part God?

[213]The Scriptures answer, as we have heretofore seen, that prior to
his coming to earth he was the Logos, a spirit being; that his life was
transferred to the human plane and he was born a human being. He was rich
and for our sakes became poor (2 Corinthians 8:9); that is to say, he was
rich in heavenly glory and power possessed by him as the great active
agent of Jehovah in the creation of all things, and he became poor by
becoming a man. It was absolutely necessary for him to be a perfect man;
hence he must be born holy, harmless, separate from sinners and without
sin; and he met this requirement. (Hebrews 7:26) Furthermore, he met the
requirements because he was made flesh and dwelt amongst men. (John 1:14)
He partook of flesh and blood, became a human being for the very purpose
of destroying him that has the power of death, that is the devil; and to
deliver mankind. (Hebrews 2:14,15) He took upon himself the form of a
servant or bondsman and was made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:7)
He was the only perfect man that has ever lived on earth, except Adam. He
was not part human and part spirit being, because "he was made a little
lower than the angels for the suffering of death". Angels are spirit
beings, and thus creatures that are lower than angels are human beings.
He was human. Had he been part God and part man he would have been higher
than the angels instead of lower, for the reason that angels are the
lowest order of spirit beings.

[214]Being a perfect man, he had the power to produce a perfect race of
people and with these populate the earth; therefore in every respect
exactly corresponding to the perfect man Adam in the condition he was in
while in Eden. He was perfect in every respect, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:14) When he stood before Pilate, silent as a sheep is dumb
before its shearers, when the mob incited by the Jewish clergy of that
time were demanding his life blood, Pilate, in order that he might shame
the Jews for such action, cried out unto them: "Behold _the_ man". The
emphasis here is on the word _the_. We might paraphrase Pilate's words
thus: 'The man whom you are asking me to put to death is not only the
greatest man among you, but he is the man above all other men on earth'.
The people there had seen a perfect man. None of us have seen a perfect
man. He was the only One who has ever lived on earth qualified to become
the redeemer of mankind. He was sent to earth by Jehovah for that v
qualify as a priest.

[215]We note that Jesus grew from boyhood's estate to manhood's estate
and when he was thirty years of age he presented himself to John at
Jordan to be baptized. At the age of thirty, then, he was perfect in
body, perfect in mind, perfect under the law, in every respect an
absolutely perfect human being; hence qualified to be the ransomer or
redeemer of Adam, the perfect man, and of all Adam's offspring.

[216]Why did God send his beloved Son, this great Man, to earth? When a
great man of the world comes into prominence he expects others to
minister unto him, and they do minister unto him. But Jesus, the
greatest man who has ever lived on earth, and the only perfect One aside
from Adam, came to earth and became the servant of others, that he might
render the greatest good to mankind. True greatness consists in doing
good unto others. True greatness is magnified in Jesus. He was the
truest friend of the human race. He said: "The Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for
many". (Matthew 20:28) And again he said: "Whosoever will be great among
you shall be your minister [servant]; and whosoever will be the
chiefest, shall be servant of all".--Mark 10:43,44.

[217]The perfect man Jesus became the servant of all. The importance of
Jesus and his work is magnified when we consider that he in heaven and
in earth was the dearest treasure to Jehovah's heart. He was God's
dearly beloved Son. He was the most precious thing possessed by the
great Creator, Jehovah. It was the supreme sacrifice on behalf of
Jehovah to use him to redeem the human race. It was God's great love for
fallen humanity that prompted him to do this; hence we read: "God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God
sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through him might be saved."--John 3:16,17.

[218]It was this truly good and truly great Man who for three and a
half years went about in the earth and taught and ministered unto the
people and did good unto every one and evil unto none. All the time he
was thus ministering and doing good, the scribes, Pharisees, doctors of
the law and other dupes engaged in misrepresenting and persecuting the
Lord, sought to kill him. Why did they do this? Because they were
instruments of Satan, the devil.--John 8:44.

[219]Jesus, the devil knew, was and is the great Seed of promise which
God had promised to Abraham should be the redeemer and blesser of
mankind. Jesus Christ is the Seed of the woman foreshadowed in God's
statement made to mother Eve and Satan. (Genesis 3:15) Satan sought,
therefore, in every way to destroy him. Jesus was teaching the Jews the
message of God to lead them in the right way, and to open unto them the
way of life. These scribes and Pharisees were opposing him and therefore
were the enemies of the people. Jesus said of them: "The scribes and the
Pharisees sit in Moses' seat" (Matthew 23:2); meaning that they had
assumed the position of leaders of the people. Because of their blinding
the people he said to them: 'You are hypocrites, blind guides, fools;
you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; you devour widows' houses
and for a pretence make long prayers; you compass sea and land to make
one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child
of _gehenna_ than yourselves. You are guilty of fraud and deceit, and
you are like unto whited sepulchres, which are full of dead men's bones
and all uncleanness; you are serpents, a generation of vipers. You do
not understand my speech because you cannot hear and understand my word.
You are of your father the devil.'--Matthew 23:13-33; John 8:43,44.

[220]Jesus knew that he was to be crucified and he told his disciples
of his coming death. The last night he was on earth with them he spent
teaching them great lessons and truths which were not only a blessing to
them, but have been a great blessing to every one from then until now
who has loved the Lord and sought to know and do his will. While he was
thus doing, the enemy was preparing to take his life. The Sanhedrin was
a high tribunal or court composed of seventy-three men, made up of
priests, elders, and doctors of the law, Pharisaical hypocrites, the
seed of the serpent, blinded to God's purposes. That body was the
highest court of Israel and it was the duty of this court to protect the
innocent as well as to punish the guilty. They beheld Jesus doing good
and the people flocking to him.

[221]"Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council [a
court], and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. If we
let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall
come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named
Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know
nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man
should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And
this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he
prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation.... Then from that day
forth they took counsel together for to put him to death."--John
11:47-51,53.

[222]In other words, this supreme tribunal secretly met, indicted
Jesus, prejudged his case, and agreed to put him to death, only waiting
for an opportunity. They acted as grand jury, prosecutor, and trial
court. They entered into a wicked conspiracy, which was formulated by
Satan, their father, for the destruction of the Son of God. They
conspired with Judas and hired him, for the paltry sum of thirty pieces
of silver, to betray the Lord into their hands. Satan himself entered
into Judas as the latter executed the betrayal. Then they organized a
mob, sent it out after the Master, arrested him, and brought him before
this supreme court for trial at night, which was contrary to their own
laws. "They that had laid hold on Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the
high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled," in
furtherance of the wicked conspiracy.--Matthew 26:57.

[223]The meek and defenseless Lamb of God was led into a den of
ravenous wolves, who were thirsting for his blood. They did not dignify
his case by even filing a formal charge against him. They sought,
contrary to the law, to make him testify against himself. They knew
nothing themselves against him; and notwithstanding they sat as the high
and dignified court of the nation of Israel, they resorted to
subornation of perjury. "Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the
council [the entire court], sought false witness against Jesus, to put
him to death; but found none; yea, though many false witnesses came, yet
found they none. At the last came two false witnesses." (Matthew 26:59,60)
This exalted tribunal, in violation of every law and every precedent
known to Jewish jurisprudence, demanded of Jesus that he testify against
himself. "The high priest arose and said unto him, ... I adjure thee by
the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of
God." (Matthew 26:62,63) And when he told the truth, saying, "Ye say
that I am," they said, "What need we any further witness? for we
ourselves have heard of his own mouth". (Luke 22:66-71) They immediately
voted that he should die--also contrary to their law, which required
that each member of the court should consider the case and then vote
individually. Holding the session of court at night to convict him, they
knew they were proceeding contrary to law; so they convened the court
the following morn

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