Might we expect them to be looking for the resurrection of Jesus Christ? 257.

Who was sent from heaven to roll back the stone from Jesus' tomb? 257.

When the triumph of Jesus over death and the grave was marked, what effect must that have produced in heaven? 257.

Would the resurrection of Jesus demonstrate his approval by Jehovah? 258.

Would his triumph over death and the grave be reason for his praise in heaven? 258.

Give Scriptural proof of the praise of Jesus Christ by the heavenly hosts after his resurrection. 258.

What was it that convinced the disciples of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? 259.

Being convinced of his resurrection, how did that affect Jesus' disciples in regard to proclaiming the truth? 259.

Why should we have Scriptural proof of the resurrection of Christ Jesus? 260.

Is it reasonable to suppose that Jesus' disciples would concoct a scheme indicating his resurrection, contrary to the facts? 260.

What convulsion of nature occurred at the time of Jesus' death? 261.

Give the Scriptural proof of the burial of Jesus' body. 261.

Why did the Pharisees believe in the resurrection of the dead? 262.

Did the Pharisees specially request of Pilate a special guard to be placed over the tomb of Jesus? and if so, why? Give the Scriptural proof. 262.

What did Pilate reply to them? 262.

Could God have resurrected Jesus Christ without removing the stone? 263.

How would this indicate the derision in which he held the Pharisees? 263.

Who rolled away the stone from the tomb? 264.

What did the Roman guard testify concerning the appearance of the one who rolled away the stone? 264.

Who first appeared at the tomb on the morning of Christ's resurrection? 265.

Relate what took place there between Mary Magdalene and the messenger who appeared to her; and what was the message delivered to her? 265.

What other wrongful thing did the priests do, when they heard of Jesus Christ's resurrection? 266.

Compare the testimony given by St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, and St. John; and state whether there is any real difference. 267-270.

What other Apostle's testimony is added to that of the ones just quoted? and what did he say about the resurrection of Jesus? 271.

What further testimony did St. John subsequently give concerning Jesus Christ's resurrection? 272.

How many witnesses testified to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus? 273.

Where did these faithful witnesses give their testimony concerning the resurrection of the Lord? 273.

Did they endanger themselves by giving such testimony? 273.

The fact that they gave it immediately and boldly, what weight does that add to its truthfulness? 274.

What was their motive in testifying of the Lord's resurrection? 274.

Did anyone suffer martyrdom because of giving testimony to this effect? Give the Scriptural proof. 274.

To what nature was Jesus Christ resurrected? 275.

What does it mean to have inherent life? 275.

What did Jesus say about the Father giving him this favor? 275.

When the Lord arose from the dead, was he made lower or higher than the angels? 275.

When was he begotten and when born to the divine nature? 275.

What is the meaning of the terms Lord and Christ? 275.

What power and authority has the Lord possessed since his resurrection? 275.

What is the meaning of the name Jesus? 275.

State what the Scriptures say of his exaltation at the resurrection. 276.

Has God decreed how the creatures of earth shall ultimately honor the Lord Jesus? 277.

When was the first time Jesus appeared to his disciples after arising from the dead? 278.

With what body did he appear? 278.

Give the reasons why he did not appear in the body that was crucified. 278.

How did Mary recognize him? 278.

State how many times Jesus appeared prior to his ascension on high, giving the Scriptural proof. 279-289.

Did he appear in a spirit or a human body? and how did he get the body in which he appeared? 290.

How could he appear in the room in the presence of the disciples when the door was locked? 290.

How did the disciples recognize him at the sea of Galilee and other places? 290.

What was Jesus' purpose in appearing to the disciples? 291.

Describe the body in which Jesus appeared behind locked doors; and what did he say to his disciples then? 291.

Could the body in which Jesus was crucified ascend into heaven? and if not, why not? Give Scriptural proof. 291.

Describe his appearance to Saul on the way to Damascus. 292.

Did Saul see the body of Jesus at that time? 292.

What effect did the appearance of the Lord to St. Paul have upon him? 292.

What did St. Paul later say about Jesus appearing unto him? 292.

What does the appearance of the Lord to St. Paul prove with reference to the bodies in which Jesus appeared shortly after his resurrection? 292.

What became of the body of the Lord that was crucified? 292.

Christ Jesus in glory possesses what kind of body? 292.

What did the resurrection of the Lord and his appearance in heaven have to do with the ransom and sin-offering? 293.

Were his resurrection and ascension on high necessary to complete the sin-offering? 293.

On the typical atonement day, through what ceremonies did the high priest pass in connection with the sin-offering? 293.

What did this typify? 293.

In the Revelation of Jesus to St. John, what did he say about being the one who was once dead? and what power does he now possess? 294.

What is meant by the terms hell and death as used in Revelation 1:18? 294.

Up to this time who have appreciated the value of Jesus' resurrection as a part of the divine plan? 295.

Do the Scriptures herein cited prove the resurrection of Christ Jesus? 295.

What argument did St. Paul produce against the contention that Christ was not raised from the dead? 296.

What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantee to mankind? 297.

Give the Scriptural proof of such guarantee. 297.

Where are we now with reference to the 'day appointed', as referred to in Acts 17:31? 297.



CHAPTER VIII

String 7: Mystery Revealed

A mystery is that which is kept a profound secret. It is something unknown, except to certain ones, being kept carefully and continuously concealed from all others. Jehovah being all powerful can hide or keep secret from every creature, earthly or heavenly, any part or all of his great plan and reveal or make it known at such time as might please him. One feature of his great plan he did keep secret for ages and it is still a secret to all except a few.

[299]When Jesus was on earth he taught the people in parables or dark sayings. His disciples came to him and asked: "Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." (Matthew 13:10,11) It will be observed that he did not say, 'You now know the mysteries of God'; but that it was given them to know those mysteries. Not even his disciples understood him in many things when they were with him. On the last night before his crucifixion he was instructing them in various things that would be helpful to them in the days to come. On that occasion he said: "When he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." (John 16:13) The spirit of truth here mentioned is the holy spirit, the spirit of God, the invisible power operating upon the minds of those who are in covenant relationship with God. Jesus here used the masculine pronoun in speaking of the holy spirit.

[300]The holy spirit was given to the disciples at Pentecost, that is to say, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the holy spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4) The King James Version of our Bibles, translates the word here holy "ghost", but there is no warrant for such a translation. It comes from the word which means spirit.

[301]It was at Pentecost that for the first time God's great mystery began to be understood by the disciples. The mystery of God has been a stumbling block to both Jews and Christians so-called; but in God's due time he will make known to all the secret of his mystery and then all rightly exercised by this will rejoice with exceeding joy.

[302]The mystery is the Christ, the great one through whom redemption, deliverance and blessing will ultimately come to all mankind who receive Christ and obey him. God foreshadowed his mystery for ages by the use of various men. Yet all of that time he kept it secret.

[303]Death has been and is the great enemy of man. Death is the very opposite of life. The greatest desire of man is and always has been to have life everlasting in happiness. From the time of his expulsion from Eden man has been looking for something upon which to fasten a hope for life and happiness. Satan was the cause of death, and when God pronounced the sentence in Eden he said that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. This statement was in the nature of a promise, but it could not then be understood. Since Pentecost some have understood the meaning of these words to be an assurance that in God's due time the seed of promise, the seed of the woman, will destroy Satan, who has the power of death. Nearly two thousand years rolled by after this statement before anything further was promised.

[304]Then unto Abraham Jehovah called and made him the promise: "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed". This was another reference to the mystery; but that promise was not understood in its proper light. Abraham believed God would bless the human race, but he did not understand just the manner in which it would be done. At the time of this promise Abraham had no children. Several years more passed and then Isaac, Abraham's first legitimate son, was born. Abraham believed that his natural seed, his son, would be the ruler through whom the blessing would come to the people; but his son Isaac was merely a type of the mystery, God using him to foreshadow the greater one. This promise was renewed to Isaac and to Jacob, and at the death of Jacob his descendants, who of course were descendants of Abraham, were organized into twelve tribes, forming the nation of Israel, and were thereafter recognized as God's chosen nation. (Genesis 49:28; Deuteronomy 26:5) Then it was that the faithful believed that God's promised blessings would come through this nation, his chosen people. But in time they became slaves to the Egyptians and their hopes were almost blasted. They were sorely oppressed in Egypt when God sent Moses to be their deliverer and to lead the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage. Moses was also a type foreshadowing the great One. (Acts 3:22) Moses died and the promised blessing had not yet come. The prophetic statement made by Moses that God would raise up unto Israel one like unto himself led the prophets to understand that there would be a great one raised up from the nation of Israel who would be the deliverer and blesser of mankind.

[305]Joshua followed next in line after Moses. His name signifies savior or deliverer. But he also was only a type of the great Deliverer.

[306]Then David became the king of Israel. His name means beloved one. The Jews had hoped that he would be the great deliverer, but in his old age he abdicated the throne in favor of Solomon, and yet the blessing did not come. Solomon became the most famous man in the world for riches and wisdom, and the hopes of Israel were centered in him, only to be disappointed. David and Solomon were also but mere types foreshadowing the coming of the great Deliverer.

[307]The nation of Israel degenerated and under the reign of Zedekiah, their last king, they fell into captivity to the Babylonians and they continued subject to other nations until they were finally driven out of Palestine.

[308]Moved by the holy spirit of God operating upon their minds, the holy prophets testified of the coming of this great Deliverer, both of his sufferings and of his glory that would follow; but they did not understand. The matter was a mystery to them. (1 Peter 1:11) Even the angels of heaven sought to look into it, but they were not permitted. God's purpose was to keep the matter secret until his own due time to reveal the great truth.

[309]Then came Jesus, whose coming was announced by John the Baptist; and he was pointed out as the one who would take away the sin of the world. He chose his disciples and they walked with him, and he taught them for three and a half years; yet they did not understand the great mystery. They expected Jesus to be made an earthly king and hoped that they might be with him in the kingdom, probably in his cabinet, because he was asked if one might sit on his left and the other on his right hand in the kingdom. They expected him to make Israel a great nation and believed that through that nation other nations would be blessed. When he was put to death they were greatly disappointed, mystified, and in great distress. (Luke 24:21) Even after his resurrection they did not understand his mission, and this is shown by their words to him on the day that he ascended into heaven. "When they were therefore come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth. And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."—Acts 1:6-9.

[310]In obedience to the command of Jesus, these faithful disciples went to Jerusalem to the place known as the upper room, and there waited. Ten days passed and then it was that the holy spirit, the invisible power of God, was visited upon them; and true to his promise, the disciples began to understand.

[311]Jesus had now ascended on high and presented the merit of his sacrifice before Jehovah and the acceptance of this was manifested by the giving of the holy spirit to his disciples who had been his consecrated followers for three and a half years. Doubtless the angels of heaven now began to know something about the great mystery. What joy must have been in heaven when Jesus Christ appeared before the Father and presented the merit of his sacrifice and was received by Jehovah! Surely the heavenly host must have sung his praises. They had beheld him triumphing over death and the grave and now exalted to a position in heaven next to the Father. It must have been a great joy to the heavenly host, even as contemplation of it was a great joy to Jesus himself. "For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:2) What joy must have filled the hearts of his disciples when they began to understand the mystery of God and to see how wonderfully he had led them and their fathers before them, preparing them now for the revelation of this great truth!

[312]In due time Saul of Tarsus, who afterward was named St. Paul, was illuminated and understood. And then he wrote: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which [mystery] is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:24-27) The Apostle here emphasizes the fact that this mystery of God is now made known only to the saints. Saints means purified ones, which purification comes through receiving the merit of Christ's sacrifice.

[313]The word Christ signifies anointed. Anointing means designation to official position in God's arrangement. The Christ is the instrument or channel for the blessing of mankind. The Christ is composed of Jesus, the great and mighty head, and 144,000 members. (Revelation 7:4) Christ Jesus is the head and the church his body. We ofttimes hear the expression, a body of men with a general at their head. Of the Christ the Apostle says: "And he [Christ Jesus] is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell."—Colossians 1:17-19.

[314]The apostle Paul uses a human body to illustrate the Christ, the great mystery class; the head representing Jesus, and the other members of the body those who are of his church. "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.... Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."—1 Corinthians 12:12,27.

[315]The Christ is also designated in the Scriptures as the seed of Abraham according to the promise. "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 3:16) Addressing himself to the church, the Christians, the followers of Jesus, the Apostle further said: "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.... And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26,27,29) This is the seed, then, through whom the blessings will come to all the families of the earth. Church means a gathered out class; and so the gospel age, that is to say, the period from Jesus' first coming until his second coming, is employed by Jehovah for the selection of the church, the seed of Abraham, through which blessings will come to all the remainder of mankind in God's due time.

[316]This same class is called the elect of God, according to his foreknowledge.—1 Peter 1:2.

[317]Again the Apostle likens the whole of the Christ to a living stone, saying: "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.... Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious." (1 Peter 2:5-7) In earthly buildings there is no chief cornerstone; but in this building of God there is a chief cornerstone which is Christ Jesus. The topstone or chief cornerstone of a pyramid is itself a perfect pyramid. The other members of the body, then, must be built up into Christ to conform to that chief cornerstone, which is illustrated by the Great Pyramid in Egypt.—See Isaiah 19:19.

[318]Again this anointed class, Jesus the head and the church his body, is spoken of as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. This was foreshadowed by the nation of Israel, particularly by the priesthood in connection with the house of Israel. The apostle Peter speaking of this class says: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."—1 Peter 2:9,10.

[319]The members of the body of Christ, the church, are also designated as his footstep followers; and as such they are called to suffer with him that they might also reign with him. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his footsteps." (1 Peter 2:21) These are also designated as Christians. It does not mean that because one is a member of some earthly organization called a church he is a Christian or a member of the true church. The true church is the body of Christ; and any one to be of the true church must be a follower of Christ in the truest sense of the word. To this class are given the exceeding great and precious promises recorded in the Bible, the promises of being associated with Christ Jesus in his kingdom. (2 Peter 1:4) Not to the world, but to his followers Jesus said: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life".—Revelation 2:10.

[320]No one has been able to understand these things and appreciate them except those who have given their hearts to the Lord. The apostle Paul says: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned". (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jehovah has so arranged that only those who have their minds illuminated by the holy spirit, which follows their consecration, justification, and acceptance by the Lord, can understand and appreciate the mystery of God. These are the ones designated by the prophet Joel as the servants and handmaidens of God; and in the gospel age God pours out his spirit upon them; which means to give them his spirit. But in God's due time he will pour out his spirit upon all mankind, so that all can understand his wonderful plan.—Joel 2:28,29.

[321]The hiding of this mystery was illustrated by Jehovah in the construction of the tabernacle in the wilderness and its furnishings. The inside walls of the tabernacle were covered with pure gold. Inside the Holy were the golden candlestick, the table covered with gold for the showbread, and the golden altar; and in the Most Holy, was the ark of the covenant. The tabernacle inside, therefore, was beautiful, but it was hidden from the people on the outside because it was covered with three heavy layers of cloth and skins. The priest ministered inside the tabernacle, and therefore was unseen by the people. As God thus hid these things which were typical of greater things, so he has hidden the glories and beauties of spiritual things, seen only by those who have come into relationship with him through Christ.

[322]The gospel age is the antitypical day of atonement. With the Jews there was one day each year called the day of atonement. In that day the priest alone was in the Holy and the Most Holy; and even so on the antitypical day of atonement no one is in the Holy condition except those who are in relationship with Christ, the great high priest. The Lord has been pleased to permit these during the gospel age to have some understanding of his Word, therefore receiving the sweet and refreshing music from his harp; and the light has grown in brilliancy and the music in harmony as the understanding has increased. To the world in general, Christians have been despised because not understood. The Lord of glory, when on earth, was despised because he was misunderstood. And so his true followers seem to be a mean and despised people. The poet has truly said:

"Why do they, then, appear so mean? And why so much despised? Because, of their rich robes, unseen, The world is not apprized."

[323]Satan has tried to counterfeit every part of Jehovah's plan; so he organized a religious system in the earth which is iniquitous and is known as "the mystery of iniquity". (2 Thessalonians 2:7; Revelation 17:5) This mystery of iniquity God will destroy in his great day of vengeance which is now on, and then the mystery of God will be more clearly revealed to mankind. It is revealed to individuals now as they come into Christ. It is important, therefore, for us to know how one becomes a member of the Christ, the great mystery of God.

BODY MEMBERS SELECTED

[324]The mystery of God involves an understanding and appreciation of the fundamental truths of repentance, consecration, justification, spirit-begetting, and sanctification. Let us now trace the steps of one in the world as he comes to Jehovah that he might be a member of the body of Christ.

[325]Because of the disobedience of father Adam, all of his children are born imperfect, all sinners. "There is none righteous, no, not one." (Romans 3:10; 5:12) All such are out of harmony with God. They have no right to life. It has pleased Jehovah, then, during the gospel age to draw to Jesus, the great Redeemer and Deliverer, those who have the desire to come into harmony with him. The Prophet says: 'The reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom'. (Psalm 111:10) The first thing essential for one becoming a Christian is an honest desire to know the Lord and to do his will. A man with this honest desire, then, realizes that he is a sinner and born such; and he has an honest desire to come to God. He learns that Jesus is his Redeemer and he wants to know more about him and do his will. In his mind he does not approve the ways of the world. He begins to think about the Lord and wants to know more about him. He begins to turn his face in the right direction. When he ceases to approve the course of the world, he is repentant to that extent. Repentance means a change of mind respecting one's relationship to evil.

[326]Jesus said: "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him". (John 6:44) The man now is drawn to Jesus by what he learns of Jesus, what Jesus has done for him, and by his own desire to follow a different course. When one ceases to approve the worldly course and begins to seek after the Lord, he is in that condition mentioned by the Apostle as seeking God, "if haply they might feel after him, and find him". (Acts 17:27) When he is drawn to Jesus, seeking God, then he is converted. He is now in the condition spoken of by the Apostle when he said: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out". (Acts 3:19) Repentance means a change of mind respecting one's relationship to evil; and conversion means a change of one's course. But neither repentance nor conversion, nor both together, brings the individual into relationship with God. Being drawn to Jesus, he must exercise faith. Faith means first to understand and believe that God exists; that he is the great rewarder of them that diligently seek him; that the Bible is his Word of truth; that Jesus is his beloved Son and our Redeemer; and then to rely confidently upon these things and prove this reliance by his action.—Hebrews 11:1,6.

[327]He now needs information to increase his faith, and the Prophet has written: "The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple". (Psalm 19:7) To such now, as are feeling after God, through Christ Jesus this message comes: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest". (Matthew 11:28) Heavy laden means to be weary of the sinful course of the world and to have a desire to be relieved of this burden. Such a one says: 'I am tired of the wrongful course. I want to follow the right course, to know God, and to do his will.'

[328]Now being drawn to Jesus, he learns through the Word that he must do something. To him Jesus says: 'I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me'. (John 14:6) What can one who is now repentant and changing his course, but still a sinner, do to come into harmony with God? He is informed that it will cost him much. So Jesus says to him: 'Sit down and count the cost'. (Luke 14:28) He learns it will cost him all he has, namely, the surrender of himself to the Lord. The next step for one, then, to become a Christian is to make a consecration; that is to say, to commit himself to the Lord and his arrangements. And this he may do by saying in substance: 'Blessed Lord, I commit myself to thy arrangements; here I am. Do unto me according to thy holy will. I desire to do thy will.'

[329]Neither the Lord Jesus nor the heavenly Father coerces any one, but we must come to the Lord voluntarily, seeking his aid. This is clearly indicated as necessary to become the follower of Jesus by the words the Master used: 'If you will be my disciple, you must deny yourself, then take up your cross, and follow me'. (Matthew 16:24) Self-denial means an agreement to abandon one's selfish course and to agree to do the will of the Lord. It means a full and complete surrender of oneself unto the Lord. And this is consecration, the setting aside of oneself to do the Lord's will.

[330]Those who are selected to be members of the body of Christ, which selection is done during the gospel age, must be justified in order that they might be accepted. They are justified only for the purpose of being accepted as a part of the sacrifice of the Lord. On the typical day of atonement when the high priest of Israel slew the animals, the Lord's goat pictured this class who come to the Lord in consecration. That goat must be perfect, without any blemish; thus foreshadowing how that all who are presented unto the Lord to be accepted as a part of the sacrifice of Jesus, and hence to become members of his body, must be perfect; and since man is imperfect himself something must be done for him in order to make him stand before the Lord Jehovah as perfect. He must be justified. Justification means to be made right with God. This must all be done in the acceptable time of the Lord. (Isaiah 49:8; 61:2) Any one coming to the Lord Jesus with an honest desire to be presented to the Father in the acceptable year or time may be assured that he will not be cast out, because Jesus said: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out". (John 6:37) He would not decline to present any genuine consecration before the heavenly Father. Of course this consecration must be made before the person can be presented.

[331]Jehovah God is the great wise judge of the universe; and he sits to determine whether or not one thus presented is right or not. "It is God that justifieth."—Romans 8:33.

[332]The steps essential now to justification, as shown by the Scriptures, briefly stated, are these: (1) Faith in God and his promises, which is exercised and proven by making a surrender of ourselves to the Lord; (2) receiving the merit of Christ, and his presentation to the Father; and (3) the determination by Jehovah God that the one thus presented is right. The following Scriptures show these points in the order named: By faith are we justified (Romans 5:1); by the blood of Jesus are we justified (Romans 5:9); "It is God that justifieth". (Romans 8:33) Christ Jesus is the great High Priest. When we make a consecration of ourselves, then he presents us to the Father. (John 6:37) But in order to make us acceptable or presentable to the Father, the merit of Jesus' sacrifice must be imputed to us. When he ascended on high, he deposited with Jehovah the ransom-price, the merit of his sacrifice, as we have seen, pictured by the blood. The second step, then, is taken when Jesus imputes to the one thus coming to the Lord the merit of his sacrifice, which makes him presentable to the Father, Jehovah; then Jehovah, upon the merit, determines, as the great judge, that the one thus presented is right, is justified, and is acceptable as a part of the sacrifice of his beloved Son. Thus Jehovah has been receiving sacrifices throughout the gospel age; but that acceptable year or time will soon pass, as indeed it is now passing. —Hebrews 3:13.

SPIRIT-BEGETTING

[333]The one that is justified before Jehovah is then counted right or justified that he might be a part of the great sacrifice of God's beloved Son Jesus, to the end that he might be a part of the mystery class and ultimately reign with Christ. The next thing indicated by the Scriptures is the begetting of such a one as a new creature. Begetting means the beginning. The begetting of the new creature, then, means the beginning of a newness of life. When justified by Jehovah, there results to him the right to live as a human being on earth, and this is what he immediately sacrifices. At the same time Jehovah begets him to a hope of life upon the high or heavenly plane, because he is called to a "high calling", a "heavenly calling". (Philippians 3:14; Hebrews 3:1) This begetting is in the nature of a contract or an agreement. Covenant is also a word used for contract. In order to make a contract there must be two or more parties, and there must be a consideration passing from one to the other. Where there are mutual promises, made on both sides, this is sufficient consideration. We will name the one whom we have been discussing as coming to justification Honest Heart.

[334]Honest Heart presents himself to the Lord Jesus the high priest, fully surrendering himself and agreeing to do the will of God. There is the promise on his part, then, and he is one party to the contract through his advocate, the Lord Jesus. And when Christ Jesus the high priest presents him to the Father, Jehovah, the Lord Jehovah in substance says to Honest Heart: 'In consideration of the fact that you have turned away from the wrongful course, and have come to Jesus, and have made a full surrender of yourself in consecration, thereby exercising faith in his blood shed for you and your faith in my plan; and in consideration of the further fact that my beloved Son has imputed to you his merit to make you acceptable before me, I accept you and determine that you are right or justified, and accepting you as a part of his sacrifice, I give to you my exceeding great and precious promises that by these you might become partaker of the divine nature'.—2 Peter 1:4.

[335]This is in harmony with St. James' statement: "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures". (James 1:18) The Psalmist shows that this begetting is in the nature of a contract when he says: "Gather my saints together unto me; those who have made a covenant [contract] with me by sacrifice". (Psalm 50:5) Honest Heart now being begotten has the promise of life upon the highest plane, the divine nature. He is begotten to a new hope of life. St. Peter thus writes: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a hope of life by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time". (1 Peter 1:3-5) The inheritance to which Honest Heart is now begotten is an incorruptible inheritance, which is the divine nature. This means that if he is faithful unto death, faithful to his part of the contract, he is certain to be born upon the divine plane, for the reason that Jehovah is always faithful to his part of the contract; and so Jesus says: "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life".—Revelation 2:10.

[336]Any one thus presented by Jesus to the Father, Jehovah, justified, accepted and begotten, is designated in the Scriptures as a new creature. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) There is now a newness of life, which does not result from being transferred to another climate, but from being given a new dominating factor in our lives, namely, the will of God. Honest Heart, or whoever takes this step, now has new hopes, new aims, new ambitions, new aspirations, and new ideas. He is not looking for earthly honor and glory; but he is looking forward to the time when he might be forever with the Lord in his kingdom and be a part of the seed of Abraham according to the promise, through which the blessings of mankind will come.

[337]This one is now dead from the standpoint of a human being, as the apostle Paul puts it: "Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God". (Colossians 3:3) The new creature now must be renewed, refreshed and invigorated and strengthened by knowledge, not by ordinary knowledge; but by an acquaintance with God's will and a deep appreciation of his plan. (Colossians 1:9) The world cannot know anything about this; only those who are in the relationship with the Lord. The whole world lies in the wicked one. (1 John 5:19) But now the new creature in Christ is admonished to be not conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of his mind, that he might prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.—Romans 12:2.

[338]The one begotten is begotten by the spirit of God, the holy spirit. He is also anointed. This anointing is received by reason of coming into the body of Christ. He is baptized into Christ's death; therefore baptized into Christ's body. To be baptized means to be immersed. To be baptized into Christ's death means to be immersed into the death of Christ. And so the Apostle puts it: "Know ye not, that so many of us as are baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:3,4) Baptism in water is merely a symbol of the real baptism. It would do no one any good to be baptized in water unless he had first undergone the real baptism by being immersed into Christ.

[339]All of those who are thus inducted into the body of Christ receive the anointing through the head of the Christ, Jesus the beloved One. This is illustrated or pictured by God's dealings with Israel. In the type Aaron the high priest was anointed. "He [Moses] poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him." (Leviticus 8:12) This anointing oil was poured upon Aaron's head and ran down upon his garment. (Psalm 133:2) Aaron the high priest was a type of the entire Christ, head and body. As the oil was poured upon his head and ran down to the skirt of his garments, so in antitype, Jesus the head, at the time of his baptism in the Jordan, received the anointing of the holy spirit without measure (Matthew 3:16,17); and at Pentecost his disciples received the anointing of the holy spirit. And thereafter during the gospel age all who come into Christ receive this anointing through Christ Jesus the head by virtue of being inducted into the body of Christ.

[340]Those who are thus anointed have the spirit of the Lord and by virtue of his spirit are able to understand the mystery of God and to appreciate the fact that they have the promise of being joint-heirs with Christ Jesus in his kingdom. To be anointed means to be assigned to a place in the body of Christ. "The spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."—Romans 8:16,17.

SANCTIFICATION

[341]These new creatures in Christ, otherwise called members of his body, must now be transformed and made into the image and likeness of their Head. (Romans 8:29) They must be sanctified. Sanctification means to be set apart for the use of Jehovah. It means the process of making us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Colossians 1:12) It is the process of perfecting the saints. (Ephesians 4:12) This process begins when Jehovah accepts our consecration and begets us; and must continue until birth upon the spirit plane.

[342]Sanctification, then, is to be made holy, in the likeness of our Lord. Concerning such Jesus said: "Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth". (John 17:17) The Christian now must feed upon or study the Word of God, learn its principles, learn of Jehovah's character and that of the Lord Jesus, and strive to conform his own life thereto. He now has set before him the hope of being made like the Lord in glory; and "every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure". (1 John 3:3) This process of sanctification is done by the Lord through his Word. "Both he who sanctifies and those whom he is sanctifying have all one Father, and for this reason he is not ashamed to speak of them as brethren." (Hebrews 2:11, Weymouth) Here we see the sanctifier is the Lord Jesus Christ, and those whom he is sanctifying are the members of his body; and all of these have one Father, Jehovah God; therefore all of the one body, constituting the mystery of God.

[343]All this work of sanctification is done in what we designate the school of Christ; and it is only those who are in this school by being in Christ Jesus that can be sanctified and ultimately be a part of that glorious mystical body, the heavenly kingdom class that will constitute the great prophet, priest, and king.

[344]This mystery hid from ages and generations and made known only to the saints is, says the apostle Paul, the Christ; and the Christ in you is the hope of glory. Those who are in Christ and who have the spirit of Christ in them have the glorious hope of being born on the divine plane as members of the body of Christ. These are called to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ; and to them are given all the exceeding great and precious promises contained in the Word of God. The Prophet speaking of them and to them said: "The nations shall see thy righteousness, and all the kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God." (Isaiah 62:2,3) These have the promise: "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory". (Colossians 3:4) And "then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father".—Matthew 13:43.

[345]The apostle Paul declares that he was made a minister, according to the gift of God, that he should preach to the nations the unsearchable riches of Christ, "and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be [made] known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord". (Ephesians 3:7-11) Thus we see that this great mystery is the Christ, and that for six thousand years Jehovah has been preparing for, developing and completing this great mystery; and that when completed, he will use the Christ as his prophet, priest, and king to minister unto the people, to rule over the people, and to bless the people, according to his promise.

[346]The Apostle declares that the whole creation is groaning and travailing in pain, waiting for the manifestation of this great mystery. (Romans 8:19-22) The people do not know for what they are waiting. But when the great mystery is complete and Messiah's kingdom set up, then God will bring his long-promised blessings to mankind, and ultimately his will shall be done upon earth as it is done in heaven.



What is a mystery? 298.

How could Jehovah hide or keep secret his plan from others? 298.

Has he kept his plan secret? 298.

When Jesus was on earth, why did he teach by parables? 299.

Did the disciples always understand his meaning? 299.

Did he instruct the disciples how they would be taught after his departure? and if so, how? 299.

What is meant by the spirit of truth? 299.

When was the holy spirit given to the disciples? Give the Scriptural proof. 300.

What is the meaning of the term "holy ghost"? 300.

When did God's mystery begin to be understood by the disciples? 301.

What effect has the mystery had on Jews and so-called Christians? 301.

Define the mystery of God. 302.

How did God foreshadow the mystery? 302.

What is man's great enemy? 302.

What is and always has been man's greatest desire? and how long has man been seeking for this thing desired? 303.

Who was the cause of death? 303.

At the time when God pronounced the sentence in Eden, was the statement, 'The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head,' understood? 303.

When did it begin to be understood? 303.

What great promise was made nearly two thousand years after the expulsion from Eden? Quote the promise. 304.

Did that promise have reference to the mystery of God? and was it understood then? 304.

Did Abraham understand the promise? 304.

Did Abraham have any children at that time? 304.

Through whom did Abraham expect the blessing to come to the people? 304.

If the promise was renewed, to whom was it renewed? 304.

What was expected through the seed of Abraham? 304.

What effect did the Israelites' enslavement have upon their hopes? 304.

Whom did God send to deliver the Israelites from Egypt? and whom did he typify? 304.

What effect did Moses' prophetic statement have upon the people with reference to the One of whom he was a type? 304.

What is signified by the name Joshua? and of whom was Joshua a type? 305.

Who was the beloved king of Israel? and what did the Jews hope would come through him? 306.

Who succeeded this king on the throne? 306.

For what was Solomon famous? 306.

What became the condition of Israel under the reign of Zedekiah? 307.

Did the prophets who testified of the coming of Messiah understand their testimony? 308.

Were the angels of heaven permitted to understand? 308.

Why did God keep this mystery a secret? 308.

Who announced the coming of Jesus? and what was his particular message or announcement? 309.

How many disciples did Jesus choose? 309.

How long did he teach them personally? 309.

What were the expectations of the disciples relative to Jesus? 309.

What effect did his death have upon them? 309.

What was their expectation after his resurrection, and why? 309.

What did Jesus say to them at the time of his ascension to heaven? 309.

Where did the disciples tarry after Jesus' ascension? and how long before they received any manifestation from the Lord? 310.

How was God's power manifested toward them at Pentecost? 310.

How was the acceptance of the merit of Jesus as the sin-offering manifested to men by Jehovah? 311.

May we believe that there was much joy in heaven when Jesus presented the merit of his sacrifice? and if so, why? 311.

What effect did the understanding of the mystery have upon the disciples? 311.

What did St. Paul say about the mystery of God? 312.

What is the meaning of the word "saints"? 312.

What does the word "Christ" signify? 313.

What is the meaning of "anointing"? 313.

Who compose the Christ? 313.

Who is the head? and who the body? 313.

Give Scriptural proof of who constitutes the Head and the body of Christ. 313.

How does St. Paul use the human body to illustrate the body of Christ? 314.

What is meant by the seed of Abraham? Give Scriptural proof. 315.

What is the meaning of the term "church"? 315.

Who is meant by the "elect of God"? 316.

Give Scriptural proof that the members of the Christ are called "living stones". 317.

Who is the chief corner-stone in the building of God? 317.

What great building on earth pictures this building of God? 317.

Who constitute the royal priesthood? Give Scriptural proof. 318.

Why are the members of the church called footstep followers of Jesus? 319.

What are these followers called upon to do? 319.

Define the term "Christian". 319.

Is every church member a Christian? and if not, why not? 319.

What promises are given to the Christian? Give Scriptural proof. 319.

What particular reward is promised to the ones who are faithful unto death? 319.

Can everybody understand these great truths? and if not, why not? 320.

What is essential in order to understand the mystery of God? 320.

What is meant by the prophet Joel's statement, 'the Servants and handmaidens of God'? 320.

How was the mystery illustrated in the tabernacle furnishings? 321.

Could the priest be seen by the people while ministering in the tabernacle? 321.

What did this concealing of the priest in the holy illustrate relative to the mystery? 321.

What is the antitypical atonement day? 322.

How often did the atonement day occur with the Jews? 322.

On that day, who was in the holy and the most holy of the tabernacle? 322.

What does this picture in the antitype? 322.

Why have the followers of Jesus been despised by the world? 322.

What counterfeit of the mystery of God has Satan organized? Give Scriptural proof. 323.

What will be the ultimate end of the mystery of iniquity? 323.

Is it important to know how one becomes a member of the mystery class? 323.

An understanding of the mystery involves what? 324.

In what condition have all the human race been born? 325.

Whom has Jehovah drawn to Jesus during the gospel age? 325.

What constitutes the beginning of wisdom? Give Scriptural proof. 325.

What is the first essential to one's becoming a Christian? 325.

What constitutes repentance? 325.

How is one drawn to Jesus? 326.

When may it be said of one that he is converted? 326.

Define the difference between repentance and conversion. 326.

Do repentance and conversion bring one into relationship with God? and if not, why not? 326.

Define faith. 326.

What is necessary to increase faith? 327.

What does Jesus say to those who are seeking after God and who are weary? 327.

What is meant by being weary and heavy laden? 327.

How can one come to the Father? Give Scriptural proof. 328.

What does Jesus say to the truth-seeker concerning the cost? 328.

What is the meaning of consecration? and how may one consecrate himself to the Lord? 328.

Is it proper to compel consecration to the Lord? 329.

What does Jesus say in reference to becoming his follower? 329.

Define the meaning of self-denial. 329.

Why is any one justified during the gospel age? 330.

In connection with the tabernacle, when the high priest slew the Lord's goat, what did that picture? 330.

The fact that the goat must be without blemish foreshadowed what? 330.

What is the meaning-of the term "justification"? 330.

When must justification for the purpose of sacrifice take place? Give Scriptural proof. 330.

What assurance has one that his consecration will be accepted? 330.

Must the consecration be made before or after the consecrator is presented to Jehovah? 330.

Who is the great Judge of the universe? and who justifies? Give Scriptural proof. 331.

Give the steps essential to justification. 332.

Quote the Scriptures proving the steps leading to justification—the first, second, and third steps, in the order named. 332.

For what purpose does God justify any one during the gospel age? 333.

What is meant by begetting one as a new creature? 333.

What results to the man who is justified by Jehovah? 333.

What does such a one sacrifice? 333.

To what does Jehovah beget this sacrificer? 333.

State the nature of this begetting. 333.

How many parties must there be to a contract? and what is the consideration for begetting one as a new creature in Christ? 333.

State the terms of the arrangement between Honest Heart, the one who presents himself to the Lord, and Jehovah, who justifies and begets him. 334.

In this arrangement, what office does the Lord Jesus perform? 334.

What is meant by the word "advocate"? 334.

Give Scriptural proof that the begetting is in the nature of a contract, both from the Old and the New Testament. 335.

To what is Honest Heart, or any sacrificer like him, begotten? 335.

Quote the Scripture with reference to the nature to which he is begotten. 335.

Should the one thus begotten continue faithful unto death, what is his certain reward? Give Scriptural proof. 335.

One thus begotten is how designated in the Scriptures? Give Scriptural proof. 336.

What is the great hope now of the new creature in Christ? 336.

Why is it said that he is now dead as a human being? 337.

As a new creature, does he need renewing? and if so, how is this done? 337.

Why does not the world know about the development of the new creature? 337.

How is the new creature transformed? 337.

What does it mean to be baptized into Christ? Give Scriptural proof. 338.

What is the meaning of water baptism or immersion? 338.

Is there any virtue in water baptism? 338.

Who are the anointed ones in Christ? 339.

How did Aaron the high priest illustrate this? Give Scriptural proof. 339.

Whom did Aaron the high priest typify? 339.

What does anointing mean? 339.

Give Scriptural proof of how one may know he has been begotten and anointed of the Lord. 340.

What is the meaning of the term "sanctification"? Give Scriptural proof. 341.

When does the process of sanctification begin? and how long must it continue? 341.

How is one sanctified? Give Scriptural proof. 342.

What influence has the hope of glory upon his sanctification? 342.

Why does Jesus call the members of his body brethren? 342.

Who is the Father of both the Head and the body of the Christ? 342.

In what school does this sanctification take place? 343.

Can any one outside of the school of Christ be sanctified? 343.

Those who are in Christ and have the spirit of Christ, what is the hope set before them? 344.

What promises are given to them? 344.

Quote some of those precious promises as set forth in the Scriptures. 344.

Give one of the reasons why St. Paul was made a minister. Quote his words. 345.

The mystery class is known by what other titles? and what will be the office of the mystery class, the Christ, in the future? 345.

How will God use this mystery class for the benefit of the people in the future? 346.



CHAPTER IX

String 8: Our Lord's Return

Suppose your dearest friend and benefactor is away on a long journey and you expect him to return, because when he went away he promised to come again; suppose that since that time you have been looking, hoping and praying for his return, and that you were informed he had arrived. Such news would fill your very soul with joy and you could not keep from singing.

[348]A friend is one who loves you all the time; one who even without your knowing it makes a great sacrifice in order that you might be the recipient of some real good. The greatest friend that you have had, or any one else has had, is the Lord Jesus, because he left all of his riches and glory, became a man, and laid down his life in ignominious death in order that all men might have one fair and full opportunity for the blessings of life everlasting.—John 15:13.

[349]The facts show that nineteen hundred years ago, Jesus went away on a long journey, even into heaven itself; that when he went away he promised his disciples that he would return and that, when returning, those who loved his appearing would receive many precious gifts. If the facts show that this precious friend has returned and we begin to see that all the fond hopes of Christians are about to be realized and that even the world is soon to be blessed, what unspeakable joy this brings! Those who have watched and waited for his coming necessarily break forth in singing the praises of the Lord. In this chapter we hope to prove the fact of the Lord's return, how he will return, when, and for what purpose, and that he has already come.

[350]For centuries Jews have been hoping, looking, and praying for the coming of a Messiah. For nineteen hundred years Christians have been hoping, watching, and praying, and waiting for the coming of Christ Jesus the Lord. Messiah and Christ mean the same. The term means The Anointed One. The whole world of mankind, groping in darkness, laden with grievous burdens, has been groaning and still groans in pain, waiting for some relief, but not knowing how it will come. (Romans 8:19,22) The world in fact is waiting for the Messiah, the Christ, and his kingdom of righteousness. When the world comes to a knowledge of the fact that the Lord, the great deliverer and benefactor of man, has returned, every honest soul will be filled with joy and every grateful heart will respond in songs of gladness.

[351]To the Christian the Lord's return is one of the most wonderfully precious strings upon the harp of God. It yields music of unsurpassed sweetness. Blessed are the eyes of those who see and ears of those who hear and learn that the Lord has come and is now present.

[352]The suffering and groaning of the whole creation daily increases, and this condition is putting the people in an attitude of mind to take heed to the evidence of the meaning of these present events. The time has come for all to awaken and diligently inquire concerning the presence of the King of kings.

FACT OF HIS COMING

[353]The reasons why we should expect the Lord's second coming are numerous, but unless we call these to mind, even though we once knew them, we overlook their importance. If we have never known them, then an examination of these reasons is satisfying to the hungry soul. Reason should always be employed in the examination of Scriptural questions. Sound reasoning and the Scriptures are necessarily in accord. "Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord." (Isaiah 1:18) As our vision of the divine plan enlarges, we can see a reason and a Scripture for every step and every development in the divine arrangement.

[354]The Scriptures thus far examined prove conclusively that Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead that he might be the redeemer of mankind; that he ascended on high and presented the value of his human sacrifice in behalf of man, and that at some time all men must have an opportunity to receive the benefit of his great sacrifice. (1 Timothy 2:5,6) If mankind in general is to be benefited by the Lord's sacrifice after coming to a knowledge of that fact, then it follows that there must be some relationship established between the world of mankind and the Lord Jesus in order that the world might be brought to a knowledge of the arrangement of Jehovah and brought back into harmony with God. If, as the Scriptures declare, God formed the earth for man's habitation, that he made it not in vain, and that the earth abideth forever; and if, according to the promise to Abraham, through the seed, the Christ, a blessing shall come to all mankind, it follows that the Lord must establish an order of things in the earth that man might enjoy the things which God intended for him to have, and that he must be present to establish such a righteous order on earth.

[355]But the student is not left to theory nor conjecture. The Scriptural evidence is given in such abundance that all doubt is forever removed. God's Prophet long ago foretold the coming of a mighty one and said that this Mighty One should have a government of righteousness; that "his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace; of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end". (Isaiah 9:6,7) An 'everlasting Father' presumes that there shall be some offspring who will have everlasting life. Hence this promise indicated that a government would be established wherein man would be granted the privilege of life everlasting.

[356]As we have heretofore observed, Jehovah made a covenant with the nation of Israel, to the exclusion of all other nations. He gave them a law to shield them from the influences and machinations of the adversary and to lead them to Christ, their great Messiah. The Jews as a nation did not keep this law, because they were imperfect; but some of their rulers were especially wicked. The time came when God said concerning Zedekiah, the last king of Israel: "And thou, profane 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 him,"—Ezekiel 21:25-27.

[357]It follows that at some future time there would come a mighty one who would establish a kingdom of righteousness, having full authority and right thus to do.

[358]At the overthrow of Zedekiah God permitted the gentiles to establish a universal dominion in the earth. The Lord through the prophet Daniel pictured the development of four world empires or kingdoms, which would exist for a certain period of time, and which would continue until he should come whose right it is and then he, the Righteous One, should take possession of earth's affairs and rule. It is to be expected, of course, that the unrighteous governments would hold on to their power in earth as long as possible, and that they would still be thus doing at the coming of the great King, and that he would oust these earthly kingdoms of unrighteousness and establish a righteous government. Thus says the Lord through the prophet Daniel: "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever". (Daniel 2:44) It follows, then, that this righteous King must be present before he breaks to pieces and consumes the other kingdoms. The Scriptures speak of the righteous kingdom as the kingdom of heaven, because it is in accord with the heavenly Father's will and ruled by the invisible power of the great Messiah.

[359]The term kingdom is used in a two-fold sense: (1) referring to the king or ruler, the dominating or controlling factor; and (2) to the dominion and subjects of that kingdom. Almost all the parables of Jesus were concerning the kingdom of God, or kingdom of heaven. So great is that kingdom in importance in the Lord's arrangement that Jesus taught his disciples to pray: "Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven". (Matthew 6:10) From that time until now Christians have been praying this prayer and hoping for its fulfillment. The foregoing Scriptures definitely establish the fact that such a kingdom of righteousness is to be put into operation. Who, then, will be the king of that great and glorious kingdom? The Scriptures answer, Jesus Christ the Son of God.—Luke 22:30; Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 1:11; Matthew 28:18.

[360]When Jesus stood before Pilate accused of sedition because he taught concerning his kingdom coming, Pilate asked him: "Art thou the King of the Jews?" And Jesus answered: "My kingdom is not of this world". (John 18:33,36) By the word world here is meant a social and political order. The Scriptures show that from the time of Zedekiah's overthrow until he whose right it is sets up his kingdom, the gentiles are in power and that these lie in the wicked one, Satan, who is the god or invisible ruler of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:3,4) Jesus speaks of him as the prince of this world. (John 12:31) Satan's rule has been unrighteous, wicked, and devilish; and when he comes whose right it is, he will establish a righteous kingdom in the place or stead of the unrighteous order of Satan. By these words, then, addressed to Pilate we would understand the Master to mean that his kingdom from that time is future, yet definitely showing that in the future time he would have a kingdom.

[361]Jesus gave to his disciples a parable designated the parable of the pounds, in which he pictured himself as a certain nobleman going into a far country to receive a kingdom and to return; and he shows that this nobleman does return. "He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.... And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given money." (Luke 19:12-15) A similar picture and lesson is taught by the parable of the talents. (Matthew 25:14) As further evidence of his return, Jesus said: "When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory; and before him shall be gathered all nations."—Matthew 25:31,32.

[362]Just a short time before his crucifixion he was teaching his disciples. They understood, though imperfectly, that he was to be taken from them. His disciples were troubled at this information. Then Jesus, speaking plainly to them, said: "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:1-3) This is indisputable proof of his second coming.

[363]After his resurrection he had stated that he would ascend unto God the Father in heaven. (John 20:17) Forty days after his resurrection he was with his disciples on the Mount of Olives, instructing them to go to Jerusalem and there wait until they should receive the power of the holy spirit, that they might thereafter be witnesses for him. "And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11) Without a doubt these men who here stood by the disciples in white apparel were angels or messengers sent of the Lord thus to witness to them, which angels doubtless materialized in human form for that very purpose and afterward dematerialized and disappeared. This additional testimony was given, however, that the faith of the disciples might be complete that the Lord would come again.

[364]This fact was so definitely established in the minds of the apostles that they often spoke and wrote of the second coming of the Lord. In fact, it is the great event to which they and all other true followers of the Master have looked forward. (1 Corinthians 1:7; 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; James 5:7,8; 2 Peter 1:16; Acts 3:19-21; Philippians 3:20) Of his coming again and the blessings his presence will bring to those that love him further testimony was given by the apostle Paul when he wrote to Timothy: "I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."—2 Timothy 4:6-8.

[365]The book of Revelation in our Bible is the revelation of Jesus Christ which he gave after his glorification. He concludes this revelation by stating to St. John: "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly"; to which St. John replies, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus".—Revelation 22:20.

[366]That the Lord is to have a kingdom of righteousness, that Jesus Christ is to be the great King of that kingdom, and that he is coming a second time for the purpose of thus reigning, is so abundantly established by the Scriptures that all possible doubt is removed. An important question, therefore, for us to determine is

HOW HE COMES

[367]We must make up our minds at once that the Bible testimony concerning the manner of our Lord's coming is to be taken as conclusive. A careful examination of this will disclose the fact that the Bible does establish definitely and reasonably the manner of his appearing. Many have supposed and yet suppose that the Lord will come again in his body of humiliation, the very body in which he was crucified and which has the marks upon it, and that such is to be visible to human eyes. The words of Jesus disprove this conclusion. When instructing his disciples just before his crucifixion, Jesus said: "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also". (John 14:19) Thus he establishes the fact that his faithful disciples will see him as he is, but that the world will see him no more. And why is this true? We answer, Because Jesus was raised from the dead not a human but a spirit being, with divine nature or organism. The nature is determined by the organism or body. He now has a glorious body, which no man hath seen nor can look upon and live. (1 Timothy 6:15,16) We have heretofore examined the Scriptural evidence showing that no one of the different organisms or bodies in which Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection was his glorious body, but that such bodies were created by him for the purpose at the time.

[368]He was put to death a human being. He was raised from the dead a spirit. (1 Peter 3:18; 1 Corinthians 15:45) St. John definitely shows that the body in which Jesus will appear is not his human body because he says: "It doth not yet appear what we shall be, but ... we shall be like him". (1 John 3:2) Jesus is no longer human, but divine; therefore we could not expect human eyes to see him. He is now the express image of Jehovah. (Hebrews 1:3) Because he is no longer human and has not a body of flesh, but a spirit body, the apostle Paul under inspiration wrote: "Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more".—2 Corinthians 5:16.

[369]After his resurrection Jesus was exalted and given a name above every name (Philippians 2:9) and sat down at the right hand of the Father in glory and in power. (Revelation 3:21) Of him the apostle Paul writes: "Now the Lord is that spirit". (2 Corinthians 3:17) Jesus explained to Nicodemus concerning a spirit, saying, "Except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.... The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the spirit."—John 3:4-8.

[370]Seeing, then, that Jesus Christ is a glorious spirit being with a divine organism, and that as the wind cannot be seen, but comes and goes, so a spirit can thus come and go without being discerned by human eyes, could not our Lord be present and yet not observable by any natural eyes? That is exactly according to the facts. Satan is a spirit being. For many centuries Satan has been the god or invisible ruler of the present evil world (2 Corinthians 4:3,4); yet no human eyes have seen Satan, although men have felt his influence and still feel it. Satan is not only the god of this world, but he is the chief one of his wicked, invisible heaven; that is to say, the invisible ruling order of things composed of Satan and the other fallen angels who exercise power over human beings. The apostle Peter said: "We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness". (2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-5) The coming kingdom of the Lord is the new heavenly kingdom. This new ruling power, the Messiah, is invisible, and will be invisible to human eyes, but will establish in the earth visible agencies and representatives, namely, a new social and political order of things. We should not, therefore, expect the Lord's second coming to be in a body visible to human eyes, but should expect that he would be present, exercising his power in his own sovereign way.

[371]In many places in our Bible referring to the second coming of the Lord the word translated into the English as "coming" is properly translated presence. The proper meaning is distinguished by the Greek word used, from which the English is translated. The Greek word parousia (pronounced par-oo-see-ah) means presence, and refers to the invisible presence of the Lord and is used in the following Scriptural texts. We here quote the texts as they appear in the King James Version, putting in brackets the proper word immediately following the word "coming".

[372]"What shall be the sign of thy coming [presence]?"—Matthew 24:3.

[373]"As the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming [presence] of the Son of man be."—Matthew 24:37,39.

[374]"They that are Christ's at his coming [presence]."—1 Corinthians 15:23.

[375]"Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming [presence]?"—1 Thessalonians 2:19.

[376]"To the end that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming [presence] of our Lord Jesus Christ."—1 Thessalonians 3:13.

[377]"We which are alive and remain unto the coming [presence] of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."—1 Thessalonians 4:15.

[378]"I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming [presence] of our Lord Jesus Christ." —1 Thessalonians 5:23.

[379]"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming [presence] of our Lord Jesus Christ."—2 Thessalonians 2:1.

[380]"Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming [presence] of the Lord."—James 5:7.

[381]"For the coming [presence] of the Lord draweth nigh."—James 5:8.

[382]"Where is the promise of his coming [presence]?"—2 Peter 3:4.

[383]When Jesus was taken up into heaven, the angels standing by the disciples said to them: "He shall come in like manner". The manner of his going or being taken away was quiet, without observation, except by a few. In a similar manner we should expect his return. Those watching for his coming necessarily would be the first to observe his presence. This is in exact harmony with the thought expressed by the apostle Paul when he wrote: "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night", (1 Thessalonians 5:2) The same thought the apostle Peter expressed: "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night". (2 Peter 3:10) And of His coming Jesus said: "Behold, I come as a thief", "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." (Revelation 16:15; 3:3; Matthew 24:43) A thief comes usually in the night time when all are asleep, and none see him except those who are watching or those who may be awakened by his presence. Even so the Lord comes in the night time of the close of the gospel age, just before the dawn of the new day; and none discern his presence except those who watch and who have the eye of faith.

[384]The Lord spoke in symbolic phrase, and speaking concerning the manner of his appearing he said: "Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not." (Matthew 24:25,26) Here he is warning and safeguarding against the error of believing that he will appear in the desert or that he will appear in some secret chamber; as spiritists claim they have come in contact with him. Then he says: "For as the lightning cometh out of the east; and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the presence of the Son of man be". (Matthew 24:27) The word lightning here is translated from the Greek word astrapee and means bright shining, or bright shiner. We know that lightning does not come out of the east and shine even unto the west, because flashes of lightning come from all directions, and more often from the west than from the east. The bright shining or bright shiner here really means the sun. The sun begins to shed forth its light in the east before it is fully up; and when it comes over the eastern horizon it shines everywhere from the east to the west. Just so the presence of the Lord. He quietly appears and his presence begins to shed light in all parts of the earth.

[385]The Prophet of the Lord also used the sun to illustrate the Lord Jesus, saying: "The Sun of righteousness shall arise with healing in his wings". (Malachi 4:2) Again Jesus likened his faithful followers unto the sun when he said: "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father".—Matthew 13:43.

[386]In examining the evidence, then, with reference to the Lord's second appearing, if we will keep always in mind that his appearance is not and will not be visible to human eyes, but that it will be gradually discernible in the physical facts which will occur in fulfillment of prophecy, we shall be better enabled to understand the various Scriptural texts bearing upon the subject.

TIME OF HIS COMING

[387]The time of the Lord's second appearing is of great importance to all, and Christians, since the days of the apostles, have been watching for some evidence of his presence and asking the question, When will the Lord appear? While those who love the Lord discuss the important question, some have answered saying, 'The Lord is liable to come any moment. He may come tonight,' These expect the Lord's appearing in a visible body. Others who have no real desire for his coming, because it would interfere with their selfish plans, say: 'He will not come in my time; he will not come for fifty-thousand years or more; hence there is no reason for our concerning ourselves about his coming'. Still others who fear his coming and who do not desire to see him say: 'No one can possibly know the time. Why, therefore, should one spend his time in discussing the question?'

[388]The last-named class, in support of their contention, cite the words of Jesus when he said: "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only". (Matthew 24:36) It is assumed because he used these words that no one would ever know except Jehovah. We should remember that Jesus spoke those words while he was yet a man on the earth. He had not been glorified then. He did not say that no one would ever know of the hour or the day of his coming. If we conclude from these words that no man would ever know, we might as well conclude that Jesus would never know, because he said at that time that only the Father knew. Paraphrasing his words we note he said this: 'The day of my coming no one now knows except my Father. Neither man nor angel knows anything about it; nor do I even know,' At the same time, his words implied that conditions would change, so that others would know, because he said: "Watch therefore: for ye know not the hour your Lord doth come". (Matthew 24:42) Why watch unless they would know when the time would arrive? When Jesus arose from the dead he said: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth". (Matthew 28:18) He must have known then the time of his coming, because now as the creature divine everything was committed into his hands for the outworking of God's plan. At the time of his appearing surely the angels of heaven would know about it; and the day must come when the watchers would know.

[389]His last message to the disciples just before his ascension on high clearly indicated a time coming when the watchers would know. He said unto them: "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy spirit is come upon you." (Acts 1:7,8) Those who are begotten of the holy spirit have the promise that the Lord will reveal to them his great truths when due to be understood. (1 Corinthians 2:9,10) These are they that walk in the light, and for them the light shines with increasing brilliancy unto the perfect day. In harmony with this, St. Paul wrote: "Of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4) Plainly the Apostle here tells the followers of Jesus that if they are watching the things which the Lord told them to watch, the day of the Lord will not come upon them unawares, but they will mark the fulfillment of prophecy, and in the light of its fulfillment they will discern the time of the presence of the great King. Furthermore he says to them: "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober."—1 Thes. 5:5,6.

[390]We shall find that Jesus gave much evidence which enables the watcher to determine the Lord's presence. Jesus spoke in prophetic language. Prophecy means a foretelling of future events before they take place; and when they are taking place the watcher can ascertain that they are thus fulfilling the prophetic words previously spoken.