,studies in the ,scriptures ,volume ,,vii ,the ,finished ,mystery 8,the ,winepress of ,god's ,wrath0 and the ,fall of ,babylon4 ,by ,charles ,taze ,russell 7,published ,posthumously7 ,edited by ,c4 ,j4 ,woodworth and ,george ,h4 ,fisher #hej1jjj ,edition 8,and the angel which ,i saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to ,heaven1 and swore by ,him that liveth forever and ever1 who created ,heaven and the things that therein are1 and the earth1 and the things that therein are1 and the sea1 and the things which are therein1 that the time should be no longer delayed2 but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 when he shall begin to sound1 the ,mystery of ,god should be finished1 as ,he hath declared to ,his servants the ,prophets40--,rev4 #aj3eg4 8,at the end it shall speak and not lie40--,hab4 #b3c4 ,copyright #aiag ,peoples ,pulpit ,association ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,international ,bible ,students ,association ,brooklyn1 ,london1 ,melbourne1 ,barmen #aiah ,,contents ,publisher's ,preface ,explanatory ,note ,the ,revelation ,of ,st4 ,john ,the ,divine ,revelation #a--,the ,message ,for ,this ,day ,revelation #b--,st4 ,paul1 ,st4 ,john1 ,arius ,and ,waldo ,revelation #c--,wycliffe1 ,luther ,and ,russell ,revelation #d--,the ,author ,of ,the ,plan ,revelation #e--,the ,executor ,of ,the ,plan ,revelation #f--,six ,seals ,and ,the ,papacy ,revelation #g--,seventh ,seal ,and ,great ,company ,revelation #h--;,four ,preliminary ,reformations ,revelation #i--,two ,ineffective ,reformation ,woes ,revelation #aj--,the ,true ,reformation ,woe ,revelation #aa--,the ,time ,of ,the ,end ,revelation #ab--,the ,birth ,of ,antichrist ,revelation #ac--,the ,papal ,and ,protestant ,beasts ,revelation #ad--,the ,five ,harvest ,messages ,revelation #ae--,the ,song ,of ,the ,saints ,revelation #af--;,ecclesiasticism's ,seven ,plagues ,revelation #ag--,the ,papacy's ,last ,stand ,revelation #ah--,the ,fall ,of ,ecclesiasticism ,revelation #ai--,the ,overthrow ,of ,satan's ,empire ,revelation #bj--,the ,thousand ,years' ,reign ,revelation #ba--,the ,descending ,kingdom ,revelation #bb--,the ,river ,of ,grace ,and ,truth ,the ,song ,of ,solomon ,the ,bridal ,anthem ,the ,heavenly ,bridegroom ,the ,book ,of ,the ,prophet ,ezekiel ,ezekiel #a--;,god's ,character ,and ,plan ,ezekiel #b--,the ,rebellious ,house ,and ,the ,book ,ezekiel #c--,pastor ,russell's ,divine ,ordination ,ezekiel #d--,the ,papal ,and ,protestant ,sieges ,ezekiel #e--,the ,severed ,hair ,calamities ,ezekiel #f--,sword--,famine--,pestilence ,ezekiel #g--;,dawn ,of ,the ,evil ,day ,ezekiel #h--,molech1 ,the ,torment ,deity ,ezekiel #i--,the ,man ,with ,the ,inkhorn ,ezekiel #aj--,scattering ,coals ,of ,fire ,ezekiel #aa--,the ,wicked ,counsel ,ezekiel #ab--;,christendom's ,blind ,flight ,ezekiel #ac--,the ,gaps ,in ,the ,wall ,ezekiel #ad--;,insincere ,inquirers ,ezekiel #ae--;,fit ,for ,fuel ,only ,ezekiel #af--,unfaithfulness ,of ,god's ,people ,ezekiel #ag--,parable ,of ,the ,eagles ,ezekiel #ah--8,the ,soul ,that ,sinneth0 ,ezekiel #ai--,the ,lion's ,whelps ,ezekiel #bj--,the ,hypocritical ,ecclesiastics ,ezekiel #ba--,the ,thrice,doubled ,sword ,ezekiel #bb--,the ,melting ,pot ,of ,war ,ezekiel #bc--,two ,apostate ,church ,systems ,ezekiel #bd--,the ,boiling ,caldron ,ezekiel #be--,recompense ,upon ,the ,tares ,ezekiel #bf--;,downfall ,of ,philosophy ,ezekiel #bg--,philosophy's ,utter ,ruin ,ezekiel #bh--;,destruction ,of ,the ,devil ,ezekiel #bi--,the ,egyptians ,a ,type ,ezekiel #cj--,pharaoh's ,two ,arms ,broken ,ezekiel #ca--;,christendom ,not ,to ,endure ,ezekiel #cb--;,christendom's ,utter ,downfall ,ezekiel #cc--,why ,ecclesiasticism ,must ,perish ,ezekiel #cd--,the ,unfaithful ,shepherds ,ezekiel #ce--;,edom ,a ,type ,ezekiel #cf--;,christendom's ,early ,restoration ,ezekiel #cg--,the ,valley ,of ,dry ,bones ,ezekiel #ch--;,final ,overthrow ,of ,pride ,ezekiel #ci--;,death ,of ,pride's ,multitude ,ezekiel #djdh--;,god's ,temple ,and ,river ,of ,truth ,advertisements 8,go ,ye ,also ,into ,the ,vineyard0 8,both the ,houses of ,israel0 ,the ,watch ,tower ,and ,herald ,of ,christ's ,presence ,what ,say ,the ,scriptures ,about ,hell8 ,what ,say ,the ,scriptures ,about ,spiritism8 ,miscellaneous ,advertisements ,footnotes ,cover ,art ,transcriber's ,note3 ,the above cover image was produced by the submitter at ,distributed ,proofreaders1 and is being placed into the public domain4 ,,to ,,the ,,king ,,of ,,kings ,,and ,,lord ,,of ,,lords ,,this ,,work ,,is ,,dedicated ,in the ,interest of ,,his ,,consecrated ,,saints ,waiting for the ,adoption ,and of 8,,all ,,that ,,in ,,every ,,place ,,call ,,upon ,,the ,,lord0 8,,the ,,household ,,of ,,faith0 ,and ,of ,the ,groaning ,creation2 ,travailing ,and ,waiting for the ,manifestation of ,,the ,,sons ,,of ,,god ,,posthumous ,,work ,,of ,,pastor ,,russell ,his ,last ,legacy to the ,dear ,israel of ,god 7,matt #bj3i7 8,to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in ,god40 8,wherein ,he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence1 having made known unto us the mystery of ,his will1 according to ,his good pleasure which ,he hath purposed in ,himself2 that in the dispensation of the fulness of the times ,he might gather together in one all things1 under ,christ40 ,eph4 #c3d1 #e1 #i2 #a3haj ,,publisher',s ,,preface ,since the days of the ,apostles1 ,christian people have been looking for the coming of our ,lord ,jesus in great power and glory2 for ,he said that ,he would come again and receive ,his ,church unto ,himself4 ,he further pointed out that for some time prior to the completion of the ,church ,he would be present1 gathering out from ,babylon and from the world the truly consecrated1 and that during ,his presence 8the ,mystery of ,god0 would be finished4 ,through ,st4 ,john the ,lord ,jesus revealed the fact that the ,church would be developed during seven distinct periods1 or epochs2 and that for each of these epochs ,he would have a special angel1 or messenger1 to serve the other members of the ,body4 ,it follows1 then1 that the messenger to the last1 or ,laodicean1 epoch would declare the ,presence of the ,lord and the time of the ,harvest of the ,gospel ,age4 ,the great ,master laid special emphasis on the importance of the messenger to the seventh1 or ,laodicean1 period of the ,church1 saying that such an one would be 8a faithful and wise servant1 whom his ,lord would make ruler over all ,his ,household1 to give them meat in due season40 ,those consecrated ,christians who have read and fully appreciated the ,truth as contained in the preceding six volumes of ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures readily see and agree that ,charles ,taze ,russell was the messenger of the ,church of ,laodicea4 ,in the mind of every one who believes the ,bible the evidence set forth in this volume will establish that fact beyond the question of a doubt4 ,in the light of ,divine ,prophecy1 now being daily fulfilled and made clear to 8the watchers10 the following from the pen of ,pastor ,russell is further proof that he was sent of ,god to this generation4 ,long years before the beginning of the trouble now upon the nations he wrote3 8,the four exhibitions of the ,lord1 given to ,elijah1 represent1 we believe1 four manifestations in which the ,lord is about to reveal ,himself to mankind1 the first three of which will prepare men for the final one1 in which will come the desired blessing to all the families of the earth4 ,these are3 87#a7 ,the mighty winds rending the very rocks4 ,blowing winds seem to be used in ,scripture for wars4 ,the wars1 whose dark clouds have threatened the civilized world so ominously for the past thirty years1 have been miraculously hindered to give opportunity for #8sealing' the ,lord's consecrated people in their foreheads 7intellectually7 with the ,present ,truth4 ,we are therefore to expect that when these winds of war shall be let loose1 it will mean a cataclysm of warfare which shall divide kingdoms 7mountains7--prefigured by the mighty wind shown to ,elijah 7#a ,kings #ai3aa71 which rent the rocks4 ,but ,god's ,kingdom will not follow the epoch of war2 the world will not thus be made ready for the ,reign of ,immanuel4 ,no2 a further lesson will be needed and will be given4 ,it is represented in 87#b7 ,an earthquake4 ,throughout the ,scriptures an earthquake seems always to represent revolution2 and it is not unreasonable to expect that an era of general warfare would so arouse the lower classes of ,europe and so discontent them with their lot 7and especially with the conditions which would follow such a war7 that revolution would be the next thing in order4 7,rev4 #af3ah47 ,but1 severe though those revolutionary experiences will be to the world1 they are not sufficient to prepare men to hear the voice of ,god4 ,it will require 87#c7 ,the fire from heaven--an epoch of ,divine judgments and chastisements upon a maddened but unconverted world1 wild in anarchy1 as other ,scriptures show us4 ,the results of their wars1 revolutions and anarchy1 in the failure of their schemes1 will have a humbling effect1 and will prepare mankind for ,god's revelation of ,himself in 87#d7 ,the still small voice4 ,yes2 ,he who spoke to the winds and the waves of the ,sea of ,galilee will1 in due time1 #8speak peace to the peoples4' ,he will speak with authority1 commanding the observance of ,his long neglected ,law of ,love4 #8,and whosoever will not hear that ,prophet shall be cut off from among ,his people4' 7,acts #c3bc470--,,the ,,watch ,,tower1 ,july #a1 #ahih1 p4 #cjh4 8,looking back to the prophetic testimony respecting the ,times of the ,gentiles1 we perceive that our ,lord's words1 #8,jerusalem shall be trodden down of the ,gentiles until the ,times of the ,gentiles be filled full1' give the intimation that the determined times1 or years1 in which the empire of earth would be in the hands of ,gentile governments was a fixed one from the ,divine standpoint4 ,and if1 as we believe the ,scriptures to teach1 ,gentile domination was provided for up to ,october1 #aiad1 it would seem but a reasonable interpretation that ,divine power would not be exercised to their dethronement until after the time allotted for their reign had ended--,october1 #aiad40--,,the ,,watch ,,tower1 ,july #a1 #aijd4 p4 #aih4 ,in #ahgi ,charles ,taze ,russell began the publication of ,,the ,,watch ,,tower1 of which he was the sole editor as long as he remained on earth4 ,,the ,,watch ,,tower was1 and is1 the first and only journal declaring the presence of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,pastor ,russell being the messenger to the ,laodicean ,church1 and occupying the position of the ,lord's special servant to give the ,household of ,faith meat in due season1 it was to be expected that he would bring forth from the ,lord's great 8,storehouse0 the needed spiritual food for the ,church1 in harmony with ,god's will4 ,by the ,lord's grace he wrote the six volumes of ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures1 which writings1 aside from the ,bible1 have gladdened more hearts and thrilled ,christians with greater hope and joyful expectation than have any other writings extant4 ,these books have been properly designated 8,keys to the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages40 ,these 8keys0 have been placed in the hands of thousands of ,christian people throughout the world1 and have enabled them to unlock the ,lord's ,treasurehouse1 the ,bible1 and there to see some of the 8treasures of wisdom0 and knowledge of ,god6 ,some have been able to use these 8keys0 more effectually than have others4 8,god hath set the members in the ,body as it hath pleased ,him40 ,time and again ,pastor ,russell said that the ,seventh ,volume of ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures would be written2 and it was expected that he would write it4 ,the ,scriptures show that the ,seventh ,volume must be published4 ,pastor ,russell passed from the earth1 and the ,seventh ,volume remained unpublished4 ,in his last moments he said1 8,some one else can write the ,seventh ,volume40 ,for any one to arrogate to himself the authority to write and publish the ,seventh ,volume would1 we believe1 seem presumptuous before the ,lord4 ,whom1 then1 would the ,lord have to write it8 ,pastor ,russell was a man of unusual modesty4 ,great men usually are modest4 ,the examination of the contents of this book will disclose the fact that it deals with ,revelation and ,ezekiel2 that the ,lord long ago caused to be recorded therein1 in symbolic language1 a history of the ,church1 particularly the closing earthly experiences thereof2 that therein ,he set forth that ,he would uncover the frauds1 deceptions and blasphemous teachings and practices of the church nominal--both ,catholic and ,protestant2 that in the last days ,he would then make bare the unholy alliance between the unrighteous ecclesiastical systems and the corrupt political elements of the earth1 which religious systems have prospered and grown fat in the name of ,christ2 that the ,lord pronounces ,his indignation and wrath against all such ,babylonish systems and marks their utter destruction in a ,time of ,trouble such as the world has never known and will never again know2 and that the earthly creature made prominent therein above all others is the messenger of the ,laodicean ,church--8that wise and faithful servant0 of the ,lord--,,charles ,,taze ,,russell4 ,in view of the facts stated1 is it at all surprising that the ,lord spared him the publication of the ,seventh ,volume8 ,but the fact is1 he did write it4 ,this book may properly be said to be a posthumous publication of ,pastor ,russell4 ,why8 ,because to him the ,lord gave the 8key02 to him was given the privilege of making clear to the ,church in its last years the 8,mystery of ,god02 to him was granted the privilege of hearing from the hands of the ,lord to the ,household of ,faith 8meat in due season0 for the special development and sustenance of ,god's dear little ones4 ,this service he has faithfully performed4 ,this book is chiefly a compilation of things which he wrote and which have been brought together in harmonious style by properly applying the symbols which he explained to the ,church4 ,by his last ,will and ,testament ,pastor ,russell designated ,george ,h4 ,fisher1 of ,scranton1 ,pa41 as one whom he would approve as a member of the ,editorial ,staff of ,,the ,,watch ,,tower--the most important journal published on earth4 ,for many years ,brother ,fisher has been consecrated to the ,lord1 a careful student of the ,bible in the light of the ,message brought from the ,lord by the messenger to the ,laodicean ,church2 and for some time he has made a careful and prayerful study of the ,book of ,ezekiel4 ,when ,pastor ,russell was with us he gave direction that the ,,bible ,,students ,,manual should be prepared by ,clayton ,j4 ,woodworth1 also of ,scranton1 ,pa4 ,this ,manual was published by this ,society1 and has proven a great blessing to the ,household of ,faith4 ,the preparation of that ,manual required a critical examination of everything ,pastor ,russell had written2 and thus ,brother ,woodworth was enabled to become more familiar1 probably1 than any one else with the explanation of the ,scriptures which had been given by ,brother ,russell4 ,in this manner the ,lord seemed to have qualified him for some special work4 ,with the 8key0 which ,brother ,russell1 as the ,lord's servant1 had placed in his hands1 ,brother ,woodworth1 by the ,lord's grace1 has been enabled to bring together everything that ,brother ,russell wrote on ,revelation1 and to explain and harmonize the other parts of that book with the ,divine ,plan2 also1 to treat similarly1 the ,song of ,solomon4 ,it seemed pleasing to the ,lord that ,brothers ,c4 ,j4 ,woodworth and ,george ,h4 ,fisher should prepare the ,seventh ,volume1 under the direction of the ,,watch ,,tower ,,bible ,,and ,,tract ,,society4 ,while both residing in the same city1 they have worked separate and apart from each other1 not even comparing notes4 ,the reader will be able to judge how fully the work of each harmonizes with that of the other and with the ,divine ,plan1 thus giving further evidence of the ,lord's direction in this matter4 ,pastor ,russell long ago said1 in substance1 that the ,seventh ,volume would not be for the development of the ,church2 that the preceding six volumes of ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures contain the necessary spiritual food for that purpose4 ,asked why1 then1 it would be written1 he replied1 8,it will probably be given to the ,church in a time of direst need1 for her comfort and encouragement40 ,who amongst the consecrated this side the veil does not realize that the ,church is now in that time of 8dire need of comfort and encouragement08 ,the hour of fiery trial and great testings is upon ,god's people1 and there is need for their comfort and encouragement4 ,the ,lord has promised 8grace sufficient0 and help for every time of need for those who love ,him and come confidently unto ,him4 ,we believe that as the ,lord's dear children throughout the earth read the contents of this book and see how wonderfully ,he has shielded them from the storms of human passion and from the snares of the great ,adversary2 and that when they see that the unrighteous1 wicked systems of ,babylon are now crumbling under the mighty hand of ,god--which bespeaks the early deliverance of the last members of the ,body from this vale of tears into the glorious light and liberty of the saints--that then they will be greatly comforted2 that then they will take new courage and 8gird up the loins of their mind1 be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to come unto them quickly20 that with exceeding joy they will lift up their heads1 because the hour of deliverance is at hand6 ,to all the truly consecrated who read and appreciate this book we believe that the words of the ,master1 8,,the ,,kingdom ,,of ,,heaven ,,is ,,at ,,hand60 will sound in their ears like clarion notes upon the clear morning air1 giving courage and strength to those who are growing weak in faith1 and more courage to the stronger ones4 ,we believe that every one who appreciates this volume will have a burning desire to grasp his weapon and go forth to the smiting of the ,jordan1 giving praise to the ,lord for the privilege4 ,some will murmur and find fault with this book2 some will grow angry1 and some will join the persecutors4 ,but1 we believe1 every saint whose heart is filled with love for ,god and for ,his people will rejoice and give praise to the ,lord for this further evidence of ,his blessed favor4 ,the publisher takes pleasure in presenting this1 the ,seventh ,volume1 to the remaining members of the ,church1 and to all who may read with profit to themselves and to the glory of the ,lord ,jesus and our ,father4 ,as the ,lord has sent forth the other six volumes1 ,his blessing has accompanied each4 ,that ,his blessing may be upon this volume1 to the comfort and encouragement of the dear saints in the hour of direst need1 is our prayer6 ,,watch ,,tower ,,bible ,,tract ,,society4 ,,explanatory ,,note ,this posthumous work of ,pastor ,russell 7arranged for use as a textbook7 is much condensed1 including the extracts from the ,pastor's pen1 all of which are referred back to his works4 ,the abbreviations used are3 ,a1 ,b1 ,c1 ,d1 ,e1 ,f4 ,the six preceding volumes of 8,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures0 7,citations to ,e in italic figures refer to old editions1 figures in ordinary type to later editions47 ,b4 ,s4 ,m4 444 8,,the ,,bible ,,students ,,monthly40 ,h4 444 8,what ,say the ,scriptures ,,about ,,hell80 ,p,d4 444 8,,photo,,drama ,,of ,,creation0 ,scenario4 ,t4 444 8,,tabernacle ,,shadows40 ,s4 444 8,,spiritism0 ,pamphlet4 ,z4 444 8,,zion',s ,,watch ,,tower10 followed by year and page4 ,the citations to ,,revelation and ,,ezekiel refer to the comments herein1 as well as to the ,bible text4 ,other abbreviations used are3 ,barnes 444 ,barnes' 8,revelation40 ,brit4 444 8,encyclopedia ,britannica40 ,buck 444 ,buck's 8,theological ,dictionary40 ,coffin 444 ,coffin's 8,story of ,liberty40 ,cook 444 ,cook's 8,revelation20 a compendium of the presentations of seventytwo leading commentators on ,revelation1 in all languages and all ages of the church4 ,edgar 444 ,edgar's 8,pyramid ,passages40 ,vol4 ,,ii4 ,mc,c4 444 ,mc,clintock and ,strong's ,encyclopedia4 ,mosheim 444 ,mosheim's ,ecclesiastical ,history4 ,s4 ,b4 ,d4 444 ,smith's ,bible ,dictionary4 ,smith 444 ,smith's 8,thoughts on ,daniel and ,revelation40 ,weym 444 ,weymouth's ,new ,testament ,in ,modern ,speech4 ,,the ,,revelation ,,of ,,st4 ,,john ,,the ,,divine7#a7 ,revelation #a--,the ,message ,for ,this ,day ,the ,revelation of ,jesus ,christ4--,john the ,revelator and the ,prophet ,habakkuk have foretold that the understanding of this revelation1 given in #if ,a4 ,d41 is set for an appointed time1 the end of the age2 and that1 at this time1 now1 when the predicted 8,faithful and wise servant0 would be present with ,god's people1 the vision would be made plain4--,rev4 #a3aj2 ,matt4 #bd3de2 ,hab4 #b3ac2 #a ,pet #a3ac4 ,which ,god gave unto ,him4--8,the declaration that #8the ,son can do nothing of ,himself1' if it were not backed up as it is by a score of other testimonies from the same interested and inspired ,teacher1 is a contradiction to the common thought of ,trinitarians1 that the ,son is the ,father40--,z4 '#iide2 ,john #e3bj2 #ab3di2 #ag3g1h4 ,to shew unto ,his servants ,,saints47#b7--8,our ,lord ,jesus has promised us that1 as the ,elder ,brother 7of the ,gospel ,house of ,sons71 whatsoever the ,father shall make known to ,him ,he in turn will make known to us40--,z4 '#iide4 ,the things4--,the shifting scenes of ,church and ,state1 the history of the ,gospel and ,millennial ,ages4 ,which must shortly come to pass4--,which began at once1 in ,st4 ,john's day1 and will continue until the completion of all that he foresaw4 ,and ,he sent4--,he did not come ,himself1 but acted with the dignity becoming ,him who is now the express ,image of the ,father's person4 8,dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto1 whom no man hath seen1 nor can see40--,heb4 #a3c2 #a ,tim4 #f3af4 ,and signified ,it--8,our ,lord's revelation1 which ,god gave ,him after ,he had passed into glory1 ,he sent and signified signified1 told in signs1 symbols1 etc4 to ,his ,church40--,b4 #bjc4 ,by ,his angel4--,the 8angel0 of ,rev4 #c3ad represented this messenger who appeared to ,st4 ,john4 ,our ,lord's promise in ,luke #ab3dd is not limited to activities on this side the veil4 ,unto ,his servant ,john4--8,this simplicity1 common to all the ,apostles1 commends them to us as men of humble mind--the very kind we should expect our ,lord to use as special messengers to ,his people40--,z4 '#afcdc2 ,rev4 #ai3aj4 #a3b4 ,who bare record4--,previously1 ,in the ,fourth ,gospel1 and in the three epistles bearing his name4 ,of the ,word of ,god4--,the ,logos4 ,st4 ,john has had more to say of the ,logos than had any other ,apostle4 8,in olden times certain kings made addresses to their subjects by proxy1 the king sitting behind a screen1 while his word1 or spokesman1 stood before the screen1 and addressed the people aloud on subjects whispered to him by the king1 who was not seen1 and such a speaker was termed the ,king's logos40--,e4 #idhe4 ,and of the testimony4--,the daily words and deeds1 during the three and a half years of ,his ministry4 ,of ,jesus ,christ4--8,the ,faithful and ,true ,witness40--,rev4 #c3ad4 ,and of all ,,what things that ,,soever he saw4--,st4 ,john's powers of observation were acute4 ,his ,gospel contains records of twentytwo events or teachings not mentioned by the other ,evangelists4 #a3c4 ,blessed is he4--,singular4 ,that readeth4--,correctly interprets the symbolisms4 ,and they4--,plural4 ,that hear the words ,,word of this prophecy4--8,all who have read and understood even a part of the teachings of the book were blessed as promised4 ,it was an important aid to ,luther in deciding that the ,papacy1 of which he was a conscientious minister1 was #8,antichrist' 0--,a4 #bg4 ,and keep4--,keep the eyes upon1 observe 7so the ,greek ,indicates74--,rev4 #bb3g4 ,those things which are written therein4--8,there is a blessing upon those who read this revelation1 even though they do not understand1 and a special blessing upon those who hear and understand the words of this prophecy1 and who conform their lives to the things therein written40--,z4 '#afcdc4 ,for the time is at hand4--,the fulfilments began at once1 in ,st4 ,john's own day4 #a3d4 ,john to the seven churches4--,not merely the seven literal congregations mentioned in ,verse #aa and elsewhere1 but to the epochs of the ,church as a whole1 from ,apostolic days until now4 ,which are in ,asia4--,in the ,orient1 the ,east1 the early path of the sun4 ,before the ,sun of ,righteousness can illuminate the world of mankind1 its rays must first have passed through the ,church1 the first to greet and welcome the ,new ,day4 ,grace be unto you4--,may favor1 unmerited1 be your happy portion4 ,and peace4--,the ,lord's special legacy to ,his ,church4--,john #ad3bg4 ,from ,him4--,our glorified ,lord and ,head4--,rev4 #a3h4 ,which is4--,now selfexistent1 like the ,father4--,john #e3bf4 ,and which was4--,the ,logos1 the ,father's ,agent in the creation of all things 7,john #a3c71 and subsequently1 as man's ,redeemer1 8made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death40--,heb4 #b3i4 ,and which is to come4--,in glory and great power at ,his ,second ,advent1 8until ,he shall have set judgment in the earth40--,isa4 #db3d4 ,and from the seven spirits4--,lamps of fire1 or eyes4 7,rev4 #d3e2 #e3f47 8,in this symbolical picture the eye of the ,lord is represented as seven or complete1 allseeing1 everywhere1 allknowing4 ,this is our confidence1 this is our rejoicing40--,z4 '#jecah2 ,zech4 #c3i1 #d3aj4 ,which are before ,his ,throne4--,which are 8sent forth into all the earth40--,rev4 #d3e4 #a3e4 ,and4--,kai1 even4 ,for a similar use of the word see the expression1 8,god ,himself and our ,father0 7#a ,thes4 #c3aa71 which1 in the ,diaglott1 is rendered1 8,god ,himself1 even our ,father40 ,from ,jesus ,christ the faithful ,witness4--8,who before ,pontius ,pilate witnessed a good confession40 7#a ,tim4 #f3ac47 ,our ,lord's admission to ,pilate1 8,i am a ,king2 to this end was ,i born1 and for this cause came ,i into the world0 7,john #ah3cg71 was the direct cause of ,his death4 ,the accusation set up over ,his head was1 8,this is ,jesus the ,king of the ,jews40 7,john #ai3ai2 ,matt4 #bg3cg47 ,similarly faithful admissions may end the earthly careers of the feetmembers of ,his ,body4 ,the ,first ,begotten of the dead4--8,the ,first,born of the dead ones40 7,diaglott47 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bj2 ,col4 #a3ah2 ,acts #bf3bc47 8,this verse clearly teaches what the creeds of ,christendom ignore2 namely1 that our ,lord was the first to experience a resurrection to perfection and eternal life in the full sense of the word40--,z4 '#afcdc2 ,acts #ac3cc1 #cd4 ,and4--,even4 ,the ,prince4--,the ,king,elect1 now ruling in their hearts4 ,of the kings of the earth4--,his associate kings1 8,the kings of the ,east40 7,rev4 #af3ab47 8,all are to be awakened from the ,adamic death1 as though from a sleep4 ,they will then be under the care of the ,royal ,priesthood1 whose experience with sin1 and whose victory over sin1 well fitted them to be helpful toward those over whom they will reign1 as ,kings as well as ,priests4 7,rev4 #e3aj470--;,e4 #dhg1 #dgh4 ,unto ,him that loved ,,loveth us4--,our ,lord's love for us is everpresent4 ,and washed ,,freed us from our sins in ,,by ,his own blood4--8,that it was the death of the ,man ,christ ,jesus1 ,his #8blood1' that secured our release from sin and death is most unequivocally stated in many ,scriptures4 ,see #a ,pet #a3b2 ,acts #d3ab2 #bj3bh2 ,rev4 #e3i2 ,rom4 #e3i2 ,heb4 #ac3ab40--;,e4 #deh1 #ddf2 ,matt4 #bj3bh2 #a ,tim4 #b3f2 ,rev4 #ad3d4 #a3f4 ,and hath made us4--,and will make us during the ,millennial ,age4 ,kings and ,a ,,kingdom1 priests4--,the work of a priest is that of intervention and of instruction in righteousness4 ,it logically implies subjects and a future work of salvation4--#a ,pet4 #b3i2 ,rev4 #e3aj2 #bj3f2 #bb3e4 ,unto ,god and ,his ,father4--8,unto the ,god and ,father of ,himself40--,diaglott4 ,rom4 #ae3f2 #b ,cor4 #a3c2 ,eph4 #a3c4 ,to ,him be glory and dominion for ever and ever4 ,amen4--8,he shall have dominion also from sea to sea and from the river unto the ends of the earth2444 and let the whole earth be filled with ,his glory2 ,amen1 and ,amen40 7,psa4 #gb3h1 #ai47 8,for ever and ever0 is literally 8for the ages of the ages40 ,the ,millennium and subsequent ages are the ages of the ages4 #a3g4 ,behold1 ,he cometh with clouds4--8,while the clouds of trouble hang heavy and dark1 when the mountains--kingdoms of this world--are trembling and falling1 when the earth--organized society--is being shaken and disintegrated1 some will begin to realize that ,jehovah's ,anointed is taking to ,himself ,his great power and is beginning ,his work of laying justice to the line and righteousness to the plummet40--,z4 '#afcdd2 ,matt #bd3cj4 ,and every eye shall see ,him4--8,he will not be visible to natural sight1 but to the eyes of understanding1 as these shall open to an appreciation of the punishments and blessings which will flow to mankind from ,his ,reign4 ,our ,king will reveal ,himself gradually4 ,some will discern the new ,ruler sooner than will others4 ,but ultimately #8every eye shall see ,greek1 horao1 discern ,him4' 0--,z4 '#afcdd4 ,and they also which pierced ,him4--8,and ,i will pour upon the ,house of ,david1 and upon the inhabitants of ,jerusalem the ,jewish people1 the spirit of grace and of supplications3 and they shall look upon ,me whom they have pierced1 and they shall mourn for ,him1 as one mourneth for his only son40--,zech4 #ab3aj4 ,and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of ,,bewail ,him4--8,at the time of our ,lord's ,second ,advent the world will be far from converted to ,god2 for #8all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of ,him4' ,christ comes before the conversion of the world and for the very purpose of converting all mankind40--,z4 '#afcdd4 ,even so1 ,amen4--,we cannot stop the clouds of the ,time of ,trouble1 or the tears of disappointment1 and later1 of repentance2 and we would not if we could4 ,the trouble and the tears are a necessary preparation for the blessings which follow4 #a3h4 ,i am ,,the ,alpha and ,i ,,am ,,also ,,the ,omega4--,alpha is the first letter1 and ,omega the last letter1 of the ,greek alphabet4 ,the ,beginning and the ,ending4--8,our ,lord's great honor is shown in that ,he was not only the first of ,god's creation1 but the last4 ,from this we are to understand that the great ,jehovah did not directly employ ,his own power in creating either men or angels2 but that ,he delegated ,his power to ,his ,onlybegotten ,son40--,z4 '#icaae4 ,saith the ,lord ,,god4--,but not the clergy2 they will have none of this doctrine4 ,which is1 and which was1 and which is to come1 the ,almighty4--8,it is since ,his resurrection that the message has gone forth--#8,all power in ,heaven and in earth is given unto ,me4' 7,matt #bh3ah47 ,consequently it is only since then that ,he could be called the ,almighty40--,z4 '#icaae2 ,rev4 #a3d2 #af3eg4 #a3i4 ,i ,john1 who also am your brother4--8,instead of adding titles to his name1 as ,reverend1 ,bishop1 ,overseer of all the ,churches in ,asia ,minor1 we find ,john introducing himself as #8your brother4' 0--,z4 '#jaahg4 ,and companion in tribulation4--8,he was sharer with ,christ1 as a member of ,his ,body1 in ,his afflictions1 in ,his endurance2 and the brother of all fellowdisciples1 sharers of the same sufferings1 and prospectively of the same glory40--,z4 '#jaahg3 ,matt4 #bj3bc4 ,and ,in the kingdom4--,now1 while 8the ,kingdom of ,heaven suffereth violence20 and later1 when 8the ,kingdom and dominion1 and the greatness of the ,kingdom under the whole heaven1 shall be given to the people of the saints of the ,most ,high40--,matt #aa3ab2 ,dan4 #g3bg4 ,and patience of ,,in ,jesus ,christ4--,when ,saul persecuted the saints1 he persecuted ,jesus4 ,when ,st4 ,paul suffered as a ,christian1 it was as part of the 8dying of the ,lord ,jesus40 7,acts #i3e2 #b ,cor4 #d3aj47 ,what ,st4 ,john cheerfully endured was endured by ,jesus4 ,was in the isle that is called ,patmos4--8,at the time of this vision ,st4 ,john was a prisoner1 exiled to the ,isle of ,patmos1 a penal colony of those days a convict quarry--a rocky1 barren island in the gean ,sea4 ,the crime for which he suffered this banishment was his faithfulness as the ,lord's mouthpiece4 ,st4 ,john1 the beloved disciple1 in some measure1 or degree1 represented the last living members of the ,body of ,christ 7,john #ba3bjbc7--;a class that see with the eyes of their understanding the visions and revelations which the beloved disciple saw in symbol in a trance4 ,if1 then1 ,st4 ,john's exile in any degree represents ostracism which the ,lord's followers may expect in the close of this ,age--a complete isolation from others and a treatment implying that they are prisoners--they may take comfort from the thought that our ,lord's favor and revelation to ,st4 ,john more than offset his persecutions40--,z4 '#afcdc4 ,for the ,word of ,god4--8,st4 ,john1 with remarkable modesty1 passes over his previous service for the ,truth 7,rev4 #a3b71 which had brought him his persecution1 and lightly passes over the persecution itself1 merely noting that he was in the island because of his fidelity to the ,word of ,god40--,z4 '#jaahg4 ,and for the testimony of ,jesus4--,as recorded in the ,gospel according to ,st4 ,john and the three ,johannean epistles4 #a3aj4 ,i was in the spirit4--8,visions are not realities1 although symbolically representing them4 7,dan4 #g3a2 ,matt4 #ag3i47 ,the visions granted to ,st4 ,john1 recorded in the ,revelation1 are in no sense to be understood as realities40--,z4 '#afcdc2 ,acts #aj3aj4 ,on the ,lord's ,day4--8,according to our understanding of ,bible chronology we today are living in the early dawn of this ,day of ,christ2 and it is here1 properly enough1 that we begin to see the wonderful things of the ,divine ,character and ,plan4 ,but to see and to understand we must be #8in the spirit4' ,only those who have become ,new ,creatures in ,christ can be expected to appreciate spiritual things2 and this is the class which the ,apostle ,john represented40--,z4 '#afcdc4 ,and heard behind me a great voice1 as of a trumpet4--8,the fact that its location is mentioned implies that it has a symbolic meaning4 ,it signifies that the beginning of this ,message was not in ,st4 ,john's day1 nor in the future1 but that the things revealed had already commenced and were already to some extent in the past4 ,as some features of the ,revelation show1 the voice from behind went back to the time of our ,lord's earthly ministry40 7,z4 '#afcdd47 8,as ,john heard a voice behind him and looked in that direction1 so we who now are having the realities find that the ,message is behind us1 and turn and look toward the past to see the fulfilment of the various features of the ,divine ,plan and to hear and understand the ,message given to ,his people by the risen ,lord40--,z4 '#jeafh4 #a3aa4 ,saying1 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the ,first and the ,last3 and ,what thou seest1 write in a book and send it unto the seven churches which are in ,asia4--8,there are many reasons for concluding that while the messages were given to the seven churches specified and were applicable to them1 they should properly have a still wider application to the whole ,church of ,christ1 the number seven representing completeness1 and the order representing different epochs in the history of the ,church4 ,to think otherwise would be to attach more importance to those comparatively small churches of ,asia ,minor than they would seem to have deserved1 and would have implied an ignoring of other churches more numerous and more influential2 as1 for instance1 the churches at ,jerusalem1 ,antioch1 ,corinth1 ,colosse1 ,philippi1 ,thessalonica1 etc4 ,furthermore1 the details of the messages given to these seven churches apply to and fit historically the one ,church of the living ,god1 over every member and branch of which the ,lord has a care4 ,this thought1 that the seven represented completeness1 we find emphasized in the other symbolical representations--in the seven golden candlesticks1 the seven stars1 etc40 7,z4 '#jeafh47 ,colosse 7,col4 #a3b71 ,miletus 7,acts #bj3ag7 and ,hierapolis 7,col4 #d3ac7 were churches in ,asia1 not here mentioned4 ,the ,asia mentioned is the westernmost province of ,asia ,minor4 ,unto ,ephesus4--,the ,apostolic ,age of the ,church4 ,and unto ,smyrna4--,the ,church during the period of persecution by ,pagan ,rome4 ,and unto ,pergamos4--,the ,church during the period of the rise of ,antichrist4 ,and unto ,thyatira4--,the ,church during the ,dark ,ages1 the period of ,antichrist's glory1 and persecution by ,papal ,rome4 ,and unto ,sardis4--,the ,church in the dawn of the ,reformation4 ,and unto ,philadelphia4--,the ,church in the period of reformation by sects4 ,and unto ,laodicea4--,the ,church in the time of the ,lord's ,second ,presence4 #a3ab4 ,and ,i turned to see the voice that spake with me4--8,the ,apostles saw in symbol what the ,lord's people may now see with the eye of faith and understanding4 ,he saw ,one like a son of man--like a man1 like a priest1 as implied by the clothes described--walking amongst seven golden candlesticks1 caring for them1 trimming the wicks1 seeing to the supply of oil1 etc4 ,thus our ,lord ,jesus1 our glorified ,master1 has directed respecting ,his people's affairs1 inspecting and caring for the ,church as a lightbearer1 a candlestick4 ,alas1 how poor the wicks have sometimes been6 ,how feeble the light that has sometimes shone out6 ,how much trimming has been necessary60--,z4 '#afcdd4 ,and being turned1 ,i saw seven golden candlesticks4--8,the ,golden ,candlestick1 or ,lampstand1 which stood opposite the ,golden ,table1 and gave light to all in the #8,holy1' was of gold--all of one piece hammered out4 7,exod4 #be3cacg47 ,it had seven branches1 each of which held a lamp1 making seven lamps in all--a perfect or complete number4 ,this represented the complete ,church1 from the ,head1 ,jesus1 to and including the last member of the #8little flock' that ,he is taking out from among men1 to be partakers of the ,divine 7gold7 nature40--,t4 #aae2 ,rev4 #a3bj2 ,zech4 #d3b2 ,matt4 #e3adaf4 #a3ac4 ,and in the midst of the seven candlesticks4--8,the union1 the relationship between them1 being supplied by our ,redeemer1 the antitypical ,high ,priest40--,z4 '#afcdd4 ,one like unto the son of man4--8,this symbolical picture has precious lessons for us1 more valuable than an attempt to describe to our minds the appearance of our ,lord as a ,spirit ,being1 #8dwelling in light which no man can approach unto1' and which we cannot appreciate until we shall be changed to #8be like ,him and see ,him as ,he is4'--#a ,john #c3b2 #a ,cor4 #ae3ejec40--,z4 '#afcdd2 ,dan4 #g3ac4 ,clothed with a garment down to the foot4--8,the glory of ,christ was manifested in ,his own person1 in ,his own ministry1 and in that of ,his ,twelve ,apostles1 ,his representatives--,st4 ,paul taking the place of ,judas2 with their death the body of ,truth was almost veiled throughout the eighteen centuries intervening1 until now40--,z4 '#afcdd4 ,and girt about the breast4--,the support of the garment at the breast1 instead of the neck1 left the arms and shoulders uncovered1 representing that the early ,church was favored with the light of the true ,gospel for a considerable time after our ,lord and ,head had completed ,his earthly ministry4 ,with a golden girdle4--,gold is a symbol of the ,divine nature2 the girdle a symbol of service4 7,rev4 #ae3f47 ,throughout the ,age the ,lord has been serving ,his ,church4 8,blessed are those servants1 whom the ,lord when ,he cometh shall find watching2 verily ,i say unto you that ,he shall gird ,himself1 and make them to sit down to meat1 and will come forth and serve them40 8,i am among you as he that serveth40--,luke #ab3cg2 #bb3bg4 #a3ad4 ,his head and ,his hairs were white like wool1 as white as snow4--8,the head1 with its white hair1 is not to teach us that our ,lord in glory has the form of a man1 with white hairs1 but merely suggestive and symbolic of knowledge1 experience1 wisdom40--,z4 '#jaahh2 ,matt4 #ag3b4 ,and ,his eyes were as a flame of fire4--8,his eyes like a flame of fire tell us in symbol that our ,master is allseeing1 omniscient2 that ,he is not deceived by outward forms and ceremonies2 but that ,he can1 and does1 read every thought and intent of the heart40--,z4 '#afcdd2 ,rev4 #ai3ab4 #a3ae4 ,and ,his feet like unto fine brass4--8,the feet1 described as like furnacerefined copper1 seem to say that those who belong to the ,body of ,christ1 and whom the ,lord would use in ,his service1 #8the feet' members of the ,body1 must1 in their contact and dealings with the world1 be refined1 purified1 clean--#8,be ye clean1 that bear the vessels of the ,lord's house4' 0--,z4 '#jaahh2 ,ezek4 #a3g4 ,as if they burned in a furnace4--8,in the end of the ,age1 the feet members of the ,body of ,christ will be illuminated by the ,truth and will shine forth--not like the ,head1 but as polished brass4 ,we have shining upon us with almost burning brightness the focused rays of ,divine inspiration and revelation from the past #f1jjj years4 ,how it should consume in us all the dross of selfishness6 ,how it should purify us6 ,how humble it should make us60--,z4 '#afcdd4 ,and ,his voice as the sound of many waters4--8,the many waters signify peoples1 nations and languages1 as elsewhere explained in this book4 ,thus our ,lord1 present with ,his ,church1 speaks to her and through her by many tongues1 in many languages40--,z4 '#jaahh2 ,rev4 #ai3f4 #a3af4 ,and ,he had in ,his right hand4--8,this ,one whom we thus know1 thus recognize1 as the ,instructor and ,caretaker of the candlesticks1 we are also to recognize as having in ,his right hand--in ,his favor as well as ,his power--seven stars1 the angels1 the messengers1 of the seven ,churches4 ,that they are in ,his right hand seems to teach us that these should be considered as in some special sense under the ,master's guidance1 protection and care in the interest of the ,churches which they represented40--,z4 '#afcde2 ,jer4 #bb3bd4 ,seven stars4--8,apparently the stars represent special ministers1 or servants of the ,church4 ,in ,revelation #ab3a the ,church is pictured as a ,woman crowned with twelve stars4 ,these stars evidently represent the ,twelve ,apostles as the special lights of the ,church4 ,similarly1 in the picture before us1 the seven stars which the ,lord holds in ,his right hand seem to represent special lightbearers in the ,church--in each of its seven phases1 or stages1 of development4 ,it will be noticed that the messages to the various ,churches are sent by these stars1 messengers1 angels1 as though our ,lord would have us understand that the appropriate message for each appropriate epoch in the ,church's experience would be sent by the ,lord through a particular star1 or messenger1 whom ,he would especially commission as ,his representative4 ,our ,lord ,himself is represented by the great light of the sun2 and ,his special messengers in the ,church throughout the entire period of the ,gospel ,age are consistently enough represented as stars40--,z4 '#afcde2 ,rev4 #a3bj4 ,and out of ,his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword4--8,no part of the description could more thoroughly convince us that the description of our ,lord given here is symbolic4 ,as a symbolic picture1 it speaks to us of the ,word of the ,lord1 the ,sword of the ,spirit1 #8sharper than any twoedged sword4' 7,eph4 #f3ag2 ,heb4 #d3ab47 ,it reminds us that our ,lord's words are not onesided1 not directed merely against sin in one class1 but that ,his ,word is sharp1 cutting in every direction2 that sin is reproved by ,him as much when found in ,his most earnest followers as when found elsewhere4 ,it assures us that none need attempt to pluck out the mote from his brother's eye without first getting rid of the beam in his own eye2 and that if we do not show mercy to those who are our debtors we must not expect mercy from ,him who has purposed to extend ,his mercy toward us4 ,how heart searching is ,god's ,word when we understand it--not merely as a compendium of rules and regulations1 but when we catch the spirit of it6 ,then we come to see that its requirement is love out of a pure heart2 first1 to the ,heavenly ,father2 secondly1 to our ,lord and ,head2 thirdly1 to all ,his brethren2 fourthly1 to the world in general1 groaning and travailing in pain1 waiting for the blessings of the coming ,day of ,christ2 and fifthly1 toward our enemies also1 sympathetically realizing that they are warped1 twisted and blinded through the deceitfulness of sin and through the machinations of the great ,adversary4--#b ,cor4 #d3d40--,z4 '#afcde2 ,rev4 #b3ab1 #af2 #ai3ae1 #ba2 ,isa4 #aa3d4 ,and ,his countenance was as the sun shineth ,,as ,,the ,,sun in his strength4--8,and his face was as it were the sun40--,rev4 #aj3a2 ,acts #bf3ac4 #a3ag4 ,and when ,i saw ,him1 ,i fell at ,his feet as dead4--8,so great was the splendor that ,st4 ,john fell as dead1 just as ,daniel did in the presence of the mighty ,one whom he saw1 and just as ,saul of ,tarsus did before the majesty presented to him4 7,dan4 #aj3daa2 ,acts #i3ci47 ,so it is symbolically with the ,christian1 when once he gets a glimpse of the glories of the ,divine ,character4 ,when once we get a true view of ,him with whom we have to do1 as the great ,heartsearcher and ,caretaker of ,his ,church1 we fall before ,him1 humbled to the dust1 realizing that we are imperfect1 that we cannot stand before our ,master1 that we are unworthy of ,his blessing40--,z4 '#afcdd2 ,ezek4 #a3bh4 ,and ,he laid ,his right hand upon me4--8,as our ,lord touched ,st4 ,john gently1 raising him up1 so ,he has spoken to us comfort1 peace and love1 assuring us that we have a ,high ,priest that can be touched with a feeling of our infirmities1 ,one who is able to sympathize and mercifully to assist40--,z4 '#afcde4 ,saying unto me1 ,fear not2 ,i am the ,first and the ,last4--8,we must recognize that our ,lord is the ,one who was the beginning of the creation of ,god and the end of it1 the ,one by whom are all things1 next to the ,father in everything pertaining to the affairs of the ,universe4--,col4 #a3ae2 ,rev4 #c3ad2 ,john #a3ac2 #a ,cor4 #h3f40--,z4 '#afcde2 ,rev4 #a3aa2 #b3h4 #a3ah4 ,i am ,he that liveth1 and was dead4--8,the ,lord now liveth1 and in order to appreciate this we understand that ,he was dead for parts of three days--not merely apparently dead1 but actually dead--,his soul poured out unto death1 made an offering for sin4--,isa4 #ec3ajab40 7,z4 '#jaahi47 8,it was because ,christ's soul 7being7 was dead that the ,apostles could declare that unless ,his soul1 being1 were made alive again by a resurrection there could be no hope in ,him as a ,savior and a ,lifegiver40--,z4 '#jaabb4 ,and behold1 ,i am alive for evermore1 ,amen4--8,death has no more dominion over ,him4 7,rom4 #f3i47 ,neither sacrifices of the ,mass nor death in any sense or form ever will be needed4 ,his work is perfect4 #8,it is finished6' 0--,z4 '#afcde2 ,john #ai3cj4 ,and have the keys of hell ,,death4--8,he has the key1 the power over death1 in order that those who have not yet gone into the tomb1 but who are under the death sentence1 may all be ultimately delivered into the full liberty of the sons of ,god--righteousness and life everlasting4--,rom4 #h3ba40--,z4 '#afcde4 ,and of death ,,hell4--8,these words imply that the ,lord's people go to ,hades1 and that the hope when going down to ,hades1 to oblivion1 is that in due time our great ,redeemer shall unlock this figurative prisonhouse of death and bring forth the captives4 ,this is the significance of the statement that ,he has the keys--,he can open2 all power is given into ,his hand4 ,in preaching at ,his ,first ,advent1 ,he declared this to be the ,gospel4 7,isa4 #fa3a2 ,luke #d3ah47 ,how full of meaning are these ,scriptures when viewed from the proper standpoint2 how confusing and absurd when viewed from any other60--,e4 #cig1 #cgh4 #a3ai4 ,write ,,therefore the things which thou hast seen4--,john was personally familiar with the first epoch1 then already in the past4 ,what he wrote of that epoch 7,rev4 #b3ag7 serves as a guide to what follows4 ,and the things which are4--,john was writing in the second epoch1 already in its persecution era4--,rev4 #b3haa4 ,and the things which shall be ,,must ,,shortly ,,come ,,to ,,pass hereafter4--,the five remaining epochs of the ,church1 and the ,kingdom to follow4 #a3bj4 ,the mystery of the seven stars4--,every true reformer must go contrary to the current of his times2 and1 in proportion as he has the ,master's spirit1 he cannot fail to be1 like ,him1 a man of mystery to his own generation--8a ,stone of ,stumbling and a ,rock of ,offense0--to those who have not 8ears to hear40 ,which thou sawest in ,my right hand4--,small wonder that these great reformers seemed almost to have charmed lives6 ,and the seven golden candlesticks4--8,the ,candlestick1 or ,lampstand1 represents the nominal1 rather than the true ,church4 ,this is shown by the fact that in addressing each of these churches the ,lord finds fault with the many and approves the faithful few40--,z4 '#afcdd4 ,the seven stars4--8,the starlight is the ,heavenly light1 the spiritual enlightenment or instruction4 ,the lamplight is the earthly light1 representing good works1 obedience1 etc41 of those who are exhorted to let their light so shine that it will glorify their ,father in ,heaven40--,z4 '#afcde4 ,are the angels of the seven churches4--8,the title is borrowed from the ,jewish ,synagogue1 in which the angel1 or messenger of the assembly1 was the person who presided over and arranged the meetings for worship40 7,cook47--,mal4 #b3g2 ,hag4 #a3ac4 ,and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches4--8,alas6 ,the ,master evidently found but few good works1 little glorifying light shining out from ,his earthly representatives in many of the seven epochs of the history of the ,church40--,z4 '#afcdd2 ,rev4 #a3ab2 ,zech4 #d3b4 ,revelation #b--,st4 ,paul1 ,st4 ,john1 ,arius ,and ,waldo #b3a4 ,unto ,,by the angel4--,the special messenger in the ,harvest of the ,jewish ,age was ,st4 ,paul4 ,a ,hebrew of the ,hebrews 7,phil4 #c3e71 he was a freeborn ,roman citizen 7,acts #bb3bebi71 highly educated 7,acts #bb3c71 spoke ,greek 7,acts #ba3cg7 and ,hebrew 7,acts #bb3b71 and was presumably a member of the ,sanhedrin at the time of ,st4 ,stephen's death4 7,acts #g3eh2 #h3a2 #bf3aj47 ,chosen before his birth 7,gal4 #a3ae71 he was supernaturally inducted into the ,body of ,christ 7,acts #i3abb7 to take the place of ,judas 7,psa4 #aji3h2 ,acts #a3bj71 was privately instructed in the fullness of the ,gospel 7,gal4 #a3aa1 #ab1 #ag71 was specially commissioned to explain this ,gospel to the brethren at ,jerusalem 7,gal4 #b3a1 #b71 did not hesitate to correct the erring ,peter 7,gal4 #b3aa71 was acknowledged by ,st4 ,peter as filled with ,heavenly wisdom 7#b ,pet4 #c3ae1 #af71 wrote over half of the books of the ,new ,testament1 carried the ,gospel into ,europe 7,acts #af3i71 supported himself with his own hands while he preached 7,acts #bj3cbce71 and suffered almost unbelievable hardships of every description--besides having 8the care of all the churches40 7#b ,cor4 #aa3bdbh47 ,what a service and honor1 here and hereafter1 ,judas missed by his love of money6 ,st4 ,paul was beheaded by ,nero1 ,a4 ,d4 #ff4 ,of the church of ,,in ,ephesus4--,the first age of the ,church began at ,pentecost in the spring of ,a4 ,d4 #cc1 and ended in the spring of ,a4 ,d4 #gc4 8,it may be proper to mention also what things occurred that show the benignity of that allgracious ,providence1 that had deferred their destruction for forty years after their crimes against ,christ40 7,eusebius' ,ecclesiastical ,history47 8,on the #aeth of ,nisan1 i4 e41 of ,april1 in the year #gc ,a4 ,d41 the first day of the ,easter festival1 the same day on which1 according to tradition1 the ,god of ,israel had led ,his people out of ,egyptian bondage into freedom1 the last bulwark of ,israel's liberty had fallen1 and ,israel was delivered into bondage40 7,cornil's ,history of the ,people of ,israel47 8,masada attained great importance in the war with the ,romans4444 ,with the fall of ,masada the war came to an end1 on the #aeth of ,nisan1 #gc40 7,the ,jewish ,encyclopedia47 8,the capture of ,masada1 a ,jewish fortress on the southwestern shores of the ,dead ,sea1 put a termination to one of the fiercest struggles recorded in history 7#gc ,a4 ,d470--,morrison's ,jews ,under ,roman ,rule4 8,judea was not entirely subjugated2 for three strong fortresses were still in arms3 ,herodium1 ,machaerus1 and ,masada4444 ,the heroes agreed to this proposal 7of their leader ,eleasar7 even with enthusiasm1 and on the first day of the great ,feast of the ,passover 7,a4 ,d4 #gc71 after slaying their own wives and children1 they all perished on their own swords40 7,graetz's ,history of the ,jews1 ,vol4 #b47 8,eleasar accordingly persuaded all his people during that night to kill their wives and children and then themselves1 but to burn all their treasures first4 ,the next day the ,romans found only #ifj dead bodies1 whilst but two women and five children hid themselves in caverns and were discovered4 ,the ,easter of the year #gc1 just seven years from the beginning of the great movement and #dj years after ,christ's crucifixion1 saw this end of the whole tragedy40 7,ewald's ,history of ,israel1 ,vol4 #g1 which is entitled 8,the ,apostolic ,age10 and which ,prof4 ,ewald makes to end with the year ,a4 ,d4 #gc47 ,josephus also relates that ,masada fell on the #aeth of ,nisan1 ,april1 ,a4 ,d4 #gc2 but the quotation is too lengthy to be inserted here4 ,the meaning of the word ,ephesus is 8permission10 which1 understood as 8approval10 harmonizes well with the tradition that the meaning is 8desirable40 ,anything that has approval is desirable4 ,write4--,st4 ,paul wrote a third of the ,new ,testament4 ,these things saith ,he that holdeth the seven stars in ,his right hand4--8,in the first chapter we have a description of #8,one like unto a son of man4' ,some one or more of the features of this description are mentioned in connection with each of the successive stages of the ,church40--,z4 '#afcdf2 ,rev4 #a3af1 #bj4 ,who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks4--8,we could not doubt the love and care of our glorified ,head even if ,he had given us no explicit declaration on the subject40 7,f4 #dja2 ,rev4 #a3ac2 ,lev4 #bd3bd47 #b3b4 ,i know thy works4--,the early ,christians 8took joyfully the spoiling of their goods0 7,heb4 #aj3cd72 in 8great trial of affliction0 they abounded in joy1 and in 8deep poverty0 were liberal 8beyond their power40 7#b ,cor4 #h3b1 #c47 ,they were living epistles1 8known and read of all men40--#b ,cor4 #h3b1 #c4 ,and thy labor4--,considered as betrayers of the ,jewish faith2 living in the midst of heathen idolatry1 without railways1 steamships1 automobiles1 bicycles1 telegraphs1 telephones1 printing1 postal service1 electricity1 gas1 or kerosene--in the midst of densest ignorance and basest morals--the early ,christians traversed the seas and lands of the known world1 braving floggings1 stonings1 hunger1 thirst1 cold1 nakedness and martyrdom1 that they might tell the good news of the coming ,kingdom4--#b ,cor4 #aa3bdbg4 ,and thy patience4--,hupomonee4 8,an endurance of wrong or affliction with contentment1 without rebellion of will1 with full acquiescence in the ,divine ,wisdom and ,love40--,z4 '#jaaae4 ,and how thou canst not bear them which are evil4--8,how much earnestness it produced in you6 what an apology6 what indignation6 what earnest desire6 what zeal6 what a punishment6 ,in everything you proved yourselves to be pure in this matter40 7#b ,cor4 #g3aa1 ,diaglott47 8,sufficient for such a person is this punishment1 which was inflicted by the majority2 so that1 on the other hand1 you ought to forgive and comfort him1 lest such an one should be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow4 ,wherefore ,i entreat you publicly to confirm your love towards him40--#b ,cor4 #b3fh1 ,diaglott4 ,and thou hast tried4--,made experiment of1 ,greek implies4 ,them which say they are ,,call ,,themselves apostles1 and are not1 and hast found them liars4--8,giving out that himself was some great one10 like the clergy of other times1 ,simon ,magus sought 8also this power1 that on whomsoever ,i lay hands1 he may receive the ,holy ,spirit10 but learned that he had 8neither part nor lot in this matter0 because his heart was 8not right in the sight of ,god40 7,acts #h3ibd47 ,also1 there were 8certain men which came down from ,judea0 7,acts #ae3a1 #b71 the 8false apostles1 deceitful workers1 transforming themselves into the apostles of ,christ0 in ,corinth 7#b ,cor4 #aa3abae72 8,hymenaeus and ,alexander0 7#a ,tim4 #a3bj72 8,philetus0 7#b ,tim4 #b3ag72 those who would 8pervert the ,gospel of ,christ0 in ,galatia 7,gal4 #a3g72 8,phygellus and ,hermogenes40--#b ,tim4 #a3ae2 ,acts #bj3bhcj2 ,rev4 #b3f4 #b3c4 ,and hast borne and hast patience4--,hupomonee1 constant1 cheerful endurance4 ,and ,,all ,,afflictions ,,and ,,hast ,,borne for ,my name's sake hast labored4--8,and hast suffered on account of ,my name40 7,diaglott47 8,as concerning this sect1 we know that everywhere it is spoken against40 7,acts #bh3bb47 ,the natural course is1 hatred1 slander1 then murder4 7,matt4 #e3ba1 #bb47 ,it is said that ,peter was crucified with head downward 7,a4 ,d4 #gj72 ,andrew was crucified on a cross decussate 7,x72 ,james was murdered by ,herod 7,a4 ,d4 #dd71 7,acts #ab3b72 ,bartholomew was first flayed alive and then crucified with his head downward2 ,matthew died a martyr 7supposedly72 ,thomas was impaled on a spear2 ,james the son of ,alphaeus was thrown down from the ,temple and was then stoned1 and his brains dashed out with a club2 ,simon ,zelotes was crucified2 ,paul beheaded4 ,and hast not fainted4--8,let us not be weary in well doing3 for in due time we shall reap1 if we faint not40 7,gal4 #f3i47 8,consider ,him that endured such contradiction of sinners against ,himself1 lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds40--,heb4 #ab3c4 #b3d4 ,nevertheless ,i have somewhat against thee4--,the ,lord's nominal people of the ,apostolic ,age4 ,because thou hast left thy first love4--8,i marvel that ye are so soon removed from ,him that called you into the grace of ,christ unto another gospel40--,gal4 #a3f4 #b3e4 ,remember therefore from whence thou art fallen4--8,call to remembrance the former days1 in which1 after ye were illuminated1 ye endured a great fight of afflictions2 partly1 whilst ye were made a gazing stock both by reproaches and afflictions2 and partly1 whilst ye became companions of them that were so used40--,heb4 #aj3cb1 #cc4 ,and repent1 and do the first works4--8,cast not away therefore your confidence1 which hath great recompense of reward40--,heb4 #aj3ce4 ,or else ,i will come unto thee quickly1 and will remove thy candlestick out of his place1 except thou repent4--,the nominal church was in grave danger of being disowned and rejected4 8,by far the larger proportion were not consecrated to death1 not of the ,royal ,priesthood1 but merely ,levites1 doing the service of the ,sanctuary1 but not sacrificing40--,t4 #aah4 #b3f4 ,but this thou hast1 that thou hatest the deeds of the ,nicolaitanes4--8,conquerors of the people0--the clergy4--,rev4 #b3ae4 ,which ,i also hate4--,when the ,lord's people hate the idea of a class that seeks to be 8lords over ,god's heritage0 7#a ,pet4 #e3b1 #c71 they hate something that the ,lord hates4 #b3g4 ,he that hath an ear4--,to receive and understand the voice of ,god through ,his ,word4--,matthew #aa3ae2 #ac3i1 #dc2 ,rev4 #ac3i4 ,let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4--8,if they have persecuted ,me1 they will also persecute you2 if they have kept observed1 #8heard' ,my saying1 they will keep yours also40--,john #ae3bj4 ,to him that overcometh4--,see #a ,john #b3ac1 #ad4 ,will ,i give to eat of the tree of life4--8,all the trees in ,eden were trees of life1 and the overcomers of the ,gospel ,age shall have full liberty to partake of #8the tree of the knowledge of good and evil' when the knowledge will be of benefit to them1 and not bring a curse40--,z4 '#afcdf4 ,which is in the midst of the ,paradise of ,god4--8,paradise1 the garden of ,god1 was applicable as a name to the ,garden of ,eden1 in which our first parents resided while they were still in harmony with ,god1 before their disobedience2 and the same term is ,scripturally applied as a name to the new earth when restitution blessings shall1 during our ,lord's ,second ,presence 7the ,millennium71 have brought it to perfection as the fit abode of those who1 under ,divine favor1 shall then prove worthy of life everlasting4 ,it is this same ,paradise of the future on this earth that our ,lord referred to when addressing the penitent thief1 and that is elsewhere referred to as #8the third heaven'--#8new heavens and a new earth4' 7#b ,cor4 #ab3b1 #d2 #b ,pet4 #c3ac470--,z4 '#jaaih4 #b3h4 ,and unto ,,by the angel4--,the mouthpiece of the ,lord to the second epoch of the ,church was ,st4 ,john himself4 ,he was the one whom ,jesus specially loved 7,john #ac3bc2 #bj3b2 #ba3g1 #bj72 to him ,jesus committed ,his choicest earthly possession 7,john #ai3bf72 length of days were implied in the ,lord's statement1 8,if ,i will that he tarry till ,i come1 what is that to thee80 7,john #ba3bb47 ,he died at ,ephesus at the age of #ajj1 four years after writing the ,apocalypse4 ,polycarp1 ,ignatius and ,papias1 his disciples1 record that he was a tower of strength to the ,church when the ,roman ,emperors ,nero1 ,domitian and ,trajan were endeavoring to destroy the hated sect4 ,when all his capacity to work was gone1 and he had no strength even to stand1 he used to be carried into the ,christian assemblies where he would repeat the exhortation1 8,little children1 love one another40 8,the end of the commandment is love0 7#a ,tim4 #a3e72 and it is significant that the epoch of the ,church especially under ,st4 ,john's faithful and loving care receive no reproof whatever from the ,lord4 ,of the church in ,smyrna4--,greek1 myrrh4 ,the word means 8bitter10 and1 as applied to the history of the church from ,a4 ,d4 #gc to #cbe1 is peculiarly appropriate4 ,this era comprised persecutions under ,nero1 when ,christian women were soaked with tar and burned as torches to light the path of his chariot2 under ,domitian1 in the year #ie1 when #dj1jjj suffered martyrdom2 under ,trajan in the year #ajj2 under ,antoninus2 under ,severus in the year #abg1 when beautiful and amiable young women were stripped naked before insulting mobs and gored to death by wild cattle2 under ,maximinus in ,a4 ,d4 #bce2 under ,decius in #bej1 when all ,christians were driven from their estates2 under ,valerian in #beg2 under ,aurelian in #bgd2 and under ,diocletian in ,a4 ,d4 #cjc4 ,write4--,st4 ,john wrote more of the ,new ,testament than any other except ,st4 ,paul4 ,these things saith the ,first and the ,last4--8,in no other sense or way could ,he be the ,first and the ,last than as the only direct creation of the ,father1 through whom all else was created4 ,any other view would be in conflict with the ,scriptures4 7,rev4 #c3ad2 ,col4 #a3ae2 #a ,cor4 #h3f2 ,john #a3ac1 ,diaglott470--,z4 '#afcdf2 ,rev4 #a3aa1 #ag4 ,which was dead1 and is alive4--,this1 in itself1 must have been a message of comfort and hope to the suffering martyrs4--,rev4 #a3ah4 #b3i4 ,i know thy works1 and tribulation1 and poverty4--8,some of the most sublime pictures of ,christian endurance that the world has ever seen were enacted during the ,smyrna period of the ,church40--,z4 '#afcdf4 ,but thou art rich4--8,the blessing of the ,lord1 it maketh rich40--,prov4 #aj3bb2 ,luke #ab3ba2 #a ,tim4 #f3ah2 ,james #b3e4 ,and ,i know the blasphemy of them which say they are ,jews1 and are not4--8 #8,they are not all ,israel which are of ,israel4' 7,rom4 #i3f1 #g47 #8,he is not a ,jew which is a ,jew outwardly1 neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh2 but he is a ,jew which is one inwardly1 and circumcision is that of the heart4' 0--,z4 '#iifh4 ,but are the synagogue of ,satan4--8,sold under sin1 by our first parent1 ,adam1 his family became #8slaves of sin' through the weakness of heredity4 7,rom4 #e3ab1 #ba2 #f3afbc2 #g3ad2 #h3bj1 #ba47 ,in this captive condition they have been blinded by the god 7ruler7 of the present evil world 7condition7 who puts evil before their minds as good1 and darkness for light4 7#b ,cor4 #d3d2 ,eph4 #f3ab2 ,isa4 #e3bj47 ,he has general control2 first of the masses through ignorance2 and secondly1 of the more intelligent through pride1 selfishness1 etc40--,e4 #bje1 #ahi4 #b3aj4 ,fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer4--,some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and torn in pieces by devouring dogs2 some were tortured in redhot iron chairs2 the throats of ,christian infants were cut2 and edicts were published in all places against the ,christians1 who were exposed1 without protection1 to the common rage4--,matt4 #aj3bb4 ,behold1 the ,devil4--8,it is because there are such beasts as lions1 bears and leopards1 with known characteristics1 that governments were likened to them2 and so1 it is because there is a ,devil1 with known characteristics1 that the fourth empire is likened to him40 7,a4 #bei47 ,the ,devil used the ,roman empire as an instrument4 ,shall cast some of you into prison4--,restrain your liberties and opportunities for service4 ,that ye may be tried4--8,those who have read the history of this period can understand the depths of these words40--,z4 '#afcdf2 ,jas4 #a3b1 #c2 #a ,pet4 #a3f1 #g4 ,and ye shall have tribulation ten days4--8,the ten symbolic days refer to the last and most severe persecution under the ,roman ,emperors--that of the reign of ,diocletian1 ,a4 ,d4 #cjccac40 7,z4 '#afcdf47 8,this persecution continued from ,february #bc1 ,a4 ,d4 #cjc1 to ,june #ac1 ,a4 ,d4 #cac4 ,it began in ,nicomedia1 and became universal4 ,some were impaled alive2 some had their limbs broken1 and were left to expire4 ,some were roasted by slow fires2 some suspended by their feet with their heads downward1 and1 a fire being placed under them1 were suffocated by the smoke4 ,some had melted lead poured down their throats2 the flesh of some was torn off with fingers and toes4 ,houses filled with ,christians were set on fire4 ,numbers of ,christians were tied together and thrown into the sea4 ,seventeen thousand were slain in one month2 and during the continuance of this persecution in ,egypt alone #add1jjj ,christians died by violence1 besides #gjj1jjj that died through the fatigues of banishment or the public works to which they were condemned4 ,coins were struck1 and inscriptions set up recording the fact that ,christian superstition was now utterly exterminated40--,mc,c4 ,be thou faithful unto death4--8,it is required of all consecrators that they shall #8die daily1' and that the end1 with us as with our ,lord and ,head1 shall be literal death4 ,as it is written3 #8,i have said1 ,ye are gods elohim--mighty ones1 all of you sons of the ,highest2 yet ye shall die like men1 ye shall fall like one of the princes'--not like ,prince ,adam1 convicts2 but like ,prince ,jesus1 participators in ,his death4 7,psa4 #hb3f1 #g470--;,f4 #ddd4 ,and ,i will give thee a ,crown of ,life4--8,the ,apostle ,james speaks of the same crown and calls it the ,crown of ,life4 7,jas4 #a3ab47 ,the ,apostle ,peter speaking of the same calls it the ,crown of ,glory4 7#a ,pet4 #e3d47 ,the thought at the bottom of each of these expressions is the same2 namely1 the custom in olden times of running races and the giving of a crown to the successful runner at the end of the course4 ,our reward will be the ,crown of ,life in the sense that we shall get life on the highest plane1 inherent life1 immortality4 ,it will be a ,crown of ,righteousness in the sense that only those who are approved of ,god as righteous will thus be rewarded and glorified--the righteousness of the ,lord fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh1 but after the spirit40--,z4 '#jcaij2 ,rev4 #c3aa2 #b ,tim4 #b3ae2 ,isa4 #fb3c2 ,phil4 #c3ad4 #b3aa ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches2 he that overcometh4--,the overcomer of this ,gospel ,age only4 ,shall not be hurt of the ,second ,death4--,his victory is eternal4 #b3ab4 ,and to ,,by the angel4--,the messenger whose testimony was of special value to the ,church while the ,papacy was rising into power was ,arius4 ,he 8maintained that the ,son of ,god was totally and essentially distinct from the ,father2 that ,he was the first and noblest of those beings whom ,god had created--the instrument by whose subordinate operation ,he formed the ,universe2 and therefore inferior to the ,father both in nature and dignity40 7,buck47 8,the controversy spread like a flame throughout the empire4 ,accordingly the first ecumenical council was held at ,nice1 ,a4 ,d4 #cbe1 consisting of #cah bishops1 most of whom were from the ,east4 ,the gist of the question to be settled by the ,council of ,nice lay in the argument of ,arius3 #8,the ,father is a father2 the ,son is a son2 therefore the ,father must have existed before the ,son2 therefore once the ,son was not2 therefore ,he was made1 like all creatures1 of a substance that had not previously existed4' ,the creed1 as finally adopted1 condemned the heresy of ,arius and fixed the doctrine as it has been held in the church to this day4 ,of all the bishops only ,thomas of ,marmarica1 and ,secundus of ,ptolemais1 held out against the threat of banishment by the ,emperor4 ,arius was excommunicated and banished1 and his books burnt40--,mc,c4 8,from the time the ,nicene ,creed was promulgated and accepted1 ,a4 ,d4 #cbe1 there was practically no more ,bible study for over twelve centuries4 ,during all that time ,bible study was considered unnecessary1 because the ,apostolic ,bishops had formulated the creeds as proper statements of the ,church's faith4 ,to study the ,bible would have meant the studying of how to fight against the ,emperor and the bishops40 7,z4 '#aebec47 8,as a result of the failure of these bishops to stand by the ,word of the ,lord1 ,god's people for centuries have been confessing a ,divine trinity1 which is incomprehensible2 and meantime been neglecting the trinity taught by the ,bible1 which is more reasonable4 ,if the trinity of the creeds was questioned1 hands were lifted in horror1 and the questioner was told that the subject was a mystery1 which he could not possibly understand1 but to doubt which would mean his damnation6 ,the mysterious proposition was sometimes stated to be #c #a is #a2 but others stated it differently1 #a #c is #a4 ,no wonder if some of the more intelligent specimens of our race declared themselves incapable of understanding such mathematics1 and too honest to confess and profess what they could not believe60 7,b4 ,s4 ,m47 ,the witness of ,arius created a profound impression4 8,the doctrine was carried1 in the fifth century1 into ,africa1 under the ,vandals2 and into ,asia1 under the ,goths4 ,but it sunk almost at once1 when the ,vandals were driven out of ,africa1 and the ,goths out of ,italy1 by the arms of ,justinian4 ,however1 it revived again in ,italy1 under the protection of the ,lombards1 in the seventh century1 and was not extinguished till about the end of the eighth4 ,arianism was revived in the ,west by ,servetus1 in #aeca1 for which he suffered death40--,buck4 ,of the church in ,pergamos4--,from ,purgos1 a tower or citadel4 8,the name was originally given to a remarkable hill1 presenting a conical appearance when viewed from the plain1 and strongly fortified by nature and art40 7,s4 ,b4 ,d47 ,concerning the literal city of ,pergamos1 of which the rising ,papacy was the antitype1 we read1 8,the sumptuousness of the princes raised ,pergamos to the rank of the first city of ,asia as regards splendor4 ,it was a sort of union of a pagan cathedral city1 a university town1 and a royal residence1 embellished during a succession of years by kings who all had a passion for expenditure and ample means of gratifying it40--,mc,c4 ,from the witness by ,arius in #cbe to the witness by the next special messenger of the ,church was the long period of #hce years2 and during all that time the ,papacy was slowly rising1 pushing itself higher and higher4 8,the first ecumenical council of ,nice 7#cbe71 in its sixth canon1 makes only an incidental mention of the ,roman bishop4 ,the first pope1 in the real sense1 was ,leo ,i 7#ddjdfa74 ,the bishops of the ,african and the ,spanish churches submitted to his demands1 and he gained an important foothold even in the ,east4 ,in ,gaul1 however1 he met with a most determined resistance4 ,gregory ,i 7#eijfjd7 saw that the bishops of ,rome could not enjoy the ecclesiastical supremacy at which they aimed until they threw off their political dependency4 ,the triumph of the ,catholic ,church over ,arianism in ,spain greatly promoted his plans2 but he did not as yet actually possess the power of the mediaeval popes4 ,in the seventh and eighth centuries a series of important events gave the popes a high and influential position among the secular governments of the world4 ,the actual power was1 however1 for several centuries1 not commensurate with their claims and aspirations4 ,in #ajgc1 ,hildebrand 7,gregory ,,vii71 after being for about twentyfive years the guide of the ,papal policy1 boldly set forth the theory of a theocratic rule of the pope over all the nations of the world4 ,the period from ,gregory ,,vii onward is an almost continuous conflict between the popes and the secular governments1 during which the former1 with an iron firmness1 endeavored at first to destroy the direct influence of the princes upon the church1 and secondly1 to subject all secular governments to the church4 ,this conflict was ended by the ,concordat of ,worms 7#aabb71 by which ,emperor ,henry ,v1 after the precedence of the governments of ,england and ,france1 surrendered #8to ,god1 to ,st4 ,peter and ,paul1 and to the ,catholic ,church1 all right of investiture4' 0 7,mc,c47 ,the ,pergamos 78earthly elevation07 era ended in ,a4 ,d4 #aafj1 as will be shown4 ,write4--,arius' writings were destroyed by ,constantine4 ,these things saith ,he which hath the sharp sword with two edges4--,how the sharp sword1 ,god's ,word1 wielded by ,arius before the ,emperor and his brother elders at the ,nicean ,council1 must have cut some of them to the heart when they saw the gentle and aged man 7,arius was old at the time the controversy arose7 banished into the ,balkan mountains1 one of the most inhospitable places in the world6--,isa4 #aa3d1 #di3b2 ,hos4 #f3e2 ,eph4 #f3ag2 #b ,thes4 #b3h4 #b3ac4 ,i know thy works1 and where thou dwellest1 even where ,satan's seat is4--8,during this period1 the true ,christians were tested and proved by the introduction and development of ,pagan and ,papal ideas4 ,the ,pagan priests1 unwilling to lose their positions of honor and influence amongst the people1 while nominally professing ,christianity1 brought their former ideas with them into the ,christian ,church40 7,z4 '#afcdf47 ,the word seat is rendered throne in ,lu4 #a3cb1 and refers to ,satan's 8hellish parody of the ,heavenly ,kingdom40--,cook4 ,and thou holdest fast ,my name1 and hast not denied ,my faith1 even in those days wherein ,antipas was ,my faithful martyr4--,throughout all the western part of ,europe the ,bishop of ,rome finally came to be called the papa1 or pope1 or ,father of the church4 8,whoever denounced this attempt to disobey the direct command of ,jesus 7,matt4 #bc3i71 received the promised persecution4 7#b ,tim4 #c3ab47 ,this class in ,pergamos is commended by our ,lord under the symbol of #8,antipas1 ,my faithful martyr4' ,in ,greek1 anti means against1 and papas signifies father40--,z4 '#afcdg4 ,who was slain among you1 where ,satan dwelleth4--,we can give but a partial list of the popes who served from the condemnation of ,arius to the end of the ,pergamos epoch2 but it will be instructive to those who trust in human ordination and are in sympathy with the efforts of presentday clergy to get some of the special spirit that is supposed to be imparted by the laying on of hands of these 8successors of ,st4 ,peter10 or those to whom they imparted their 8authority40 8,saint0 ,gregory ,i1 pope #eijfjd ,a4 ,d41 was the greatgreatgrandchild of ,pope ,felix ,,ii4 ,when ,phocas murdered ,emperor ,maurice and ascended the throne1 ,gregory wrote1 8,the ,almighty has chosen you and put you on the throne4 ,let the heavens rejoice1 and let the earth leap for joy40 ,phocas was not ungrateful and in return established the supremacy of the see of ,rome over all the other sees4 ,gregory was the discoverer of ,purgatory1 it having been revealed to him by means of 8apparitions0 and visions4 ,see middle of page #abg4 ,honorius ,i1 #fbefch1 has been condemned as having taught a heresy ex cathedra 7officially74 ,the interest in this lies in the fact that in #ahgj the ,vatican ,council declared the infallibility of all the popes in their ex cathedra utterances4 ,but the pope who declared ,honorius a heretic did it ex cathedra also4 ,hundreds of 8learned0 volumes have been written in the effort to make this pretty snarl clear to the ,roman clergy4 ,it is clear enough to others4 8,saint0 ,agathon1 #fghfhb1 claimed to be a miracle worker4 ,he was the infallible pope who denounced the doctrines taught by infallible ,honorius ,i4 8,saint0 ,nicholas ,i1 #hehhfg1 8tamed kings and tyrants1 and ruled the world like a sovereign2 to the wicked and unconverted he was a terror40 ,so says a ,catholic historian4 ,john ,,viii1 #hgbhhb1 must have seriously offended one of the 8brethren0 at the ,vatican2 for that dignitary first tried to poison him1 and as the poison did not work quickly enough1 he finished the job by breaking ,john's head with a hammer4 ,stephen ,,vii1 #highih1 was offended because his predecessor had at one time gotten the papal throne away from him4 ,accordingly1 his first act was to cause the body of ,pope ,formosus to be exhumed1 mutilated and thrown into the ,tiber4 ,subsequently one of the 8brethren0 strangled him4 ,christopher1 #ijjijc1 boldly deposed his predecessor1 ,leo ,v1 declaring him unfit to reign1 which was doubtless true4 ,leo died 8of grief0 in prison less than forty days after he had ascended the throne4 ,he probably had something given him to help his grief along4 ,christopher himself was murdered by his successor4 ,sergius ,,iii1 #ijdiaa1 having murdered ,christopher1 ascended the throne and emulated the kings of earlier days4 ,his concubine ,marosia bore him several children4 ,john ,x1 #iaeibh1 and ,leo ,,vi1 #ibhibi1 were both killed by ,marosia1 to make room for others in whom she was interested4 ,john ,,xi1 #icaicf1 was the son of ,marosia by ,pope ,sergius ,,iii4 ,one of the 8brethren0 poisoned him4 ,john ,,xii1 #iefifd1 was murdered while in the act of committing adultery4 ,he was of licentious habits1 associating with women of every station1 and filling the ,lateran with the noisy profanity of a brothel4 ,among his mistresses was ,joan1 popularly known in history as ,pope ,joan4 ,she was a brilliant woman and actually exercised the chief influence at ,rome during ,john's pontificate4 ,benedict ,,vi1 #igbigc1 was strangled or poisoned by one of the 8saints40 ,boniface ,,vii1 #ihdihe1 was elected just after the tumult caused by the death of ,benedict ,,vi1 but had to leave town to escape a similar fate1 on account of licentiousness and cruelty4 ,he remained away eleven years1 returned1 put ,pope ,john ,,xiv in prison1 starved him to death and ascended the throne in his place4 ,gregory ,v1 #iifiii1 was poisoned by one of the 8regularly ordained0 clergy4 ,benedict ,,ix1 #ajccajde1 the boy pope whose parents bought the popedom for him when he was twelve years old1 was the worst monster that ever held the papal throne4 ,some1 however1 claim that honor for ,alexander ,,vi1 #adibaejc1 who had seven acknowledged bastards and many mistresses4 ,alexander tried to poison nine cardinals at one sitting so that he could sell their offices for the benefit of his brood2 but a stupid servant gave him the wrong glass and he departed this life ahead of time4 ,benedict's vile conduct caused the ,romans to expel him from the city4 ,silvester ,,iii was regularly elected to take his place2 but after three months ,benedict came back and resumed control4 ,shortly afterward he sold the popedom to ,gregory ,,vi1 so that he might be free to marry an ,italian princess4 ,at one time there were three popes living in ,rome contemporaneously1 and the city was filled with brawls and murders4 ,a fourth1 ,clement ,,ii1 was elected1 but after he had served nine months1 a friend of ,gregory put something into his food besides the regular seasoning2 and he never awoke again4 ,thereupon ,benedict came back and reigned three years longer4 #b3ad4 ,but ,i have a few things against thee4--,against the nominal church of the ,pergamos epoch4 ,because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of ,balaam4--,balaam was a mouthpiece of the ,lord1 but unworthy4 ,he desired to curse ,god's true people1 because of the money there was in it1 and finally seduced them by fornication 7symbolical of union of church and state74 ,the name ,balaam means the same as 8,nicolaitanes0 7conquerors of the people71 and refers to the moneyloving1 powerloving clergy4 ,we have already noted the efforts to obtain worldly power 7spiritual fornication7 which characterized the ,pergamos epoch4 ,its history also shows that the clergy of that time were quite as fond of money as ever ,balaam was4 ,john ,,xx1 #ajbdajcc1 tried to sell the ,roman primacy over the ,eastern church for a pecuniary consideration1 but failed to make the sale4 8,benedict ,,ix1 when a boy of twelve years 7,a4 ,d4 #ajcc71 was elected pope #8intercedente thesaurorum pecuniae' 02 i4 e41 his relatives provided the collateral necessary to secure the office for him4 ,gregory ,,vi1 who had had great repute for sanctity as a priest1 obtained the papal chair 7,a4 ,d4 #ajdd7 by purchase from ,benedict ,,ix1 8who abdicated to marry a girl of noble family40 8,at a council at ,lyons1 the archbishop and fortyfive bishops confessed themselves simoniacal0 7guilty of buying and selling church offices74 ,in the reign of ,lucien ,,ii1 #aaddaade1 the people1 hoping for some relief from an intolerable condition1 paraded the streets of ,rome with a banner1 8,caesar should have the things that are ,caesar's and the priest the things that are the priest's40 ,lucien thought this was a reflection upon himself1 and went out in person to put down the 8revolution40 ,the people stoned him to death4 ,who taught ,balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of ,israel4--8,guided by ,balaam1 ,king ,balac communicated with the leading people of the ,midianites1 and urged that their wives and daughters should apparently fall in love with the ,israelites1 and introduce them to the sensuous religious rites practised by ,midian4 ,the scheme was successful4 ,some of the leading wives and daughters of the ,midianites attracted some of the leading men of ,israel to adultery1 and to idol worship and orgies40 7,z4 '#acbig2 ,num4 #bd3ad2 #be3a2 #ca3af2 #b ,pet4 #b3ae2 ,jude #aa2 #a ,cor4 #aj3h47 ,the words 8cast a stumblingblock0 are properly rendered1 in ,rotherham's translation1 8throw a snare40 ,to eat4--,appropriate to themselves as truths4 ,things sacrificed unto idols4--,doctrines twisted1 distorted and mutilated to make them agree with creedidols4 ,and to commit fornication4--8,papacy perceived its own great power over the peoples of ,europe1 all of whom at that time ignorantly and blindly acknowledged the ,roman ,catholic faith4 ,while the kings of ,europe were comparatively weak1 the suggestion came1 #8,now it must be ,god's time for setting up the ,messianic ,kingdom1 because now we have the power4' ,the answer of others was1 #8,not so4 ,the ,bible teaches that ,jesus will set up ,his own ,kingdom at ,his ,second ,advent in power and great glory1 and that the virgin ,church will become ,his ,bride and ,jointheir by the power of the ,first ,resurrection4' ,the answer to this was1 #8,so once we thought4 ,but we have waited for the coming of ,messiah for over #hjj years2 and now we have the thought that ,he probably wishes us to set up ,his ,kingdom for ,him1 and in ,his name to reign over the kings of the earth4' 0 7,z4 '#afec47 8,so these ,pagan priests taught the ,church to indulge in spiritual fornication1 and thus brought upon her the withering blight of ,god's wrath40--,z4 '#afcdf4 #b3ae4 ,so hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the ,nicolaitanes1 which thing ,i hate ,,in ,,like ,,manner4--8,the #8doctrine of the ,nicolaitanes' 7conquerors of the people7 seems to be the theory of lordship or headship in the ,church4 7#a ,pet4 #e3c47 ,at their councils there was a bitter fight for supremacy4 ,it was settled only by a division of the ,church2 the ,eastern1 or ,greek ,church1 accepting the ,patriarch of ,constantinople for its head2 and the ,western1 or ,papal ,church1 acknowledging the ,bishop--,pope or ,father--of ,rome40 7,z4 '#afcdf47 8,the sins to which ,balaam allured ,israel were a type of the sins to which the doctrine of the ,nicolaitanes now seduce thee40--,cook4 #b3af4 ,repent2 or else ,i will come unto thee quickly4--,ere you reach the earthly heights to which you aspire4 ,and will fight against them4--,the unfaithful and unrepentant church nominal4 ,with the sword of ,my mouth4--,with the ,scriptures1 in the hands of a faithful servant4 ,such a servant came at that very time1 as we shall see4--#b ,thes4 #b3h2 ,heb4 #d3ab4 #b3ag4 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4--,not many have had the 8hearing ear40 8,there's just one here1 one there40 ,to him that overcometh will ,i give to eat of the hidden manna4--8,manna was the bread which came down from heaven as a lifesustainer for ,israel4 ,it represented the living bread1 ,christ ,himself4 ,one peculiarity of the golden pot of manna #8hidden' in the ,tabernacle1 marking it as the same and yet different from that supplied to the ,israelites in general1 was that it was incorruptible2 hence it well illustrates the immortal1 incorruptible condition promised to the ,church40--,t4 #abb2 ,ex4 #af3cc1 #cd2 ,heb4 #i3d2 ,john #f3di1 #ej4 ,and will give him a white stone4--8,in ancient times the ,greeks and the ,romans had a custom of noting and perpetuating friendship by means of a white stone4 ,this stone was divided into halves1 and each person inscribed his name on the flat surface1 after which the parts of the stone were exchanged4 ,the production of either half was sufficient to insure friendly aid4 ,thus the divided stone became a mark of identification4 ,there is an individual and personal relationship between the ,lord and the overcomers1 who may be said to receive the mark of identification--the antitypical white stone--now1 in this life4 ,this mark is the sealing of the ,holy ,spirit40--,z4 '#abcae4 ,and in the stone a new name written1 which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it4--,the new name signifies a new relationship to ,jehovah4--,gen4 #ag3e1 #ae2 #cb3bh4 #b3ah4 ,and unto ,,by the angel4--,the messenger to the fourth epoch of the ,church was ,peter ,waldo4 8,peter1 an opulent merchant of ,lyons1 surnamed ,valdensis1 or ,valdisius1 from ,vaux1 or ,waldum1 a town in the marquisate of ,lyons1 being extremely zealous for the advancement of true piety and ,christian knowledge1 employed a certain priest1 called ,stephanus de ,evisa1 about the year #aafj1 in translating1 from ,latin into ,french1 the four ,gospels1 with other books of ,holy ,scripture4 ,but no sooner had he perused these sacred books with a proper degree of attention1 than he perceived that the religion which was now taught in the ,roman church differed totally from that which was originally inculcated by ,christ and ,his ,apostles4 ,struck with this glaring contradiction between the doctrines of the pontiffs and the truths of the ,gospel1 and animated with zeal1 he abandoned his mercantile vocation1 distributed his riches among the poor 7whence the ,waldenses were called poor men of ,lyons71 and forming an association with other pious men who had adopted his sentiments and his turn of devotion1 he began to assume the quality of a public teacher1 and to instruct the multitude in the doctrines and precepts of ,christianity4 8,soon after ,peter had assumed the exercise of his ministry1 the archbishop of ,lyons1 and the other rulers of the church in that province1 vigorously opposed him4 ,however1 their opposition was unsuccessful2 for the purity and simplicity of that religion which these good men taught1 the spotless innocence that shone forth in their lives and actions1 and the noble contempt of riches and honors which was conspicuous in the whole of their conduct and conversation1 appeared so engaging to all such as had any sense of true piety1 that the number of their followers daily increased4 ,they accordingly formed religious assemblies1 first in ,france1 and afterwards in ,lombardy2 from whence they propagated their sect throughout the other provinces of ,europe with incredible rapidity1 and with such invincible fortitude that neither fire nor sword1 nor the most cruel inventions of merciless persecution1 could damp their zeal1 or entirely ruin their cause4 ,all they aimed at was to reduce the form of ecclesiastical government1 and the manners both of the clergy and the people1 to that amiable simplicity and primitive sanctity which characterized the ,apostolic ages1 and which appear so strongly recommended in the precepts and injunctions of the ,divine ,author of our holy religion4 8,in consequence of this design1 they complained that the ,roman church had degenerated from its primitive purity and sanctity4 ,they denied the supremacy of the ,roman pontiff1 and maintained that the rulers and ministers of the ,church were obliged1 by their vocation1 to imitate the poverty of the ,apostles and to procure for themselves a subsistence by the work of their hands4 ,they considered every ,christian as1 in a certain measure1 qualified and authorized to instruct1 exhort and confirm the brethren in their ,christian course4 ,they at the same time affirmed that confession made to priests was by no means necessary1 since the humble offender might acknowledge his sins and testify his repentance to any true believer1 and might expect from such the counsel and admonition which his case demanded4 ,they maintained that the power of delivering sinners from the guilt and punishment of their offenses belonged to ,god alone2 and that indulgences in consequence were the criminal invention of sordid avarice4 ,they looked upon the prayers and other ceremonies that were instituted in behalf of the dead1 as vain1 useless1 and absurd1 and denied the existence of departed souls in an intermediate state of purification4 ,it is also said that several of the ,waldenses denied the obligation of infant baptism4 ,they adopted as the model of their moral discipline ,christ's sermon on the mount1 which they interpreted and explained in the most rigorous and literal manner2 and consequently prohibited and condemned in their society all wars1 and suits of law1 and all attempts toward the acquisition of wealth40--,buck4 8,waldo's translation of the four gospels into ,french was the first appearance of the ,scriptures in any modern language4 ,the possession of these books soon discovered to ,waldo that the ,church was never designed to be dependent on a priesthood1 even for the administration of the sacraments2 and he became so obnoxious to the church that he was anathematized by the pope4 ,no longer safe in ,lyons1 ,waldo and his friends took refuge in the mountains1 and there formed those communities from which the simple doctrines of ,christianity flowed out all over ,europe4 ,provence1 ,languedoc1 ,flanders1 ,germany1 one after another tasted of the refreshing waters4 ,waldo traveled in ,picardy1 teaching his reformation doctrines1 hundreds of years before ,luther was born4 ,he finally settled in ,bohemia1 where he died in #aagi1 the same year in which his tenets were denounced by an ecumenical council4 ,the ,waldensian ,church was a light on the mountains during the ,dark ,ages40--,mc,c4 ,of the church in ,thyatira4--8,thyatira seems to mean #8the sweet perfume of sacrifice4' ,it was the period of ,papal persecution40 7,z4 '#afcdg47 ,from the time of ,peter ,waldo's witness in #aafj until the next special messenger to the ,church appeared1 #acgh1 was a period of #bah years4 ,write4--,the first translation of the ,bible into a modern language--,french--was the work of ,waldo4 ,these things saith the ,son of ,god1 who hath ,his eyes like unto a flame of fire4--8,to watch over ,his faithful ones as they wandered through the dark valleys or hid in the darker caves of earth40 7,z4 '#afcdg2 ,rev4 #a3ad47 ,his eyes search out every secret thought4--,rev4 #b3bc4 ,and ,his feet are like fine brass4--8,to walk by their side as they scaled the rugged mountains or wandered footsore and weary1 seeking a place to plant the seeds of ,truth40 7,z4 '#afcdg2 ,rev4 #a3ae47 ,his feet 8trample to fragments everything impure40--,cook4 #b3ai4 ,i know thy works4--,the ,lord remembers that ,peter ,waldo was the first to translate ,his ,word into a modern language4 ,and charity1 and service1 and faith1 and thy patience1 and thy works4--,the ,lord remembers that ,peter ,waldo literally 8sold all that he had and gave to the ,lord's poor40 ,and thy last works to be more than the first4--7,diaglott47 8,so general and widespread became the socalled heresy that ,innocent ,,iii determined to crush it out--#8exterminate the whole pestilential race' was the language of which he made use4 ,the commission he gave to the authorities was to burn the chief of the ,vaudois 7,waldenses71 to scatter the heretics themselves1 confiscating their property1 and consigning to perdition every soul who dared to oppose the pope4 ,joined with #8,his ,holiness' in his relentless persecution of the ,waldenses was ,dominic1 the father of the ,inquisition4 ,such has been the history of the ,waldenses all through the ages--subject to untold suffering from persecution2 then enjoying1 in the quiet valleys of ,piedmont1 comparative tranquility for a time2 then assailed by their ever relentless foe1 the ,roman ,catholic ,church1 which has spared no pains1 by fire and slaughter1 and the horrors of the ,inquisition1 to put an end to the unfortunate victims of their violence40 7,mc,c47 ,how evident it is that the followers of ,peter ,waldo have given a larger witness by their sufferings 7their 8last works07 than they did by the first works 7the translation of the ,gospel into ,french76 #b3bj4 ,notwithstanding ,i have a few things ,,much against thee4--,the fourth epoch of the church nominal4 ,because ,,that thou sufferest that woman ,jezebel4--,the ,roman ,catholic ,church1 as shown in parallel below3 8,elijah was persecuted for 8,the ,church was persecuted for fidelity to truth and fidelity to truth and righteousness4 righteousness4 8,his principal persecutor was 8,the principal persecutor was ,jezebel1 the wicked queen of the apostate ,church of ,rome1 ,israel1 who is mentioned by which claims to be a #8queen' name as the type of the enemy and ruler over ,spiritual of the saints4--,rev4 #b3bj2 #b ,israel4--,rev4 #ah3g4 ,kings #i3g4 8,jezebel's persecuting power 8,papacy's persecuting power was exercised through her was exercised through the husband1 ,ahab1 the king4--#a ,roman ,empire1 to which she was ,kings #ba3be4 joined4 8,elijah fled from ,jezebel and 8,the true ,church fled into the ,ahab into the wilderness1 to a symbolic wilderness--or place prepared of ,god1 where condition of isolation--to her he was miraculously place1 prepared of ,god1 where nourished4--#a ,kings #ag3ei4 she was sustained4--,rev4 #ab3f1 #af4 8,elijah was #8three years and 8,the ,church was three and a six months' in the wilderness1 half symbolic years 7a day for and during that time there was a year--#abfj literal years7 in no rain1 and a great famine the wilderness condition1 was in the land4--,james #e3ag2 #a during which there was a ,kings #ag3g2 #ah3b4 spiritual famine because of the lack of ,truth--the living water4--,rev4 #ab3f2 #aa3c2 ,amos #h3aa4 8,after the three and a half 8,at the end of the #abfj years years1 #abfj days1 when ,elijah the power of the ,truth and its returned from the wilderness1 witnesses was manifested 7,a4 the errors of ,jezebel's ,d4 #agii72 and since then the priests were manifested1 the ,truth has flowed at the rate true ,god was honored1 and of millions of ,bibles every copious rains followed4--#a year1 refreshing the world and ,kings #ah3dade4 bringing forth fruit40--,b4 #bef4 ,which calleth herself ,,saith ,,she ,,is a prophetess4--,claims to be an infallible teacher1 but really has no right to teach at all--8,i suffer not a woman a church to teach1 nor to usurp authority over the man ,christ40 7#a ,tim4 #b3ab2 #a ,cor4 #ad3cd2 ,f4 #bgj47 8,false prophecy1 fornication and idolatry are symbolized by the woman ,jezebel40 7,cook47 ,jezebel was a prophetess of ,baal4--#a ,ki4 #af3cacc2 #ba3be4 ,to teach and to seduce ,,and ,,teacheth ,,and ,,seduceth ,my servants to commit fornication4--,union of church and state4--,rev4 #b3ad2 #b ,ki4 #i3bb2 #a ,cor4 #ad3cd4 ,and to eat things sacrificed unto idols4--,reverence the creedidols set up by the various ecumenical councils4--,rev4 #b3ad4 #b3ba4 ,and ,i gave her space4--,chronos1 a 8time10 #cfj years4 ,as noted in comments on #b3bj1 the prophetic 8time1 times and a half a time10 or three and a half times1 or three and a half years1 or forty and two months1 or #abfj days1 represent #abfj years4 ,a single chronos or 8time10 therefore1 represents #cfj years4 ,to repent of her fornication4--,of her unfaithfulness to the ,lord4 ,during all this time 8the virgin ,church was enduring the hardships of the wilderness2 while the apostate ,church sat on the throne of her royal paramour40--,z4 '#afcdg4 ,and she repented not ,,will ,,not ,,repent ,,of ,,this ,,fornication4--,the ,lord foreknew that after #cfj years more of living with the kings of earth1 and endeavoring to gain dominion over them1 the ,roman ,catholic ,church would be unrepentant4 ,the #cfj years from ,waldo's message in #aafj ended in #aebj4 ,luther's #ie theses were placed on the church doors at ,wittenberg ,october #ca1 #aeag4 8,these he proposed not as points fully established1 but as subjects of inquiry and disputation4 ,the learned were invited to impugn them1 either in person or by writing2 and to the whole he subjoined solemn protestations of his high respect for the apostolic see1 and of his implicit submission to his authority4 ,no opponent appeared at the time prefixed2 the theses spread over ,germany with astonishing rapidity1 and were read with the greatest eagerness40 7,buck47 ,luther was summoned in ,july1 #aeah1 to appear at ,rome within sixty days4 ,he wrote a submissive letter to the pope1 requesting a trial in ,germany4 ,meantime the ,german ,emperor died2 and the pope1 absorbed in the choice of a new emperor1 paid little heed to the ,luther controversy4 8,from the reason just now given1 a suspension of proceeding against ,luther took place for eighteen months1 though perpetual negotiations were carried on4 ,the manner in which these were conducted having given our reformer many opportunities of observing the corruption of the court of ,rome1 its obstinacy in adhering to established errors1 and its indifference about truth1 he began in #aebj to utter some doubts with regard to the ,divine origin of the papal authority1 which he publicly disputed with ,eccius1 one of his most learned and formidable antagonists4 ,the papal authority being once suspected1 ,luther proceeded to push on his inquiries and attacks from one doctrine to another1 till at last he began to shake the foundations on which the wealth and power of the church were established4 ,leo then began to perceive that there were no hopes of reclaiming such an incorrigible heretic1 and therefore prepared to pronounce the sentence of excommunication against him4 ,the college of cardinals was often assembled1 in order to prepare the sentence with due deliberation2 and the ablest canonists were consulted how it might be expressed with unexceptionable formality4 ,at last it was issued1 on the #aeth of ,june1 #aebj4 ,fortyone propositions1 extracted out of ,luther's works1 were therein condemned as heretical1 scandalous1 and offensive to pious ears2 all persons were forbidden to read his writings1 upon pain of excommunication2 such as had any of them in their custody were commanded to commit them to the flames2 he himself1 if he did not within sixty days publicly recant his errors1 and burn his books1 was pronounced an obstinate heretic1 excommunicated1 and delivered to ,satan for the destruction of the flesh2 and all secular princes were required1 under pain of incurring the same censure1 to seize his person1 that he might be punished as his crimes deserved40 7,buck47 ,with the excommunication of ,luther1 8the fat was in the fire02 and it was useless for the ,roman ,catholic ,church to try to stem the tide of the ,reformation4 ,her period for repentance ended with the 8chronos10 #cfj years1 ,june #ae1 #aebj4--,see #c;d paragraph1 page #da4 #b3bb4 ,behold1 ,i will cast her into a bed4--,not a bed of ease1 but a bed of pain4 ,see ,diaglott4 ,there where she sinned she shall suffer4 ,and them that commit adultery with her4--,all the powers that receive her legates or that maintain representatives at the ,vatican4 ,knowing her character1 they are equally guilty4 ,into great tribulation4--,they are getting some now1 and will get more soon4 ,except they repent of their ,,her deeds4--,this teaches that the present situation in ,europe is the direct result of the teachings of the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 #b3bc4 ,and ,i will kill her children4--8,both ,romanists and ,protestants now freely own the relationship of mother and daughters1 the former continually styling herself the ,holy ,mother ,church1 and the latter1 with pleased complacency1 endorsing the idea40--,d4 #bh2 ,isa4 #eg3c1 #d4 ,see p4 #aaa4 ,with death4--8,they shall be as though they had not been40--,obad4 #af4 ,and all the churches shall know4--,when their secrets are laid bare by the unfolding of the deep things of ,god's ,word4 ,that ,i am ,he which searcheth the reins and hearts4--,in olden times the mind was supposed to be located in the reins 7kidneys72 and the prophecy assumes the same position4 ,thus ,david says1 8,my reins also instruct me in the night seasons02 8,in the night his song shall be with me40 7,psa4 #af3g2 #db3h47 8,my reins within me are consumed with earnest desire for that day40 7,job #ai3bg1 margin47 ,the metaphor is appropriate to the theme4--,psa4 #g3i2 ,jer4 #aa3bj2 #ag3aj2 #bj3ab4 ,and ,i will give unto every one of you according to your works4--,the light of ,truth blazes most fiercely against the ecclesiastical organizations whose offenses have been greatest4 ,as for the ,papacy1 8her sins have reached unto heaven1 and ,god hath remembered her iniquities40--,rev4 #ah3e1 #f2 ,matt4 #g3af1 #bj4 #b3bd4 ,but unto you ,i say and unto the rest in ,thyatira4--,waldenses and others outside of the ,papal system4 ,as many as have not this doctrine4--,spiritual fornication1 mixture of church and state1 the special subject of the message to ,thyatira4 ,and which have not known4--,comprehended1 realized1 entered into4 ,the depths of ,satan4--,rome1 pagan and papal4 ,as they speak4--8,so to say10 i4 e41 8,satan0 is a name applicable to ,rome1 as describing its characteristics4--,rev4 #b3aj4 ,i will put upon you none other burden4--,the ,lord only requires of ,his people obedience to the light due4--#a ,john #a3g4 #b3be4 ,but that which ye have already4--,the truths described in #b3ah4 ,hold fast till ,i come4--,some of the light which shone upon the ,waldensians has never been entirely extinguished4 #b3bf4 ,and he that overcometh4--,effectually resists efforts to entice him into disloyalty to the ,lord4 ,and keepeth ,my works unto the end4--,continues in the faith 7,john #f3bi2 #a ,john #c3bc71 despite the unions of church and state4 ,christ's works are opposite to ,jezebel's4--,rev4 #b3bb4 ,to him will ,i give ,,the power over ,,of the nations4--,how like our ,god6 ,the sacrificed ,christ gets the very prize for which ,satan aspired4--,isa4 #ad3ac1 #ad2 #a ,cor4 #f3b1 #c2 ,rev4 #c3ba2 #e3aj2 ,psa4 #adi3ei4 #b3bg4 ,and he shall rule them with a rod of ,iron4--8,god's ,kingdom will not be established by a vote of the people1 nor by the vote of the aristocracy and rulers4 ,he #8whose right it is1' ,he who bought it with ,his own precious blood1 will #8take the ,kingdom1' will #8take unto ,himself ,his great power and reign4' 0 7,d4 #eah74 8,the nations will be ruled by irresistible force--#8every knee shall bow1 every tongue shall confess'--and obedience will be compulsory40 7,d4 #fcf47 8,in ,his day the humble and righteous1 and they only1 shall flourish4 7,isa4 #bh3ag2 ,rom4 #ad3aa2 ,psa4 #ib3ab1 #ac40--;,c4 #cfi47 8,the only liberty that will be granted to any will be the true and glorious liberty of the sons of ,god--liberty to do good to themselves and others in any and in every way2 but nothing will be allowed to injure or destroy in all that ,holy ,kingdom4 7,isa4 #aa3i2 ,rom4 #h3ba47 ,because of its firmness and vigor1 it is symbolically called an iron rule40--,a4 #cjb2 ,rev4 #ai3ae4 ,as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers4--8,the stone cut out of the mountain without hands1 which smites and scatters the ,gentile powers1 represents the true ,church1 the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,not the people1 but the governments1 are symbolized by the image1 and these are to be destroyed that the people may be delivered4 ,our ,lord ,jesus came not to destroy men's lives1 but to save them4 7,john #c3ag47 ,the stone does not become the mountain until it has smitten the image2 and so the ,church1 in the full sense1 will become the ,kingdom when #8the day of the ,lord1' the #8day of wrath upon the nations1' will be over40 7,a4 #bee47 8,this smiting and breaking properly belongs to the ,day of ,vengeance1 and though the power and rod will still remain throughout the ,millennial ,age1 their use will probably be unnecessary40--,d4 #fcg2 ,psa4 #b3i2 ,dan4 #g3bb4 ,even as ,i received of ,my ,father4--,the ,father 7,justice7 decrees their unworthiness to continue longer4 ,their iniquity is come to the full4 ,four hundred years from ,october #ca1 #aeag1 end ,oct4 #ca1 #aiag4--,rev4 #b3ba2 ,gen4 #ae3acaf4 #b3bh4 ,and ,i will give him the ,morning ,star4--8,i am the bright and morning star40--,rev4 #bb3af2 ,matt4 #ac3dc4 #b3bi4 ,he that hath an ear4--,an ear attuned to the ,harp ,divine4 ,let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4--,not many are able to appreciate the sweet old 8song of ,moses and the ,lamb0 when they hear it4--,rev4 #ae3c4 ,revelation #c--,wycliffe1 ,luther ,and ,russell #c3a4 ,and unto ,,by the angel4--,the next important messenger to the ,church was ,john ,wycliffe4 8,it was in #acgh ,a4 ,d41 the year of the #8,great ,schism of the ,west1' when two popes were elected1 one in ,rome and the other in ,avignon1 that ,wycliffe came out as the great ,doctrinal ,reformer4 ,workman1 in ,dawn of the ,reformation1 writes3 #8,wycliffe's spiritual earnestness was shocked1 his theory destroyed by the spectacle of two popes1 each claiming to be the sole head of the ,church1 each labeling the other as ,antichrist4 ,to ,wycliffe1 the year of the ,schism1 #acgh1 was the crucial year of his life4 ,he first urged that both popes should be set aside as having little in common with the ,church of the ,holy ,god4 ,from this position of neutrality he quickly passed into one of antagonism to the ,papacy itself4' ,in his ,mediaeval ,church ,history1 ,archbishop ,trench says3 #8,the year #acgh marked the turningpoint in ,wycliffe's career4 ,hitherto he had concerned himself with matters of mixed ecclesiastical and political import1 but henceforth he devoted himself exclusively to doctrinal matters and came out as the ,reformer4 ,he began in earnest the translation of the ,bible into ,english1 and took the next decisive step by an open attack1 forced upon him by his studies of the ,bible1 against ,transubstantiation4' ,wycliffe thus attacked the very bulwark of ,antichrist's stronghold1 for the doctrine of ,transubstantiation1 or the sacrifice of the ,mass1 annulled the true sacrifice of ,christ4 ,because of this1 the ,papal system became in ,god's sight the #8desolating abomination4' 7,dan4 #aa3ca470--;,edgar4 ,of the church in ,sardis4--8,sardis is said to mean that which remains1 as if it signified something out of which life or virtue had gone4 ,the nominal church during this period had a form of godliness without its power4 ,sardis was the remains of the true ,church1 which had been driven into the wilderness2 but when the persecution began to subside1 her zeal also abated40--,z4 '#afcdg4 ,write4--,wycliffe wrote the first translation of the ,bible into ,english4 ,these things saith ,he that hath the seven ,spirits of ,god4--,the seven lamps of fire 7,rev4 #d3e71 or seven eyes sent forth into all the earth 7,rev4 #e3f72 i4 e41 perfect knowledge4--,rev4 #a3d4 ,and the seven stars4--,how each of the ,lord's messengers was kept6 ,st4 ,paul had 7supposedly7 eight years of liberty after his first imprisonment1 planted the ,gospel in ,spain and revisited the scenes of earlier labors2 ,st4 ,john is said to have been thrown into a caldron of boiling oil1 but escaped unharmed and died of old age2 ,arius died a natural death2 as did ,peter ,waldo1 ,john ,wycliffe1 ,martin ,luther and ,charles ,t4 ,russell1 although all had reason to expect martyrdom at the hands of ecclesiasticism4 ,the year that ,peter ,waldo died1 his tenets were condemned by an ecumenical council4 8,wycliffe preached unmolested2 but the ,council of ,constance 7,may #e1 #adae7 condemned his doctrines1 and in #adbh his remains were dug up and burned2 the ashes were cast into the adjoining ,swift1 which1 as ,wordsworth poetically remarked1 conveyed them through the ,avon and the ,severn into the sea1 and thus disseminated them over the world4 ,his doctrines1 carried into ,bohemia1 originated the ,hussite movement4 ,the ,new ,testament was published about #acgh1 and the entire ,old ,testament was completed shortly before his death40--,mc,c4 ,i know thy works1 that thou hast a name that thou livest4--,many who admired ,wycliffe were not real ,christians4 ,a man not willing to go to the stake for his religion has none4 ,and art dead4--,spiritually4--,luke #i3fj4 #c3b4 ,be watchful1 and strengthen the things which remain1 that are ,,were ready to die4--,many among ,wycliffe's admirers lost faith and love1 and to that degree died1 while others had some spiritual life4 ,these the ,lord desired to awaken1 to strengthen1 to encourage4--,eph4 #e3ad4 ,for ,i have not found thy works perfect before ,,my ,god4--,revised ,version reads1 8,for ,i have found no works of thine fulfilled before ,my ,god40 #c3c4 ,remember therefore how thou hast received4--,received the entire ,word in the ,english tongue4 ,and heard4--,wycliffe was the author of more than #bjj works1 chiefly tracts1 on the ,ransom4 ,and hold fast1 and reform4--7,diaglott47 ,had ,wycliffe's labors been properly appreciated1 the ,reformation would have been set forward #aej years4 ,if therefore thou shalt not watch ,,repent4--,change your course of conduct4 ,i will come on thee as a thief4--8,many today have the ,sardis characteristics4 ,to such this is a warning4 ,seven times our ,lord's ,second ,coming is described as being thieflike1 stealthy4 ,those who are asleep will be awakened only after ,his work of destruction has progressed4 ,his presence will be recognized by the sleepers only as the noise of spoiling the ,strong ,man's ,house gradually increases40 7,z4 '#afcdg2 #a ,thes4 #e3b2 ,matt4 #bd3dc2 #b ,pet4 #c3aj47 8,the stealthiness of the thief1 not the violence of the robber1 is implied in the original40--,cook4 ,and thou shalt not know what hour ,i will come upon thee4--8,failing to realize the fact that spiritual bodies cannot be seen by human eyes without a miracle1 some cannot understand how ,he can be present while #8all things continue as they were since the beginning of creation4' 7#b ,pet4 #c3c1 #d47 ,thus they are unable to understand the signs of the times' revealing ,his return40--,z4 '#afcdg4 #c3d4 ,,but thou hast a few names even in ,sardis which have not defiled their garments4--,but have given due heed to the ,message of the hour1 the ,ransom4 ,and they shall walk with ,me ,in white4--,fully covered by the robe of ,christ's righteousness4 ,for they are worthy4--,none who trust in sacrifices of the ,mass or in other sacrifices than that of ,calvary1 can ever be worthy in ,god's sight4--,matt4 #aj3cg4 #c3e4 ,he that overcometh1 the same ,,thus4--,the test1 apparently1 was on the question of transubstantiation4 ,shall be clothed in white raiment4--8,the pictures given of the ,heavenly ,father represent ,him as clothed 7,psa4 #ajd3b72 and the pictures of our ,lord represent ,him as clothed4 ,the angels who appeared at the time of our ,lord's resurrection are represented as clothed in white4 ,our ,lord said3 #8,blessed is he that watcheth1 and keepeth his garments1 lest he walk naked1 and they see his shame4' 7,rev4 #af3ae47 ,the glorified ,church is represented1 not as taking off the robe of righteousness1 but continuing to walk in white raiment1 not as now1 in a robe of reckoned righteousness1 but in a robe of actual righteousness40--,z4 '#adaa2 ,rev4 #ai3h4 ,and ,i will not blot out his name out of the ,book of ,life4--8,in the book are written the names of all those who have made with the ,lord #8a ,covenant by ,sacrifice4' ,the name of each of these is entered in the ,lamb's ,book of ,life1 when he starts to live the new life4 ,if they are faithful1 their names will not be blotted out2 and they will attain all those glorious things which are promised to those who love ,him supremely4 7,rev4 #c3ba470--,z4 '#aeaai2 ,rev4 #ac3h2 ,psa4 #fi3bh2 ,dan4 #ab3a2 ,phil4 #d3c2 ,lu4 #aj3bj4 ,but ,i will confess his name before ,my ,father1 and before ,his angels4--8,in the end1 the overcomers will each be so grandly developed that the ,lord will not be ashamed to confess any of them and to say1 #8,here is one of ,my followers4 ,here is another4 ,they have walked in ,my footsteps and have overcome4' ,but ,he will be ashamed of any who are ashamed of ,him or of ,his words4 7,luke #i3bf470--,z4 '#aeaai2 ,luke #ab3h1 #i4 #c3f4 ,he that hath an ear4--,a spiritual ear4 8,my sheep hear ,my voice40--,john #aj3bg4 ,let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4--8,blessed are the people that know the joyful sound40--,psa4 #hi3ae4 #c3g4 ,and to ,,by the angel4--,the next messenger to the ,church was ,martin ,luther4 8,there is considerable similarity between the work begun on ,pentecost and that of ,luther4 ,the ,reformation was1 in a sense1 the beginning of a new era1 a dawning of light where all had been darkness1 a new start in the way of ,truth40--,z4 '#afcdg4 ,of the church in ,philadelphia4--8,philadelphia means brotherly love4 ,this stage of the ,church's history began at the ,reformation2 and there are many still living who possess the characteristics described40 7,z4 '#afcdg47 ,the exact point of time at which the ,philadelphia epoch of the ,church began was at midday1 ,october #ca1 #aeag4 ,it was at that hour that ,luther nailed his ninetyfive theses on the church door at ,wittenberg4 8,nailing up that paper was the beginning of a great division in the ,church2 of thrones tumbled into the dust and kings with them2 of empires rent asunder2 of lands desolated by war2 of massacres and horrible outrages against the lives and liberties of men2 of thirty years continuous war in ,germany2 of ,paris and the vineclad valleys of ,italy drenched in blood2 of fires kindled all over ,england for the burning of men1 women and children2 of men hurled headlong from precipices1 roasted over slow fires1 starving in dungeons1 subjected to every form of cruelty--but with all this1 the advance of justice1 truth and liberty1 the beginning of a new era in human affairs40 7,coffin47 8,the theses ran through all ,germany in fourteen days1 for all the world was complaining about the indulgences2 and ,luther became renowned1 because at last somebody had come who took hold of the thing40--,mc,c4 ,write4--,luther wrote the first translation of the ,bible into ,german4 ,these things saith ,he that is holy ,,true4--,the direct reference is to ,christ 7#a ,john #e3bj72 but characteristic of ,luther was his great love of truth4 ,when the ,papal legate came demanding that he recant1 he replied1 8,i stand by the truth4 ,i will not take it back40 ,he that it true ,,holy4--,see ,mark #a3bd4 ,luther's special message was 8,justification by faith0--real holiness4 ,one of the theses on the door was1 8,those who truly repent of their sins have a full remission of guilt and penalty40 ,he that hath the key of ,david4--8,all power in ,heaven and earth40 7,matt4 #bh3ah2 ,luke #a3cb47 ,luther's theses were antagonistic to the system actually ruling all over the world4 ,when a representative came warning that his death would surely follow failure to recant1 and asking him where he could go when all had orders not to harbor him1 he replied1 8,i will abide under the cope of heaven40 ,he ,,and that openeth4--,see ,luke #bd3cb4 ,and no man shutteth ,,shall ,,shut4--8,no doubt all the powers of ,satan were exerted to close the door then opened2 but #8,he that is true' had said1 #8which no man can shut4' 0--,z4 '#afcdg2 ,isa4 #bb3bb4 ,and shutteth and no man openeth ,,shall ,,open4--,the door of opportunity for the ,roman ,catholic ,church to repent swung shut the day ,luther was excommunicated4 7,rev4 #b3ba47 8,luther was not in the least disconcerted by this sentence1 which he had for some time expected4 ,he renewed his appeal to the general council2 declared the pope to be that ,antichrist or ,man of ,sin whose appearance is foretold in the ,new ,testament2 declaimed against his tyranny with greater vehemence than ever2 and at last having assembled the ,university he cast the canon law1 together with the bull of excommunication1 into the flames40--,buck4 #c3h4 ,i know thy works4--,a striking feature of ,luther's character was his promptness to do whatever he saw to be the ,lord's will4 ,when the great test came1 ,luther said to ,erasmus3 8,you desire to walk upon eggs without crushing them40 ,erasmus replied3 8,i will not be unfaithful to the cause of ,christ at least so far as the ,age will permit me40 8,i will go to ,worms10 shouted ,luther1 8though the devils were combined against me as thick as tiles upon the housetops60 ,behold ,i have set before thee an open door4--,see #a ,cor4 #af3i2 ,acts #ad3bg4 ,and ,,which no man can shut it4--8,while the ,roman pontiff thought everything safe and settled1 and all pious and good men were nearly in despair of the religious reformation1 so earnestly desired1 a certain obscure and inconsiderable monk in ,saxony1 a province of ,germany1 suddenly opposed himself singlehanded with incredible resolution to the power of ,rome4 ,this was ,martin ,luther40--,mosheim4 ,for thou hast a little strength4--8,compared with the mighty hosts of their enemies1 the little band of ,reformers had but #8a little strength2' but they knew that they had the ,truth1 and they fully trusted the ,giver40--,z4 '#afcdg4 ,and hast kept ,my ,word4--8,whoso keepeth ,his ,word1 in him verily is the love of ,god perfected40--#a ,john #b3e4 ,and hast not denied ,my name4--8,if we deny ,him1 ,he also will deny us40--#b ,tim4 #b3ab4 #c3i4 ,behold ,i will make ,,have ,,made them of the synagogue of ,satan4--,the opponents of the reformers were already of the synagogue of ,satan4--,rev4 #b3ac4 ,which say they are ,jews4--,claim to be ,israelites indeed1 saints4--,rev4 #b3i4 ,and are not1 but do lie4--,papacy is one of the two systems of rulership 7imperial power being the other7 congenitally 8spotted like a leopard10 as far as the ,truth is concerned4--,dan4 #aa3bg2 ,rev4 #ac3b4 ,behold ,i will make them to come4--8,all nations whom ,thou hast made shall come40--,psa4 #hf3i4 ,and worship before thy feet4--8,the sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee2 and all that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet40--,isa4 #fj3ad2 #di3bc4 ,and to ,,thou ,,shalt know that ,i have loved thee4--,see ,eph4 #b3g4 #c3aj4 ,because thou hast kept the word of ,my patience4--,my patience enjoining word4--,matt4 #aj3bb2 ,lu4 #h3ae4 ,i also will keep thee4--8,as to the ,philadelphia stage of the ,church1 and their being saved from the hour of temptation1 we think possibly the ,lord meant that some of the ,church of that epoch would live over into the present period1 and that they would not be subjected to the special trials of this hour4 ,for instance1 we think of a very fine old gentleman1 who was about ninety years of age at the time we are about to mention4 ,he was pastor of a church4 ,he seemed to receive ,present ,truth with a great deal of joy and spoke it forth with much zeal4 ,but he was surrounded with so much opposition at home1 and in the church to which he was attached as a minister1 that he could not seem to trust to his mental judgment4 ,this ,scripture which we are considering has rather comforted our mind with respect to him and others like him40--,z4 '#aebjj4 ,from the hour of temptation4--8 #8,the hour of temptation' has been the ,harvest time4 ,the majority of professing ,christians of the world--probably more than threefourths--have lost all faith in the ,bible1 and fallen into ,evolution1 ,higher ,criticism1 ,christian ,science1 ,theosophy1 ,spiritism1 ,new ,thought1 etc4 ,they are not able to stand in this #8evil day4' 0 7,z'#aeaii47 ,additionally1 8so far as we are able to judge1 the same conditions prevail today amongst ,bible students which the ,apostle pointed out to the ,elders of the ,church of ,ephesus4 7,acts #bj3bhcb470--,z4 '#afcbh4 ,which shall come upon all the world4--8,we believe that this temptation to headiness and strife is spreading gradually in every direction2 and the ,master assured us that unless these days would be cut short by the establishment of ,his ,kingdom in the hands of the ,elect1 no flesh would survive40--,z4 '#afcbg2 ,rev4 #g3ac2 #af3ad2 ,matt4 #bd3ba4 ,to try them that dwell upon the earth4--8,we understand that the spirit of selfishness and ambition1 which is driving the nations insanely to war for commercial supremacy1 will increase more and more1 and will involve everybody40--,z4 '#afcbg2 ,rev4 #f3aj2 #h3ac2 #aa3aj2 #ac3h1 #ad4 #c3aa4 ,behold1 ,i come quickly4--,to ,smyrna 7#gccbe ,a4 ,d47 and ,pergamos 7#cbeaafj ,a4 ,d47 nothing was said about ,christ's ,second ,advent2 to ,thyatira 7#aafjacgh7 the ,message was1 8,hold fast till ,i come02 to ,sardis 7#acghaeah7 it was1 8,if therefore thou shalt not reform1 ,i will come on thee as a thief02 to ,philadelphia 7#aeahahgd7 it was1 8,behold1 ,i come quickly40 ,how evident that these messages to the ,churches are epochs drawing nearer and nearer to the climax of history1 the ,fifth ,universal ,empire1 now come at last6 ,hold that fast which thou hast4--8,the ,miller movement was a separation1 as between those who kept the ,word of ,god with patience and those who lost their faith in ,his ,word4 ,the ,philadelphia ,church1 which patiently passed through so severe a trial of their faith1 would not be subjected to the later test40--,z4 '#aeaii4 ,that no man take thy crown4--8,unfaithfulness may lead to the blotting out of some names and the giving of their crowns to others40 7,f4 #afe47 8,it is our expectation that this work of going out and coming in will continue until the last member of the ,new ,creation shall have been found worthy1 and all the crowns everlastingly apportioned40--,f4 #ie2 #a ,sam4 #af3a2 ,rev4 #b3aj4 #c3ab4 ,him that overcometh will ,i make a pillar in ,,to the ,temple of my ,god4--8,during the ,philadelphia period the faithful have either been obliged to come out of the nominal temple or have been cast out4 ,the reward promised such is that each will be a pillar in the eternal ,temple--a part which cannot be removed while the structure exists40--,z4 '#afcdg2 ,gal4 #b3i2 #a ,kings #g3ba1 #bb2 ,jer4 #a3ah2 #a ,cor4 #c3ag2 ,eph4 #b3aibb4 ,and he shall go no more ,,not ,,go out4--8,during their trial state their names were cast out as evil2 they were not recognized as ,christians4 ,all this is to be reversed4 #8,the ,lord knoweth them that are ,his4' 0--,z4 '#afcdg4 ,and ,i will write upon him the name of ,my ,god4--8,and ,i looked1 and1 lo1 a ,lamb stood on the mount ,sion1 and with ,him an hundred and forty and four thousand1 having ,his ,father's name written on their foreheads intellects40--,rev4 #ad3a2 #bb3d4 ,and the name of the city of ,my ,god4--8,and they shall call them1 ,the holy people1 ,the redeemed of the ,lord3 and thou shalt be called1 ,sought out1 ,a city not forsaken40--,isa4 #fb3ab2 ,ezek4 #dh3ce2 ,jer4 #bc3f2 #cc3af4 ,which is ,new ,jerusalem4--8,glorious ,city of ,peace6 whose foundations1 laid in justice1 can never be moved1 and whose builder and designer is ,god6 ,it is in the light which will shine from this glorious ,city 7,kingdom7 of ,god that the nations 7people7 will walk on the ,highway of ,holiness1 up to perfection and to full harmony with ,god40--,rev4 #ba3b1 #aj1 #bd2 ,a #bie4 ,which cometh down out of ,heaven from ,my ,god4--8,a city is a symbol of a kingdom or dominion1 and so ,god's ,kingdom is symbolized by the ,new ,jerusalem1 the new dominion coming from ,heaven to earth4 ,at first it will consist of only the ,bride of ,christ40--,a4 #bie2 ,heb4 #ab3ahbb4 ,and ,i will write upon him ,my new name4--8 #8,our ,righteousness of ,jehovah4' ,how appropriate is this name to the work and office of our ,lord ,jesus6 ,did ,he not stand as the ,representative of ,god's righteousness and suffer the penalty of ,justice as man's ,ransom--that ,god might be just1 and yet be the ,justifier of him that believeth in ,jesus8 ,surely no name could be more appropriate4 7,jer4 #cc3af2 #bc3f2 ,t4 #ajb47 ,and that this name will be appropriate to the glorified ,church all can readily see3 she not only shares her ,lord's sufferings for righteousness1 #8filling up that which is behind of the afflictions of ,christ' 7,col4 #a3bd2 #a ,pet4 #e3i71 but is also promised a share in all the glories of her ,lord1 as a wife shares her husband's honors and name40--,e4 #de1 #db2 ,isa4 #i3f2 ,rev4 #b3ag2 #ai3ab4 #c3ac4 ,he that hath an ear4--8,having eyes1 see ye not8 ,and having ears1 hear ye not80--,mark #h3ah4 ,let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4--8,let these sayings sink down into your ears40--,luke #i3dd4 #c3ad4 ,and unto ,,by the angel4--,the special messenger to the last ,age of the ,church was ,charles ,t4 ,russell1 born ,february #af1 #aheb4 ,he has privately admitted his belief that he was chosen for his great work from before his birth4 ,his mother died when he was nine years old2 and at the age of eleven ,charles formed a business partnership with his father1 himself writing the articles of agreement under which they transacted business4 ,when he was but twelve years of age1 his father found him in the store one time at #b a4 m41 poring over a concordance1 unconscious of the lapse of time4 ,we give some extracts from his autobiography3 8,we begin the narrative at the year #ahfh1 when the ,editor1 having been a consecrated child of ,god for some years1 and a member of the ,congregational ,church and of the ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a41 began to be shaken in faith regarding many long accepted doctrines4 ,brought up a ,presbyterian1 indoctrinated from the catechism1 and being naturally of an inquiring mind1 ,i fell a ready prey to the logic of infidelity1 as soon as ,i began to think for myself4 ,but that which at first threatened to be the utter shipwreck of faith in ,god and the ,bible1 was1 under ,god's providence1 overruled for good1 and merely wrecked my confidence in human creeds and systems of ,bible interpretations4 ,i was led gradually to see that though each of the creeds contained some elements of ,truth1 they were1 on the whole1 misleading and contradictory of ,god's ,word4 ,among other theories1 ,i stumbled upon ,adventism4 ,seemingly by accident1 one evening ,i dropped into a dusty1 dingy hall in ,allegheny1 ,pa41 where ,i had heard that religious services were held1 to see if the handful who met there had anything more sensible to offer than the creeds of the great churches4 ,there1 for the first time1 ,i heard something of the views of ,second ,adventism1 by ,jonas ,wendell1 long since deceased4 ,thus ,i confess indebtedness to ,adventists as well as to other ,bible students4 ,though his ,scripture exposition was not entirely clear1 and though it was very far from what we now rejoice in1 it was sufficient1 under ,god1 to reestablish my wavering faith in the ,divine inspiration of the ,bible1 and to show that the records of the ,apostles and the ,prophets are indissolubly linked4 8,when in #ahgb ,i came to examine the subject of ,restitution from the standpoint of the ,ransomprice given by our ,lord ,jesus for ,adam1 and consequently for all lost in ,adam1 it settled the matter of ,restitution completely1 and gave me the fullest assurance that ,,all must come forth from their graves and be brought to a clear knowledge of the ,truth and to a full opportunity to gain everlasting life through ,christ4 ,the years following1 to #ahgf1 were years of continued growth in grace and in knowledge on the part of the handful of ,bible students with whom ,i met in ,allegheny4 ,we progressed from our first crude and indefinite ideas of ,restitution to clearer understanding of the details2 but ,god's due time for clear light had not yet come4 ,during this time1 too1 we came to recognize the difference between our ,lord as #8the ,man who gave ,himself1' and as the ,one who would come again1 a ,spirit ,being4 ,we saw that spirit beings can be present and yet invisible to men4444 ,it seems that not long after their #ahgd disappointment1 a reader of ,the ,herald of the ,morning1 who had a copy of the ,emphatic ,diaglott1 noticed something in it which he thought peculiar--that in ,matthew #bd3bg1 #cg1 #ci1 the ,greek word parousia1 which in our ,common ,version is rendered #8coming1' is in the ,diaglott translated #8presence'--evidently the correct translation of the ,greek4 ,this was the clue2 and following it1 they had been led through prophetic time toward proper views regarding the object and manner of our ,lord's ,return1 and then to the examination of the time when the things indicated in ,god's ,word as related to ,christ's parousia should take place4 ,thus ,god leads ,his children often from different starting points of ,truth4 ,but where the heart is earnest and trustful1 the results must be to draw all together4 8,there were no books or other publications setting forth the time prophecies as then understood4 ,so ,i paid ,mr4 ,barbour's expenses to come to see me at ,philadelphia 7where ,i had business engagements during the summer of #ahgf71 to show me fully and ,scripturally1 if he could1 that the prophecies indicated #ahgd as the date at which the ,lord's presence and the ,harvest began4 ,he came1 and the evidence satisfied me4 ,being a person of positive convictions1 and fully consecrated to the ,lord1 ,i at once saw that the special times in which we live have an important bearing upon our duty and work as ,christ's disciples2 that since we are living in the time of the ,harvest1 the ,harvest work should be done2 and that ,present ,truth is the sickle by which the ,lord would have us do a reaping work everywhere among ,his children4 ,i inquired of ,mr4 ,barbour as to what was being done by him and ,the ,herald4 ,he replied that nothing was being done40--,z4 '#afagj1 #aga4 ,pastor ,russell took the place of ,mr4 ,barbour who became unfaithful and upon whom was fulfilled the prophecies of ,matt4 #bd3dhea and ,zech4 #aa3aeag4 8,in #ahgg ,pastor ,russell called a meeting of all the ministers of ,allegheny and ,pittsburgh1 showed them the ,scriptures which indicated our ,lord's presence and urged them to investigate and proclaim the message4 ,all of the ministers of the two cities were present2 all of the ministers of the two cities refused to believe4 ,in the same year he determined to give up secular work and devote his entire time and fortune to the work indicated in the ,scriptures as incident to the close of the ,gospel ,age and change of dispensation impending4 ,as a means of determining whether his course was in harmony with the ,scriptures1 and also as a means of demonstrating his own sincerity1 he decided to test the ,lord's approval as follows3 7#a7 ,devote his life to the cause2 7#b7 ,invest his fortune in the promulgation of the work2 7#c7 ,prohibit collections at all meetings2 7#d7 ,depend on unsolicited contributions 7wholly voluntary7 to continue the work after his fortune was exhausted4 ,in #ahha1 #a1djj1jjj copies of ,food for ,thinking ,christians were distributed free at the doors of the ,protestant churches in the ,united ,states1 ,canada and ,great ,britain on three consecutive ,sundays1 by ,a4 ,d4 ,t4 messenger boys40--,obituary4 ,as to his education we quote his own words3 8,as respects my education in ,greek and ,hebrew3 ,not only do ,i not claim very special knowledge of either language1 but ,i claim that not one minister in a thousand is either a ,hebrew or a ,greek scholar4 ,to be able to spell out a few ,greek words is of no earthly value4 ,nor is it necessary longer to study these languages in order to have knowledge of the ,bible4 ,our ,presbyterian friends have gotten out at great cost ,young's ,analytical ,hebrew1 ,chaldaic1 ,greek and ,english ,lexicon ,concordance1 which any one may procure4 ,and our ,methodist friends have issued a similar work--,strong's ,analytical ,concordance and ,lexicon4 ,and there is a still older one entitled ,englishman's ,hebrew1 ,chaldaic1 ,greek and ,english ,lexicon and ,concordance4 ,additionally1 ,liddell and ,scott's ,greek ,lexicon is a standard authority4 ,the prices of these are not beyond the reach of the average man4 ,by these works scholarly information respecting the original text of the ,bible is obtainable4 ,i have all four of these works and have used them faithfully4 ,very few college professors1 even1 would risk to give a critical translation of any text of ,scripture without consulting these very works of reference1 which are standard4 ,additionally ,i remind you of the many translations of the ,bible now extant--all of them very good4 ,i have all of these and find them useful in comparison and study of any text--one sometimes giving a thought which another may not4 ,the other day1 for curiosity's sake1 ,i counted ,bibles in different translations1 etc41 in my study1 and found that ,i have thirty two40--,z4 '#adbhf4 ,as to his ordination we quote him again3 8,there are two ordinations proper4 ,one is of ,god2 one of men4 ,the ordination of ,god is the begetting of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,if any are preaching without this ordination1 they are doing something that they are not authorized to do4 ,there comes1 however1 another special ordination of those who are called ministers of the ,gospel1 in which class ,i count myself4 ,this is ordination by the ,church1 and is recognized by all denominations everywhere4 ,by some it is considered a mere form1 by some it is performed with great ceremony1 by others with less ceremony4 ,but to our understanding1 each congregation should have those whom it has chosen ordained in a ,scriptural way--by the stretching forth of hands--by a vote4 ,whoever has not been ordained in these two ways is not an ordained minister of the ,gospel in the ,scriptural sense4 ,first1 the ,divine ordination is necessary2 second1 the earthly ordination is necessary4 ,by the grace of ,god ,i have both of these40--,z4 '#aeceh4 ,as to his doctrines we quote him the third time3 8,to us the ,scriptures clearly teach that the ,church is the #8,temple of the living ,god'--peculiarly #8,his workmanship'2 its construction has been in progress throughout the ,gospel ,age--ever since ,christ became the world's ,redeemer and ,chief ,corner ,stone of ,his ,temple1 through which1 when finished1 ,god's blessing shall come #8to all people1' and they find access to ,him4 7#a ,cor4 #c3af1 #ag2 ,eph4 #b3bj2 ,gen4 #bh3ad2 ,gal4 #c3bi47 ,that meantime the chiseling1 shaping and polishing of consecrated believers in ,christ's ,atonement for sin progresses2 and when the last of these #8living stones1' #8elect and precious1' shall have been made ready1 the great ,master ,workman will bring all together in the ,first ,resurrection2 and the ,temple shall be filled with ,his glory1 and be the meeting place between ,god and men throughout the ,millennium4 7,rev4 #ae3fh2 #ba3c47 ,we affirm the preexistence of ,jesus as the mighty ,word 7,logos7--,spokesman--#8the beginning of the creation of ,god1' #8the ,first,born of every creature1' the active ,agent of the ,heavenly ,father1 ,jehovah1 in all the work of creation4 #8,without ,him was not anything made that was made4' 7,rev4 #c3ad2 ,col4 #a3ae2 ,john #a3c47 ,we affirm that the ,word 7,logos7 was made flesh--became the ,babe of ,bethlehem--thus becoming the ,man ,jesus1 #8holy1 harmless1 undefiled1 separate from sinners4' ,as we affirm the humanity of ,jesus1 we equally affirm the ,divinity of ,christ--#8,god also hath highly exalted ,him1 and given ,him a name above every name4' 7,heb4 #g3bf2 ,phil4 #b3i47 8,we acknowledge that the personality of the ,holy ,spirit is the ,father and the ,son2 that the ,holy ,spirit proceeds from both1 and is manifested in all who receive the begetting of the ,holy ,spirit and thereby become sons of ,god4 7,john #a3ab2 #a ,pet4 #a3c47 ,we affirm the resurrection of ,christ--that ,he was put to death in flesh but quickened in ,spirit4 ,we deny that ,he was raised in the flesh1 and challenge any statement to that effect as being unscriptural4 7#a ,pet4 #c3ah2 #b ,cor4 #c3ag2 #a ,cor4 #ae3h2 ,acts #bf3acae47 ,that the basis of ,hope1 for the ,church and the ,world1 lies in the fact that #8,jesus ,christ1 by the grace of ,god1 tasted death for every man1' #8a ,ransom for all1' and will be #8the true ,light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world1' #8in due time4' 7,heb4 #b3i2 ,john #a3i2 #a ,tim4 #b3e1 #f47 ,that the ,hope of the ,church is that she may be like her ,lord1 #8see ,him as ,he is1' be #8partaker of the ,divine nature1' and share ,his glory as ,his joint heir4 7#a ,john #c3b2 ,john #ag3bd2 ,rom4 #h3ag2 #b ,pet4 #a3d47 ,that the present mission of the ,church is the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service2 to develop in herself every grace2 to be ,god's witness to the world2 and to prepare to be kings and priests in the next ,age4 7,eph4 #d3ab2 ,matt4 #bd3ad2 ,rev4 #a3f2 #bj3f47 ,that the ,hope for the ,world lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be brought to all by ,christ's ,millennial ,kingdom--the ,restitution of all that was lost in ,adam1 to all the willing and obedient1 at the hands of their ,redeemer and ,his glorified ,church--when all the wilfully wicked shall be destroyed4 7,acts #c3aibc2 ,isa4 #ce470--;,b4 ,s4 ,m4 ,the amount of work that ,pastor ,russell performed is incredible1 and it is doubtful whether it was ever equalled by any other human being4 ,when he was in his twenties he was refused the lease of a property because the owner thought he would surely die before the lease had expired4 ,for fifty years he suffered constantly with sick headaches1 due to a fall in his youth1 and for twentyfive years had such distressing hemorrhoids that it was impossible for him to rest in the easiest chair2 yet in the past forty years he traveled a million miles1 delivered #cj1jjj sermons and table talks--many of them #b hours long--wrote over #ej1jjj pages 7of this size7 of advanced ,biblical exposition1 often dictated #a1jjj letters per month1 managed every department of a worldwide evangelistic campaign employing #gjj speakers1 personally compiled the most wonderful ,biblical drama ever shown2 and with all that1 he found time in the course of each year to personally aid thousands with his fatherly counsel4 ,at one time his writings were subjected to an analysis of #bj1eaa ,scripture expositions4 ,these were assembled in ,biblical order and disclosed but six points of inquiry1 all easily harmonized4 ,no writer1 not even excepting the writers of the ,bible1 have ever had such critical readers4 ,his works have been published in #ce languages4 ,during the last eight days of his life he had appointments in ,california1 ,kansas1 ,oklahoma1 ,nebraska and ,new ,york2 and though for several days manifestly dying1 with cystitis 7caused by excessive travel and speaking71 he declined to cancel any engagements1 and went out of this life ,october #ca1 #aiaf1 on a railroad train en route to his ,kansas appointment4 ,at the age of #cj he had accumulated a fortune of over #cjj1jjj1 but died penniless1 his own fortune1 as well as all the large sums contributed to the cause1 having been used up in the ,master's service4 ,he was beloved everywhere by those who 8follow the ,lamb whithersoever ,he goeth40--,rev4 #ad3d4 ,for further particulars of ,pastor ,russell's service of ,god's people see ,memorial ,number of ,zions ,watch ,tower and ,herald of ,christ's ,presence4 ,of the church of the ,laodiceans ,,in ,,laodicea4--,it is significant that in the first epoch of the ,church there were ,nicolaitanes 7nikon ton laon71 8vanquishers of the people10 a clergy class who succeeded in pulling the wool over the eyes of the common people2 but that the last age of the ,church is ,laodicean 7laos dike71 8justice for the people40 ,we find we get along much better without the clergy than we did with them4 ,the ,laodicean period of the ,church extends from the fall of #ahgd to the spring of #aiah1 three and onehalf years of preparation1 and forty years of ,harvest4 8,the parallels affected merely the nominal ,jewish ,house there and the nominal ,christian ,house here4 ,both were rejected because of failure to be in the right condition of heart for the truths that were due to them--both rejected for destruction4 ,the ,jewish ,system was a ,church ,state affair1 paralleled here by the great ,church,state systems of ,europe1 whose destruction began in #aiad4 ,let us remember1 however1 that the three and a half years of ,jesus' ministry were more a time of preparation of the ,apostles to be the instruments for the harvesting and a sharpening preparation of the ,sickle of ,truth for the later work1 which began at ,pentecost4 ,prior to ,pentecost1 there was no #8garner' into which to gather the wheat40 8,jewish ,and ,christian ,parallels 8,jewish,nominal ,church ,christian,nominal ,church ,a4 ,d4 #bicc ,a4 ,d4 #ahgdahgh 8,they knew not the time of their visitation40 8,a4 ,d4 #cccf ,a4 ,d4 #ahghahha ,the ,most ,holy anointed1 ,divine favor prolonged for three and a half years to complete the #gj weeks of favor promised to ,israel1 their rejection being deferred4 8,a4 ,d4 #cfgc ,a4 ,d4 #ahhaaiah ,because of the overspreading of abominations1 ,he shall make it desolate1 even until the consummation1 or utter destruction--until all that ,god has predetermined shall be accomplished4--,dan4 #i3bdbg4--,z4 '#afbfd4 ,see pages #eid1 #eie4 ,the foregoing is ,pastor ,russell's last expression on the subject of chronology2 and we believe that it was designed to be of great value to the ,lord's people at this hour4 8,the ,apostles1 the ,prophets and the angels all desired and sought earnestly to know what time the ,spirit of ,god indicated through the ,prophets4 ,and this interest on the part of ,his children is ever pleasing to ,god4 ,he called the inquiring ,daniel greatly beloved1 and answered his inquiry so far as was consistent with ,his ,plan4 ,such inquiry should not be regarded as an improper prying into the secrets of ,god4 ,god would have us quickly discern the ,truth as it becomes due40 7,b4 #ag47 8,let none1 then1 of the truly consecrated undervalue these prophetic timeevidences1 which were designed to guide our words and deeds in the early dawn of the ,millennial ,day4 ,these prophetic timeproofs were largely ,god's means of drawing the attention of the writer more carefully to other features of the ,divine ,plan40--,b4 #ca4 ,daniel 8understood by books0 7,jeremiah's prophecy7 the length of the great captivity of the children of ,israel4 7,dan4 #i3b47 ,at ,christ's ,first ,advent there was but one timeprophecy calling attention to that event 7,dan4 #i3bdbg71 yet all the people 8were in expectation0 of it 7,luke #c3ae47 ,in the year #aaij the good monk ,joachim declared that the ,papal system was ,antichrist1 that the history of mankind is divided into three ages1 and that in the year #abfj the ,papacy would give way to a new system in which the whole world would be 8one vast monastery40 8,in #abfj the ,council of ,arles pronounced all followers of ,joachim heretics40 ,his application of the correct principle1 8a year for a day10 made in the very depths of the ,dark ,ages1 is one of the most pathetic incidents in the history of mankind2 but his study of timeprophecy brought him peace and joy of heart4 ,he was an opponent of the prevailing 8doctrine of the ,trinity40 ,william ,miller1 in the year #ahbi1 was privileged to see 7approximately7 the correct date for the setting up of the abomination of desolation 7#eci ,a4 ,d471 and for the beginning of the ,time of the ,end 7#agii ,a4 ,d47 ,morton ,edgar1 author of ,pyramid ,passages1 has found foreshown in the ,great ,pyramid of ,egypt abundant evidence of the accuracy of the ,bible chronology of ,pastor ,russell and the supplements thereto supplied by ,dr4 ,john ,edgar1 deceased4 ,these findings are set forth in his work1 ,pyramid ,passages1 ,vol4 ,,ii1 of which we recommend sections numbered in the following table4 ,for convenience we give the citations to ,pastor ,russell's works in which the same items are discussed4 ,the ,pyramid is still there1 and the measurements can be made by anybody4 ,pastor ,russell's chronology was written before he ever saw the ,pyramid4 ,date ,foreshown ,event ,pastor ,sections ,russell's of ,works ,pyramid ,passages ,fall #dabg ,b4 ,c4 ,fall of ,adam4 ,z #jdcdc #becjeh ,fall #cabg ,b4 ,c4 ,end of ,adam's #ajjjyear ,z #jdcdc #bebh day4 ,fall #bdgc ,b4 ,c4 ,flood4 ,b #db #bdcj ,fall #bjba ,b4 ,c4 ,birth of ,isaac4 ,b #bca #de ,spring #ahac ,b4 ,c4 ,death of ,jacob4 ,b #bahbcb #afag ,spring #afae ,b4 ,c4 ,exodus and giving of the ,b #db #aa ,law4 ,spring #aege ,b4 ,c4 ,entrance into ,canaan4 ,b #db #dcdf ,fall #fbf ,b4 ,c4 ,last ,jubilee4 ,b #ahe #ej ,fall #fjg ,b4 ,c4 ,desolation of the ,land4 ,b #ea #aidfdh ,fall #dee ,b4 ,c4 ,nehemiah's ,commission4 ,b #fg #eaebec ,fall #b ,b4 ,c4 ,birth of ,christ4 ,b #ed #ajdc ,fall #bi ,a4 ,d4 ,baptism of ,christ4 ,b #fj #ajbddceh ,spring #cc ,a4 ,d4 ,death of ,christ4 ,b #fa #ajaaadcbde ,fall #cf ,a4 ,d4 ,conversion of ,cornelius4 ,b #ga #ea ,spring #acgh ,a4 ,d4 ,wycliffe4 ,z #jeahe #cg ,spring #aeba ,a4 ,d4 ,diet of ,worms4 ,z #jeahj #ch ,fall #ahdf ,a4 ,d4 ,evangelical ,alliance4 ,c #ieaai #adeb ,fall #ahgd ,a4 ,d4 ,second ,advent of the ,b #agcbdg #afcbej ,lord4 ,spring #ahgh ,a4 ,d4 ,favor to ,jews and ,c #bcc #agbh sleeping ,saints4 ,fall #aiad ,a4 ,d4 ,end of ,times of the ,b #gc #aidh ,gentiles4 ,fall #bhge ,a4 ,d4 ,restitution completed4 ,z #jdcdd #cg ,fall #biad ,a4 ,d4 ,dominion restored to ,z #jdcdc #eh mankind4 ,the chronology as it appears in the ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures is accurate4 ,the year #aiad brought the end of the ,times of the ,gentiles1 but not the end of the ,harvest work4 ,have the teachings of the ,parallels lost their value8 ,not at all4 ,the point not previously noticed is that the ,jewish polity was not to be destroyed in ,jerusalem only1 but throughout all ,judea4 ,nor does ,judea mean all of ,palestine4 ,the actual depopulation of the whole of ,palestine did not occur until the year #ace ,a4 ,d4 7corresponding to our year #aihj71 on the ninth day of the month of ,ab1 the anniversary of the burning of the ,temple under ,titus4 ,on that day came to an end the insurrection of ,bar,cocheba1 the false ,messiah1 who wrought his own destruction and that of #ehj1jjj of his followers1 when he attempted to regain control of ,judea and ,jerusalem4 ,the struggle was of five years' duration having begun in #acj ,a4 ,d4 8,it was the effort1 under the leadership of ,bar,cocheba1 to regain their independence1 that brought about a repetition of scenes enacted under ,titus1 and resulted actually in the depopulation of ,palestine4 ,the whole of ,judea was turned into a desert2 about #ihe towns and villages were laid in ashes2 fifty of their fortresses were razed to the ground2 even the name of their capital was changed to lia ,capitolina1 and they were forbidden to approach it on pain of death2 thousands of those who had escaped death were reduced to slavery1 and such as could not be thus disposed of were transported into ,egypt40--,mc,c4 ,when the ,lord gave ,his wonderful prophecy in which the destinies of nominal ,fleshly ,israel1 nominal ,spiritual ,israel1 and the ,israel of ,god1 are set forth1 it was in answer to three definite questions3 8,when shall these things be8 and what shall be the sign of ,thy ,parousia1 and of the end of the ,age80 7,matt4 #bd3c47 ,the ,lord did not ignore their question4 ,he answered it with a reply that sweeps the history of twenty centuries4 ,he showed that the end of ,fleshly ,israel foreshadowed the end of ,spiritual ,israel4 ,fleshly ,israel had three ends2 the destruction of ,jerusalem in ,a4 ,d4 #gj1 the complete subjugation of ,judea in ,a4 ,d4 #gc1 and the actual depopulation of the whole of ,palestine in ,a4 ,d4 #ace4 ,which did ,he mean should be the end that would be a guide to ,his followers8 ,not the end in ,a4 ,d4 #gj1 foreshadowing #aiae2 for the ,harvest of the ,gospel ,age is still in progress4 ,not the end in ,a4 ,d4 #ace1 foreshadowing #aihj2 for the ,harvest is the end4 ,he must have meant the end in ,judea1 even as ,he said1 8,then let them which be in ,judea flee into the mountains40 7,matt4 #bd3af47 ,see also ,matt4 #b3bb2 #c3e2 ,mark #a3e2 ,luke #a3e1 #fe2 #c3a2 #g3ag2 ,acts #aa3bi2 ,rom4 #ae3ca1 and especially ,john #g3ac and #a ,thes4 #b3adaf4 ,the data presented in comments on ,rev4 #b3a prove that the conquest of ,judea was not completed until the day of the ,passover1 ,a4 ,d4 #gc1 and in the light of the foregoing ,scriptures1 prove that the ,spring of #aiah will bring upon ,christendom a spasm of anguish greater even than that experienced in the ,fall of #aiad4 ,reexamine the table of the ,parallel ,dispensations in ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures1 ,vol4 #b1 pages #bdf and #bdg2 change the #cg to #dj1 #gj to #gc and #aiad to #aiah1 and we believe it is correct and will be fulfilled 8with great power and glory10 7,mark #ac3bf47 ,it was entirely impossible to foresee whether our ,lord meant that ,a4 ,d4 #gj or ,a4 ,d4 #gc should serve as our guide to the time when the ,jewish polity came to an end1 until after ,october1 #aiae1 had passed4 ,moreover1 we have seen the promised signs1 8upon the earth distress of nations1 with perplexity2 men's hearts failing them for fear1 and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth10 and we have the ,lord's words for it that having seen those things 8the ,kingdom of ,god is nigh at hand10 8even at the doors10 and our 8redemption draweth nigh40 7,luke #ba3becf2 ,mark #ac3bgcj47 ,it is possible that ,a4 ,d4 #aihj marks the regathering of all of ,fleshly ,israel from their captivity in death4 ,it is just #gj years beyond #aiaj1 the date when ,pastor ,russell gave his great witness to the ,jewish people in the ,new ,york ,hippodrome4 ,see page #eea 7#a74 ,but if the time of nominal ,zion's travail 7,isa4 #ff3h7 is due to occur in the ,spring of #aiah1 and if we are now but the 8one day0 7one year7 distant from that event which the ,prophet mentions1 what should be our expectation regarding the experience of the 8little flock0 meantime8 8,the symbolic travail1 in the above prophecy1 is a reference to the great ,time of ,trouble--the travail that is to come upon the nominal ,gospel church1 ,great #8,babylon1' from which some are to be counted worthy to escape4 7,luke #ba3cf47 ,this is indicated by the preceding verse1 which locates the time of this prophecy as synchronous with that wherein is heard #8a voice of noise confusion from the city' ,babylon1 and #8a voice of truth and warning from the ,temple' the elect ,little ,flock of consecrated and faithful ones1 and #8a voice of ,jehovah that rendereth recompense to ,his enemies'--in the great ,time of ,trouble4 ,the travail that is coming is to be upon nominal ,zion--#8,christendom1' #8,babylon'2 and it will be a great and sore affliction--#8a ,time of ,trouble such as was not since there was a nation4' 8,but the marvelous thing the ,prophet here has to record is that a ,man child is to be born out of ,zion before this travail comes4 ,this is a striking reference to the fact1 elsewhere clearly taught1 that the ripe wheat of the ,gospel ,church is to be separated from the tares1 that they are to be exalted and glorified before the burning1 the consuming trouble1 shall come upon the latter4 ,this ,manchild is1 therefore1 the ,little ,flock--the true ,zion in ,god's estimation1 the ,body of ,christ2 as it is written4 #8,there shall come out of ,zion the nominal ,gospel ,church the ,deliverer ,the ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 and shall turn away ungodliness from ,jacob the ,fleshly ,israel1 or ,zion4' 7,rom4 #aa3bf47 ,this is the ,man child that is to bless all the families of the earth4 7,gen4 #bh3ad2 ,gal4 #c3af1 #bi47 ,the birth of the ,manchild is the ,first ,resurrection4 ,blessed and holy are all they that have part in the ,first ,resurrection4 ,such are now begotten of ,god by the ,word of ,truth1 and quickened by the ,holy ,spirit 7,jas4 #a3ah2 ,eph4 #b3a2 ,rom4 #h3aa71 and in due time--before the travail--they will be born in the glorious likeness of ,christ4 ,the birth of this ,man child began over eighteen hundred years ago with the resurrection of ,christ ,jesus4 ,there the ,head of this ,body of ,christ came forth2 and as surely as the ,head has been born1 so surely shall the ,body come forth4 #8,shall ,i bring to the birth1 and not cause to bring forth8 saith the ,lord3 shall ,i cause to bring forth and shut the womb8 saith thy ,god4' 7,isa4 #ff3i47 ,ah1 no6 #8the ,manchild1 ,the ,christ complete1 the ,great ,deliverer1 shall come forth4' 0--,z4 '#idace4 8,but10 says one1 8where is the fiery chariot that is to accomplish a cleavage between the ,elijah and ,elisha classes80 ,we offer the suggestion that the fiery horses are lurid prophecies2 the horsemen are ,ezekiel and ,john1 and the chariot is the vehicle in which their ,message is brought to the ,elijah class4 ,and do the ,elijah class take to that vehicle8 ,they do4 ,and why8 ,because 8the sheep follow ,him2 for they know ,his voice40 7,john #aj3d47 ,the separation between the ,elijah and ,elisha classes will be brought about in a perfectly natural way1 by some using the chariot which the ,lord provides1 and others recognizing it1 but not attempting to use it to mount to the skies4 ,and what should we expect such a fiery chariot would do when caught up into the heavens8 ,the answer is prophetic1 8,the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved20 8,the heavens shall pass away with a great noise20 8,and all the host of heaven shall be dissolved1 and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll3 and all their host shall fall down1 as the leaf falleth from the vine1 and as a falling fig from the figtree40 7#b ,pet4 #c3ab1 #aj2 ,isa4 #cd3d47 ,evidently the circulation of the penny will have something to do with the burning of the tares6--,matt4 #ac3djdc2 ,isa4 #ba3i4 ,forty days after ,christ's resurrection ,his ascension occurred4 ,this confirms the hope of the ,church's glorification forty years 7a year for a day7 after the awakening of the sleeping saints in the ,spring of #ahgh4 ,the seven days before the ,deluge may represent seven years1 from #aiad to #aiba1 in the midst of which 8week of years0 the last members of the ,messiah pass beyond the veil4 ,the ,great ,company class shall be cut off at its end--the fact that we see the first half of this week so distinctly marked would lead us to expect three and onehalf years more of witnessing by the ,great ,company class2 for it seems to be the ,heavenly ,father's way to accomplish ,his work by weeks and half weeks1 from the very beginning of creation until now4 ,the covenant with ,abraham1 #bjde ,b4 ,c41 was half way 7#bjha years each way7 between the fall of ,adam1 #dabg ,b4 ,c41 and the conversion of ,cornelius1 ,a4 ,d4 #cf4 ,the last observance of a typical jubilee by ,israel1 #fbf ,b4 ,c41 was half way 7#bejj years each way7 from the end of ,adam's ,day1 #cabg ,b4 ,c41 and the beginning of the ,times of ,restitution1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahgd4 ,the captivity1 #fjf ,b4 ,c41 marks the beginning of the ,times of the ,gentiles1 half way 7#bebj years each way7 between the end of ,adam's #ajjjyear day1 #cabg ,b4 ,c41 and the end of ,gentile ,times1 ,a4 ,d4 #aiad4 ,the captivity1 #fjf ,b4 ,c41 marks a point half way 7#cebj years each way7 between the fall of man1 #dabg ,b4 ,c41 and his full restoration to ,divine favor1 ,a4 ,d4 #biad4 ,christ's death1 ,a4 ,d4 #cc1 marks a point half way 7#ahde years each way7 between the death of ,jacob1 #ahac ,b4 ,c41 and the restoration of favor to ,israel in #ahgh ,a4 ,d4 ,the death of ,christ1 ,a4 ,d4 #cc1 was half way 7three and onehalf years each way7 between ,his baptism1 ,a4 ,d4 #bi1 and the conversion of ,cornelius1 ,a4 ,d4 #cf4 ,chronological ,chart of ,revelation ,the awakening of the sleeping saints1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahgh1 was just half way 7three and onehalf years each way7 between the beginning of the ,times of ,restitution in #ahgd and the close of the ,high ,calling in #ahha4 ,our proposition is that the glorification of the little ,flock in the ,spring of #aiah ,a4 ,d4 will be half way 7three and onehalf years each way7 between the close of the ,gentile ,times and the close of the ,heavenly ,way1 ,a4 ,d4 #aiba4 ,the three days' 7three years--#aiahaiba7 fruitless search for ,elijah 7#b ,kings #b3agah7 is a confirmation of this view4 ,we shall wait to see2 but we shall not be indifferent while we wait1 lest peradventure another1 more zealous1 take the crown we have4 ,the time is not long3 but if we have to go on for fifty years1 why should we care8 ,we are the ,lord's4 ,let ,him do as ,he will with ,his own4 ,illustration ,the ,seven ,messengers ,to ,the ,church ,write4--,pastor ,russell was the most prolific writer of ,biblical truth that ever lived4--,ezek4 #i3b1 #c4 ,these things saith the ,amen4--,the same word translated 8verily0 in the ,gospels and so often used by our ,lord as a solemn prefix to some important announcement4 ,,and the faithful and true ,witness4--,trinitarians witness that ,christ and the ,father are one in person4 ,christ ,himself witnesses1 8,it is also written in your ,law that the testimony of two men is true4 ,i am one that bear witness of ,myself1 and the ,father that sent ,me beareth witness of ,me40 7,john #h3ag1 #ah47 ,christ was one1 and the ,father was one2 and one plus one are two4 7,this lesson in mathematics is for ,doctors of ,divinity2 school children will not need it47--,rev4 #a3e2 #ai3aa4 ,,and the ,beginning of the creation ,,church of ,god4--,either reading is correct4 ,our ,lord was the ,beginning of the ,new ,creation1 but1 more than that1 ,he was the ,beginning of all creation4 8,he is the ,image of the invisible ,god--,firstborn of all creation2 because by ,him were all things created1 those in the heavens and those on the earth1 visible and invisible--whether thrones1 or lordships1 or governments1 or authorities3 all things were created by ,him and for ,him1 and ,he precedes all things1 and in ,him all things have been permanently placed4 7,col4 #a3aeah47 ,hear also the word of prophecy concerning the ,only,begotten1 not only declaring ,his coming exaltation as ,king of earthly kings1 but describing ,him as already being ,jehovah's ,firstborn1 saying1 #8,i will make ,him1 ,my ,first born1 higher than the kings of the earth4' 7,psa4 #hi3bg470--;,e4 #ie1 #hf4 #c3ae4 ,i know thy works4--8,the ,laodicean ,church has much zeal1 but not according to knowledge4 ,she claims that her principal object is to convert sinners1 to bring forth spiritual children4 ,the ,prophet puts these words into the mouth of nominal ,christians when they awake to a knowledge of the situation3 #8,we have been with child1 we have been in pain1 we have as it were brought forth wind2 we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth2 neither have the inhabitants of the earth fallen 7become converted74' 7,isa4 #bf3afah470 7,z4 '#afcdg47 ,the literal city of ,laodicea was distinguished for the raven blackness of the fleeces 7black sheep7 there to be had4 ,that thou are neither cold4--,making no pretense whatever to be exponents of ,god's ,truth4--,luke #g3cfej4 ,nor hot4--,full of warm1 loving devotion to ,christ4--#b ,tim4 #c3e2 ,ezek4 #e3f4 ,i would thou wert cold or hot4--8,ephraim is a cake not turned40--,hos4 #g3h4 #c3af4 ,so then4--8,the ,spring of #ahgh1 corresponding to the date at which our ,lord assumed the office of ,king1 rode on the ass1 cleansed the ,temple of its moneychangers1 and wept over and gave up to desolation that nominal church or kingdom1 marks the date from which the nominal church systems are not the mouthpieces of ,god1 nor in any degree recognized by ,him40--,b4 #bce4 ,because thou art ,,thus lukewarm and ,,art neither cold nor hot ,,hot ,,nor ,,cold4--8,retaining the forms of worship and faith in a ,creator and in a future life1 but viewing these chiefly through their own or other men's philosophies and theories1 and ignoring the ,bible as an infallible teacher of the ,divine purposes4 ,these1 while retaining the ,bible1 disbelieve its narratives1 especially that of ,eden and the fall4 ,retaining the name of ,jesus1 and calling ,him the ,christ and the ,savior1 they regard ,him merely as an excellent though not infallible ,exemplar1 and reject entirely ,his ,ransomsacrifice--,his cross4 ,claiming the ,fatherhood of ,god to extend to sinners1 they repudiate both the curse and the ,mediator40--,c4 #afg4 ,i will spue thee out of ,my ,,refrain ,,thy mouth4--,she is bidden to hold her peace4 ,she needs to study1 not to teach2 and so the following verses indicate4--,hos4 #e3f2 #i3ab4 #c3ag4 ,because thou sayest ,i am rich4--,i have all the spiritual light that exists in the world4 8,i have much goods laid up for many years40 7,luke #ab3ai47 8,i sit a queen1 and am no widow1 and shall see no sorrow40--,rev4 #ah3g2 ,hos4 #ab3h2 #a ,cor4 #d3h4 ,and ,increased with goods4--8,laodiceans count their numbers and their donations by millions1 and say1 #8,we are rich as never before4' ,alas1 that they do not realize that these are earthly riches of the kind which our ,lord declares are no evidence of ,his favor during this ,gospel ,age1 but rather to the contrary6 ,and they see not the true riches which the ,lord admires1 and which are the foretaste of ,his favor and the coming ,kingdom wealth40--,z4 '#jaef4 ,and have need of nothing4--8,they will not own that they have departed from the right ways of the ,lord3 in their own estimation they are rich and increased with goods1 spiritual as well as temporal1 and have need of nothing40--,mal4 #c3g2 ,z4 '#ibbfa4 ,and knowest not that thou4--,of all others1 so the ,greek indicates4 ,art wretched4--8,to our eternal disgrace1 the ,united ,states leads all civilized countries in homicides--over #h1jjj yearly4 ,there are twelve murders in ,new ,england to one in ,london2 in ,california seventyfive to one2 in ,nevada #bde to one40 7,z4 '#jhhc47 8,each nation feels that theirs is the greatest talent1 theirs are the finest guns1 theirs the best everything2 and it is this feeling of selfsufficiency that led the nations into the present conflict4 ,they think that they are so good and so great that ,god could not help giving them the victory40--,z4 '#aeagd4 ,and miserable4--8,how blind we all have been not to have noticed3 7#a7 ,that the numbers of the heathen in proportion even to the nominally ,christian doubled last century2 7#b7 ,that if we could bring all the heathen up to the standard of our most civilized nation it would mean that ,god's will would be less done the world over than it is now40--,z4 '#jhhc4 ,and poor4--8,the ,laodicean ,church is poor in that she has so little of the ,master's ,spirit1 so little of the ,truth and of the ,spirit of the ,truth40--,z4 '#jaef4 ,and blind4--8,she cannot see afar off1 cannot see either the ,high ,calling of the ,church or the blessed provisions of ,restitution for the world in general40--,z4 '#ihabh4 ,and naked4--8,the clergy1 under the name of ,higher ,criticism and ,evolution1 are rapidly denuding her1 making her naked1 taking from her the robe of ,christ's righteousness1 and leading her to trust1 not in the precious blood of the ,redeemer1 but in an evolutionary process which needs no ,savior1 which denies that there is1 or has been1 any sin to make atonement for40--,z4 '#jaef4 #c3ah4 ,i counsel thee4--8,thou shalt guide me with ,thy counsel and afterward receive me into glory40--,psa4 #gc3bd4 ,to buy of ,me4--8,not until we lay hold by faith upon the exceeding great and precious promises is there any of the #8gold' of the #8,divine nature' in us4 ,this treasure can be purchased only at the cost of entire consecration1 or sacrifice of all that we have1 to ,christ0--,z4 '#ifdd2 ,prov4 #bc3bc2 ,matt4 #ac3dd4 ,gold tried in the fire4--8,if we would purchase the #8gold tried in the fire1' it must be at the cost of faithful and constant submission to the discipline of the ,lord in fiery trials4 ,how otherwise can the dross be eliminated8 ,there is no other way4 ,wherefore1 think it not strange2 let the fire burn2 let the dross be consumed2 and see to it1 beloved1 that in the heat of the flame you remove not the #8living sacrifice4' 0--,z4 '#ifdd2 #a ,pet4 #d3ab4 ,that thou mayest be rich4--8,for ye know the grace of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that1 though ,he was rich1 yet for your sakes ,he became poor1 that ye through ,his poverty might be rich40--#b ,cor4 #h3i2 ,prov4 #aj3bb2 ,lu4 #ab3ba2 #a ,tim4 #f3ah2 ,jas4 #b3e2 ,rev4 #b3i4 ,and white raiment4--8,the robe of ,christ's imputed righteousness1 which so many are now discarding1 to appear before ,god in their own unrighteousness40--,d4 #db2 ,rev4 #ai3h4 ,that thou mayest be clothed4--8,a glorious church1 not having spot1 or wrinkle1 or any such thing40--,eph4 #e3bg4 ,and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear4--8,behold ,i come as a thief4 ,blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments1 lest he walk naked and they see his shame40--,rev4 #af3ae2 ,matt4 #bb3aaac2 ,isa4 #dg3c4 ,and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve4--,from the ,great ,physician4 7,mark #b3ag47 8,complete consecration and submission to the ,divine will as expressed in the ,scriptures40--,d4 #db4 ,that thou mayest see4--8,the #8master of the house' or #8householder' of the present dispensation is not our ,lord1 but our ,adversary1 the ,devil--#8the god of this world1' #8the prince of the power of the air1' #8the prince of this world1' who now ruleth in the children of disobedience1 blinding the minds of all that believe not40--,d4 #faa2 #b ,cor4 #d3d2 ,eph4 #b3b2 ,psa4 #ac3c2 #ai3h2 ,john #i3f1 #da4 #c3ai4 ,as many as ,i love4--8,as many as are honest and at heart loyal to ,god40--,z4 '#ibei4 ,i rebuke and chasten4--8 #8,my son1 despise not thou the chastening of the ,lord1 nor faint when thou art rebuked of ,him2 for whom the ,lord loveth ,he chasteneth4'--,prov4 #c3aa1 #ab2 ,heb4 #ab3eh40--,z4 '#ifdd2 ,job #e3ag2 ,jas4 #a3ab4 ,be zealous1 therefore1 and repent4--8,the lawyer who makes legality his test instead of justice2 the merchant who is satisfied simply to conform to the code of his trade1 whose excuse for any dishonesty is1 #8,they all do it'2 the #8gentleman' or #8lady' who puts good form and manners in the place of sincerity and kindliness of heart1 and politeness in place of courtesy--all are alike animated by the ecclesiastical conscience4 ,it was this ecclesiastical mind and this ecclesiastical conscience which crucified ,jesus ,christ 7,rt4 ,rev4 ,chas4 ,d4 ,williams1 ,protestant ,episcopal ,bishop of ,michigan470--,z4 '#aecci4 #c3bj4 ,behold1 ,i stand at the door4--,some of the ,scriptures1 which1 when understood in their connections and significance1 prove that the ,lord's ,second ,advent occurred in the fall of #ahgd are as follows3 8,speak ye comfortably to ,jerusalem1 and cry unto her1 that her warfare is accomplished1 that her iniquity is pardoned2 for she hath received of the ,lord's hand double for all her sins40 7,isa4 #dj3b2 ,b4 #bbg47 8,and first ,i will recompense their iniquity and their sin double40 7,jer4 #af3ah2 ,b4 #bah47 8,turn you to the strong hold1 ye prisoners of hope3 even today do ,i declare that ,i will render double unto thee40 7,zech4 #i3ab2 ,b4 #bbd47 8,the fourteenth day of the second month1 at even1 they shall keep it40 7,num4 #i3aa2 ,z4 '#ihfh47 8,and when her days to be delivered were fulfilled1 behold1 there were twins40 7,gen4 #be3bd2 ,z4 '#idfc47 8,and when he was full forty years old1 it came into his heart to visit his brethren4 ,and when forty years were expired1 there appeared to him in the wilderness of ,mount ,sinai an angel of the ,lord40 8,wonders and signs in the land of ,egypt1 and in the ,red ,sea1 and in the ,wilderness forty years40--,acts #g3bc1 #cj1 #cf2 ,z4 '#aabae4 8,blessed is he that waiteth1 and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days40 7,dan4 #ab3ab2 ,c4 #hc47 8,then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubilee to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month1 in the day of atonement40 7,lev4 #be3i2 ,b4 #ahg47 8,as long as she lay desolate she kept sabbath1 to fulfil threescore and ten years40 7#b ,chron4 #cf3ba2 ,b4 #aie47 8,in that day shall there be an altar to the ,lord in the midst of the land of ,egypt1 and a pillar at the border thereof to the ,lord4 ,and it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the ,lord of hosts in the land of ,egypt40 7,isa4 #ai3ai1 #bj2 ,c4 #cae47 8,the like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us40 7#a ,pet4 #c3ba2 ,z4 '#jeaha1 ,diagram47 8,in the first year of ,cyrus1 king of ,persia1 he made a proclamation40 7,ezra #a3a2 ,z4 '#jeahe47 8,this house was finished on the third day of the month ,adar1 which was in the sixth year of the reign of ,darius the king40 7,ezra #f3ae2 ,z4 '#jeahe47 8,this ,ezra went up from ,babylon4444 ,and he came to ,jerusalem in the fifth month1 which was in the seventh year of the king40 7,ezra #g3fh2 ,z4 '#jeahe47 8,in the twentieth year of ,artaxerxes the king40--,neh4 #b3a2 ,z4 '#jeahe4 ,besides the above ,scriptures1 timeproofs of the ,lord's ,return1 are the fulfilments of the promised signs3 ,the ,gospel has been preached in all the world for a witness3 7,matt4 #bd3ad2 ,a4 #ia72 the abomination has been seen in the holy place 7,matt4 #bd3ae2 ,d4 #egb72 the flight of the saints from the antitypical 8,judea0 has occurred 7,matt4 #bd3af2 ,d4 #egc72 the great tribulation has commenced 7,matt4 #bd3ba2 ,d4 #edj72 the false ,christs are with us 7,matt4 #bd3bc2 ,d4 #ehj72 the eagles have gathered to the carcase 7,matt4 #bd3bh2 ,d4 #faj72 the sun and moon have been darkened 7,matt4 #bd3bi2 ,d4 #eij72 the ,man of ,sin has been revealed 7#b ,thes4 #b3h2 ,t4 #hf2 ,b4 #bga72 the ,elias has come 7,mal4 #d3e2 ,b4 #bea72 the regathering of the ,jews has begun 7,jer4 #ca3h2 ,z4 '#jfhd72 the refining of the sons of ,levi progresses 7,mal4 #c3ac2 ,z4 '#jecgh72 the true faith was nearly extinct in the earth 7,luke #ah3h2 ,z4 '#jfbfe72 the doctrines of devils are rampant 7#a ,tim4 #d3a2 ,f4 #fba72 the perilous times and all associated evils are here 7#b ,tim4 #c3ag2 ,z4 '#iiii72 the ,lord ,god has given the sinners water of gall to drink 7,jer4 #h3ad2 ,c4 #aeh72 the mighty angel has roared1 8,come out of her0 7,rev4 #ah3d2 ,c4 #aee72 the running to and fro is in evidence 7,dan4 #ab3d2 ,c4 #fc72 the antitypical ,josiah has kept the great ,passover 7#b ,chron4 #ce3ai2 ,z4 '#jeahj72 the land shadowed with wings has played its part 7,isa4 #ah3a2 ,z4 '#jdbcj72 the watchman has stood upon his tower 7,hab4 #b3a2 ,c4 #hi72 the wheels within wheels are made clear 7,ezek4 #a3ae72 the ,prophet has come to the rebellious house 7,ezek4 #b3c72 he has eaten the book of her fate 7,ezek4 #b3i72 the seven years of astonishment are finished 7,ezek4 #c3ae72 the sieges of #cij years and #dj years are at an end 7,ezek4 #d3e1 #f72 the image of jealousy has been disclosed 7,ezek4 #h3c72 the man with the writer's inkhorn has performed his task 7,ezek4 #i3b72 the removing is at an end 7,ezek4 #ad3ba72 the sword has been doubled the third time 7,ezek4 #ba3ae72 the point of the sword has been made bright 7,ezek4 #ba3ae72 ecclesiasticism has been delivered unto brutish persons 7,ezek4 #ba3ca72 the desire of the faithful servant's eyes has failed 7,ezek4 #bd3af72 the stilled voice is speaking again4--,ezek4 #cc3bb4 ,the seven thunders have uttered their voices 7,rev4 #aj3c72 the seven last plagues have been poured out 7,rev4 #ae3f72 the voices of the three signs have been uttered 7,exod4 #d3ci2 ,z4 '#jgbgf72 the ribband of blue 7the ,vow7 has done its work 7,num4 #ae3ch72 the tares and wheat have been separated 7,matt4 #ac3cj2 ,c4 #aci72 the net has been drawn to the shore and the fish sorted 7,matt4 #ac3dh2 ,c4 #bad72 the ambassadors of peace have wept bitterly 7,isa4 #cc3g72 the foolish virgins have had their sound sleep 7,matt4 #be3e2 ,c4 #ib72 the seven seals have been opened 7,rev4 #h3a72 the seven angels have sounded 7,rev4 #aj3g2 ,b4 #adi72 the nations are angry 7,rev4 #aa3ah72 the winepress of ,god's wrath has been trodden 7,rev4 #ad3bj72 the horses and chariot of fire have come for ,elijah 7#b ,kings #b3aa72 the chariots are running like lightning 7,nah4 #b3d2 ,c4 #bgb72 the mighty angel has flown in the midst of heaven 7,rev4 #ad3f72 the false worshippers have been tormented with fire and brimstone 7,rev4 #ad3aj72 ,behemoth and ,leviathan have been beheld doing their work 7,job #dj3aebc2 #da3acd72 the secret of the ,lord has been shown 7,psa4 #be3ad2 ,z4 '#igbee72 the ,lord is judging ,his people and gathering ,his saints 7,psa4 #ej3d1 #e2 ,d4 #ge2 ,b4 #afd72 the lightnings have enlightened the world 7,psa4 #ig3d2 ,a4 #aga72 the hills have melted like wax 7,psa4 #ig3e2 ,d4 #eea72 the banner has been lifted on the high mount 7,isa4 #ac3b2 ,d4 #dj72 the tables are full of vomit 7,isa4 #bh3h2 ,z4 '#jgia72 the dumb dogs have failed to bark 7,isa4 #ef3aj2 ,f4 #bhg72 the silver has been cast into the streets 7,ezek4 #g3ai72 the nations have all been shaken 7,hag4 #b3g2 ,d4 #ebh72 the rain1 floods and winds have come on ,christendom 7,matt4 #g3bg2 ,z4 '#jfie72 the ,king has come in to see the guests 7,matt4 #bb3aa2 ,c4 #aig72 the speechless one has been bound hand and foot and cast out 7,matt4 #bb3ac2 ,c4 #bja72 the ,master is reckoning with ,his servants 7,matt4 #be3ai2 ,f4 #dai72 the seas and the waves are roaring 7,luke #ba3be2 ,d4 #eea72 the #add1jjj are standing on the sea of glass singing 7,rev4 #ae3c2 ,c4 #bcg72 the ,devil has risen up against himself 7,mark #c3bf2 ,f4 #fda72 the blood1 fire and vapor of smoke are here 7,acts #b3ai2 ,d4 #eib72 the brethren are not in darkness and all others are 7#a ,thes4 #e3d2 ,b4 #aba72 the teachers having itching ears have turned unto fables 7#b ,tim4 #d3c2 #d2 ,f4 #bhg2 ,z4 '#jgcjh72 the twentyfour elders have cast their crowns before the throne 7,rev4 #d3aj72 the predicted scoffing has taken place 7#b ,pet4 #c3c2 ,b4 #afg72 the laborers have received their penny 7,matt4 #bj3h72 and these are but #hh of the proofs hastily collected4 ,and knock4--8,the knock1 or proclamation of the ,lord's ,presence1 as indicated by the ,old ,testament prophecies1 has been given since #ahge and is still being given40--,z4 '#jdabd2 ,lu4 #ab3cf2 ,cant4 #e3bf4 ,if any man hear ,my voice4--8,the knock is to be the evidence of the ,presence2 and the servants are not to know in advance1 but are to know at the time of the arrival and that without seeing40--,z4 '#jdabc4 ,and ,i ,,will ,,both open the door4--,when once we give the ,lord a welcome to our hearts1 how ,he does open the doors to joys we ne'er before knew6 ,i will ,,and come in to him4--8,if a man love ,me1 he will keep ,my words3 and ,my ,father will love him1 and ,we will come unto him1 and make ,our abode with him40--,john #ad3bc4 ,and will sup4--,take the evening meal4--,lu4 #ab3cg4 ,with him4--,the ,master ,himself is feasting on the same joys of the ,father's ,plan that delight our own hearts4 ,and he with ,me4--8,this serving of the servants by the ,master should be understood to be an individual work1 and not merely a collective service and feast40--,z4 '#jdabd4 #c3ba4 ,to him that overcometh4--8,let us not avoid the ,gethsemane moment if it come to us in the ,lord's providence1 but let us also with strong cryings and tears look up to ,him who is able to save us out of death by the glorious ,first ,resurrection2 and let us remember that if we abide in ,his love1 ,he is able and willing to bring us off conquerors1 yea1 more than conquerors through ,his own merit40--,z4 '#jfcdh4 ,will ,i grant4--,if they prove faithful unto death4 ,to sit with ,me4--8,with the early ,church1 the promises of ,kingdom honor and jointheirship with the ,master were strong incentives to faithfulness under present trials and persecutions1 which they had been forewarned to expect40--,a4 #bhe4 ,in ,my ,throne4--8,god's appointed means of blessing the world and causing the knowledge of the ,lord to come to every creature40--,a4 #ia2 #a ,cor4 #f3b2 #b ,tim4 #b3ab2 ,rev4 #b3bf1 #bg2 #bb3a4 ,even as ,i also overcame4--8,god sent an angel to comfort and minister unto ,him2 to assure ,him still of the ,divine favor1 and thus to give ,him fresh courage1 strength of mind and steadiness of nerve to endure all that was before ,him1 even unto death4 ,the bitterness of the mental conflict was now over1 and the light of ,heaven shining into ,his soul chased away the deep gloom that had hung over ,him like a funeral pall40--,z4 '#jfcdh4 ,and am set down with ,my ,father in ,his ,throne4--8,the thousand years of the ,millennial ,reign will constitute but a beginning of the exercise of the glory1 honor and immortality of these ,new ,creatures4 ,at its close when the ,kingdom shall be delivered up to #8,god1 even the ,father1' and to mankind as the glorified agents of the ,father to rule the earth1 a still larger sphere for the exercise of their glory1 honor and immortality will open before the ,new ,creation40--,f4 #fi2 #a ,cor4 #ae3bdbh4 #c3bb4 ,he that hath an ear4--8,blessed are your eyes1 for they see2 and your ears1 for they hear40--,matt4 #ac3af4 ,let him hear4--8,for verily ,i say unto you1 ,that many ,prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see1 and have not seen them2 and to hear those things which ye hear1 and have not heard them40--,matt4 #ac3ag4 ,what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4--,unto the seven epochs1 ending1 respectively1 in ,a4 ,d4 #gc1 #cbe1 #aafj1 #acgh1 #aeah1 #ahgd and #aiah4 ,revelation #d--,the ,author ,of ,the ,plan #d3a4 ,after this4--,after this first panorama of the seven stages of the ,church had passed4 ,i looked1 and1 behold1 a door was opened in ,heaven4--,it is only as the ,lord1 who holds the key1 opens the door to the understanding of ,heavenly things1 that we are able to comprehend them4--,matt4 #c3af2 ,ezek4 #a3a2 ,rev4 #ai3aa4 ,and ,,behold the first voice which ,i heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me4--,see comments on ,rev4 #a3a2 #g3b4 ,which said1 ,come up hither4--,not that ,st4 ,john went to ,heaven at that time2 he was merely given a vision of ,heavenly things4 7,rev4 #aa3ab47 8,the seer now obtains a higher spiritual standpoint40--,cook4 ,and ,i will shew thee things which must be hereafter4--,the ,divine ,plan for the permission of evil4 #d3b4 ,and immediately ,i was in the spirit4--,in a trance condition4--,acts #aj3aj2 ,rev4 #a3aj4 ,and1 behold1 a ,throne4--,the ,throne of the ,heavenly ,father4--,isa4 #f3a2 ,ezek4 #a3bfbh4 ,was set4--,permanently established4 ,the same word as in1 8,this ,child is set for the fall and rising again of many in ,israel40 7,luke #b3cd47 8,i am set for the defence of the ,gospel40--,phil4 #a3ag4 ,in ,heaven4--8,whither the ,forerunner is for us entered1 even ,jesus40--,heb4 #f3bj4 ,and ,one4--,jehovah1 8the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ0 7#a ,pet4 #a3c71 the ,author of the ,divine ,plan for the permission of evil1 in the recreation of a perfect human race1 and in the creation of a race of gods1 sons of ,himself4 8,god designed to permit evil1 because1 having the remedy provided for man's release from its consequences1 ,he saw that the result would be to lead him the more to love and honor his ,creator1 who is the source and fountain of all goodness1 and forever to shun that which brought so much woe and misery40 7,a4 #abd47 8,not only are men benefited to all eternity by the experience gained1 and angels by their observation of man's experiences1 but all are further advantaged by a fuller acquaintance with ,god's ,character as manifested in ,his ,plan4 ,had sin not been permitted1 the sacrifice of our ,lord ,jesus and of ,his ,church1 the reward of which is the ,divine nature1 would have been impossible40--,a4 #ace4 ,sat on the ,throne4--,of the ,universe4 8,all can see the propriety of the ,almighty's decision that ,he shall be recognized as the ,center of authority1 wisdom1 justice1 love and power2 for this is the truth1 and anything else would be untruth and to that extent evil1 injurious40--,e4 #eg1 #eb2 ,rev4 #g3aj2 ,dan4 #g3i4 #d3c4 ,and ,he that sat was to look upon like a jasper4--8,and the building of the wall of it was of jasper3 and the city was pure gold1 like unto clear glass4 ,and the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones4 ,the first foundation was jasper40 7,rev4 #ba3ah1 #ai47 8,a precious stone1 variegated with divers colors1 and of a very hard quality2 some have been found of a seagreen color40 7,diaglott note47 8,the ancient jasper thus appears to have been frequently translucent1 but the modern is opaque40 7,mc,c47 ,the jasper1 therefore1 is supposed to refer to the modern rare and beautiful greentinted diamond4 ,the diamond is the hardest substance known1 excelling in brilliancy and beautiful play of prismatic colors4 ,the crystals of which it is composed are bounded by eight equal equilateral triangles2 twentyfour angles in all1 constituting a perfect double pyramid1 set base to base4 ,how adorable1 how sublime1 how perfect is our ,god6 ,how impossible to describe ,him6 ,to know ,him aright will require eternity4 ,the jasper seems especially to illustrate ,his glory1 perfection and prescience4 7,he uses twentyfour elders--prophecies47 ,and a sardine stone4--8,the sard1 which is a superior variety of agate1 has long been a favorite stone for the engraver's art4 ,on this stone all the finest works of the most celebrated artists are to be found2 and this not without good cause1 such is its toughness1 facility of working1 beauty of color1 and the high polish of which it is susceptible1 and which it retains longer than any other gem4 ,the sardius is the stone now called the carnelian1 from its color1 which resembles that of raw flesh4 ,it is supposed to stop hemorrhage when laid on a fresh wound40 7,mc,c47 ,the sardius seems especially to illustrate ,god's love1 ,his memory of ,his creatures1 and ,his purpose of a resurrection for all smitten in ,adam and redeemed in ,christ4 ,will ,god forget to raise any of ,his bloodbought8 8,can a woman forget her sucking child1 that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb8 ,yea1 they may forget1 yet will ,i not forget thee4 ,behold ,i have graven thee upon the palms of ,my hands40--,isa4 #di3ae1 #af4 ,and there was a rainbow4--8,the rainbow has always been an emblem of peace4 ,it appears on the cloud as the storm passes away4 ,it contrasts beautifully with the tempest that has just been raging4 ,it is seen as the rays of the sun again appear clothing all things with beauty--the more beautiful from the fact that the storm has come4 ,it is a pledge that the war of the elements has ceased1 and that ,god smiles again upon the earth4 ,the appearance of the rainbow around the ,throne was a beautiful emblem of the mercy of ,god1 and of the peace that was to pervade the world as the result of the events that were to be disclosed to the vision of ,john40 7,barnes47 ,the rainbow is characterized by seven colors--perfection4 7,ezek4 #a3bh47 ,it represents not only the bow of promise for mankind1 but the peace of ,god4 ,it is ,his ,plan4 8,from ,his own vast inherent resources of power and wisdom1 springs the peace of ,god4 ,but not from this source alone is the ,divine peace2 for peace is the certain concomitant of inherent goodness4 ,god is the impersonation of every virtue and every grace2 consequently ,he has the blessed satisfaction and peace of conscious moral perfection as well as inherent wisdom and power40 7,z4 '#ieaec47 8,during the seventh millennium1 according to the ,divine purpose1 it will be the joyful privilege of our ,lord ,jesus to fully manifest to all creatures in ,heaven and in earth the ,father's glorious character4 ,then will the ,father rejoice in the grandeur of ,his finished work and in the everlasting peace and happiness of ,his family in ,heaven and in earth1 #8reunited under one head4' 7,eph4 #a3aj1 ,diaglott470--,z4 '#ieaee4 ,round about the ,throne4--,justice is 8the habitation of ,thy ,throne40 7,psa4 #hi3ad47 8,god's law is stern ,justice1 with no allowances1 ready to consume as a fire everything blemished4 ,who cannot see that if ,god could deal with sinners1 and condoning their sins1 accept their best endeavors1 though imperfect1 there would have been no necessity for a ,redeemer8 ,and thus1 to all eternity1 there might be danger of sin on the part of those who had not already dabbled in it4 ,seeing this1 it does not surprise us that ,god1 in the interest of all ,his holy creatures1 as well as for ,his own pleasure1 decides that ,he will recognize nothing short of perfection in any creature1 and makes ,justice the foundation of ,his ,throne40--,e4 #dha1 #dgb4 ,in sight like unto an emerald4--8,the same with the ancient smaragdus2 one of the most beautiful of gems1 of a bright green color1 without any mixture40--,diaglott4 8,the emerald1 of bright green color1 #8was the most precious gem in the ,roman jeweller's list4444 ,the ,romans were plentifully supplied with the true emerald4 ,the smaragdus of ,nero's age must be restricted to the true emerald1 perhaps including the green ruby4' 7,king470--,nat4 ,hist4 of ,precious ,stones4 ,the color of the emerald1 green1 signifies everlastingness4 8,from everlasting to everlasting thou art ,god40--,psa4 #ij3b2 ,ezek4 #a3bh4 #d3d4 ,and round about the ,throne4--,encompassing it on all sides--always in mind--never out of sight4 ,were ,,saw ,i four and twenty seats4--,thronoi1 thrones1 places of highest exaltation--the twentyfour angles 7viewpoints7 of the diamond4--,rev4 #d3c1aj4 ,and upon the seats ,i saw four and twenty elders sitting4--,personifications of the testimonies of twentyfour ,prophets 7,heb4 #aa3b71 who foretold things pertaining to the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,not the ,prophets themselves are here referred to4 ,they are not in ,heaven4 8,david is not ascended into the ,heavens40 7,acts #b3cd47 ,daniel still 8sleeps in the dust of the earth40 7,dan4 #ab3b1 #ac47 ,none of the ,prophets are in ,heaven3 8,god having provided some better thing for us1 that they without us should not be made perfect40 7,heb4 #aa3dj47 ,but from the time that 8holy men of ,god spake as they were moved by the ,holy ,spirit0 7#b ,pet4 #a3ba71 the utterances of ,enoch1 ,jacob1 ,moses1 ,samuel1 ,job1 ,david1 ,solomon1 ,isaiah1 ,jeremiah1 ,ezekiel1 ,daniel1 ,hosea1 ,joel1 ,amos1 ,obadiah1 ,jonah1 ,micah1 ,nahum1 ,habakkuk1 ,zephaniah1 ,haggai1 ,zechariah1 ,malachi and ,john the ,baptist1 have been witnesses before ,god that there shall be 8,times of ,refreshing0--8,times of ,restitution40--,acts #c3aiba4 ,clothed in white raiment4--,all of these men considered themselves unworthy to be ,god's mouthpieces4 ,jacob said1 8,i am not worthy of the least of all ,thy mercies1 and of all the truth which ,thou hast shewed unto ,thy servant40 7,gen4 #cb3aj47 ,moses said1 8,who am ,i that ,i should go unto ,pharaoh1 and that ,i should bring forth the children of ,israel out of ,egypt80 7,exod4 #c3aa47 ,david said1 8,who am ,i1 ,o ,lord ,god8 and what is my house1 that ,thou hast brought me hitherto80 7#b ,sam4 #g3ah47 ,solomon said1 8,i am but a little child3 ,i know not how to go out or come in40 7#a ,kings #c3g47 ,isaiah said1 8,woe is me6 for ,i am undone2 because ,i am a man of unclean lips1 and ,i dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips40 7,isa4 #f3e47 ,jeremiah said1 8,ah1 ,lord ,god6 behold ,i cannot speak3 for ,i am a child40 7,jer4 #a3f47 ,daniel said1 8,this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that ,i have40 7,dan4 #b3cj47 ,and ,john the ,baptist said1 8,i have need to be baptised of ,thee1 and comest ,thou to me80 7,matt4 #c3ad47 ,but the ,lord knoweth them that are ,his 7#b ,tim4 #b3ai72 and whatever they may think of themselves1 if they are ,god's mouthpieces1 they are clean4 ,isaiah's utterances are spotless in the sight of ,god--clothed in white raiment4--,isa4 #f3f1 #g4 ,and they had on their heads crowns of gold4--,the glory of ,god--,love1 ,god's highest attribute4 ,if there are any prophets that do not have something to say about ,god's loving arrangement for ,times of ,restitution1 then they are not holy4 ,judged by this standard1 how many of the clergy of our day are holy8--,acts #c3aiba4 #d3e4 ,and out of the ,throne proceeded lightnings4--8,how apt is this figure6 ,truly like lightning flashes in the midst of the gloom and perplexity of this cloudy day1 come to men remarkable glimpses of the great principles of ,truth and ,righteousness4 ,a flash of lightning from the obscured ,throne discloses here one error1 and there another1 and another4 ,it is remarkable that these lightning flashes are continually calling attention to the ,word of ,god1 to the ,golden ,rule4 ,it seems remarkable1 too1 how often in these days of war and stress worldly men are drawing attention to the prophecies of the ,scriptures40--,z4 '#afcci2 ,rev4 #h3e2 #af3ah4 ,,and ,,voices4--8,as a result of ,god's lightning flashes which are enlightening the world1 there are ominous mutterings of dissatisfaction1 unrest4 ,the lightning flashes are revealing the corruption in the world1 the dishonesty in high places2 with conflicting ideas1 voices1 theories and threats1 #8the nations are angry1' #8the heathen ,gentiles1 peoples rage1' and the whole earth trembles from the din of a wordy conflict and from the blows which even now are beginning to arouse the world40--,z4 '#afcdj4 ,and thunderings and voices4--8,we hear the thunder tones of judgment that #8call the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof' 7,psa4 #ej3a72 we see the whole earth now in the shaking process which will eventuate in the complete overthrow of all existing institutions1 systems and governments4 ,present events indeed speak in trumpet tones40--,z4 '#afcdj2 ,ex4 #ai3af2 ,rev4 #h3e2 #aa3ai2 #af3ah4 ,and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the ,throne1 which are the seven ,spirits of ,god4--,perfect knowledge4--,rev4 #a3d2 #c3a4 #d3f4 ,and before the ,throne4--,in the earth1 and everywhere throughout the ,universe4--,rev4 #e3f4 ,there was ,,as a sea of glass4--8,the troubled surface which ,daniel and ,isaiah beheld 7,dan4 #g3b1 #c2 ,isa4 #eg3bj7 became when seen before the ,throne of ,god1 calm and clear2 reflecting as from a mirror1 every fulfilment of the ,divine purposes40 7,cook47 7,rev4 #ba3ah1 #ba2 ,ex4 #bd3aj47 ,the sea 7godless conditions about them7 has been a means of purifying earth's future priests4--#a ,ki4 #g3bcbf1 #ch1 #ci4 ,like unto crystal4--,indicating that nothing escapes ,god's notice2 all is transparent4 8,for centuries skeptics have been disposed to smile incredulously at the words of our ,lord1 #8,enter into thy closet2 and when thou hast shut thy door1 pray to thy ,father which is in secret2 and thy ,father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly4' 7,matt4 #f3f47 ,now that an electric ray can be passed through opaque substances1 such as paper1 wood1 cloth1 leather1 aluminium1 animal flesh1 etc41 can these scientists any longer mock at ,christians for #8credulity1' because we believe that #8,all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of ,him with whom we have to do'8 7,heb4 #d3ac47 #8,he that formed the ear shall ,he not hear8 ,he that formed the eye shall ,he not see8' ,now we begin to see how it is that #8,there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed2 and hid1 that shall not be known4' 0--,z4 '#ifbg2 ,ezek4 #a3bb4 ,and in the midst of the ,throne4--,woven into its very fabric4 ,and round about the ,throne4--,completely encircling and enveloping it4 ,were four beasts4--8,living ones0 7,diaglott472 the four immortal attributes of ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4--,ezek4 #a3e1 #f4 ,full of eyes before and behind4--,seeing clearly everything that will ever occur in the future1 and everything that has ever transpired in the past4--,ezek4 #aj3d1 #ab4 #d3g4 ,and the first beast4--,justice was the attribute first manifested toward our sinful race4 8,god has found it necessary to perform the unpleasant duties of discipline2 and though all the while ,his fatherly love was preparing to bless the deceived and fallen ones when the purposes of redemption should restore the repentant to ,his favor1 ,love must be veiled while only stern1 relentless ,justice could be manifested4 ,this has been no happifying duty40--,z4 '#ieaed4 ,was like a lion4--,the characteristics of the lion illustrate this attribute3 ,the teeth are of the highest carnivorous type1 adapted to seizing and holding firmly4 ,although occasionally seen abroad during the day1 especially in wild and desolate regions1 the night 7,psa4 #cj3e7 is the period of its greatest activity4 ,the usual pace of a lion is a walk2 and1 though apparently rather slow1 yet he is able to get over a good deal of ground in a short time4 ,as a rule1 he kills only when hungry or attacked1 and not for the mere pleasure of killing4--,ezek4 #a3aj2 #aj3ad4 ,and the second beast4--,power1 exhibited in the ,flood1 was the second of ,god's attributes manifested to man4 8,god1 the ,creator of all things1 is also the competent ,sustainer of all things4 ,in silent grandeur1 from age to age1 the whole physical ,universe fulfils ,his will1 without a suspicion of disorder or mishap2 and the same ,power is pledged for its sustenance throughout the eternal future40--,z4 '#ieaec2 ,ezek4 #a3aj4 ,like a calf4--,with the ,hebrews the calf 7young ox7 was the emblem of ,power1 the attribute of ,god with which they were principally acquainted4 ,as an agricultural people1 they were brought in frequent contact with it1 the strongest of all the domestic animals4 ,they were brought out of ,egypt by a 8mighty power and a stretched out arm0 7,deut4 #i3bi72 and when they sought to make a representation of it1 the form selected was a golden calf4--,deut4 #i3afba4 ,and the third beast4--,love1 exhibited in the ,father sending ,his ,only ,begotten ,son to die that we might live1 was the third of ,god's attributes manifested to man4 8,our recovery cost the sacrifice of the dearest treasure of ,his heart1 and the subjection of this ,beloved ,one to the most abject humiliation1 ignominy1 suffering and death4 ,ah1 did the ,father let ,him go on that errand of mercy without the slightest sensation of sorrowful emotion8 had ,he no appreciation of the pangs of a father's love when the arrows of death pierced the heart of ,his beloved ,son8 ,when our dear ,lord said1 #8,my soul is exceeding sorrowful1 even unto death1' and again1 #8,father1 if it be possible1 let this cup pass from ,me3 nevertheless1 not as ,i will1 but as ,thou wilt1' did it touch no sympathetic chord in the heart of the ,eternal8 ,yea1 verily40--,z4 '#ieaed4 ,had a face as ,,like a man4--,the embodiment of love4 7,a4 #agd47 8,close your eyes for a moment to the scenes of misery and woe1 degradation and sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin1 and picture before your mental vision the glory of the perfect earth4 ,not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society2 not a bitter thought1 not an unkind look or word2 love1 welling up from every heart1 meets a kindred response in every other heart1 and benevolence marks every act4 ,think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen1 and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness4 ,the inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance40--,a4 #aia2 ,ezek4 #a3e4 ,and the fourth beast4--,wisdom1 as exhibited in the ,father's ,plan1 now unfolded before our delighted gaze1 is the fourth1 and complete1 manifestation of ,god to man4 8,he is never confused1 bewildered1 perplexed1 anxious or careworn1 or in the least fearful that ,his plans will miscarry or ,his purposes fail2 because all power and wisdom inhere in ,him4 ,the scope of ,his mighty intellect reaches to the utmost bounds of possibility1 comprehends all causes and discerns with precision all effects2 consequently ,he knows the end from the beginning1 and that1 not only upon philosophical principles1 but also by intuition4 ,as the ,creator of all things and the ,originator of all law1 ,he is thoroughly acquainted with all the intricate subtleties of physical1 moral and intellectual law1 so that no problem could arise1 the results of which are not manifest to ,his mind4 #8,god is light1 and in ,him is no darkness at all4' 7#a ,john #a3e470--,z4 '#ieaec4 ,was like a flying eagle4--,of all known birds1 the eagle flies the highest and with the greatest rapidity4 8,as the heavens are higher than the earth1 so are ,my ways higher than your ways and ,my thoughts than your thoughts40 7,isa4 #ee3i47 ,the ones attracted to ,present ,truth are the eagles1 the far sighted ones that 8behold the land that is very far off40 7,matt4 #bd3bh2 #b ,pet4 #a3i2 ,isa4 #cc3af1 #ag2 ,psa4 #ajc3e47 ,in the training of its young the eagle manifests wisdom of high order3 8 #8,as an eagle stirreth up her nest' 7she mixes the thorny outside with the downy inside1 so that the eaglets will leave it and learn to fly71 so ,god1 by ,his testing providences makes the place of rest one of unrest to us1 and thus lures us out to trust ourselves to ,his care and guidance over untried ways40--,z4 '#jdaaf4 #d3h4 ,and the four beasts4--,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,had each of them six wings about him4--8,above it stood the seraphims 7,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom73 each one had six wings1 and with twain he did fly4 ,and one cried to another1 and said1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 is the ,lord of ,hosts3 the whole earth is full of ,his glory40 7,isa4 #f3b1 #c47 8,the vision of ,isaiah is a prophecy of the future1 when the #8glory of the ,lord shall be revealed1 and all flesh shall see it together' in the establishment of the ,kingdom of ,god during the ,millennium4 7,isa4 #dj3e47 ,only from this prophetic standpoint would the words of the seraphim be true2 for the whole earth has never yet been filled with the ,lord's glory2 but on the contrary1 the earth is full of sin and violence1 and every evil work40 7,z4 '#ihcje47 ,six is a symbol of imperfection1 and in the light of the foregoing seems to refer to the six thousand years of the permission of evil1 the theme of the entire ,book of ,revelation4 ,for the first two thousand years1 from the fall to the covenant with ,abraham1 ,god's face was almost entirely hidden from man4 ,for the next two thousand years1 until the death of ,christ1 it was not apparent how the place of ,god's feet1 ,his footstool1 should ever be made glorious4 7,isa4 #fj3ac2 #ff3a47 ,but since then1 for two thousand years1 ,god's ,love has been manifest to all1 and 8the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of ,god0 7,rom4 #h3ai71 to set up the ,kingdom1 the ,golden ,age1 for which we all so long have prayed4 7,matt4 #f3aj47 ,the wings operate in pairs4 ,and they were full of eyes within4--,nothing has transpired1 or will ever transpire1 without ,god's knowledge4 ,in the past six thousand years1 whether hidden or partially revealed1 ,god's ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom1 have been in touch with all of earth's affairs4--,ezek4 #aj3ab4 ,and they ,,have ,,no rest not day and night4--,not eternal idleness1 but eternal work in the interest of others will be our reward4 8,my ,father worketh until now1 and ,i work40 7,john #e3ag47 8,i must work the works of ,him that sent ,me1 while it is day3 the night cometh when no man can work40 7,john #i3d47 8,we are ,his workmanship1 created in ,christ ,jesus unto good works40 7,eph4 #b3aj47 8,it is ,god which worketh in you both to will and to do40 7,phil4 #b3ac47 8,we are laborers together with ,god40 7#a ,cor4 #c3i47 8,workers together with ,him40 7#b ,cor4 #f3a47 8,who shall change the ,body of our humiliation1 that it may be fashioned like unto ,his glorious ,body1 according to the working whereby ,he is able to subdue all things unto ,himself40--,phil4 #c3ba4 ,saying1 ,holy1 holy1 holy1 ,,holy1 ,,holy1 ,,holy1 ,,holy1 ,,holy4--,the ,sinaitic ,,ms4 repeats the word 8holy0 eight times4 7,see ,rev4 #d3c47 ,in the seventh thousandyear ,day ,god will bring all things to perfection through ,the ,christ1 yet it is the eighth ,day that marks the complete separation from the old order of things4 ,the ,jewish child was circumcised on the eighth day 7,luke #a3ei2 ,phil4 #c3e72 seven days a sheep was to be with its dam1 and on the eighth given to the ,lord 7,exod4 #bb3cj72 the eighth day of the ,feast of ,tabernacles was to be a holy convocation unto the ,lord4 7,lev4 #bc3cf1 #ci47 ,in the eighth thousandyear ,day of mankind's history on the earth1 circumcision of the heart will be complete in all1 all the sheep will have been turned over to the ,father1 and the holy convocation of eternity will have begun1 8the grand epoch when there shall be no more sighing1 no more crying1 no more pain and no more dying1 because ,god's work of creation shall then have been completed so far as this earth is concerned40--,f4 #ea4 ,lord ,god ,almighty4--,jehovah4 ,this scene is located in ,heaven1 where even the ,son ,himself is subject unto the ,father4--#a ,cor4 #ae3bh4 ,which was4--,the great ,first ,cause4 ,and is4--,the great 8,i ,,am40 ,and is to come4--,and evermore shall be4 #d3i4 ,and when those beasts4--,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,give4--,shall eternally continue to give1 so the ,greek indicates4 ,glory and honor and thanks to ,him that sat on the ,throne4--,their united testimony to the perfection of ,his character in all its attributes1 as they are now doing1 since ,his ,wisdom has been unveiled4 ,who liveth for ever and ever1 ,,amen4--,and will forever use those attributes in the blessing of all the willing and obedient throughout the ,universe4 #d3aj4 ,the four and twenty elders4--,the personifications of the messages of the twentyfour ,prophets who foretold the coming ,kingdom of ,god4 ,fall down before ,him that sat on the ,throne4--,unitedly bear witness to ,his perfect ability to foretell the future4 ,and worship ,him that liveth for ever and ever1 ,,amen4--,magnify ,his perfect ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,and cast4--,shall eternally continue to cast1 so the ,greek indicates4 ,their crowns before the ,throne1 saying4--7#a7 ,enoch was the first of the holy ,prophets2 and according to the ,apostle ,jude he prophesied of the coming reign of ,christ and ,his glorious ,bride1 to judge the world1 saying3 8,the ,lord cometh with a myriad of ,his saints1 to execute judgment40 7,jude #ad1 #ae47 ,that there shall be such a glorious and blessed ,judgment ,day1 full of hope and joy for all the world1 the ,apostle ,paul says is definitely decreed in the counsels of ,god1 8whereof ,he hath given assurance10 grounds for confident1 joyful anticipation1 8unto all men40 7,acts #ag3ca47 ,when that happy time comes1 8the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness0 7,isa4 #bf3i71 and 8the poor of the people will be lifted up0 7,psa4 #gb3bd1 #abad47 ,it will be the longpromised poor man's chance4 7#b7 ,jacob was one of the holy ,prophets2 and in ,gen4 #di3aj he says1 8,the sceptre shall not depart from ,judah nor a lawgiver from between his feet1 until ,shiloh come2 and unto ,him shall the gathering of the people be40 ,the sceptre means the right to rule1 the title to power2 and ,shiloh means peacemaker4 ,so this prophecy is merely another way of saying that ,judah would be the ancestor of the great ,lawgiver1 the great 8,prince of ,peace0 into whose hands ,god1 in due time1 will 8give the heathen for an inheritance10 8that they may all call upon the name of the ,lord to serve ,him with one consent40--,psa4 #b3h2 ,zeph4 #c3i4 7#c7 ,moses1 as a historian1 recorded ,god's original purpose to give man dominion over the earth 7,gen4 #a3bh72 ,his declaration to the serpent that the ,seed of the woman should bruise its head 7,gen4 #c3ae72 the promise to ,abraham that in him all the families of the earth shall be blessed 7,gen4 #ab3c72 that ,abraham's inheritance should be an earthly one 7,gen4 #ac3ae72 and an everlasting one 7,gen4 #ag3h72 that all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him 7,gen4 #ah3ah72 that in his ,seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 7,gen4 #bb3ah72 to ,isaac1 that in his ,seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed 7,gen4 #bf3d72 to ,jacob1 that in his ,seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed 7,gen4 #bh3ad72 to ,jacob again1 that he should be a jointheir with ,abraham and ,isaac of the land of ,canaan 7,gen4 #ce3ab72 by the sacrifices after the day of atonement was typically shown the perfection of mankind in the ,millennium 7,lev4 #a3e72 by the glory appearing unto all the people was foretold their future release from sin and death 7,lev4 #i3bc72 by the acceptance of a goat as a sinoffering for the people we see blessings of life for the world after the ,church's career is finished 7,lev4 #af3ae72 and by the sounding of the jubilee trumpet1 the proclamation of liberty to the captives and the return of every man to his possession1 we see the world's restoration to the image and likeness of ,god4 7,lev4 #be3aj47 ,as a ,prophet1 his declarations show that throughout the ,gospel ,age ,god would raise up a great ,prophet and ,deliverer like unto himself 7,the ,christ71 to whom shall all the people give heed in the ,millennial ,age 7,deut4 #ah3ae1 #ai72 and that this great ,deliverer then would set before them life1 if obedient1 and death1 if disobedient4--,deut4 #cj3ae4 7#d7 ,samuel1 as a historian1 recorded ,hannah's prophecy1 8,the ,lord killeth and maketh alive2 ,he bringeth down to hell and bringeth up40 7#a ,sam4 #b3f47 ,this is one of the first places in the ,bible where we are shown that what goes into hell does not necessarily stay there4 ,another instance1 in which ,samuel foretold pictorially the coming of the better ,king1 was in the case of the coronation of ,king ,saul4 ,saul had been selected king1 but had an attack of bashfulness2 and when they had searched1 they found him behind the baggage4 ,the record is1 8,they ran1 and fetched him thence2 and when he stood among the people1 he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward4 ,and ,samuel said1 ,see ye him whom the ,lord hath chosen1 that there is none like him among the people8 ,and all the people shouted and said1 ,god save the king40 7#a ,sam4 #aj3agbd47 ,saul was ,god's choice for king2 his name means 8desired10 and in this he typified ,christ1 the 8desire of all nations40 ,this incident looks forward to the time when all the people of the world will say of ,christ1 8,oh6 who is like unto our ,god8 ,lo6 ,this is our ,god2 this is our ,king2 this is the ,one we have waited for2 ,he is head and shoulders1 as a ruler1 above all kings and rulers we have had40 7#e7 ,job1 after the ,sabeans had made off with his oxen and asses1 after a bolt of lightning had burned up his sheep1 after the ,chaldeans had stolen his camels and murdered his servants1 after a whirlwind had blown down his house and killed all his children1 after he was covered with boils from head to foot1 after his wife had gone back on him1 and after his three remaining friends tried to prove to him that he was a hypocrite1 prayed that he might go to hell and stay there until ,god's wrath should be past1 and that then ,god would remember him in resurrection4 7,job #ad3acae47 ,job records ,elihu's prophetic statement that when the ,messenger of the ,covenant has returned1 death will cease and men not need to go into the tomb4 7,job #cc3aicj47 ,job also describes the steam engine--stationary1 railway and marine4 ,the following is a corrected translation of ,job #dj3ae to #da3cd1 with comments thereon from the pen of one of ,pastor ,russell's followers3 8,behold now one with great heat the stationary steam engine1 which ,i have made to be with thee2 he will consume fodder peat1 wood1 coal as do cattle4 ,behold now his strength is in his loins boiler plates1 and his power is within the parts bent in a circle boiler shell of his belly4 ,his tail smoke stack--opposite the feeding end will set upright like a cedar2 the couplings of his leaping parts connecting rods1 pitmans will be clamped together4 ,his bones are tubes of copper2 his solid bones grate bars are as hammeredout bars of iron4 ,he is the greatest of the ways of power4 ,he that made him the ,lord can make ,his sword ,word to approach unto reveal him4 ,isa4 #bg3a1 #b4 ,he shall rest under thin shelter steam jackets within a covering of fibrous reeds jute and clay mortar4 ,the willows of the valley the trees overhead will enclose him around about ,behold as a pumping engine he will drink up an overflowing river without much exertion2 he will cause the people to trust that their cellars will keep dry1 though a ,jordan should rush forth over its border4 ,he will gather it up in his fountains by means of traps and with a perforated nozzle4 8,thou wilt lengthen out leviathan the locomotive with a hook automatic coupler or with a snare couplingpin which thou wilt cause his tongue couplinglink to drop down4 ,wilt thou not place a ring piston in his nostrils cylinders or pierce through his cheeks pistonends with a staff pistonrod8 ,will he make repeated supplication unto thee to get off the track8 ,or will he utter soft tones unto thee when he screeches with the whistle8 ,will he make a covenant with thee1 that thou mayest take him for a servant forever without repairs8 ,wilt thou play with him as with a bird make him whistle at will8 ,or wilt thou bind enslave him for thy maidens so that you can take them to a picnic or convention8 ,companies of stockholders will feast upon him his earnings2 they will share him among speculators4 ,psa4 #gd3ad4 ,thou wilt fill his skin with pointed irons bolts1 and his head with a cabin of fishermen a cab similar to the cabins on fishing vessels4 ,place thy hand upon him1 be mindful of the conflict raging within the boiler and thou wilt add no further questions4 ,behold1 his confidence boiler being deceived not properly supplied with water1 shall not at once his mighty form be spread asunder by an explosion8 ,there is none so bold that he will stir him up to run at his very highest possible speed1 and none who will then place himself before him to be run over4 ,who will compete with this one and endure pass him on the track8 ,under the whole heaven1 none1 unless one like himself4 8,i will not pass in silence his members1 nor the cause of his mighty forces1 nor the beauty of his equipment4 ,who can strip off the facings of his jacket8 ,who can penetrate between the double lap of his shield the overlapping sections of the boiler plates8 ,who can force open the doors of his shield the boiler ends8 ,the circuits of his teeth rows of rivets are formidable4 ,his strength depends on courses of shields sections of plates closed up tightly with a seal calked4 ,they shall join one upon another so that a hiss of air steam shall not escape from between them4 ,one to the other shall adhere4 ,they will be welded together that they cannot be sundered4 ,in his sneezing when he puffs from the cylinders light will shine1 a flood of light pervading the mass of vapors3 and his eyes headlights will be as the eyelashes of the morning as rays of light from the rising sun4 ,out of his mouth firedoor will leap forth flaming torches1 and from the smoke stack glowing sparks will slip themselves away4 ,from his nostrils cylinders will issue forth vapor as from a boiling pot or caldron4 ,his inhaling forced draft will vivify burning coals1 and a flame will leap forth from his mouth4 ,within his neck abideth strength1 and a desolation will dance with joy become a prosperous community at his presence4 ,the separable parts of his body are connected together2 all will be made fast upon him2 nothing will be shaky4 ,his heart will be indurated similar to a stone1 and will be firm as a piece of the lower rocks4 ,when at his full speed the most courageous will fear lest1 from accidents1 they lose themselves4 ,when dryness exalteth him or renders him furious1 he will not have power to withhold2 the curved vault fire box being caused to tear away1 and also the armor4 ,he will esteem iron as straw1 and brass as rotten wood4 ,the archer cannot make him flee2 missiles of war will be turned unto him as chaff4 ,the strokes of a hammer will be esteemed as chaff2 he will rejoice at the poking of the fireman4 ,hewed or notched timbers of the craftsman ties are under him2 he will spread an embankment or trench upon the mire4 ,he will as a marine engine cause deep places to become as a boiling pot about his propellers2 he will make the sea to appear like boiling ointment4 ,he will make a path to shine after him2 one will think the deep to be growing gray4 ,psa4 #ajd3bf2 ,isa4 #bg3a4 ,upon the earth there is not his like--he that is so constructed that he can fear nothing4 ,he can oversee control by his work all that which is great2 he is indeed king over all conceptions of power40 7#f7 ,david foresaw a time when all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the ,lord2 and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before ,him 7,psa4 #bb3bg72 that after this dark night of weeping will come a morning of joy 7,psa4 #cj3e72 that the meek shall inherit the earth 7,psa4 #cg3aa72 that those who are now the ,king's enemies shall be converted and praise ,him for ever and ever 7,psa4 #de3e1 #ag72 that wars shall cease to the ends of the earth and the ,lord alone be exalted 7,psa4 #df3aj72 that the ignominious shall come forth from the grave and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning 7,psa4 #di3ad72 that the ,lord will be the confidence of all the ends of the earth 7,psa4 #fe3e72 that ,his saving health will be made known among all nations1 that all the nations shall praise ,him1 and that ,he will judge and govern them righteously at the time the earth shall yield her increase 7,psa4 #fg3ag72 that the people shall be scattered that delight in war 7,psa4 #fh3cj72 that peace shall come to the people1 that the poor shall be delivered from the oppressor1 that the flesh1 which1 as dried grass is ready to die1 shall be given new life and that the fruits of the earth shall shake like a forest 7,psa4 #gb3c1 #d1 #f1 #af72 that the poor and needy will be delivered out of the hand of the wicked 7,psa4 #hb3d72 that mercy and truth will meet1 righteousness and peace kiss each other and truth spring out of the earth when righteousness looks down from ,heaven 7,psa4 #he3aj1 #aa72 that all nations the ,lord has made shall come and worship before ,him and glorify ,his name 7,psa4 #hf3i72 that ,he will say1 ,return1 to the men ,he has turned into destruction 7,psa4 #ij3c72 that the world shall be established so that it shall not be moved 7,psa4 #ic3a72 that the heavens1 earth1 seas1 fields and trees of the wood shall rejoice because the ,lord is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and the people with ,his truth 7,psa4 #if3aaac72 that all the earth shall join in a joyful noise to the ,lord1 songs of praise1 harps1 psalms1 trumpets and cornets1 while the seas1 floods and hills clap their hands because ,he comes to judge the earth 7,psa4 #ih3di72 and that the foundations of the earth have been laid so that it shall not be removed1 but be forever the home of a perfect1 happy human race4--,psa4 #ajd3e4 7#g7 ,solomon declared that the upright shall dwell in the land and the perfect shall remain in it 7,prov4 #b3ba72 that the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth 7,prov4 #aa3ca72 and that the earth abideth forever4--,ecclesiastes #a3d4 7#h7 ,isaiah prophesied that in the last days the ,lord's ,kingdom will be established on the ruins of all earthly kingdoms1 and all nations will flow into it to learn ,his ways1 at which time they will beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruninghooks and learn war no more 7,isa4 #b3bd72 that of the increase of that new ,government and of peace there shall be no end 7,isa4 #i3g72 that nothing in the ,kingdom will be permitted to hurt or destroy1 all evil dispositions of men and animals being done away with1 the poor and meek being lifted up and the earth being filled as full with the knowledge of the ,lord as the waters cover the sea 7,isa4 #aa3di72 that ,christ will become the standardbearer of the people1 that ,his rest will be glorious and a highway there provided for the remnant of the people 7,isa4 #aa3ajaf72 that the whole earth shall be at rest and quiet and break forth into singing 7,isa4 #ad3g72 that at the time the pillar to the ,lord ,is recognized in the world1 the world will return to the ,lord and ,he will be entreated of them and heal them 7,isa4 #ai3bb72 that the ,lord will make to all people a feast of fat things1 doctrines of joy1 well refined1 will destroy ignorance and superstition1 swallow up death in victory and wipe away tears from off all faces2 it will cease to be a rebuke to a person to admit that he belongs to the ,lord1 and all the people will say1 ,lo1 this ,is our ,god2 we have waited for ,him and ,he will save us1 and all the high fortresses will crumble into dust 7,isa4 #be3fab72 that when the ,lord's judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness2 that then the trusts shall perish utterly and the dead shall live 7,isa4 #bf3i1 #ac1 #ad1 #ai72 that judgment will be laid to the line1 the truth sweep away the refuge of lies and the agreement of the preachers on the hell question will be disannulled 7,isa4 #bh3ag1 #ah72 that the spiritually deaf shall get their ears open to understand the harmonies of ,god's ,word and the eyes of the blind see out of obscurity and out of darkness1 and the crops in the field be so large they will look like a forest 7,isa4 #bi3ag1 #ah72 that the eyes of them that see shall not be dim1 the ears of them that hear shall hearken and the tongue of the stammerers be ready to speak plainly2 that the skyscrapers will be turned over to wild asses1 along with the forts2 that the people shall dwell in righteousness1 quietness and assurance forever 7,isa4 #cb3c1 #d1 #ad1 #ag1 #ah72 that the inhabitant shall not say1 ,i am sick1 because the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity4--,isa4 #cc3bd4 ,furthermore1 he declared that the wilderness and solitary place shall blossom as the rose1 the weak hands and feeble knees be strengthened1 the fearful be encouraged1 the blind have their eyes opened1 the deaf have their ears unstopped1 the lame made to leap as an hart1 the tongue of the dumb made to sing2 in the wilderness shall waters break out and streams in the desert2 an highway shall be there by which the unclean may be cleansed of all their sins amid joy and gladness everlasting 7,isa4 #ce3aaj72 that all the crooked and rough places will be straightened out 7,isa4 #dj3d72 that rivers will open in unexpected places and the deserts become a forest of useful trees 7,isa4 #da3ah1 #ai72 that all the prisoners in the great prisonhouse of death shall be brought forth 7,isa4 #db3g72 that the new spiritual powers shall pour down righteousness and the world of mankind eagerly take it in1 to their salvation and everlasting joy of heart 7,isa4 #de3h72 that ,god created the earth not in vain but formed it to be inhabited 7,isa4 #de3ah72 that the ,lord will establish the earth and cause the people to inherit the once desolate heritages1 with the result that they shall be joyful and break forth into singing 7,isa4 #di3h1 #ac72 that the redeemed of the ,lord 7all mankind7 shall return from the tomb and gain salvation with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads and sorrow and mourning shall flee away 7,isa4 #ea3aa72 that the feet are beautiful which proclaim good tidings of good and publish salvation because the ,king has come to reign 7,isa4 #eb3g72 that the mountains1 hills and trees shall rejoice with verdure1 and instead of thorns and briers shall come up fir and myrtles 7,isa4 #ee3ab1 #ac72 that the ,lord will make this earth 7,his footstool7 glorious2 violence1 wasting and destruction shall cease1 and the people shall all be righteous and dwell in the land forever 7,isa4 #fj3ac1 #ah1 #ba72 that the stumbling stones shall be gathered out of the way1 and the standard of ,truth be lifted up for the people 7,isa4 #fb3aj72 that one who dies at a hundred years shall be considered but an infant2 that the people who build houses shall build them for themselves and live in them forever among their own vineyards and other works of their hands 7,isa4 #fe3bjbb72 and that all nations and tongues shall be gathered to see ,god's glorious character in its true light4--,isa4 #ff3ah4 7#i7 ,jeremiah foretold that in the good times coming mankind should no more walk after the imagination of an evil heart 7,jer4 #c3ag72 that the nations of all the earth shall come to the new order of things and cheerfully admit that the teachings of the clergy were chiefly lies and vanity 7,jer4 #af3ai72 that the new ,shepherds will really feed the ,lord's sheep1 and they shall no more be dismayed or lacking 7,jer4 #bc3d72 that the ,lord will give the people a heart to know ,him1 and they shall return to ,him with their whole heart 7,jer4 #bd3g72 that the children shall come again from the land of the enemy2 that the children shall no longer suffer for the sins of the parents1 and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor and every man his brother1 saying1 ,know the ,lord1 for they shall all know ,him from the least even unto the greatest 7,jer4 #ca3af1 #bi1 #cd72 that the ,lord will give the people one heart and one way and make an everlasting covenant with them1 and not turn away from them to do them good2 and they shall not depart from ,him 7,jer4 #cb3ci1 #dj72 that mankind will fear and tremble at all the goodness and prosperity ,jehovah shall bring to them when ,he has pardoned all their ,iniquities and transgressions 7,jer4 #cc3h1 #i72 that they shall be at rest and at ease with none to make them afraid 7,jer4 #df3bg72 that the ,moabites and ,elamites shall return to their former estate 7,jer4 #dh3dg2 #di3ci72 and that in those days the penitent1 together1 going and weeping1 shall seek the ,lord their ,god and ask the way to ,zion1 saying1 ,let us join ourselves to the ,lord in a perpetual covenant that shall never be forgotten4--,jer4 #ej3d1 #e4 7#aj7 ,ezekiel foretold a coming time when the ,lord will take away the stony heart out of the people and give them hearts that are warm and tender 7,ezek4 #aa3ai72 that the ,sodomites1 the ,samaritans and the ,jews--who were twice as bad as either of the others--shall all return to their former estate1 and the ,lord will establish ,his covenant with them and be pacified towards them 7,ezek4 #af3ee1 #fafc72 that it will no more be true that the children suffer for the sins of their parents 7,ezek4 #ah3b72 that it will not be necessary then for anybody to die 7,ezek4 #ah3ca1 #cb72 that the people shall dwell safely and build houses and plant vineyards with confidence 7,ezek4 #bh3bf72 that the ,lord will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land2 and that the people shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods1 the shower will come down in its season1 there shall be showers of blessing1 the trees shall yield their fruit and the earth shall yield its increase and the people shall dwell safely and none shall make them afraid 7,ezek4 #cd3bebh72 that the ,lord will put ,his ,spirit into the people and cause them to walk in ,his ways1 will increase the corn1 multiply the fruit of the tree and the increase of the field1 and the land that was desolate shall become like the garden of ,eden 7,ezek4 #cf3bf1 #bg1 #bi1 #cj1 #ce72 that the people shall have one ,shepherd and walk in ,his statutes and do them 7,ezek4 #cg3bd72 and the ,lord will not hide ,his face from them any more when ,he has poured out ,his ,spirit upon them4--,ezek4 #ci3bi4 7#aa7 ,daniel foretold that the ,god of ,heaven shall set up a ,kingdom which shall never be destroyed1 but which shall break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms1 and which shall stand forever 7,dan4 #b3dd72 and the ,kingdom and dominion and the greatness of the ,kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the saints of the ,most ,high as an everlasting dominion4--,dan4 #g3bg4 7#ab7 ,hosea prophesied food in abundance for the beasts of the field and the fowls of heaven with the creeping things of the ground2 and that the ,lord will break the bow and sword and the battle out of the earth1 and make all to lie down safely2 and that it shall come to pass in that ,day that ,jehovah will hear the new powers of spiritual control and they shall hear the cries of men 7,hos4 #b3ah1 #ba72 that the people shall fear the goodness of the ,lord in the latter days 7,hos4 #c3e72 that after the fifth and sixth thousandyear ,days are past the people will be raised up and live in the ,lord's sight 7,hos4 #f3b72 and ,he will ransom them from hell and redeem them from death1 and destroy hell altogether4--,hos4 #ac3ad4 7#ac7 ,joel prophesied that the ,lord will cause the pastures to spring1 the tree to bear her fruit and the fig tree and the vine to yield their strength1 and whosoever shall call upon the name of the ,lord shall be delivered4--,joel #b3bb1 #cb4 7#ad7 ,amos was the next one of the holy ,prophets2 and we have an inspired comment on one of his prophecies by the ,apostle ,james in ,acts #ae3adah4 ,james says1 8,simeon ,st ,peter hath declared how ,god at the first in the conversion of ,cornelius did visit the ,gentiles to take out of them a people for ,his name the ,bride of ,christ4 ,and to this agree the words of the ,prophets ,amos #i3aa1 #ab2 as it is written1 ,after this after the ,bride of ,christ has been selected1 ,i will return and will build again the tabernacle the house1 royalty or dominion of ,david1 which is fallen down2 and ,i will build again the ruins thereof1 and ,i will set it up re establish the ,kingdom of ,god on earth2 that the residue of men all the rest of the world of mankind might seek after the ,lord1 and all the ,gentiles1 upon whom ,my name is called1 saith the ,lord who doeth all these things4 ,known unto ,god are all ,his works from the beginning of the world40 7#ae7 ,obadiah was the next one of the holy ,prophets2 and in the last verse of his short prophecy he says1 8,and saviors it is in the plural and refers not only to ,jesus the ,head1 but to the ,church1 the members of ,his ,body shall come up on ,mount ,zion come up into the ,heavenly phase of the ,kingdom1 and shall judge the mount of ,esau0 judge the world4 8,know ye not that the saints shall judge the world80 7#af7 ,jonah was the next one of the holy ,prophets2 and in the fourth chapter we have an interesting picture of events now transpiring before our eyes4 ,jonah walked into the city of ,nineveh and said1 8,yet forty days and ,nineveh shall be overthrown40 ,the prophecy was fulfilled in forty literal years4 ,but when ,jonah saw that things were not coming out as he expected1 he was very angry and said to the ,lord1 8,that is just what ,i might have expected2 for ,i knew that ,thou art a gracious ,god1 and merciful1 slow to anger1 and of great kindness2 and ,i said so before ,i left my own country40 ,jonah went out1 sat in the hot sun on the outside of the city1 and began to sulk4 ,the ,lord took pity on him and caused a gourd to grow up over him1 to shelter him from the hot rays of the sun4 ,and ,jonah was exceeding glad because of the gourd4 ,then the ,lord prepared a worm to smite the gourd2 and a strong east wind blew up and the gourd withered4 ,jonah's shade was gone1 and he was angrier than ever4 ,the ,lord said1 8,doest thou well to be angry80 and he said1 8,yes1 ,i do well to be angry1 even unto death40 ,then the ,lord said1 8,jonah1 thou hast had pity on the gourd that sprung up in a night and perished in a night2 and should not ,i spare ,nineveh1 that great city wherein are more than six score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand80 ,we live in a day when a class have been preaching that the world is to be destroyed2 and1 like ,jonah1 they have not properly understood their message4 ,the kind of world that is to be destroyed is ,satan's world1 ,satan's empire1 arrangement1 or order of things--not our literal earth4 ,the word world does not always refer to our literal earth4 ,for instance1 when the ,apostle ,james says1 8,the tongue is a world of iniquity10 he does not mean that we have inside our jaws a little planet that turns over every twentyfour hours1 that has spring1 summer1 fall1 winter1 snowstorms1 rainstorms1 and a moon revolving about it1 with once in a while a comet and a shower of meteors thrown in for good measure4 ,when they think about the ,panama ,canal1 and the wonderful works of irrigation which are causing the desert to rejoice and blossom as the rose1 and all the other wonderful achievements of our day1 these people are beginning to see that they have made a mistake and are now about where ,jonah was when he said1 8,that is what ,i might have expected1 for ,i know that ,thou art a just ,god1 slow to anger1 and plenteous in mercy40 ,they are now outside the city1 and the scorching light of ,present ,truth is pretty hot4 ,meantime the church trust is growing up to keep off the heat4 ,we are not to have anything to do with this church federation4 8,say ye not1 ,a confederacy1 to all them to whom this people shall say1 ,a confederacy40 8,take counsel together1 and it shall come to naught2 speak the word and it shall not stand2 for ,god is with us40 7,isa4 #h3aj1 #ab47 ,pretty soon something will happen to the church trust1 and their shade will be gone4 ,then the ,lord will say to them1 8,oh1 you need not feel so badly6 ,you are not the first people that ever made a mistake4 ,you have made lots of them1 to be sure4 ,you have had pity on the church trust which grew up in one year and blew up in another year2 and should not ,i spare the poor world1 that as far as their knowledge of right and wrong is concerned do not know the difference between their right hand and their left hand80 7#ag7 ,micah has written of the coming of the ,kingdom of ,god in the earth1 accompanied by the rebuking of strong nations afar off2 that then they shall beat their swords into plowshares1 and their spears into pruninghooks2 that nation shall not lift up sword against nation1 neither shall they learn war any more4 ,but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree not the landlord's2 and none be they doctors1 landlords1 employers1 sheriffs1 or undertakers shall make them afraid2 that all people will walk in the name of our ,god1 and that the first dominion lost by ,adam in ,eden will be restored to ,christ1 the ,tower of the ,flock4--,micah #d3ae1 #h4 7#ah7 ,nahum was the next one of the holy ,prophets2 and after prophesying in the last verse of the preceding chapter about the coming of the ,king with ,his good tidings of peace to the sinburdened earth1 he next tells 7,nahum #b3cf7 of an interesting thing that will be a matter of common everyday experience at the time the ,kingdom is established4 ,he describes a railway train in motion not an automobile1 as some think1 and if we will be at the trouble to put ourselves in the ,prophet's place we can see just what he saw in his vision and what he has so interestingly described4 ,first1 the ,prophet stands looking at the engine coming toward him1 and then says1 8,the shield the thing ahead of this great warrior--the headlight is made red shines brilliantly1 the valiant men the engineer and the fireman are dyed scarlet when the flames from the firebox illuminate the interior of the cab at night1 as the fireman opens the firedoor to throw in the coal4 ,the chariots the railway coaches shall be with shall be preceded by locomotives that1 at night1 have the appearance of flaming torches1 in the ,day of ,preparation40 ,next the ,prophet takes his place in the train and looks out of the window1 and1 seemingly1 8,the fir trees shall be terribly shaken the telegraph poles alongside the track seem to be fairly dancing4 ,the chariots shall rage in the streets a railway is merely an elaborate1 scientifically constructed street1 or highway1 they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways the clanking and bumping of the cars together is one of the significant items of railway travel4 ,they shall seem like torches a railway train at night1 rushing through a distant field1 looks like nothing so much as a vast torch1 going at flying speed1 they shall run like the lightnings40 ,next the ,prophet sees the conductor coming for his ticket and says1 8,he shall recount his worthies the conductor spends his entire time1 almost1 counting and recounting his passengers1 keeping them checked up1 etc42 they shall stumble in their walk try walking on a rapidly moving train2 they shall make haste to the wall thereof to the next city or town and the coverer the train shed1 the station shall be prepared the baggageman1 expressman1 mail wagon1 hotel bus1 intending passengers1 and friends to meet incoming passengers1 will all be there waiting for the train to come4 ,the gates of the rivers shall be opened the doors of the cars will be opened and the people will flow out and the palace car shall be dissolved emptied40 7#ai7 ,habakkuk was the next one of the holy ,prophets1 and in ,hab4 #b3ad he says1 8,the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the ,lord as the waters cover the sea40 ,in places1 the water in the ,pacific ,ocean is seven miles deep4 ,imagine a condition in which the knowledge of the glory of ,god is like that in the earth6 ,it will be as impossible for a man not to know about ,god as it would be for one to be down at the bottom of the ocean without getting wet4 7#bj7 ,zephaniah foretold that the ,lord will starve all the false gods to death2 for all men will worship the one only and true ,god1 even including the heathen we have worried so much about 7,zeph4 #b3aa72 that after the present inequitable condition of society has passed away--been devoured1 not with literal fire but with the fire of the ,lord's jealousy--there will be no more sectarianism1 but all the people will be taught the pure ,truth and worship the ,lord with one consent2 the liar and deceiver will no longer be abroad in the land and the people will eat and rest without fear of disaster1 dispossession or death4--,zeph4 #c3i1 #ac4 7#ba7 ,haggai was the next one of the holy ,prophets1 and he says in ,hag4 #b3g1 8,the desire of all nations shall come40 ,in ,rom4 #h3aibb1 the ,apostle tells us what is the desire of all nations4 ,he says1 8,the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain1 waiting for the manifestation showing forth of the sons of ,god40 ,it is in the plural1 and means not ,jesus only1 but all of the ,little ,flock4 ,the groaning will not be in vain2 for in the same passage the ,apostle says the outcome will be that the groaning creation shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into a glorious liberty from sin and every evil thing4 7#bb7 ,zechariah prophesied that many nations shall be joined to the ,lord in that ,day and be ,his people and ,he will dwell in the midst of them 7,zech4 #b3aa72 that when every man dwells under his own vine and fig tree every man will love his neighbor and his brother 7,zech4 #c3aj72 that the coming ,kingdom will be a ,kingdom of ,truth1 the people will be ,god's people and ,he will be their ,god in truth and righteousness2 the ground shall give its increase and the heaven its dews and the ,lord will do well to the people and remove their fears 7,zech4 #h3c1 #h1 #ab1 #ae72 that the inhabitants of one city will go to another1 saying1 ,let us go speedily to pray before the ,lord1 and to seek the ,lord of ,hosts2 ,i will go also4 ,yea1 many people and strong nations shall come to seek the ,lord of hosts and to pray before the ,lord 7,zech4 #h3ba2 #bb72 that the battle bow shall be cut off1 that the ,lord shall speak peace to the people2 corn shall make the young men speak1 and new wine 7better doctrines7 the maids 7,zech4 #i3aj1 #ag72 that the ,lord shall be ,king over all the earth and men shall dwell in it1 and there shall be no more utter destruction1 but all shall be holiness unto the ,lord4--,zech4 #ad3i1 #aa1 #bj4 7#bc7 ,malachi foretold that from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same the ,lord's name shall be great among all peoples2 and in every place heart adoration shall be offered to ,his name 7,mal4 #a3aa72 that the devourer will be rebuked and not be permitted longer to destroy the fruits of the ground2 neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field2 injurious parasites1 germs and microbes will be a thing of the past4 ,crops will be abundant everywhere 7,mal4 #c3aa72 and ,the ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 will arise with healing in their beams1 nourishing and bringing the willing to perfection with the same care as is given to stallfed cattle--now receiving more attention than human beings4--,mal4 #d3b4 7#bd7 ,john the ,baptist was the next and last of the holy ,prophets1 for ,jesus said1 8,the ,law and the ,prophets were until ,john40 ,and ,john1 we are told1 turned and looked at ,jesus1 and said1 8,behold the ,lamb of ,god1 that taketh away the sin of the world40--,john #a3bi2 ,matt4 #aa3i1 #aa4 #d3aa4 ,thou art worthy1 ,o ,lord ,,our ,,lord ,,and ,,god4--8,the proper view of the matter shows us the ,heavenly ,father perfect in all the attributes of nobility of character2 perfect in ,justice1 so that the just sentence of ,his righteous ,law cannot be infracted1 even by ,himself2 perfect in wisdom1 so that ,his plan and arrangement1 not only with respect to man's creation1 but also with respect to man's salvation1 the ,atonement1 etc41 were all so complete that no contingency or failure could arise1 nor any necessity for change of the ,divine ,plan2 as it is written1 #8,i am the same1 ,i change not1 saith the ,lord1' and #8,known unto the ,lord are all ,his works1 from the foundation of the world'2 perfect also in ,his ,love1 than which there could be no greater love possible1 and yet that ,love is in full balance and accord with the other ,divine attributes1 so that it could spare the sinner only in harmony with the just program marked out by ,divine ,wisdom2 perfect also in ,power1 so that all ,his good purposes1 good intentions1 just program and loving designs1 fully coordinated1 shall be executed1 and bring the originally designed result2 as it is written1 #8,my ,word that goeth forth out of ,my mouth shall not return to ,me void2 it shall accomplish that which ,i please1 and it shall prosper in the thing whereto ,i sent it4' 7,isa4 #ee3aa2 ,mal4 #c3f2 ,acts #ae3ah470--;,e4 #cg1 #cd4 ,to receive glory4--,all the glory1 ,greek4 ,and honor and power4--8,could this ,scripture ever be fulfilled1 could the ,divine character ever be appreciated by intelligent1 honest1 just and loving hearts1 if in any corner of the ,universe there were such orgies and tortures of ,his creatures as the creeds of the ,darker ,ages have set forth8 ,surely not60--,b4 ,s4 ,m4 ,for ,thou has created all things4--,the all things1 the ,universe1 ,greek4 8,across the vista of ages ,he saw in ,his purpose the glory of an intelligent creation in ,his own likeness1 established in righteousness and worthy of ,his gift of eternal life4 ,he therein foresaw the mutual pleasure of the ,creator and the creature1 and with a peaceful patience ,he resolved to wait for the glorious consummation40--,z4 '#ieaed4 ,and for ,thy pleasure they are and were created4--8,he desired that love should respond to love1 admiration to admiration1 virtue to virtue1 and grace to grace1 in the ,creator and the creature1 as face answers to face in a glass4 ,in this natural attitude of the ,creator and the creature generous benevolence and filial gratitude combine in mutual happiness4 ,god is happy in the realization and in the exercise of all the noble traits of ,his glorious character1 which happiness is enhanced by appreciation of the same on the part of ,his creatures1 and by manifestation in them of the same qualities and dispositions of mind and heart4 ,and likewise man must both realize and exercise the noble endowments of his nature and form a character modeled after that of his ,heavenly ,father and meeting ,his approval1 if he would find that true happiness which consists in the approval of his own conscience and of his ,creator and ,judge1 in whose favor is life1 and at whose right hand there are pleasures forevermore4'--,psa4 #af3aa40--,z4 '#ieafg4 8,sun of my soul1 my ,father dear1 ,i know no night when ,thou are near4 ,o6 may no earthborn cloud arise ,to hide ,thee from thy servant's eyes4 ,shield of my soul1 though tempests rage1 ,and 'gainst me hosts of foes engage1 ,my refuge and my fortress ,thou1 ,before ,thee every foe must bow4 ,thy grace and glory ,thou dost give ,to those who near ,thee ever live2 ,and no good thing dost ,thou withhold ,from sheep which stray not from ,thy fold40 ,illustration ,hindrances ,to ,christian ,progress ,illustration ,the ,thinking ,public ,declines ,to ,endorse ,the ,modern ,political ,preaching ,revelation #e--,the ,executor ,of ,the ,plan #e3a4 ,and ,i saw in the right hand4--8,the ,divine ,plan1 known only to the ,father1 ,jehovah ,himself1 was kept in ,his own power--in ,his own hand--until some one should be proved worthy to know it1 and become its executor as ,jehovah's honored ,agent and ,representative40--,e4 #ci1 #cf4 ,of ,him that sat on the ,throne4--8,he that sits upon the ,throne is ,jehovah4 ,the scroll in ,his right hand is ,his ,plan for human redemption1 sealed from all until ,one should be found and proved #8worthy4' 0--,z4 '#igaej4 ,a book4--8,not the ,bible1 but the ,divine ,plan1 with its times and seasons40 7,z4 '#afbeb47 8,this was the ,mystery1 the ,secret of the ,lord1 unknown to any one but ,himself--,his plan for the salvation of the world40--,z4 '#igbef4 ,written within ,,in ,,front4--,the writing in front is the fulfilment of everything prophesied on the outside4 ,every word of every prophecy of ,god's ,word is sure of fulfilment4 8,seek ye out the book of the ,lord1 and read2 no one of these shall fail1 none shall want her mate2 for ,my mouth it hath commanded1 and ,his ,spirit it hath gathered them40 7,isa4 #cd3af47 8,that scroll contains a record of everything that is happening now1 and all that will occur throughout the ,millennial ,age1 down to its very close--down to the time when every creature in ,heaven and in earth and those in the sea1 shall ascribe praise1 honor1 glory and dominion to ,him that sitteth upon the ,throne and to the ,lamb forever4--,rev4 #e3ac40 7,z4 '#jibdc47 8,among the ,orientals the lines began from the right hand and ran to the left hand2 with the ,northern and ,western nations1 from the left to the right hand2 but the ,greeks sometimes followed both directions alternately40 7,mc,c47 ,the ,word is plainly written on the outside1 where all may read the words1 but cannot understand their significance without ,divine aid4 ,meantime1 from age to age1 the events foretold occur in the manner predicted4 ,the manner of the writing1 some of it from left to right and some from right to left1 enables the fulfilments to follow the prophecies exactly1 item by item1 to the last jot and tittle4 ,write a word on a sheet of paper and then turn the paper over and look at it1 holding it in front of a good light4 ,thus it is with the ,word of ,god4 ,the prophecies look strange until the due time has come for holding them up to the light1 and then they become clear4 ,what could be only imperfectly deciphered until the hindering seal is broken is no mystery after the seal is broken1 because the book or scroll or chart can be turned about and held to the light4 ,the fulfilments are seen to fit the prophecies4 ,if the lines are not clear1 then for some reason we are looking upon that much of the record from the outside and not from the inside4 ,and on the backside4--8,excepting the bare promise 7written on the outside of the scroll7 of salvation through the ,seed of the woman1 nothing could be known of the wonderful scheme for human restitution until the ,son of ,god1 having left the glory of the spiritual nature1 took our nature and by the sacrifice of ,himself redeemed us from death4 ,then1 having ,his righteousness imputed to us by faith1 we are counted worthy to look upon the scroll as ,he opens the seals one after another40--,z4 '#jbccb2 ,ezek4 #b3i1 #aj4 ,sealed with seven seals4--8,the things that were sealed were not proper to be understood by our ,redeemer until ,he had received the allpower1 after ,his resurrection4 ,the execution of ,god's ,plan was then given into ,his hands40--,z4 '#afbec4 #e3b4 ,and ,i saw a strong angel4--,personification of the ,law4 ,proclaiming4--,in types and shadows1 pictures1 figures and symbols4 ,with a loud voice4--,from the fall of ,adam onward4 ,who is worthy4--8,the inquiry compassed the period from before ,jesus came into the world up to ,his resurrection from the grave4 ,god had given the most honorable ,one of all the host of ,heaven the first opportunity to prove ,his worthiness to loose the ,scroll of ,god's great ,plan1 and to fulfill its provisions4 ,and ,he did not allow the privilege to go by4 ,he accepted it40--,z4 '#afbeb4 ,to open the book4--8,the inquiry1 #8,who is worthy to open the book scroll and to loose the seals thereof8' had long been made3 for four thousand years1 from the giving of the promise that the ,seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head1 it had been the query--,who shall be esteemed1 by ,jehovah ,god1 to be worthy to perform ,his gracious purposes1 and thus be honored above all others as ,servant 7,messenger7 of the ,covenant of ,grace80--,z4 '#igaej4 ,and to loose the seals thereof4--8,john in the symbol hears the proclamation1 #8,who is worthy to open the ,book and to loose the seals8'--who is worthy to have committed to his care the execution of the great ,divine ,plan1 wonderful for its wisdom and love1 and its lengths and breadths and depths and heights past human comprehension--that he may open it and execute it80--,z4 '#igbef4 #e3c4 ,and no man in ,heaven4--,no angel had been proven worthy4 8,which things the angels desire to look into40--#a ,pet4 #a3ab4 ,nor in earth1 neither under the earth4--,no man on earth was worthy4 8,there is none righteous2 no1 not one2 for all have sinned and come short of the glory of ,god40--,rom4 #c3aj1 #bc4 ,was able to open the book4--8,in the picture ,john looked to see who the worthy one might be1 but none was found worthy40--,z4 '#jibdc4 ,neither to look thereon4--,in the light of this ,scripture1 who can dare1 in his own strength1 wisdom or righteousness to interpret the ,word of ,god or take any part in the execution of the ,plan8--,heb4 #ab3ahbi4 #e3d4 ,and ,i wept much4--8,it seemed to ,john too bad that ,god should have some great1 wonderful purposes which might come to naught because no one was worthy to be the ,divine executor40--,z4 '#jibdc4 ,because no man4--,no being in the ,universe4 ,was found worthy to open and to read the book4--8,when silence prevailed1 and none was found worthy either in ,heaven or on earth 7representing the condition of things prior to the ,first ,advent71 ,john began saying to himself3 ,alas6 we may never know ,god's gracious and wise plans for the welfare of ,his creatures1 because none is found worthy to know or execute them40--,z4 '#igaej2 ,john #a3bg2 ,matt4 #h3h4 ,neither to look thereon4--8,so it was that1 even our ,lord ,jesus1 prior to the finishing of ,his sacrifice1 as ,he then declared1 did not know all about the ,father's plans1 times and seasons 7,mark #ac3cb470--,z4 '#igaej4 #e3e4 ,and one of the elders4--,the deathbed prophecy of ,jacob4 ,it is the identification of this elder that enables us to recognize the other twentythree4--,rev4 #d3aj4 ,saith unto me4--8,judah is a lion's whelp4 ,the sceptre shall not depart from ,judah1 nor a lawgiver from between his feet until ,shiloh come2 and unto ,him shall the gathering of the people be40--,gen4 #di3i1 #aj4 ,weep not3 behold1 the ,lion4--8,the ,holy ,one1 and the ,just40--,acts #c3ad2 #bb3ad4 ,of the tribe of ,juda4--8,the great prize1 for which ,israel had been longing for centuries1 was won by the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah4 7,heb4 #g3ad470--;,b4 #he4 8,for an illustration of latter time assumptions1 note the fact that a late pope1 upon ascending the throne1 took the title of ,leo ,,xiii1 and shortly after subscribed himself #8,leo de tribus ,juda1' i4 e41 #8,the ,lion of the tribe of ,judah4' 0--,b4 #caf4 ,the ,root of ,david4--8,it was not the prehuman ,logos1 nor yet the man ,jesus1 that was ,david's ,lord and ,david's ,root2 but the resurrected ,messiah40--,e4 #aea1 #acf2 ,isa4 #aa3a2 ,rom4 #ae3ab2 ,rev4 #bb3af4 ,hath prevailed to open the book4--8,when our ,lord ,jesus had proven ,his loyalty to the ,heavenly ,father by ,his obedience1 #8even unto the ignominious death of the cross1' then and thereby ,he did prove ,himself worthy of every confidence and trust40--,e4 #ci1 #cg4 ,and to loose the seven seals thereof4--8,great was the favor bestowed upon the ,just ,one of the tribe of ,judah1 in being permitted to open the seals2 and great is the privilege of those who are permitted to look thereon as the seals are opened40--,z4 '#jbccb2 ,rev4 #e3b2 #f3a4 #e3f4 ,and ,i beheld1 and lo1 in the midst of the ,throne4--8,in the bosom of the ,father40--,john #a3ah4 ,and of the four beasts4--8,the express image of ,his person40--,heb4 #a3c4 ,and in the midst of the elders4--,the central theme of all their prophesies4--,rev4 #d3aj4 ,stood a ,lamb as it had been slain4--8,it was not possible for ,him to know the completeness of the ,divine ,plan until after ,he had demonstrated ,his worthiness by ,his obedience unto death1 even the death of the cross40--,z4 '#jfci2 ,isa4 #ec3g2 ,john #a3bi1 #cf2 ,acts #h3cb2 #a ,pet4 #a3ai4 ,having seven horns4--,perfect power4 8,all power is given unto ,me in ,heaven and in earth40--,matt4 #bh3ah2 #a ,sam4 #b3a1 #aj2 ,deut4 #cc3ag2 #a ,ki4 #bb3aa4 ,and seven eyes4--,perfect wisdom4 8,in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge40--,col4 #b3c2 ,zech4 #c3i2 #d3aj2 ,rev4 #a3d2 #c3a2 #d3e2 #b ,chron4 #af3i4 ,which are the seven ,spirits of ,god4--,or lamps of fire4--,rev4 #d3e4 ,sent forth into all the earth4--,see ,rev4 #a3d4 #e3g4 ,and ,he came and took the book4--8,to ,him was the scroll or book entrusted1 that in due time all the wonderful provisions of the ,divine ,plan might be fully executed in the glorification of the ,church and the blessing of all the families of the earth40--,z4 '#jfci4 ,out of the right hand4--,see ,rev4 #e3a4 ,of ,him that sat upon the ,throne4--,jehovah4 ,if ,jesus and ,his ,father are a ,trinity1 8,one in person1 equal in glory and power10 how is it that one has to come to the other for something1 or how can ,he come to ,himself and take something ,he already has and give it to ,himself8 #e3h4 ,and when ,he had taken the book4--,his worthiness to do so having been proven by ,his resurrection to the ,divine nature4 ,the four beasts4--,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4--,rev4 #d3f1 #g4 ,and four and twenty elders4--,messages of the four and twenty ,prophets4--,rev4 #d3aj4 ,fell down before the ,lamb4--,gave their joint homage and adoration to the ,conqueror of sin and death4 ,each having every one of them harps ,a ,,harp4--,yielding the most exquisite harmony that ever fell on mortal ears4--,rev4 #ae3ad2 #d3aj4 ,and golden vials4--,incense cups1 8spoons10 similar to those used at the ,golden ,altar4--,ex4 #be3bi2 #cj3ai4 ,full of odors4--,the sweet fragrance of patient hearts1 precious in the ,father's memory1 pleading for love and wisdom ,divine4--,psa4 #ada3b2 ,ex4 #cj3cdch2 ,lev4 #af3ab1 #ac2 ,lu4 #a3i1 #aj2 ,acts #aj3d4 ,which are the prayers of saints4--,every one of which1 by the ,father's arrangement1 has been made in the name of the ,one here honored4--,john #af3bc2 ,eph4 #b3ai4 #e3i4 ,and they sung a new song4--8,this means that the ,divine ,plan as a whole was here made known to ,him--for ,he already had knowledge of much of this--but all things were now given ,him40--,z4 '#afbec2 ,psa4 #dj3c2 ,rev4 #ad3c4 ,saying1 ,thou art worthy to take the book4--,worthy of 8a name which is above every name40--,phil4 #b3i4 ,and to open the seals thereof4--,disclose the wonderful method by which the ,father will develop the saviors of the world4--,obad4 #ba4 ,for thou wast slain4--,he had sacrificed ,his will1 but this was not sufficient4 8,god wished ,him to sacrifice not only ,his will1 but actually to lay down ,his human life4 ,when all ,his testings were completed at ,his death on the ,cross1 ,god gave ,him a name to which all should bow1 both in ,heaven and in earth40--,z4 '#afbeb4 ,and hast redeemed4--8,agorazo4 ,this word signifies to purchase in the open market40--,e4 #ddc1 #dbi2 #a ,cor4 #f3bj2 ,gal4 #c3ac2 ,eph4 #a3g2 ,col4 #a3ad2 #a ,pet4 #a3ah1 #ai4 ,us4--,oldest ,,ms41 with evident propriety1 omits us1 since the ,divine attributes and prophecies were not redeemed4--,z4 '#igaea4 ,to ,god4--8,what say the ,scriptures respecting the sacrifice of ,christ1 the offering which ,he made8 ,do they say that it was made to ,satan or to ,jehovah ,god8 ,we answer that in all the types of the ,jewish dispensation1 which foreshadowed this better sacrifice1 which does take away the sins of the world1 the offerings were presented to ,god1 at the hands of the priest1 who typified our ,lord ,jesus40--,e4 #dfa1 #ddi4 ,by ,thy blood4--8,if the blood of bulls and of goats 444 sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh1 how much more shall the blood of ,christ1 who1 through the eternal spirit1 offered ,himself without spot to ,god40--,heb4 #i3acae4 ,out of every kindred4--8,in thy ,seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed40--,acts #c3be4 ,and tongue4--8,every knee shall bow1 every tongue shall swear40--,isa4 #de3bc4 ,and people4--8,the heavens declare ,his righteousness1 and all the people see ,his glory40--,psa4 #ig3f4 ,and nation4--8,and in thy ,seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed40--,gen4 #bf3d1 #bb3ah2 ,rev4 #ad3f4 #e3aj4 ,and hast made us ,,them unto our ,god ,kings ,a ,,kingdom4--8,it will be the ,kingdom of the saints1 in that they shall reign and judge and bless the world in conjunction with their ,lord1 ,jesus4 7,rom4 #h3ag1 #ah47 ,the ,kingdom class proper will consist only of our ,lord and ,his #8elect' ,little ,flock40--,d4 #fah4 ,and priests ,,priesthood4--8,the ,divine provision for a #8,royal ,priesthood' implies weakness1 imperfection1 on the part of some whom the priests are to help1 and instruct1 and from whom they are to accept sacrifice and offerings for sin1 and to whom they are to extend mercy and forgiveness40--,e4 #dhf1 #dgf2 #a ,pet4 #b3e1 #i2 ,rev4 #a3f2 #bj3f4 ,and we ,,they shall reign4--8,but before the ,royal ,priesthood begin their reign1 they must #8suffer with ,him1' sharing in the antitypical sacrifices4 7#b ,tim4 #b3ab470--,t4 #bf4 ,on4--,epi1 over4--,rev4 #f3af4 ,the earth4--8,the ,kingdom and dominion1 even the majesty of the ,kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the ,most ,high1 whose ,kingdom is an everlasting ,kingdom1 and all rulers shall serve and obey ,him4 7,dan #g3bg470--;,d4 #fah4 #e3aa4 ,and ,i beheld4--,john beheld this in vision and will behold it in reality4 ,and ,i heard4--,john heard in the vision1 and will hear in the reality4 ,as it were the voice of many angels4--,besides the angels1 the ,great ,company are in this happy throng4 ,the events to the end of the chapter have their fulfilment in the future4 ,round about the ,throne4--8,in the circuit of ,heaven0 7,job #bb3ad71 the circle of the ,universe4 ,and the beasts4--,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4--,rev4 #d3f1 #g4 ,and the elders4--,the prophecies4--,rev4 #d3aj4 ,and the number of them4--8,whose number no man knoweth40--,rev4 #g3i4 ,was ten thousand times ten thousand1 and thousands of thousands4--,the number of the ,great ,company will apparently exceed one hundred millions4 ,num4 #d3dfdh and ,ex4 #bh3a indicate but one priest to each #b1hfj ,levites1 which would make the number of the ,great ,company approximate #daa1hdj1jjj4--,t4 #aah1 #aai2 ,dan4 #g3aj4 #e3ab4 ,saying with a loud voice4--,the ,great ,company will be very enthusiastic workers on the other side of the veil1 for they really love the ,lord with all their heart1 soul1 mind and strength 7,mark #ab3cj71 and need only to be liberated to give full expression to that love4 ,worthy is the ,lamb that was slain4--8,our ,lord ,jesus demonstrated before the ,father1 before angels1 and before ,his #8brethren1' ,his fidelity to the ,father and to the ,father's ,law1 demonstrating that it was not beyond the ability of a perfect being1 even under the most adverse conditions40--,e4 #acd1 #abj4 ,to receive power4--,the ,great ,company class humbly realize that their faithfulness and zeal was not sufficient to warrant their own exaltation to power4 ,and riches4--,they realize they did not lay up all the ,heavenly treasures they might have done1 but hid their talents in earthly pursuits4 ,and wisdom4--,they realize their own unwisdom in seeking the praise of men and that the ,christ ,company1 though apparently fools for ,christ's sake1 were really the wisest of the wise4 ,and strength4--,they know that they used their own strength for the support and maintenance of institutions which really hindered rather than helped the ,bride to make herself ready4 ,and honor4--,they know that1 as a class1 they sought and obtained the honor that cometh from men1 but failed to properly seek the honor that cometh from ,god only4 ,and glory4--,they know that they failed to meet the high conditions of self sacrifice1 and were therefore unworthy of the high reward4 ,and blessing4--,they feel that the blessings which the ,lord gave to them were thoughtlessly appropriated to themselves and their families1 with hardly a serious thought about the needs of the ,lord's dear family2 and that appropriately1 the chiefest of all blessings1 the privilege of extending ,god's blessings to the needy world1 should go to those who most earnestly 8by patient perseverance in well doing 7did7 seek for glory1 honor and immortality40 7,rom4 #b3g47 ,thus they reverence the ,lamb1 and ,his ,bride1 for they are one4--,rev4 #ai3g4 #e3ac4 ,and every creature4--,after the destruction of the incorrigible at the end of the ,millennial ,age 7and this1 in itself1 is a blessing to those who refuse to make a right use of life74 ,which is in ,heaven4--8,let all the angels of ,god worship ,him40 7,heb4 #a3f47 8,worship ,him1 all ye gods40--,psa4 #ig3g4 ,and on the earth1 and under the earth14--,all mankind4--#a ,cor4 #ae3be4 ,and such as are in the sea4--,the class that continues to be 8in the sea10 i4 e41 not under religious restraint1 will cease to exist4 ,they no longer are1 but even their terminated existence will be to the praise of the ,one who died for them on ,calvary2 for they will have had a perfect chance4 ,and all that are in them4--8,that at the name of ,jesus every knee should bow1 of things in ,heaven1 and things in earth40--,phil4 #b3aj2 ,eph4 #a3aj2 ,col4 #a3bj4 ,heard ,i ,,and ,i ,,heard ,,them saying1 ,,the ,blessing4--,the myriads of happy beings1 on all created planes of intelligence1 from the highest to the lowest1 in ,heaven and earth1 acknowledge with joy the source of all their blessings4--,rom4 #i3e4 ,and honor4--,by that time all will have come to see what a great honor has been conferred on any creature to receive the unspeakable boon of life on any plane1 and will gladly own its fountain4--#a ,tim4 #f3af4 ,and glory and power ,,of ,,the ,,almighty4--,each will have come to know the glory of life on his own plane4 8,there are celestial bodies1 and bodies terrestrial3 but the glory of the celestial is one1 and the glory of the terrestrial is another4 ,there is one glory of the sun1 and another glory of the moon1 and another glory of the stars3 for one star differeth from another star in glory40--#a ,cor4 #ae3dj1 #da2 ,rom4 #af3bg2 #a ,pet4 #d3aa2 #e3aa4 ,be4--,be ascribed to4 ,him that sitteth upon the ,throne4--,our ,father and ,friend4--#a ,chron4 #bi3aa4 ,and unto the ,lamb4--,our ,redeemer and ,brother4 ,for ever and ever4--8,for the ,ages of the ,ages10 ,greek4 #e3ad4 ,and the four beasts said ,amen4--,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom unitedly declare this to be the happy outcome4 ,and the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped ,him that liveth for ever and ever4--,the prophecies plainly declare that neither men nor devils can in any wise thwart this perfect ending of the ,plan which began so strangely and still progresses--the perfection1 through suffering1 of the ,little ,flock1 the ,great ,company and1 indeed1 the world of mankind itself4--,rev4 #d3aj4 ,revelation #f--,six ,seals ,and ,the ,papacy #f3a4 ,and ,i saw4--8,god does not display ,his plans to satisfy mere idle curiosity4 ,if we would comprehend what is revealed within the scroll we must be sincerely desirous of knowing the details of ,god's ,plan in order to an earnest cooperation with it4 ,such1 and such only1 are worthy to know1 and such only ever come to see1 in the sense of understanding and appreciating1 the deep things of ,god written within the scroll4 ,such are the righteous for whom the light 7,truth7 is sown4 ,this worthiness is inquired for not only at the beginning1 but all along the path of light4 ,if we are not found worthy by the various tests applied from time to time1 we cannot proceed in the path of light2 and unless the unfaithful ones arouse themselves to greater diligence and watchfulness1 the light that already is in them will become darkness4 ,and how great1 how intense must be the darkness of one cast out of light6 7,matt4 #f3bc470--,z4 '#jbccb4 ,when the ,lamb opened4--8,the opening of the seals has progressed during all the ,gospel ,age4 ,it has required all of the present ,age and will require all of the next ,age to complete the ,plan4 ,we may suppose that the ,lord ,jesus was made aware of all its features after ,his ascension to the presence of ,jehovah4 ,the ,master declared that as the ,father revealed them unto ,him1 so would ,he reveal them unto us40--,z4 '#afbec2 ,rev4 #e3ei4 ,one of the ,,seven seals4--8,each seal as it was loosed permitted the scroll as a whole to open a little wider1 and a little wider1 thus permitting #8the mystery of ,god' to be a little more clearly discerned40--,z4 '#igbeg4 ,and ,i heard as it were the noise of thunder4--,the roar of a ,lion4 ,one of the four beasts4--,justice1 typified by the ,lion4--,rev4 #d3g4 ,saying1 ,,as ,,it ,,were ,,the ,,noise ,,of ,,thunder1 ,come and see4--,come and see ,infinite ,justice permitting one of the greatest acts of injustice ever perpetrated4 #f3b4 ,and ,i saw4--,john beheld in vision the first strange and wonderful feature of the ,divine ,plan for the permission of evil as it related to epochs of the ,church beyond his own epoch--that of ,smyrna4 ,and behold a white horse4--,the doctrines1 teachings of the ,lord and the ,apostles recognized as the one and only rule of faith and practice of ,god's ,church4 ,and he that sat on him4--,the ,bishop of ,rome1 the embryo ,pope1 the personal representative of ,satan4 ,had a bow4--8,they bend their tongues like their bow for lies3 but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth2 for they proceed from evil to evil1 and they know not ,me1 saith the ,lord40--,jer4 #i3c4 ,and a crown4--,great honor and authority in the ,church4 ,was given unto him4--8,under the reign of ,constantine 7who murdered his own son in the same year in which he convened the ,council of ,nice7 the opposition of the empire to ,christianity gave way to favor1 and the ,imperial ,pontifex ,maximus became the patron of the professed but really apostate ,church of ,christ2 and1 taking her by the hand1 he assisted her to a place of popularity and splendor from which she was able afterward1 as the imperial power grew weak1 to put her own representatives upon the religious throne of the world as ,chief ,religious ,ruler--,pontifex ,maximus40--,b4 #bij4 ,and he went forth conquering1 and to conquer ,,and ,,he ,,conquered4--,thus we see the apparent defeat of ,infinite ,justice in this first epoch4 ,apparently1 ,god forsook ,his ,church1 having jeopardized all its interests by placing the power in the hands of a selfseeking ecclesiastical system4 ,but worse things are coming6 #f3c4 ,and when ,he had opened the second seal4--,revealing the second period of the history of the ,antichrist4 ,i heard the second beast4--,infinite ,power4 ,see ,rev4 #d3g4 ,say1 ,come and see4--,come and see ,infinite ,power consenting to a thing apparently in victorious opposition to it4 #f3d4 ,and ,i beheld and lo there went out another horse4--,a creedhorse1 quite different from the ,scriptures which it misrepresented4 ,that was red4--,the color of sin--imperfection4 8,though your sins be as scarlet40--,isa4 #a3ah4 ,and power was given to him that sat thereon4--,the same rider1 the ,antichrist4 ,to take peace from the earth4--,to embroil in controversy those who were under religious restraint--in other words1 the entire professed church of ,god4 ,and that they should kill one another4--,depose and destroy one another as teachers1 by inveighing the ,roman power against all offenders4 ,and there was given unto him a great sword4--,as the ,lord has a great and powerful sword1 the ,sword of the ,spirit1 which is the ,word of ,god 7,eph4 #f3ag71 and as it is represented as coming out of ,his mouth1 so the ,papacy has a great and powerful sword1 in opposition to the ,sword of the ,spirit1 and it1 too1 comes out of ,papacy's mouth4 ,the word here is different from ,rev4 #a3af and refers to the butcher knife--,gen4 #bb3f1 #aj4 8,the pope 7each pope in his turn7 is the head of the false church1 which is his body1 even as ,christ ,jesus is the ,head of the true ,church1 which is ,his ,body4 ,since the head is the representative of the body1 and its mouth speaks for the body1 we find1 as we should expect1 this feature of ,antichrist prominently referred to in the ,scriptures4 ,in ,daniel #g3h1 #aa1 #be1 and ,rev4 #ac3e1 #f1 the mouth of ,antichrist is brought specially to our notice as a leading characteristic40--,b4 #cjd4 ,this period1 beginning with the year #cbe ,a4 ,d4 and extending to the year #eci1 was the period of formation of creeds4 8,come near1 put your feet upon the necks of these kings40 7,josh4 #aj3bd47 ,once they were very powerful1 but they are quite harmless now4 ,the ,lord 7,joshua,savior7 has humbled them all by ,his own ,sword of the ,spirit in the hands of ,pastor ,russell4 8,neither ,luke in the ,acts of the ,apostles1 nor any ecclesiastical writer before the fifth century1 makes mention of an assembly of the ,apostles for the purpose of forming a creed4 ,had the ,apostles composed it1 it would have been the same in all churches and ages4 ,but it is quite otherwise40 7,mc,c47 ,so much for the wellknown 8,apostle's ,creed10 which1 it is alleged1 8comprehends the leading articles of the faith in the triune ,god40 ,but this was not triune enough1 so the ,nicene ,creed improved the matter1 ,a4 ,d4 #cbe3 8,we believe in one ,god the ,father ,almighty1 ,maker of all things visible and invisible2 and in one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 begotten of the ,father1 ,onlybegotten1 that is of the substance of the ,father2 ,god of ,god2 ,light of ,light2 very ,god of very ,god2 begotten1 not made2 of the same substance with the ,father2 by whom all things were made1 both things in ,heaven and things in earth2 who for us men and our salvation became flesh1 was made man1 suffered1 and rose again the third day4 ,he ascended into ,heaven2 ,he cometh to judge the quick and dead4 ,and in the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but those that say there was a time when ,he was not2 or that ,he was not before ,he was begotten2 or that ,he was made from that which had no being2 or who affirm the ,son of ,god to be of any other substance or essence1 or created1 or variable1 or mutable1 such persons doth the ,catholic and ,apostolic ,church anathematize40 ,fiftysix years later1 at the second ,ecumenical ,council of ,constantinople1 ,a4 ,d4 #cha1 the ,nicaeno,constantinopolitan ,creed was put on the market3 8,i believe in one ,god the ,father ,almighty1 ,maker of ,heaven and earth1 and of all things visible and invisible2 and in one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the onlybegotten ,son of ,god1 begotten of ,his ,father before all worlds2 ,god of ,god1 ,light of ,light1 very ,god of very ,god1 begotten1 not made1 being of one substance with the ,father2 by whom all things were made2 who for us men and for our salvation came down from ,heaven1 and was incarnate by the ,holy ,ghost of the ,virgin ,mary1 and was made man1 and was crucified also for us under ,pontius ,pilate1 ,he suffered and was buried2 and the third day ,he rose again1 according to the ,scriptures2 and ascended into ,heaven1 and sitteth on the right hand of the ,father4 ,and ,he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead1 whose ,kingdom shall have no end4 ,and ,i believe in the ,holy ,ghost the ,lord and ,giver of ,life1 who proceedeth from the ,father and the ,son1 who with the ,father and the ,son together is worshipped and glorified1 who spake by the ,prophets4 ,and ,i believe in the one catholic and apostolic church4 ,i acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins2 and ,i look for the resurrection of the dead1 and the life of the world to come40 ,this did very well until the fourth ,ecumenical ,council1 ,a4 ,d4 #dea1 when the ,chalcedon ,creed was worked up4 ,but very little is said about this creed nowadays2 for 8the two parties in the council were roused to the highest pitch of passion1 the proceedings1 especially during the early sessions1 were very tumultuous1 until the lay commissioners and the senators had to urge the bishops to keep order1 saying that such vulgar outcries were disgraceful40 ,however1 we give it for what it is worth3 8,we confess and with one accord teach one and the same ,son1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 perfect in the divinity1 perfect in the humanity1 truly ,god and truly man1 consisting of a reasonable soul and body2 consubstantial with the ,father according to the ,godhead1 and consubstantial with us according to the manhood2 in all things like unto us1 sin only excepted2 who was begotten of the ,father before all ages1 according to the ,godhead2 and in the last days the same was born1 according to the manhood1 of ,mary the ,virgin1 ,mother of ,god1 for us and for our salvation2 who is to be acknowledged one and the same ,christ1 the ,son1 the ,lord1 the ,only ,begotten in two natures1 without mixture1 change1 division or separation2 the difference of natures not being removed by their union1 but rather the propriety of each nature being preserved and concurring in one person and in one hypostasis1 so that ,he is not divided into two persons1 but the only ,son1 the ,word1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and one and the same person40 ,a merciful oblivion has hidden the name and the date of authorship of the next creed1 the ,athanasian1 the cream of all the creeds2 but it was probably manufactured by ,satan for use about #eci ,a4 ,d4 ,by #egj ,a4 ,d4 it had become very famous4 8,the creed is received in the ,greek1 ,roman and ,english churches1 but is left out of the service of the ,protestant ,episcopal ,church in ,america40 ,the nature of this creed may be judged by the following extract from an #ahee issue of the ,church of ,england ,quarterly3 8,the ,athanasian ,creed finds few real lovers as a portion of a public service4 ,no one supposes that it was the work of ,athanasius4 ,athanasius originated the monasteryconvent system4 ,he was the ,bishop of ,alexandria and friend of the ,emperor ,constantine who caused the banishment of ,arius4 ,no one is now1 at least among us1 in any danger from the errors it denounces2 for no one believes that all the members of the ,greek ,church are necessarily consigned to everlasting damnation2 and thus1 every time the creed is read1 the officiating minister has solemnly to enunciate what neither he nor any of his hearers believes4 ,it is true that by distinguishing between the creed itself and the damnatory clauses he may save himself1 mentally1 from declaring a falsehood2 but surely this is reason enough for the removal of the creed from our ,liturgy4 ,we have had too much in our ,church of mental reservations4 ,so far as the doctrine of the ,trinity is concerned1 it is abundantly insisted on in the ,apostles' and ,nicene ,creeds40 ,it seems almost incredible that any one seriously believed the following amazing statements3 8,whoever will be saved1 before all things it is necessary that he hold the ,catholic faith1 which faith1 except every one do keep whole and undefiled1 without doubt he shall perish everlastingly4 ,and the ,catholic faith is this3 that we worship one ,god in ,trinity1 and ,trinity in ,unity2 neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance4 ,for there is one person of the ,father1 another of the ,son1 and another of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,but the ,godhead of the ,father1 of the ,son and of the ,holy ,ghost is all one2 the glory equal1 the majesty coeternal4 ,such as the ,father is1 such is the ,son1 and such is the ,holy ,ghost4 ,the ,father uncreate1 the ,son uncreate1 and the ,holy ,ghost uncreate4 ,the ,father incomprehensible1 the ,son incomprehensible1 and the ,holy ,ghost incomprehensible4 ,the ,father eternal1 the ,son eternal1 and the ,holy ,ghost eternal4 ,and yet they are not three eternals1 but one eternal4 ,as also there are not three incomprehensibles1 nor three uncreated1 but one uncreated1 and one incomprehensible4 ,so likewise the ,father is almighty1 the ,son almighty1 and the ,holy ,ghost almighty4 ,and yet there are not three almighties1 but one almighty4 ,so the ,father is ,god1 the ,son is ,god and the ,holy ,ghost is ,god4 ,and yet there are not three ,gods1 but one ,god4 ,so likewise the ,father is ,lord1 the ,son is ,lord and the ,holy ,ghost ,lord4 ,and yet not three ,lords1 but one ,lord4 ,for like as we are compelled by the ,christian verity to acknowledge every person by ,himself to be ,god and ,lord1 so are we forbidden by the ,catholic religion to say there be three ,gods and three ,lords4 ,the ,father is made of none1 neither created nor begotten4 ,the ,son is of the ,father alone2 not made1 nor created1 but begotten4 ,the ,holy ,ghost is of the ,father and the ,son2 neither made1 nor created1 nor begotten1 but proceeding4 ,so there is one ,father1 not three ,fathers2 one ,son1 not three ,sons2 one ,holy ,ghost1 not three ,holy ,ghosts4 ,and in this ,trinity none is afore or after other2 none is greater or less than another4 ,but the whole three persons are coeternal together1 and coequal4 ,so that in all things1 as aforesaid1 the ,unity in ,trinity and the ,trinity in ,unity is to be worshipped4 8,he therefore that will be saved must thus think of the ,trinity4 ,furthermore1 it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,for the right faith is that we believe and confess that our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the ,son of ,god1 is ,god and man4 ,god of the substance of the ,father1 begotten before the worlds2 and man of the substance of ,his mother1 born in the world4 ,perfect ,god and perfect man1 or a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting4 ,equal to the ,father as touching ,his ,godhead1 and inferior to the ,father as touching ,his manhood4 ,who1 although ,he be ,god and man1 yet ,he is not two1 but one ,christ4 ,one1 not by conversion of the ,godhead into flesh1 but by taking of the manhood into ,god4 ,one altogether1 not by confusion of substance1 but by unity of person4 ,for as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man1 so ,god and man is one ,christ4 ,who suffered for our salvation1 descended into hell1 rose again the third day from the dead4 ,he ascended into ,heaven2 ,he sitteth on the right hand of the ,father1 ,god ,almighty4 ,from whence ,he shall come to judge the quick and the dead4 ,at whose coming all men shall rise again in their bodies1 and shall account for their own works4 ,and they that have done good shall go into life everlasting1 and they that have done evil into everlasting fire4 ,this is the ,catholic faith which1 except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved4 ,glory be to the ,father1 and to the ,son1 and to the ,holy ,ghost4 ,as it was in the beginning1 is now1 and ever shall be1 world without end4 ,amen40 ,this put an end to the business of creed making1 ,satan's powers of concocting gibberish to take the place of the ,bible having been temporarily quite exhausted4 ,but a thousand years later the 8,creed of ,pope ,pius ,,iv0 was issued in the form of a bull in ,december1 #aefd4 8,all bishops1 ecclesiastics1 and teachers in the ,romish church1 as well as all converts from ,protestantism1 publicly profess assent to it40 ,it follows3 8,i1 ,a4 ,b41 believe and profess with a firm faith all and every one of the things which are contained in the symbol of faith which is used in the ,holy ,roman ,church2 namely1 ,i believe in one ,god the ,father ,almighty1 ,maker of heaven and earth1 and of all things visible and invisible2 and in one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the only begotten ,son of ,god1 born of the ,father before all worlds1 ,god of ,god1 ,light of ,light1 true ,god of true ,god1 begotten not made1 consubstantial to the ,father1 by whom all things were made2 who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven1 and was incarnate by the ,holy ,ghost of the ,virgin ,mary1 and was made man2 was crucified also for us under ,pontius ,pilate1 suffered and was buried1 and rose again the third day according to the ,scriptures1 and ascended into heaven1 sits at the right hand of the ,father1 and will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead1 of whose kingdom there will be no end2 and in the ,holy ,ghost1 the ,lord and ,lifegiver1 who proceeds from the ,father and the ,son1 who1 together with the ,father and the ,son1 is adored and glorified1 who spake by the holy prophets2 and one holy catholic and apostolic church4 ,i confess one baptism for the remission of sins2 and ,i expect the resurrection of the dead1 and the life of the world to come4 ,amen4 ,i most firmly admit and embrace apostolical and ecclesiastical traditions1 and all other constitutions and observances of the same church4 ,i also admit the sacred ,scriptures according to the sense which the holy mother church has held and does hold1 to whom it belongs to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the ,holy ,scriptures2 nor will ,i ever take or interpret them otherwise than according to the unanimous consent of the fathers4 8,i profess1 also1 that there are truly and properly seven sacraments of the new law1 instituted by ,jesus ,christ our ,lord1 and for the salvation of mankind1 though all are not necessary for every one--namely1 baptism1 confirmation1 eucharist1 penance1 extreme unction1 orders1 and matrimony1 and that they confer grace2 and of these1 baptism1 confirmation1 and order cannot be reiterated without sacrilege4 ,i do also receive and admit the ceremonies of the ,catholic ,church1 received and approved in the solemn administration of all the abovesaid sacraments4 ,i receive and embrace all and every one of the things which have been defined and declared in the holy ,council of ,trent concerning sin and justification4 ,i profess likewise that in the mass is offered to ,god a true1 proper1 and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead2 and that in the most holy sacrament of the eucharist there is truly1 really and substantially the body and blood1 together with the soul and divinity1 of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and that there is made a conversion of the whole substance of the bread into the body1 and of the whole substance of the wine into the blood1 which conversion the ,catholic ,church calls ,transubstantiation4 ,i confess1 also1 that under either kind alone1 whole and entire1 ,christ and a true sacrament is received4 ,i constantly hold that there is a purgatory1 and that the souls detained therein are helped by the suffrages of the faithful4 ,likewise that the saints reigning together with ,christ are to be honored and invocated1 that they offer prayers to ,god for us1 and that their relics are to be venerated4 8,i most firmly assert that the images of ,christ1 and of the ,mother of ,god1 ever ,virgin1 and also of the other saints1 are to be had and retained1 and that due honor and veneration are to be given to them4 ,i also affirm that the power of indulgences was left by ,christ in the ,church1 and that the use of them is most wholesome to ,christian people4 ,i acknowledge the holy catholic and apostolic ,roman ,church1 the mother and mistress of all churches2 and ,i promise and swear true obedience to the ,roman bishop1 the successor of ,st4 ,peter1 prince of the apostles and vicar of ,jesus ,christ4 ,i also profess and undoubtedly receive all other things delivered1 defined1 and declared by the sacred canons and general councils1 and particularly by the holy ,council of ,trent2 and likewise ,i also condemn1 reject1 and anathematize all things contrary thereto1 and all heresies whatsoever condemned1 rejected1 and anathematized by the ,church4 ,this true catholic faith1 out of which none can be saved1 which ,i now freely profess and truly hold1 ,i1 ,a4 ,b41 promise1 vow1 and swear most constantly to hold1 and profess the same whole and entire1 with ,god's assistance to the end of my life2 and to procure1 as far as lies in my power1 that the same shall be held1 taught1 and preached by all who are under me1 or are intrusted to my care1 by virtue of my office4 ,so help me ,god1 and these holy ,gospels of ,god4 ,amen40 ,the less ,bible1 the more ,creed1 and the thicker and blacker the darkness6 ,bible students will not fail to notice the progressive darkness of these creeds4 ,incarnation is first mentioned in the third creed1 mariolatry in the fourth1 and trinity and purgatory in the fifth4 ,in the ,millennial ,age the creedformers will feel like adding a postscript to their work1 reading about as follows3 8,p4 ,s4--,we have had our eyes opened and now see that ,jesus was the ,alpha1 the ,beginning of the creation of ,god1 and the ,omega1 the ,last of the ,father's direct creation 7,rev4 #bb3ac2 #a3h72 that as the ,logos1 or ,representative of the ,father1 ,he was a ,god 7mighty one7 but not the ,god1 ,jehovah 7,john #a3a72 that all things were made by ,him 7,john #a3c72 that ,jehovah sent ,his ,son to save mankind 7#a ,john #d3aj72 that the ,logos was made flesh 7,john #a3ad7 and in the days of ,his flesh 7,heb4 #e3g7 became poor 7#b ,cor4 #h3i71 lower than the angels 7,heb4 #b3i71 a servant 7,phil4 #b3g71 a man 7,phil4 #b3h72 that while a man ,he did not have all wisdom 7,luke #b3eb7 but admitted the ,father's greater power 7,john #ad3bh7 and knowledge 7,matt4 #bd3cf72 that as the ,father had previously said that ,he would give ,his own personal glory to no one 7,isa4 #db3h71 so ,jesus admitted ,he and the ,father were two separate persons 7,john #h3ag1 #ah72 that ,he admitted ,he had not the glory of the ,father 7,john #ag3e7 and expected the same unity between the ,church and the ,father as existed between ,himself and the ,father 7,john #ag3babc72 that when ,he died ,he was really1 truly1 completely dead1 as dead as though ,he had never previously existed 7#a ,cor4 #ae3c2 ,rev4 #a3ah72 that ,god raised ,him from the dead 7,acts #b3bd2 ,gal4 #a3a72 highly exalted ,him 7,phil4 #b3i7 to ,divine nature 7#b ,pet4 #a3d72 making ,him the express image of ,himself 7,heb4 #a3c72 but that even since ,his resurrection our ,father is still ,jesus' ,father and our ,god is still ,his ,god 7,john #bj3ag72 that a thousand years hence ,jesus will still be subject to the ,father 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bh72 that to us there is but one ,god 7#a ,cor4 #h3f7 and that every doctrine that confesseth that ,jesus ,christ when ,he came in the flesh came as anything more or less than a fleshly being is the spirit of ,antichrist which dictated every one of the creeds aforementioned 7#a ,john #d3c740 #f3e4 ,and when ,he had opened the third seal4--,disclosing the third epoch in the history of ,antichrist4 ,i heard the third beast4--,infinite ,love4 ,say1 ,come and see4--,come and see the apparently complete triumph of the powers of darkness and the apparent inaction of ,infinite ,love in permitting it4 ,and ,i beheld1 and lo1 a black horse4--,complete disregard of the ,scriptures by clergy and people alike1 and in their place the ugly creeds and bulls of popes and councils4 ,and he that sat on him4--,the same rider1 the ,antichrist4 ,had a pair of balances in his hand4--8,balance joined with symbols denoting the sale of corn and fruits by weight1 becomes the symbol of scarcity2 bread by weight being a curse in ,lev4 #bf3bf and in ,ezek4 #d3af1 #ag40 7,mc,c47 ,during this period the common people could have in their own tongue only a few words or verses of the ,scriptures2 and for these they were obliged to pay large sums to the clergy1 who alone had the ability to translate from the dead languages1 or even to read at all4 ,as the services were in ,latin the people were starved spiritually4 #f3f4 ,and ,i heard ,,as ,,it ,,were a voice4--,the voice of the ,lord ,jesus1 the ,guardian and ,caretaker of the true ,church4--,matt4 #bh3bj4 ,in the midst of the four beasts4--8,in the midst of the ,throne and of the four beasts1 and in the midst of the elders1 stood a ,lamb40--,rev4 #e3f4 ,say1 ,a measure4--8,the word chenix denotes a measure containing one wine quart and a twelfth part of a quart40--,diaglott4 ,of wheat4--,the true children of the ,kingdom4--,c4 #acg4 ,for a penny4--8,a denarius was the daywages of a laborer in ,palestine 7,matt4 #bj3b1 #i740 7,diaglott47 ,these wages1 a little more than a quart of wheat for a day's work1 show how great was the effort1 in those dark and terrible days1 to find some 8grains of wheat40--,amos #h3aa4 ,and three measures4--,three chenices1 three quarts4 ,of barley4--,spiritual adulterers and adulteresses1 courting the friendship of the world4 7,jas4 #d3d47 ,barley is the symbol of the adulteress as wheat is the symbol of the virgin4--,num4 #e3ae2 ,hos4 #c3a1 #b4 ,for a penny4--,for a denarius4 ,it was three times as easy to find the faithless as the faithful4 ,and see thou hurt not the oil4--,the supply of the oil1 the ,holy ,spirit of full submission to the will of ,god was low2 the light of the true ,church was feeble indeed4 ,and the wine4--,wine is a symbol of doctrine1 true or false1 and its accompanying joys4 ,in this case it refers to the true doctrines of the ,kingdom4 ,but little knowledge of the coming ,kingdom was prevalent then1 and the joys of the ,church were proportionately small4 7,see comments on ,rev4 #b3abag1 synchronous with events of second and third seals47 ,lest it be supposed that the ,roman ,catholic church is now different from what it once was1 and that at present it is holding to the ,scriptures1 we quote the following from ,strength of ,will by ,e4 ,boyd ,barrett1 of the ,society of the ,jesuits1 approved by the ,roman ,catholic censor1 ,remy ,lafort1 and approved by ,john1 ,cardinal ,farley1 ,archbishop of ,new ,york1 ,november #bdth1 #aiae3 8,catholic ascetics teach us1 in this matter1 first of all to have a clear and definite view of the object we propose to ourselves--let us suppose that it is to overcome the passion of anger4 ,now the resolution1 #8not to give way to anger' would be far too broad and too great4 ,applying the principle1 #8divide et impera1' we content ourselves with resolving #8not to give way to external manifestations of anger4' ,but here again1 our resolution is too broad and too great4 ,we again apply the principle1 #8divide et impera1' and resolve #8not to give way to angry retorts4' ,this resolution is pointed1 definite and intelligible--it means that cross and peevish remarks must not occur4 ,a time limit may now be added in order to make the resolution still more welldefined3 ',until the last day of this month ,i will not make an angry retort4' ,possibly1 it might be advisable to limit this resolution still more1 by conditions of place or circumstance1 adding #8in such a place or to such a person1 or during such a ceremony4' 0 ,simple6 ,all you have to do is to keep dividing4 #f3g4 ,and when ,he had opened the fourth seal4--,disclosing the history of the ,papacy in its fourth stage1 the period synchronizing with the ,thyatira and ,sardis epochs4 ,see ,rev4 #b3ahbi2 #c3af4 ,i heard the voice of the fourth beast4--,infinite ,wisdom4 ,say1 ,come and see4--,come and see what would seem to be the most unwise thing the ,lord could possibly permit to happen to ,his ,church4 #f3h4 ,and ,i looked1 and behold a pale horse4--,the ghastly and horrible teachings that ,god's true people must be 8exterminated40 8,the ghastly green of terror and of death4 ,the word is used of grass in ,rev4 #h3g2 #i3d2 ,mark #f3ci40--;,cook4 ,and his name that sat on him was ,death4--,still the same rider1 the ,papacy2 and an apt description of its chief claim to recognition during the pre ,reformation period4 8,pope ,innocent ,,iii4 first sent missionaries to the districts in which the doctrines had gained foothold1 to preach ,romanism1 work miracles1 etc42 but1 finding these efforts unavailing1 he proclaimed a crusade against them and offered to all who would engage in it the pardon of all sins and an immediate passport to ,heaven without passing through purgatory4 ,with full faith in the pope's power to bestow the promised rewards1 half a million men--,french1 ,german and ,italian--rallied around the standard of the cross1 for the defence of ,catholicism and the extinction of heresy4 ,then followed a series of battles and sieges covering a space of twenty years4 ,the city of ,beziers was stormed and taken in #abji1 and the citizens1 without regard for age or sex1 perished by the sword to the number of sixty thousand1 as reported by several historians4 ,the blood of those who fled to churches1 and were murdered there by the holy crusaders1 drenched the altars and flowed through the streets4 ,it is estimated that one hundred thousand ,albigenses fell in one day2 and their bodies were heaped together and burned4 ,the clergy thanked ,god for the work of destruction1 and a hymn of praise to ,god for the glorious victory was composed and sung40--,b4 #cce4 ,and ,hell followed with him4--,all the people killed by the pope went to hell1 and he himself went there also2 but none of them went to the kind of hell to which the pope thought he was sending them4 ,they went to the ,bible hell1 which is a place quite different from what is supposed4 ,the average man believes in hell1 but thinks few people go there and that nobody knows much about it4 ,the ,bible is the only authority on the subject1 and no one can know anything about it1 aside from the ,bible4 ,when we consider ,christ's statement that unless a man loves ,him more than 8father1 and mother1 and wife1 and children1 and brethren1 and sisters1 yea1 and his own life also1 he cannot be ,my disciple0 7,luke #ad3bf71 and reflect that probably not one professed ,christian in a hundred has reached either this standard or the other one which ,he set in the same chapter1 that 8,whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath1 he cannot be ,my disciple0 7,luke #ad3cc71 it should make us willing to consider carefully what is to become of the #i1iii out of every #aj1jjj of earth's population that do not meet these conditions4 ,we all know that 8,the wicked shall be turned into hell1 and all the nations that forget ,god0 7,psa4 #i3ag72 but how many of us know that they will be returned there2 that the passage1 correctly translated1 reads1 8,the wicked shall be returned into hell1 all the nations that forget ,god0--showing that there are nations which go into hell once1 come out of hell1 learn of ,god1 forget ,him and are returned there8 ,we may all know 7,jude #aa7 that ,korah1 or ,core1 went to hell2 but how many of us know that he was accompanied to this place by his house1 with all his household goods1 and two other establishments similarly equipped8 7,num4 #af3cb1 #cc47 ,we may all know that the ,sodomites went to hell 7,gen4 #ai71 but how many know that they were accompanied by the city in which they lived and that there are other cities there8 7,matt4 #aa3bc47 ,we may all suppose that many heathen warriors of long ago went to hell1 but how many of us know that they took with them their weapons of war1 and that their swords are there now1 under their heads1 with what is left of their bones8 7,ezek4 #cb3bg47 ,we may understand that the wealthy go to hell1 but how many know that in the same place are sheep1 gray hairs1 worms1 dust1 trees and water8--,psa4 #di3ad2 ,gen4 #dd3ca2 ,job #ag3acaf2 ,ezek4 #ca3af4 ,we may all know that bad men go to hell1 but how many of us know that the ,ancient ,worthies1 ,jacob and ,hezekiah1 fully expected to go there1 and that faithful ,job prayed to go there8 7,gen4 #cg3ce2 ,job #ad3ac47 ,we may all wish to keep out of hell1 but how many of us know that ,david said there is not a man that liveth that shall deliver his soul from its power1 and that ,solomon says1 thou goest there1 whosoever thou art8 7,psa4 #hi3dh2 ,eccl4 #i3aj47 ,we may think that those who go to hell go there to stay forever1 but how many of us know that ,samuel said1 8,the ,lord killeth and maketh alive2 ,he bringeth down to hell and bringeth up0 out of hell1 and that ,david said1 ,god has the same power to aid those in hell that ,he has to bless those in ,heaven8 7#a ,sam4 #b3f2 ,psa4 #aci3h47 ,we may think that those who go into hell never come out1 and that there is no record that any have come out1 yet there are at least two persons in history who have been in hell and come out of hell4 ,one is ,jonah1 who prayed in hell and was delivered from hell 7,jonah #b3b71 and the other is ,christ1 whose soul went to hell1 but 8,his soul was not left in hell10 for ,god raised ,him up out of it4 7,acts #b3ca47 ,and when ,christ came out of hell ,he brought with ,him 8,the keys of hell0 and now has the power and the right to set all its captives free4 7,rev4 #a3ah47 ,we may suppose that hell is to last forever1 but the ,prophet speaks of its coming destruction1 and ,john the ,revelator says that it is to be made to 8deliver up the dead0 which are in it1 and it1 itself1 is to be destroyed4 7,hosea #ac3ad2 ,rev4 #bj3ac47 ,the last passage cited affords the explanation of the whole subject1 for in the margin opposite ,rev4 #bj3ac the translators have explained that the word 8hell0 means 8grave40 ,reversely1 in the margin opposite #a ,cor4 #ae3ee1 the translators have explained that 8grave0 means 8hell40 ,the terms are interchangeable and the meaning is the same4 ,in every place foregoing in which the citations appear in italic type1 the translators have rendered ,sheol or ,hades by 8grave0 or 8pit0 instead of 8hell40 ,in the margins of the old family ,bibles1 printed before ,pastor ,russell was born1 we are told in seven places1 and in both ways1 in both the ,old ,testament and the ,new1 that hell means the grave1 and the grave means hell4--,psa4 #di3ae2 #ee3ae2 #hf3ac2 ,isa4 #ad3i2 ,jonah #b3b2 #a ,cor4 #ae3ee2 ,rev4 #bj3ac4 ,and power was given unto them4--,to his ,holiness1 the ,pope1 and all the cardinals1 bishops1 archbishops1 priests1 inquisitors1 kings and rulers4 ,over the fourth part of the earth4--,over ,europe1 but not over ,asia1 ,africa or ,america4 ,to kill with sword1 and with hunger ,,famine and with death4--,the destruction of ,new ,creatures by wresting of the ,scriptures and their spiritual starvation are here in evidence2 but there was also a literal fulfilment4 8,human and ,satanic ingenuity were taxed to their utmost to invent new and horrible tortures1 for both the political and religious opponents of ,antichrist2 the latter--heretics--being pursued with tenfold fury4 ,besides the common forms of persecution and death1 such as racking1 burning1 drowning1 stabbing1 starving and shooting with arrows and guns1 fiendish hearts meditated how the most delicate and sensitive parts of the body1 capable of the most excruciating pain1 could be affected2 molten lead was poured into the ears2 tongues were cut out and lead poured into the mouths2 wheels were arranged with knife blades attached so that the victim could be slowly chopped to pieces2 claws and pincers were made red hot and used upon sensitive parts of the body2 eyes were gouged out2 finger nails were pulled off with red hot irons2 holes1 by which the victim was tied up1 were bored through the heels2 some were forced to jump from eminences onto long spikes fixed below1 where1 quivering with pain1 they slowly died4 ,the mouths of some were filled with gunpowder1 which1 when fired1 blew their heads to pieces2 others were hammered to pieces on anvils2 others1 attached to bellows1 had air pumped into them until they burst2 others were choked to death with mangled pieces of their own bodies2 others with urine1 excrement1 etc41 etc40--,b4 #cdf4 ,and with the beasts of the earth4--,the evil governments4 8,kings and princes who trembled for the security of their crowns1 if they to any extent incurred the pope's displeasure1 were sworn to exterminate heresy1 and those barons who neglected to aid in the work of persecution forfeited their estates4 ,kings and princes1 therefore1 were prompt to comply with the mandates of the ,papacy1 and the barons and their retainers were at their service1 to aid in the work of destruction40--,b4 #ccc4 #f3i4 ,and when ,he had opened the fifth seal4--,disclosing the ,reformation in the days of ,luther4 ,see ,rev4 #c3gac4 ,i saw under the altar4--,altars were originally made of earth4 7,ex4 #bj3bd47 ,to see under the altar is to see underground1 in the tomb1 the grave4 ,at the bottom of the brazen altar all the blood of the victim was poured4--,lev4 #d3g2 #h3ae2 ,heb4 #h3e2 #ac3aj2 ,phil4 #b3ag2 #b ,tim4 #d3f4 ,the souls4--,the beings of those who had died4 ,these souls were not in ,heaven4 ,of them ,,men that were slain4--,spiritually beheaded 7some of them literally1 also74--,rev4 #bj3d4 ,for4--,dia1 8through0 or 8by means of40 ,the ,word of ,god4--8,of ,his own will begat ,he us with the ,word of ,truth40 7,james #a3ah47 ,it is this ,sword of the ,spirit that cuts us off from the world4--,heb4 #d3ab4 ,and for the testimony4--8,and through the testimony02 through the ,word of ,god4 ,the word dia is here used again4 ,it is the ,word that does the beheading4 ,which they held4--,as witnesses in their hearts 7,rom4 #h3af7 and to which they adhered at any cost4 #f3aj4 ,and they cried with a loud voice4--,not actually1 but in the same way that the voice of ,abel's blood cried from the ground4--,gen4 #d3aj4 ,saying1 ,how long1 ,o ,lord4--,how long will it be from this particular time1 the ,spring of #aeah8--,rev4 #c3g4 ,holy and true4--,see ,rev4 #c3g2 #a ,john #e3bj2 ,mark #a3bd4 ,dost ,,wilt ,thou not judge4--,deliver us from the tomb4 ,the judges of old were deliverers4--,judges #c3iaa4 ,and avenge our blood4--,cast off from all favor a system of nominal ,christianity which is not ,christianity at all4 ,on them that dwell on the earth4--,on these that are 8,of the earth1 earthy40--,rev4 #ag3e2 #c3aj2 #h3ac2 #ac3h1 #ad4 8,the answer is given by the angel of the waters4 ,see ,rev4 #af3dg40 7,cook47 ,quite true4 ,the answer is in ,vol4 ,,iii of ,,scripture ,,studies4 #f3aa4 ,and white robes were ,,there ,,was given unto every one ,,each of them a white robe4--8,god's grace cannot admit to heavenly perfection those who have not robes of spotless righteousness4 ,how gracious is the provision of our ,god in thus presenting us with the ,robe which covers all the repented of blemishes of the past as well as the unintentional and unwitting imperfections of the present60--,z4 '#aacdb2 ,rev4 #c3d1 #e2 #ai3h4 ,and it was said unto them4--,not actually1 but by the teachings of the parallel dispensations1 which show that as ,christ was raised from the dead in ,a4 ,d4 #cc1 the sleeping saints would be raised #ahde years later1 in the ,spring of #ahgh4 ,see ,rev4 #c3ad1 #bj4 ,that they should rest yet for a little season4--,greek ,chronos1 #cfj years4 ,see ,rev4 #b3ba4 ,this is the item which ,pastor ,russell had in mind in the following footnote3 8,when1 in a succeeding volume1 we examine the wonderful visions of the ,revelator1 it will be clearly seen that the time here pointed out by the word #8henceforth1' as marked by events1 synchronizes closely with #ahgh1 as indicated by the prophecies herein noted40 7,c4 #bda47 ,luther nailed the proclamation on the church door at ,wittenberg ,oct #ca1 #aeag1 which was already one month into the year #aeah1 ,jewish reckoning4 ,but it took some time for the news to travel to all parts of ,europe4 ,three hundred and sixty years from the ,spring of #aeah brings us to the ,spring of #ahgh1 when we understand that ,god's promise made to the sleeping saints was fulfilled4 ,they were raised from the dead1 and ,babylon was cast off4 ,until their fellowservants also4--,the other members of the ,little ,flock1 all bondslaves of ,jesus4--,gal4 #f3ag1 ,diaglott1 footnote4 ,and their brethren4--,fellowbelievers1 the ,great ,company4 ,that should be killed ,,by ,,them as they were4--,similarly make covenants of consecration to the ,lord4--,rev4 #f3i4 ,should be fulfilled4--,should be filled full1 completed in number4 8,the ,gospel age is for the very purpose of calling those who shall participate in the marriage feast4 ,if1 therefore1 it be true that we are in the end of this ,gospel age1 it implies that a sufficient number of worthy guests have been found1 or1 to reverse the proposition1 if a sufficient number of worthy guests have now been found1 it proves that we are in the close of this age4 ,it was after the wedding had been furnished with a proper number of guests1 that #8the ,king came in' and began the inspection of the guests4 ,this1 we have elsewhere shown1 marks the date ,april1 #ahgh40--,z4 '#ihacg4 #f3ab4 ,and ,i beheld when ,he had opened the sixth seal4--,disclosing the events leading up to and associated with the ,lord's ,parousia1 presence4 ,and1 lo1 there was a great earthquake4--,literally1 the great ,lisbon earthquake1 ,nov4 #a1 #agee1 which extended over #d1jjj1jjj square miles2 shocked all ,africa and ,western ,europe1 including ,scandinavia and ,greenland2 slew #ij1jjj persons in ,lisbon and many thousands elsewhere2 destroyed every church and convent in the city2 caused a tidal wave #fj feet high2 split mountains from top to bottom2 sunk an immense area to a depth of #fjj feet and threw sailors to the decks hundreds of miles at sea4 ,it is believed to be the most severe earthquake shock ever felt on the earth4 ,symbolically1 the ,american ,revolution1 #ba years later 7the underlying cause of the ,french ,revolution72 the most successful and most extraordinary movement upward of the lower strata of human society that had ever been seen in the world up to that time4 ,god has so written ,revelation that those who will not accept the symbolical significance of what is expressly declared to be a symbolical book 7,rev4 #a3a7 may find literal fulfillments1 and thus lose the light they would otherwise get4 ,and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair4--,literally in the dark day of ,may #ai1 #aghj1 which extended over #cbj1jjj square miles4 7,d4 #ehg47 ,symbolically1 the light of the papal heavens 7the pope7 became darkened when ,napoleon fined the ,pope ten million dollars1 organized the ,papal territory into a republic and took the ,pope a prisoner to ,france4 7,c4 #da1 #ee47 ,symbolically1 too1 the light of the true heavens1 the ,gospel light1 the ,truth1 and thus ,christ ,jesus1 has become hidden from view of many by the denial of the clergy of our day that we were bought with the precious blood and by the teaching of the theory of ,evolution4--,d4 #eij2 ,joel #b3aj1 #ca4 ,and the ,,whole moon became as blood4--,literally on ,may #ai1 #aghj4 ,symbolically1 the creeds 7the moon of the papal heavens7 have become repugnant1 though still hypocritically professed4 ,symbolically1 also the light of the ,mosaic ,law 7the moon of the true heavens7 has been made to appear evil by the claims of the clergy that the typical sacrifices were bloody and barbaric4--,d4 #eij1 #eib4 #f3ac4 ,and the stars of heaven fell unto the earth4--,literally1 the meteoric shower of ,nov4 #ac1 #ahcc1 covering #aa1jjj1jjj square miles4 7,d4 #ehh47 ,symbolically1 the bishops and the priestly stars of the papacy fell from their positions of power and influence over the minds and consciences of the people4 ,symbolically1 also1 the ,protestant pulpit stars make a great display in coming down from spiritual things to the ,christiancitizenshippolitics level4--,d4 #eie4 ,even as a fig tree4--8,the fig tree in this prophecy may be understood to signify the ,jewish nation4 7,matt4 #bd3cb47 ,if so1 it is being signally fulfilled2 for not only are thousands of ,israelites returning to ,palestine1 but the ,zionist movement1 started recently1 has assumed such proportions as to justify a ,convention of representatives from all parts of the world to meet in ,switzerland to put in practical shape the proposal for the reorganization of a ,jewish state in ,palestine4 ,these buds will thrive1 but will bear no perfect fruit before ,october1 #aiad--the full end of #8,gentile ,times4' 0--,d4 #fjd4 ,casteth ,,casting her untimely figs1 when she is shaken of a mighty wind4--,the immature fruits of the ,zionist movement were dashed to the ground by the great war4 ,thousands of the ,jews already in ,palestine were deported to ,egypt at the breaking out of the war4 ,at this writing the ,british are besieging ,jerusalem and the ,turks are driving the ,jews into the desert to perish rather than permit them to remain and come under ,british control4 ,out of this turmoil ,zionism will soon start afresh and the ,jews become the actual rulers of their native land4 #f3ad4 ,and the heaven departed as a scroll4--8,the #8sure word of prophecy' indicates very clearly that the various ,protestant sects will form a coperative union or federacy1 and that ,catholicism and ,protestantism will affiliate1 neither losing its identity4 ,these are the two ends of the ecclesiastical heavens which1 as their confusion increases1 shall roll together as a scroll 7,isaiah #cd3d7 for their selfprotection--as distinct and separate rolls1 yet in close proximity to each other40--,d4 #beh2 ,psa4 #ajb3bf4 ,when it is rolled together4--8,it will be impossible to reestablish the present order1 7#a7 because it has evidently outlived its usefulness1 and is inequitable under present conditions2 7#b7 because of the general diffusion of secular knowledge2 7#c7 because the discovery that priestcraft has long blinded and fettered the masses with error and fear will lead to a general disrespect for all religious claims and teachings as of a piece with the discovered frauds2 7#d7 because religious people in general1 not discerning that ,god's time has come for a change of dispensation1 will ignore reason1 logic1 justice and ,scripture in defending the present order of things4 ,it will be of little consequence then that the ecclesiastical heavens 7the religious powers1 ,papal and ,protestant7 will have rolled together as a scroll4 7,see ,isaiah #cd3d47 ,the combined religious power of ,christendom will be utterly futile against the rising tide of anarchy when the dread crisis is reached4 ,before that great army #8all the host of heaven the church nominal shall be dissolved1 and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll4' 0--,d4 #eea4 ,and every mountain4--,kingdom4 ,and island ,,hill4--8,little hills0 refer to governments less autocratic than monarchies2 but 8hills0 sometimes refer to the sharpest1 highest1 most jagged mountain peaks1 and then mean the most autocratic of all governments4 ,this is evidently what is meant here4 ,were moved out of their ,,the places4--,did not occupy the same position as before with reference to the people4 ,the places were never 8theirs10 but belong 8to ,him whose right it is40 7,z4 '#jebec47 ,in recent years ,turkey and ,persia have been granted parliaments2 ,china1 ,russia and ,portugal have become republics2 and other countries have become vast socialist communities4--,rev4 #af3bj4 #f3ae4 ,and the kings of the earth4--,the aristocracy4 ,and the great men4--,the clergy4 7,rev4 #ah3bc1 comment47 ,rendered 8lords0 in ,mark #f3ba4 ,see ,job #ab3b4 ,and the rich men1 and the chief captains1 ,,and ,,the ,,rich ,,men4--,the high military officers4 ,rendered 8high captains0 in ,mark #f3ba4 ,the magnates and financiers4 ,and the mighty men4--,the labor organizers4 ,and every bondman4--,member of a labor organization4 ,and every free man4--,other worker 7if not a bondslave of ,christ74 ,hid themselves in the dens4--,see ,isa4 #b3aiba4 ,and in the rocks of the mountains4--8,as the trouble increases1 men will seek1 but in vain1 for protection in the great rocks and fortresses of society 7,free ,masonry1 ,odd ,fellowship1 and ,trades ,unions1 ,guilds1 ,trusts1 and all societies secular and ecclesiastical71 and in the mountains 7governments7 of earth40--,b4 #aci2 ,jer4 #c3bc2 ,hos4 #aj3h4 #f3af4 ,and said to the mountains and rocks1 ,fall on us4--8,the ,greek word epi1 here used1 is generally translated on1 but has also the significance of over 7,rev4 #e3aj7 and about1 and is so translated many times in the common version4 ,the thought is that of protection1 not of destruction4 ,the common view of this passage1 that it teaches that wicked men will get faith enough to pray for literal mountains to fall1 is absurd4 ,the real fulfilment is already beginning3 the great1 the rich1 and no less the poor1 are seeking to the mountains and rocks and caves for shelter from the darkening storm of trouble which all see is gathering40--,b4 #aci2 ,hos4 #aj3h4 ,and hide us from the face4--,of ,justice1 now about to demand an accounting for our stewardship4 ,of ,him that sitteth on the ,throne4--,jehovah4 ,and from the wrath of the ,lamb4--,whose followers we have falsely professed to be4 #f3ag4 ,for the great day of ,his ,,their wrath is come4--,the wrath of the ,father1 the ,son1 and the glorified saints4--,rev4 #b3bf1 #bg2 ,isa4 #ac3fai2 ,zeph4 #a3adah4 ,and who shall be able to stand4--8,the answer through the ,prophet is1 ',he that hath clean hands an honest life and a pure heart a conscience void of offence toward ,god and man3 he shall ascend into the mountain ,kingdom of the ,lord and stand in the holy place4'0 7,psa4 #bd3c1 #d2 ,d4 #ehb47 8,oh1 what sorrow it gives us at times to behold some not standing well the testing of this hour1 some who are developing tendencies of weakness1 disloyalty to the cause1 ambition for name and fame or position1 desire to be greatest1 tendencies to lord it over ,god's heritage1 and who1 unless recovered1 will be surely cut off from membership in the ,body1 even though1 as the ,apostle declares1 they may be saved so as by fire1 as members of the #8great company4'--#a ,cor4 #c3ae40 7,z4 '#jfcji2 ,psa4 #gf3g47 ,the only ones who will stand are the twelve tribes named in the next chapter4 ,revelation #g--,seventh ,seal ,and ,great ,company #g3a4 ,and after these things ,,this4--,after the events disclosed by the opening of the sixth seal had already been amply fulfilled1 but not signifying that further1 more elaborate and final fulfilments on an immense scale will not take place later4 ,i saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth4--,the ,little ,flock1 commissioned to carry the message of ,present ,truth to the remotest outposts of civilization4 8,they shall gather together ,his ,elect from the four winds40--,matt4 #bd3ca4 ,holding the four winds of the earth4--8,the winds of the earth referred to here are1 of course1 symbolic4 ,the thought is that the winds from the four quarters--,north1 ,east1 ,south and ,west--are being held back1 and that when the restraint is withdrawn they will rush together1 and the result will be a whirlwind4 ,certain ,scriptures tell of a whirlwind that will be raised up from the coasts of the earth4 ,see ,jer4 #bc3ai2 #be3cb1 #cc2 #cj3bc1 #bd4 ,we do not understand that this will be a physical whirlwind1 but this symbolic expression is used to convey the thought of a severe strife of the powers of the air4 ,these #8powers of the air1' or #8winds1' are not powers of natural air1 but are the powers referred to by ,st4 ,paul when he speaks of ,satan as #8the ,prince of the power of the air1' 7,eph4 #b3b47 ,those spirits who have been under the control of ,satan--the fallen angels--were to be restrained until the ,judgment of the ,great ,day4 7,jude #f47 ,the letting loose of these winds1 or air powers1 would seem to show that ,god will let go ,his hand of restraint2 that ,he will have to do with the permission of the terrible trouble that will come4 ,this outside influence will exercise a baneful effect upon men1 when finally granted the liberty4 ,these fallen spirits have been under restraint for these many centuries1 but they have exercised their influence to whatever extent they have had permission4 ,if they had had unlimited power they would have wrecked the world long ago2 but they have been restrained4 ,apparently ,god will soon cease to restrain the fallen angels1 and they will then proceed to vent their fury upon humanity1 so that the whole earth will be full of violence1 the same as in the days of ,noah4 ,the power manifested by the demons when loosed1 will1 we believe1 be with a view to the injury of mankind4 ,we do not know but that many of our readers will have a share in that injury4 ,we have every reason to suppose that1 if these fallen angels shall get loose1 they will vent their first anger upon the ,lord's people40--,z4 '#adaff4 ,that the wind should not blow4--8,as soon as the power that is now controlling them shall be removed1 we shall have a reign of evil all over the earth4 ,the evil spirits will do all the evil that is in their power1 and this will constitute the trial of all the fallen angels--the lifting of the restraints to see whether they will go contrary to the ,divine will4 ,all who thus manifest their alliance with evil in any way will become subjects of the ,second ,death2 while others who show their loyalty to ,god will mark themselves as worthy1 presumably1 of everlasting life4 ,it may be something in connection with the saints that will constitute the test of these angels4 ,this will be the key1 the secret connected with the awful ,time of ,trouble which the ,bible tells us will mark the conclusion of this ,age and which will constitute the forerunner or beginning of the ,new ,dispensation40 7,z4 '#aacei47 ,,the ,,test ,,is ,,on4 ,on the earth1 nor on the sea1 nor on any tree4--8,symbolically1 the earth represents organized society2 the sea represents the disorganized masses 7,dan4 #g3b2 ,lu4 #ba3be2 ,rev4 #aj3b1 #h71 and the trees represent the ,household of ,faith4 ,the letting loose suddenly of the fallen angels will account well for the suddenness of the coming trouble1 which everywhere in the ,scriptures is one of its particular features--#8in one hour'2 #8suddenly as travail upon a woman'2 #8as it was in the days of ,noah1' and #8as it was in the days of ,lot' 0--,z4 '#aaaeg4 8,there is only one way1 so far as we can see1 in which these fallen angels can have a trial1 their trial consisting in having a fuller opportunity to sin1 if they so desire1 or an opportunity to show1 if they wish1 that they are sick of sin and desire to return to harmony with ,god4 ,we cannot think that ,god will allow this trial of the angels during the ,millennial ,reign1 for then1 nothing shall hurt2 nothing shall destroy2 ,satan will be bound and all evil influences will be restrained4 ,no2 it cannot be then4 ,and in order to be tried at all1 these fallen angels must have certain liberties granted1 to prove them4 ,otherwise1 where would be their trial8 ,consequently1 reasoning along this basis 7#b ,peter #b3d71 we reach the conclusion that the trial of these fallen angels is in the near future--perhaps to some extent already begun4 ,in what way80 7,z4 '#aaceh47 ,he that hath ears to hear1 let him hear6--#a ,cor4 #f3b4 #g3b4 ,and ,i saw another angel4--,the ,messenger of the ,covenant2 our ,lord ,jesus at ,his ,second ,advent4--,mal4 #c3a4 ,ascending from the east4--8,this speaks symbolically of the ,sun of ,righteousness and its full light of ,divine truth and blessing scattering the shadows of sin1 ignorance1 superstition and death1 and healing and restoring the willing and obedient of humanity40--,d4 #fec2 ,luke #a3gh2 ,mal4 #d3b4 ,having the seal of the living ,god4--,the seventh seal4 ,and ,he cried with a loud voice4--,pastor ,russell was the voice used4 ,beautiful voice of the ,lord3 strong1 humble1 wise1 loving1 gentle1 just1 merciful1 faithful1 selfsacrificing2 one of the noblest1 grandest characters of all history 8,i lift my pen1 not in defense of any doctrine1 creed or dogma1 but in defense of a man1 in defense of fairness1 justice and righteousness4 ,pastor ,c4 ,t4 ,russell1 of ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 stands out prominently as a target for the pulpits and religious press of the country today4 ,i believe there is no one more bitterly persecuted1 harshly condemned1 woefully misrepresented and misunderstood than this fearless1 conscientious man of ,god4 ,no infidel writer1 such as ,hume1 ,voltaire or ,ingersoll1 ever suffered such ruthless attacks as have been made upon ,mr4 ,russell4 ,whether this persecution and misrepresentation is due to prejudice or ignorance of this man's real character and writing1 is not for me to say1 but ,i believe both are elements that play a part in the widespread criticism uttered both from the pulpit and the press4 ,naturally1 men will resent any attack made upon the creed of their persuasion1 for they hold to their religious creed and affiliations with more tenacity than they realize1 until some strong mind1 backed by ,scripture proof1 begins to uproot their doctrine by showing their inconsistencies and errors4 ,this is what ,mr4 ,russell proceeds to do4 ,as a logician and theologian he is doubtless without a peer today4 ,in his research for ,biblical ,truth and harmony he is without a parallel in this ,age4 ,without a blemish in his character1 with the loftiest ideals of ,god1 and the possibilities of man1 he towers like a giant1 unmatched4 ,his defects fade into insignificance4 ,he has been too busy spreading ,divine ,truth1 as he honestly sees it1 to waste time in frivolous speculation in matters not in some way connected with man's future state1 as outlined in #8,the ,plan of the ,ages4' ,unselfish1 liberal and courteous to ,christians of all denominations1 but fearlessly condemning1 in unmeasured terms1 the errors and inconsistencies in their creeds1 as he sees them1 he ranks with immortal benefactors1 and is stamping his opinion on the world as no other man has done since the days of the ,reformation4 ,efforts to throttle the press to prevent the publication of his sermons have repeatedly been made4 ,why this opposition8 ,why would any one oppose investigation or revelation and searching the ,scriptures8 ,why8 ,what right has any one to prevent free thought1 free speech1 or the freedom of the press8 ,what manner of men are we8 ,let men1 preachers or what not1 beware of blocking the way of such a man4 ,jesus said1 #8,and whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in ,me1 it is better that a millstone were hanged about his neck1 and he were cast into the sea4' ,mark #i3db4 ,better be like ,gamaliel in the days of the ,apostles1 when ,st4 ,peter and others were on trial4 ,gamaliel rose up and said1 #8,refrain from these men1 and let them alone1 for if this work be of men it will come to naught2 but if it be of ,god1 ye cannot overthrow it1 for ye fight against ,god4' 0--,prof4 ,s4 ,a4 ,ellis4 ,to the four angels4--,the church in the flesh1 the ,harvest workers4--,matt4 #bd3ca4 ,to whom it was given4--,by completing the ,harvest work and thus releasing the restraints on the evil spirits4 ,to hurt the earth4--,throw orderloving peoples into desperation4 ,and the sea4--,so enrage the masses1 not under religious restraint1 as to make it impossible to control them4 #g3c4 ,saying1 ,hurt not the earth4--,do not complete the ,harvest work too soon1 and thus allow the demons to invade the minds of men until the appointed time4 7,many writers claim that this has already happened to the ex,czar of ,russia1 to ,kaiser ,wilhelm and to the chief of modern 8evangelists407 ,neither the sea4--,i will see to it that the work of ,harvest shall hold in check those not under religious restraint until the work of ,harvest is finished and the demons are released1 when1 maddened by the obsession of the evil spirits1 there are no lengths to which the godless will not presume to go4 ,all ,bible ,students1 followers of ,pastor ,russell1 know how urgently he has warned for forty years that this deluge of evil spirits is sure to come4 ,nor the trees4--,see ,rev4 #h3g4 ,have you enjoyed this work thus far8 ,are you convinced it is of the ,lord--prepared under ,his guidance8 ,have you carefully and prayerfully read the comments on ,rev4 #g3a8 ,then brace yourself for the truth that it is evidently ,god's purpose soon to allow the minds of many of ,his little ones to become an open battle ground1 upon which the fallen angels shall be judged1 and the manner in which we meet the tests will prove our worthiness of crowns at the same time that it proves these disobedient spirits unworthy of life on any plane4 ,this is something with which some but not many are yet familiar4 ,truly1 we know the ,apostle in writing of this evil day says1 8,we wrestle not against flesh and blood1 but against principalities1 against powers1 against the rulers of the darkness of this world1 against spiritual wicked ones in heavenly places0 7,eph4 #f3ab74 ,truly1 we know the ,lord ,jesus1 at the ,first ,advent began ,his ministry with forty days of conflict with the ,adversary1 who all that time sought to sway ,his mind 7,matt4 #d3aaa74 ,truly1 we have reason to believe ,he must have had other terrible battles when ,he spent all night in prayer1 and especially when ,he was so depressed in the garden of ,gethsemane4 ,but without actual experience it is quite impossible to conceive of the intensity of such struggles as ,eph4 #f3ab suggests4 ,the base of the brain is seized as in a vise4 ,interpretations of ,scripture1 ingenious1 but misleading beyond description1 are projected into the mind as water might be projected through a hose4 ,visions may be tried1 wonderful illuminations of the mind as by a soft but glorious greenish or yellowish haze4 ,seductive suggestions may be made1 based on circumstances of the environment4 ,offers of inspiration may be made4 ,the privilege of sleep may be taken away for days at a stretch4 ,all this is with the object of forcing the unfortunate into at least temporary insanity so as to destroy his influence and1 if possible1 his faith in ,god4 ,failing in all other attempts1 the mind may be flooded with thoughts that are vile beyond description4 ,,then ,,remember ,,the ,,vow4 ,the fact that ,jehovah intends some unique experiences for the antitypical ,isaac may be judged from the fact that between ,isaac's conception 7,gen4 #ag3ai and #ah3aj7 and his birth 7,gen4 #ba3a7 occurred the destruction of ,sodom 7,gen4 #ah3af to end of #aith ,chap47 and ,abraham's denial of ,sarah 7,gen4 #bj74 ,but reading the latter account1 the child of ,god is comforted with ,god's care of ,his little ones 7,gen4 #bj3c7 with the assurance that none of ,satan's plans can mature 7,gen4 #bj3ah7 without the ,lord's permission4 ,isaac was a type of the complete ,christ2 and if now ,the ,christ is complete1 as we believe1 and ready to be born into the ,kingdom1 we should not be surprised at anything that might look like our repudiation at the ,father's hands4 ,if ,he pours the cup1 it will only be because ,he knows that we can drink it1 and because ,he wishes to prove to angels and to men that we are worthy of the honors ,he is to give us4--,lu4 #bb3db1 #dc2 #a ,tim4 #a3af4 ,till we4--,you 8four angels10 ,harvest workers in the flesh1 and ,myself1 the ,lord of the ,harvest4 ,have sealed the servants of our ,god4--,see ,rev4 #ai3bj2 #ad3a4 ,satan is a diligent student of time prophecy 7,luke #ab3ci72 but not having the ,holy ,spirit he is unable to reach accurate conclusions4 ,seeing a definite ,plan1 and a definite time for every important feature of that ,plan1 his aim has ever been to thwart the purposes of the ,almighty4 ,this attempt to destroy the ,seed began with the death of ,abel and still continues4 ,no doubt ,satan believed the ,millennial ,kingdom was due to be set up in #aiae2 and no doubt1 also1 he knew that seven years prior to the time of the setting up of that kingdom the restraints upon the evil spirits would be lifted4 ,be that as it may1 there is evidence that the establishment of the ,kingdom in ,palestine will probably be in #aibe1 ten years later than we once calculated4 ,the #gj jubilees1 reckoned as #ej years each1 expire ,october1 #aibe4 7,b4 #ahf47 ,gen4 #ae3aaf3c1 read connectedly1 indicates that ,abraham's vision as to when he would receive the ,kingdom was not granted until ten years after the ,covenant was made1 or #bjce ,b4 ,c4 ,the ages of the animals offered aggregated eleven years1 which1 applied prophetically1 on the scale of a year for a day1 equal #cifj years1 the length of time from the date of the visions to ,a4 ,d4 #aibe 7,z4 '#jggi74 ,it seems conclusive that the hour of ,nominal ,zion's travail is fixed for the ,passover of #aiah4 7,see ,rev4 #c3ad47 ,that will be #g years prior to #aibe4 ,at that time there is every reason to believe the fallen angels will invade the minds of many of the ,nominal ,church people1 driving them to exceedingly unwise conduct and leading to their destruction at the hands of the enraged masses1 who will later be dragged to the same fate4 ,the great war now raging is most certainly the work of evil spirits1 and the ,kaiser is not the only clever ruler who has been deceived by evil spirits1 as history will sometime show4--,lu4 #ab3ef4 ,if our reasoning is correct1 we inquire whether there was any indication of a move on ,satan's part #g years prior to #aiae1 showing that he expected the restraints to be removed from the evil spirits at that time2 and we answer that there was something very definite indicated at that time4 ,in the ,vow1 advised by ,pastor ,russell in that year1 and in the experiences of many1 for and against it1 it is plain that the ,enemy then attempted to come in like a flood1 but was held back--restrained until the sealing work is done4 7,matt4 #aj3be2 ,luke #bb3dbdd2 ,heb4 #ab3d2 ,isa4 #fc3c47 ,after the demons have been turned loose on the swine class1 we shall see what happens4 7,matt4 #g3f2 #h3cacd47 ,those now fearful that they might learn something will be terrorstricken then for a different reason4 ,in their foreheads4--8,the storm is held in check until the faithful servants of ,god are #8sealed in their foreheads' 7,exod4 #ac3i2 #bh3cf1 #ch4 ,deut4 #f3h2 ,ezek4 #i3df2 ,rev4 #ad3a71 i4 e41 until such are given an intellectual appreciation which will not only comfort them1 and shield them1 but also be a mark1 seal or evidence of their sonship1 as indicated by our ,lord when ,he promised that the ,holy ,spirit should show to the faithful #8things to come4' 7,john #af3ac470 7,b4 #afi47 ,when the demon test comes1 those who have the mark of sonship 7,ezek4 #i3bd7 will know it and will stand the test1 while all others will surely fail4 ,a letter from one of the ,bethel workers1 written shortly after ,pastor ,russell's death1 says3 8,about three months ago ,i asked several questions at the table1 the last one being as follows1 #8,since ,i now see that the ,jewish ,time of ,trouble did not end until the year #gc ,a4 ,d41 as ,i fully proved to myself by consulting the historians1 what then are we to expect in the parallel year #aiah8' ,brother ,russell put the question to three prominent brethren1 all of whom replied that they did not know1 but were willing to wait and see4 ,when he called upon me ,i said1 #8,since the year #gc ,a4 ,d4 saw the complete overthrow of nominal ,natural ,israel in ,palestine1 so in the parallel year #aiah1 ,i infer we should look for the complete overthrow of nominal ,spiritual ,israel2 i4 e41 the fall of ,babylon4 7,rev4 #ah47' ,brother ,russell replied3 #8,exactly4 ,that is exactly the inference to draw4' 0 ,the conclusion of the ,church's career comes first4 7,rev4 #c3ad47 8,if you see the #8door' of opportunity for sacrifice and service open before you1 enter in4 ,but enter quickly2 for the night of darkness and of intense opposition to the truth will ere long be upon us and will hinder you from engaging in the service4 #8,the morning cometh1 and also the night4' #8,the night cometh in which no man can work4' ,when that is true1 you may know that #8the door is shut4' that all the wise virgins have entered in1 that all have been proved1 and that all vacancies have been acceptably filled4 ,all the special #8servants of ,god' having by that time been #8sealed in their foreheads' 7given an intellectual appreciation of ,god's ,plan71 the four winds will be loosed and will produce the great #8whirlwind' of trouble in the midst of which the remnant of the ,elijah class will be #8changed1' and exalted to ,kingdom glory40--,c4 #bbe4 #g3d4 ,and ,i heard the number of them which were sealed4--8,we have every reason to believe that the definite1 fixed number of the ,elect is that several times stated in ,revelation1 namely1 #add1jjj #8redeemed from amongst men4' 0 7,f4 #agi2 ,rev4 #ad3a47 ,this is the equivalent of one saint fully developed for each five days of the ,age4 ,and there were sealed #add1jjj4--,on this point one of ,pastor ,russell's coworkers has well said3 8,that this is not a symbolical1 but an exact number1 seems certain from the fact that1 in the same chapter reference is made to another company1 also spiritbegotten4 ,in the #ith verse we read3 #8,i beheld1 and lo1 a great multitude which no man could number4' ,it is not probable that this multitude is so great that no one could actually count them1 but rather that none can state their number1 ,god having left it indefinite40 ,of all the tribes of the children of ,israel4--8,as a name1 ,israel signified #8,the people blessed of the ,lord1' #8,the people of ,god1' #8,the ,lord's people4'--#b ,chron4 #g3ad40 7,d4 #fed2 ,gal4 #f3af2 ,rom4 #i3fh47 ,each of the saints is reckoned as belonging to one of the twelve tribes of 8,israelites indeed10 which tribes bear the names of the twelve patriarchs of natural ,israel4 ,in every family each child is beloved for some characteristic peculiarly its own2 and in the meaning of the names of the children of ,israel we may recognize certain of the qualities which make each overcomer precious in the ,father's sight4 #g3e4 ,of the tribe of ,juda were sealed twelve thousand4--,juda signifies ,celebrated1 lauded1 praised4 ,nothing is more praiseworthy than justice1 noblemindedness1 the doing to everybody as one would wish to be done by4 ,our ,lord was the ,just ,one of the tribe of ,juda4 ,all who knew ,pastor ,russell intimately1 recognized that justice was the foundation principle of his character4 ,the mention of the ,lord's tribe first shows that there is a ,divine order in the arrangement of the names1 inasmuch as that order is different from the order of the birth of ,jacob's sons4 ,doubtless the brightest crowns will be worn by those that are wholly without selflove1 either in heart or in life4--,gen4 #ch3abbf2 #dc3caj2 #dd3ad1 #cd2 #df3bh4 ,of the tribe of ,reuben were sealed twelve thousand4--,reuben's name signifying 8,see ye1 a son1 provided in my affliction0 or ,the ,pity of ,god1 seems to refer to the fivetalented brethren who make their calling and election sure4 ,to be possessed of ability and means to get the fullest enjoyment out of life1 and to sacrifice it all gladly1 requires a standard of character so high that the ,lord expressly states that not many attain it4 7#a ,cor4 #a3bf2 ,gen4 #cg3ba1 #bb1 #bi1 #cj2 #db3bb1 #cg47 ,a taint of love of the world 7spiritual uncleanness7 is all that prevents from attaining the very highest place4--,gen4 #ce3bb2 #di3c1 #d2 #b ,cor4 #g3a4 ,of the tribe of ,gad were sealed twelve thousand4--,gad's name1 signifying ,a troop of children cometh1 seems to give the third highest honor to those faithful men and women who have been blessed of ,god in bringing many of their own descendants into the ,divine family4 ,instances are on record where as many as twelve children in one family have all come into the light of ,present ,truth and consecrated1 as a result of the life and teachings of a noble father and mother4 ,there is a family interest on the part of the ,heavenly ,father in every family that rightly seeks ,his face4 ,not a crown is available for others1 so long as even one child of one of the consecrated is ready to run for that crown4 8,the promise is unto you first1 and to your children next1 and after that to all that are afar off1 even as many as the ,lord your ,god shall call40 7,acts #b3ci2 #a ,cor4 #g3ad47 8,of the childhood and life of the patriarch ,gad nothing is preserved4 ,at the time of the descent into ,egypt1 seven sons are ascribed to him1 remarkable from the fact that a majority of their names have plural terminations1 as if those of families rather than persons40 7,mc,c47--,gen4 #df3af2 ,num4 #bf3aeah4 #g3f4 ,of the tribe of ,aser were sealed twelve thousand4--,aser's name signifies ,happy4 8,and ,leah said1 ,happy am ,i1 for the daughters will call me blessed3 and she called his name ,asher40 7,gen4 #cj3ac47 ,apparently the fourth highest place of honor goes to the happy ,christians4 ,wherever else the longfaced saints go they do not get into the ,asher tribe4 8,rejoice in the ,lord alway3 and again ,i say rejoice4 ,finally1 my brethren1 rejoice in the ,lord40--,phil4 #d3d2 #c3a2 #b ,chron4 #bj3bb4 ,of the tribe of ,nephtalim were sealed twelve thousand4--,naphtali's name signifies ,great wrestlings1 and suggests that the fifth highest place will go to those who have especially sought the face of the ,father in prayer4 ,by his birth ,naphtali was allied to ,dan1 the class that goes into the ,second ,death4 7,gen4 #ce3be2 #di3ag47 ,the suggestion is not strained1 then1 that here is a class that has overcome largely because they have so much appreciated1 and have used to such good purpose1 the privilege of seeking the ,father's face in prayer4--,luke #aa3eac2 ,james #a3e2 #c3ag4 ,of the tribe of ,manasses were sealed twelve thousand4--,manasseh's name signifies ,forgetting1 8,for ,god hath made me forget all my toil and all my father's ,house40 7,gen4 #da3ea47 ,the sixth honor apparently refers to a class having naturally very strong human attachments1 for the dear ones of their earthly families1 and yet love the ,lord still more4 ,great is the love1 great the faithfulness of those that hear and heed the ,divine proposal3 8,hearken1 ,o daughter1 and consider1 and incline thine ear2 forget also thine own people1 and thy father's ,house40--,psa4 #de3aj4 #g3g4 ,of the tribe of ,simeon were sealed twelve thousand4--,simeon signifies ,hearing4 8,because the ,lord hath heard that ,i was hated1 ,he hath therefore given me this son also40 7,gen4 #bi3cc47 ,this suggests that the seventh place of honor is reserved for those who have been hated in their home circles because of faithfulness to the ,word of the ,lord4 ,the ,lord saw that the beauties of their characters would only shine forth to the best advantage if they were made ready in just such environment4 ,how sweet1 how beautiful1 is the patient heart developed under such conditions6--,rom4 #e3c2 ,col4 #a3aa1 #ab2 #a ,pet4 #a3g2 #d3ab2 #e3aj2 ,rom4 #h3ag2 #b ,tim4 #b3ab2 ,james #a3ab4 ,of the tribe of ,levi were sealed twelve thousand4--,levi's name signifies ,a joining4 8,this time will my husband be joined unto me1 because ,i have borne him three sons40 ,the next honor is apparently reserved for those who have literally sacrificed all their possessions in this world in order that they might be more closely joined to the ,lord and ,his service4 ,levi had no inheritance in the land1 as a tribe1 and as an individual the only event recorded in the life of the patriarch is one of destruction of the unfaithful4--,gen4 #cd3bebi4 ,of the tribe of ,issachar were sealed twelve thousand4--,issachar signifies ,there is reward1 or ,he brings reward4 8,god hath given me my hire1 because ,i have given my maiden to my husband40 8,issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens3 and he saw that rest was good1 and the land that it was pleasant2 and bowed his shoulder to bear40 7,gen4 #cj3ah2 #di3ad1 #ae47 ,this seems to signify that the next honor goes to the zealous1 those who joyfully undertake1 in the ,lord's name and cause1 to work hard for the glory of ,his name4--#a ,cor4 #ae3eh4 #g3h4 ,of the tribe of ,zabulon were sealed twelve thousand4--,zebulun signifies ,habitation or ,dwelling4 ,it signifies the blessed satisfaction that comes to those who1 like the ,master1 during their earthly pilgrimages have not known where to lay their heads2 but1 although they have wrestled with poverty throughout life's little day1 have nevertheless held faithfully to the ,lord1 serving ,him1 with limited education1 strength1 talents and opportunities1 in hope of finally reaching 8,the ,home where changes never come1 nor pain1 nor sorrow1 toil nor care40 ,what a homecoming they will have6 ,in the ,father's ,house of many mansions theirs will be the happiest home4 ,of the tribe of ,joseph were sealed ,,benjamin twelve thousand4--,benjamin signified ,son of my ,sorrow originally1 but the name was changed to signify ,son of the right hand4 ,the youngest of ,jacob's children1 he seems in some aspects to typify the ,great ,company class 7,z4 '#haag71 but succeeds in gaining the higher reward1 probably because of being the companions of those that occupy more advanced positions in the ,body4 ,thus the humbleminded and faithful servants and companions may and do fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of ,christ1 even though their personal sufferings be slight4--,heb4 #aj3cc4 ,of the tribe of ,benjamin were sealed ,,joseph twelve thousand4--,the ,sinaitic ,,ms4 mentions ,joseph last1 with peculiar fitness4 ,joseph was one of the most beautiful characters of the ,bible4 ,his name signifies ,whom may ,god increase4 ,he had so many virtues that it is inadvisable to attempt their enumeration1 but the story is told at length in ,gen4 #cgej4 ,he is one of the very few characters named in the ,bible about whom nothing uncomplimentary is expressed4 ,he well represents all the other members of the ,divine family1 all of whom have attained the ,divine likeness in their hearts and given expression to that likeness as well as the frailties and weaknesses of the flesh would permit4 ,it will be noticed that the tribes of ,dan and ,ephraim are omitted from the foregoing list4 ,dan evidently represents the class that goes into the ,second ,death4 ,the name signifies 8,god hath judged me40 7,gen4 #cj3f47 ,we know that all ,god's judgments are just and look for the reason for ,dan's rejection4 ,jacob prophesied that it would be ,dan 8that biteth the horse heels1 so that his rider shall fall backward40 7,gen4 #di3ag47 ,horses are symbols of doctrines4 ,dan evidently represents a class tampering with doctrines1 resulting in the overthrow of the ,new ,creature4 ,a study of the history of the tribe of ,dan confirms this4 ,originally ,dan was given one of the choicest parts of ,palestine1 one of the most fertile and the most secure4 ,it was completely embraced by its two brother tribes ,ephraim and ,benjamin1 while on the southeast and south it joined ,judah1 and was thus surrounded by the three most powerful states of the whole confederacy4 ,the ,danites however failed to conquer the land originally assigned to them 7representing the failure of the ,new ,creature to gain the victory over the mind of the flesh7 and chose another inheritance to the far north 7,judges #ah3aca74 ,this selection of the farthest north resembles ,satan's similar choice 7,isa4 #ad3ac7 and suggests that the ,danite ,new ,creatures were led away from their original inheritance by ambition4 ,the context shows an unreasonably high valuation of their own judgment and a wilful interference with the priestly office1 and this we may judge has been a frequent offense of those who commit the great sin that lies just beyond the sin of presumption4 7,psa4 #ai3ac2 #b ,sam4 #f3f1 #g47 ,,the ,,test ,,is ,,on2 take heed6 take heed6 ,the half tribe of ,ephraim represents the ,great ,company1 mainly to be found in the ,nominal ,church4 ,they are more or less intoxicated with error 7,isa4 #bh3a1 #g71 they fear to let go of their idols of creeds and catechisms 7,hos4 #d3ag71 they are1 in a way1 halfbaked ,christians1 not wholly devoted to the ,lord--8,ephraim is a cake not turned40 7,hos4 #g3h47 ,from first to last the prophecy of ,hosea is eloquent with ,jehovah's pleadings to the ,great ,company class not to miss the great prize of ,immortality4 #g3i4 ,after this1 ,i beheld1 and lo1 a great multitude4--,when the ,apostle tells us in #b ,john #h1 8,look to yourselves that ye lose not those things which we have wrought1 but that ye receive a full reward10 he is teaching that a ,heavenly reward may be gained that is not as full as if a course more pleasing to the ,heavenly ,father is pursued4 ,instead of teaching that the saved of our race will all be saved to the same thing1 the ,scriptures show two degrees or kinds of ,heavenly salvation1 and two degrees or kinds of earthly salvation4 ,in the second chapter of ,genesis the stream which went forth from the ,garden of ,eden was divided into four parts4 ,this is a ,scriptural recognition of the fact that from ,adam1 the original fountain of life1 will flow four streams3 ,the ,little ,flock1 who are to sit down with ,christ in ,his ,throne2 the ,great ,company1 who are to stand before the ,throne1 having the palms of martyrdom but without the crowns of glory2 the ,ancient ,worthies1 the ,jewish fathers1 ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 ,daniel1 etc41 who are to be made princes in all the earth2 and the world of mankind1 who will constitute the subjects of the ,kingdom over which the ,ancient ,worthies will rule4 ,the same lesson is taught in the division of the ,levites into four camps1 each located on a different side of the ,tabernacle4 7,num4 #c3ae2 ,f4 #abh1 #abi47 ,it is also taught in the ,apostle's statement in #b ,tim4 #b3bj1 that in ,god's great ,house there will ultimately be found four classes of vessels to ,his praise4 ,the question for the saints is not as to which of the earthly classes may ultimately include them1 for they have given up their earthly hopes in exchange for ,heavenly hopes4 ,the question is whether they shall be wise virgins1 faithful students of the ,word1 building with the gold1 silver and precious stones of ,divine ,truth instead of foolish virgins 7pure of heart7 7,matt4 #be3b2 ,c4 #ia2 ,f4 #ge7 who build faith structures with the wood1 hay and stubble of human tradition4 ,the ,apostle says the fiery trials of life will try every man's work so as by fire1 and intimates that those who do not build wisely shall suffer loss--not go into eternal torment1 but fail to gain the great reward which otherwise might be theirs4 7#a ,cor4 #c3ae2 ,t4 #fi47 ,the question is whether as branches in ,christ the ,vine1 to go onward to fruitbearing1 or as other branches1 to be principally devoted to leaves 7professions71 or tendrils 7feelers after earthly honors and emoluments74 7,john #ae3b2 ,f4 #gh1 #agj47 ,christ said of a similar class in ,his day1 8,how can ye believe effectively which receive honor one of another1 and seek not the praise which cometh from ,god only60 ,the question is whether we are to be termed children of disobedience 7,col4 #c3f2 ,z4 '#iiadj7 because1 though ,god's children1 we have failed to mortify1 or put to death1 our earthly and sinful tendencies2 whether we are sinners against the covenant we have made with ,god to lay down our lives in ,his service 7,psa4 #a3a2 ,z4 '#jjbha71 whether1 like ,lot's wife1 we look back to the earthly good things we have given up 7,gen4 #ai3bf2 ,c4 #aid71 or whether we retain the singleness of heart and purpose1 without which the prize of the ,high ,calling cannot be gained4 ,the question is whether1 as babes in ,christ1 we shall wink at the unscriptural divisions of ,god's people1 into followers of ,paul or ,apollos1 ,cephas or ,luther1 ,calvin or ,wesley 7#a ,cor4 #c3d2 ,d4 #ag72 whether1 like ,rahab1 we shall be in the citadel of error when it falls1 or like ,joshua who caused it to fall 7,josh4 #f3be2 ,z4 '#jgbfg72 whether1 like the fitches and cummin1 we shall easily divest ourselves of the entangling associations of life1 represented by the pods from which the fitches and cummin are so easily shaken1 or whether we shall be like the 8breadcorn0 which requires a vast amount of threshing before it will let go of the closeclinging chaff4 7,isa4 #bh3bg2 ,z4 '#hdad47 ,the question is whether1 like the rejected members of ,gideon's army1 we shall forget our mission1 and bury our heads in the waters of truth2 or whether1 with equal appreciation of its message1 we shall remember why the ,lord gave it to us1 and shall drink of it1 with our eyes out over the horizon1 seeking to serve1 to spend and be spent in the ,master's service4 7,judg4 #g3f2 ,z4 '#jgcca47 ,the question is whether1 like ,caleb and ,joshua1 we shall retain our confidence in ,him who has called us1 and bring back true reports of the land we hope ere long to possess1 or1 whether we shall be of the larger company that through fear and faintheartedness never enter in4 7,num4 #ac3ca2 ,z4 '#jgbea47 ,shall we rejoice to lay down our lives for the ,lord's brethren1 or shall we1 through fear of this sacrificial death1 be all our lifetime subject to bondage8 7,heb4 #b3ae2 ,t4 #gj1 #ga47 ,the question is whether we shall be like the servant who hid his ,lord's talent in the earth 7in earthly enjoyments and pursuits7 7,matt4 #be3bd2 ,z4 '#jafa2 ,z4 '#jfcah71 whether we shall be double minded1 having some idea of attaining heavenly things and some idea of getting all we can of earthly things 7,jas4 #a3h2 ,z4 '#jgcaf71 whether1 like ,obadiah1 we are merely friendly toward the ,truth and those who stand for the ,truth1 but conceal our interest for fear of the consequences to ourselves and our families4--#a ,ki4 #ah3c2 ,z4 '#jdbba4 ,if1 in these tests of faith and character1 we come off victorious in the ,lord's sight1 we shall not need to be of those who wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the ,lamb1 in the great tribulation with which this ,age will close1 but shall keep our robes unspotted so that they will not need such a general cleansing4 ,if we have fled to the ,lord before the winter time of ,his disfavor has come upon the manmade systems of our day1 we shall be spared the rigors of the flight1 of which ,he said1 8,pray that your flight be not in the winter of #aiagaiah 7870 7,matt4 #bj3aj2 ,d4 #egh71 and we shall be spared1 too1 the bitter disappointment of saying at that time1 8,the ,harvest the time of special favor is past1 the summer is ended and we are not saved0 not saved with the chiefest salvation1 with the salvation to which we aspired4 7,jer4 #h3bj2 ,d4 #egh47 ,in the time of ,zion's travail these children of ,god will all be delivered4 7,isa4 #ff3h2 ,z4 '#idace47 ,let us be glad of our hope that we shall be of the ,manchild delivered before that travail comes4 ,let us hope we may not be of the lambs 7,isa4 #cd3f2 ,d4 #ag7 or the goats found together in the nominal sheepfolds when the time has come to wind up present ecclesiastical systems4 ,all down the ,age1 some of ,god's children have been 8turned over to ,satan for the destruction of the flesh1 that the spirit might be saved in the day of the ,lord0 7#a ,cor4 #e3e2 ,t4 #fi1 #ga71 because they have not lived up to their covenants4 ,the sufferings of the scapegoat class1 turned into the wilderness1 dying of thirst1 hunger1 snakebites1 thorns1 briars1 burrs1 fleas or attacks of wild animals1 were far greater than those of the ,lord's goat1 killed sacrificially4 7,lev4 #af3gaj2 ,t4 #fj47 ,those who withhold from the ,lord what they have promised ,him suffer far more than those who fight manfully the good fight of faith and lay hold with both hands on the hope set before us4 ,the ,great ,company class will say 8,alleluia0 as soon as they perceive that the ,church is complete4 7,rev4 #ai3a2 ,a4 #bdj2 ,f4 #abh47 ,but like ,rebecca's damsels of old1 they must go the same long journey as the ,bride class1 only to be received as servants in the end4 7,gen4 #bd3fa2 ,psa4 #de3ad2 ,f4 #aba1 #aga47 ,shall we enter fully into our inheritance now1 while the door is still open to do and dare in the ,master's ,cause2 or shall we be like the class mentioned in ,ezekiel #dd that finds the door shut because the start is made too late1 and must know that forever the ,heavenly ,priesthood1 the prize of the ,high ,calling1 is closed1 and that the most that can be then attained is the place as keepers or servants in the ,temple8 7,ezek4 #dd3aad2 ,z4 '#jebfi47 ,let us rejoice if we are heirs of salvation at all2 but let us resolve1 by ,god's grace1 that we shall1 in the words of our text1 8,look to ourselves1 that we lose not those things that we have wrought1 but that we receive a full reward0--all that the ,father is pleased to give to those who love ,him supremely4 8,what we see going on about us seems natural to our minds4 ,the way in which other people spend time and money is a temptation to the ,lord's people which must be steadfastly resisted4 ,for us to do what others do1 and to devote to the ,lord's service only what the world considers a reasonable day's work1 would not be fulfilling our ,covenant of ,sacrifice at all4 ,those who seek merely to do right1 and to put in eight hours or so a day faithfully1 after the manner of the world1 will be judged from this standpoint2 and they will merely obtain a place in the ,great ,company4 ,they are not fulfilling the conditions of the ,covenant of ,sacrifice40--,z4 '#adga4 8,we do not think we should understand the ,scriptures to teach that the ,great ,company will attain to the same degree of spiritual development as the ,little ,flock4 ,they fail to display that love and zeal which the ,lord has set as the mark for participation in the ,royal ,priesthood40 7,z4 '#adfh47 8,in determining to sacrifice themselves piecemeal when and how they and their friends might please1 is the primary mistake40 7,z4 '#ifaia47 8,while the living members of the ,bride are being separated from others by the ,truth1 the ears of this class are dull of hearing and they are slow to believe and slow to act40 7,a4 #bdj47 8,in one parable the ,lord styles this class a wicked and slothful servant4 ,he does not deny him the honor of being a servant1 ,he does not charge him with becoming an enemy4 ,he is counted wicked and slothful because1 having undertaken certain responsibilities as a servant1 he has failed to manifest the proper spirit of earnest devotion40--,z4 '#jgcae4 ,which no man could number4--8,whose number no man is able to tell 7i4 e41 it is not a foreordained or fixed number--none were called to be of this company470--,rev4 #e3aa4 ,of all nations1 and kindreds1 and people1 and tongues4--8,as the number of the ,bride of ,christ is to be #add1jjj1 it would be reasonable to think that each number of this class may have #add1jjj to look after1 as #add1jjj x #add1jjj equals #bj1gcf1jjj1jjj 7twenty billions seven hundred and thirty six millions71 evidently just about the right number to be cared for--#add1jjj would be quite a host for each individual of the ,bride class to look after4 ,so we can see the necessity for the work of the ,great ,company40--,question ,meeting4 ,stood before the ,throne4--,not in the ,throne1 as in the case of the ,bride4 7,a4 #bad47 8,the ,scriptures inform us that as that which is begotten of the flesh is flesh1 so that which is begotten of the ,spirit is spirit4 ,that is to say1 that whoever has been begotten of the ,holy ,spirit has experienced a change of nature so radical that it would be impossible for him to share a resurrection with the world on the human plane40--,z4 '#jgcaf4 ,and before the ,lamb4--8,since their hearts are loyal to the ,redeemer1 and since they maintain their faith in the precious blood and hold fast and do not deny the same1 therefore the ,lord ,jesus1 the ,advocate1 the ,captain of our ,salvation1 who leads the ,very ,elect to glory through the steps of willing sacrifice1 will lead these to a spiritual blessing--to perfection on a lower plane of spiritbeing--because they have trusted in ,him and have not denied ,his name or ,his work40--,f4 #afi4 ,clothed with white robes4--8,they let slip their opportunity for becoming members of the ,bride2 but they are1 nevertheless1 virgins1 pure in their heartintentions40--,f4 #abg2 ,rev4 #g3ad4 ,and palms in their hands4--8,the palm is especially the symbol of martyrdom4 ,the palm of martyrdom has become in the language of the ,church1 a classical and sacramental expression4 ,in the diptychs1 the acts of the martyrs1 and the martyrologies1 we read1 #8,he has received the palm of martyrdom'--he has been crowned with the palm of the martyrs40 7,mc,c47 ,many of the martyrs of the ,dark ,ages were undoubtedly of the ,great ,company4 #g3aj4 ,and cried ,,they ,,cry with a loud voice4--,in grand and happy chorus of exultant praise and thanksgiving over their final deliverance4--,rev4 #ai3ac4 ,saying1 ,salvation4--,our glorious and unmerited boon of life on so high a plane4 ,to our ,god4--,be ascribed to ,him as the ,author4--,psa4 #c3h4 ,which sitteth upon the ,throne4--,jehovah4--,rev4 #d3b2 #e3ac4 ,and unto the ,lamb4--,the ,tower of the ,flock1 ,christ as the instrument of salvation4--,micah #d3h4 #g3aa4 ,and all the angels4--,the beautiful sons of the morning who shouted for joy in the dawn of earth's creative week #dh1jjj years ago4--,job #ch3g2 ,lu4 #b3iad2 ,matt4 #d3aa2 #bh3b2 ,f4 #ea4 ,stood round about the ,throne4--,with eager joy welcoming this new addition to the family of ,god4 ,and about the elders4--,the prophecies1 many of which have pointed out this second and greater company4 ,but notice the exquisite nicety of the ,word of ,god and the ,wisdom of our ,father6 ,not all the elders do mention the ,great ,company1 and therefore the designation 8four and twenty10 in this instance1 is omitted4 ,and the four beasts4--,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,and fell before the ,throne on their faces4--,no wonder such humble characters 8always behold the face of the ,father40--,matt4 #ah3aj4 ,and worshipped ,god4--,there is no selfseeking among the angels4 ,when an angel appeared to ,manoah and his wife1 and ,manoah sought to know his name1 he left an everlasting lesson in his reply1 8,why askest thou thus after my name1 seeing it is secret80--,judges #ac3bbc4 #g3ab4 ,saying1 ,amen4--,so be it6 ,we are not at all jealous4 ,we are delighted to have these new helpers in the ,heavenly realm4 ,blessing4--,the praises and blessings of all who owe their existence to ,his goodness4 ,and wisdom4--,to continually and forever unfold some new and wonderful features of goodness and grace towards the work of ,his hands4 ,and thanksgiving4--,from 8every creature which is in ,heaven and on earth40--,rev4 #e3ac4 ,and honor4--,to the ,name so long and so unjustly and foully dishonored1 by the eternal torment theory4 ,and power4--,restrained for thousands of years1 but now about to be exercised in man's behalf4--,psa4 #gf3aj4 ,and might4--,the ability to accomplish fully all ,his purposes4--,isa4 #ee3aa4 ,be unto our ,god for ever and ever4 ,amen4--,be ascribed to ,jehovah for eternity4--,rev4 #e3ac1ad4 #g3ac4 ,and one of the elders4--,the prophecy of ,isaiah #a3ajbj4 ,answered1 saying unto me4--,under symbolism of ,sodom because of their identification with spiritual ,sodom's work and hopes4--,rev4 #aa3h4 ,what are these which are arrayed in white robes4--,who are these of whom it is said1 8,your hands are full of blood4 ,wash you1 make you clean2 put away the evil of your doings before mine eyes10 etc48--,isa4 #a3ae1 #af2 ,rev4 #g3i4 ,and whence came they4--,why are they figuratively represented as stained with blood8 #g3ad4 ,and ,i said unto him1 ,sir1 ,,my ,,lord1 thou knowest4--,it is doubtless contained in your prophecy4 ,and he said unto me4--,in ,isa4 #cd3e1 #f1 8,my sword shall be bathed in ,heaven3 behold1 it shall come down upon ,idumea1 and upon the people of ,my curse1 to judgment4 ,the sword of the ,lord is filled with blood1 it is made fat with fatness1 and with the blood of lambs40--,d4 #ag4 ,these are they which came out of great tribulation4--8 #8,the tribulation1 the great one'--the twofold article being specially emphatic4 ,see ,rev4 #c3aj2 #f3ag2 ,matt4 #bd3ba40 7,cook47 8,they are those10 he said1 8who have just passed through the great distress40 7,weym47 8,the slaughter of this day of vengeance is said to be of the #8lambs and goats4' 7,isa4 #cd3f47 ,the lambs would represent the tribulation saints40 7,d4 #ag47 8,the ,great ,company will pass through a great tribulation1 with a view to effecting in them a proper penitence for sin and a proper appreciation of the ,divine standard of truth and righteousness4 ,this class1 particularly large in the present day1 will be delivered over to the ,adversary--to suffer in a ,time of ,trouble such as was not since there was a nation--the great time of trouble with which this ,age shall end4 ,such of them as fail to respond to those tribulations and to seek the ,lord will die the ,second ,death1 but such as respond faithfully will be counted as overcomers40 7,z4 '#jgbcb47 8,many such are now being closely bound in with the various bundles of tares for the burning2 and not until the fiery trouble of the latter end of the ,harvest period shall burn the binding cords of ,babylon's bondage shall these be able to make their escape--#8saved so as by fire4' ,they must see the utter wreck of ,great ,babylon and receive some measure of her plagues40 7,c4 #cfd47 8,sad disappointments attach to the experiences of this company3 it is because they fear the reproaches of ,christ that they shirk present privileges and opportunities for walking with ,him in white in the #8sufferings of this present time3' behold1 they not only miss the present joy and rejoicing of those who are faithful1 but eventually they must come through still greater sufferings1 if they would attain even to a lower place4 ,although loving the ,lord and ,his people1 they are somewhat ashamed of them and hide1 as it were1 their faces from them1 in the presence of the worldly3 and behold the ,master at ,his ,coming for ,his #8,bride' cannot confess their names in the presence of the ,father and the holy angels40 7,z4 '#igafb47 8,these will be helped out of ,babylon when she is falling1 and will flee in the wintertime1 saying in the words of the ,prophet1 #8,the ,harvest is past1 the ,summer is ended ,winter has come1 and we are not saved4' 7,jer4 #h3bj470 7,d4 #egh47 8,these1 surely1 we cannot expect to see shielded from the very trouble which the ,lord declares they need2 and which in special mercy ,he will inflict for their perfecting40--,z4 '#ifaia4 ,and have washed their robes4--,spotted and soiled by contact with the world4--,z4 '#igafa4 ,and made them white in the blood of the ,lamb4--8,not that their sufferings will wash their robes1 but that in their sufferings they will learn to appreciate as never before their relationship to the ,lamb of ,god and to ,his atoning merit1 and by faith will be permitted to apply the same to their own cleansing40--,z4 '#jgbcc2 #a ,john #a3g4 #g3ae4 ,therefore4--,because1 in the final test1 they suffered martyrdom and cleansed their robes rather than deny the ,lord4 ,are they before the ,throne of ,god4--8,with the world in the next ,age1 the ,lord's power will be represented through the ,great ,company class1 under the ,bride4 ,they will be a great police force1 looking out for the whole people4 ,they will have enough to do2 for ,god has guaranteed that #8nothing shall hurt or offend in all ,his holy ,mountain'--,kingdom 7,isa4 #aa3i74 ,that will mean a careful supervision4 ,yes1 indeed6 ,how will they hinder wrong doing8 ,if a person were about to speak blasphemy or slander1 the tongue might be instantly paralyzed4 ,very easy6 ,a policeman right on the spot6--not waiting until the offender had done the mischief and then punishing him1 but fixing him so that he will not get the chance to do it1 and punishing him for trying to do so40--,question ,meeting4 ,and serve ,him day and night in ,his ,temple4--8,although they can never be the living ,temple of which ,christ is the ,head 7,rev4 #c3ab2 #aa3a71 we are told they shall be servants in that ,temple2 and although they shall never sit in the ,throne1 they are highly privileged to serve #8before the ,throne4' ,grand and glorious privileges will be theirs40--,z4 '#igafb2 ,rev4 #bb3c4 ,and ,he that sitteth on the ,throne4--,jehovah4 ,shall dwell among ,,knoweth them4--,to be known of the ,lord is to be the sure recipient of blessings4 ,not to be known or recognized of ,him is the greatest of all calamities4 ,god keeps a record of ,his friends 7,mal4 #c3af7 but no record of ,his enemies2 and therein lies their ruin4 8,i never knew you2 depart from ,me40--,matt4 #g3bc4 #g3af4 ,they shall ,,not hunger no more4--,poor things1 how hungry they have been6 ,how the light has shone in their poor1 hunted1 starved faces1 as they have listened to ,pastor ,russell1 by the tens of thousands2 and yet1 when the lecture was over1 they have wearily gone back to the 8husks10 from a sense of duty to the memory of some man1 dead for hundreds of years1 who would1 if alive today1 be a follower of the ,reformer1 ,charles ,t4 ,russell1 because he followed ,christ4 ,neither thirst any more4--8,the waters of ,truth shall no longer be brackish with error1 being healed at the very spring by a clearer understanding of the ,word of ,god40--,b4 #bff4 ,neither shall the sun light on them1 nor any heat4--,during the ,harvest time the ,lord's people1 illuminated with the light of ,present ,truth1 have been shining forth1 not with any brilliancy of their own1 but with much of the coming splendor of the 8,sun of ,righteousness40 ,coming in contact with them1 it has been inevitable that the ,great ,company class should frequently be singed1 unable to answer the ,truth1 and should feel considerable heat4 ,their condition has been aptly described by the ,prophet1 8,it shall be a vexation only to understand the report40 7,isa4 #bh3ai47 8,as if a man did flee from a lion1 and a bear met him2 or went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall1 and a serpent bit him40--,amos #e3ai4 #g3ag4 ,for the ,lamb4--,jesus ,christ1 their eternal ,friend--8,the same yesterday1 today1 and forever40--,heb4 #ac3h4 ,which is in the midst of the ,throne4--,authority1 rulership4--,a4 #ib2 ,rev4 #e3f4 ,shall feed them4--,be their shepherd4 7,john #aj3abh2 #ba3af47 ,they will not have immortality4 ,their lives will always require to be sustained1 as in the case of the angels4 ,and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters ,,of ,,life4--,they will not have within them the 8well of water springing up unto everlasting life10 as will the ,bride class1 but may freely take of the 8,water of life0 which flows forth from the united wellsprings of the ,fountain and its #add1jjj associates4--,john #d3ad2 ,rev4 #bb3a1 #ag2 ,ezekiel #dg3ae4 ,and ,god shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4--,there will be tears at first that will require wiping away1 when they see all they have missed4 ,nevertheless1 8,with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought into the ,king's ,palace40 7,psa4 #de3ae47 ,and it is a good place2 there we leave them1 to bask in the sunlight of ,his presence forevermore4 ,we shall know them all1 then1 even as we shall be known by them4--#a ,cor4 #ac3ab4 ,revelation #h--;,four ,preliminary ,reformations #h3a4 ,and when ,he4--,the ,lord ,jesus1 whose privilege it is to open them all4--,rev4 #f3a4 ,had opened the seventh seal4--8,the seal of the living ,god40 7,rev4 #g3b47 ,the opening of the seventh seal is progressive4 ,the opening and unfolding of the ,truth goes on as the saints are sealed4 ,by the time the saints are all sealed in their hearts and minds with the ,present ,truth1 the deepest features of the ,truth itself will have been disclosed4 8,the time will undoubtedly come in the near future when the number of the ,elect will be complete4 ,then only such vacancies as might still occur by some falling out would remain40 7,z4 '#adfh47 8,god's people down through this ,gospel age have been privileged to know something of the #8,secret of the ,lord'--the ,divine ,plan4 ,but not until the last seal is broken1 does the scroll fly wide open1 permitting the #8,mystery of ,god' to be fully disclosed2 as it is written3 #8,in the days of the voice of the seventh angel1 when he shall begin to sound1 the ,mystery of ,god should be finished1 as ,he hath declared to ,his servants the ,prophets4' 7,rev4 #e3a2 #aj3g470--,z4 '#igbeg4 ,there was silence4--8,assemble yourselves1 and let us enter into the defenced cities1 and let us be silent there3 for the ,lord our ,god hath put us to silence40 7,jer4 #h3ad47 8,they 7the clergy7 somehow realize that neither reason nor ,scripture supports their false doctrines1 and that the wisest method is to keep silent1 in the shadow of old superstitions and under the protection of socalled ,christian governments40--,c4 #aeh4 ,in heaven4--,in the nominal ecclesiastical heavens4 ,about the space of half an hour4--,on the scale of a year for a day this would mean but a week1 and indicates that1 as soon as the full number to complete the ,body of ,christ have been sealed with the ,present ,truth1 persecution in a public way1 and on an unprecedented scale1 may be expected to begin almost immediately4 7,this verse should properly be included in ,chapter #g47 #h3b4 ,and ,i saw4--,as the next vision of the grand series4 ,something never seen until the seventh seal is broken and the ,mystery of ,god finished4 ,the seven angels4--,instrumentalities suitable for the work to be performed4 ,which stood before ,god4--,featuring the ,reformation4 ,and to them were given seven trumpets4--,bugles with which to blow bugle blasts of liberty from the oppressions of the papacy1 leading up to and including the final blast of 8,liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof40--,lev4 #be3aj4 #h3c4 ,and another angel4--,not the 8voice of the ,lord10 mentioned in the preceding chapter1 but the corporate body--the ,,watch ,,tower ,,bible ,,and ,,tract ,,society1 which ,pastor ,russell formed to finish his work4 ,this verse shows that1 though ,pastor ,russell has passed beyond the veil1 he is still managing every feature of the ,harvest work4 8,,the ,,watch ,,tower ,,bible ,,and ,,tract ,,society is the greatest corporation in the world1 because from the time of its organization until now the ,lord has used it as ,his channel through which to make known the ,glad ,tidings40,z4 '#agbb2 ,rev4 #ad3ah2 #ai3ag4 ,came and stood4--,waited before the ,lord1 after the ,pastor's death1 ready to do the ,master's will4 ,at the altar4--,the ,brazen ,altar1 the place of sacrifice4 7,ex4 #ch3ag2 ,lev4 #af3ab1 #ac47 ,the fire for the sacrifice at the ,golden ,altar was obtained here and then carried to the ,golden ,altar where the incense was crumbled in it4 ,having a golden censer4--,censers1 or firepans1 were of two forms1 with handles and without4 ,in this case the kind with the handle1 used only on the ,day of ,atonement1 is the one referred to4 ,the incense was burnt while the high priest held the censer in his hand4 ,thus1 in this prophecy1 the great antitypical ,high ,priest identifies ,himself with the work of the ,society1 and places in its care--holds in ,his hand--the firepans1 the things that lead us to the place where we sacrifice ourselves4 ,thus seen1 the censer represents teachings1 understandings of the ,word2 for it is our understanding of the ,word which leads us to offer up all we have in the ,lord's service4--,num4 #af3f1 #g4 ,and there was given unto him much incense4--,the heart's best endeavors of the faithful fellowmembers of the ,body4 ,that he should offer it4--,to ,jehovah1 through the ,son4--,rev4 #e3h4 ,with the prayers of all saints4--,the ,society is the only entity in the world answering to this description4 ,it alone has offered on its behalf the prayers of all the saints1 in harmony with the clause of the ,vow which reads1 8,daily will ,i remember at the ,throne of heavenly grace the general interests of the ,harvest work--the dear colaborers at the ,brooklyn ,tabernacle and ,bethel1 and everywhere40 ,upon the golden altar which was before the ,throne4--,the offerings take place 8before the ,throne10 on this side the veil4--,rev4 #a3d2 #e3f2 ,ex4 #cj3aaj4 #h3d4 ,and the smoke4--,the fragrant1 sweet perfume4 ,of the incense4--,life's dearest ties1 sacrificed in the ,master's cause4 ,which came with the prayers of the saints4--,in harmony with the ,vow of faithfulness4--,psa4 #ada3b2 ,luke #a3aj2 ,acts #aj3d4 ,ascended up before ,god out of the angel's hand4--8,an odor of a sweet smell1 a sacrifice acceptable1 wellpleasing to ,god40--,phil4 #d3ah4 #h3e4 ,and the angel4--,,the ,,watch ,,tower ,,society through its proper representatives4 ,took the censer4--,the ,seventh ,volume of ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures1 ,divinely provided4 ,and filled it with fire of the altar4--,coals from the altar signify burning truths2 and such the ,lord's prophecies always are1 when rightly understood4--,isa4 #f3eh4 ,this is a plain intimation of ,god's purpose to use the ,,society in further unfoldings of ,his ,truth as it becomes due4 8,we believe that the ,lord will not scatter1 but will #8turn ,his hand power upon the little ones1' in this dark hour of trial 7,zech4 #ac3g740--,z4 '#agcj4 ,and cast it4--,greek1 8,deliberately hurled it40 ,into the earth4--,among orderloving people4--,ezek4 #aj3b2 ,luke #ab3di4 ,and there were voices and thunderings4--,seven ,volumes of 8,,scripture ,,studies10 this one being the last of the series4 7,rev4 #aj3c1 #d47 ,thunders are symbolical of controversy1 and this volume may cause some4 ,particularly is it to be expected that the clergy will thunder against whatever ,truth it contains4 ,thunder is caused by the flashing of lightning through the heavens1 opening them up1 as it were4 ,immediately after the flash they come together with an angry roar4 ,thunder1 of itself1 never does anybody any harm4--,rev4 #af3ah4 ,and voices4--8,these voices have been circulated here and there throughout the whole civilized world1 not by worldly agents1 not through book sellers1 but by those who have themselves been blessed by the light1 and who desire to render a service to the ,lord and to the ,truth1 and to lay down their lives for the brethren by taking to them the glorious and encouraging message now due to the ,lord's people40 7,z4 '#jbaah47 ,voices also symbolize discussion1 contention4 ,and lightnings4--,see ,rev4 #d3e2 #aa3ai2 #af3ah4 ,and an earthquake4--8,the term earthquake is used to symbolically represent revolution--it is in this sense of the word that it is used throughout the ,book of ,revelation4 ,what we are to look for then will be a great revolution1 the great symbolic earthquake1 the great shaking of the present institutions which will overthrow everything that is not of the ,lord's establishment and approval4 ,perhaps the symbolical earthquake will be accompanied by a literal one40--,b4 ,s4 ,m4 #h3f ,and the seven angels which had the seven trumpets4--8,we1 in common with almost all expositors1 recognize that the seven trumpets of ,revelation are symbolical and not literal40--,z4 '#jbaaf2 ,josh4 #f3d4 ,prepared themselves to sound4--8,christian people in general understand that five of these trumpets have already #8sounded' and are in the past--we would say six4 ,it is admitted that those that have already #8sounded' have not been literal blasts of a bugle on the air4 ,but literal things are so much more easily received by the natural man that many advanced ,christians1 ,bible students and ministers1 are really expecting some day to hear what is sometimes denominated #8,gabriel's horn1' shrill enough and loud enough to awaken the dead40 7,z4 '#jbaaf47 ,as thoughtful ,christians we should expect that1 as this period is that in which the great sects have risen1 its history should pay particular attention to them1 and thus we find4 ,the ,reformation particularly affected 8three parts0 of the papal dominion1 ,germany1 ,england and ,france4--,rev4 #h3gaj4 #h3g4 ,and the first angel sounded4--,the movement began1 which later developed into the ,lutheran ,general ,synod1 ,lutheran ,united ,synod ,south1 ,lutheran ,general ,council1 ,lutheran ,synodical ,conference1 ,united ,norwegian ,lutheran ,synod1 ,ohio ,independent ,lutheran ,synod1 ,buffalo ,lutheran ,synod1 ,hauge's ,lutheran ,synod1 ,eleisen's ,lutheran ,synod1 ,norwegian ,lutheran ,synod1 ,danish in ,america ,lutheran ,synod1 ,icelandic ,lutheran ,synod1 ,immanuel ,lutheran ,synod1 ,suomai ,finnish ,lutheran ,synod1 ,finnish ,national ,synod1 ,finnish ,apostolic ,synod1 ,norwegian ,free ,lutheran ,synod1 ,danish ,united ,lutheran ,synod1 ,church of the ,lutheran ,brethren and ,independent ,lutheran ,congregations4--#a ,cor4 #c3c4 ,and there followed hail4--,sharp1 cutting1 hard truth1 contained in ,luther's #ie theses nailed on the church door at ,wittenberg4 ,and fire4--,destructive judgments upon the papacy4 ,luther sized up the ,papal system of 8,heads1 ,i win2 and tails1 you lose0 in a few words when he said1 8,the ,romanists have with great dexterity built themselves about with three walls1 which have hitherto protected them against reform4 ,in the first place1 when the temporal power has pressed them hard1 they have affirmed and maintained that the temporal power has no jurisdiction over them--that on the contrary1 the spiritual is above the temporal4 ,secondly1 when it is proposed to admonish them from the ,holy ,scriptures they said1 #8,it beseems no one but the pope to interpret the ,scriptures1' and thirdly1 when they were threatened with a council1 they invented the idea that no one but the pope can call a council40 ,mingled with blood4--,blood is a symbol of deathdealing doctrine1 and this teaches that ,luther did not get entirely free from error4 ,the following illustrates this point3 8,there gradually developed a group of radicals who were convinced that ,luther had not the courage of his convictions4 ,they proposed to abolish the idolatry of the ,mass and all other outward signs of what they deemed the old superstitions4 ,luther's colleague at ,wittenberg1 ,carlstadt1 began denouncing the monastic life1 the celibacy of the clergy1 the veneration of images2 and before the end of #aeba we find the first characteristic outward symptoms of ,protestantism4 ,in ,january #aebb1 ,carlstadt induced the authorities of ,wittenberg to publish the first evangelical church ordinance4 ,the service of the ,mass was modified1 and the laity were to receive the elements in both kinds4 ,reminders of the old religious usages were to be done away with1 and the fastdays were to be no longer observed4 ,these measures led ,luther to return to ,wittenberg in ,march1 #aebb1 where he preached a series of sermons attacking the impatience of the radical party4 ,in #aebe the conservative party1 which had from the first feared that ,luther's teaching would result in sedition1 received a new and terrible proof1 as it seemed to them1 of the noxious influence of the evangelical preachers4 8,the peasant movements which had caused so much anxiety at the diet of ,augsburg in #aeah1 culminated in the ,peasant ,revolt in which the common man1 both in country and town1 rose in the name of ,god's justice to avenge longstanding wrongs and establish his rights4 ,luther was by no means directly responsible for the civil war which followed1 but he had certainly contributed to stir up the ancient discontent4 ,he had asserted that1 owing to the habit of foreclosing small mortgages1 #8,any one with a hundred gulden could gobble up a peasant a year4' ,the ,german feudal lords he pronounced hangmen1 who knew only how to swindle the poor man4 ,yet in spite of this harsh talk about princes1 ,luther relied upon them to forward the reforms in which he was interested4 ,the peasants demanded that the gospel should be taught them as a guide in life1 and that each community should be permitted to choose its pastor and depose him if he conducted himself improperly4 ,more radical demands came from the working classes in the towns4 ,the articles of ,heilbronn demanded that the property of the ,church should be confiscated and used for the community2 clergy and nobility alike were to be deprived of all their privileges1 so that they could no longer oppress the poor man4 ,the more violent leaders renewed the old cry that the parsons must be slain4 ,hundreds of castles and monasteries were destroyed by the frantic peasantry1 and some of the nobles were murdered with shocking cruelty4 ,luther1 who believed that the peasants were trying to cloak their dreadful sins with excuses from the gospel1 exhorted the government to put down the insurrection4 #8,have no pity on the poor folk2 stab1 smite1 throttle1 who can4' ,the ,german rulers took ,luther's advice with terrible literalness1 and avenged themselves upon the peasants1 whose lot was apparently worse afterwards than before40--,brit4 ,and they were cast upon the earth ,,and ,,the ,,third ,,part ,,of ,,the ,,earth ,,was ,,burned ,,up4--,luther's teaching had the effect of transforming the order loving ,german people into anarchists4 ,and the third part4--,the ,german part4 ,of trees4--,trees are symbols of saints4 8,st4 ,paul gives us the picture of a tree1 the roots of which push down deep into the knowledge of the ,divine ,plan1 while the tree of character grows higher and higher1 developing and maturing the rich fruits of the ,holy ,spirit of ,god2 for instruction is a form of construction40--,z4 '#adcab2 ,isa4 #fa3c4 ,was burnt up4--,hindered from standing alone1 and absorbed into the ,lutheran system4 ,and all green grass4--,natural men of independent thought4--,isa4 #dj3f1 #g4 ,was burnt up4--,similarly absorbed into the ,lutheran system1 a welcome substitute for papacy's intolerable yoke4 #h3h4 ,and the second angel sounded4--,the ,anglican church movement began4 ,and as it were a great mountain4--,england in the time of ,henry ,,viii4 ,mountains symbolize kingdoms4--,dan4 #b3ce2 ,jer4 #ea3be4 ,burning with fire4--,aflame with another great movement destructive to the papacy4 ,was cast into the sea4--,was suddenly thrown into a condition of isolation from the papacy--no longer placed under religious restraint to it4 ,and the third part of the sea4--,the ,english part4 ,became blood4--,the muchmarried ,henry ,,viii41 founder of the ,anglican ,church1 and the second great sectfounder1 has some slight blemishes on his escutcheon also4 8,henry ,,viii4 himself stoutly maintained the headship of the pope1 and as is well known1 after examining the arguments of ,luther1 published his defence of the ,seven ,sacraments in #aeba1 which won for him from the pope the glorious title of #8,defender of the faith4' ,by #aebg the king had become hopeless of having a male heir by ,catherine4 ,he was tired of her1 and in love with the blackeyed ,anne ,boleyn1 who refused to be his mistress4 ,the king's agents secured the opinion of a number of prominent universities that his marriage was void1 and an assembly of notables1 which he summoned in ,june #aecj1 warned the pope of the dangers involved in leaving the royal succession in uncertainty4 ,henry's next move was to bring a charge against the clergy1 accusing them of having violated the ancient laws of praemunire in submitting to the authority of papal legates 7although he himself had ratified the appointment of ,wolsey as legate a latere74 ,the clergy of the province of ,canterbury were fined #ajj1jjj pounds and compelled to declare the king their singular protector and only supreme lord1 and1 as far as that is permitted by the law of ,christ1 the supreme head of the ,church and of the clergy4 8,the following year1 #aecb1 an obedient parliament presented a petition to the king 7which had been most carefully elaborated by the king's own advisers7 containing twelve charges against the bishops4 ,for the remedy of these abuses parliament turned to the king #8in whom and by whom the only and sole redress1 reformation and remedy herein absolutely rests and remains4' ,these charges were answered by the clergy1 but the answer did not suit the king so on the #aeth of ,may1 #aecb4 ,the king's most humble subjects1 daily orators and bedesmen of the clergy of ,england1 in view of his goodness and fervent ,christian zeal and his learning far exceeding that of all other kings that they have read of1 agree never to assemble in convocation except at the king's summons1 and to enact and promulgate no constitution or ordinances except they receive the royal assent and authority4 ,then ,henry divorced ,catherine and married ,anne ,boleyn and the ,english ,reformation was officially launched4 ,the king had now clarified the ancient laws of the realm to his satisfaction1 and could proceed to seize such portions of the ,church's possessions as he deemed superfluous for the maintenance of religion4 ,on the #cjth of ,july1 #aedj1 three ,lutheran clergymen were burned and three ,roman ,catholics beheaded1 the latter for denying the king's spiritual supremacy4 ,the king's ardent desires that diversities of minds and opinions should be done away with and unity be #8charitably established' was further promoted by publishing in #aedc ,a ,necessary ,doctrine and ,erudition for any ,christian ,man1 set forth by the ,king's ,majesty of ,england1 in which the tenets of mediaeval theology1 except for denial of the supremacy of the bishop of ,rome and the unmistakable assertion of the supremacy of the king1 were once more restated4 ,the ,first ,prayer ,book of ,edward ,,vi was issued in #aedi and was followed in #aeeb by the ,second ,prayer ,book and #8,the foundations of the ,anglican church were laid4'--,brit4 #h3i4 ,and the third part4--,the ,english part4 ,of the creatures4--,the clergy 8apostolically0 of the ,church of ,rome1 but actually doing business under ,henry ,,viii4 ,be it noted that they were not counted worthy of being called 8men40 ,which were in the sea4--,no longer under religious restraint to the papacy4 ,and had life4--,the apostolic succession1 from the line of popes1 etc41 described in ,rev4 #b3ac comments4 ,died4--,were excommunicated by the pope1 lost their 8apostolic 787 succession40 ,and the third part4--,the ,english part4 ,of the ships4--,independent bodies of ,christian worshippers called ,lollards1 followers of ,wycliffe4--,mark #d3cf2 #f3dhea2 ,john #f3ba4 ,were destroyed4--,compelled to acknowledge ,henry ,,viii as head of the ,church or lose their lives4 8,thus1 when the ,english ,reformation of the #afth century commenced1 it derived a new impulse from the earlier ,lollard movement which it was destined to absorb into itself40--,mc,c4 #h3aj4 ,and the third angel sounded4--,the ,calvinistic movement began1 which later developed into the ,northern ,presbyterian ,church1 ,cumberland ,presbyterian ,church1 ,welsh ,calvinistic ,church1 ,united ,presbyterian ,church1 ,southern ,presbyterian ,church1 ,associate ,presbyterian ,church1 ,associate ,reformed ,southern ,presbyterian ,church1 ,reformed ,synod ,presbyterian ,church1 ,reformed ,general ,synod ,presbyterian ,church1 ,reformed ,covenanted ,presbyterian ,church1 ,reformed ,presbyterian ,church in the ,united ,states and ,canada1 ,dutch ,reformed ,church1 ,german ,reformed ,church1 ,christian ,reformed ,church1 ,hungarian ,reformed ,church1 and ,congregational ,church4--#a ,cor4 #c3c4 ,and there fell a great star from heaven4--,john ,calvin tore a largesized hole in the ,catholic firmament when he started the manufacture of a firmament of his own4 ,burning as it were a lamp4--,the precipitation of the ,calvinistic movement in ,france and ,switzerland was as sudden as the ,anglican movement had been in ,england or the ,lutheran movement in ,germany4 ,in #aecc ,francis ,i1 ,king of ,france1 8anxious to conciliate both ,german ,protestants and antipapal ,england1 invited some of the reformers to preach in the ,louvre10 as an offset to a fierce attack that had but lately been made upon them1 caused by the mutilation of a statue of the ,virgin4 ,on the festival of ,all ,saints1 ,cop1 the rector of the ,university of ,paris1 was to deliver the address1 but ,jean ,cauvin 7,calvin7 persuaded the rector to read an address which he had written4 ,it was a defence of the new evangelical views and so aroused the ,sorbonne that ,calvin and ,cop were both obliged to flee from ,paris4 ,calvin went to ,basle1 ,switzerland1 and in #aecf wrote and published the first great textbook of ,protestant theology1 ,institutes of the ,christian ,religion4 ,he did his best1 but his best was not very good4 ,and it fell upon the third part4--,the ,french part4 ,of the rivers4--,channels of religious instruction4 ,and upon the fountains of waters4--,the ,word of ,god4 ,although ,calvin misunderstood and misapplied them1 yet he constantly appealed to the ,scriptures as the support for his theories4 #h3aa4 ,and the name of the star4--,calvin is entitled to the honor of having at one time been a papal star4 8,he was from the first educated for the ,church1 and before he was twelve years old was presented to a benefice in the ,cathedral of ,noyon4 ,six years after this he was appointed to a cure of souls at ,montville1 and thus1 although not yet twenty1 and not even in the minor orders1 he was enjoying the titles and revenues of a cure40--,mc,c4 ,is called ,wormwood4--,what an ideal name for the doctrine which has caused more bitterness against ,god than any other doctrine ever taught1 and for the man who roasted ,servetus at the stake4 ,and the third part of the waters4--,many portions of the ,scriptures1 misunderstood1 misconstrued and misapplied4 ,became4--,were made to appear in the eyes of many4 ,wormwood4--,bitter as gall4 8,none now would justify ,calvin's course in sentencing ,servetus to be burned4 ,others burned at the stake usually had the fuel piled at their feet4 ,the flames were inhaled with the smoke1 and the victim was speedily unconscious to suffering4 ,for ,servetus ,satanic ingenuity arranged the burning fagots at a distance4 ,he literally roasted alive1 in horrible torture1 nearly five hours--in the name of ,god1 of ,jesus1 of ,righteousness1 ,truth1 ,justice1 ,love1 ,christianity and ,civilization40 7,p4 ,d47--,jer4 #i3ae2 #bc3ae2 #idj2 ,deut4 #bi3ah4 ,and many men died of the waters4--,lost their manhood1 reason and common sense by becoming ,calvinists4 ,because they were made bitter4--,because the ,scriptures were made to appear to teach what actually they do not4 8,it seems remarkable that only now are we realizing that a man so deficient in the spirit of his ,master as to murder his brother1 should not be an accepted teacher of the ,word of ,god and its spirit4 ,only now are ,bible students realizing that ,brother ,calvin was not the inventor of the doctrine of election1 but merely of the doctrine that all the nonelect would suffer everlastingly4 ,now we see that the terms1 #8the elect1' #8the very elect1' are ,bible terms6 and that those who make their calling and election sure1 will be glorified in the ,first ,resurrection4 ,now we see that the ,elect will be associated with ,jesus in ,his ,kingdom1 which will bless the nonelect--#8all the families of the ,earth4' 0--,p4 ,d4 #h3ab4 ,and the fourth angel sounded4--,the ,baptist sectarian movement began1 resulting in ,baptist ,churches ,north1 ,baptist ,churches ,south1 ,baptist ,churches ,colored1 ,seventh,day ,baptists1 ,general ,baptists1 ,separate ,baptists1 ,united ,baptists1 ,baptist ,church of ,christ1 ,primitive ,baptist ,church1 ,primitive ,colored ,baptist ,church1 ,old ,two ,seed in the ,spirit ,predestinarian ,baptist ,church1 ,church of ,god and ,saints of ,christ1 ,mennonites1 ,six ,principle ,baptist ,church1 ,free ,baptist ,church1 ,freewill ,baptist ,church--not forgetting the ,selfwill ,baptist ,church1 which also has a large membership1 but is not listed4--#a ,cor4 #c3c4 ,from an examination of history 8,it does not appear that the ,baptists were formed into any stability 7as a sect7 until the time of ,menno1 about the year #aecf4 ,about #afdd they began to make a considerable figure in ,england1 and spread themselves into several separate congregations4 ,they separated from the ,independents about the year #afch1 and set up for themselves under the pastoral care of ,mr4 ,jesse2 and1 having renounced their former baptism1 they sent over one of their number to be immersed by one of the ,dutch ,anabaptists of ,amsterdam1 that he might be qualified to baptize his friends in ,england after the same manner40 7,buck47 8,menno ,simons1 born in #adib at ,witmarsum in ,friesland1 at the age of #bd entered the priesthood4 ,doubts about transubstantiation made him uneasy2 some of ,luther's tracts fell in his way1 and he was comforted by ,luther's dictum that salvation does not depend on human dogmata4 ,hence he began to study the ,new ,testament4 ,the question as to the right age for baptism came up2 he found this an open matter in the early church4 ,then the execution1 in ,march1 #aeca1 at ,leeuwarden1 of the tailor ,sicke ,freerks1 who had been rebaptized in the previous ,december at ,emden1 introduced further questions4 ,menno was not satisfied with the inconsistent answers which he got from ,luther1 ,bucer and ,bullinger2 he resolved to rely on ,scripture alone1 and from this time describes his preaching as evangelical1 not sacramental4 ,anabaptism of the ,munster type repelled him4 ,a brother of ,menno joined the insurgent followers of ,matthyzoon and was killed at ,bolsward1 ,april #aece4 ,blaming the leaders by whom these poor people had been misled1 ,menno blamed himself for not having shown them a straight course4 ,accordingly on the #abth of ,january #aecf he left the ,roman communion4 8,among the socalled ,anabaptists were four parties1 the favorers of the ,munster faction1 the ,batenburgers1 extremists1 the ,melchiorites and the ,obbenites4 ,for a time ,menno remained aloof from both ,melchior ,hofman and ,obbe ,philipsz4 ,before the year was out1 yielding to the prayer of six or eight persons who had freed themselves from the ,munster spell1 he agreed to become their minister and was set apart ,january #aecg to the eldership at ,groningen1 with imposition of hands by ,obbe ,philipsz4 ,menno repudiated the formation of a sect2 those who had experienced the #8new birth' were to him the true ,christian church4 ,his ,christology was in the main orthodox though he rejected terms such as ,trinity which he could not find in ,scripture4 ,of the introduction of ,anabaptist views into ,england we have no certain knowledge4 ,fox relates that #8the registers of ,london make mention of certain ,dutchmen counted for ,anabaptists1 of whom ten were put to death in sundry places in the realm1 anno #aece2 other ten repented and were saved'4 ,in #aecf ,king ,henry ,,viii issued a proclamation concerning faith agreed upon by ,convocation1 in which the clergy are told to instruct the people that they ought to repute and take #8,the ,anabaptists' opinions for detestable heresies and to be utterly condemned4' ,thomas ,fuller tells us from ,stow's ,chronicles that in the year #aech four ,anabaptists1 three men and one woman1 all ,dutch1 bare faggots at ,paul's ,cross1 and three days after a man and woman of their sect were burnt in ,smithfield4 ,the early ,english ,baptists1 while they utterly rejected the baptism of infants1 were as yet unpledged to immersion and rarely practiced it40--,brit4 ,and the third part of the sun was smitten4--,though not apparently so stated in any confession of faith1 it is a prevalent view among ,baptists that the ,old ,testament has been entirely fulfilled4 ,believing thus they lose the force of a large part of the ,gospel ,message1 typified by the sun4 ,and the third part of the moon4--,similarly1 they do not see the force of the teachings of the ,law ,dispensation1 as in the ,tabernacle arrangements1 etc41 in their application to the ,church4 ,and the third part of the stars4--,the teachings of the true lightbearers1 the ,apostles1 cannot be fully appreciated except in connection with the prophecies of the ,old ,testament4 ,so as the third part of them was darkened4--,if pressed to estimate the relative worth to us as ,new ,creatures of the writings of the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 we would admit that the writings of the ,new ,testament are worth perhaps twice as much to us as those of the ,old ,testament because they contain the message addressed to the ,new ,creation1 but we want all three thirds of the ,word4 ,and the day4--,the ,scripture teaching of the coming ,millennial ,day4 ,shone not for a third part of it4--,at least a third of the light we get on the subject of the ,lord's ,millennial ,reign is from the ,old ,testament4 ,and the night likewise4--,the same is true of the world's dark night of sin and death1 and the darkest feature of that night--the ,time of ,trouble such as was not since there was a nation4 ,the ,old ,testament has much of light and instruction on this subject4 #h3ac4 ,and ,i beheld1 and heard an angel ,,eagle4--,one of ,pastor ,russell's humble followers 7,matt4 #bd3bh7 apprehending correctly the significance of the three woes4 ,flying through the midst of heaven4--,beginning with the papal heavens and then in their order of development1 the ,lutheran heavens1 ,anglican heavens1 ,calvinistic heavens and ,baptist heavens 7and others shortly47 ,saying with a loud voice4--,with considerable plainness of speech4 ,woe1 woe1 woe1 to the inhabiters of the earth4--,great distress and perplexity of mind to all supporters of ,satan's ,empire4 ,by reason of the other voices4--,later movements in the ecclesiastical heavens described in ,chapters #i and #aj4 ,of the three angels1 which are yet to sound4--,the four great denominations--,lutheran1 ,anglican1 ,presbyterian and ,baptist--were formed in swift succession within twenty years from the time ,luther nailed the theses on the ,wittenberg door4 ,but the work of forming new movements away from papal bondage did not stop there4 8,ye curious minds1 who roam abroad1 ,and trace creation's wonders o'er1 ,confess the footsteps of your ,god1 ,and bow before ,him1 and adore40 ,revelation #i--,two ,ineffective ,reformation ,woes #i3a4 ,and the fifth angel sounded4--,the ,wesleyan movement began1 leading up to the ,methodist ,episcopal ,church1 ,united ,american ,methodist ,episcopal ,church1 ,african ,methodist ,episcopal ,church1 ,african ,united ,methodist ,protestant ,church1 ,african ,methodist ,episcopal ,zion ,church1 ,methodist ,protestant ,church1 ,wesleyan ,methodist ,church1 ,methodist ,episcopal ,church ,south1 ,congregational ,methodist ,church1 ,new ,congregational ,methodist ,church1 ,zion ,union ,apostolic ,church1 ,colored ,methodist ,episcopal ,church1 ,free ,methodist ,church1 ,reformed ,methodist ,united ,episcopal ,church1 and ,independent ,methodist ,churches4--#a ,cor4 #c3c4 ,and ,i saw a star4--,john ,wesley became a star in the ,anglican heavens in #agbh1 at which time he was ordained a priest by ,bishop ,potter4 ,fall from heaven unto the earth4--,for many years ,wesley had no thought of forming a sect2 and yet1 unconsciously1 he began to do so from the time he was ordained4 ,he was then in ,oxford ,university1 where 8the completeness of his selfdevotion to the service of ,god1 combined with his rare moral courage and superior strength of character1 caused him to be recognized as the leader of a group of undergraduates which was nicknamed the #8,holy ,club' by the ungodly of the ,university1 who derided its members for their rigid rules and charitable practices by calling them #8,methodists4' 0 7,mc,c47 8,he fully accepted the recognized teaching of the ,church of ,england1 and publicly appealed to the ,prayer,book and the ,thirtynine articles in justification of the doctrines he preached4 ,methodism began in a revival of personal religion1 and it professed to have but one aim1 to spread ,scriptural holiness over the land4 ,its doctrines were in no sense new40 7,brit47 ,the work in the ,western ,world1 particularly in the ,united ,states1 grew to vast proportions4 8,the preachers in the ,south determined upon administration of the sacraments1 and a committee was chosen who ordained themselves and others4 ,the ,northern preachers opposed this step and for several years the ,connexion was on the verge of disruption4 ,wesley perceived that the ,society would disintegrate unless effective measures were speedily taken1 and1 aided by two presbyters of the ,church of ,england1 7one of whom was ,james ,creighton7 early in #aghd he ordained ,thomas ,coke1 a presbyter of that ,church1 as ,superintendent40--,brit4 ,his brother ,charles heartily disapproved of this and wrote the following 7which does not1 however1 appear with his other hymns in the ,methodist hymnal73 8,so easily are bishops made ,by man or woman's whim2 ,wesley his hands on ,coke hath laid1 ,but who laid hands on him80 ,in #aghg the ,american ,conference changed ,mr4 ,coke's title to 8,bishop40 ,mr4 ,coke tried to introduce this title into the ,english ,conference of which he was president1 but the ,english ,brethren could not accept it1 despite his great earnestness in the cause4 ,it must have been a strange sight to see a bright man like ,wesley engaging those two presbyters of the ,church of ,england to help him ordain somebody to a higher office than any of them had ever held4 ,but the plan worked4 ,all ,methodists believe that ,bishop ,coke1 the first ,bishop of the ,methodist ,church received some 8apostolic succession0 from the original line described in comments on ,rev4 #b3ac4 ,these brethren have grieved that ,pastor ,russell did not get his ordination from the same source4 ,and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit ,,of ,,the ,,abyss4--,wesley was given the key to nothing and to nowhere4 #i3b4 ,and he opened the bottomless pit4--,wesley opened nothing4 ,he did interpret ,rom4 #h3ba as meaning that the lower animals would go to ,heaven1 but that was an error4 ,he was honest enough1 however1 to object to using the word ,trinity because he did not find it in the ,bible4 8,christian ,advocates0 please note4 ,and there arose a smoke4--,confusion--a blinding haze4 ,out of ,,over the pit4--,in the 8air10 the ecclesiastical heavens4 ,as the smoke of a great furnace4--,methodism was no ordinary smudge4 ,and the sun4--,the true ,gospel4 ,and the air4--,the ,anglican ,church4 ,were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit4--,methodism damaged the ,anglican communion as much as it did the ,truth4 #i3c4 ,and there came out of the smoke locusts4--,an immense number of followers4--,judges #g3ab4 ,upon the earth4--,among orderloving people4 ,and unto them was given power4--,to attend an oldtime ,methodist meeting and witness the 8getting the power0 was to see the sight of a lifetime4 ,as the scorpions of the earth have powers4--8,a wellknown injurious insect of hot climates1 which is shaped very much like a lobster4 ,they are carnivorous in their habits1 and move along in a threatening attitude with the tail elevated4 ,the sting1 which is situated at the extremity of the tail1 has at its base a gland that secretes a poisonous fluid1 which is discharged into the wound by two minute orifices at its extremity4 ,the scorpion makes a painful wound in men and beasts which produces fatal results unless speedy remedies be provided such as scarifying the wound or sucking out the poison40--,mc,c4 #i3d4 ,and it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth4--,men of independent thought4--,rev4 #h3g4 ,neither any green thing4 ,neither any tree4--,saint4--,rev4 #h3g4 ,but only those men4--,the unconverted4 ,which have not the seal of ,god in their foreheads4--,methodists understand that to be converted from being a sinner means to have the seal of ,god in one's forehead4 ,all the energies of that church are devoted to gathering in goats to the sheepfold4 #i3e4 ,and to them it was given that they should not kill them4--,no such sane and merciful sentence as 8,the wages of sin is death0 has any place in ,methodist theology4 ,wesley was born at a time when the original meaning of the word 8,hell0 had become hidden1 and was saturated with the later teachings that it signifies a place of torment4 ,he threw his whole heart into the work of spreading this error throughout the earth4 ,but that they should be tormented five months4--,in symbolic time1 #aej years4 7,rev4 #b3ba74 ,wesley became the first ,methodist in #agbh4 7,rev4 #i3a74 ,when the ,methodist denomination1 with all the others1 was cast off from favor in #ahgh 7,rev4 #c3ad7 its power to torment men by preaching what ,presbyterians describe as 8,conscious misery1 eternal in duration0 came to an end legally1 and to a large extent actually4--,rev4 #i3aj4 ,and their torment4--,the torment of those tormented by the tormenting doctrine of torment4 ,was as the torment of a scorpion1 when he striketh a man4--,see ,rev4 #i3aj4 #i3f4 ,and in those days4--,throughout the #aej years of widely prevalent 8,methodist hellfire04 ,shall men seek death4--,would be glad to know that 8,the wages of sin is death40--,rom4 #f3bc4 ,and shall not find it4--,because all the texts which plainly teach that 8,all the wicked will ,god destroy10 were perverted to mean 8,all the wicked will ,god immortalize in hell40 ,and shall desire to die4--,real men would prefer to die and stay dead rather than forever companion and worship the greatest devil of the ,universe4 ,and death shall flee from them4--,they were told that men only seem to die1 although touch1 hearing1 sight and smell all bear eloquent testimony to the contrary4--,rom4 #f3bc2 ,ezek4 #ah3d2 ,gen4 #c3ai2 ,psa4 #aae3ag2 ,ecc4 #i3e2 ,psa4 #cg3aj1 #bj2 ,ecc4 #c3aiba2 #a ,cor4 #ae3ac1 #ah2 ,dan4 #ab3b4 #i3g4 ,and the shapes ,,likenesses of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle4--,the battlecry of the oldtime ,methodist was 8,all at it1 and always at it04 ,and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold4--,those born of the spirit1 changed from human conditions and made like the ,lord1 have received the very highest blessing1 the 8,crown of life01 the ,divine nature4 ,gold is a symbol of ,divinity4 ,to receive a crown of gold is to be born of the spirit4 ,all oldtime ,methodists felt certain that they were 8born of the spirit0 when converted1 no begetting or quickening being necessary4 ,but here is pointed out that these good people had 8asitwere0 crowns instead of real ones4 ,and their faces were as the faces of men4--,they were not 8,born of the spirit0 as they supposed4 #i3h4 ,and they had hair as the hair of women4--8,if a woman have long hair it is a glory to her3 for her hair is given her for a covering40 7#a ,cor4 #aa3ae47 ,the ,church's glory is her wedding robe1 the robe of ,christ's righteousness4 ,it is to the credit of oldtime ,methodists that they trusted for salvation in the precious blood of ,christ4 ,and their teeth were as the teeth of lions4--,lions are able to chew and swallow almost anything4 ,when the conference at ,baltimore in #aghg turned ,john ,wesley's ,superintendent into a ,bishop1 the ,methodist people swallowed it all2 and to this day most of them really believe that their clergy are a ,divinely appointed institution1 despite the fraud perpetrated4--,joel4 #a3df4 #i3i4 ,and they had breastplates4--8,breastplates of righteousness40--,eph4 #f3ad4 ,as it were breastplates of iron4--,an iron breastplate would be a good one but an 8asitwere0 breastplate would need examination4 ,it was not uncommon for oldtime ,methodists to deceive themselves into thinking they had not sinned for years4 ,those who had such breastplates wore the 8,asit were0 variety4 ,and the sound of their wings4--,when engaged in 8getting the power04--,rev4 #i3c4 ,was as the sound of chariots4--,the noisiest vehicles known in the ,revelator's day4 ,of many horses running to battle4--,the oldtime ,methodist hellfire revival was in days gone by the noisiest place on earth1 excepting the camp meeting4 ,those good old days have long since gone4 #i3aj4 ,and they had tails4--,followers--classleaders4 ,like unto scorpions4--,the oldtime classleader was an invaluable adjunct of the ,methodist ,church4 ,upon him devolved the duty of requiring each probationer to attend the classmeeting and report his spiritual progress weekly1 whether he had made any or not4 ,after each report it was the classleader's duty to squirt in a little more of the poisonous doctrines from the two orifices referred to in comments on ,rev4 #i3c4 ,from the 8heaven0 orifice came the doctrine 8,if you are good you will go to ,heaven when you die0--and from the 8hell0 orifice came the message 8,if you are bad you will go to hell when you die40 ,it was all very simple4 ,everybody was simple in those days4 ,and there were stings4--,revivals in which the attendants were stung1 doctrinally and financially4 ,,and in their tails and ,,was their power was to hurt men five months4--,one hundred and fifty years1 from ,wesley's ordination in #agbh to the casting off of ,methodism in #ahgh4--,rev4 #i3e4 #i3aa4 ,and they had a ,,have ,,their king over them4--,the same king as exercises general rulership over all the ecclesiastical affairs of this present evil world4 ,which is the angel of the bottomless pit ,,abyss4--8,the prince of the power of the air40--,eph4 #b3b4 ,whose name in the ,hebrew tongue is ,abaddon4--,and he is 8a bad one10 sure enough4--#b ,cor4 #d3d4 ,but in the ,greek tongue hath his name ,apollyon4--,that is1 ,destroyer4 ,but in plain ,english his name is ,satan1 the ,devil4 ,as a means for preventing people from seeing the ,truth1 ,methodism has been as efficient as any of the five systems previously described1 or any that follow4 ,all have been sadly misled and deceived by our great and wily ,adversary2 8,taken captive by him at his will40--#b ,tim4 #b3bf4 #i3ab4 ,one woe is past4--,methodism was the first woe of the epoch leading up to and associated with the ,time of the ,end4 ,it was a serious blow to the pretensions of the ,papacy1 but its days of usefulness have long since passed4 ,and1 behold1 there come two woes more hereafter4--,one outlined in the remainder of this chapter and one in ,chapter #aj4 ,it was the discovery of ,methodism as the first woe that led to an identification of the four movements of the ,reformation proper which preceded it4--,rev4 #h3gac4 #i3ac4 ,and ,,after ,,these ,,things the sixth angel sounded4--,the ,evangelical ,alliance,spiritism movement began in #ahdfahdh culminating in the ,federal ,council of the ,churches of ,christ in ,america4 ,the following great denominations which comprise #ij of the ,protestant ,church membership are represented in this council3 ,baptist 7,north71 ,free ,baptist1 ,christian1 ,congregational1 ,disciples of ,christ1 ,evangelical ,association1 ,evangelical ,synod1 ,friends1 ,lutheran ,general ,synod1 ,methodist ,episcopal1 ,methodist ,episcopal 7,south71 ,german ,evangelical ,synod1 ,colored ,methodist ,episcopal1 ,methodist ,protestant1 ,african ,methodist ,episcopal1 ,african ,methodist ,episcopal ,zion1 ,mennonite1 ,moravian1 ,presbyterian1 ,presbyterian 7,south71 ,welsh ,presbyterian1 ,reformed ,presbyterian1 ,united ,presbyterian1 ,protestant ,episcopal1 ,reformed ,church in ,america1 ,reformed ,church in the ,u4 ,s4 ,a41 ,reformed ,episcopal1 ,seventh,day ,baptist1 ,united ,brethren in ,christ1 ,united ,evangelical1 ,national ,baptist ,convention4 ,illustration ,methodism ,illustration ,babylon ,perplexes ,the ,world ,although these sects are the only ones now members of the ,federal ,council1 yet1 in hatred of the ,truth1 and darkness in regard to ,god's ,plan1 the following are also entitled to membership3 ,evangelical ,adventists1 ,advent ,christians1 ,seventh,day ,adventists1 ,church of ,god1 ,life and ,advent ,union1 ,church of ,god in ,jesus ,christ1 fifteen kinds of ,baptists named in comments on ,rev4 #h3ab1 four kinds of ,dunkard brethren1 the ,conservative1 ,old ,order1 ,progressive and ,seventh,day ,german varieties1 four kinds of ,plymouth ,brethren1 three kinds of ,river ,brethren1 the ,brethren in ,christ1 ,old ,order or ,yorker and ,united ,zion's ,children1 ,catholic ,apostolic1 ,new ,apostolic1 ,christadelphians1 ,dowie's ,christian ,catholic1 ,christian ,union1 ,church of ,christ ,scientist1 ,winnebrenarian ,churches of ,god1 ,colored ,churches of the ,living ,god1 ,christian ,workers for ,friendship1 ,apostolic1 ,church of ,christ in ,god1 ,churches of the ,new ,jerusalem1 ,general ,convention1 ,general ,church1 ,church ,transcendent1 ,communistic ,societies1 ,shakers1 ,amana1 ,churches of ,christ1 ,apostolic ,faith ,movement1 ,peniel ,missions1 ,metropolitan ,church ,association1 ,hepziba ,faith ,association1 ,missionary ,christian ,association1 ,heavenly ,recruit ,church1 ,apostolic ,christian ,church1 ,christian ,congregation1 ,colored ,voluntary ,missionary ,society1 ,hicksite ,friends1 ,wilburite ,friends1 ,primitive ,friends1 ,friends of the ,temple1 ,german ,evangelical ,protestant1 ,latter,day ,saints1 ,reorganized ,latter,day ,saints1 twentyone kinds of ,lutherans shown in comments on ,rev4 #h3g1 ,swedish ,evangelical ,missionary ,covenant4 ,swedish ,evangelical ,free ,mission1 ,norwegian ,evangelical ,free ,church1 twelve kinds of ,mennonites1 ,bruederhoef1 ,amish1 ,old ,amish1 ,conservative ,amish1 ,reformed1 ,general ,conference1 ,church of ,god in ,christ1 ,old ,wisler1 ,bundes ,conference1 ,defenceless1 ,brethren in ,christ1 sixteen kinds of ,methodists shown in comments on ,rev4 #i3a1 ,union ,moravian1 ,pentecostal ,church of the ,nazarene1 ,other ,pentecostal ,associations1 twelve kinds of ,presbyterians shown in comments on ,rev4 #h3aj1 #aa1 ,christian ,reformed1 ,hungarian ,reformed1 ,reformed ,catholic1 ,salvation ,army1 ,schwenkfelders1 ,social ,brethren1 ,society for ,ethical ,culture1 ,spiritualists1 ,theosophical ,society1 ,old ,constitution ,brethren1 ,unitarians1 ,universalists1 etc4 ,their 8faiths0 are quite as varied as their names1 but without exception they deny the central truth of the ,scriptures 7#a ,john #d3b1 #c7 that when ,jesus ,christ came to earth ,he came as a man only1 devoid of immortality or ,divinity1 that when ,he died ,he was as dead as though ,he never had lived1 and that by that death ,he bought for ,adam and his race the ,restitution of all things foretold by 8the mouth of all the holy ,prophets since the world began40 7,rev4 #d3aj47 ,the common ground upon which they stand is this1 their denial of the ,ransom1 their affirmation of ,spiritism1 in some form1 and their adherence to the principle of ,federation4 ,all of these things are condemned in the ,scriptures but the ,scriptures will never be allowed to stand in the way of those who live by shearing the wool from the sheep4 7#b ,tim4 #d3c1 #d2 ,deut4 #ah3aj1 #aa2 ,isa4 #h3ibb47 ,the latter passage is full of the deepest significance at this time4 8,christian ,heralds0 that refused to publish advertisements of ,pastor ,russell's books now give space to advertisements of godless1 ,christless1 ,buddhist1 demoniacal books1 glorifying the ,new ,thought system of mind worship1 the bootstrap system of religion by which men1 by cultivation of the will1 lift themselves into money1 piety and immortality1 and by making assertions to and demands of the alleged 8subconscious mind0 invite and receive the assistance of evil spirits1 and finally come under their control4 ,modern 8,christianity0 is ,buddhism4 8,the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,day1 ,chancellor of the ,syracuse ,university1 recently1 in an address to the ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a41 is reported by the public press to have said3 #8,wouldn't you rather live in ,america than in ,heaven8 ,i would4 ,i'd like to go to ,heaven when ,i can't be here4 ,in fact1 ,i think ,i'd be rather discontented in ,heaven till ,i got adjusted4 ,you can get anything you want here4 ,you can live under forty odd governments1 meet all the nations of the world1 eat all the fruits of the world and get any kind of climate that you choose4 ,so ,america is the beat place to live2 but ,i think when a man can't stay here any longer he ought to steer for ,heaven1' 0 7,z4 '#jhaif47 ,having concluded to stay here as long as possible1 8,christians0 are now flocking by thousands to the purchase of works which will show them how to use spiritism to take advantage of their fellow men4 ,the religious and other periodicals are now filled with advertisements of these books4 ,we quote a few extracts to show their ,satanic character3 8,it is necessary to control others1 to discover their plans4 ,this you may be able to do if you have developed your inner faculties4 ,we show you how to so develop your intuitional nature that you are able to detect the feelings of others2 to penetrate their secret motives2 and to discover what they try to conceal4 ,the ,golden ,rule must be followed in controlling others4 #8,do unto others as you would that they should do unto you4' ,there comes more and more the power of seeing the future1 so that more and more true becomes the old adage that coming events cast their shadows before4 ,health in time takes the place of disease2 for all disease and its consequent suffering is merely the result of the violation of law1 whether consciously or unconsciously4 ,there comes a spiritual power which1 as it is sent out1 is adequate for the healing of others the same as in the days of old40 8,many omniscient men and women will soon walk the earth4 ,omniscience and ,freedom are the goal of all1 and in this ,great ,age of ,light many ,egos are approaching the blessed omniscience state40 8,suddenly it seemed that the top of my head had been lifted1 and ,i became aware of an immense increase of personal consciousness4 ,i became conscious1 ,i say--,i know what ,i am writing--of the vast sky above1 and the mighty deeps below1 and the wide sweep of present human life1 and the long forward and backward stretch of human history4 ,it seemed that ,i could sense the ,all4 ,since that day all is well4 ,life is deeper1 richer1 stronger--assured1 fearless1 and saturated with perennial vital interests40 7,what really happened to this man was that he became obsessed by demons47--,rev4 #g3c4 8,the strength of these delusions lies in the grave errors mixed with truths long held by ,christian people1 because of the #8falling away' from the pure faith of the ,apostolic ,church1 foretold in the ,scriptures4 ,among these errors none is designed to open the heart and mind to these delusive and destructive theories of today more effectually than the general belief of the first lie--#8,ye shall not surely die4' 7,gen4 #c3d47 ,the general acceptance of it results from a failure to understand the ,bible doctrine concerning life and immortality1 which were brought to light by our ,lord ,jesus through ,his ,gospel of salvation from sin by ,his ,ransom sacrifice4 ,the advocates of these false doctrines are surprisingly alert and active everywhere1 especially in the ,united ,states1 where thought is most active and where liberty often means license4 ,hundreds of thousands have embraced these errors as new and advanced light4 ,the extent of their success is not fully apparent to many2 for their success lies in a still hunt for prey4 ,their advocates are to be found in almost every congregation of every denomination1 and especially among the more cultured2 and the #8angel of light' feature is seldom neglected4 ,the nominal churches are already permeated1 leavened with these false doctrines4 ,the ,scriptural prophecy that #8a thousand shall fall at thy the true ,church's side1 and ten thousand at thy right hand' 7,psalm #ia3cad71 is now fulfilled before our eyes40--,z4 '#aecdc4 ,and ,i heard a voice4--,william ,miller1 from ,a4 ,d4 #ahbi to #ahdd4 ,from the four horns of the golden altar which is before ,god4--8,the ,golden ,altar in the #8,holy' would seem to represent the #8little flock1' the consecrated ,church in the present sacrificing condition40--,t4 #abj4 #i3ad4 ,saying4--,by pointing to the near fulfillment of the #bcjj days4--,dan4 #h3ad4 ,to the sixth angel which had the trumpet4--,the ,evangelical ,alliance ,spiritism movement4 ,the ,alliance proper was organized ,sept4 #bnd1 #ahdf1 at the end of the #bhjj years4 ,the spiritism feature began ,january1 #ahdh4 ,the two have been growing towards each other ever since until now they are substantially one and the same thing4 ,loose the four angels4--,four errors in the nine fundamental principles of the ,evangelical ,alliance4 ,we give the erroneous clauses by number3 7#c7 8,the unity of the ,godhead1 and the trinity of persons therein40 ,see ,rev4 #f3d2 #e3g4 7#e7 8,the incarnation of the ,son of ,god40 7#h7 8,the immortality of the soul40 7#i7 8,the ,divine institution of the ,christian ministry0 7i4 e41 the clergy74 ,which are bound4--,hindered from gaining fullest expression4 ,in the great river ,euphrates4--,the world of mankind4--,b4 #bji1 ,d4 #bd4 ,and the four angels4--,the four great errors of trinity1 incarnation1 immortality and lordship over ,god's heritage4 ,were loosed4--,given greater liberties than ever before4 ,which were prepared4--,each sect for itself1 and in its own time4 ,for an ,,the hour4--,the hour of judgment1 #aiah4 ,and a day and a month1 and a year4--,thirteen symbolic months1 the #cij years of ,protestantism's siege of the ,papacy4--,ezek4 #d3e4 ,for to slay4--,to make nominal ,christians of1 to take away the manhood of4 ,the third part of men4--,according to the ,world ,almanac for #aiag1 the total number of ,christians in the world at the beginning of the twentieth century was #ega1djj1jjj1 of whom one third1 #agg1hjj1jjj1 were ,protestants4 #i3af4 ,and the number of the army of the horsemen4--,in round numbers1 at the time of identification4 ,were two hundred thousand thousand4--,approximately two hundred millions4 ,and ,i heard the number of them4--,heard1 heeded1 or noted1 the count as given in the ,world ,almanac1 as correct4 ,this is a tribute to a journal notorious for its ignoble1 unjust and dishonest attacks on ,pastor ,russell4 8,out of thine own mouth will ,i judge thee40 ,and have you noticed1 on the same principle1 that nearly all the encyclopedic references herein are to the great standard ,protestant works to be found in every capable minister's library8 ,how is it that they do not know these things8 #i3ag4 ,and thus ,i saw the horses in the vision4--,horses are symbols of teachings4 ,it is the doctrines a man has been taught that carry him along to do things4 8,as a man thinketh1 so is he40 ,the man and his beliefs are inseparable4--,joel #b3d4 7,the four kinds of horses of ,zech4 #f3ah seem to refer to four companies of saved ones4 ,red1 the ,ancient ,worthies2 black1 the ,little ,flock2 white1 the ,great ,company2 bay1 the world of mankind47 ,and them that sat on ,,upon them4--,the total ,protestant church membership4 ,having breastplates of fire4--,keeping the doctrine of hellfire well to the front in their teachings4 ,and of jacinth4--8,the hyacinthus of the ,romans is invariably blue and lustrous4 ,this description suggests the blue flame which issues between the fire and the brimstone1 represented as #8smoke' in verse #ah40--;,cook4 ,and brimstone4--,yes1 indeed1 plenty of brimstone went along with the hell fire4--,rev4 #ad3aj4 ,and the heads4--8,the ancient and honorable1 he is the head2 and the prophet that teaches lies1 he is the tail40--,isa4 #i3ae4 8,in a genus of serpents or ophidian reptiles called amphisboena the tail and head are equally obtuse1 and the scales on the head so similar to those on the back as to render it difficult to distinguish one extremity from the other4 ,hence these reptiles have been supposed to have the power of creeping backwards or forwards with equal facility40 7,cook47--,isa4 #bi3ajad2 ,john #d3bb4 ,were as the heads of lions4--,able to swallow the most ridiculous and impossible theories4--#a ,chron4 #ab3h4 ,and out of their mouths issued fire4--,sermons full of hellfire4 ,and smoke4--,see ,rev4 #i3ah4 ,and brimstone4--,o yes1 surely2 plenty of brimstone1 to go with the hell fire4 #i3ah4 ,by these three ,,plagues was the third part of men4--,the ,protestant third of ,christendom4 ,killed4--,deprived of reason1 manhood and dignity4 ,by the fire4--,the sermons full of hellfire4 ,and by the smoke4--,smoke is a symbol of confusion4 ,the following is an extract from an article on the brain written by a wellknown physician and alienist3 8,to illustrate how effectually such conceptions served to block all progress in the science of life we may quote one instance from a ponderous volume in my library with the date #afah on ,physiology and ,anatomy by ,hilkiah ,crooke1 ,physician and ,professor on ,anatomy and ,chirurgery to ,his ,majesty1 ,james ,i4 ,speaking of the origin and growth of hair1 he says3 #8,the immediate matter of the haires is a sooty1 thicke1 and earthly vapour1 which in the time of the third concoction 7distillation7 is elevated by the strength of the action of naturall heate1 and passeth through the pores of the skin1 which heate exiceateth or drieth this moysture of these sootie and thicke vapours1 for the vapour being thicke1 in his passage leaveth some part of it selfe1 to wit1 the grossest1 in the very outlet1 where it is impacted by a succeeding vapour arising where the former did1 is protruded and thrust forward1 so that they are wrought together in one body4 ,the straightness of the passages of the skin were through the matter of the haires is anoyded1 formeth them into a small roundness1 even as a wyre receyeth that proportion whereof the whole is1 where through it is drawne4' ,one great office of the hairs of the head1 therefore1 ,crooke perceived to be to lead off #8the vapors which otherwise would choke and make smoaky the braine1' though how hopelessly choked the brains of all bald heads hence would be he does not mention40 ,a study of the foregoing leads to the conclusion that the various churches must have been founded by baldheaded men1 and the smoke being unable to find its way out through their scalps naturally had to come out of their mouths6 ,and by the brimstone4--,yes1 indeed2 plenty of brimstone4 ,which issued out of their mouths4--,especially when an evangelist firm is in town looking for shekels4 #i3ai4 ,for their power ,,the ,,power ,,of ,,the ,,horses is in their mouth4--,assuredly1 assuredly2 it certainly is not in the ,scriptures4 ,and in their tails4--,followers1 8,workers10 classleaders4--,isa4 #i3ae4 ,for their tails were like unto serpents4--,bright enough to know better4 ,and had heads4--,wills of their own--unlike the 8,beheaded0 saints 7,rev4 #bj3d47 ,and with them they do hurt4--,damage the cause of ,truth4 #i3bj4 ,and the rest of the men4--,those ordinary 8good fellows0 7and bad ones too71 men of the world who had too much sense to swallow what is taught by any of the sects4 ,which were not killed by these ,,their plagues4--,who remained 8unconverted0 to the mass of errors masquerading in the name of religion4 ,yet repented not of the works of their hands4--,failed to turn their money1 brains and service over to the nominal church1 but continued on in their own way4 ,that they should not worship devils4--,joining1 if they choose1 the ,masons1 ,odd ,fellows and other secret organisations teaching a debased form of religion4--,lev4 #ag3g2 ,deut4 #cb3ag2 #a ,cor4 #aj3bj4 ,and idols of gold1 and silver and brass ,,copper4--,having their affection set upon currency in hand and in the bank4--,psa4 #aae3ad2 ,dan4 #e3bb1 #bc4 ,and stone1 and of wood4--,giving their attention to earthly affairs1 improvements in real estate1 etc4 ,which neither can see1 nor hear1 nor walk4--,but are more or less permanent1 tangible and fixed4 #i3ba4 ,neither repented they of their murders4--,teaching hellfire keeps nobody from being a murderer or a slanderer4--,rev4 #ba3h4 ,nor their sorceries4--,use of drugs1 ,greek4 ,teaching hellfire keeps nobody from being a drug fiend or pseudophilosopher4--,rev4 #ba3h4 ,nor of their fornication ,,wickedness4--,teaching hellfire keeps nobody from being a wicked man4 ,nor of their thefts4--,teaching hellfire keeps nobody from engaging in 8high finance40 ,revelation #aj--,the ,true ,reformation ,woe #aj3a4 ,and ,i saw another angel4--8,the ,messenger of the ,covenant10 the ,lord ,jesus4--,mal4 #c3a4 ,come down from ,heaven4--,at the time of the ,second ,advent1 ,oct4 #ahgd4--,rev4 #c3bj4 ,clothed with a cloud4--8 #8,he cometh with clouds2' and while the clouds of trouble are heavy and dark1 when the mountains 7kingdoms of this world7 are trembling and falling1 and the earth 7organized society7 is being shaken1 disintegrated1 melted1 some will begin to realize what we now proclaim as already at hand--that ,jehovah's ,anointed is taking to ,himself ,his great power and beginning ,his work of laying justice to the line and righteousness to the plummet4 7,isa4 #bh3ag470--;,b4 #ach4 ,and a rainbow was ,,the ,,hair upon ,his head1 and ,his face was as it were the sun1 and ,his feet as pillars of fire4--,see ,rev4 #a3adaf2 #g3b2 #ah3a4 #aj3b4 ,and ,he had ,,having in ,his hand4--,in ,his power1 given to ,him by the ,father4--,rev4 #e3g1 #e4 ,a little book open4--,the ,present ,truth message4--,c4 #hi4 ,and ,he set ,his right foot4--,exerted the strongest power of restraint4 ,upon the sea4--,the masses not under religious control1 who1 without the ,lord's control of the situation1 would have long since swallowed up the present order of things4--,rev4 #g3ac2 ,luke #ba3be2 ,psa4 #df3b1 #c4 ,and ,his left foot on the earth4--8,throughout the ,scriptures1 earth1 when used symbolically1 represents society2 seas1 the restless1 turbulent1 dissatisfied masses of the world40--,a4 #cah4 #aj3c4 ,and cried with a loud voice4--,pastor ,russell was the voice used4--,rev4 #g3b4 ,as when a lion roareth4--,symbolical of ,justice4--,rev4 #d3g2 ,amos #c3h4 ,and when4--,in #ahha ,a4 ,d4 ,he had cried4--,with the first great cry1 8,food for ,thinking ,christians10 #a1djj1jjj copies given away1 free4 ,seven thunders4--,seven volumes of 8,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures40--,rev4 #h3e4 ,uttered their voices4--,were foreseen as necessary to the complete statement of the ,plan1 and the fulfillment of this and other ,scriptures4 #aj3d4 ,and when ,,whatsoever the seven thunders had uttered their voices1 ,i4--,pastor ,russell as a representative of the ,john class4 ,was about to write4--,intended to put on paper at once4 ,and ,i heard a voice from ,heaven4--,the guidance of the ,heavenly ,father1 directing and overruling1 knowing that the results would be better if the interest of ,his little ones were sustained by expectancy throughout the whole time of ,harvest1 rather than to give them all the light at once4--,john #af3ab4 ,saying unto me1 ,seal up those ,,what things which ,,soever the seven thunders uttered4--,do not immediately disclose their full contents4--,dan4 #h3bf2 #ab3d1 #i4 ,and write them not4--,observe how the ,lord retarded the publications3 ,vol4 ,i was published in #ahhf4 8,in sending forth this first volume of the ,,millennial ,,dawn1 it is but proper that we apologize to the many friends who have waited for it so patiently since promised40 7,a4 #c47 ,volume ,,ii was published in #ahhi1 and ,,iii in #ahia4 8,some have urged greater haste in the writing and publishing of the several volumes of this series1 and1 to a large extent1 ,i have shared the same feelings of impatience2 but my observations of the ,lord's dealings and leadings and unfoldings of ,his ,plan are gradually convincing me that ,he has not shared our impatience4 ,indeed1 ,i can clearly trace ,his hand in some of the hindrances encountered and can realize by the delay ,i have been enabled to grasp the subjects more thoroughly1 and to present them more fully1 than if the work had been hastened more4 ,not only has this delay worked for my good and yours1 but in another way also4 ,it has afforded time for a more thorough digestion of the truths of each volume1 and thereby has given to the faithful student the very necessary preparation for that which was to follow4 ,and not only so1 but it has also given opportunity for practicing the lessons learned1 and for exercising the talents of each in spreading the advancing light before others of ,god's saints40 7,c4 #ab47 ,volume ,,iv was published in #ahig1 ,v in #ahii1 ,,vi in #aijd and ,,vii in #aiag4 ,this makes a total lapse of #cf years from the publication of ,,food ,,for ,,thinking ,,christians to the last volume of the ,,scripture ,,studies4 ,meantime the ,harvest work grew to a movement of vast proportions2 and ,volume ,,vii was delayed4 #aj3e4 ,and the angel which ,i saw4--,the ,lord ,jesus1 since #ahgd4--,rev4 #aj3a4 ,stand upon the sea and upon the earth4--,in control of the masses not under religious restraint as well as orderloving society4 ,lifted up ,his ,,right hand to ,heaven4--,the seventh angel was in that hand when ,he did so4--,rev4 #a3af1 #bj4 #aj3f4 ,and sware by ,him that liveth for ever and ever4--,by ,jehovah1 ,his ,father and our ,father1 ,his ,god and our ,god4--,john #bj3ag4 ,who created ,heaven1 and the things that therein are4--8,the heavens declare the glory of ,god40--,psa4 #ai3af2 ,neh4 #i3f2 ,rev4 #d3aa2 #ad3g4 ,and the earth1 and the things that therein are1 and the sea1 and the things which are therein4--8,when the morning stars sang together1 and all the sons of ,god shouted for joy40--,job #ch1 #ci1 #dj and #da chapters4 ,that there should be ,,is time no longer4--8,there shall be no further delay40--,weym4 #aj3g4 ,but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel4--,pastor ,russell was the seventh angel4--,rev4 #c3ad4 ,when he shall begin to sound4--,in the autumn of #ahha1 at which time ,,food ,,for ,,thinking ,,christians was circulated1 and the ,general ,call ceased4--,rev4 #aa3ae4 ,the mystery of ,god should be ,,was finished4--8,the great unfolding of the ,divine mystery we are expressly told was reserved until the close of the ,gospel ,age40 7,z4 '#igbee47 8,the ,plan ceases to be a mystery1 because there is no further object in perpetuating its secrecy4 ,the greatness of the mystery1 so long kept secret1 and the wonderful grace bestowed on those called to fellowship in this mystery 7,eph4 #c3i71 suggest to us that the work to follow its completion must be an immense work1 worthy of such great preparations4 ,what may we not expect in blessings upon the world1 when the veil of mystery is withdrawn and the showers of blessing descend6 ,it is this for which the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now1 waiting for the completion of this mystery1 for the manifestation of the ,sons of ,god1 the promised #8,seed' in whom they shall all be blessed4--,rom4 #h3ai1 #ba1 #bb40 7,a4 #hg47 8,while the door stands open1 it indicates that any believer who is anxious to enter and ready to comply with the conditions may yet do so1 even though the general #8call' or invitation to enter is no longer sent out4 ,the opportunity to labor and sacrifice has not yet closed though the general call ceased in #ahha40--;,c4 #bac4 ,as ,he hath declared to ,his servants4--,the ,harvest ,workers4 ,,and the ,prophets4--,daniel 7#ab3dab7 and ,habakkuk 7#b3ac74--,rev4 #a3a4 #aj3h4 ,and the ,voice which ,i heard from ,heaven4--,the ,heavenly ,father's voice4--,rev4 #aj3d4 ,spake unto me again4--,by ,his ,holy ,spirit4 ,and said4--,through the ,bible1 ,his ,word1 ,his ,voice4 ,go take the little book4--8,study to show thyself approved unto ,god1 a workman that needeth not to be ashamed40--#b ,tim4 #b3ae4 ,which is open in the hand of the angel4--,the ,lord ,jesus4 ,rev4 #aj3a1 #e4 ,which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth4--,see ,rev4 #aj3b1 #e4 #aj3i4 ,and ,i went unto the angel4--8,in coming out of bondage to human traditions1 creeds1 systems and errors1 we are coming directly to our ,lord1 to be taught and fed by ,him1 to be strengthened and perfected to do ,his pleasure1 and to stand1 and not fall with ,babylon40--,c4 #afg4 ,and said unto ,him4--,by my act in obeying ,his command4--,rev4 #ah3d4 ,give me the little book4--,take me into ,your confidence2 give me ,your ,holy ,spirit2 show me1 as promised1 the 8things to come40--,john #af3ac4 ,and ,he said unto me1 ,take it1 and eat it up4--8,it is absolutely useless for us to pray ,lord1 ,lord1 give us the ,spirit1 if we neglect the ,word of ,truth which that ,spirit has supplied for out filling40--,e4 #bde1 #bbe2 ,ezek4 #b3h4 ,and it shall make thy belly bitter4--,lead to selfsacrifice1 with its attendant sufferings1 but create an appetite for more4 8,the after effects are always more or less blending of the bitterness of persecution with the sweetness40--,c4 #hi2 ,ezek4 #b3aj2 #c3ad2 ,dan4 #h3bg4 ,but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey4--8,o the blessedness40--,dan4 #ab3ab2 ,psa4 #ai3aj2 #aai3ajc4 #aj3aj4 ,and ,i took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it up4--8,thy words were found and ,i did eat them2 and ,thy ,word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart40--,jer4 #ae3af4 ,and it was in my mouth sweet as honey4--8,so ,i opened my mouth1 and ,he caused me to eat that roll4 ,and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness40--,ezek4 #c3b1 #c4 ,and as soon as ,i had eaten it1 my belly was bitter ,,filled4--8,it satisfies my longings as nothing else could do40 #aj3aa4 ,and ,he said ,,they ,,say unto me4--,the ,scriptures do the saying4 ,thou must prophesy again4--,continue to proclaim the ,message of ,truth ,divine4 ,before many peoples1 and nations1 and tongues1 and kings4--,until it has been fully testified to all4--#a ,tim4 #b3f4 ,the concluding word of this ,scripture suggests that the last witness of the church in the flesh is1 like their ,lord's as alleged malefactors1 before earth's rulers4 ,revelation #aa--,the ,time ,of ,the ,end #aa3a4 ,and there was given me4--,the ,john class in the ,time of the ,end4 ,a reed like unto a rod4--,the ,lord's ,word is both a rod to lean upon1 7,isa4 #aa3d7 and a reed with which to measure4 7,jer4 #a3aaab74 ,the word here tendered 8rod0 is rendered 8staff0 in ,matt4 #aj3aj2 ,heb4 #aa3ba4 ,and the angel stood1 saying1 ,,he ,,saith4--,it is the 8reed0 or 8rod0 itself1 the ,divine ,word1 that does the saying4 ,rise4--8,at the exact #8time appointed1' #agii1 the end of the #abfj days1 the power of the ,man of ,sin1 the great oppressor of the ,church1 was broken1 and his dominion taken away4 ,with one stroke of ,his mighty hand1 ,god there struck off ,zion's fetters1 and bade the oppressed go free4 ,and forth came1 and are coming1 the #8,sanctuary' class1 the #8holy people1' weak1 and halt1 and lame1 and almost naked1 and blind1 from the dungeon darkness and filth and misery of papal bondage4 ,poor souls6 they had been trying to serve ,god faithfully in the very midst of the lurid flames of persecution1 clinging to the cross of ,christ when almost every other truth had been swept away1 and courageously endeavoring to emancipate ,god's #8,two ,witnesses' 7the ,old and ,new ,testaments71 which had so long been bound1 and which had prophesied only under the sackcloth of dead languages40--,c4 #abb4 ,and measure the ,temple of ,god4--8,that symbolic ,temple which is ,the ,christ40 7,t4 #gj47 8,the mention of worshippers proves that the measuring is symbolical4 ,to #8measure' is to separate for sacred purposes2 what is excluded from the measurement is1 accordingly1 more or less mingled with evil4 ,hence1 in this place1 what is measured--the true believer typified--is to be exempted from the ,judgments in which what is not measured 7ver4 #b7 is involved40 7,cook74 8,if the direction be understood figuratively1 as applicable to the ,christian ,church1 the work to be done would be to obtain an exact estimate or measurement of what the true ,church was--as distinguished from all other bodies of men1 and as constituted1 and appointed1 by the direction of ,god2 such a measurement that its characteristics could be made known2 that a church could be organized according to this1 and that the accurate description could be transmitted to future times40 7,barnes47--,ezek4 #dj3c2 ,rev4 #ba3ae4 ,and the altar4--,the ,golden ,altar1 within the 8,holy01 the true ,church1 as sacrificers4--,ex4 #cj3aaj4 ,and them that worship therein4--,the several volumes of ,scripture ,studies and the booklet ,tabernacle ,shadows are devoted to the 8measurements0 herein prophesied4 #aa3b4 ,but the court which is without ,,within the ,temple leave out4--,the court here represents the same thing as is represented in the ,court of the ,tabernacle in the wilderness1 the condition of progression toward complete ,justification4 ,and measure it not4--,devote all attention to the higher privileges of the 8,holy04 ,the 8,court0 was merely provided as a proper approach to the 8,holy04 ,acceptance of ,christ as one's ,savior1 appreciation of ,his work at ,calvary1 and washing one's self in the water of the ,word as represented respectively by the ,first ,gate1 ,brazen ,altar1 and ,laver of the 8,court0 are not the things to which we are particularly invited2 but consecration to ,god's will1 illumination by ,his ,spirit1 appropriation of ,his promises and sacrifice of our all1 acceptable to the ,father through our great ,high ,priest1 represented respectively by the ,second ,gate or ,door1 the ,candlestick1 ,table of ,shewbread and ,golden ,altar of the 8,holy01 are the things to which we were called3 so that we might pass the ,third ,gate or ,veil1 actual death of the body1 and finally become a part of ,the ,christ1 represented by the ,ark of the ,covenant1 of which our ,father is the ,head4 ,for it is given ,,also unto the ,gentiles4--,with the deliverance of the ,little ,flock1 the condition represented by the 8,holy0 ceases4 ,this leaves the ,great ,company still in the 8,court0 and the special objects of ,gentile wrath as their kingdoms fall into ruin4 8,being denied the liberty accorded to the ,priests1 these will have merely the standing of justification1 which1 if they maintain1 will constitute them worthy of eternal life4 ,but that life will not be human life1 because they gave that up in order to become ,priests4 ,their failure puts them out of the ,holy condition back into the ,court condition40 7,z4 '#aabb47 8,after the establishment of ,messiah's ,kingdom1 this distinction between the ,church proper1 jointheirs with ,christ1 and the larger company of antitypical ,levites1 will be perpetual1 and the services of the two will be different4 ,the former will be a ,priesthood corresponding to that of ,melchizedek--a ,priest upon ,his ,throne4 ,the work of the latter will correspond more to that accomplished by the ,levites2 namely1 teaching the people1 etc41 as servants of the ,priests1 from whom they will receive their directions40--,z4 '#adgi4 ,and the ,holy ,city4--,the embryo ,kingdom of ,god4 ,shall they tread under foot4--8,the ,kingdom of ,heaven suffereth violence1 and the violent take it by force40--,matt4 #aa3ab4 ,forty and two months4--#abfj years from papacy's establishment as a temporal power1 #eci ,a4 ,d4 to #agii ,a4 ,d4--,b4 #ia1 #caj2 ,c4 #ej1 #fd2 ,dan4 #g3be2 #ab3g2 ,rev4 #ab3f1 #ad2 #ac3e2 ,jas4 #e3ag4 #aa3c4 ,and ,i will give power unto ,my ,two ,witnesses4--8,the ,lord refers to the ,old and ,new ,testament ,scriptures1 and faithfully they have borne their testimony to every nation40--,d4 #beh4 ,and they shall prophesy4--,teach4 ,a thousand1 two hundred and three score days4--#abfj years1 from ,a4 ,d4 #eci to #agii4 ,clothed in sackcloth4--8,kept covered in dead languages40--,c4 #ej4 #aa3d4 ,these are the ,two ,olive ,trees4--,sources of the oil1 the holy ,spirit4--,zech4 #d3af2 ,rom4 #aa3ag4 ,and the ,two ,candlesticks4--8,the light of the world1 during all the darkness of the past40--,d4 #feb4 ,standing before the ,god ,,lord of the earth4--,jehovah4 8,the earth is the ,lord's40--,psa4 #bd3a4 #aa3e4 ,and if any man will hurt them4--8,and if any man desireth to hurt them4 ,the present tense here points to the continued enmity of the world to the ,church1 during the entire course of the ,witnesses' testimony40--,cook4 ,fire proceedeth out of their mouth4--8,i will make ,my words in thy mouth fire1 and this people wood1 and it shall devour them40--,jer4 #e3ad4 ,and devoureth their enemies4--8,history supplies the illustrations--the fire that consumed the opponents of ,moses 7,num4 #af3bh1 #ce71 and that which came down at the word of ,elijah4 7#b ,kings #a3aj1 #ab70--;,cook4 ,and if any man will hurt them1 he must in this manner be killed4--8,therefore have ,i hewed them by the ,prophets2 and ,i have slain them by the words of ,my mouth40--,hos4 #f3e4 #aa3f4 ,these have power to shut heaven4--,the literal heavens and the spiritual heavens4--#a ,ki4 #ag3a4 ,that it rain not4--,that there be no literal showers1 or spiritual showers of blessings4 ,in the days of their prophecy4--,literally in the three and one half years in ,elijah's day in which there was no rain 7,james #e3ag7 and spiritually in the three and one half times1 or #abfj years1 from ,a4 ,d4 #eci to #agii in which the showers of blessing were withheld from the world4--,rev4 #b3bj4 ,and have power over waters4--,literal and symbolic4 ,to turn them into blood4--,literally as when ,moses turned the waters of ,egypt into blood 7,exodus #g3ba47 ,symbolically during this ,harvest time in which the ,heavenly ,harvest truths have become 8bloody01 repulsive1 abhorrent1 symbolizing death where they should be received as a blessing4--,z4 '#jgbgi4 ,and to smite the earth with all plagues4--,literal and symbolic4 ,as often as they will4--,literally in the plagues which ,moses poured out upon the ,egyptians 7,exodus #g to #aa47 ,symbolically in the spiritual plagues1 the seven last upon ,christendom4--,rev4 #af4 #aa3g4 ,and when they shall have finished their testimony4--,in the dead languages1 about the time of the end of papacy's power to persecute4 ,the beast that ,,then ascendeth out of the bottomless pit ,,abyss4--,the government without a foundation2 revolutionary ,france during the 8,reign of ,terror40 ,shall make war against them4--8,in #agic a decree passed the ,french ,assembly forbidding the ,bible2 and under that decree the ,bibles were gathered and burned1 every possible mark of contempt was heaped upon them40--,smith4 ,and shall overcome them1 and kill them4--8,all the institutions of the ,bible were abolished2 the weekly rest day was blotted out1 and every tenth day substituted for mirth and profanity4 ,baptism and the communion were abolished4 ,the being of ,god was denied1 and death proclaimed an eternal sleep4 ,the ,goddess of ,reason1 in the person of a vile woman1 was set up1 and publicly worshipped40--,smith4 #aa3h4 ,and their dead bodies shall lie in the street4--,france4 ,of the great city4--,christendom1 the ,old ,roman ,empire4--,rev4 #ad3h2 #af3ai2 #ag3i1 #ah2 #ah3b1 #aj1 #af1 #ah1 #ai1 #ba4 ,which spiritually is called ,sodom4--8 #8,remember ,lot's wife6' is our ,lord's pointed warning4 ,how intensely forceful it is as a caution to ,god's people here1 in the close of the ,gospel ,age4 ,when we learn that ,babylon is doomed1 and hear the ,lord's message1 #8,come out of her ,my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues1' it is indeed like the voice of the messengers who hastened ,lot and his family out of ,sodom1 saying1 #8,stay not in all the plain2 escape for thy life2 escape to the mountain lest thou be consumed2 look not behind thee4' 7,gen4 #ai3ag74 ,christendom is #8that great city ,babylon which spiritually is called ,sodom4' 0--,d4 #fjg1 #fjh2 ,rev4 #ag3e2 ,isa4 #a3i1 #aj2 #c3h1 #i2 ,jer4 #bc3ad2 ,ezek4 #af3dh1 #da4 ,and ,egypt4--8,egypt is recognized as a symbol or type of the world of mankind1 full of vain philosophies1 but ignorant of the true ,light40--,c4 #cae2 ,ezek4 #bc3c1 #d1 #h1 #bg4 ,where also our ,,the ,lord was crucified4--,catholic ,france1 through its connection with the papacy1 is a part of the old ,roman ,empire1 in another part of which our ,lord was slain4 ,in another aspect ,france is identified with the death of the ,lord4 ,anything done to the least of one of the ,lord's little ones is counted as done to ,himself4 ,when ,saul of ,tarsus persecuted the ,lord's saints1 the ,one who met him in the way said1 8,i am ,jesus whom thou persecutest40 7,acts #i3d1 #e2 #bb3g1 #h2 #bf3ad1 #ae47 ,a plot was laid in ,france to destroy all the ,protestants2 and on ,aug4 #bd1 #aegb1 sixty thousand were murdered1 and the streets of ,paris literally ran with blood4 ,the ,protestants were in ,paris under a solemn oath of safety1 to celebrate the marriage of the king of ,navarre4 ,admiral ,coligny1 a ,protestant of great ability and prominence1 was basely murdered in his own house1 and his head was sent to his holiness1 the ,pope1 as proof that he was really dead4 ,the 8,holy ,father of ,fathers01 the 8,vicar of ,christ01 the 8,chief ,pastor and ,teacher01 was so pleased that 8bells were rung1 and guns were fired1 bonfires were set ablaze2 and ,gregory ,,xiii1 attended by cardinals1 archbishops1 bishops1 and a great throng of prelates1 marched in procession4 ,a ,te ,deum was chanted1 and the ,pope commissioned the painter ,vasari to paint the scene of the massacre1 and employed an artist to engrave a medal commemorative of the event4 ,the preachers in ,rome delivered eloquent orations1 and a messenger carried a golden rose to ,charles as a present from the ,pope40--,coffin4 #aa3i4 ,and they of the people4--,the ,protestant people4 ,and kindreds and tongues and nations4--,of other parts of ,europe4 ,shall see their dead bodies ,,body4--8,as if though silenced in death they continued witnesses still40 7,cook47 ,take note of the horrible effect upon ,france of their effort to exterminate the ,scriptures4 8,the more deeply the ,french ,revolution is considered1 the more manifest is its preeminence above all the strange and terrible things that have come to pass on this earth4 ,every ancient institution and every time honored custom disappeared in a moment4 ,the whole social and political system went down before the first stroke4 ,monarchy1 nobility and church were swept away almost without resistance4 ,the good things of this world1--birth1 rank1 wealth1 fine clothes and elegant manners1--became worldly perils1 and worldly disadvantages4 ,the people waged a war of such extermination with everything established1 as to abolish the common forms of address and salutation1 and the common mode of reckoning time1 abhorred #8you' as a sin1 and shrank from #8monsieur' as an abomination1 turned the weeks into decades1 and would know the old months no more4 ,the demolished halls of the aristocracy1 the rifled sepulchres of royalty1 the decapitated king and queen1 the little dauphin so sadly done to death1 the beggared princes1 the slaughtered priests and nobles1 the sovereign guillotine1 the republican marriages1 the ,meudon tannery1 the couples tied together and thrown into the ,loire1 and the gloves made of men's and women's skins3 these things are most horrible40 7,t4 ,h4 ,gill1 ,the ,papal ,drama47--,d4 #ecg4 ,three days and an half4--,see ,rev4 #aa3aa4 ,and shall not suffer ,,not their dead bodies to be put in graves ,a ,,grave4--,on the contrary1 this very attempt 8served to arouse ,christians everywhere to put forth new exertions in behalf of the ,bible40--,smith4 #aa3aj4 ,and they that dwell upon the earth4--,the people of ,france1 then infidels1 without any hopes except for the present poor earthlife4 ,shall rejoice over them1 and make merry4--,literally fulfilled when the ,assembly proscribed the ,scriptures4 ,and shall send gifts one to another4--,literally fulfilled1 the gifts being expressions of joy over the sudden 8liberty10 8a custom usual in times of festivity40--,neh4 #h3aj1 #ab2 ,esth4 #i3ai1 #bb4--;,cook4 ,because these ,two ,prophets tormented4--,by continuing to proclaim the coming ,reign of ,christ and ,his ,church4 ,them that dwelt on the earth4--,the classes whose hopes and destinies are earthly4 #aa3aa4 ,and after three days and an half4--,three years and one half4 ,the ,spirit of life from ,god entered into ,them4--,in a symbolic sense ,they were 8raised from the dead40--,ezek4 #cg3e1 #i1 #aj1 #ad4 ,and ,they stood upon ,their feet4--,see ,ezek4 #cg3aj4 8,in #agic1 a decree passed the ,french ,assembly suppressing the ,bible4 ,just three years after1 a resolution was introduced into the ,assembly superseding the decree1 and giving toleration to the ,scriptures4 ,that resolution lay on the table six months1 when it was taken up1 and passed without a dissenting vote4 ,thus1 in just three years and a half1 the ,witnesses #8stood upon their feet4' 0--,smith4 ,and great fear fell upon them which saw them4--8,nothing but the appalling results of the rejection of the ,bible1 could have induced ,france to take her hands off these ,witnesses40 7,smith47 8,in the light of the foretold character of coming events of this battle1 we may regard the ,french ,revolution as only the rumbling of distant thunder1 giving warning of an approaching storm2 as a slight tremor preceding the general earthquake shock2 as the premonitory click of the great clock of the ages1 which gives notice to those already awake that the wheels are in motion1 and that shortly it will strike the midnight hour which will end the present order of affairs and usher in a new order1--the ,year of ,jubilee1 with its attendant commotion and changes of possession40--,d4 #ece4 ,in comments on ,rev4 #c3ad1 reasons are given for anticipating the deliverance of the ,little ,flock about ,passover1 #aiah possibly on the ,passover day1 as a result of activities by the tribe of ,dan4 7,jer4 #h3af47 ,there we noted the ,lord's use of the halfweek principle4 ,in this prophecy1 we have the same principle4 ,the ,french ,revolution is ,divinely provided as a picture of events now at hand1 and we therefore expect three and a half years of proscription of the ,truth1 from the spring of #aiah to the fall of #aiba4 ,this will give the ,great ,company splendid opportunities for martyrdom and allow another three and a half years1 to the spring of #aibe1 for the world to think the matter over1 by which time1 doubtless1 they will be quite ready to listen to the voice that speaketh from ,heaven4--,heb4 #ab3ai4 #aa3ab4 ,and they heard a great voice from ,heaven4--,the voice last referred to--the ,lord ,jesus ,himself1 the 8voice10 the 8,word10 of the ,heavenly ,father4 ,saying unto them1 ,come up hither4--8,the ,two ,witnesses of ,god1 the ,old and ,new ,testaments1 ascended to heaven1 the place of honor and power1 as the ,scriptures symbolically represent the matter40--,z4 '#aeaii4 ,and they ascended up to heaven4--8,the ,british and ,foreign ,bible ,society 7which has distributed #bcj1jjj1jjj copies of the ,bible7 was established in #ahjc2 the ,new ,york ,bible ,society in #ahjd2 the ,berlin,prussian ,bible ,society in #ahje2 the ,philadelphia ,bible ,society in #ahjh2 and the ,american ,bible ,society 7#abg1jjj1jjj copies distributed7 in #ahag4 ,bibles by the million1 in over #cjj languages1 are published yearly and sold at low prices1 and many thousands are given away to the poor4 ,it is difficult to estimate the wide influence of this work4 ,its quiet teaching is the greatest of all levelers and equalizers40--,c4 #ea4 ,in a cloud4--,in a time of trouble1 the ,french ,revolution4 ,the exaltation which the ,word of ,god received as a result of the ,french ,revolution is as nothing compared with the exaltation which awaits it after the 8,time of ,trouble such as was not since there was a nation40 ,and their enemies beheld them4--,as the enemies of the ,word of ,god were compelled by the stern logic of events to consent to its restoration in the ,french time of trouble1 so the ,lord's enemies1 and the enemies of ,his ,church1 will be compelled to submit to the ,reign of ,truth when their forces have been exhausted in the ,battle of the great ,day of ,god ,almighty4--,luke #ai3bg2 ,isa4 #ed3aaag4 #aa3ac4 ,and the same hour was there a great earthquake4--8,in the symbolic language of ,revelation1 the ,french ,revolution was indeed a #8great earthquake'--a social shock so great that all #8,christendom' trembled until it was over2 and that terrible and sudden outburst of a single nation's wrath1 only a century ago1 may give some idea of the fury of the coming storm1 when the wrath of all the angry nations will burst the bands of law and order and cause a reign of universal anarchy4 ,in fact1 the ,french ,revolution seems referred to by our ,lord in ,his ,revelation to ,john on ,patmos as a prelude to1 and an illustration of1 the great crisis now approaching40--,d4 #eca4 ,the ,french ,revolution lasted ten and a half years1 from ,june #agth1 #aghi1 when the ,assembly began its reign1 until ,napoleon seized the government and caused himself to be appointed ,first ,consul1 ,november #ith1 #agii4 ,this coincides well with the thought previously expressed 7,rev4 #g3c7 that all phases of ,babylon will not be disposed of until about ten and a half years from the fall of #aiad4 ,the ,assembly was in control from the first1 but did not execute the king until ,january #bast1 #agic1 three years and onehalf from the time the trouble started4 ,the ,assembly continued in control until ,june #beth1 #agie1 six years from the time the trouble began1 when the government was intrusted to five persons under the name of the ,directory4 ,it was on ,october #dth of the same year that ,napoleon cleared the streets of ,paris of the mobs1 and from that point onward his star began to rise4 ,some interesting developments in connection with the setting up of the ,kingdom may occur in #aibj1 six years after the great ,time of ,trouble began4 ,it would not be strange if this were so1 when we recall that after forty years wandering in the wilderness the ,israelites came into possession of the land of ,canaan after a further six years4 ,as these matters are still future we can but wait to see4 ,we anticipate that the 8earthquake0 will occur early in #aiah1 and that the 8fire0 will come in the fall of #aibj4--a ,kings #ai3aa1 #ab2 ,z4 '#ihbjg1 #bjh4 ,and the tenth part of the city fell4--,the ,french part of ,christendom2 one of the ten toes of the image seen by ,nebuchadnezzar2 one of the ten horns of ,daniel's beast and ,john's dragon4--,dan4 #b3dadc2 #g3bd2 ,rev4 #ab3c4 ,and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand4--8,and by the earthquake were destroyed seven thousand names of men40 7,diaglott47 8,france made war1 in her revolution of #agicih1 on all titles of nobility4 ,it is said by those who have examined the ,french records1 that just seven thousand titles of men were abolished in that revolution40--,smith4 ,and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the ,god of ,heaven4--8,their ,goddishonoring and ,heavendefying work filled ,france with such scenes of blood1 carnage1 and horror1 as made even the infidels themselves tremble1 and stand aghast2 and the #8remnant' that escaped the horrors of that hour #8gave glory to ,god'--not willingly1 but the ,god of ,heaven caused this #8wrath of man to praise ,him1' by causing all the world to see that those who make war on ,heaven make graves for themselves2 thus glory redounded to ,god by the very means that wicked men employed to tarnish that glory4 ,for the statistics and many of the foregoing thoughts on the ,two ,witnesses1 we are indebted to an exposition of the subject of ,the ,two ,witnesses1 by the late ,george ,storrs40 7,smith47 8,and here ,i gratefully mention assistance rendered by ,brothers ,george ,stetson and ,george ,storrs1 the latter the ,editor of ,the ,bible ,examiner1 both now deceased4 ,the study of the ,word of ,god with these dear brethren led step by step into greener pastures and brighter hopes for the world40--,pastor ,russell's ,autobiography4 ,z4 '#afagj4 #aa3ad4 ,the second woe is past4--,in the narrative of ,chapter ,,xi are briefly summed up the three most important events of the ,time of the ,end4 ,between the ,french ,revolution and the great ,time of ,trouble occurs a most significant event1 which leads up to and is the direct cause of the great ,time of ,trouble4 ,that event is the second woe4 ,it is described in detail in ,rev4 #i3adba4 ,but for this the great ,time of ,trouble would never have been necessary 7,mal4 #d3f72 but it is necessary now1 as necessary as was the ,flood in ,noah's day1 and for the same reason--to rid the earth of the progeny of the evil spirits1 the 8abominations of the earth40--,rev4 #ag3e2 #i3ac4 ,and1 behold1 the third woe cometh quickly4--,the third woe is the ,reign of the ,lord begun1 with its attendant upsetting of the present order4 ,the woes are visited upon those interested in maintaining the present order of things1 who would like to retain indefinitely the advantages they have obtained4 8,the battle of this great ,day of ,god ,almighty will be the greatest revolution the world has ever seen4 ,behold1 how1 even now1 the searchlight of general intelligence is discovering the secret springs of political intrigue1 financial policies1 religious claims1 etc41 and how all are brought to the bar of judgment1 and by men1 as well as by ,god1 declared right or wrong as judged by the teachings of the ,word of ,god40--,d4 #eda4 #aa3ae4 ,and the seventh angel4--,pastor ,russell4 ,see ,rev4 #c3ad2 #aj3g4 ,sounded4--8,we find the #8shout1' the #8voice of the ,archangel' and #8the trump of ,god' all symbols1 and now in process of fulfillment40 7,b4 #adi1 #aig47 8,the #8great trumpet' we understand to be the antitypical #8trumpet of ,jubilee1' as symbolic as the preceding six1 none of which ever made any literal sound4 ,it has been symbolically sounding since ,october1 #ahgd1 and will continue to the end of the ,millennium40--,d4 #fja2 ,rev4 #aj3g4 ,and there were great voices in heaven4--8,these voices have been uttered1 and to some extent heard1 in the symbolic heavens1 the nominal church4 ,for some years past a #8volunteer work' has been steadily progressing amongst the brethren--the work of rendering assistance to the members of the ,household of ,faith still in ,babylon1 still in darkness respecting the ,lord1 ,his true ,character1 ,his true ,plan1 and respecting the nearness of ,his ,kingdom40--,z4 '#jbaah4 ,saying1 ,the kingdoms ,,kingdom of this world are ,,is become the kingdoms ,,kingdom of our ,lord1 and of ,his ,christ4--8,the volunteer matter prepared for this present year 7the issues of our journal for ,february #ae and ,march #ae7 had already been prepared before we thought of how wonderfully this year's distribution will agree with the declaration of our text4 ,here will be a million voices proclaiming throughout the nominal ,church 7symbolic heavens7 the great message of this present time2 namely1 the ,second ,presence of our ,lord as the reaper of the ,harvest of the ,gospel ,age1 gathering the #8wheat' into the #8garner1' destroying the tares 7as tares--not as human beings7 and establishing ,his glorious ,kingdom upon a firm foundation of righteousness and equity1 for the blessing of every creature40--,z4 '#jbaai4 ,and ,he shall reign for ever and ever4 ,,amen4--,see ,rev4 #e3ac2 ,dan4 #b3dd2 #g3ad1 #ah1 #bg4 #aa3af4 ,and the four and twenty,,four elders4--,the prophecies pertaining to the ,kingdom of ,god4--,rev4 #d3aj4 ,which sat ,,sit before ,god on their seats4--,rev4 #d3d4 ,fell upon their faces1 and worshipped ,god4--,rev4 #d3aj4 #aa3ag4 ,saying1 ,we give thee thanks4--,see ,rev4 #e3aaac4 ,o ,lord ,god ,almighty4--8,represented in ,christ--#8,all things are of the ,father1' and #8all things are by the ,son1' ,his honored ,representative40--,d4 #fbd4 ,which art1 and wast1 and art to come4--,see ,rev4 #a3d4 ,he is not to come4 ,he has come4 ,because ,thou hast taken to ,thee ,thy great power1 and hast reigned4--8 #8,thy ,god reigneth6' ,the oftrepeated prayer of the ,church has been answered3 the ,kingdom of ,god has indeed come4 ,the dead in ,christ are even now risen and exalted with our ,lord and ,head4 ,and the #8feet' members of the ,body of ,christ1 who still tarry in the flesh1 catching the inspiration of the glorified throng who have already ascended into the ,mount 7,kingdom7 of ,god1 reflect a measure of that transcendent glory1 as did ,moses when he came down from ,mount ,sinai40 7,c4 #cja47 8,in describing the events under the ,seventh ,trumpet1 this order is observed3--7#a7 the power is taken by the ,lord as ,king of ,earth1 and ,his ,reign begun2 7#b7 as a consequence the great judgmenttrouble comes upon the world40--,d4 #fbb2 ,rev4 #ai3f2 ,psa4 #ii3a4 #aa3ah4 ,and the nations were angry1 and ,thy wrath is come4--8,although they are called ,christian nations1 they have not received the ,spirit of the ,lord2 they have not received the spirit of meekness1 gentleness1 long suffering1 brotherly kindness and love1 the fruits of the ,holy ,spirit2 but on the contrary1 the spirit which ,st4 ,paul says consists of hatred1 wrath1 strife1 murder--works of the flesh and the ,devil4 ,for this reason they did not even wait for ,god's wrath to come1 but began to bring it upon themselves nearly two months in advance4 ,they became so angry that they began to destroy each other even before their lease of power had expired40--,z4 '#adcbh4 ,and the time of the dead1 that they should be judged4--8,they cannot be judged without ,his words1 and the vast majority1--#8dead in trespasses and sins1' blinded and deafened by the ,adversary1 through sin1--have not thus far been enabled to hear their ,redeemer's wonderful words of life4 ,in the ,millennial ,kingdom the dead world will have the eyes of its understanding opened and its ears unstopped1 and the knowledge of the ,lord shall fill the whole earth and reach every member of the dead race1 not only those who have not yet gone down into the tomb1 but #8all the families of the earth2' for1 #8all that are in the grave shall come forth' for the very purpose of hearing the #8wonderful words of life1' and of being judged by them4 ,if they shall accept them heartily they shall1 by restitution processes1 be brought fully up to life conditions40--,z4 '#jbaaf2 ,dan4 #g3aj2 ,rev4 #ad3g2 #ae3d4 ,and that ,thou shouldest give reward unto ,thy ,servants the ,prophets4--,who are therefore without their rewards until ,christ's ,second ,advent4--,heb4 #aa3ci1 #dj4 ,and to the saints4--8,we hold that it is a most reasonable inference1 and one in perfect harmony with all the ,lord's ,plan1 that in the spring of #ahgh all the holy ,apostles and other #8overcomers' of the ,gospel ,age who slept in ,jesus were raised spirit beings1 like unto their ,lord and ,master40--,c4 #bcd4 ,and them that fear ,thy name1 small and great4--,all other classes of believers1 past1 present and future4 ,and shouldest destroy them4--,the ,papal and ,protestant sects4 ,which destroy the earth4--,corrupt the earth1 ,greek4--,rev4 #ai3b4 #aa3ai4 ,and the ,temple of ,god4--,the true ,church4--#a ,cor4 #c3af4 ,was opened in heaven ,,above4--,was revealed as in the ascendency over the nominal ecclesiastical heavens4 ,and there was seen in ,his ,temple4--,clearly revealed to ,his ,church4 ,the ,ark4--,the repository of the sacred and hidden things of ,revelation and ,ezekiel4 ,of ,his ,,the testament of ,god4--,the ,secret--8,the ,finished ,mystery40--,psa4 #be3ad2 ,col4 #a3bg2 ,rev4 #ad3ag2 #af3a1 #ag4 ,and there were lightnings1 and voices and thunderings4--,see ,rev4 #h3e4 ,and an earthquake4--,see ,rev4 #h3e2 #af3ah4 ,and great hail4--,a deluge of ,truth in its most compact form4--,isa4 #bh3ag2 ,rev4 #af3ba4 8,the tidal wave is coming1 the ,year of ,jubilee2 ,with shout and song it sweeps along1 like billows of the sea1 ,the jubilee of nations shall ring through earth and sky2 ,the dawn of grace draws on apace--'tis coming by and by40 ,revelation #ab--,the ,birth ,of ,antichrist #ab3a4 ,and there appeared a great wonder4--,sign1 ,greek4--,rev4 #a3a4 ,in heaven4--,in the power of spiritual control4--,a4 #cah2 ,eph4 #b3df2 ,phil4 #c3bj4 ,a ,woman4--,the early ,church1 ,nominal ,zion1 7,d4 #eia71 originally a chaste ,virgin4--#b ,cor4 #aa3b2 ,matt4 #i3ae2 #bb3b2 ,john #c3bi2 ,eph4 #e3be1 #cb4 ,clothed with the sun4--,resplendent in the full1 clear light of the unclouded ,gospel4--,d4 #eia4 ,and the moon under her feet4--8,the moon under her feet represents that the ,law which supports her is nevertheless not the source of her light40--,d4 #eia4 ,and upon her head a crown of twelve stars4--8,the twelve stars about her head as a crown represent her ,divinely appointed and inspired teachers--the ,twelve ,apostles40 7,d4 #eia47 8,now if ,god ordained only twelve stars as lights for ,his ,church1 as here represented1 is it not a great mistake for popes1 bishops and clergy to regard themselves as successors of the ,apostles1--stars also80--,d4 #eid4 #ab3b4 ,and she being with child4--,as a result of the ,mystery of ,iniquity which was working within her4--#b ,thes4 #b3g4 ,cried1 ,,and ,,she ,,crieth travailing in birth4--,felt the weight of the burden even in apostolic days4--,rev4 #b3b4 ,and pained to be delivered4--,desired to get rid of the loathsome thing from which1 by the machinations of ,satan1 she was at the time suffering4 ,in a sense the birth of the ,antichrist from the early ,church was a counterfeit of the birth of ,christ from the virgin ,mary1 the one a manifestation of the power of ,god1 the other of ,satan4--,john #af3ba1 #bb4 #ab3c4 ,and there appeared another wonder in heaven4--,among the ecclesiastical powers of the same epoch4 ,and behold a great red dragon4--,the ,pagan ,roman ,empire1 which had its own religious system4 8,the ,roman ,empire had not only conquered the world and given it politics and laws1 but1 recognizing religious superstitions to be the strongest chains by which to hold and control a people1 it had adopted a scheme which had its origin in ,babylon1 in the time of her greatness as ruler of the world4 ,that plan was1 that the emperor should be esteemed the director and ruler in religious as well as in civil affairs4 ,in support of this1 it was claimed that the emperor was a demigod1 in some sense descended from their heathen deities4 ,as such he was worshipped and his statues adored2 and as such he was styled ,pontifex ,maximus--i4 e41 ,chief ,priest or ,greatest ,religious ,ruler40--,b4 #bhh4 ,having seven heads and ten horns4--,see ,dan4 #g3g1 #bj2 ,rev4 #ac3a2 #ag3c1 #iab2 #e3f2 #a ,sam4 #b3aj2 ,deut4 #cc3ag2 #a ,ki4 #bb3aa4 ,the ,eastern1 or ,byzantine ,empire1 was founded in ,a4 ,d4 #cie1 when ,theodosius divided the ,roman ,empire between his two sons1 ,honorius and ,arcadius1 assigning to the latter all the portion lying east of the ,adriatic sea4 ,at this time the ,roman ,empire became the two legs of ,nebuchadnezzar's vision4 ,at the time the division was made the five potential races in the ,east were the ,greeks1 ,lombards1 ,ostrogoths1 ,heruli and ,vandals4 ,the five potential races in the ,west were the ,franks1 ,britons1 ,saxons1 ,visigoths and ,suevi4 ,during the next one hundred and fifty years great migrations and invasions have so confused history that there is great difference of opinion among historians on many important details4 ,it is plain1 however1 that three of the migratory races disappeared from history1 all within a few years of each other1 apparently in order to leave ,rome and its environs free for the development of the papacy4 ,the ,heruli1 a race from ,germanic territory1 disappeared from ,italian territory in ,a4 ,d4 #dhi2 the ,vandals1 a race from the shores of the ,baltic 7never in control of ,rome except on a brief raid1 but a great enemy of the papacy7 disappeared in ,a4 ,d4 #ecd2 and the ,ostrogoths1 an ,asiatic race1 in ,a4 ,d4 #eci4 ,the ,western ,empire itself disappeared in ,a4 ,d4 #dgf4 ,the matter is treated by ,pastor ,russell at greater length in ,c4 #gf1 #gg1 and all his statements are1 of course1 correct4 ,and seven crowns upon his heads4--,in the ,eastern ,empire1 corresponding to the present ,turkey and the ,balkans1 and in ,lombardy1 corresponding to the present ,austria1 we may see the two horns which remained of the five ,eastern powers after the ,ostrogoths1 ,heruli and ,vandals disappeared4 ,and in the ,visigothic ,kingdom1 corresponding to ,spain2 ,suevia1 corresponding to ,portugal2 the ,kingdom of the ,franks1 corresponding to ,france and the ,netherlands2 ,saxonia1 corresponding to ,germany and ,scandinavia2 and ,britannia1 corresponding to ,great ,britain1 we may see the five horns which represented the five western powers4 ,the following explains why ,italy is not included in the list3 8,the difficulty of ,italian history lies in the fact that until modern times the ,italians have had no political unity1 no independence1 no organized existence as a nation4 ,split up into numerous and mutually hostile communities1 they never1 through the fourteen centuries which have elapsed since the end of the old ,western ,empire1 shook off the yoke of foreigners completely2 they never until lately learned to merge their local and conflicting interests in the common good of undivided ,italy4 ,their history is therefore not the history of a single people1 centralizing and absorbing its constituent elements by a process of continued evolution1 but a group of cognate populations1 exemplifying divers types of constitutional developments40--,brit4 ,the foregoing justifies ,pastor ,russell's thought that the ,western ,empire should be counted as one of the horns rooted up to make way for the ,papacy4 ,as to whether it or the ,vandal race should be counted as the third horn1 since both were destroyed1 is a matter of no great importance to us4 ,the point of greatest interest now is that the ,lord is about to destroy the other seven1 including the ,papacy4 ,all the powers named1 except ,spain1 are already in the great ,war4 ,indeed1 except ,south ,america1 which expects to be dragged in1 the only countries of the world not now 7,june1 #aiag7 engaged in the war are ,scandinavia1 ,holland1 ,switzerland1 ,spain1 ,abyssinia and ,mexico4--,jer4 #be3aech4 #ab3d4 ,and his tail4--,constantine1 last of the ,roman emperors to maintain his capital at ,rome4 8,after the senate and people of ,rome had ceased to be the sovereigns of the ,roman world1 and their authority had been vested in the sole person of the emperor1 the eternal city could no longer claim to be the rightful throne of the state4 ,that honor could henceforth be conferred upon any place in the ,roman world which might suit the convenience of the emperor1 or serve more efficiently the interests he had to guard4 ,furthermore1 the empire was now upon its defense4 ,when ,constantine1 therefore1 established a new seat of government at ,byzantium1 he adopted a policy inaugurated before his day as essential to the preservation of the ,roman dominion4 ,he can claim originality only in his choice of the particular point at which that seat was placed1 and in his recognition of the fact that his alliance with the ,christian church could be best maintained in the new atmosphere4 ,the city was founded by ,constantine the ,great1 through the enlargement of the old town of ,byzantium1 in ,a4 ,d4 #cbh1 and was inaugurated as a new seat of government on the #aath of ,may1 ,a4 ,d4 #ccj4 ,to indicate its political dignity1 it was named ,new ,rome1 while to perpetuate the name of its founder it was styled ,constantinople4 ,the chief patriarch of the ,greek church still signs himself #8,archbishop of ,new ,rome4' 0--,brit4 ,illustration ,paganism ,attacks the ,early ,church ,drew the third part4--8,the ,roman ,emperor ,constantine saw a vision--probably when wide awake--a vision of greater prosperity for himself and his ,empire1 by a recognition of ,christianity as the religion of his ,empire instead of paganism1 which had previously been recognized4 ,constantine's influence in ,church affairs became great4 ,he proposed the calling of a council of all the bishops1 numbering about one thousand4 ,he wanted to know why these apostolic bishops1 all inspired with the same ,spirit of ,god1 taught so differently4 ,he offered to pay the expenses of all the bishops to the ,council of ,nice2 but the majority1 fearing that the ,emperor would be under the control of the ,roman bishop 7not yet claiming to be pope71 declined to attend4 ,only #chd came4 ,but even they were unable to agree4 ,many held to the ,bible teaching1 but the mystification thought of trinity had gained a hold on some of the bishops4 ,thereupon ,constantine decided the matter2 and the ,nicene ,creed1 backed by the ,emperor's power1 was declared to be the ,christian faith1 and anything contrary to it1 heresy4 ,yet be it remembered that only about onethird of the bishops were present at the ,council2 and that they could not be coerced into substituting #8mystery' for the ,word of ,god1 until the ,emperor lent his influence4 ,thus was the mystery of trinity enshrined by a heathen emperor1 not baptized--not even sprinkled4 ,the history of the persecution of all who would not worship the trinitarian mystery would fill volumes4 ,one sad illustration is familiar to all--the burning of ,servetus1 by good ,brother ,calvin's signature to the death warrant4 ,is it any wonder that with such conditions prevailing for centuries1 the ,bible ignored and the creeds worshipped1 the true teachings of the ,bible on many subjects were completely lost sight of8 ,is it any wonder that1 when in the sixteenth century ,god began to bring the ,bible back to the attention of the world1 it was burned by the ,episcopal bishops in front of ,st4 ,paul's ,cathedral in ,london8 ,is it any wonder that the ,christians of that time were persecuted for studying it1 and could meet only in secret80--,b4 ,s4 ,m4 ,of the stars of heaven4--,false stars1 8wandering stars10 manordained lights of the nominal heavens4--,d4 #eie4 ,there the bishops became substitutes for the true ,apostolic stars4 ,and did cast them to the earth4--,forced them to teach what he told them or else be banished1 as was ,arius4 ,and the dragon4--,imperial ,rome1 represented by ,constantine4 ,stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered4--,the early ,christian ,church4 ,for to devour her child4--,absorb it1 make it a subordinate feature of the ,roman system of government4 ,as soon as it was born4--,as soon as the development of the clergy class and others equally unfaithful to ,christ had made it impossible for them to be retained longer in the true ,church4 #ab3e4 ,and she brought forth a man child4--,the papacy4--,z4 '#giabb4 ,who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron4--8,in a bull1 or edict1 ,sixtus ,v declares3 #8,the authority given to ,st4 ,peter and his successors1 by the immense power of the eternal ,king1 excels all the power of earthly kings and princes4 ,it passeth uncontrollable sentence upon them all4 ,and if it find any of them resisting ,god's ordinance1 it takes more severe vengeance on them1 casting them down from their thrones1 however powerful they may be1 and tumbling them down to the lowest parts of the earth as the ministers of aspiring ,lucifer4' 8,a bull of ,pope ,pius ,v41 entitled #8,the damnation and excommunication of ,elizabeth1 queen of ,england1 and her adherents' reads as follows3 #8,he that reigneth on high1 to whom is given all power in heaven and in earth1 committed one holy1 catholic and apostolic church 7out of which there is no salvation7 to one alone upon earth1 namely1 to ,peter1 the ,prince of the apostles1 and to ,peter's successor1 the bishop of ,rome1 to be governed in fulness of power4 ,him alone he made prince over all people and all kingdoms1 to pluck up1 destroy1 scatter1 consume1 plant and build4' 0--,b4 #caa4 ,and her child was caught up unto ,god1 and to ,,unto ,his throne4--8,st ,bernard affirms that #8none except ,god is like the pope1 either in heaven or on earth4' #8,the ,emperor ,constantine1' says ,pope ,nicholas ,i41 #8conferred the appellation of ,god on the pope2 who1 therefore1 being ,god1 cannot be judged by man4' ,said ,pope ,innocent ,,iii4--#8,the pope holds the place of the true ,god2' and the canon law1 in the gloss1 denominates the pope--#8our ,lord ,god4' ,innocent and ,jacobatius state that #8the pope can do nearly all that ,god can do1' while ,decius rejects the word nearly1 as unnecessary4 ,jacobatius and ,durand assert that #8none dare say to him any more than to ,god--,lord1 what doest ,thou8' 0--,b4 #caa4 ,pope ,martin stated the matter in his own behalf as follows3 8,all the earth is my diocese1 and ,i am the ordinary of all men1 having the authority of the ,king of all kings upon subjects4 ,i am all in all1 and above all1 so that ,god ,himself1 and ,i1 the vicar of ,god1 have both one consistory1 and ,i am able to do almost all that ,god can do4 ,in all things that ,i list my will is to stand for reason1 for ,i am able by the law to dispense above the law1 and of wrong to make justice in correcting laws and changing them4 ,wherefore1 if those things that ,i do be said not to be done of man1 but of ,god--,what can you make me but ,god8 ,again1 if prelates of the church be called and counted of ,constance for ,gods1 ,i then1 being above all prelates1 seem by this reason to be above all ,gods4 ,wherefore1 no marvel if it be in my power to change time and times1 to alter and abrogate laws1 to dispense with all things1 yea1 with the precepts of ,christ0--,b4 #cad2 ,dan4 #g3be4 #ab3f4 ,and the woman4--,the true ,church of ,god4 ,fled ,into the wilderness4--8,error1 always more popular than truth1 when exalted to influence and power1 hunted down1 proscribed and made disreputable the truth1 and all who held it4 ,this was the time when the true ,church 7woman7 fled into the wilderness--into solitude--an outcast because of her fidelity to the truth1 and to the true ,lord and ,head of the ,church40--,b4 #cbi4 ,where she hath a place prepared of ,god4--8,the secret place of the ,most ,high40--,psa4 #ia3a4 ,that they4--,the antitypical ravens that fed the ,elijah class1 the unknown1 8faithful men0 who1 in secret1 broke the bread of life to those that hungered for righteousness4 ,should feed her there4--,as ,elijah was fed in the wilderness4--,rev4 #b3bj4 ,a thousand two hundred and threescore days4--#abfj years1 from ,a4 ,d4 #eci to #agii4--,rev4 #aa3b1 #c4 #ab3g4 ,and there was war in heaven4--,between the two ecclesiastical powers1 ,pagan ,rome and ,papal ,rome4 ,michael4--8,who as ,god10 the ,pope4--,b4 #bge2 ,c4 #fb4 ,and his angels4--,the ,bishops4 ,the following is the reply given in the ,catholic catechism to the question1 8,who are the successors of the ,apostles80 ,ans4 8,the bishops who are rightly consecrated1 and are in communion with the head of the ,church1 the ,pope40 ,fought against ,,to ,,war ,,with the dragon4--,attempted to get the temporal power away from the civil rulers4--,rev4 #b3ab4 ,and the dragon4--,imperial ,rome4--,b4 #bhh2 ,rev4 #ab3c2 #bj3b4 ,fought and his angels4--,did everything possible to circumscribe the growing power of the papacy1 but all in vain4--,rev4 #b3ab4 #ab3h4 ,and ,,they prevailed not ,,against ,,him1 neither was their place ,,he ,,then found any more in heaven4--,the ,papacy came out of the contest victorious4 8,paganism1 defeated1 relinquished all things pertaining to religious affairs and contented itself with social1 civic and political affairs10 so stated one of ,pastor ,russell's coworkers4 #ab3i4 ,and the great dragon was cast out4--,verses #i to #ab contain the rejoicings of the ,papacy over their triumph4 ,that old serpent1 called the ,devil1 and ,satan4--8,to this fourth beast1 representing ,rome1 ,daniel gives no descriptive name4 ,while the others are described as lionlike1 bearlike and leopardlike1 the fourth was so ferocious and hideous that none of the beasts of earth could be compared with it4 ,john the ,revelator1 seeing in vision the same symbolic beast 7government71 was also at a loss for a name by which to describe it1 and finally gives it several4 ,among others1 he called it #8the ,devil4' ,he certainly chose an appropriate name2 for ,rome1 when viewed in the light of its bloody persecutions1 certainly has been the most devilish of all earthly governments4 ,even in its change from ,rome ,pagan to ,rome ,papal it illustrated one of ,satan's chief characteristics2 for he also transforms himself to appear as an angel of light 7#b ,cor4 #aa3ad71 as ,rome transformed itself from heathenism and claimed to be ,christian--the ,kingdom of ,christ40--,a4 #beh4 ,which deceiveth the whole world4--,by intimating that anybody in it except the pope has any right to say anything about how it should be run4 ,he was cast out into the earth4--,we1 the ,papacy1 are in control6 ,and his angels were cast out with him4--,we1 the cardinals1 etc41 have the positions of power once held by the priests of ,pagan ,rome6 #ab3aj4 ,and ,i heard a loud voice saying in heaven4--,in the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,now is come salvation1 and strength4--8,cardinal ,manning1 ,papacy's chief representative in ,england1 endorses and draws public attention to the following clause of the ,catholic faith3 #8,we declare1 affirm1 define1 and pronounce it necessary to salvation1 for every human creature to be subject to the ,roman ,pontiff4' ,and in a published discourse he represents the pope as saying1 #8,i claim to be the ,supreme ,judge and ,director of the consciences of men2 of the peasant that tills the field1 and the prince that sits on the throne2 of the household that lives in the shade of privacy1 and the ,legislature that makes laws for kingdoms4 ,i am the sole1 last1 ,supreme ,judge of what is right and wrong4' 0--,b4 #cag4 ,and the kingdom of our ,god4--,the ,papacy really believed that its exaltation to power was the exaltation of the kingdom of ,god in the earth1 and so it was1 but not our ,god4--#b ,cor4 #d3d4 ,and the power of ,his ,christ4--,the pope really believes he is the ,vicar of ,christ4 ,for the accuser of our brethren is cast down4--,it seemed to the ,papacy that in undermining and supplanting ,imperial ,rome they had gained a great victory for ,christ4 ,which accused them before our ,god day and night4--,pagan ,rome truthfully accused the ,papacy of lying1 simony1 murder1 adultery1 and every crime on the calendar4--,rev4 #b3ac4 #ab3aa4 ,and they overcame him by the blood of the ,lamb4--,this is the way it looks to ,catholics even to this day4 8,by this sign the cross conquer60 was the ,crusaders' standard4 ,and by the word of their testimony4--,but not by the testimony of history or of ,god's ,word1 both of which show that 8their testimony0 7i4 e41 the testimony of the papacy1 in the forged decretals and otherwise7 was one of continuous lies4--,dan4 #aa3bg4 ,and they loved not their lives unto the death4--,this was the ,catholic viewpoint4 #ab3ab4 ,therefore rejoice1 ye heavens4--,catholic heavens--popes1 bishops and prelates4 ,and ye that dwell in them4--8,the underpriests of ,papacy1 not parts or members of the church or hierarchy1 but called #8,brothers4' 0--,b4 #cjc4 ,woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea4--,it seemed to the ,papacy as though the ,millennium1 and the great ,time of ,trouble which the ,scriptures everywhere show is to precede it1 were just at hand4--,rev4 #g3a ,for the devil is come down to you4--,the papal thought that ,pagan ,rome was a good representative of the ,devil is quite right2 and the ,scriptures return the compliment4 ,having great wrath4--,being very greatly angered at ,papacy's aggressions4 ,the ,papal policy has ever been to crowd the civil powers as far as they could possibly go1 then wait until a generation had passed and crowd some more4 ,the horns have always hated the whore4--,rev4 #ag3af4 ,because he knoweth he hath but a short time4--,had ,papacy been able to bring it about it would surely1 in time1 have deprived all the rulers of the world of every particle of civil1 social1 ecclesiastical and financial power4 ,there has never been any limit to its ambitions or pretensions1 and there is none now4 #ab3ac4 ,and when the dragon4--,the civil powers of the old ,roman ,empire1 under the control of the ,papacy4 ,saw that he was cast unto the earth4--,deprived of the superstitious reverence now almost wholly absorbed by the ,papacy4 ,he persecuted4--,not on his own account1 but under the orders and instructions and encouragements of the ,papacy1 and to win ,papal approval4 ,the woman which brought forth the man child4--,the true ,church4 ,for details of the infamous work of ,charles ,v1 ,emperor of ,germany and ,king of ,spain and the ,netherlands1 the ,duke of ,alva1 ,philip ,,ii of ,spain1 the ,french kings ,francis and ,henry1 see pages #ccgcch of ,,studies ,,in ,,the ,,scriptures1 ,vol4 ,,ii4 ,these are but illustrations of what occurred in all parts of the old ,roman world1 and were all done at the behest of the ,papacy4 #ab3ad4 ,and to the woman4--,the true ,church4 ,were given ,two ,wings4--,the ,old and ,new ,testaments4 ,of a great eagle4--,the eagle is a symbol of wisdom1 a fit representative of the ,scriptures in which are contained the words of our ,god4 7,rev4 #d3g47 8,i bare you on eagle's wings1 and brought you unto ,myself40--,ex4 #ai3d2 ,deut4 #cb3aaab4 ,that she might fly into the wilderness4--,separateness from the world2 ostracism2 represented by ,elijah's three and a half years in the wilderness4--,rev4 #b3bj4 ,into her place1 where she is nourished4--,by ,divinely provided means1 of which almost no records have been permitted to survive the ravages of papal persecution4 ,both for a time1 and times1 and half a time4--#abfj years from ,a4 ,d4 #eci to #agii4--,rev4 #aa3b1 #c4 ,from4--,safe from4 ,the face of the ,serpent4--,satan himself1 the real instigator of all persecutions from the ,lord's time even until now4 ,and the ,serpent4--,satan himself1 at the close of the #abfj years of ,papacy's power to persecute4 ,cast out of his mouth water as a flood4--8,the strength of the ,french revolution1 to which reference is here had1 lay in the fact that it was instigated by many stern truths1 regarding priestcraft and kingcraft1 and regarding the individual rights and liberties of all4 ,truths regarding human rights were seen and expressed there which cause us surprise when we consider the ignorance1 superstition and servility of that day1 under which the masses had so long rested4 ,many of the truths which then swept as a flood over ,france1 deluging it with blood1 are now very generally accepted among all civilized peoples40--,c4 #fe4 ,after the woman1 that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood4--8,satan's design in instigating the ,french revolution was to create an alarm throughout ,europe1 especially the influential class1 unfavorable to liberty1 and to illustrate in ,france the theory that1 were the superstitions of ,rome to be overthrown and liberty to be given full sway1 all law and order would speedily end40 ,this strategy ,satan is now about to repeat--this time with success1 but his triumph will be short4--,c4 #ff4 ,and the earth4--,the orderloving people of ,europe4 ,helped the woman4--,the true ,church4 ,and the earth opened her mouth1 and swallowed up the flood4--8,it is a fact of history that the flood of truth which spread over ,france--arraigning ,papacy and its priestcraft1 and monarchy and its parasitic aristocracy1 as the responsible causes of much of the ignorance1 poverty and superstition of the people--was swallowed up1 or absorbed by the people of ,europe generally 7,the ,roman #8earth'74 ,and when the rulers of ,europe formed what was called #8,the ,holy ,alliance1' for the suppression of the liberties of the people and the perpetuation of their own thrones1 it was too late to fetter the people2 for1 having drunk up the flood of waters1 they would not submit4 ,it was too late to think of reestablishing ,papacy1 which had been so terribly humiliated and whose anathemas against liberty and the ,french had so reacted against itself2 so the pope was not even invited to join the #8,holy ,alliance1' of which before he would have been the recognized head40--,c4 #ff4 ,which the dragon cast out of his mouth4--8,this sudden flood of waters 7truth7 was designed to act as an emetic1 to lead to the casting out of the food of liberty1 already being received by the people from the ,bible1 as the result of the ,reformation1 and thus to force rulers and teachers to oppose the truth through fear of anarchy40--,c4 #ff4 #ab3ag4 ,and the dragon was wroth with the woman4--,the protesting ,church of ,god4 ,this will apply with great force shortly4 ,and went to make war with the remnant of her seed4--,the true saints in the ,roman ,catholic communion or wherever otherwise found1--always objects of hatred and oppression by ecclesiasticism4--,rev4 #ac3g4 ,which keep the commandments of ,god4--8,the law is fulfilled in us40--,rom4 #h3d4 ,and have the testimony of ,jesus ,christ ,,god4--,have ,,his word as the man of their counsel4--,rev4 #ad3ab4 ,revelation #ac--,the ,papal ,and ,protestant ,beasts #ac3a4 ,and ,i ,,he stood upon the sand of the sea4--,the sea represents the masses not under religious restraint4 ,it is this symbolic sea that is to overturn and swallow up all kingdoms of earth in the great ,time of ,trouble4 ,the proper understanding of the vision is located down at the edge of this sea1 near the ,time of ,trouble4 ,illustration ,papacy ,as ,god ,pictures ,it ,and ,i saw a beast4--8,this character is very forcibly delineated even in the names applied to it by the inspired writers4 ,paul calls it #8,that ,wicked ,one1' #8,the ,man of ,sin1' #8,the ,mystery of ,iniquity1' #8,the ,antichrist1' and #8,the ,son of ,perdition2' the ,prophet ,daniel calls it #8,the ,abomination that maketh desolate' 7,dan4 #aa3ca2 #ab3aa72 and our ,lord refers to the same character as #8,the ,abomination of ,desolation1 spoken of by ,daniel the ,prophet' 7,matt4 #bd3ae74 ,this same character was also prefigured by a little horn1 or power1 out of a terrible beast that ,daniel saw in his prophetic vision1 which had eyes1 and a mouth that spoke great things1 and which prospered and made war with the saints1 and prevailed against them4 7,dan4 #g3h1 #ba47 ,john also saw and warned the ,church against this character1 saying1 #8,ye have heard that ,antichrist shall come4' ,he then advises how to escape ,antichrist's influence4 7#a ,john #b3ahbg47 ,these various appellations and brief descriptions indicate a base1 subtle1 hypocritical1 deceptive1 tyrannical and cruel character1 developed in the midst of the ,christian ,church2 claiming1 to the last1 peculiar sanctity and authority and power from ,god40 7,b4 #bga47 8,we need not look long to find a character fitting all the requirements perfectly4 ,but when we state that the one and only system whose history fits these prophecies is ,papacy1 let no one misunderstand us to mean that every ,roman ,catholic is a man of sin4 ,popes1 bishops and others are at most only parts or members of the ,antichrist system1 even as all of the ,royal ,priests are only members of the true ,christ40 7,b4 #bgg47 ,antichrist now finds its expression in the 8,christian0 governments of the world founded upon its teachings--,christendom4 ,rise up out of the sea4--,see ,rev4 #ag3ae2 ,psa4 #fe3g2 #ic3c1 #d2 ,isa4 #eg3bj4 ,at the time of papacy's birth the masses of the ,roman people had ceased to have reverence for the ancient mythology of ,pagan ,rome4 ,constantine1 a shrewd politician1 discerned this and discerned the growing influence of the ,christian religion4 ,in adopting it1 in forcing the adoption of the ,nicene ,creed1 and in removing his capital from ,rome1 he gave the papacy its start4 ,having ,,ten ,,horns ,,and seven heads and ten horns4--,see ,rev4 #ab3c2 ,dan4 #g3g1 #bj2 ,rev4 #ag3c1 #iab2 #e3f2 #a ,sam4 #b3aj2 ,deut4 #cc3ag2 #a ,ki4 #bb3aa4 ,and upon his horns ten crowns4--,in this calculation are included the three potential races plucked up to make way for the papacy4 7,rev4 #ab3c2 #ag3c1 #i47 ,in this picture the location of the crowns upon the horns instead of upon the heads1 as in ,rev4 #ab3c1 denotes the changed situation after the papacy came into control4 ,the papacy ruled not directly1 as did ,pagan ,rome1 but through other powers to which it was joined4 ,and upon his heads4--,the seven kingdoms that still survive3 ,spain1 ,portugal1 ,france1 ,england1 ,germany1 ,austria1 ,greece1 and their past and present dependencies4 ,the name of blasphemy4--,every one of these kingdoms falsely claims1 or has claimed1 to be a part of the ,kingdom of ,god1 though actually all part of the one great kingdom ruled by 8,the god of this world40--#b ,cor4 #d3d4 #ac3b4 ,and the beast which ,i saw was like unto a leopard4--8,the body of the ,papal beast was like a ,leopard4 ,the ,leopard was the third beast seen by ,daniel1 viz41 ,grecia4 ,greece was noted as the center of learning1 piety and wisdom 7,acts #ag3bc72 so ,papacy's chief claim1 to be the ruler of all kingdoms1 is based on the claim that it is the center of wisdom1 learning and piety4 ,other peculiarities of the ,leopard are its activity1 vigilance and secretiveness2 so with ,papacy4 ,again1 a ,leopard is spotted irregularly1 so too ,papacy's policy in various parts of the earth40 7,z4 '#giabb47 8,in one place it is liberal1 almost white in its professions or appearances2 in another quarter black1 corrupt1 degrading1 brutal2 and in still other places it has various neutral and tawny shades of correspondence to the natural depravity of the people it rules with its rod of eternal torment and its staff of ,purgatory4 ,in ,spain1 for example1 which has been for centuries one of its dark spots--as dark as the general civilization of the people will permit1--the #8leopard' has been accustomed to have its way1 and is incensed that freedom of worship1 or even of thought1 should be dreamed of40--,z4 '#iibfb4 ,and his feet were as the feet of a bear4--8,the bear suggests another of ,papacy's peculiarities as an empire1 viz41 persistency4 ,like the ,bear ,empire 7,medo,persia7 which would besiege for years1 and even turn a river aside to accomplish its ends2 so ,papacy moves cautiously and gets possession of kingdoms rather by strategy than by battles4 ,the bear hugs its prey to death with its paws40--,z4 '#giabb4 ,and his mouth as the mouth of a lion ,,lions4--8,babylon was celebrated for its splendor and pride--the ,lion the king or ruler of all beasts--so ,papacy had a mouth of this sort1 i4 e41 it claimed to be the kingdom over all kingdoms by ,divine right1 the kingdom of ,god1 which was to break in pieces and consume all others--a strong mouth40--,z4 '#giabb4 ,and the dragon4--,imperial ,rome1 represented by ,constantine4 ,gave him his power4--8,ancient ,pagan ,rome had only a mere skeleton of sacerdotal power as compared with the complex and elaborate machinery and contrivances of doctrine and practice of ,papal ,rome1 the triumphant successor to their scheme1 who now1 after centuries of cunning and skill1 has its power so intrenched that even today1 when its power is outwardly broken and it is shorn of civil dominion1 it rules the world and controls kingdoms secretly1 under cover1 more thoroughly than the ,roman emperors ever ruled the kings subordinate to them40--,b4 #bhh4 ,and his seat4--,his place in the city of ,rome1 by transferring his own headquarters to ,byzantium1 8,new ,rome40--,rev4 #ab3d4 ,and great authority4--,at the hands of the ,roman ,emperor ,justinian1 in ,a4 ,d4 #eci4--,rev4 #ab3ce4 #ac3c4 ,and ,i saw one of his heads4--,one of the dragon's heads--,papacy4 ,as it were wounded to death4--,whenever the ,scriptures use the expression 8as it were0 7as in ,rev4 #i3g1 #i7 what seems or appears is not actually the case4 ,and his deadly wound was healed4--8,at the ,diet of ,augsburg1 in #aeee1 the ,religious ,peace was concluded4 ,every prince was to be allowed to choose between the ,catholic religion and the ,augsburg ,confession of the ,reformers2 and the religion of the prince was to be that of the land over which he reigned3 that is1 each government was to choose the creed for its subjects4 8,in fact1 the political circumstances of the time1 combined with the fact that even the leaders of the reform were only beginning to get awake to some of the moral and a few of the doctrinal errors of ,papacy1 lead us to wonder at the rapid strides taken toward the right1 rather than to harshly condemn them for not making the cleansing more thorough4 ,but when the ,protestant churches united with the state1 progress and reform came to a standstill4 ,soon creeds were formed which were almost as unyielding and opposed to growth in knowledge as the decrees of ,rome40--,c4 #aaa4 ,and all the world ,,earth wondered after the beast4--,the reference is to the symbolic earth1 the people1 obedient to the ruling powers4--,rev4 #ag3h4 #ac3d4 ,and they worshipped the dragon4--8,dragon means civil power1 ,pagan ,rome40--,z4 '#giabb4 ,which ,,because ,,he gave ,,the power unto the beast4--8,the people respected the civil power all the more because it had so honored ecclesiastical authority4 ,the various kingdoms 7horns7 soon learned that their hold over the people was strengthened rather than weakened by allegiance to ,papacy1 for ,papacy in turn recognized them1 and commanded the people to recognize those despots as of divine appointment4 ,thus it is1 that to this day1 the rulers of ,europe claim to rule by ,divine right and appointment1 and their children after them1 no matter how incompetent4 ,for the same reason the ,protestant churches of ,europe1 to gain national favor1 protection and assistance1 became ,state churches1 and they1 as ,papacy did1 recognize the reigning families as possessed of ,divine title to the office and rulership of the people4 ,god's ,word1 on the contrary1 denounces all the governments of earth as beastly1 selfish1 oppressive1 and recognizes only one ,kingdom as being of ,god's appointment1 viz41 the ,kingdom soon to be established in all the earth--,christ and ,his saints in glory4 7,dan4 #g3bg2 ,rev4 #aa3ae2 #b ,tim4 #b3ab47 ,it is in that ,kingdom only that the saints have their citizenship1 it alone they recognize1 and for it pray #8,thy ,kingdom come4' 0--,z4 '#hjaa4 ,and they worshipped the beast4--8,the following1 called ,the ,adoration1 is still a part of the ceremony connected with the installation of a new pope3 #8,the pope is lifted up by the cardinals and placed by them upon the altarthrone4 ,one of the bishops kneels1 and the singing of ,te ,deum ,we praise thee1 ,o ,god begins4 ,meantime the cardinals kiss the feet and hands and face of the pope4' ,a coin representing this ceremony1 struck in the ,papal mint1 bears the words1 #8,whom they create1 they adore4' 0--,b4 #caf4 ,saying1 ,who is like unto the beast4--,what other character in history ever made such claims or received such homage8--,rev4 #ah3ah4 ,,and who is able to make war with him4--8,when1 in ,a4 ,d4 #dee1 the city of ,rome was invaded and plundered by the ,vandals1 and all around was distress and desolation1 ,leo1 the bishop of ,rome1 improved the opportunity for impressing upon all1 both barbarians and ,romans1 his claim of spiritual power4 ,to the rude and superstitious barbarians1 already greatly impressed by what they saw about them1 of ,rome's greatness and wealth1 ,leo1 arrayed in his pontifical robes1 exclaimed3 #8,beware6 ,i am the successor of ,st4 ,peter1 to whom ,god has given the keys of the ,kingdom of ,heaven and against whose church the gates of hell cannot prevail2 ,i am the living representative of divine power on the earth2 ,i am ,csar1 a ,christian ,csar1 ruling in love1 to whom all ,christians owe allegiance2 ,i hold in my hands the curses of hell and the benedictions of ,heaven2 ,i absolve all subjects from allegiance to kings2 ,i give and take away1 by divine right1 all thrones and principalities of ,christendom4 ,beware how you desecrate the patrimony given me by your invisible king2 yea1 bow down your necks to me and pray that the anger of ,god may be averted4' 0--,b4 #bie4 #ac3e4 ,and there was given unto him a mouth4--,the mouth of ,antichrist is one of its leading characteristics4--,b4 #cje2 ,dan4 #g3h1 #aa1 #be4 ,speaking great things and blasphemies4--8,how evident it must be to the simplest minds that ,papacy's great swelling words and boastful claims have1 one and all1 been blasphemies4 ,the establishment of a counterfeit ,kingdom of ,god was a libel upon ,god's government1 a gross blasphemy1 and a misrepresentation of ,his character and ,plan and ,word4 ,god's character1 i4 e41 ,his #8name1' was blasphemed in the thousand monstrous edicts1 bulls and decretals issued in ,his name1 by the long line of those who claimed1 as vicegerents1 to represent ,his ,son by the titles1 appropriate only to the ,father or to ,christ1 which they have applied to themselves2 and ,god's ,tabernacle1 the true ,church1 was blasphemed by the false system which claimed to take its place40--,b4 #cjf2 ,dan4 #g3h1 #bj1 #be4 ,and power ,,it was given unto him to continue ,,do ,,what ,,he ,,will4--,he still continues1 though he can no longer do what he will4 ,forty and two months4--#abfj days1 or a time1 times and a half2 fulfilled in #abfj literal years from ,a4 ,d4 #eci to #agii ,a4 ,d4 7,rev4 #aa3b47 ,as a secondary fulfilment1 we may see the end of the rule of the ,kaiser and others of his mouthpieces in #db literal months from ,aug4 #a1 #aiad4 ,but what folly it would be to try to see in the ,german ,kaiser1 or any other one man1 the foretold ,antichrist4--,rev4 #aa3aa4 #ac3f4 ,and he opened his mouth in blasphemy ,,blasphemies against ,god4--,misrepresentations of the ,divine ,character and ,plan4 ,to blaspheme ,his name ,,him4--,god was blasphemed1 or misrepresented by the titles used by the popes1 by their claims to the exercise of ,divine power on earth 7,b4 #caa71 by claims that the ,pope is ,god on earth 7,b4 #cad71 by claims that he is the sole judge of right and wrong 7,b4 #cag71 by claims that he is infallible 7,b4 #cah71 by proscribing the ,bible 7,b4 #cai71 by the doctrines of eternal torture and purgatory 7,b4 #cbc71 by masses for the dead and the sale of indulgences 7,b4 #cbd71 and by devilish practices against ,his saints1 too numerous to name4 ,and ,his tabernacle4--,the church in the wilderness4--,rev4 #ab3f1 #ad4 ,and ,them that dwell in heaven4--,god's ,tabernacle is ,his true ,church in the flesh1 but1 nevertheless1 8,our citizenship is in ,heaven40 7,phil4 #c3bj1 ,r4 ,v47 ,even here we have been made to 8,sit together in heavenly places in ,christ ,jesus40--,eph4 #b3f4 #ac3g4 ,and it was given unto him to make war with the saints4--,see ,rev4 #b3bj2 ,acts #i3cb2 ,rom4 #ae3be2 #a ,cor4 #f3a4 ,and to overcome them4--,see ,rev4 #f3h2 ,dan4 #g3ba1 #bb4 ,and power was given him over all kindreds1 ,,and ,,peoples1 and tongues1 and nations4--,this has been literally fulfilled1 but will have a secondary fulfilment soon1 through the beastly governments that are ,papacy's living representatives in spirit if not in fact4--,rev4 #ag3ae4 #ac3h4 ,and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him4--,yield either willing or forced obedience to his mandates2 bow the knee in submission4 ,whose names are not written in the ,book of ,life4--8,the deception of ,papacy was so complete that the world was deceived1 and all the church1 except the overcomers1 whose names were #8written in ,heaven1' were deceived in the same way1 and hastened to unite themselves with1 and to worship the ,beast1 and have it enroll their names on its books4 ,from this has sprung the delusion so common to all ,protestants at this day1 viz41 that their names must be connected with some such earthly system1 or they are not the ,lord's saints4 ,but the important item is1 to have our names recorded in the ,lamb's ,book of ,life2 ,his is the only record of any value40--,z4 '#hj3aa2 ,psa4 #fi3bh2 ,dan4 #ab3a2 ,lu4 #aj3bj2 ,phil4 #d3c2 ,rev4 #c3e2 #ba3bg4 ,of the ,lamb slain from the foundation of the world4--8,this selection of the ,only ,begotten to be the ,head and ,chief of the ,new ,creation--subject to the trials1 disciplines1 humiliations and other necessary experiences to prove ,his worthiness--had already been determined upon in the ,divine counsel before man was created40--,f4 #fe2 #a ,pet4 #a3bj2 ,eph4 #a3d2 ,rev4 #e3f2 ,john #a3bi1 #cf2 ,acts #h3cb4 #ac3i4 ,if any man have an ear1 let him hear4--8,only those whose ears have been circumcised--those who had come to a considerable knowledge of ,god's ,word and who had the hearing of faith--to respect ,him and ,his ,word1 despite the magnificence1 success and power of error1 would be able to receive the foregoing statements concerning those who were deceived by ,papacy40--,z4 '#hjaa4 #ac3aj4 ,he that ,,if ,,any ,,one leadeth into captivity shall go ,,he ,,goeth into captivity4--8,the ,papal system was one of bondage4 ,all who acknowledge its claims must of necessity render implicit obedience1 as unto ,god2 for it claimed to be the kingdom of heaven2 and its head1 the ,pope1 to be ,god's vicegerent2 consequently those who were for1 or in favor of such captivity of individual thought1 and who would acknowledge the right of that ,papal system to limit and define the faith of all1 by consenting1 became captives40--,z4 '#hjab4 ,he that killeth with the sword must be killed by the sword4--8,there were some who asserted that ,papacy was a usurpation of the titles and power of the true ,head and ,ruler of the ,church1 and claimed their rights to the individual liberty wherewith ,christ had made them free4 ,such used the #8,sword of the ,spirit1' which is the ,word of ,god1 in defense of their liberty1 and such were put to death by ,papacy2 it overcame the saints during its #abfj years of power40--,z4 '#hjab4 ,here is the patience and the faith of the saints4--8,this was a severe test of true saintship--,would they go into captivity and join in the usurper's ranks1 or would they remain faithful to the true ,king and wait for the ,kingdom which ,he promised to establish8 ,those whose names were written in ,heaven stuck to the ,word1 and sealed their testimonies by death40 7,z4 '#hjab47 ,the same situation now confronts the saints1 in the matter of aiding in some way the murderous spirit of the governments which are permeated by ,antichrist's spirit4--,rev4 #ad3ab4 #ac3aa4 ,and ,i beheld another beast4--8,if the preceding wild beast represented an ecclesiastical power1 as we have just seen1 then this beast called another should be understood to represent a similar ecclesiastical or church power4 ,as the first beast had ten horns1 or powers1 which gave it their strength1 so this beast has #8two horns' which indicates that two powers or governments will support it4 ,again1 notice that this beast #8ascended 7came gradually7 out of the earth1' while the first came out of the sea4 ,now1 if our definitions be correct--as the coming of ,papacy from among the irreligious masses of the ,roman ,empire was shown by its coming out of the #8sea'--then the coming of this second beast out of the #8earth' should signify that it sprung up among a professedly religious people4 ,the ,twohorned ,beast is one ecclesiastical system1 and the two horns show that it is supported1 and its authority recognized by two kingdoms4 ,remember that to be simply aided or supported by the empire does not make a symbolic #8,beast'2 a #8,beast' is a government1 and to become a symbolic beast1 a church must needs become an element in1 or part of the government4 8,there is but one church which this symbol fits perfectly1 viz43 ,the established #8,church of ,england and ,ireland4' ,this system1 like the ,papal1 was a blending of church and state1 an ecclesiastical empire4 ,in the year #abjj ,england became subject to the ,pope4 ,in #aeca1 owing to a dispute between her king1 ,henry ,,viii1 and the ,pope1 ,england withdrew from allegiance to ,papacy4 ,the ,convocation of its clergy called the same year1 in its decrees1 declared ,king ,henry ,,viii to be #8,the one protector of the ,english ,church1 its only and ,supreme ,lord2 and as far as might be1 by the law of ,christ1 its ,supreme ,head4' ,those are the exact sentiments of ,papacy2 that is exactly the sense in which the ,pope is recognized as ,christ's vicegerent4 ,what a glorious representation of the ,lord ,jesus they had in ,henry ,,viii1 who1 out of six wives1 was divorced from two1 beheaded two1 and by many is supposed to have poisoned one6 ,he was a worthy rival of some of the ,popes as an ,antichristian claimant of headship to the church4 ,the ,clerical ,convocation which could acknowledge such a head was not far from being as corrupt as ,papacy4 8,the proof that the title1 #8head of the church1' was not an empty honor1 appears from the historian's words--#8,at the same time it was ordained that no regard should be paid to censures which the ,pope might pass on account of this law and that ,mass should be said1 and sacraments administered as usual4 ,in #aecd1 all payments made to the apostolic chamber1 and dispensations1 were abolished2 monasteries were subjected to royal government1 and exempted from all other2 the right to summon ,convocations1 approve or reject canons 7laws or doctrines enacted by the ,convocation of clergy71 and hear appeals from the ,bishops1 was vested in the ,king alone4 ,these matters are but imperfectly understood by people in general1 and the same titles--8,supreme head of the church on earth10 etc41 are still applied to ,english sovereigns4 ,it is needless to remark that the ,lord ,jesus never gave this office to any one1 but claims it ,himself2 and any others who claim it are usurpers4 ,paul said3 8,christ is the ,head of the ,church10 and that we are to 8grow up into ,him in all things1 which is the ,head1 even ,christ40 ,again he repeats that 8,god gave ,him to be the ,head over all things in the ,church1 which is ,his body40 7,eph4 #a3bb and #d3ae1 and #e3bc2 ,col4 #a3ah47 ,it is the church on earth that ,paul is speaking of1 hence any ,pope1 ,queen1 ,council1 ,assembly1 ,conference1 or any other man or company of men1 who claim or exercise the powers of the true ,head--,jesus--are opposing ,him4 ,and all who support such by influence1 presence or money1 are abettors of evil and supporters of false systems4 ,now does this system 7the ,english church7 fill the picture8 ,the second ,beast had two horns2 what two kingdoms 7horns7 supported this church8 ,bear in mind the distinction between a church supported by a government1 as the ,presbyterian in ,scotland1 and a church united in the government1 as in ,england2 it is the latter relationship that constitutes a 8beast40 ' 0--,z4 '#hjab2 ,rev4 #ac3ad1 #ae2 #ad3i1 #aa2 #ae3b2 #af3b1 #ac4 ,coming up out of the earth4--8,from the visible church of ,god40--,cook4 ,and he had two horns like a lamb4--8,now about the two horns4 ,england1 of course1 was one of them1 and ,ireland the other4 ,let us see4 ,history says that in #aecg the ,irish ,parliament in ,dublin #8passed the ,act of ,supremacy1 declaring ,henry ,,viii ,supreme ,head of the ,church1 prohibiting intercourse with the court of ,rome1 and making it treason to refuse the oath of supremacy4' #8,henry ,,viii also took the title of ,king of ,ireland4' ,thus it is seen that the second horn came up within the brief space of five years after the first4 ,the fact that ,ireland was not a powerful horn matters not1 for it was stronger than some that supported the ,papal ,beast4 ,what effects result from the disestablishment of the ,church in ,ireland8 ,from #aech to #ahga 7#ccc years71 the title of the church was #8,the ,church of ,england and ,ireland1' thus recognizing both #8horns4' ,on ,january #a1 #ahga 7by action of ,parliament and the consent of the ,queen1 the head of the church7 the ,irish church was disestablished1 or that horn was cast off4 ,so1 too1 all of the horns which once supported ,papacy have broken off from her2 the difference being that in the case of ,papacy the horns have turned against her1 and in the case of the second ,beast it casts off the ,irish horn of itself1 believing it to be a weakness rather than a strength4 ,and it would not be at all remarkable if the other horn 7,england7 would be separated from this ,beast4 #8,the two horns like a lamb1' would seem to indicate that this ,beast would be peaceably inclined--not aggressive1 but merely using the horns for defense40--,z4 '#hjab4 ,and1 he spake as a dragon4--8 #8,he spake like a dragon4' ,notice1 it is not said he spake like the dragon1 but like a dragon4 ,we understand this to mean that its utterances resembled those of a purely civil 7dragon7 power1 and that in its words there would be little to denote that it is an ecclesiastical government40 7,z4 '#hjab47 ,england's conduct in forcing opium into ,china is evidence enough of its ,satanic character4 8,china realizes that opium is her great curse2 she has passed laws against the growth of the poppy and the manufacture of opium4 ,but she finds that the imports of opium amount to #e1jjj1jjj pounds per year4 ,she cries out again1 as in the past1 that this ,great ,kingdom of ,christ 787 7,great ,britain7 will have mercy upon her and cease to insist on this curse being introduced to blight ,china morally and physically4 ,the young men of heathen ,china have started a monster petition for the cessation of opium importation4 ,the text of this appeal appeared in the ,new ,york ,herald1 ,february #ag4 ,it recounts that a previous appeal1 of similar character1 was made without avail to the ,king's royal grandmother in #aheh1 when she was the representative of this branch of ,christ's ,kingdom 78740 7,z4 '#aaaae47 8,the ,false ,prophet who causes the dwellers on earth to worship the ,beast symbolizes the deification of the world and of the world power1 throughout the conflict between the church and ,antichrist40--,cook4 #ac3ab4 ,and he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him4--8,and the authority of the first ,wild ,beast--the whole of that authority--he exercises in his presence1 and he causes the earth and its inhabitants to worship the first ,wild ,beast40 7,weym47 8,this shows that the second does not take the place of the first beast1 but that they exist contemporaneously40 7,z4 '#hjab47 ,it also shows that the sufferings of the last members of the ,body of ,christ1 under the combination of governments dominated by ,great ,britain1 may be expected to be as great as in ,papacy's palmiest days4 ,and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein4--8,we make a distinction between the earth and those who dwell on it4 ,as the earth symbolizes those obedient to and supporting the ,beast1 so #8those dwelling on the earth1' we understand to mean independent ,christians who do not support either of these systems40--,z4 '#hjab4 ,to worship the first beast1 whose deadly wound was healed4--8,the ,church of ,england claimed all the powers and authority which ,papacy claimed4 ,it claimed to be the ,church2 it acknowledged and repudiated some of the corruptions complained of by the ,reformers1 such as the sale of indulgence1 transubstantiation1 etc41 and abandoned these as well as the name ,roman1 for which they substituted the word ,holy1 calling it the original #8,holy ,catholic ,church4' ,it claims the same governmental authority and the same veneration for its decrees as ,papacy does for hers4 ,and by establishing a similar system1 devoid of some of the grosser ,papal errors1 it attracted the attention of all to those errors1 as being the only possible fault of ,papacy4 ,and when some of those errors were shortly after discarded by ,papacy1 the inference was that both ,beast systems were right4 ,people at that day1 as now1 seemed to think those systems proper and right1 if their powers1 etc41 were properly exercised2 but from ,god's standpoint the systems are abominations1 and wrong from the very center4 ,these systems are based upon errors1 and like a corrupt tree1 #8cannot bring forth good fruit4' 8,the principal error was in this--the very basis of those systems--their claim to be the #8,kingdom of ,god' in reigning power4 ,that idea1 once admitted1 justifies their persecution of individuals and nations1 forcing them to submit and bow in obedience4 ,scripture accords these powers to the #8,kingdom of ,god'--when #8the ,kingdom is the ,lord's and ,he is the ,governor among the nations2 all the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the ,lord1 and all the kindreds of nations shall worship before ,thee4' 7,ps4 #bb3bg1 #bh47 ,he shall #8dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel4' 7,ps4 #b3i47 ,unto ,him every knee shall bow1 and every tongue confess4 7,phil4 #b3aa47 ,and if their claim be good1 who can object to their carrying out the ,scriptural statements8 ,these ,antichrists1 to make their claim of kingdom power appear true1 had simply to take another1 viz41 to compel obedience1 backing up their right to do so by the ,scriptures just quoted4 ,and not only was this great evil sanctioned1 but their claim1 once admitted1 that the ,kingdom was established and the reign in progress1 those who admitted it were hindered from looking for the true ,head of the ,church to set up the true ,kingdom under the whole heavens1 which shall break in pieces present imperfect governments1 establish righteousness in the earth1 and cause every knee to bow and every tongue to confess1 to the glory of ,god40--,z4 '#hjab4 #ac3ac4 ,and he doeth great wonders4--,the strongest text of ,scripture forewarning against the impending ,church ,federation is the strongest text of ,scripture forewarning against spiritism4 7,isa4 #h3ibb47 ,it is not by accident that these warnings are placed together4 8,we shall not be at all surprised if some later manifestation of the powers of darkness1 transformed to appear as the angels of light and progress1 shall be much more specious and delusive than anything yet attempted4 ,we do well to remember the ,apostle's words1--#8,we wrestle not with flesh and blood1 but with princely powers of darkness1 with the spiritual things of the ,evil ,one4' 7,eph4 #f3ab47 ,in #ahdb1 six years before #8modern ,spiritism' began to operate1 ,edward ,bickersteth1 a servant of ,god and student of ,his ,word1 wrote1--#8,looking at the signs of the times1 and the long neglect and unnatural denial of all angelic ministration or spiritual influence1 and at the express predictions of false ,christs1 and false prophets1 who shall show signs and wonders1 insomuch that if it were possible they should deceive the ,very ,elect1 and that when men receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved1 for this cause ,god shall send them strong delusion1 that they shall believe a lie2 ,i cannot but think there is a painful prospect of a sudden recoil and religious revulsion from the present unbelief and misbelief1 to an unnatural and undistinguishing credulity4' ,satan is the inspirer and supporter of every ,antichrist2 and as he led those who had pleasure in error rather than the truth to the organization of the great ,antichrist1 ,papacy1 symbolically the #8beast' of ,rev4 #ac1 and as he is now operating to produce a ,protestant #8image of the beast' with life1 which will cooperate with the chief ,antichrist1 so in combination with these will be the powers of darkness1 the powers of the air1 the lying and seducing spirits1 operating in some manner or in a variety of ways1--,spiritism1 ,christian ,science1 ,new ,thought1 ,theosophy1 ,hypnotism1 etc40 7,s4 #cb47 8,if we gain the right conception of the matter these deceptions are to affect the whole world1 including its wise men1 and indeed practically everybody40--,z4 '#jiabc2 ,deut4 #ac3ac2 ,matt4 #bd3bd1 #be2 #b ,thes4 #b3iab2 ,rev4 #af3ad4 ,note the readiness of ,christendom to fall into the trap3 8,in a sermon in which he told of the effect of religious seances and the efforts of certain writers to shatter belief in a future life1 the ,rev4 ,h4 ,d4 ,c4 ,maclachlan preached to a large congregation in ,seventh ,street ,christian ,church on #8,the ,new ,spiritualism1' in which he gave scientific proof of a future life and exhorted his hearers to be of good cheer and continue to hope4 ,mr4 ,maclachlan spoke in part as follows3 #8,there has been no more remarkable change in public opinion than that witnessed within the last few years with regard to that class of facts known as spiritualistic4 ,there was a time when it was not quite respectable to believe in them1 but quite recently there has been a change4 ,ghosts have become respectable2 planchette and table rapping are parlor amusements2 the popular magazines vie with each other in saying nice things about mediums and their ways4 ,the cause of this change in public opinion has been a similar change in scientific belief4 ,it is not more than thirty years ago that orthodox science refused so much as to investigate the things of which we are speaking4 ,some twentyfive years ago the ,society for ,psychical ,research was formed in ,england with such names as ,crookes1 ,myers1 ,romanes1 ,eidgwick1 ,barrett and others on its list of members1 and since that day telepathy1 table rapping1 clairvoyance1 clairaudience1 telekinesis1 apparitions1 materializations1 mental healing and all the other phenomena which ,professor ,james1 of ,harvard1 aptly calls residual1 have been investigated4 ,mediums have been transferred from back parlors1 where all sorts of trickery was possible1 to the physical laboratories of the universities4 ,they have been put under conditions of strictest control4 ,even the traditional darkness has been denied them4 ,and still the wonderful results came4 ,one after another leading scientists entered into these investigations skeptical and contemptuous1 but came out of them believers in the facts on the evidence of their own senses4' 0--,z4 '#jiafd4 ,so that he maketh fire come down from heaven4--,fire from heaven was the test by which ,elijah proved that ,jehovah is the true ,god1 and was the method by which ,jehovah accepted the offerings made to ,him on the ,day of ,atonement4 7#a ,kings #ah3ch2 ,lev4 #i3bd47 ,in the test at hand the second beast will be able to prove to all except the ,elect that his claims to ,divine approval are correct4 8,our ,lord warns us of danger from false ,christs #8then'--that is now4 ,had it been foretold precisely what form these deceptions would take1 this would have somewhat hindered their deceptive power4 ,god permits these deceptions for the very purpose of separating the #8overcomers' from all others1 and merely guarantees us that the #8,elect' will be kept from falling4 ,and yet it is quite possible that some of these trials1 siftings and delusions1 may come closest upon those possessing the largest degree of the light of ,present ,truth40 7,d4 #eha2 ,rev4 #g3c47 8,the ,lord allows the storms to press us more and more so that we will cry unto ,him4 ,then ,he will hear us and give us the necessary deliverance4 ,these storms may be right inside1 in our own person4 ,whether1 therefore1 storms financial1 political1 religious or demoniacal1 come his way1 the child of ,god may rest secure and be of good courage4 ,the ,lord is both able and willing to care for his interests and bring him off victor40 7,z4 '#acaej47 ,as soon as the beast has apparently made out a clear case1 perhaps by outward1 visible evidences1 but surely by evidences from the ,scriptures 7distorted7 of its standing with ,god1 we may expect a very prompt and practical use of the 8fire0 7,luke #i3ed7 thus obtained4 8,the ,image1 as soon as vitalized1 will very promptly use its influence1 prestige1 power1 in every way to punish in the name of the ,lord those who in any sense of the word it shall consider to be its opponents4 ,speedily none will be allowed to buy or sell1 in the spiritual marts or perhaps in any marts1 except those who have either the mark or the number of the ,beast1 or of the ,image1 either in the right hand of cooperation or in the forehead of public confession4 ,this will mean that the ,,international ,,bible ,,students ,,association and all others not in affiliation with the ,alliance will be subjected to radically coercive measures4 ,truth shall fall in the streets4 7,isa4 #ei3ad47 ,righteousness will be unable to enter under the stress of the new order of things4 ,for a time it will appear as though a great ,christian victory had been won1 shared equally by ,papacy and ,federated ,protestantism--no longer protesting40--,z4 '#accdc4 ,on the earth in the sight of men4--,amongst his own followers and among ,christians unattached to either beast4 #ac3ad4 ,and deceiveth them that dwell on the earth4--,the independent ,christians just named4 ,by the means of those miracles4--,signs1 the laying on of hands1 doctrines of immortality1 trinity and claims that none are qualified to understand the ,bible aright except those consecrated by the imposition of holy orders by the episcopal succession4--,z4 '#hjab4 ,which he had power to do in the sight of the beast4--,while the papacy is still alive and active4--,rev4 #ai3bj4 ,saying4--,by its own example4 ,to them that dwell on the earth4--,independent ,christians4 ,that they should ,,also make an ,image to the beast4--8,from the year #ahjj to #ahdf was a time in which great numbers of new sects arose1 whereas before that1 they were few and prominent4 ,this gave rise to uneasiness among the older denominations who wondered whereunto this thing would lead4 ,as the ,bible came to be read more and more by the masses1 occasional individuals would feel free to preach what they thought it taught1 regardless of denominational creeds and the views of the older sects4 ,as a consequence1 ,protestants were fast splitting up into fragments4 ,they began to say1 ,by what means shall we check and stop this disposition to individual thought and opinion relative to the teachings of ,scripture8 ,they wanted to stop the very thing ,god desired2 viz41 that each individual should be free and independent of restraint1 with his faith based1 not on the views of others1 not on the decisions of ,councils or ,presbyters1 nor in the decision of the ,pope1 nor in things approved of the head of the ,english church1 but in the ,word of ,god4 ,the question came3 ,how can we restrain these preachers8 ,this was a quandary to all except the ,roman and ,episcopal churches1 since these both claimed the #8,apostolic ,succession1' and that this1 by ordination1 conferred upon their ministers special power and authority to preach and to administer the #8,sacraments'2 hence that no others had a right to do so1 but were clerical pretenders4 ,other denominations could not claim this continuation of apostolic power through their preachers1 but simply set them apart by prayer1 consequently those of one denomination could not object that the preachers of other denominations1 as well as all laymen1 were not as truly authorized of ,god to expound the ,scriptures as their own clergy4 8,but the example of the ,church of ,england showed what a prestige she had by reason of the voice of authority with which she commanded a reverence for her clergy and her teachings4 ,this teaching by example was not lost4 ,the various denominations felt a necessity for some common ,standard of ,doctrine which would be supported and upheld by all of them1 and thus give prestige to their teachings1 and bring the combined influence of all against any further advance in knowledge or the development of any different phase of truth4 ,thus they would protect themselves by being able to say3 ,the combined opinion of all ,protestants is against you2 therefore you are heretics1 and therefore we will shun you1 and not call you ,brethren1 but use all our influence against you4 ,this was done by the formation of the #8,evangelical ,alliance4' ,it was stated to be one of the objects of the ,alliance 7and we believe the principal one7 to #8,promote between the different ,evangelical denominations1 an effective cooperation in the efforts to repel common enemies and dangers4' ,illustration ,evangelical ,alliance--,church ,federation ,the ,image of ,the ,beast 8,do not understand us as opposing the ,christians represented in that ,alliance2 we are opposed merely to their attempt to muzzle truth1 and to prevent the opening up of any other truths buried by ,papacy than those which they had received4 ,it is far from our purpose to say that they intentionally combined against the unfolding of truth1 nor would we say this of ,papists4 ,but we do say1 that by their action they were following ,papacy's tactics1 and that in that ,alliance they did make the ,image of the ,beast4 ,it has tended to make a separation clear and distinct between the ,clergy and the ,laity4 8,how much the ,image resembles the ,papal ,beast may be judged from the fact that ,papacy acknowledged the ,image--owned it as a creditable likeness--by the ,pope sending #8,greetings' to the last meeting of the ,evangelical ,alliance4 ,strange to say1 the delegates to the ,alliance had so far lost sight of the principles and doctrines which led to the protests against the ,papal church 7that it was the ,harlot church--,antichrist--,man of ,sin--mentioned in the ,scriptures7 that they actually felt flattered by the ,pontiff's notice1 instead of becoming alarmed and examining how and why he who is #8,the ,chief ,antichrist' should feel pleased to greet them as fellows4 ,a prominent ,presbyterian minister present at the above named meeting mentioned the #8,pope's ,greeting' with evident pleasure and satisfaction to the writer4 8,a prominent characteristic of the ,beast copied by the ,image is the honoring of a special class1 the ,clergy1 with special honors and titles4 ,they are known as ,revs41 ,divines1 etc41 but ,jesus the ,divine said3 #8,ye call ,me ,lord and ,master1 and ye say well1 for so ,i am4' #8,be not ye called ,rabbi1 neither be ye called ,master1 for one is your ,master1 even ,christ1 and all ye are brethren4' 7,matt4 #bc3h47 ,these titles are assumptions fashioned after those of ,papacy4 ,when the various denominations began their existence1 more full of the spirit of ,christ1 they claimed no such highsounding titles4 ,the ,reformers were not known as ,rev41 ,d4 ,d41 etc41 but as ,john ,knox1 ,martin ,luther1 etc4 ,unpretentious1 like ,jesus and the ,apostles1 they were intent upon serving ,god1 and therefore became the servants 7ministers7 of the ,church4 ,but now the ,clergy are far from being servants2 they are ,lords4 ,they have itching ears1 loving the approval of men4 ,as pride and worldliness have come in1 vital godliness and power have gradually departed4 ,for the very same reason1 they are losing all power to expound the ,word of ,god--the gift of teaching--because #8,god abhorreth the proud1 but giveth grace 7favor7 to the humble4' ,we find ministers of all denominations ready to confess their ignorance of the ,word4 ,they appeal1 for their information1 back to the early reformers1 and thus confess that they have less light than they4 ,that their light should grow dim1 and their spiritual life become dwarfed1 is the natural result of their joining the ,image1 and subscribing to creeds made in the fifteenth century1 which1 like the shoe of ,china1 will not admit of any growth4 ,it is a shoe a little larger than ,papacy put upon its followers1 but of the same sort4 8,papacy established the clerical hierarchy1 who lorded it over ,god's heritage instead of serving their brethren as ,jesus explained--#8,one is your ,master2 all ye are brethren1' and as ,paul said3 #8,we are to speak the truth in love and grow up into ,him in all things who is the ,head1 even ,christ2 from whom the whole ,body fitly joined together not by creeds of men1 but by love begotten by the one ,spirit of ,truth and compacted by that which every joint supplied every joint is every member1 not the clergy only maketh increase of the ,body unto the edifying of itself in love1' thus coming #8to the unity of the faith1 and of the knowledge of the ,son of ,god4' 7,eph4 #d3ae1 #af47 ,as ,papacy established the priesthood over the church1 so ,protestantism has established the same1 and there is no opportunity for the ,body to edify itself1 every joint taking part4 ,true1 there is a seeming show of liberty at prayer meetings1 etc41 but it is only upon the surface1 for the ordained pastor is to watch zealously lest anything contrary to the teachings of his church should be expressed1 and if so1 to silence the audacious member at once1 for the church creed is the rule1 not the ,word of ,god4 ,if this is not sufficient1 they must have a sort of church trial and excommunicate him 7#8kill him'74 ,the trial1 by the way1 gives evidence of another likeness to the ,beast1 namely1 the exaltation of the teachings of the organization above the ,word of ,god1 for all such are tried according to #8the authorities' of their church40--,z4 '#hjab4 8,the ,alliance endeavored to establish a standard of orthodoxy4 ,they saw the power of the ,papal argument1 that it is the ,church1 and that all others are heretical4 ,in this sense it was a copy1 or image1 of the ,papal institution4 ,it has been merely an ,image without life or power for now more than sixty years40 7,z4 '#accdb47 8,and he told the inhabitants of the earth to erect a statue 7possibly a symbol of corrupt public opinion7 to the ,wild ,beast who had received the swordstroke and yet had recovered40--,weym4 ,which had the wound by a sword1 and did live4--,which was smitten by the ,sword of the ,spirit in the hands of the reformers1 but not persistently enough to kill it4 7,heb4 #d3ab47 8,it is important to observe that the wound of one of the heads is here ascribed to the whole beast40--,cook4 #ac3ae4 ,and he had power to give life4--,either 8apostolic succession0 or its effect4 8,it may not be known to many how much stress was laid upon the #8apostolic succession1' which was supposed to be a virtue transmitted through hundreds of years of ,papal corruption1 by the laying on of the hands of the ,bishop4 ,this1 of course1 was vested in the ,roman church1 and also in the ,english church on account of its being at first rather a secession from ,papacy than a reformation4 ,to many minds2 even among the clergy1 there was a veneration for that ceremony1 which neither ,papacy nor the ,english church were averse to promoting40 7,z4 '#hjab47 ,for the effect of this superstition on the mind of ,wesley1 see ,rev4 #i3a1 #b4 8,the ,lord's symbolic prophecy tells us that in the close of this ,age the ,image will receive life1 vitality1 energy1 power4 ,no longer will it stand as a mere ,image4 ,it will become as active as the ,beast4 ,moreover1 it will not be antagonistic to the ,beast1 but sympathetic1 and cause that all shall either worship the ,beast or the ,image--all must be in harmony either with ,catholicism1 or with the ,protestant ,church ,federation as soon as it receives the vitalizing breath40--,z4 '#accdc4 ,unto the ,image of the beast4--8,the vitality of the ,image is to come from the twohorned ,beast2 the ,church of ,england4 ,a few years ago the ,episcopal ,church took an important step toward vitalizing the ,church ,federation movement4 ,that important step was the recognition of the ministers of the denominations represented in the ,evangelical ,alliance4 ,previously no minister not ordained by the laying on of hands of a ,catholic or an ,episcopalian bishop was allowed to preach from an ,episcopalian pulpit4 ,perhaps this recognition of the ,image is all the vitalization the ,image needs1 but we are inclined to expect more4 ,for years the ,episcopalians have proffered reordination to the ministers of the different denominations represented in the ,evangelical ,alliance4 ,and they still proffer it4 ,we have been inclined to expect that the ministers would finally concede the point and accept a reordination at the hands of an ,episcopal bishop4 ,but we are not sure of this4 ,it is possible that1 to meet the requirements of the case1 some other way will be found by which the ,episcopal ,church will recognize the ,church ,federation without obligating the ministers to be reordained4 ,we are waiting for this40 7,z4 '#accdc47 8,if the various ministers of other denominations in considerable numbers accept reordination as ministers at the hands of ,episcopalian ,bishops1 the validity of other ordination will be speedily questioned4 ,the authority of this socalled #8,apostolic ,ordination' will give seeming right of authority1 dignity and power4 ,after the prominent ministers of various denominations submit themselves to such reordination1 the #8lesser lights' will make a rush for it40--,z4 '#ajcjh4 ,canon ,henson1 of ,westminster ,abbey1 has said3 8,the logical goal of modern tendencies is not toward ,disestablishment1 but toward a fuller and worthier ,establishment4 ,why should not the nation draw into its service all the organized ,christianity instead of limiting itself to a single denomination8 ,i rejoice to observe a beginning made in this direction by recent legislation1 which has recognized for certain civic purposes the status of ,nonconformist clergymen40 7,z4 '#jff47 ,the change of name of the 8,image of the ,beast0 to that of 8,false ,prophet0 in ,rev4 #af3ac1 between the sixth and seventh plagues1 indicates it was vitalized prior to the publication of ,vol4 ,,vii 7the #gth plague74 ,truly it now lives--in the minds of the clergy--but it will grow stronger4 ,the matter is growing in the minds of those interested1 as the following dispatches show3 8,washington1 ,dec4 #ca1 #aiaf4--;,in a signed document addressed to the nation1 more than fifty prelates and laymen of various denominations representing many sections of the country have united in a warning against what they declare may be a premature peace in ,europe which #8may bring a curse instead of a blessing4' 0 8,last winter commissions of all ,american ,protestant churches met at ,garden ,city1 ,l4 ,i41 for the first time1 and adopted a general platform on which it recommended that the ,world ,conference on ,faith and ,order proceed4 ,pope ,benedict ,,xv4 sent a letter to the commissions1 assuring them of his #8deep interest and prayers4' 0--,literary ,digest1 ,january #ac1 #aiag4 ,that the image of the beast should both speak4--,thus far he has been significantly 8silent0 as far as claiming any real power or authority is concerned2 but the time for the breaking of the silence is near4--,jer4 #h3adag2 ,rev4 #h3a4 ,and cause that as many as would not worship the ,image of the beast4--8,worship of this symbolic beast and his image is to be the great test or trial upon professing ,christians in every province of symbolic ,babylon in the end of this ,age4 ,and we have the same inspired record as authority for the statement that only those who refuse to render worship to those powerfully influential religious systems 7symbolized by the beast and his image7 will be counted by the ,lord as #8overcomers' and be made ,his jointheirs as members of ,his elect ,church4 7,rev4 #bj3d47 ,and there are some the world over who1 with a courage not less than that of ,shadrach1 ,meshach and ,abednego1 declare publicly that the ,lord ,god alone shall have the worship and the service which they can render4 ,the faithful few will be exposed to fiery experiences--boycotted socially1 boycotted in business1 slandered in every conceivable manner1 and often by those of whom they least expect it1 who1 according to the ,lord's declaration1 will say #8all manner of evil against them falsely4' 7,matt4 #e3aa1ab470--,z4 '#iiagj4 ,should be killed4--8,soon we shall have their #8,union' or #8,confederacy' 7,isa4 #h3ab71 and the bitter fruits of ,union in error will speedily manifest themselves in tyranny1 as during the ,dark ,ages40 7,z4 '#jdbab47 8,to us the ,scriptures indicate that the prosperity of the ,federated ,protestant #8,image' will for a little time be so great1 so pronounced1 and its arrogance become so great that the sympathy of the masses will be entirely alienated and turned into bitterness40 7,z4 '#ajcji74 ,it may be objected that the ,church would have no part in the killing of their fellow worshippers1 but ecclesiastics themselves have a better understanding of the ecclesiastical mind and ecclesiastical conscience4 ,the following is from the pen of ,rt4 ,rev4 ,chas4 ,d4 ,williams1 ,protestant ,episcopal ,bishop of ,michigan3 8,it is an appalling thought that the ,church should have had a part in the crime of ,calvary1 and yet it did1 and that the chief part4 ,the ecclesiastical mind is a closed mind--and there is nothing it resents so much as being pried open to receive a new idea4 ,its settled rule of judgment1 its accepted test of truth1 is1 #8,what is new is never true1 and what is true is never new4' ,the other characteristic of a perverted religion is the ecclesiastical conscience4 ,it is strikingly illustrated by one ,good ,friday scene4 ,a procession is sweeping through the streets of ,jerusalem1 bound for the ,governor's ,palace4 ,who compose this procession8 ,they are the religious leaders of the people the prominent divines1 the chief ecclesiastics4 ,what is the business they have in mind8 ,they are intent on committing the greatest crime in history4 ,but at ,pilate's threshold they stop4 ,why8 ,ah1 they have stumbled across a canon of the ,church4 ,if they should enter a heathen house that ,passover morning1 they would become ceremonially defiled and unfit to partake of the sacrament40 7,z4 '#aecci47 8,in #aebf ,prof4 ,tyndale1 having prepared his ,,ms41 published it in ,germany1 because of the opposition of the ,english clergy4 ,he imported his ,new ,testaments into ,london1 in whose shops the people began to purchase them4 ,at this same time the ,germans were learning something of the ,new ,testament and its different teachings1 from ,luther and his associates4 ,the ,church of ,england bishops forthwith bought up the entire edition in the shops1 and publicly burnt them in front of ,st ,paul's ,cathedral1 ,london4 ,they knew that the eighteen ,ecumenical ,councils had declared to be true ,christian faith many things not taught in the ,bible1 and had omitted many things that are taught therein4 ,they feared that the people1 becoming ,bible students1 would know of these things1 and thus would be upset the general belief based in the creeds--and not in the ,bible4 ,then1 too1 they warned the people against putting any construction upon the ,bible that would make it different from the teaching of the so called #8,apostolic ,bishops' in the creeds--threatening them with eternal torment4 ,as it was1 ,tyndale and some of the others interested in the ,bible suffered martyrdom1 as enemies of the #8,apostolic ,bishops1' and their creeds and institutions40--,z4 '#aebec4 ,are the clergy divinely ordained8 #ac3af4 ,and he causeth all1 both small and great4--8,the great feast which preceded the fall of ,babylon would seem to correspond well with the great denominational union expected soon1 and the season of rejoicing which will accompany it4 ,the gold and silver vessels of the ,lord's house which were profaned may fitly represent not only the precious truths of ,divine ,revelation1 but also the ,lord's consecrated people--the golden vessels representing the ,little ,flock1 and the more numerous silver vessels representing the #8,great ,company4' ,what may be the character of the defilement and injury of these is of course problematical2 but in any case we remember that those consecrated vessels were all highly honored1 and restored to the ,temple by ,cyrus1 and likewise we know that not only the truths of ,divine ,revelation will all be cared for by our ,lord1 but also that all that are ,his shall be glorified in the spiritual ,temple which ,he will rear shortly40--,z4 '#iiage4 ,rich and ,poor ,,and ,,rich4--8,so popular will ,federated ,churchianity become that to even criticize it will be a #8crime' worthy of crucifixion in some form--socially and financially1 if not physically4 ,politicians will quickly realize that their bread is buttered on that side1 and be ready to enact legislation of any kind desired by the ,federation4 ,mammonworship will take on new forms temporarily1 but power will soon debauch the unregenerate mass and drive out the regenerate faithful who may temporarily be misled by the great #8,union' movement in the name of ,christ1 but without ,his ,spirit or authority40--,z4 '#jff4 ,free and bond4--8,it is altogether possible1 indeed probable we think1 that ,john's course which brought him into conflict with ,herod was in some degree typical of the course of the ,gospel ,church in this present time2 and of the course of events that may be expected4 ,if it be a type1 ,herod would represent civil government1 and the unlawful wife would represent the nominal church1 which throughout the symbolic ,scriptures is represented as a woman1 ,jezebel1 etc4 ,should it prove to be a type by its fulfilment in antitype1 the fulfilment will probably be on something like the following lines3 7#a7 ,a partial reunion of ,church and ,state4 ,this has now been accomplished by the ,alliance of the ,united ,states with ,great ,britain4 7#b7 ,in such case it would become the duty of the true ,church1 the forerunners and announcers of the ,messianic ,kingdom1 to reprove the civil powers as well as the nominal church systems1 and to declare their union unlawful--contrary to the ,word of ,god4 7#c7 ,the effect of this would pretty surely be to awaken the animosity of both civil and religious powers2 but it would draw out specially the animosity and venom of the latter4 7#d7 ,the church nominal1 in her false position would be anxious to stifle the reproofs and to destroy the reprovers1 and the effect would be that the civil power would be induced to pass such legislation as would restrain the liberty of the faithful ones and hinder them from public utterances2--as ,john was hindered by imprisonment4 7#e7 ,herodias' daughter 7united ,protestantism7 will become the tool for the destruction of the most loyal servants of ,god40--,z4 '#ihie4 ,to receive ,,give ,,him a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads ,,forehead4--,by contrast with ,ex4 #ac3i2 #bh3bfch2 ,deut4 #f3h2 ,z4 '#jgbfe2 ,rev4 #g3c2 #ad3a2 ,ezek4 #i3df4 8,consecration to the service of the beast is what is signified here40 7,cook47 7,lev4 #ai3bh47 8,all classes of ,christians must bow2 all must1 in some way1 give evidence of their support of the ,image and consecration to its interests and laws2 either a public1 open profession of being members of the ,alliance1 and hence supporters 7mark in forehead71 or at least a giving of some assistance and influence to the principles of ,image organisation--7the righthand support740 7,z4 '#hjab47 ,this implies a reestablishment of the inquisition soon--in some form of housetohouse 8investigation0 or public enrollment4 #ac3ag4 ,and ,that no man might buy or sell4--8,the #8buying and selling1' like the other features1 is symbolic1 and refers to dealing in spiritual things4 ,but it may be literally fulfilled as well in the year of prospective famine now at hand4 ,none may be recognized as having any right to teach or preach or baptize or administer the emblems of our ,lord's death1 except those licensed by some orthodox member of the ,image1 and acts of such persons 7#8unlicensed'7 are not counted valid40--,z4 '#hjab4 ,save he that had the mark or the name of the beast4--,protestants affiliated with the ,federal ,council of ,churches--already 8marked10 stamped ,o4 ,k4 by the papacy4 ,or his name4--,roman ,catholics4 ,or the number of his name4--,consent to the principle of clergy rule in matters of faith1 order and war 7murder47--,rev4 #ae3b4 #ac3ah4 ,here is wisdom4 ,let him that hath understanding ,,an ,,ear count the number of the beast4--8,here is scope for ingenuity4 ,let people of shrewd intelligence calculate the number of the ,wild ,beast2 for it indicates a certain man1 and his number is #fff40--,weym4 ,for it is the number of a man4--,the ,man of ,sin1 the ,papacy4--,rev4 #ai3bj2 #b ,thes4 #b3c4 ,and his number is ,six hundred threescore and six4--,in the ,greek this number is six hundred 7represented by the ,greek letter 71 plus sixty 7represented by the ,greek letter 71 plus six 7represented by the ,greek letter 74 ,it is not as though it read six plus six plus six4 8,the following extract on this point is from a work entitled ,the ,reformation1 bearing the date of #ahcb3 8 #8,mrs4 ,a41' said ,miss ,emmons1 #8,i saw a very curious fact the other day2 ,i have dwelt upon it much1 and will mention it4 ,a person1 lately1 was witnessing a ceremony of the ,romish ,church4 ,as the pope passed him in the procession1 splendidly dressed in his pontifical robes1 the gentleman's eye rested on these full1 blazing letters in front of his mitre 7tiara--crown73 ,,vicarivs ,,filii ,,dei1 the ,vicar of the ,son of ,god4 ,his thoughts1 with the rapidity of lightning1 reverted to ,rev4 #ac3ah4' #8,will you turn to it8' said ,mrs4 ,a4 ,alice opened the ,new ,testament1 and read3 #8,let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast3 for it is the number of a man2 and his number is ,six hundred threescore and six4' ,she paused1 and ,miss ,emmons said1 #8,he took out his pencil1 and marking the numerical letters of the inscription on his tablet1 it stood #fff4' 0 7,smith47 ,this explanation was approved by ,pastor ,russell1 and was given by him at a ,convention ,question ,meeting4 ,v #e ,i #a ,c #ajj ,a #j ,r #j ,i #a ,v #e ,s #j ---- ,f #j ,i #a ,l #ej ,i #a ,i #a ---- ,d #ejj ,e #j ,i #a ---- ---- ,total #fff ,on the pope's crown in the ,vatican museum is the recognized and most used title of the pope1 ,,vicarivs ,,filii ,,dei 7,vicar of the ,son of ,god47 ,the word ,,vicarivs is on the top of the threefold crown4 ,the word ,,filii is on the second circlet2 and the words are made from dark1 shining precious jewels4 ,the word ,,dei is on the under part of the threefold crown and is made of #ajj diamonds4 8,the ,tiara is a beehive shaped1 somewhat bulging head covering1 ornamented with three crowns4 ,it is first mentioned by ,pope ,constantine1 in ,a4 ,d4 #gae4 ,it first appears on papal coins in the reign of ,sergius ,,iii41 ,a4 ,d4 #iaa4 ,at this period it was merely a cap of white stuff4 ,the papal coins of the #aath century leave it doubtful whether the ornamental band at the lower edge of the tiara is intended to represent a crown or merely a decoration4 ,it is only in representations dating from the late #acth century that the circlet appears as a regular spiked crown4 ,the second circlet was added by ,pope ,boniface ,,viii41 ,a4 ,d4 #acjc4 ,the third was added under ,clement ,v41 ,a4 ,d4 #acaa40 7,brit47 ,the reason for the addition of any of these crowns is unknown1 or why the pope should have any crown at all4 ,the words ,,vicarivs ,,filii ,,dei are1 it is said1 also carved over the entrance to the ,vatican4 ,gideon's ,band4 8,count ,me the swords that have come40 8,lord1 thousands on thousands are ready40 8,lo6 these are too many1 and with them are some ,whose hearts and whose hands are not steady4 ,he whose soul does not burn1 ,let him take up his tent and return4 8,count ,me the swords that remain40 8,lord1 hundreds on hundreds are daring40 8,these yet are too many for ,me to attain ,to the victory ,i am preparing4 ,lead them down to the brink ,of the waters of ,marah to drink40 8,lord those who remain are but few1 ,and the hosts of the foe are appalling1 ,and what can a handful such as we do80 8,when ye hear from beyond1 ,my ,voice calling1 ,sound the trump6 ,hold the light6 ,great ,midian will melt in your sight60 ,revelation #ad--,the ,five ,harvest ,messages #ad3a4 ,and ,i looked1 and1 lo1 a ,,behold ,,the ,lamb4--,see ,rev4 #e3f2 #ac3h2 ,john #a3bi1 #cf2 ,acts #h3cb2 #a ,pet4 #a3ai4 ,stood on the ,mount ,sion4--,the ,return of the ,lord is here pictured as accomplished the sleeping saints raised1 and the full number called4 ,this was all fulfilled in #ahgh4 7,rev4 #aa3ag47 ,at that time our ,lord took unto ,himself ,his great power and began ,his ,reign4 ,and with ,him an hundred forty and four thousand4--,see ,rev4 #g3d4 ,having ,his ,father's name ,,and ,,the ,,name ,,of ,,his ,,father4--,how beautiful and how true that we have both the ,father and the ,son in our minds1 while trinitarians must necessarily have more or less1 and are proportionately confused4 ,written in their foreheads4--,isa4 #dd3e2 ,rev4 #g3c2 ,ex4 #ac3i2 #bh3bfch2 ,deut4 #f3h2 ,z4 '#jgbfe2 ,ezek4 #i3bf4 #ad3b4 ,and ,i heard a voice4--,the message of ,present ,truth from the lips of the ,lord's saints on this side of the veil4 ,they are on ,mount ,zion in the spirit of their minds4 ,from heaven4--8,we are seated with ,him in ,heavenly places40--,rev4 #ac3f4 ,as the voice of many waters4--,a great outpouring of ,truth1 in many tongues4--,rev4 #a3af2 #ai3f4 ,and as the voice of a great thunder4--,seven thunders1 the seven volumes of ,scripture ,studies4--,rev4 #h3e2 #aj3c1 #d4 ,and ,i heard the voice ,,which ,i ,,heard ,,was ,,as ,,that of harpers harping with their ,harps4--8,the ,scriptures of the ,old and ,new ,testaments constitute what the ,lord ,himself designates #8the ,harp of ,god4' 7,rev4 #ae3b47 ,and the various testimonies of the ,law and the ,prophets are the several chords of that ,harp1 which1 when tuned by the ,holy ,spirit dwelling in our hearts1 and swept by the fingers of the devoted servants and searchers after ,divine ,truth1 yields the most enchanting strains that ever fell on mortal ears40--,f4 #bcc2 ,rev4 #e3h4 #ad3c4 ,and they sang as it were ,,sing a new song4--,the ,lord particularly promised that in this ,harvest time1 out of ,his ,storehouse would come things new4 7,matt4 #ac3eb2 #bd3de47 8,in symbol ,he pointed out to us the fact that the ,message of ,his grace in the closing days of this ,gospel ,age would be so different from the commonly accepted message1 misnamed the ,gospel1 that it would properly be termed a new song40--,z4 '#jjcg2 ,rev4 #e3i2 #ae3c4 ,,and ,,it ,,was before the ,throne4--,while still on earth4 ,compare ,rev4 #d3e and #e3f4 ,and before the four beasts4--,every declaration of ,present ,truth has for its object the presentation of one or more of the ,divine attributes--,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,all that we do in the service of the ,truth is done in their sight4--,rev4 #d3gaj4 ,and ,,before the elders4--,the prophecies4 ,in all that we do we are pointing to the prophecies and fulfilling them4 ,how often it was said of our ,lord ,jesus1 that ,he said or did this or that 8,that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the mouth of0 one of the ,prophets4 ,and no man could learn that song but the #add1jjj4--8,nothing is more manifest than that it is necessary to be somewhat of an #8overcomer' of the world and its spirit which pervades nominal ,christendom1 ere any would have the courage to sing this song--to declare before men the lengths1 breadths1 heights and depths of the goodness and grace of the ,divine ,plan1 of which ,jesus and ,his ,sacrifice are the center4 ,to all others #8the fear of man bringeth a snare1' and stoppeth their mouths from speaking #8forth the praise of ,him who called us out of darkness into ,his marvelous light4' #8,but the people that do know their ,god ,his ,character and ,plan shall be valiant and do exploits1' and like the ,apostles of old will feel and say4 #8,whether it be right to obey ,god or men1 judge ye2 but we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard1'--,dan4 #aa3cb2 ,acts #d3ai1 #bj40--,z4 '#jjcg4 ,which were redeemed from the earth4--,agorazo1 acquired at the forum4--,e4 #ddc1 #dbi4 #ad3d4 ,these are they which were not defiled with women2 for they are virgins4--8,all ,bible exponents of the ,protestant kind recognize there are two ,women especially mentioned in ,revelation2 the one the true ,woman1 the ,bride class1 the other the false ,woman2 and ,protestants in general understand that false ,woman to represent the papacy4 ,then again other ,protestants understand that the ,scriptures which refer to the mother and daughters refer to the papacy1 and these denominational daughters1 or systems1 which sprang from her1 and have more or less of her nature1 disposition and characteristics4 ,the ,bible proposition is that the ,church is a ,virgin ,church2 viz43 not united to the world at all1 and that this is the error that was made by the early ,church in leaving ,christ as the prospective ,bridegroom and becoming united with the nation of ,rome4 ,this constituted an illicit union2 for as the ,bride of ,christ she had no right whatever to be associated with any earthly dominion2 therefore in becoming associated with the ,roman ,emperor she lost her standing4 ,we are to remember that this word #8harlotry' as used in ,revelation is merely a symbolical term2 there is nothing more than that to be understood4 ,god speaks of some of ,his children as being in ,babylon4 ,babylon is the name for the mother1 the papal system1 and the daughters also have the same name4 ,it means confusion1 mixture and improper relationship4 ,now then some are in ,babylon and not of ,babylon1 just the same as the children of ,israel were carried captive into ,babylon1 but they were not ,babylonians4 ,and in due time ,god sent forth the ,message to all ,natural ,israel that if those who had been carried in captivity into ,babylon desired to return to the ,lord their ,god1 and to the ,land of ,promise1 they might do so4 ,cyrus gave that decree1 you remember1 and many of them did return4 8,no one is called out of ,babylon until he hears the ,lord's voice4 ,so you and ,i may have been in ,babylon for years and not have had any responsibility or any impurity2 we were not defiled1 because we did not know any better4 ,but ,he says1 #8,come out of her1 ,my people1 that ye be not partakers of her sins4' ,that implies that you are not yet partakers of her sins2 you are ,my people1 in her1 but not yet partakers4 ,i was not responsible for what was in my head from childhood2 and ,god did not hold me responsible2 nor you1 nor anyone else2 but after we come to see the great errors which are taught by ,babylon's system then we are responsible4 ,we have said things about our ,heavenly ,father that we would be ashamed to say about ourselves or of our earthly parents4 8,we have said ,he created our world of mankind and knew what ,he was doing1 had full power and full wisdom1 and intended from the beginning to damn nine hundred and ninetynine out of every thousand1 and to have them roast through all eternity2 and that ,he made fireproof devils to handle them2 that ,he created a great place called hell in which all of this diabolical work was going on4 ,no honorable man would treat a poor rat that way--predestinate the rat before it was born1 foreordain it to eternal torture4 ,and now then after we once see that this doctrine is blasphemy against ,god1 after we once see that it was evidently instigated by our great ,adversary1 the ,devil--after we once see what an awful thing it is--if then we wish to uphold earthly systems and give our lives1 strength1 talents and means1 to upholding these diabolical teachings1 then we are worse than any others there2 we are the worst of them all4 ,what right has any man to stay inside of a denomination and deny the teachings of that denomination8 ,he is branding himself as a fraud1 professing to believe what he knows he does not believe1 claiming to teach what he knows he should not teach2 or1 on the other hand1 teaching that which he knows is wrong1 and professing that which he does not believe at all4 ,the whole matter is wrong2 such are defiled by the ,women4 8,but those who come out when they see the right and wrong on the question1 who take their stand for right1 they are delivering their souls from ,babylon4 #8,flee out of ,babylon1 saith the ,lord2 deliver every man his soul4' ,now no one is responsible to flee out unless he sees that it is ,babylon1 but the very suggestion that it is ,babylon to every honest person means that he should make an investigation1 and a thorough one1 to know whether or not he is in ,babylon4 ,if he says1 #8,well1 ,god's voice says 8flee out of ,babylon10 and ,i believe that the system is ,babylon1 but ,i do not wish to look into it for fear ,i find it true1' that means he is dishonest with himself2 he is defiling himself4 ,there is only one way of being thoroughly honest1 and that is to be honest40 7,pastor ,russell47 8,that the words can only be understood spiritually seems to follow from the whole tone of ,apocalyptic symbolism3--see the mention of the ,bridegroom and the ,bride1 of the ,harlot and her fornications4 ,elsewhere we have the language of ,ps4 #de1 of the ,canticles1 of the ,book of ,hosea1 above all of #b ,cor4 #aa3b3--#8;,i have espoused you to one ,husband1 that ,i may present you as a chaste virgin to ,christ4' 0--,cook4 ,these are they which ,,those ,,who follow ,the ,lamb4--,on this side of the veil4 ,whithersoever ,he goeth4--,those who fail to 8,walk in the light as ,he is in the light0 find sooner or later that they 8walk in darkness0 for the light goes on and leaves them4--,john #a3f1 #g2 ,prov4 #d3ah4 ,these were redeemed from among men4--,they are a separate class1 8from among0 men4 8,the thought is that of public purchase2 and all the other uses of this word agorazo1 throughout the ,new ,testament1 emphatically support a most commercial signification4 ,we call especial attention to the signification of this word1 because the tendency to deny that there was a purchase of our race effected by a price given for man's release from the #8curse' is prevalent and a growing one--very subversive of the true faith1 once delivered to the saints40--,e4 #ddc1 #dcj4 ,being the firstfruits ,,from ,,the ,,beginning unto ,god and to ,,in the ,lamb4--8,separated from the entire mass as the best absolutely4--,num4 #ah3ab40 7,cook7 ,deut4 #bf3b2 ,jas4 #a3ah4 #ad3e4 ,and in their mouth4--,by contrast to the lies of the ,false ,prophet4 ,was found no guile ,,falsehood4--,they fully and thoroughly believe the doctrines they teach4--,psa4 #ae3a1 #b4 ,for they are without fault before the ,throne of ,god4--8,faultless before the presence of ,his glory with exceeding ,joy40--,jude #bd2 ,eph4 #e3bg2 ,psa4 #ae3ae4 #ad3f4 ,and ,i saw another ,,an angel4--,the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages1 ,volume ,i of the ,scripture ,studies4 ,fly in the midst of heaven4--8,from one end of heaven to the other0 amongst ,christian people of all denominations4--,matt4 #bd3ca4 ,having the everlasting ,gospel4--,the same ,gospel preached by our ,heavenly ,father 7,gal4 #c3h71 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ 7,john #aj3af71 the holy ,apostles 7,acts #ae3acah71 the holy ,prophets 7,acts #c3aibd7 and the holy ,angels 7,luke #b3aj1 #ac1 #ad72 but entirely overlooked by the clergy4 ,to preach unto them that dwell on the earth4--,to independent ,christians4--,rev4 #ac3ac1 #ad4 ,and to ,,unto every nation1 and kindred1 and tongue1 and people4--,all mankind1 living and dead4--#a ,tim4 #b3dg4 #ad3g4 ,saying with a loud voice4--,by millions of copies circulated earth wide4 ,fear ,god1 and give glory to ,him4--,rather than to creeds1 sects and clergy4 ,for the hour of ,his judgment is come4--,the ,,millennial ,,dawn1 the dawn of the thousandyear ,judgment ,day of ,christ1 is at hand4--,rev4 #ae3d2 #aa3ah4 ,and worship ,him that made ,heaven1 and earth1 and the sea4--,god1 our ,heavenly ,father1 the ,creator of all things4--,neh4 #i3f2 ,psa4 #cc3f1 #abd3h2 ,acts #ad3ae2 #ag3bd4 ,and the fountains of waters4--,his ,heavensent ,word4 #ad3h4 ,and there followed another angel ,a ,,second4--,volume ,,ii of ,scripture ,studies4 ,saying1 ,babylon is fallen1 is fallen1 that ,,babylon1 ,,the great city4--,chapters #g and #i of ,volume ,,ii are particularly devoted to this theme4 8,the name ,babylon originally signified ,god's gateway2 but afterward1 in derision1 it came to mean mixture or confusion4 ,in the book of ,revelation this name is applied specifically to the church nominal1 which1 from being the gateway to glory1 became a gateway to error and confusion1 a miserable mixture composed chiefly of tares1 hypocrites1--a confused mass of worldly profession in which the ,lord's jewels are buried1 and their true beauty and luster hidden40 7,c4 #aec47 8,the name ,babylon was applied1 not only to the capital city of the ,babylonian empire1 but also to the empire itself4 ,babylon1 the capital1 was the most magnificent1 and probably the largest1 city of the ancient world4 ,it was built in the #8form of a square on both sides of the ,euphrates river2 and1 for protection against invaders1 it was surrounded by a deep moat filled with water and inclosed within a vast system of double walls1 from thirtytwo to eightyfive feet thick1 and from seventy five to three hundred feet high4 ,on the summit were low towers1 said to have been two hundred and fifty in number1 placed along the outer and inner edges of the wall1 tower facing tower2 and in these walls were a hundred brazen gates1 twentyfive on each side1 corresponding to the number of streets which intersected each other at right angles4 ,the city was adorned with splendid palaces and temples and the spoils of conquest4' 0 7,d4 #bc2 ,jer4 #ea3h2 ,rev4 #ah3b47 8,this use of the aorist--in the sense of the #8prophetic preterite'--expresses the certainty of the fall3 see chapters #aj3g2 #aa3ah2 #ah3b2 and see on chapter #ae3a4 ,the language is taken from ,isa4 #ba3i1 the verb denoting the violent fall and overthrow of kingdoms--see ,ezek4 #cj3f2 and see on chapter #ag3aj4 ,with the fall of ,babylon1 the capital of the ungodly worldkingdom1 the ,old ,testament connects the redemption of the people of ,god4--,isa4 #ac3ai2 #dg3a2 ,jer4 #ea3aaj40--;,cook4 ,because she made all nations drink of ,,all ,,nations ,,have ,,fallen ,,through the wine of the wrath of her fornication4--8,the ruin of all the nations of earth is here attributed directly to the fact that #8,babylon made all the peoples drunk with the wine spirit1 influence of her fornication'--worldly affiliation40--,c4 #afd1 #ajd2 ,jer4 #ea3g2 ,rev4 #b3bj2 #ag3b1 #e2 #ah3c2 #ai3b4 #ad3i4 ,and the ,,another1 ,a third angel followed them4--,volume ,,iii of the ,scripture ,studies followed ,i and ,,ii4 ,saying with a loud voice4--,proclaiming clearly1 in chapters #b1 #d and #f4 ,if any man worship the beast4--,the ,papacy4 ,and his image4--,the ,evangelical,alliance,spiritism combination4--,rev4 #ac3aa1 #ac1 #ad1 #ae2 #ad3aa2 #ae3b2 #af3b1 #ac2 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj2 ,matt4 #bd3bd4 ,and receive his mark ,in his forehead1 or in his hand4--,see ,rev4 #ac3af1 #ag4 #ad3aj4 ,the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of ,god4--,the ,message of ,present ,truth4 ,which is poured out without mixture4--,different from ,babylon's mixed wine4--,isa4 #e3bjbb4 ,into the cup of ,his indignation4--8,the ,lord our ,god hath put us to silence and given us water of gall to drink1 because we have sinned against the ,lord40--,jer4 #h3ad2 ,isa4 #ea3agbj2 ,jer4 #be3bfbh2 ,rev4 #ah3f2 #af3ai2 ,psa4 #fj3c2 #ge3h4 ,and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone4--,whoever worships1 reverences1 human institutions and doctrines more than the ,word of the ,lord has experienced the torment here specified4 ,doctrines of hell fire and brimstone have been his portion4--,rev4 #i3agai4 ,in the presence of the holy angels4--,the ,harvest workers on this side of the veil4--,matt4 #ac3ci4 ,and in the presence of the ,lamb4--8,in the days of the ,son of ,man20 after the ,second ,advent has taken place4 #ad3aa4 ,and the smoke of their torment4--8,a noun1 unlike a verb 7or #8time word1' as the ,germans call it71 does not indicate time4 ,so #8the smoke of their torment' may mean that of pain endured once for all1 and then at an end4 ,there is nothing in this verse that necessarily implies an eternity of suffering4 ,in a similar way the word #8punishment' or #8correction' in ,matt4 #be3df gives in itself no indication of time4 ,cp4 ,gen4 #ai3bh2 ,jude #g40 7,weym47 8,about endless torment3 87a7 ,the doctrine is found nowhere in the ,old ,testament1 nor any hint of it4 ,the expression1 in the end of ,isaiah1 about the fire unquenched and the worms not dying1 is plainly of the corpses of men upon the physical earth4 87b7 ,the doctrine of endless torment was1 as a historical fact1 brought back from ,babylon by the ,rabbis4 87c7 ,st ,paul accepts nothing of it as far as we can tell1 never making the least allusion to the doctrine4 87d7 ,the ,apocalypse asserts that not only death1 but hell shall be cast into the ,lake of ,fire4 87e7 ,the ,christian ,church has never really held it exclusively till now4 87f7 ,since the ,reformation it has been an open question in the ,english ,church4 87g7 ,the ,church of ,england1 by the deliberate expunging of the #dbnd ,article1 which affirmed endless punishment1 has declared it1 authoritatively1 to be open4 87h7 ,it is so1 in fact4 ,neither ,i nor any others who have denied it can be dispossessed or proceeded against legally1 in any way whatsoever4--,rev4 ,chas4 ,kingsley1 ,may #i1 #aheg40--,z4 '#aacfc4 ,ascendeth up for ever and ever4--8,the remembrance of the destruction of these systems of deception and error will be lasting1 the lesson will never be forgotten--as smoke1 which continues to ascend after a destructive fire1 is testimony that the fire has done its work4--,see also ,isa4 #cd3haj40--;,h4 #fd2 ,rev4 #ai3c4 ,and they have no rest day or night4--,a literal fulfillment of this is expected4 7,rev4 #g3c47 ,a few days of it will be enough to satisfy the most ardent lover of the torment system of religion4 ,and it will be a just recompense of reward4 ,who worship the beast and his ,image4--8,all will at once concede that if a literal worshipping of a beast and image were meant in verse #i1 then few1 if any1 in civilized lands are liable to the penalty of verse #aa2 and if the beast and his image and worship and wine and cup are symbols1 so also are the torments and smoke and fire and brimstone40--,h4 #fd2 ,rev4 #ad3i4 ,and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name4--,of fear1 sympathy or worship4 #ad3ab4 ,here is the patience of the saints4--,their crowning trial4 ,here are they that keep the commandments of ,god4--,the commandments of ,god during the ,harvest time are to proclaim1 8,gather ,my saints together unto ,me20 8,flee out of the midst of ,babylon1 and deliver every man his soul3 be not cut off in her iniquity40--,psa4 #ej3e2 ,jer4 #ea3f4 ,and the faith of ,jesus4--8,he laid down ,his life for us2 and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren40 7#a ,john #c3af47 ,the ,great ,company class are our brethren and we ought to show as much interest in them as we do in the ,little ,flock4 ,the gathering of the full number of the ,very ,elect would give us no reason to discontinue ,harvest work4 #ad3ac4 ,and ,i heard a voice from ,heaven4--,the ,heavenly ,father's ,word4 ,saying unto me1 ,write4--,the message found in chapter #i of ,volume ,,iii4 ,blessed are the dead which die in the ,lord4--8,each member of the ,body of ,christ must finish his sacrifice in actual death4 ,they are reckoned of ,god as being already dead1 and they are exhorted so also to reckon themselves3 #8,reckon ye yourselves dead indeed unto sin4' ,no other dead men can be said to die but this class of dead ones1 who must finish their course of sacrifice in actual death40--,c4 #bda2 #a ,thes4 #d3af4 ,from henceforth4--,from the spring of #ahgh4 ,yea1 saith the ,spirit4--,the ,word of ,god1 in ,rev4 #f3aa4 8,nowhere in the ,scriptures is death represented as in any sense a blessing1 except in this one instance2 and here it is particularly limited and made applicable to a certain specific time40--,c4 #bdj4 ,that they may rest from their labors4--8,poor1 bruised #8feet1' now despised of men1 none but yourselves fully appreciate your privileges4 ,none others can appreciate the joy you have in proclaiming ,present ,truth40 7,c4 #bcf47 8,one by one the #8feet' class will pass from the present condition1 in which1 though often weary and wounded1 they are always rejoicing1 to the other side the veil2--#8changed' in a moment1 in the twinkling of an eye1 from mortality to immortality1 from weakness to power1 from dishonor to glory1 from human to ,heavenly conditions1 from animal to spirit bodies40 7,c4 #bcg47 8,instead of the ,kingdom waiting for the living members to finish their course1 the ,kingdom work began at once2 and the living ones on this side the veil are privileged to know #8the mysteries of the ,kingdom' and to engage in ,kingdom work before their #8change2' and as they die 7will not fall #8asleep1' but7 will be #8changed' in the moment of death1 resurrected as part of the blessed and holy ,first ,resurrection40--,d4 #fbb4 ,and ,,for their works do follow them4--8,their work will not cease with this change2 for all those who will be counted worthy of that change to glory will be already enlisted in the service of the ,kingdom on this side the veil3 only the weariness1 the labor feature1 will cease with the change40 7,c4 #bch47 8,we may not be able to judge accurately as to what features of the great work are now being carried on by the ,lord and ,his glorified saints beyond the veil2 but we may be sure that they are active participants in the work assigned the members of the same ,kingdom class1 whose course and service are not yet ended on this side the veil--the ,harvest work40--,d4 #fbd2 #a ,cor4 #ae3eh4 #ad3ad4 ,and ,i looked1 and behold a white cloud4--,see ,rev4 #aj3a4 ,as the cloud indicates the ,time of ,trouble1 so the white indicates the pure motive back of it4 ,and upon the cloud one sat ,i ,,saw ,,one ,,sitting like unto the ,son of ,man4--8,to the ,jewish ,house ,jesus presented ,himself in three characters--as ,bridegroom 7,john #c3bi71 ,reaper 7,john #d3ce1 #ch7 and ,king 7,matt4 #ba3e1 #i1 #d74 ,to the ,christian ,house ,he presents ,himself in the same characters4 7#b ,cor4 #aa3b2 ,rev4 #ad3ad1 #ae2 #ag3ad470--;,b4 #bch4 ,having on ,his head a golden crown4--,the ,divine nature1 ,immortality1 the highest form of life4--#b ,tim4 #d3h2 ,jas4 #a3ab2 #a ,pet4 #e3d4 ,and in ,his hand a sharp sickle4--8,this ,harvest1 like the ,jewish one1 is to be first a time of trial and sifting upon the ,church1 and afterward a time of wrath upon the world1 including the nominal ,church4 ,that which tried fleshly ,israel in the ,harvest of their ,age was the truth then presented to them4 ,the truth then due was the sickle1 and it separated the #8,israelites indeed' from the nominal ,jewish ,church2 and of the true wheat there was but a fragment compared to the professors4 ,so also is the ,harvest of this ,age4 ,the ,harvest of the ,gospel ,age1 like that of the ,jewish ,age1 is under the supervision of the ,chief ,reaper1 our ,lord ,jesus1 who must then be present40--,a4 #bch4 #ad3ae4 ,and another angel4--,the ,witness to the ,lord in the ,land of ,egypt4 7,isa4 #ai3bj47 ,see pages #cji1 #caa1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 and observe that ,chapter #aj1 ,vol4 ,,iii1 ,scripture ,studies1 is in reality a separate book4 ,came out of the ,,his temple1 crying with a loud voice4--,throughout the #ff pages of his testimony4 ,to ,him that sat on the cloud4--,to our ,present ,lord4 ,thrust in ,thy sickle1 and reap3 for the time is come for thee to reap4--,the ,great ,pyramid confirms the ,bible's teaching that the time of ,harvest has come4 ,for the ,harvest of the earth is ripe4--8,the use of a sickle is to gather wheat1 not to ripen it40 #ad3af4 ,and ,he that sat on the cloud4--,the ,lord ,jesus1 during ,his ,parousia1 overruling and withholding the ,time of ,trouble4 ,thrust in ,his sickle on the earth2 and the earth was reaped4--,reading verses #acaf connectedly1 we note that the resurrection of the sleeping saints is recorded1 and is immediately followed by the ,harvest4 ,this suggests that the ,harvest proper began in #ahgh2 and that the three and a half years prior to the spring of #ahgh was devoted to preliminary work1 but not to ,harvest work in the full sense4 ,it was not proper to say 8,come out of her1 ,my people10 until ,babylon was cast off1 in the ,spring of #ahgh4--,rev4 #c3ad2 ,matt4 #ac3cj2 #bd3ca4 #ad3ag4 ,and another angel4--,pastor ,russell himself1 after the harvesting of the saints was finished4 7,volumes ,,iv1 ,v1 ,,vi are not shown in this strictly ,harvest chapter1 as they are more used for the upbuilding of the saints than as ,harvest instruments4 ,they are1 however1 shown in ,rev4 #aj3d2 #ae3h2 #af3aah47 ,came out of the ,temple which is in ,heaven4--,the ,church in glory1 on the other side of the veil4 ,he also having a sharp sickle4--,the privilege of guiding the work of bringing forth out of the ,divine ,storehouse all the ,master's store of provisions1 as needed1 and of directing the execution upon the nominal church of the chastisements promised in the ,holy ,word4 8,blessed is that servant1 whom his ,lord when ,he cometh shall find so doing4 ,of a truth ,i say unto you1 that ,he will make him ruler over all that ,he hath40--,luke #ab3dd2 ,psa4 #di3ei2 ,isa4 #ba3aaj4 #ad3ah4 ,and another angel4--,the corporate body which ,pastor ,russell organized to finish his work4 ,see ,rev4 #h3ce1 which describes the same matter as here narrated4 ,came out from the altar4--,the place of sacrifice4 ,the ,,society is maintained by the sacrifices of the saints4 ,which had power over fire4--,authority over the publication and distribution of expositions of ,ezekiel and ,john the ,revelator1 symbolical 8coals of fire40--,isa4 #f3f2 ,ezek4 #aj3b4 ,and cried with a loud cry ,,voice to ,him that had the sharp sickle4--,what a disappointed cry went up from the whole ,church that dear ,brother ,russell went beyond the veil without writing the ,seventh ,volume of ,scripture ,studies1 for which we all have looked so long6 ,saying1 ,thrust ,in ,thy sharp sickle4--,oh1 that the ,lord would wind up the present order of things1 in whatever way ,he might elect6--,joel #c3iad1 #ac2 ,matt4 #ac3cidc4 ,and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth4--,in the ,adventist cluster there are #f bunches of smaller sects2 in the ,baptist #ae2 ,brethren 7,dunkard7 #d2 ,plymouth ,brethren #d2 ,river ,brethren #c2 ,catholic ,apostolic #b2 ,churches of the ,living ,god #c2 ,churches of the ,new ,jerusalem #b2 ,disciples of ,christ #b2 ,evangelical ,bodies #b2 ,faith ,associations #i2 ,friends #d2 ,latter,day ,saints #b2 ,lutheran #ba2 ,scandinavian ,evangelical ,bodies #c2 ,mennonite #ac2 ,methodist #af2 ,moravian #b2 ,pentecostal bodies #b2 ,presbyterian #ab2 ,protestant ,episcopal #b2 ,reformed #d2 ,united ,brethren #b4 ,for her grapes are fully ripe4--,all these sects have long ago taken their stand against the ,truth and therefore against the ,lord4 ,o ,lord1 judge them with ,thy ,truth6 ,thou hast called them the 8abominations of the earth0 and so they are4 ,bring their manmade clergyridden systems to an end and make their memory to perish from the earth6 ,amen4--,isa4 #fe3ag2 ,rev4 #ag3e2 ,jer4 #f3icj4 #ad3ai4 ,and the angel thrust in his sickle into ,,upon the earth4--,distributed far and wide among orderloving people the good news that nominal ,zion's travail is at hand1 and the new and better order of things near4 ,and gathered the vine of the earth4--,brought together all the sects in virulent opposition to the ,message of the ,truth4 ,and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of ,god4--8,the fruitage of the ,true ,vine is ,love1 and is precious to the ,father2 but the fruitage of the ,vine of the ,earth is selfishness in various forms1 and will be ultimately gathered into the great winepress of the wrath of ,god in the great ,time of ,trouble with which this ,age will close40 7,f4 #bjg2 ,rev4 #ai3ae47 8,while the taking of different names was wrong1 it was an evidence of a deeper wrong--of a selfish1 party spirit4 ,it was an evidence that those ,corinthians who took the party names had never appreciated the oneness of the ,body of ,christ2 that they did not really appreciate that ,christ is the only ,head1 ,leader and ,standard2 and that ,his is the only name by which ,his followers should recognize themselves and each other40 7,z4 '#jhaaf47 ,many of the clergy are today followers of ,darwin and ,socrates instead of ,moses and ,christ ,and both ,darwin and ,socrates were mentally unsound4 ,the following is from ,dr4 ,dorland's ,the ,age of ,mental ,virility3 8,it is likewise exceptional to find an unusually short nose1 such as that possessed by ,darwin and ,socrates1 among men of intellect4 ,nasal abbreviation is one of the wellknown signs of degeneracy1 as is also the sessile or otherwise misshapen ear1 the sugarloaf skull1 the closeset eyes1 and other physiognomic irregularities1 including the cretinoid face4 ,the latter1 strange to relate1 has been noted in certain men of remarkable genius1 including ,darwin and ,carlyle1 ,rembrandt1 ,pope and ,socrates4 ,i wish to emphasize at this point the assertion that not every individual who chances to possess one of the above mentioned physical peculiarities is to be immediately stamped as a degenerate4 ,it is only when there is a combination of two or more of these traits1 especially if this combination has been noted as a family peculiarity1 that the suspicion will be awakened2 and this may then be confirmed and the condition established by close and careful investigation40 8,socrates10 writes ,pedigo1 8presented one of the most interesting studies in dual personality and subconscious conditions in all history in his memorable daemon1 which he said guided him and inspired him with wisdom40 8,herbert ,spencer was the victim of a fixed delusion40 ,the clergy are the ones directly responsible for the war in ,europe4 ,it was not their province to convince the rulers of those countries that their kingdoms are parts of ,god's ,kingdom of peace1 holiness1 justice1 love and truth--monstrous6 ,they are an entirely unauthorized class--except by themselves2 a selfperpetuating fraud4 ,they have brought upon their heads the blood of all the nations of the earth in this world war2 and ,god will require it at their hands4 ,in the spring of #aiah1 and from that time onward forever1 it will be as unsafe to tell the lies that have filled ,babylon's exchequers as it will to be a king4--,zech4 #ac3bf4 8,though controversy and words of passion and arguments will be and are among the weapons used in this battle1 especially in the beginning of it1 yet it will not end with these4 ,every prophetic detail indicates that before it ends it will be most sanguinary1 a fierce and terrible storm40--,d4 #ebi2 ,jer4 #be3bfch2 ,isa4 #fc3af2 ,lam4 #a3ae4 #ad3bj4 ,and the winepress4--,the ,seventh ,volume of ,scripture ,studies1 the work that will squeeze the juice out of the 8,abominations of the earth40 ,cook's ,revelation1 page #gji1 calls attention to the peculiar fact that this word is both masculine and feminine4 ,this seemingly indicates the ,lord's recognition of the cooperation of the sisters1 particularly in the closing feature of the ,harvest work4 ,priscilla was such a valuable helper that she was named before her husband in ,acts #ah3ah4 ,was trodden without the city4--8,in symbolic prophecy a #8city' signifies a religious government backed by power and influence4 ,thus1 for instance1 the #8holy city1 the new ,jerusalem1' is the symbol used to represent the established ,kingdom of ,god1 the overcomers of the ,gospel ,church exalted and reigning in glory40 7,d4 #be47 8,the treading of the winepress is the last feature of ,harvest work4 ,the reaping and gathering is all done first40 7,d4 #ah47 ,worldly editors have applied this verse to the great war now raging in ,europe2 but this expression makes it impossible to so apply it4 ,if the war is the winepress and ,christendom the city1 it is not being trodden without the city1 but right in its midst4 ,this suggests that the ,revelator referred to another city2 and with propriety2 for this chapter is devoted to ,harvest work only4 ,what city more appropriate to refer to then than the ,bethel1 the ,divinely appointed center for the ,harvest work1 the embryo ,kingdom of ,god on earth8 ,see ,rev4 #ai3ae4 ,and blood4--,teachings which though truthful will be deathdealing and seem 8bloody0 to sectarianism4 78,and blood came out of the winepress even unto the horse bridles0 is a parenthetical clause4 ,without this parenthesis the verse reads3 8,and the winepress was trodden without the city by the distance of a thousand and two hundred furlongs407 ,came out of the winepress4--,the exposition of the prophecies of ,ezekiel and the ,revelator4 ,even unto the horse bridles4--,so deep as to strangle and drown the old false doctrinal hobbies so long ridden4 ,sectarianism will be the universal laughingstock4 ,see ,rev41 chapters #h and #i4 8,because ,i have called1 and ye refused2 ,i have stretched out ,my hand1 and no man regarded2 but ye have set at nought all ,my counsel1 and would none of ,my reproof2 ,i will mock when your fear cometh2 when your fear cometh as desolation1 and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind2 when distress and anguish cometh upon you4 ,then shall they call upon ,me1 but ,i will not answer2 they shall seek ,me early1 but they shall not find ,me2 for that they hated knowledge1 and did not choose the fear of the ,lord4 ,they would none of my counsel3 they despised all my reproof4 ,therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way40--,prov4 #a3bdca4 ,by the space of a thousand and six ,,two hundred furlongs4--,this can not be interpreted to refer to the #bajj mile battle line of the world war4 ,a furlong or stadium is not a mile and this is without the city whereas the battle line is within the city4 ,see ,rotherham's translation4 ,a stadium is #fjf ,english ft42 #abjj stadii are1 mi41 #acg4i4 ,the work on this volume was done in ,scranton1 ,pa4 ,as fast as it was completed it was sent to the ,bethel4 ,half of the work was done at an average distance of #e blocks from the ,lackawanna station1 and the other half at a distance of #be blocks4 ,blocks in ,scranton are #aj to the mile4 ,hence the average distance to the station is #ae blocks1 or1 #a4e mi4 ,the mileage from ,scranton to ,hoboken ,terminal is shown in time tables as #adc4h and this is the mileage charged to passengers1 but in #aiaa1 at an expense of #ab1jjj1jjj1 the ,lackawanna ,railroad completed its famous cut off1 saving #aa miles of the distance4 ,from the day the cutoff was completed the trainmen have been allowed #aa miles less than the time table shows1 or a net distance of #acb4h mi4 ,hoboken ,ferry to ,barclay ,street ,ferry1 ,new ,york1 is #b4j mi4 ,barclay ,street ,ferry to ,fulton ,ferry1 ,new ,york1 is #d1hjj feet or #j4i mi4 ,fulton ,ferry1 ,new ,york1 to ,fulton ,ferry1 ,brooklyn1 is #b1jjj feet or #j4d mi4 ,fulton ,ferry1 ,brooklyn1 to ,bethel1 is #a1dhe feet or #j4c mi4 ,shortest distance from place where the winepress was trodden by the ,feet ,members of the ,lord1 ,whose guidance and help alone made this volume possible4 7,john #f3fj1 #fa2 ,matt4 #bj3aa471 mi41 #acg4i ,revelation #ae--,the ,song ,of ,the ,saints #ae3a4 ,and ,i saw another sign4--,seemion1 the same word used by our ,lord when ,he said1 8,then shall appear the sign of the ,son of ,man40 ,the proofs of the ,lord's ,second ,advent are here referred to4 ,in heaven4--,among ,god's professed people4 ,great and marvelous4--,very different in tone and contents from other ,bible 8helps40 ,seven angels4--,the seven volumes of ,studies in the ,scriptures4 ,having the seven last plagues4--,the seven volumes of ,studies in the ,scriptures together constitute the third and last woe poured out upon papacy4--,rev4 #af3aba2 #bb3ah4 ,for in them is filled up the wrath of ,god4--,their united testimony is that the ,times of the ,gentiles have expired1 the ,reign of ,christ has begun1 all earthly potentates--,civil1 ,social1 ,ecclesiastical and ,financial--must give way to the ,new ,order of things1 and will not give way peaceably1 but must be ejected4 #ae3b4 ,and ,i saw as it were a sea of glass4--,the ,time of ,trouble made transparent4 ,we can see why the ,lord permits it1 and see the ,golden ,age of glory1 peace and ,divine blessing that lies just beyond4 ,mingled with fire4--,the coming anarchy4 8,they are the waves of the ,red ,sea1 which appears on fire as the ,sun of righteousness arises upon them1 on the margin of which the true ,israelites sing the song of ,moses and the saving ,lamb4 ,standing on its shore are seen those who are delivered from the beasts' sway as the ,israelites were in their exodus from the land of ,pharaoh4 ,the song of ,moses is sung by delivered ,israel after the ,egyptian plagues3 here the hymn of praise is sung by the redeemed before the plagues are renewed and the ,church gains its last victory over the antichristian world40--,cook4 ,and them that had gotten the victory over the beast1 and over his image4--,who understand and live in harmony with the knowledge that both ,papacy and ,protestantism1 and the governments under their influence1 are of ,satanic spirit4--,rev4 #ac3aa1 #ac1 #ad1 #ae2 #ad3aa2 #af3b1 #ac2 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj2 ,matt4 #bd3bd4 ,and over his mark1 ,and over the number of his name4--,who refuse to let any stand for them in the place of ,christ4--,rev4 #ac3adah4 ,stand on the sea of glass4--,not in among the restless and discontented1 but on a higher plane4--,heb4 #ac3e4 ,having the harps of ,,the ,,lord ,god4--,see ,rev4 #e3h2 #ad3b4 8,god's ,word is that harp1 which has long been unstrung1 ,and men heard but discordant its notes2 ,now as tuned are its chords from ,moses to ,john1 ,how grandly sweet melody floats40 #ae3c4 ,and they sing ,,singing the song of ,moses4--8,hebrew scholars have remarked on the evidence of the antiquity of the song of ,moses1 recorded in ,exodus #ae3abj1 some even noting the fact that a few of the words showed an intermingling of the ,egyptian language4 ,it is further authenticated by the reference made to it in the book of ,psalms1 where the entire matter of the deliverance of the people and the overthrow of their enemies in the sea is graphically described by the sweet singer of ,israel4 7,psa4 #ajf3gab47 ,if it was appropriate1 as we all admit that it was1 that the ,israelites should give glory to ,god for their deliverance from the bondage of ,egypt1 much more is it appropriate that spiritual ,israel should recognize the still greater deliverance from the power of ,satan and the thralldom of sin1 accomplished for us through the blood of the ,lamb of ,god who died for our sins40--,z4 '#jgaeh2 ,rev4 #ad3c4 ,the ,servant of ,god4--,see ,ex4 #ad3ca4 ,and the song of the ,lamb4--8,they sing in the sense of declaring in harmonious and beautiful cadences the relationship of the types and figures of the ,law and the ,prophets of the ,mosaic ,dispensation with the antitypes of these of the ,gospel ,dispensation2 showing that all things written in the ,law and in the ,prophets are finding glorious fulfilments in the ,lamb of ,god and in the great ,plan which the ,father is working out through ,him40--,z4 '#jjcaj4 ,saying1 ,great and marvelous are ,thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty4--8,first amongst the great and marvelous works of the ,almighty was the sentence of death upon father ,adam and his posterity4 ,as we look at this marvelous work1 we must concede that it was just 7in that it was merited71 that it is true 7in the sense of not being an unreasonable penalty71 true in the sense that it was exactly what ,god forewarned father ,adam the penalty of disobedience would be4 #8,just and true are thy ways1 thou ,king of ,saints4' ,but ,jehovah's first great and marvelous work of condemnation was1 after four thousand years1 followed by another great and marvelous work2 viz41 the work of redemption4 ,how stupendous this work of the ransoming of all ,adam's race of hundreds of millions by the sacrifice of one ,man6 ,how great and wonderful indeed this act1 and how just and true1 and how fully in ,harmony with every feature of ,divine ,justice and ,love6--#a ,tim4 #b3e1 #f2 ,rom4 #e3ab1 #ah1 #ai40--,z4 '#jjcaj4 ,just and true are ,thy ways4--8,as we have viewed the failure of ,christendom to adopt the spirit of ,christ's teaching1 and seen how the knowledge and liberty gained from ,his teachings were blended with the spirit of evil1 selfishness1 and as from present foreshadowings we mark the sure approach of anarchy and every evil work1 yet realizing its necessity and justice1 and having learned also the ends of mercy to be attained eventually by this very means1 our hearts exclaim1 #8,great and marvelous are ,thy works1 ,lord ,god ,almighty4 ,just and true are ,thy ways4' 0 7,d4 #ebf2 ,deut4 #cb3d2 ,psa4 #ade3ag47 8,as ,aaron and the two remaining sons were forbidden to make lamentation for their brethren who were cut off1 this signifies that all the faithful of the priests will recognize the justice of the ,divine decisions1 and will bow to them in humble submission1 saying1 #8,just and true are ,thy ways4' 0--,lev4 #aj3ag2 ,psa4 #hi3ad2 ,job #cf3ag2 #cg3bc2 ,isa4 #ef3a2 ,t4 #dj4 ,thou ,king of saints ,,the ,,worlds4--,the margin renders this 8,king of nations or ages40 ,he will be ,king of all nations by and by4 ,he is ,king of all ages 7worlds7 in the sense that the ages are working out ,his sovereign will4 #ae3d4 ,who shall not fear ,thee1 ,o ,lord1 and glorify ,thy name4--8,here is still another feature to this song1 and it is glorious also4 ,it looks forward to the glorious ,millennial ,age1 to the time when1 under ,divine providence1 the knowledge of the ,lord1 essential to faith1 and to any acceptance of ,his favor and mercy through ,christ1 shall be extended to every creature4 #8,every knee shall bow and every tongue confess4' 7,rom4 #ad3aa47 ,and while this bowing and confessing may at first be compulsory1 yet the ,scriptures assure us that ultimately all who will not come into heart harmony with the ,lord and with all ,his gracious arrangements and provisions1 shall be cut off from amongst the people1--in the ,second ,death4 7,acts #c3bc47 ,so that ultimately1 instead of the ,universe being filled with hundreds of millions who to all eternity will wail and gnash their teeth and blaspheme ,god's holy name in agony--instead of this the time shall come when every tongue in ,heaven and in earth shall be heard praising ,god1 and giving honor to ,him that sitteth on the ,throne and to the ,lamb1 forever1 for by that time all evildoers shall be cut off4 7,rev4 #e3ac470--,z4 '#jjcaa2 ,jer4 #aj3g4 ,for ,thou only art holy4--8,this song continues1 and has yet another strain4 ,it declares1 #8,thou only art holy'4 ,all holiness1 all perfection1 wherever it is found1 must proceed from ,god1 the great ,fountain of holiness4 ,how strange1 then1 that any of ,god's dear people 7and we ourselves were once amongst this number7 should so misunderstand the ,divine ,character and ,plan as to misrepresent the same as being the very essence of unholiness1 injustice1 unkindness1 inequity1 lovelessness1 toward the great mass of ,god's creatures60--,z4 '#jjcaa4 ,for all nations shall come and worship before ,thee4--8,there is still another strain in this song2 and it is a grand one also1 like all the others1--reaching down into the ,millennial ,age4 ,it declares1 #8,all nations shall come and worship before ,thee2 for ,thy judgments are made manifest4' #8,all nations' will include1 not only all the nations then living1 but all the nations of the dead1 just as does the promise which ,god made to ,abraham1 saying1 #8,in thy ,seed ,the ,christ1 ,head and ,body shall all the nations of the earth be blessed4' 7,gen4 #bb3ah470--,z4 '#jjcaa4 ,for ,thy judgments are made manifest ,,before ,,thee4--,there was a time when we could not sing this song 7,psa4 #acg74 ,we looked forward with dread to the time when the ,lord's judgments would be made manifest4 ,we did not see that the ,judgment ,day is a day of 8assurance to all men40 7,acts #ag3ca47 ,we did not see that the first judgment day was against our race 7,rom4 #e3ah71 and that no culprit can be on trial twice for the same offence4 ,we did not see that another ,judgment ,day1 favorable to our race1 came at the time of our ,lord's great victory over death 7,john #ab3ca72 nor did we see that our own1 the ,judgment ,day of the saints1 is here and now4 7#a ,tim4 #e3bd2 #a ,cor4 #aa3ca2 #a ,pet4 #d3ag47 ,we did perhaps note1 our duty of judging wolves by their greed1 dogs by their quarrelsomeness1 swine by their interest in earthly things1 thorns by their disposition to wound and tear1 and thistles by their disposition to scatter seeds that cause trouble 7,matt4 #g3f1 #af1 #ae72 and some of us went beyond and began judging one another 7,rom4 #ad3ac2 ,matt4 #g3a74 ,we never wanted the ,lord to do it1 even though we do know that ,he will bring every secret thing into judgment4 7,prov4 #ae3c2 ,ecc4 #ab3ad47 ,now we see that the world's ,judgment ,day is a thousand years long 7,psa4 #ij3d2 #b ,pet4 #c3g1 #h72 we have learned that a day is not always merely a #bd;hour period4 7,gen4 #b3d2 ,heb4 #c3h2 #b ,cor4 #f3b47 ,we see now that our ,lord ,jesus at the first ,advent judged nobody 7,john #ab3dg2 ,luke #ab3ad71 but that ,god has exalted ,him to be the world's ,judge 7,acts #e3ca7 a ,deliverer 7,judges #c3i2 ,isa4 #a3bf72 that ,he will have associate judges 7#a ,cor4 #f3b2 ,rev4 #bj3f72 that ,his judgments will end war1 promote righteousness and aid the poor and needy 7,isa4 #b3d2 #aa3d2 #bf3i71 destroy unrighteousness and bring in everlasting peace and joy4--#b ,thes4 #a3g2 ,isa4 #fe3ah2 #a ,cor4 #ae3be2 #a ,chron4 #af3ca2 ,psa4 #if3ac2 ,psa4 #ih3ai2 ,psa4 #gb3aad4 #ae3e4 ,and after that ,i looked1 and1 behold4--,another vision of the same thing4 ,the ,temple of the ,tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened4--,pastor ,russell was given a clear1 beautiful1 complete comprehension of the ,plan of ,god as revealed in the ,tabernacle arrangements and sacrifices4 7,acts #g3dd74 ,this is the foundation of all his works4 #ae3f4 ,and the seven angels came out of the ,temple4--,the seven volumes of ,scripture ,studies1 emerged1 all in harmony with the teachings of the ,tabernacle1 from which they proceeded4 ,having the seven last plagues4--,though counted as plagues by ecclesiasticism they are in reality blessings1 destined to rid the earth of every obnoxious thing1 not the least of which are the great whore and harlots1 large and small1 that have defiled the earth with their unclean doctrines4 7,rev4 #ag3e47 8,suppose that the salaries and #8livings' of all ministers1 bishops1 priests1 etc41 were cut off1 all churches1 chapels and cathedrals destroyed1 all theological seminaries broken up1 and their professors turned to other pursuits1 all religious guilds and societies disbanded1 including all sectarian organizations--what would be the effect8 ,who can doubt that it would be a real blessing under the disguise of a great and terrible catastrophe8 ,the effect would be to bring true ,christians together as the family of ,god1 and not as sectarian bands2 to study ,god's ,word1 and not human traditions and creeds formulated in the ,dark ,ages4 ,the ,scriptures seem to indicate that very much of this sort of destruction of present systems must take place before all the #8wheat1' the true ,church1 will be separated from the #8tares1' the mere professors40 7,z4 '#jhaai47 8,the ,church1 or company of believers1 probationers for coming glory1 in its #8voluntary association1' was indeed to recognize #8teachers1' #8helps1' #8,apostles1' etc41 but not to make them4 ,if they recognize a man #8mighty in the ,scriptures1' #8apt to teach1' they should be careful always1 even while rejoicing in and thanking ,god for such a servant1 to require a #8thus saith the ,lord' for every point of doctrine1 and to search the ,scriptures daily to see whether these things be so40--,z4 '#jhabj4 ,clothed in pure and white ,,bright linen4--8,the #8,linen ,girdle' indicated a righteous servant3 linen--righteousness1 girdle--servitude40 7,t4 #cj47 8,a different word than in ,rev4 #ai3h4 ,the word here used is suitable as describing priestly attire and refers to ministrations on this side of the veil40--,cook4 ,and having their breasts girded with golden girdles4--8,the underpriests were robed in linen garments and wore girdles4 ,their robes represented the righteousness of ,jesus1 imputed to us1 and their girdles represent us as servants of righteousness40 7,t4 #cf47 ,the ,scripture ,studies are servants of the ,church--righteous servants1 clad in the ,lord's robe4--,rev4 #a3ac4 #ae3g4 ,and one of the four beasts4--,heavenly ,wisdom4--,rev4 #d3g2 ,matt4 #bd3de2 ,jas4 #a3e2 #c3ag2 ,ezek4 #aj3b1 #g4 ,gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials4--,the message of ,present ,truth4 8,the vial was the shallow bowl in which they drew from the larger goblet40--,cook2 ,psa4 #gi3f2 ,jer4 #aj3be2 ,zeph4 #c3h4 ,full of the wrath of ,god4--,against all untruth1 injustice and selfishness in organizations1 ,civil1 ,social1 ,ecclesiastical and ,financial4 ,who liveth for ever and ever1 ,amen4--,whereas all of those are to pass away4--,rev4 #d3i1 #aj2 #aj3f4 #ae3h4 ,and the temple was filled with smoke4--,the nominal ,church is filled with confusion as the deformities of her errors are made manifest4--,isa4 #f3d4 ,from the glory of ,god1 and from ,his power4--,as revealed in ,his ,word in this ,harvest time4--#b ,chron4 #e3ad4 ,and no man was able to enter into the temple4--,no person of mature thought4 ,the large proportion of new members now received in the various denominations is from the ,sunday ,school4--,rev4 #i3bj4 ,till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled4--,until the seven volumes of ,scripture ,studies were written1 published and circulated4 ,shortly afterward the true ,temple will be in readiness1 wherein men1 women and children of all races and ages will find their hearts' hunger satisfied4 8,yet once it is a little while1 and ,i will shake the heavens1 and the earth1 and the sea1 and the dry land2 and ,i will shake all nations1 and the desire of all nations shall come3 and ,i will fill this ,house with glory1 saith the ,lord of hosts4 ,the silver the ,great ,company class that will be used in connection with its ministrations is ,mine1 and the gold the ,little ,flock1 of which it will be composed is ,mine1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts4 ,the glory of this latter ,house shall be greater than the former1 the nominal church1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts2 and in this place will ,i give peace1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts40--,hag4 #b3fi4 ,revelation #af--;,ecclesiasticism's ,seven ,plagues #af3a4 ,and ,i heard a great voice out of the ,temple4--,pastor ,russell was the voice of the ,lord thus used4 7,rev4 #g3b2 #aj3c47 ,he was of the true ,temple1 and 8out of0 the nominal temple at the time these plagues were poured out4 ,saying to the seven angels4--,the seven volumes of ,scripture ,studies4 ,see ,rev4 #h3be and #ad3agbj4 8,the plagues upon ,egypt were intended in some measure to foreshadow1 to illustrate1 the plagues with which this ,gospel ,age will end40 7,f4 #age47 ,pastor ,russell walked in the light4 ,when the plagues actually appeared1 he no longer held to the explanation published in #ahhc1 before they appeared1 and so stated on many occasions4 ,go your ways1 and pour out the ,,seven vials of the wrath of ,god upon the earth4--,in the prefaces to the several volumes of ,scripture ,studies such expressions abound as 8,i send forth this volume with prayers10 8and now it is sent forth in the faith10 etc41 etc4 #af3b4 ,and the first went1 and poured out his vial upon ,,into the earth4--,volume ,i was distributed among those already under religious restraint4 ,and there fell a noisome and grievous ,,and ,,noisome sore4--,the book seemed to ecclesiastics like an evil and malignant ulcer1 a painful1 running sore1 which eats1 corrupts and destroys4 ,upon the men which had the mark of the beast4--,roman ,catholics4 ,and upon them which worshipped his image4--,protestants affiliated with the ,federal ,council of ,churches4 ,rev4 #ac3aa2 #ac1 #ad1 #ae2 #ad3i1 #aa2 #ae3b2 #af3ac2 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj2 ,matt4 #bd3bd4 ,another view of the book1 from the standpoint of the clergy1 is afforded by the plague of flies 7,ex4 #h3bjcb47 ,it seemed to them like an oldtime ,egyptian curse1 with which they were quite familiar1 namely1 one more of the ,evangelistic firms already cursing society1 and interfering with the regular clergy business4 8,the ,scriptural details are as follows3 ,the arab filled the houses of the ,egyptians1 they covered the ground1 they lighted on the people1 the land was laid waste on their account4 ,a biting1 insidious creature1 which comes like a dart1 with great noise1 and1 rushing with great impetuosity on the skin1 sticks to it most tenaciously4 ,they boldly beset cattle1 and not only obtain ichor1 as other flies1 but also suck out blood from beneath1 and occasion great pain4 8,they have no proboscis1 but1 instead1 have double sets of teeth1 like wasps1 which they infix deeply in the skin2 they greatly infest the ears of dogs4 ,this genus is most impudently pertinacious in its assaults1 spares neither man nor beast1 gorges itself to bursting with blood1 infusing an irritating venom at the same time4 ,no idea can be formed of their obstinate rapacity4 ,it is in vain to drive them away2 they return again in the selfsame moment1 and their perseverance wearies out the most patient spirit40 7,mc,c47 ,these flies1 flying a short distance into the heavens1 do their work around the dunghill of human tradition1 but the collections of one of them recently amounted to #djj1jjj in eight ,american cities1 so the business can be made a money maker by those willing to cater to the demand for sensationalism1 and who have no hesitancy in repeating ancient blasphemies against ,god's holy name4 ,these flies are called dogflies1 because they infest the ears of dogs2 and when it is remembered that the ,scriptures refer to the clergy as 8dumb dogs0 7,isa4 #ef3aj1 #aa2 ,phil4 #c3b7 we can readily see the application4 ,the clergy of an entire city will sit on a platform1 facing virtually the whole population1 and hear themselves called liars1 hypocrites1 false alarms and other villainous names4 ,but because they hope to get a few 8converts10 and therefore a few shekels for the 8sanctuary10 they will take it all meekly1 and prefer to take it rather than humbly admit one item of truth in all ,pastor ,russell's beautiful writings4 ,after the firm has left town1 they frequently bemoan the treatment received and think longingly of the wherewithal taken by the fly that was not satisfied with mere ichor1 but wanted the real blood4 ,at this point it may be well to explain the plagues of frogs and lice4 ,the former seems to represent the ,old ,theology ,quarterly which ,pharaoh found everywhere contaminating his kingdom1 but which1 at the hand of the ,lord1 suddenly died out completely4 ,the latter seems to represent ,the ,bible ,students ,monthly4 ,there is no record that the plague of lice was discontinued1 and even yet the ,egyptians 7people of the world7 and ,pharaoh 7the ,devil7 and his magicians 7the clergy7 scratch their heads many a time1 wondering how to deal with a plague which they cannot duplicate4 #af3c4 ,and the second angel poured out his vial upon the sea4--,volume ,,ii1 ,scripture ,studies seemed to the beast and his image to reach and affect only the discontented1 those who never were very subservient to the ruler of this present evil world1 or any of his systems4 ,and it became as the blood of a dead man4--,after death the blood separates into a watery liquid1 called serum1 and a solid substance termed clot4 ,as soon as this separation takes place the clot begins to putrefy or corrupt4 ,thus it seemed to worshipers of the beast and his image that anybody that would accept the teachings of ,volume ,,ii would be in a hopeless condition4 ,and every living soul died in the sea4--,to the worshipers of the beast and his image it seemed as though such would be lost and would surely go to hell to be tormented forever4 ,an 8evangelist0 who held these views called at the home of a lady in ,scranton4 ,entering the hall he saw an elegant picture of ,pastor ,russell4 ,instantly he lost control of what mind he had and vehemently said1 8,i called here as a ,christian minister1 but ,i see you have old ,russell's picture here4 ,are you a follower of his80 ,the lady replied that she was4 ,he then said1 8,he is in hell1 and you will be there too1 if you follow him40 ,quick as thought the lady reopened the door through which he had just entered1 invited him to the porch overlooking the valley2 and as he stood there gazing into space she said1 8,tell it to the atmosphere10 and left him while she attended to more important duties4 ,another picture of the effect of ,volume ,,ii on the antitypical ,egyptians may be seen from the plague of the murrain 7,ex4 #i3ag47 8,this consisted in some distemper that resulted in a sudden and dreadful mortality among the cattle in the field1 including horses1 asses1 camels1 oxen and sheep4 ,it was1 however1 confined to the ,egyptian cattle1 and to those that were in the field2 for though the cattle of the ,hebrews breathed the same air1 drank the same water1 and fed in the same pastures1 not a creature of theirs died4 ,the ,egyptian cattle that survived in the sheds1 and were afterwards sent into the fields1 were destroyed by the succeeding storm of fire and hail40 7,mc,c47 ,these creatures were valuable to the ,egyptians4 ,they used them for bearing their burdens1 for sacrifices and for food4 ,they represent the classes that go to make up the nominal church and support it4 ,thus it seemed to the worshippers of the ,beast and his ,image that the only way to prevent the loss of all their live stock would be to keep them securely impounded1 allowing them no liberty whatever4 #af3d4 ,and the third angel poured out his vial upon the rivers and fountains of waters4--,it seemed to the worshippers of the beast and his image that the teachings of ,volume ,,iii of the ,scripture ,studies had contaminated the ,scriptures1 the ,waters of ,life1 at their very source1 by extending the call to people to come out of ,babylon while they were busy trying to get people in4 ,and they became blood4--,seemed repulsive1 undesirable1 bloody4--,z4 '#jgbgi2 ,ex4 #g3bj2 ,rev4 #ad3bj4 ,another view of how ,volume ,,iii appears to the worshipers of the beast and his image is shown by the plague of boils described in ,ex4 #i3hab4 8,the boil was a scab or pustule1 which might or might not break out into an ulcerous sore 7,lev4 #ac3ah74 ,with this1 in one of its worst forms1 ,job was afflicted 7#b3g71 and by this ,hezekiah was brought to the verge of the grave4 7#b ,kings #bj3g2 ,isa4 #ch3ba47 ,it was an eruption of a very painful kind accompanied with a burning itch1 tending to produce a permanent state of foul and wasteful disease4 ,one form of this disease which seized upon the legs and knees1 and was regarded as incurable1 was peculiar to ,egypt1 and was hence called #8the botch of ,egypt4' 7,deut4 #bh3bg1 #ce47 ,in the case before us1 this eruption had a tendency to break out into larger swellings and became probably the disease called elephantiasis1 a disease said to be peculiar to ,egypt1 or the black leprosy1 a disease which also affects cattle40 7,mc,c47 ,it was 8ashes of the furnace10 loyalty to the memory of the bullock1 the one perfect ,sacrifice for all1 ,christ ,jesus1 that caused the boils2 and it is particularly noted that the magicians 7clergy7 could not withstand this plague1 the message1 8,come out of her1 ,my ,people40 #af3e4 ,and ,i heard the angel of the waters4--,volume ,,iii1 ,scripture ,studies4 ,say1 thou art righteous1 ,o ,lord which art1 and wast4--,see ,rev4 #a3d2 #ae3c2 #ai3b4 ,and shalt be1 ,,the ,,holy4--,the ,lord1 the ,holy ,one1 was present1 at the time ,volume ,,iii was written4 ,because ,thou hast judged thus4--,made the beautiful ,harvest truths appear 8bloody0 to those not consecrated4 #af3f4 ,for they have shed the blood of saints and prophets4--,literally and figuratively4--,matt4 #bc3cd1 #ce2 ,rev4 #ac3ae2 #ah3bd4 ,and thou hast given them blood to drink2 for ,,that ,,whereof they are worthy4--,see ,rev4 #ad3bj2 ,isa4 #di3bf4 #af3g4 ,and ,i heard another out of the altar4--,the 8,altar to the ,lord in the midst of the land of ,egypt0 7,isa4 #ai3ai7 at the time these plagues are being poured out upon the antitypical ,egyptians1 is the ,great ,pyramid1 discussed in a separate section of ,volume ,,iii4 ,say ,saying ,even so1 ,lord ,god ,almighty4--,the ,lord ,jesus4--,rev4 #a3h2 ,john #e3bb2 ,matt4 #bh3ah4 ,true and righteous are ,thy judgments4--,the teaching of the ,great ,pyramid is in full accord with the rest of the book4 ,see ,rev4 #ad3ae4 8,it is by no means an addition to the written revelation3 that revelation is complete and perfect1 and needs no addition4 ,but it is a strong corroborative witness to ,god's ,plan4 ,isaiah testifies of an altar and pillar in the land of ,egypt1 which #8shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the ,lord of hosts in the land of ,egypt4' ,and the context shows that it shall be a witness in the day when the great ,savior and ,deliverer shall come to set at liberty ,sin's captives40--,c4 #cae4 #af3h4 ,and the fourth angel poured out his vial upon the sun4--,volume ,,iv of ,scripture ,studies1 as soon as published1 was sent free to all clergy whose names could be obtained4 ,they are taught1 and teach others1 that they are important luminaries in the heavens1 suns1 rivalling in brilliancy and wisdom the ,lord ,himself1 whose place they take in the minds of the people1 by setting forth their own views on every subject1 rather than the ,lord's ,word4 ,volume ,,iv1 then1 sent to this class1 and calling attention to ,babylon's fall1 seemed to them as the height of all presumption in wickedness4 ,and power was given unto him to scorch men4--,greek 8,the ,men10 i4 e41 the worshipers of the beast and his image4 ,with fire4--,perhaps some of the clergy became a trifle warm as they read ,volume ,,iv1 as their later conduct seems to suggest4 ,why they should have disliked ,pastor ,russell when he told the truth1 and proved it1 is remarkable4 ,and men4--,greek 8,the ,men20 the clergy4 ,in ,rev4 #h3i the clergy are not so honored4 ,were scorched with great heat4--,became warm1 indignant at the ,pastor's kindly explanation of the whore and the harlots1 and the plainly evident application to the ,papacy and the ,protestant sects4 ,and blasphemed the name of ,god1 which hath power over these plagues4--,misrepresented the name and character of the mighty one1 ,pastor ,russell1 to whom the ,lord committed the task of presenting to ,his ,church this meat in due season4 ,this misrepresentation burst like a storm after the publication of ,volume ,,iv1 ,studies1 and continued until the ,pastor's death1 yea1 and shame to say it1 even afterwards1 in the columns of such sheets as the ,new ,york ,world and the ,brooklyn ,eagle4 ,what monuments of infamy these people have reared for themselves6 ,they richly deserve all they will get when the tide turns4 ,and they repented not to give ,him glory4--8,one great obstacle to many is the contracted idea generally entertained of the meaning of the word god4 ,they fail to note that the ,greek theos 7god7 does not invariably refer to ,jehovah1 but signifies a mighty one4 ,in the following texts the word god 7theos7 is used to refer to others than the one supreme being1 ,jehovah--viz43--,john #aj3cd1 #ce2 ,acts #g3dj1 #dc2 #ag3bc2 #a ,cor4 #h3e40--;,b4 #bgd4 ,another view of how the publication of ,volume ,,iv looks to the worshipers of the beast and his image is shown in the plague of hail1 described in ,ex4 #i3acbf4 8,the character of this and the following plagues must be carefully examined1 as the warning seems to indicate an important turning point4 ,the ruin caused by the hail was evidently far greater than that effected by any of the earlier plagues2 for it destroyed men1 which those others seem not to have done1 and not only men1 but beasts and the produce of the earth4 ,in this case ,moses1 while addressing ,pharaoh1 openly warns his servants how to save something from the calamity4 ,pharaoh for the first time acknowledges his wickedness40 7,mc,c47 ,the appropriateness of these comments to the subject matter of 8,the ,day of ,vengeance10 or 8,the ,battle of ,armageddon01 7as it is now called7 as the latter would appear to the mind of the clergy1 is selfevident4 ,your true clergyman has the greatest abhorrence for any truth that would tend to lessen men's reverence for himself or the systems which he aims to perpetuate4 #af3aj4 ,and the fifth angel4--,volume ,v1 of ,studies4 ,poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast4--,thoroughly and scripturally analyzing the subjects of trinity1 human immortality and eternal torment1 the foundation of all ,papal doctrine1 as well as constituting a large part of the stock in trade of the ,protestant aggregation4 ,and his kingdom was full of darkness4--,complete ignorance of the truths on these subjects as taught in the ,bible4 ,and they gnawed their tongues for pain4--8,note the expression of ,rev4 ,samuel ,t4 ,carter in a ,presbyterian journal--,the ,evangelist4 ,he says3 #8,it must be admitted that if a ,church is honest1 that which stands in its ,confession to its faith4 ,it must be acknowledged that what is contained in its ,confession is the faith of any honest church4 ,the ,westminster ,confession of ,faith is still the unquestioned ,confession of the ,presbyterian ,church4 ,is the ,presbyterian ,church honest in its zeal for purity first and peace afterward8 ,be it known1 then1 to all the world that the ,presbyterian ,church by its ,confession declares that all the heathen perish1 that many men are hopelessly lost from all eternity by the decree of ,god1 and that there are infants in hell4444 ,in reality the church does not believe these dreadful doctrines4 ,then it stands before ,god and man with a lie in its right hand4' 0--,z4 '#jjadh4 #af3aa ,and blasphemed the ,god of ,heaven4--8,in token of entire allegiance to the beast40--,cook4 ,because of their pains and their sores1 and repented not of their deeds4--8,the commotion amongst ,presbyterians continues--some standing firm for their church creed1 others repudiating it and begging to be released from it4 ,many thus indirectly confess that they have despised it for years1 and have realized it to be a lie and a blasphemy against ,god1 and after confessing to this acting and confessing a lie for years they beg to be released without cost or loss either of human or ,divine favor1 and especially without loss of bread and butter40 7,z4 '#jjadh47 ,the way in which ,volume ,v1 ,scripture ,studies1 appeared to the worshipers of the beast and his image is further illustrated in the plague of locusts1 described in ,ex4 #aj3aaa4 8,this plague has not the unusual nature of the one that preceded it2 but it even exceeds it in severity1 and so occupies its place in the gradation of the more terrible judgments that form the latter part of the series4 ,its severity can be well understood by those who have been in ,egypt in a part of the country where a plague of locusts has alighted4 ,in this case the plague was greater than any ordinary visitation1 since it extended over a far wider space1 rather than because it was more intense2 for it is impossible to imagine any more complete destruction than that always caused by locusts40 7,mc,c47 ,with what dismay must the clergy have read the kind words for volume ,v1 which appeared in the columns of the secular press4 #af3ab4 ,and the sixth angel4--,volume ,,vi of ,studies in the ,scriptures4 ,poured out his vial upon the great ,river ,euphrates4--,seemed to the worshipers of the beast and his image to be instituting a new and horrible thing1 a people's church1 in which there is no place for clergy1 collections1 church edifices1 reverence for one day above another1 or in fact any of the customs cherished in the nominal church4 ,and the water thereof was dried up4--8,literal ,babylon was built upon the literal river ,euphrates1 while in the ,gospel age mystic or figurative ,babylon1 which carried away captive ,spiritual ,israel1 is portrayed as sitting upon the mystic ,euphrates4 ,in the type1 the golden vessels of the ,temple were carried away and profaned by literal ,babylon3 in the antitype1 the precious1 ,divine 7golden7 truths1 pertaining to the service of the true ,temple1 the ,church 7#a ,cor4 #c3af1 #ag2 ,rev4 #c3ab71 were far removed from their proper places1 perverted and misapplied by mystic ,babylon4 ,literal ,babylon being built upon the river ,euphrates1 which materially contributed to its wealth and resources1 its overthrow was accomplished by the turning aside of those waters4 ,so mystic ,babylon sits upon1 is supported by1 many waters 7peoples1 nations71 and its fall is predicted1 through the turning aside of its supporters and sustainers1 the people40 7,b4 #bji2 ,jer4 #ej3ch1 #ea3cf47 8,ecclesiastical circles in ,germany are much exercised at the rapidly increasing desertions from the ,state ,church4 ,although the process of official separation from the ,church is one of the greatest difficulty1 delay and expense1 it is computed that in ,berlin alone considerably over #aj1jjj persons have severed their connection with the ,church during the past year4 ,so great is the number of those who are notifying their intention to terminate their membership that special offices have been opened in ,berlin to receive their applications1 which now number between #cjj and #djj daily4 ,among the working classes1 especially those attached to the ,social ,democratic party1 there exists a bitter hostility to the clergy40--,z4 '#jihc4 8,a program for a general strike against the ,church is the latest plan of action4 ,the #8,no,creeders' 7,monists7 in league with the ,socialists1 convened mass meetings in ,berlin1 ,brunswick and ,saxony1 in which every means of incitation was employed in an appeal toward a secession from the ,state ,church4 ,at these meetings over #a1cjj persons signed a declaration announcing their intention to secede from the ,church4 ,four thousand more followed1 and according to judicial courtrecords received towards the end of ,december1 #ag1jjj secessions took place in ,december up to the #bc;d1 and the day after ,christmas #h1jjj more announced their intention4 ,the following press reports may serve as a typical illustration of the mode of procedure in such meetings4 #8,without exception1 every one who even by vague allusion1 ventured to take a stand for his ,church was howled down1 hissed from the rostrum and subjected to filthy invectives4 ,to illustrate3 ,when a minister ascended the platform1 the following was heard1 8,he looks it60 8,old ,skypilot60 ,and from another part of the hall the same evening we heard the following words aimed at the ministers3 8,damned ,rags60 8,pig priests60 ,a gentleman who interrupted was yelled at1 8,rous mit the ,parson face60 ' 0--,z4 '#adacc4 8,reports in ,great ,britain show that ,baptists1 ,congregationalists and the various ,methodist denominations there are declining in numbers and prestige4 ,the cause of this is not far to see4 ,christianity has become merely another name for decency and civilization4 ,all doctrines are abandoned as merely speculations4 ,churches are becoming merely social clubs in which form and ceremony mark the quality4 ,this accounts for the growing unpopularity of those sects which once stood for the highest standards of earnestness and ,christian zeal and liberty1 nonconformity and simplicity40 7,z4 '#ajcbd47 8,the pastor of the ,fifth ,avenue ,baptist ,church1 ,new ,york ,city1 ,rev4 ,dr4 ,charles ,f4 ,aked1 who came to its direction from a ,london pulpit1 in his sermon ,sunday said3 #8,when ,i interview my parishioners1 and they are among the most representative in the city1 ,i find the spirit of religious depression very unlike the spirit of abounding enterprise in business1 in manufacturing1 in engineering and construction4 ,there are about #af1jjj1jjj ,catholics in continental ,united ,states4 ,now1 in our immigration for ninety years back1 no less than #ae1jjj1jjj were ,catholics4 ,if all remained loyal to its tenets they would number #de1jjj1jjj now instead of #af1jjj1jjj4 ,the ,protestants have lost ground1 too1 when the filling up of the country is counted4 ,our own denomination1 the ,baptists1 reflects the general trend4 ,the increase among the ,baptists of ,america has been equal to only onefourth of the birth rate among us1 proving that three out of four of our ,baptist population have fallen away from us4 ,the decline of ,christianity is universal4' 8,in ,england1 in ,france1 in ,spain1 ,italy and ,germany we hear the same cry4 ,only lately ,i was talking to an ,english clergyman4 ,he told me that not merely is there a great falling off in churchgoers in ,england1 but that the class of people who frequent churches is becoming inferior4 8,the church is out of touch with the masses4 ,everything has progressed except ,christianity4 ,the pulpit has too many bigots1 too many bores1 too many hellfire screechers for the enlightened thought of the day4 ,the church is obliged to accept any applicant for the ministry who is respectable4 ,even with this latitude1 ,baptist1 ,presbyterian and ,methodist vocations show a remarkable falling off in twentyfive years40 7,z4 '#jhcbd47 8,rev4 ,charles ,a4 ,eaton at the ,euclid ,avenue ,baptist ,church1 ,cleveland1 spoke as follows3 #8,in ,italy onethird of the people at the very outside1 are more or less nominal followers of the ,church of ,rome2 another third1 possibly1 are more or less sympathetic toward the ,church2 while another third are out and out continually and completely antagonistic1 apparently1 not only to the ,church of ,rome1 but to all forms of ,christianity4 ,you enter ,france--the same story is true1 only aggravated and multiplied a thousand fold4 ,you enter ,great ,britain1 which ,i consider to be the last citadel of ,christianity in the world1 with a people more robust and sane in their religious interests and sympathies than any other people4 ,and what is the condition there8 ,the nonconformist churches of ,great ,britain last year not only made no progress1 but met1 according to their statistics1 with an absolute loss of #ah1jjj2 the ,baptist ,church of ,great ,britain last year lost #e1jjj people4 ,in the year #aije there were nearly #g1jjj ,presbyterian1 ,congregationalist and ,methodist churches that had not one single member unite with them in twelve months4 ,in a recent year in ,new ,york city1 according to the statement of ,dr4 ,aked1 of the ,fifth ,avenue ,baptist ,church1 #cce ,protestant churches reported a net gain that year of #chf members4 ,that is to say #cce churches gained one member apiece and fifty of them gained two in twelve months4 ,brethren1 ,i say to you this morning1 that the ,american ,church is dying--it is dying6 ,it is dying6 ,don't forget it4' 0 7,z4 '#jhbaa47 8,a declaration by the ,rev4 ,dr4 ,charles ,e4 ,mc,clellan1 pastor of the ,fairhill ,baptist ,church1 that #8,protestantism in the ,united ,states is fast decaying and will soon be a thing of the past1' aroused a storm at the fiftythird session of the ,north ,philadelphia ,baptist ,association4 ,doctor ,mc,clellan spoke on what he called the decline of ,protestantism while making his report as chairman of the missionary committee4 #8,the spirit of ,protestantism is dying in the ,united ,states1 and it will soon be a thing of the past1' he said4 #8,philadelphia1 both denominationally and religiously1 is going to perdition at a rapid rate4 ,recently ,i attended the services in one of our churches1 at which ,i had been invited to speak4 ,i found in attendance nineteen adults and one child4 ,the same condition exists all over the city4 ,we have large1 magnificent churches1 but small congregations1 showing that it is easy to get money1 but hard to get men4' 0--,z4 '#ajcgc4 ,that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared4--8,he must be comparatively blind who cannot see that the wonderful prophecies which speak of the fall of ,babylon 7,isa4 #ad3bb2 ,jer4 #ej and #ea7 were not wholly fulfilled by ,cyrus the ,persian4 ,much of the prophecy still waits for fulfillment in mystic or symbolic ,babylon today4 ,the ,kings of the ,east1 or kings from the sunrising1 are1 we understand1 the kings of ,christ's ,kingdom1 who are also priests--the ,body of ,christ1 the ,royal ,priesthood4 #8,thou hast made us unto our ,god kings and priests1 and we shall reign on the earth4' ,from this standpoint1 ,cyrus1 who with his army overthrew literal ,babylon1 was a figure or illustration of ,messiah1 ,king of kings and ,lord of lords4 7,isa4 #da3be2 #dd3bh2 #de3aad470--,z4 '#iiagd2 ,rev4 #g3b4 #af3ac4 ,and ,i saw three unclean spirits4--,denoting demoniacal origin4 7,matt4 #aj3a2 ,mark #a3bf2 ,luke #d3cc47 8,the ,lord's people must discriminate between doctrines presented to them as truth--they must #8try the spirits1' whether they be holy or evil1 of ,god or of the ,evil ,one--the ,spirit of ,truth or the spirit of error4 ,these both are introduced by prophets1 or teachers40--,e4 #cbj1 #bie4 ,like ,,as ,,it ,,were frogs4--,frogs are garrulous1 have a very wise look1 large mouths1 are much puffed up and utter only croakings4 ,in the 8distress of nations with perplexity0 which has come upon ,christendom as a result of her sins1 the croakings of the wise now fill the air everywhere4 ,actually all knees are 8weak as water40--,ezek4 #g3ag2 #ba3g4 ,see especially ,d4 ixvi4 ,come out of the mouth of the dragon4--,the three fundamental truths of history are man's ,fall1 ,redemption and ,restoration4 ,stated in other language these three truths are the mortal nature of man1 the ,christ of ,god and ,his ,millennial ,kingdom4 ,standing opposite to these ,satan has placed three great untruths1 human immortality1 the ,antichrist and a certain delusion which is best described as race hatred--in reality murder1 the spirit of the very ,devil4 7#a ,john #c3ae47 ,it is this last and crowning feature of ,satan's work that is mentioned first4 ,the other two errors are the direct cause of this one4 ,the wars of the ,old ,testament were all intended to illustrate the battlings of the ,new ,creature against the weaknesses of the flesh1 and are not in any sense of the word justification for the human butchery practiced during the ,christian era in the name of religion1 exemplified by the events of ,st4 ,bartholomew's ,day and by the wicked ,inquisition4 ,nowhere in the ,new ,testament is hatred of other peoples encouraged4 ,everywhere and always it is forbidden2 and yet1 under one guise or another it has been encouraged for centuries by the clergy class who should have been teaching the people the message given them by the ,prince of ,peace4 ,and out of the mouth of the beast4--,the ,antichrist doctrine of the ,divine right of the clergy was the direct cause of the great war4 ,this frog has been coming out of the mouth of the ,papal beast for sixteen centuries4 8,these false doctrines of the ,dark ,ages are bearing a terrible fruitage at the present time4 ,similarly the teaching of eternal torment1 misrepresenting and blaspheming ,god's character1 is bearing an evil fruitage4 ,millions of people are being turned away from faith in a ,god of ,love and from faith in the ,bible as ,his ,message by the most monstrous blasphemies of the ,dark ,ages4 ,i charge the responsibility of all this against the sects and creeds of ,christendom4 ,i charge that the ministers1 whose eyes are now open to a saner comprehension1 have neglected the ,bible1 have neglected the people1 and1 instead of helping them out of the darkness1 are now leading them into darkness in an opposite direction--into ,evolution and ,higher ,criticism and everything contrary to the ,word of ,god4 ,god is still misrepresented in the world4 ,the creeds of the ,dark ,ages are still hugged to the bosom in outward pretense1 while inwardly they are loathed4 ,a great fraud1 a great hypocrisy1 you say8 ,i answer1 ,yes2 the most astounding the world has ever known4 ,two hundred thousand professed ministers of ,god and of ,christ are standing before the world today telling the legends of the ,dark ,ages and seeking to hinder the people from coming to a knowledge of the ,truth1 meanwhile receiving the people's money and reverence4 ,does not such hypocrisy1 such blasphemy against ,god1 such deception of the people1 such keeping of them in darkness1 deserve a great punishment1 and is it not nigh80--,b4 ,s4 ,m4 ,illustration 8,pollute ,ye ,my ,holy ,name ,no ,more0 ,and out of the mouth of the false prophet4--,the one cardinal error upon which all protestant 7false prophet7 sects agree is the doctrine of human immortality1 the original lie told in ,eden 7,gen4 #b3ag1 #c3d74 ,in speaking of it our ,lord says1 8,when he speaketh the lie1 he speaketh of his own40 7,john #h3dd1 ,diaglott47 ,speaking of it again1 the ,apostle ,paul says1 of the worshipers of the beast and his image1 8,they admitted not the love of the ,truth that they might be saved4 ,and on this account ,god will send to them an energy of delusion1 to their believing the falsehood40 7#b ,thes4 #b3aj1 #aa47 ,in each case the ,greek gives the definite article4 ,the frog issuing from the false prophet 7the image of the beast7 is the doctrine of human immortality4 ,these deluded souls actually believe this error1 and will be able to prove it to the satisfaction of the dragon1 without a doubt4 ,this error lies at the bottom of the doctrines of eternal torment and of the trinity4 ,there is a hint in #a ,john #d3ac that the cardinal error on which the false prophet will insist is that when ,jesus came from the ,father ,he was more than flesh1 i4 e41 had at least an immortal soul4--,rev4 #ac3aa1 #ac1 #ad1 #ae2 #ad3i1 #aa2 #ae3b2 #af3b2 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj2 ,matt4 #bd3bd4 8,all ,christian people credit the book of ,revelation to our ,lord1 as ,st4 ,john does4 7,rev4 #a3a47 ,therefore we are not responsible for the symbolism used in that book4 ,there are so many ways in which one might be misunderstood1 even by good ,christian people1 that we naturally feel a delicacy about expressing our views4 ,as we proceed to set forth our understanding of the symbols of the ,revelation1 we wish to state most emphatically that we are saying nothing whatever against godly ,christians anywhere1 at any time1 whether in any church or out of any church4 ,we have nothing to say respecting people4 ,we discuss ,,principles1 ,,doctrines1 ,,always2 individuals1 ,,never6 ,god has not commissioned us to discuss people2 it is ours to discuss ,his ,word4 8,throughout the ,bible1 a ,beast is the symbol used to represent a government4 ,in ,daniel's prophecy the great universal empires of the earth are thus symbolized4 ,babylon was the ,lion1 ,medo,persia the ,bear1 ,greece the ,leopard1 and ,rome the ,dragon4 7,dan4 #g3ah47 ,the ,roman ,empire still persists4 ,the ,dragon1 then1 symbolizes the ,roman power1 represented by the civil power in the world4 ,the ,beast is the ,papal system of government4 ,the third symbol1 the ,false ,prophet1 remains to be interpreted4 ,this1 we believe1 is another name for the system elsewhere called #8the ,image of the ,beast4' 7,rev4 #ac3ad47 ,according to the ,scriptures1 this ,image is a very exact representation of the ,beast4 ,the ,false ,prophet1 or ,image of the ,beast1 we understand to mean the ,protestant ,federation of ,churches4 8 #8,three unclean spirits like frogs came out of the mouth of the ,dragon1 and out of the mouth of the ,beast1 and out of the mouth of the ,false ,prophet4' ,in this passage1 the spirit is a doctrine--an unclean doctrine--a false doctrine4 ,each of these systems will utter the same things1 and these utterances will have the effect of gathering the kingdoms of earth together to the ,battle of ,armageddon4 8,the symbolism of ,scripture1 rightly understood1 is very forceful1 and there is always a close resemblance between the symbol itself and the thing symbolized4 ,when the ,holy ,spirit uses a frog to represent certain doctrines or teachings1 we may be sure that the application will fit well4 ,while a frog is a small creature1 yet it puffs itself up until it almost bursts with the effort to be somebody4 ,a frog has a very wise look1 even though it does not know very much4 ,then a frog croaks whenever it utters a sound4 8,the three most prominent characteristics of a frog1 then1 are pomposity1 an air of superior wisdom and knowledge1 and a continual croaking4 ,applying these characteristics to the picture given in the ,divine ,word1 we learn that from kingly power1 from the ,catholic ,church and from the ,federation of ,protestant ,churches1 will go forth the same teachings4 ,the spirit of all will be boastful2 an air of superior knowledge and wisdom will be assumed2 all will foretell dire results to follow any failure to obey their counsels4 ,however conflicting the creeds1 the differences will be ignored in the general proposition that nothing ancient must be disturbed1 or investigated1 or repudiated4 8,the boasted ,divine authority of the ,church1 and the ,divine right of kings aside from the ,church1 will not be allowed to conflict2 for both will be indorsed4 ,any persons or teachings in conflict with these boastful1 unscriptural claims will be branded as everything vile1 at the mouths of the frogs1 croaking from pulpits and platforms1 and through the religious and secular press4 ,the nobler sentiments of some will be strangled by the philosophy of the same evil spirit which spoke through ,caiaphas1 the high priest1 respecting our ,lord ,jesus4 ,as ,caiaphas declared it expedient to commit a crime in violation of justice1 both human and ,divine1 to be rid of ,jesus and ,his teachings1 so this froglike spirit will approve of any and every violation of principle necessary to selfprotection4 8,every true ,christian is ashamed to look back upon the pages of history and see what terrible deeds were done in the name of ,god and justice1 and in the name of our ,lord ,jesus4 ,we are not to think for a moment that these frog spirits1 or doctrines1 are all bad1 but rather that they are doctrines of bombast and pomposity1 representing themselves to be very wise and great1 and having the backing of centuries4 ,out of the mouth of the ,dragon comes the doctrine of the ,divine right of ,kings3 #8,do not look back of the curtain of history to see where the kings got that right4 ,accept the doctrine2 for if you do not1 and if men look into the matter1 there will be a terrible revolution and everything will go down6' 8,the ,beast and the ,false ,prophet have similar croakings4 ,the ,catholic ,church says1 #8,do not look behind6 ,do not question anything about the ,church6' ,protestantism says1 also1 #8,we are great1 we are wise1 we know a great deal4 ,keep quiet6 ,no one will then know that you know nothing4' ,all say 7croaking71 #8,we tell you that if you say anything against present arrangements1 terrible things will come to pass4' 8,political parties are figuring in this4 ,all declare1 #8,if any change should come1 it will mean terrible disaster6' ,some have the backbone and some have the civil power behind them1 but unitedly they croak to the people that if any change is made1 it will mean ruin to the present order4 ,in the language of our day1 #8,stand pat6' is the order in ,church and in ,state2 but the people are being moved by fear4 ,it is this croaking of the ,beast1 the ,dragon and the ,false ,prophet that will arouse the kings of earth and gather them together to the ,armageddon ,battle4 8,the ecclesiastical kings and princes1 with their retinue of clergy and faithful adherents1 will be gathered in solid phalanx--,protestant and ,catholic4 ,the political kings and kaisers1 princes1 and all in high places1 with their henchmen and retainers1 will follow in line on the same side4 ,the financial kings and merchant princes1 and all whom they can influence by the most gigantic power ever yet exercised in the world1 will join the same side1 according to this prophecy4 ,they do not realize1 however1 that they are coming to ,armageddon2 yet strange to say1 this is a part of their very cry1 #8,come together to ,armageddon6' 8,speaking of our day1 our ,lord declared1 #8,men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth2 for the powers of heaven shall be shaken4' 7,luke #ba3bf47 ,the kings of ,europe know not what to do4 ,all sectarianism is being shaken4 8,the croaking of the frog spirits1 or doctrines1 will gather the kings and princes1 financial1 political1 religious and industrial1 into one great army4 ,the spirit of fear1 inspired by the croaking1 will scourge the passions of otherwise good and reasonable men to fury--desperation4 ,in their blind following of these evil spirits1 evil doctrines1 they will be ready to sacrifice life and everything on what they mistakenly suppose is the altar of ,justice1 ,truth and ,righteousness under a ,divine arrangement4 8,many noble people in this great army will assume an attitude quite contrary to their preference4 ,for a time the wheels of liberty and progress will be turned backward1 and medival restraints will be considered necessary for selfpreservation--for the maintenance of the present order of things and for the prevention of the new order which ,god has decreed1 the due time for which is at hand4 ,even those who may be ,god's people do not stop to consider whether it is ,his will that things should continue as they have been for the past six thousand years4 ,the ,bible says that such is not ,god's will1 but that there is to be a great overturning1 that a new order is coming in4 8,for a brief time1 as we understand the ,scriptures1 these combined forces of ,armageddon will triumph4 ,free speech1 free mails1 and other liberties which have come to be the very breath of the masses in our day1 will be ruthlessly shut off on the plea of necessity1 the glory of ,god1 the commands of the ,church1 etc4 ,the safetyvalve will be sat upon1 and thus will cease to annoy earth's kings with the sound of escaping steam2 and all will seem to be serene--until the great social explosion described in the ,revelation as an earthquake will take place4 ,in symbolic language an earthquake signifies social revolution1 and the ,scriptural declaration is that none like it ever before occurred4 7,rev4 #af3ah1 #ai47 ,our ,lord refers to it in ,matt4 #bd3ba4 8,at this juncture1 the ,scriptures show1 ,divine ,power will step forward1 and ,god will gather the marshaled hosts to ,armageddon--to the ,mount of ,destruction4 7,rev4 #af3af47 ,the very thing which they sought to avert by their union1 federation1 etc41 will be the very thing that they will hasten4 ,other ,scriptures tell us that ,god will be represented by ,messiah1 and that ,he will be on the side of the masses4 #8,at that time shall ,michael the ,godlike ,one--,messiah stand up4' 7,dan4 #ab3a47 ,he will assume authority4 ,he will take possession of ,his ,kingdom in a manner little looked for by many of those who erroneously have been claiming to be ,his ,kingdom1 and authorized by ,him to reign in ,his name and in ,his stead4 8,our ,lord ,jesus declared1 #8,his servants ye are unto whom ye render service4' ,some may be rendering service to ,satan and to error1 who claim to be rendering service to ,god and to righteousness2 and some may serve ignorantly1 as did ,saul of ,tarsus1 who #8verily thought that he did ,god service1' in persecuting the ,church4 ,the same principle holds true reversely4 ,as an earthly king does not hold himself responsible for the moral character of each soldier who fights his battles1 so the ,lord does not vouch for the moral character of all who enlist and fight on ,his side of any question4 ,his servants they are to whom they render service1 whatever the motive prompting them4 8,the same principle will apply in the coming ,battle of ,armageddon4 ,god's side of that battle will be the people's side2 and that very nondescript host1 the people1 will be pitted at the beginning of the battle4 ,anarchists1 ,socialists1 and hotheaded radicals of every school of reason and unreason1 will be in the forefront of that battle4 ,he who has any knowledge of army life knows that a great army is composed of all classes4 8,the masses will be restless under their restraints1 but will be conscious of their weakness as compared with the kings and princes1 financial1 social1 religious and political1 who will then hold sway4 ,the masses have no sympathy with anarchy4 ,they realize truly that the worst form of government is better than none4 ,the masses will seek relief through the ballot and the peaceful readjustment of earth's affairs for the elimination of evil1 for the placing of monopolies and utilities and the supplies of nature in the hands of people for the public good4 ,the crisis will be reached when the hitherto upholders of the law shall become violators of the law and resisters of the will of the majority as expressed by the ballot4 ,fear for the future will goad the wellmeaning masses to desperation1 and anarchy will result when ,socialism fails4 8,the ,lord's saints are not to be in this battle at all4 ,god's consecrated people1 longing at heart for ,messiah's ,kingdom and the glorious ,year of ,jubilee and ,restitution which it will inaugurate1 will patiently abide the ,lord's time1 and wait unmurmuringly for it4 ,their lamps trimmed and burning1 they will not be in darkness respecting the momentous events of the impending battle2 but they will be of good courage1 knowing the outcome portrayed in the #8more sure word of prophecy1' to which they have done well to #8take heed1 as unto a light that shineth in a dark place1 until the ,day dawn4'--#b ,pet4 #a3ai4 8,the question now arises1 ,why did not ,god send ,his ,kingdom sooner8 ,why is ,armageddon necessary8 ,we answer that ,god has ,his own times and seasons1 and that ,he has appointed the ,great ,seventh ,thousand,year ,day for the reign of ,christ4 ,divine ,wisdom has withheld until our day the great knowledge and skill which is breeding at the same time millionaires and discontents4 ,had ,god lifted the veil of ignorance a thousand years sooner1 the world would have lined up for ,armageddon a thousand years sooner4 ,god did not bring these things before the present time because ,his ,plan has various parts1 all of which are converging at the same time4 ,in kindness ,god veiled the eyes of mankind until the gathering to ,armageddon would immediately precede ,messiah's taking to ,himself ,his great power and beginning ,his reign40 7,rev4 #aa3ag1 #ah47--;,d4 vxvi4 #af3ad4 ,for they are the spirits of devils4--,see ,eph4 #f3ab4 8,we are naturally led by the analogy of the influence of evil spirits as described in the ,gospels to compare the effect produced by the demons referred to in this verse1 with the instances of possession of which we read elsewhere in the ,new ,testament40--,cook4 ,working miracles4--,it is very possible that the strongest 8proof0 of the immortality of man will yet be obtained by the false prophet through materializations of evil spirits1 perhaps first at preachers' meetings1 and afterwards in public4 ,we will wait and see4 ,meantime3 the mental invasions indicated in ,rev4 #g3c and #b ,thes4 #b3aa will surely come1 whether the physical materializations come or not4--,rev4 #ac3ac1 #ad4 8,the newspapers far and near are publishing the following item3 #8,fred ,e4 ,foskett1 a young machinist of ,orange1 ,mass41 has attracted the attention of ,prof4 ,james1 of ,harvard1 and other leading members of the ,boston branch of the ,american ,society of ,psychical ,research1 who gave him tests recently4 ,foskett poured a quart of alcohol into the basin1 lighted it and then washed his hands1 bathing them for nearly ten minutes in the burning fluid1 washing it up over his arms and to his face--literally bathing himself in blazing alcohol4 ,as soon as they were finished the physicians present examined ,foskett1 and they could not find the slightest trace of a burn or blister4 ,foskett then told them that the flames did not give him the slightest sensation of burning1 that he felt comfortably warm and pleasant1 and nothing more4 ,the second tests were made at the home of ,prof4 ,james in ,cambridge4 ,a scientist who was there said that ,foskett performed all of his experiments of the day before1 and then 8absolutely and positively dematerialized04 ,he seemed to dissolve into thin air as we watched1 was gone fortyone seconds and then materialized4' 0--,z4 '#jihc2 ,matt4 #bd3bd2 #b ,thes4 #b3i4 ,which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world1 to gather them to the battle of that ,,the great ,day of ,god ,almighty4--,of which the present horrible ,european war is only the preliminary skirmish4--,rev4 #ag3ad2 #ai3ai4 8,this battle1 which will end with the complete overthrow of earth's present rulership1 is already commenced4 ,the gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of ,god's ,word4 ,the ,sword of ,truth1 already sharpened1 is to smite every evil system and custom--civil1 social and ecclesiastical4 ,the internal conflict is already fomenting4 ,it will ere long break forth as a consuming fire2 and human systems1 and errors1 which for centuries have fettered truth and oppressed the groaning creation1 must melt before it4 ,yes1 truth--and widespread and increasing knowledge of it--is the ,sword which is perplexing and wounding the heads over many countries40 7,psa4 #aaj3f2 ,b4 #aja47 8,not until great ,babylon is utterly overthrown and her influence over the world broken--will the great mass of mankind come to realize the true state of the case4 ,then they will see that the great trouble through which they will have passed was that symbolically termed #8,the battle of the great ,day of ,god ,almighty2' that in proportion as they have aided error and wrong1 they have been battling against the law and forces of the new ,empire and the new ,ruler of earth2 and that in proportion as their tongues1 and pens1 and hands1 and influence1 and means1 were used to support the right and the truth on any subject1 they had been to that extent fighting on the ,lord's side4 ,and during all the trouble there will be in the world those who will bear witness to its cause1 declaring the ,lord's presence and the setting up of ,his ,kingdom which is in opposition to the powers of darkness to be the real cause of the trouble and shaking and overturning of society40--,b4 #ada4 #af3ae4 ,behold1 ,i come as a thief4--,a thief comes unexpectedly1 for the purpose of securing jewels only4--,mal4 #c3ag2 #b ,pet4 #c3aj2 ,rev4 #c3c2 ,matt4 #bd3dbdd2 #a ,thes4 #e3b4 ,blessed is he that watcheth4--8,because not heedless1 careless1 indifferent servants of the ,king1 but faithful and earnest ones1 the ,watchers discern that there are three words of distinctly different signification1 used in respect to the ,lord's ,second ,advent2 namely1 parousia and epiphania and apokalupsis4 ,parousia is used in respect to the earliest stage of the ,second ,advent1 while apokalupsis relates to the same ,advent later40 7,z4 '#jbhf47 8,the ,greek words apokalupsis and apokalupto signify revealment1 uncovering1 unveiling 7as of a thing previously present but hidden74 ,the name of the last book of the ,bible is from the same root--,apocalypse or ,revelation40--,z4 '#jbib2 #a ,cor4 #a3g2 #a ,pet4 #a3g2 ,lu4 #ag3bi1 #cj4 ,and keepeth his garments4--,holds fast to his pledge of consecration even unto death4 ,lest he walk naked4--,as the nominal churches are doing even since the war council at ,washington1 ,may #f1 #aiag4 ,and they see his shame4--,during the apokalupsis epoch now at hand4 7,rev4 #c3ah47 8,the exposure to the world that they lack what constitutes the ,christian state40--,cook4--,matt4 #e3dc1 #dd4 #af3af4 ,and he ,,they gathered them together4--,the three unclean spirits do the gathering4--,rev4 #ai3ai4 ,unto a place called in the ,hebrew tongue ,armageddon ,,armagedon4--8,the fact that ,st4 ,john has employed a word 7,har,magedon71 #8,the destruction of their troop1' not found in connection with any locality or historical event of itself points to a figurative interpretation4 7,zech4 #ab3aa47 ,nor indeed are we to think of literal warfare40 7,cook47 8,the word #8mountain' in the term ,armageddon--#8,mountain of ,megiddo'--seems to have been used because ,megiddo was in a mountainous region1 though the battles were fought in a valley adjacent4 ,the meaning here is1 that there would be1 as it were1 a decisive battle which would determine the question of the prevalence of true religion on the earth4 ,what we are to expect as the fulfillment of this would seem to be1 that there will be some mustering of strength--some rallying of forces--some opposition made to the ,kingdom of ,god in the gospel by the powers here referred to which would be decisive in its character40 7,barnes47 ,another view of ,volume ,,vi1 ,scripture ,studies1 as it appeared to the worshipers of the beast and his image1 may be had in the plague of darkness upon the ,egyptians described in ,ex4 #aj3babi4 ,the #c days of terrible darkness over the land of ,egypt represent the #c years of the great war and indicate its close shortly after the publication of this final witness of the church4 ,while this plague was still in progress1 ,moses said to ,pharaoh1 8,i will see thy face again no more40 ,it is even so2 ,pastor ,russell passed forever out of reach of the antitypical ,pharaoh1 ,satan1 in the fall of #aiaf4 ,but in steadfast belief that 8his works do follow him10 we hold that he supervises1 by the ,lord's arrangement1 the work yet to be done4 ,see ,rev4 #af3a4 #af3ag4 ,and the seventh angel4--,volume ,,vii1 ,scripture ,studies4 ,poured out his vial into ,,upon the air4--,seemed to the clergy to be directed against the ruling powers4 8,the terrors of the revelation of ,christ will thus appear spread out over the ,universe40--,cook4 ,and there came a great voice4--,an earnest and vigorous setting forth of this prophecy and that of ,ezekiel4 ,out of the ,temple of ,heaven1 from the ,throne1 ,,god4--,the true ,church4 ,saying1 it is done4--,see title of this book4--,ezek4 #i3aa4 #af3ah4 ,and there were voices1 and thunders4--,seven of them--indicating widespread interest in the ,scripture ,studies4 ,there will probably also be some thundering by the esteemed clergy4 ,if in the past they had thundered less and lightened more1 the world would not be in its present predicament4--,rev4 #h3e4 ,and lightnings4--,a good lighting up of the dark places of the ecclesiastical firmament4 ,,and ,,voices4--,the 8voices0 of the ,great ,company1 who1 after the ,little ,flock have gone beyond1 will display unparalleled energy and faithfulness amid unparalleled difficulty4--,rev4 #aa3ae2 #h3e4 ,and there was a great earthquake4--,social revolution4 ,the same mentioned in ,rev4 #h3e2 #aa3ai and #a ,kings #ai3aa1 #ab1 following the ,war4 ,such as was not since men were upon the earth4--,worldwide socialism1 an unprecedented and suretofail experiment in government4 ,so mighty an earthquake1 and so great4--,the following is from an address given to the ,chicago ,bankers ,club in ,december1 #aiaf1 by ,frank ,a4 ,vanderlip1 president of the ,national ,city ,bank of ,new ,york4 8,state socialism in ,europe may develop problems1 the like of which never concerned our minds4 ,we may have to meet collective buying1 ,state aided industries1 forms of governmental control of ocean borne commerce and novel factors in international finance4 ,there may come out of the war changes in forms of government that will have profound and worldwide influence40 #af3ai4 ,and the great city was divided into three parts4--,christendom is now divided into three parts3 ,socialistic ,russia1 ,imperial ,teutonia1 and the ,representative ,governments of the ,west2 but we think a religious division is coming3 ,the ,greek church1 the ,papacy and the ,false ,prophet ,protestant aggregation1 all under papal control4 ,or the city of ,rev4 #ad3bj1 may be meant4--#b ,ki4 #b3aj1 #ab1 #ae4 ,and the cities ,,city of the nations fell4--,the reference is to ,rome1 the 8city0 mentioned in ,rev4 #ag3ah4 ,by ,rome is meant the ,papacy4 ,all other kings have already drunk deeply of the wrath of ,god and ,sheshach's turn has come4--,jer4 #be3bf2 ,rev4 #ad3h4 ,and great ,babylon came in remembrance before ,god4--8,the fall of ,babylon will astonish the entire world1 so complete is the illusion that ,christendom represents the ,throne and ,government of ,messiah among men4 ,and1 be it remembered1 the vast majority in all the various sects and denominations of ,christendom are worldly people who have no conception whatever of the true ,church and her cause4 ,their ambition is to approximate righteousness and a form of godliness1 but no more than this seems to them necessary1 since they have not been begotten of the ,holy ,spirit and therefore cannot appreciate things from the divine standpoint40--,pastor ,russell4 ,see ,rev4 #ah3e4 ,to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of ,his ,,the wrath4--,the wine of the vine of the earth4--,rev4 #ad3agbj2 ,jer4 #h3ad2 ,isa4 #ea3agbj2 ,jer4 #be3bfbh2 ,rev4 #ah3f4 #af3bj4 ,and every island fled away4--,even the republics will disappear in the fall of #aibj4 ,and the mountains were not found4--,every kingdom of earth will pass away1 be swallowed up in anarchy4 #af3ba4 ,and there fell upon men4--,greek 8,the ,men10 the worshipers of the beast and his image1 i4 e41 the clergy4 ,a great hail out of heaven4--,truth1 compacted1 coming with crushing force4 ,a concluding statement of how the seventh volume of ,scripture ,studies appears to the worshipers of the beast and his image4--,rev4 #aa3ai2 ,isa4 #bh3ag2 #cj3cj2 ,ezek4 #ac3aa2 ,joshua #aj3aa4 ,every stone about the weight of a talent4--#aac lbs4 7,mal4 #c3aj47 ,another view of the seventh volume of ,scripture ,studies1 as it appears to the worshipers of the beast and his image1 is found in the last of the ,egyptian plagues1 the death of the firstborn1 ,exodus #aath4 and #abth4 chapters4 ,as soon as this plague came the ,egyptians1 from ,pharaoh down1 were anxious to speed the parting guest1 and willing to give up all the jewels of silver 7the ,great ,company7 and the jewels of gold 7the ,little ,flock74 ,in connection with the statement that 8there was not a house where there was not one dead10 it is admitted that if any sects were overlooked in the lists cited in comments on ,rev4 #hth and #ith chapters the omission was unintentional and will be corrected in later editions4 ,the three days in which ,pharaoh's host pursued the ,israelites into the wilderness represent the three years from #aiag to #aibj at which time all of ,pharaoh's messengers will be swallowed up in the sea of anarchy4 ,the wheels will come off their chariots--organizations4 ,and men blasphemed ,god because of the plague of the hail4--,apparently1 the book will be unpopular for a time4 8,as soon as ,divine restraints upon ,satan were released1 he moved the ,sabeans to steal ,job's cattle and to kill his servants2 he caused fire to come down from heaven1 which not only killed but burned up ,job's flocks of sheep2 he sent the ,chaldeans who stole ,job's camels1 and finally produced a cyclone which smote the house in which ,job's children were feasting together1 and destroyed the house and killed its occupants2 and he attacked ,job's person with disease as soon as granted permission4 7,job4 #a3ib3g470--,s4 #hj4 ,for the plague thereof was exceeding great4--,quite a shower4 ,revelation #ag--,the ,papacy's ,last ,stand #ag3a4 ,and there came one of the seven angels4--,volume ,,vii1 ,studies in the ,scriptures4 ,which had the seven vials4--,an explanation of the plagues upon symbolic ,babylon4 ,and talked with me4--,the ,john class1 the ,church in the flesh4 ,saying unto me ,come hither2 ,i will shew unto thee4--,in the #hth1 #ith1 #afth and #ahth chapters of ,revelation1 and throughout the ,book of ,ezekiel4--,nahum #c3c1 #d4 ,the judgment of the great whore4--,papacy1 the 8beast40--,rev4 #ai3b4 ,that sitteth upon many waters4--,the peoples of the earth4--,jer4 #ea3ac2 ,rev4 #ag3ae4 #ag3b4 ,with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication4--8,the kingdoms of ,europe today claim to be ,christian kingdoms1 and announce that their sovereigns reign #8by the grace of ,god1' i4 e41 through appointment of either ,papacy or some of the ,protestant sects40--,a4 #bfh2 ,rev4 #ah3c2 ,isa4 #a3ba2 ,jer4 #b3bjbd2 #c3f2 ,ezek4 #af3ae4 ,and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk4--8,so great an institution as made all nations drunk with her false doctrine must be very prominent1 indeed1 to those who were made so under the influence of the stupefying draft from her cup40--,pastor ,russell4 ,with the wine of her fornication4--,the mixed doctrines1 part truth and part error1 that originally led to the union of church and state1--the spiritual harlotry4--,jer4 #ea3g2 ,rev4 #b3bj2 #ag3e2 #ah3c2 #ai3b4 #ag3c4 ,so he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness4--8,all who would get a true view of ,babylon must1 in spirit1 take their position with the true people of ,god 'in the wilderness'--in the condition of separation from the world and worldly ideas and mere forms of godliness1 and in the condition of entire consecration and faithfulness to and dependence upon ,god alone40--,d4 #bg4 ,and ,i saw a woman4--,the ,roman ,catholic ,church4 ,sit upon a scarlet colored beast4--,pagan ,rome1 and its successors4 ,full of names of blasphemy4--8,from ,ferraris' ,ecclesiastical ,dictionary1 a standard ,roman ,catholic authority1 we quote the following condensed outline of papal power as given under the word papa1 article #bnd3 #8,the pope is of such dignity and highness that he is not simply a man but1 as it were1 ,god1 and the vicar representative of ,god4444 ,hence the pope is crowned with a triple crown1 as king of heaven1 of earth and of hell4 ,nay1 the pope's excellence and power are not only about heavenly1 terrestrial and infernal things1 but he is also above angels1 and is their superior2 so that if it were possible that angels could err from the faith1 or entertain sentiments contrary thereto1 they could be judged and excommunicated by the pope4444 ,he is of such great dignity and power that he occupies one and the same tribunal with ,christ2 so that whatsoever the pope does seem to proceed from the mouth of ,god4444 ,the pope is1 as it were1 ,god on earth1 the only prince of the faithful of ,christ1 the greatest king of all kings1 possessing the plenitude of power2 to whom the government of the earthly and heavenly kingdom is entrusted4' ,he further adds3 #8,the pope is of so great authority and power that he can modify1 declare or interpret the ,divine ,law4' #8,the pope can sometimes counteract the ,divine ,law by limiting1 explaining1 etc4' 0--,b4 #caj4 ,having seven heads and ten horns4--,see ,rev4 #ab3c2 #ac3a3 #ag3iab2 ,dan4 #g3g1 #bj2 ,rev4 #e3f2 #a ,sam4 #b3aj2 ,deut4 #cc3ag2 #a ,ki4 #bb3aa4 #ag3d4 ,and the woman was arrayed in purple4--,symbolizing the apostate church's claim to royalty4 8,i sit a queen and am no widow40--,rev4 #ah3g1 #ab1 #af4 ,and scarlet color4--,symbolizing her claims to share in ,christ's work of sacrifice1 in the doctrine of the mass4 ,and decked with gold4--,symbolizing her claim that she includes in her membership all the true ,church of ,god1 those who shall ultimately attain the ,divine nature4 ,and precious stones4--,symbolizing her claim that she is the sole custodian of the ,lord's precious jewels of truth and character4--#a ,cor4 #c3ab2 ,mal4 #c3ag4 ,and pearls4--,symbolizing her claim that she has sole power over all that the ,lord bought by ,his death4--,matt4 #ac3de1 #df4 ,having a golden cup in her hand4--,symbolizing her claim that she is the repository of all ,truth ,divine4--,jer4 #ea3g4 ,full of abominations and filthiness ,,filthinesses of her ,,the fornication ,,of ,,her ,,and ,,of ,,the ,,earth4--8,babylon hath been a golden cup in the ,lord's hand1 that made all the earth drunken2 the nations have drunken of her wine2 therefore the nations are mad intoxicated with her errors4 7,jer4 #ea3gi470--;,c4 #aef2 ,rev4 #ah3f2 ,isa4 #fe3d4 #ag3e4 ,and upon her forehead was a name written4--,in plain sight of all the spiritually minded4 7,and how strange it is that everybody does not see it67 ,mystery4--8,we have already called attention to the fact that the ,church of ,christ is called in the ,scriptures the #8,mystery of ,god1' because1 contrary to expectation1 the ,church was to be the ,messianic ,body which1 under its ,anointed ,head1 ,jesus1 shall rule and bless the world4 ,we have also drawn attention to the fact that the ,scriptures refer to ,babylon as a counterfeit system 7mother and daughters--some more and some less corrupt1 some better and some poorer counterfeits71 and there designated the #8,mystery of ,iniquity4' ,we are to remember that it is ,satan who in the ,scriptures is credited with having #8deceived the whole world' on this subject2 putting evil for good and good for evil2 light for darkness and darkness for light4 ,satan #8now worketh in the children of disobedience' 7,isa4 #e3bj2 ,eph4 #b3b7 even as he proffered his cooperation to our ,lord ,jesus40--,f4 #aii2 #b ,thes4 #b3g2 ,prov4 #e3f4 ,babylon the ,great1 the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth4--8,since ,papacy1 the mother1 is not a single individual1 but a great religious system1 in keeping with the symbol we should expect to see other religious systems answering to the illustration of daughters of similar character4 ,to this description the various ,protestant organizations fully correspond4 ,the daughter systems parted from the mother under circumstances of travail1 and were born virgins40 7,d4 #bi47 8,but some sincere ,christians may still be anxiously inquiring1--#8,if all ,christendom is to be involved in the doom of ,babylon1 what will become of ,protestantism1 the result of the ,great ,reformation8' ,this is an important question2 but let the reader consider that ,protestantism1 as it exists today1 is not the result of the ,great ,reformation1 but of its decline40--,d4 #bh2 ,ezek4 #af3dd2 ,hos4 #b3be2 ,isa4 #a3ba2 ,rev4 #ah3i2 #ai3b4 8,the claims of apostolic succession and clerical authority are almost as presumptuously set forth by some of the ,protestant clergy as by the ,papal priesthood4 ,and the right of individual private judgment1--the very fundamental principle of the protest against ,papacy1 which led to the ,great ,reformation1--is now almost as strenuously opposed by ,protestants as by ,papists4 ,protestants seem to have forgotten1--for they truly ignore1--the very grounds of the original protest1 and1 as systems1 they are fast drifting back toward the open arms of the #8,holy 787 ,mother ,church4' #8,let us hold out to you our hand affectionately' 7says ,pope ,leo to ,protestants in his famous ,encyclical addressed #8,to the ,princes and ,peoples of the ,earth'71 #8and invite you to the unity which never failed the ,catholic church1 and which never can fail4 ,long has our common mother called you to her breast4' ,the doctrine of #8the ,divine right of kings1' taught or supported by almost every sect1 is the foundation of the old civil system1 and has long given authority1 dignity and stability to the kingdoms of ,europe2 and the doctrine of the ,divine appointment and authority of the clergy has hindered ,god's children from progressing in ,divine things and bound them by the chains of superstition and ignorance to the veneration and adoration of fallible fellowbeings1 and to their doctrines1 traditions and interpretations of ,god's ,word4 ,it is this entire order of things that is to fall and pass away in the battle of this great day--the order of things which for centuries has held the people docile under the ruling powers1 civil1 social and religious4 ,all this has been by ,god's permission 7not by his appointment and approval1 as they claim74 ,but though an evil in itself1 it has served a good1 temporary purpose in preventing anarchy1 which is immeasurably worse1 because men were not prepared to do better for themselves1 and because the time for ,christ's ,millennial ,kingdom had not yet come4 ,hence ,god permitted the various delusions to gain credence in order to hold men in check until #8,the ,time of the ,end'--the end of #8,the ,times of the ,gentiles' 7which expired ,october #a1 #aiad740--;,d4 #cc4 #ag3f4 ,and ,i saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints4--8 #8,but the blood of ,protestants is not called the blood of saints1 no more than the blood of thieves1 mankillers1 and other malefactors1 for the shedding of which1 by the order of justice1 no commonwealth shall answer4'--,rhemish 7,catholic7 translation1 footnote40 7,b4 #cbj47 8 #8,she wore out the saints of the most high ,god4' and #8was drunken with the blood of the saints4'--,rev4 #ah3bd40--,z4 '#jdbcf2 ,rev4 #af3f4 ,and with the blood of the martyrs of ,jesus4--,most of these martyrs will doubtless be honored by a place in the ,great ,company4 7,see ,rev4 #g3i47 ,this ,scripture was fulfilled in the ,dark ,ages1 but we are still in the ,dark ,ages1 and will be until this system is destroyed4 ,it takes more than a mere profession of faith to make a ,christian4 8,jezebel today has daughters--systems termed ,protestant--which1 nevertheless1 copy largely the mother's spirit4 ,it is through the influence of the daughters that the antitypical ,elijah may expect future persecutions1 instigated by the mother1 accomplished through the daughters1 as typically represented in the case of ,john the ,baptist1 beheaded by ,herod at the instance of ,salome1 but at the instigation of ,herodias--,jezebel40--,z4 '#jdbcg4 ,and when ,i saw her4--,discerned her true character4 ,i wondered with great admiration4--8,with great wonder0 7,diaglott71 that the ,lord would permit such an institution to exist4 #ag3g4 ,and the angel4--,volume ,,vii1 ,scripture ,studies4 ,said unto me4--,see ,revelation1 ,chapters #d1 #e and #f4 ,wherefore dost thou marvel4--,this is all quite right and necessary4 ,the ,papacy was foreseen and permitted as a part of ,god's wonderful plan for developing and testing ,his ,church1 proving who are worthy to be of the ,first ,resurrection1 jointheirs with ,christ4 ,i will tell thee the mystery of the woman4--,the apostate ,church of ,rome4 ,and of the beast that carrieth her4--,pagan ,rome1 now represented in earth's warring governments4 ,which hath seven heads and ten horns4--,see ,rev4 #ab3c2 #ac3a4 ,the exposition of the remainder of this chapter was greatly assisted by the following letter3 8,your request for my version of what ,i understood ,bro4 ,russell's expectations to be respecting the fulfillment of the #agth ,chapter of ,revelation received and after considerable meditation upon the matter ,i have decided to submit the following3 ,brother ,russell stated that there were three possible fulfillments of this ,chapter1 and that he did not or would not go on record as to which would be the correct interpretation1 for the reason that this ,chapter could not be interpreted in a positive way until after its fulfillment4 ,he stated that this ,chapter was the key to all of the pictures1 or prophecies1 of ,revelation1 which are as yet wrapped in mystery4 ,on various occasions ,i requested ,bro4 ,russell to give me his idea respecting the three possible fulfillments2 but he remained absolutely mum respecting two of the ways1 but freely expressed his opinion respecting the third way1 which he believed would be the way in which the prophecy would be fulfilled4 #8,the beast that thou sawest was1 and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit and go into perdition1' we understand to be the ,holy ,roman ,empire--,church and ,state1 united in power from #gii to #agii4 ,the term #8,thou sawest' refers to the thousandyear reign of the ,pope1 and the term #8,and is not' refers to the present nonexistence of the ,empire in power1 and the term #8,and shall ascend from the bottomless pit and again go into perdition' refers to the reestablishment of the ,holy ,roman ,empire in power and its subsequent destruction4 ,the statement #8,when he cometh1 he must continue a short space1' was understood by ,bro4 ,russell to mean that the beast would rule only for a very short time4 ,in answer to a direct question on this point ,bro4 ,russell stated that he did not believe this short space could be interpreted in days1 months1 or years1 but that it simply meant a short time4 ,in the #abth verse1 we read that #8,the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings1 which have received no kingdom as yet1 but receive power as kings one hour with the beast4' ,this seems to set forth the ,papal view respecting the various kings of ,europe which at the present time have not received the official anointing by the ,pope1 and consequently have not as yet received their kingdom4 ,if this is correct1 it would then also mean that if the ,pope should anoint these kings and declare them to be ruling by ,divine right1 they thereby would officially receive power as kings1 and would rule with the ,pope and together with the ,pope would constitute the beast again in power4 8,bro4 ,russell was anxiously awaiting the settlement of the present world war for the reason that it seemed very probable that the ,pope would be the leading figure in bringing about its settlement1 and possibly the very basis of the settlement will be the recognition of the ,pope as the ,holy ,see4 ,if the ,pope receives such recognition1 he could in return immediately grant an official anointing of the rulers of the various governments included in the settlement1 and they then as stated in ,verse #ac1 will be #8,of one mind and shall give their power and strength unto the beast4' ,if this is to be the fulfillment of this picture1 then it will only be a question of time until these same governments will turn upon the ,roman ,church and #8,shall make her desolate and naked1 and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire4' 7,rev4 #ag3af47 ,the foregoing briefly outlines what ,bro4 ,russell seemed to think would be the outcome of the present war4 ,he had certain articles in prospect which1 if backed up by fulfilled prophecies1 were to be the absolute and irrevocable proof to the world of all of the leading pictures given in the entire book of ,revelation4 ,personally1 ,i think everything seems to be shaping itself towards the fulfillment of the ,chapter on the line above specified4 ,if you are making any use of this letter1 kindly specify or emphasize the fact that ,bro4 ,russell considered the matter largely as a speculation1 and that he positively stated that he would not go on record in the matter for the reason that when he treated the matter he would do so in the light of fulfilled prophecy as the last word and as the unsealing of the entire book1 and that he would not attempt to do this until such a time as the interpretation could not be refuted40 ,that time has evidently now come4 #ag3h4 ,the beast that thou sawest4--,the ,antichrist4 ,was4--,exercised actual dominion until #agii ,a4 ,d4 ,and is not4--,has not had even a vestige of temporal power since #ahgj4 ,since then it has been in oblivion1 the 8bottomless pit40 ,and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit1 ,,abyss4--8,private letters from the ,vatican1 received by ,dr4 ,a4 ,palmieri of the ,library of ,congress1 a recognized writer on ecclesiastical subjects1 announce that ,pope ,benedict ,,xv is about to appoint a commission of four cardinals to renew a movement begun by ,pope ,leo ,,xiii1 and abandoned by ,pope ,pius ,x1 looking to a reunion of ,christianity and the cultivation of friendly relations with the ,anglican ,church4 ,a public announcement on the subject from ,rome is expected soon4 ,dr4 ,palmieri said that the new movement1 as outlined in his advices1 will be directed particularly toward an establishment of the reunion of the ,russian church and the ,papacy and to a thorough re examination into the validity of ,anglican or ,episcopal ordinations1 which was settled in the negative in a papal bull #8,apostolica ,sedis1' by ,pope ,leo ,x4 ,the interest of the ,pope in the problem of ,christian unity is said to have been intensified by the recent progress of the world congress1 initiated by the ,american ,episcopal ,church4 8 #8,the new ,pope1' said ,dr4 ,palmieri1 summarizing the information received from ,rome1 #8has taken a considerable part in the efforts of neutral nations to establish peace among nations4 ,the ,vatican's efforts have been suggested not only by a humanitarian spirit1 but by a longing for ,christian unity and to end the conflict which long since has divided ,christian churches4 ,efforts of ,leo ,,xiii for carrying out the reunion of ,christianity were abruptly stopped by ,piux ,x1 who aimed at an inner reform of the ,catholic clergy and turned all his energies to the crushing of modernism ,higher ,criticism and ,evolution4 ,benedict ,,xv thinks it is time to renew the policy of ,leo ,,xiii1 also that a reestablishment of a political peace would be the first step toward renewed attempts to stop the splitting of ,christianity into a greater number of sects4 ,it seems to the ,vatican that the ,orthodox ,slavs will be very soon called to take a more active part in the life of western nations1 either ,protestant or ,catholic1 and that it is necessary to come to an understanding with them to avoid evils produced by religious intolerance4 ,the newly planned commission of cardinals will pay attention to yearnings for unity1 which from time to time manifest themselves in the ,orthodox church1 and to cultivate friendly relations with the ,anglican church4 ,one of the most important tasks of the new commission will be a thorough reexamination of the arguments pro and con on the validity of ,anglican ordinations4 ,the bull ,apostolica ,sedis by ,leo ,x has settled in the negative the problem of that validity1 but generally theological schools assume a more favorable attitude toward acknowledgment the validity of ,anglican orders1 and the new commission of cardinals will carefully ponder the reasons set forth by ,russian and ,anglican divines against the decision of ,pope ,leo ,x4 ,the friendship of the ,anglican church is appreciated by ,rome1 for she may be as a link of union between ,roman ,catholicism and ,russian ,orthodoxy4' 0 7,z4 '#ageb47 ,we assume that the foregoing plan of the pope will succeed4 8,this is the supreme chance for ,christianity #8to assert her authority and guide the world out of the darkness enshrouding it1' observes ,the ,northwestern ,christian ,advocate 7,methodist1 ,chicago71 and it wonders whether the organized ,christianity that #8failed--ingloriously failed'--in #aiad will again #8miss her golden opportunity4' 0 7,literary ,digest47 8,an old writer has observed that the ,beast reappears from the ,abyss 7see on ch4 #aa1 #g7 without his diadems1 as though1 in this last stage1 he would symbolize rather the violence of popular rage than the prescriptive sanctity of monarchical supremacy40--,cook4 ,and go into perdition4--,be utterly destroyed at the hands of the masses it has so persistently and outrageously deceived4--,rev4 #ag3aa4 ,and they that dwell on the earth4--,all independent ,christians1 not entangled in the systems of either the beast or the image4 ,see ,rev4 #ac3ac1 #ad4 ,shall wonder4--,be astounded1 perplexed and dismayed1 8,at the reappearance of the beast40--,cook4 ,whose names4--,as a class1 not as individuals4 ,were not written in the ,book of ,life4--,but not necessarily in socalled ,church books1 kept here on earth1 for collection purposes4 ,from the foundation of the world4--8,the book or scroll covenanting life to an elect number was prepared from the foundation of the world4 ,the names in it have been written as the individuals have made consecration of themselves1 coming under the terms of the ,divine call4 ,in this view of the matter the book or scroll would represent the original ,divine purpose--,god's intention to have a ,church1 of which our ,lord ,jesus would be the ,head4--7,rev4 #c3e470--,z4 '#iibfe4 ,when they behold the beast that was1 and is not1 and yet is ,,shall ,,again ,,be ,,present4--,the ,papal ,empire restored4 #ag3i4 ,and here is the mind which hath wisdom4--,a problem requiring the aid of the ,lord4--,rev4 #ac3ah4 ,the seven heads are seven mountains4--,the kingdoms enumerated in ,rev4 #ab3c4 ,on which the woman sitteth4--,over which she once reigned in plentitude of power4 ,much of ,revelation is written in such a way that both a literal and a symbolical explanation can be made1 designed by the ,lord to make the understanding of the book impossible to any except the fully consecrated4 ,the following shows the physical explanation of this text which would most appeal to the unconsecrated4 ,but it shows that the ,mother of ,harlots has her headquarters at ,rome4 ,and when we know who the mother is1 it is impossible not to recognize the daughters4 ,rome is called in history the 8sevenhilled city40 8,the original settlement of ,romulus is said to have been limited to the ,palatine mount4 ,with this were united before the end of his reign the ,capitoline and the ,quirinal2 ,tullus ,hostilius added the ,caelian1 ,ancus ,martius the ,aventine2 and finally ,servius ,tullius included the ,esquiline and ,viminal1 and enclosed the whole seven hills with a stone wall4 ,the growth of the state closely followed that of the city40 7,brit47 ,it would not be possible to limit this explanation to seven forms of government which have exercised sway over the city of ,rome4 ,there have been many such governments4 ,there were seven of them during the nineteenth century alone--the ,roman ,republic of #agih1 the ,kingdom of #ahje1 the ,annexation of #ahaj1 the restoration of the temporal power in #ahad1 the ,revolution of #ahdh1 the restoration of the temporal power in #ahdi1 and the ,italian occupation in #ahgj4 #ag3aj4 ,and there are seven kings4--,seven forms of government of the ,,holy ,,roman ,,empire1 the devil's own particular pattern of government4 ,five are fallen4--7#a7 ,the ,regal period1 from #gec ,b4 ,c4 to #eaj ,b4 ,c4 ,the 8,kings0 of this period were 8not simply either the hereditary and patriarchal chief of a clan1 the priestly head of a community bound together by a common sacra1 or the elected magistrate of a state1 but a mixture of all three40--,brit4 7#b7 ,the ,republic1 from #eji to #dea ,b4 ,c4 and from #ddh to #fj ,b4 ,c4 8,it is characteristic of ,rome that the change from monarchy to republic should have been made with the least possible disturbance of existing forms4 ,the title of king was retained1 though only as that of a priestly officer 7rex sacrorum7 to whom some of the religious functions of the former kings were transferred4 ,the two annually elected consuls or prtores were regarded as joint heirs of the full kingly authority1 and as holding the imperium and the correlative right of taking the auspices1 by direct transmission from the founder of the city40 7,brit47 7#c7 ,the ,decemvirate1 a rule of ten men1 from #dea to #ddi ,b4 ,c4 7#d7 ,the ,triumvirate1 a rule of three men1 from #ei to #di ,b4 ,c4 and from #dc to #bh ,b4 ,c4 7#e7 ,the ,dictatorship of ,csar1 #dh to #dd ,b4 ,c4 ,all of these forms of the old ,holy ,roman ,empire have completely passed away4 ,and one is4--,the ,dragon1 still represented in the powers of ,europe4 7,see comments on ,rev4 #ab3c1 #d1 #g1 #i1 #ac1 #af1 #ag2 #ac3b1 #d1 #aa2 #af3ac47 ,the rulership of ,papacy during the ,dark ,ages1 both directly in its temporal power1 and through the governments which it controlled or influenced1 and still influences1 was--as has been shown--merely another aspect of the government of ,pagan ,rome1 generally styled the ,empire1 but in ,revelation called the ,dragon1 and the ,devil1 and ,satan4 ,and the other4--,the final form1 of ,arbitrator 7whatever be the official title74 ,is not yet come4--,but is due to make its appearance with the close of the war1 probably early in the year #aich4 7,see comments on ,rev4 #af3agba2 ,ex4 #aj3bc47 ,pastor ,russell foretold the darkness would commence in #aiad1 and it did66 ,egypt's plague of darkness lasted three days 7years74 ,and when he cometh1 he must continue a short space4--,probably from the fall of #aiag to the spring or summer of #aiah4 8,the language is indefinite1 the words #8must continue' alone being emphatic4 ,it is a duration such that by means of it the ,church should be exercised in patience40--,cook4 #ag3aa4 ,and the beast that was4--,that once exercised temporal dominion and1 through influence of the ,european governments1 once actually ruled the world4 ,and is not4--,does not now have any temporal dominion4 ,even he is the eighth4--,the eighth horn which took the place of the three plucked up 7,rev4 #ab3c72 also the final form of the ,,holy ,,roman ,,empire4 ,and is of the seven4--8,cometh of the seven10 ,greek4--,grew up by the plucking of the three4 ,the ,papacy is either the seventh or the eighth form1 depending upon how the matter is viewed4 ,if it be viewed as having reigned separately from the ,dragon during the ,dark ,ages 7as it did1 when it exercised temporal power71 in its new guise it will be the eighth form1 its separate rulership during the ,dark ,ages being counted as the seventh4 ,but if it be viewed as having been a copartner of the ,dragon during the ,dark ,ages1 then its forthcoming manifestation will be the seventh form4 ,in any event the eighth form is one of the seven forms2 and the regaining of the temporal power this time will be the cause of the ,papacy's destruction4 ,see ,z4 '#jccbe for a hint that ,benedict ,,xv will never have a successor4 7,he is personally the eighth pope reigning since #agii4 ,five of these popes had died prior to #ahgh4 ,here is a good secondary fulfilment47 ,and goeth into perdition4--8,daniel1 representing the saints1 says 7,dan4 #g3aa71 #8,i watched it then after its dominion was gone and it was powerless longer to crush the ,truth1 the power of the holy people1 because of the voice of the great words which that horn spoke1 and ,i saw that it obtained no power over the holy saints and the ,truth1 but it did have another effect the beast was slain1 the body thereof destroyed and given to the burning flame'--general anarchy4 ,the destruction of the remnant of governments in the old ,roman ,empire1 caused by the misleading influence of ,papacy's continued bombastic utterances1 even after its dominion is gone1 is thus shown40--,c4 #fh2 #b ,thes4 #b3c4 #ag3ab4 ,and the ten horns which thou sawest4--,three of which were originally plucked up to make room for the growth of the ,papacy4 ,see ,rev4 #ab3c2 #ac3a2 #ag3c2 ,dan4 #g3g1 #h1 #bj2 ,rev4 #e3f2 #a ,sam4 #b3aj2 ,deut4 #cc3ag2 #a ,ki4 #bb3aa4 ,are ten kings4--,the rulers1 whether kings1 kaisers1 presidents or others who have dragged into the slaughter house the descendants of the ten powers originally composing the ,roman ,empire4 ,which have received no kingdom as yet4--,no official sanction as rulers from the counterfeit 8king of kings and lord of lords0--the ,pope4 ,but receive power as kings4--8,the absence of the diadem indicates that their kingdom is not full1 regal power1 but as being transient1 is represented as if it were royal power40--,cook4 ,one hour with the beast4--,the 8one hour0 in this verse 7#ag3ab7 may signify one year1 or thereabouts4 ,the word in the ,greek is hora4 ,this is the same word which our ,lord used when1 in speaking of ,john the ,baptist ,he said1 8,he was a burning and a shining light2 and you were willing1 for a time 7hora--one year--the length of ,john's ministry before his imprisonment7 to rejoice in his light40 7,john #e3ce2 ,z4 '#jdfj47 ,in matters that are still future we can only use our best judgment as to the significance to be attached to expressions like this4 8,let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind40--,rom4 #ad3e4 #ag3ac4 ,these have one mind4--,all are desperately anxious to stop the terrible waste of human life1 now that they see what their father1 the ,devil1 has accomplished through their worship and service of himself and his institutions4 ,and shall give their power and strength unto the beast4--,support it in its apparently laudable but actually selfish efforts in trying to stop the ,european war4 8,deposit in his hands all the available means which they possess40--,cook4 #ag3ad4 ,these shall make war with the ,lamb4--,endeavor to suppress the message of ,present ,truth4--,rev4 #af3ad2 #ai3ai4 ,and the ,lamb shall overcome them4--,zion need not fear2 for ,god is in the midst of her1 and will help her4 ,her consecration is unto death1 and her privilege is to prove her faithfulness3 8,the disciple is not above his ,master1 nor the servant above his ,lord4 ,it is enough for the disciple that he be as his ,master1 and the servant as his ,lord40--,matt4 #aj3bd1 #be4 8,it will probably be in an effort at selfpreservation on the part of #8,great ,babylon'--#8,christendom'--when she sees her power in politics1 priestcraft and superstition waning1 that the work of truthspreading will be stopped as detrimental to her system4 ,and probably at this juncture the ,elijah class1 persisting in declaring the ,truth to the last1 will suffer violence1 pass into glory and escape from the severest features of the great ,time of ,trouble coming--just in the crisis of affairs when men begin to feel that desperate measures must be resorted to1 to sustain the tottering structure of ,christendom4 ,although the exact time of the deliverance or #8change' of the last members of the ,body of ,christ is not stated1 the approximate time is nevertheless clearly manifest1 as shortly after the #8door' is shut 7,matt4 #be3aj740--;,c4 #bca4 ,for ,he is ,lord of lords1 and ,king of kings4--,has the entire situation under perfect control--is the real ,pope4--#a ,tim4 #f3ae2 ,rev4 #ai3af4 ,and they that are with ,him are called4--,when they hear1 understand and heed the message of complete consecration even unto death 7,rev4 #ai3i74 ,this clause1 in the ,greek1 indicates that these also1 as well as the ,lamb1 shall overcome them4 ,and chosen4--,elected as soon as they comply with the conditions1 provided there are any vacancies4 ,and faithful4--8,the door of opportunity to engage1 with ,christ our ,lord1 in the work of the ,gospel ,age1 will be closed when #8the night cometh wherein no man can work4' ,and all who have not previously1 by faithful service1 developed the necessary character and proved their sympathy1 devotion1 love and zeal for the ,lord and ,his ,truth 7,matt4 #aj3cg2 ,mark #h3ch71 will then be too late to do so4 ,the closing in of this night will evidently put a stop to any farther labor to disseminate the ,truth1 which1 misunderstood by the public generally1 will probably be accused of being the cause of much of the anarchy and confusion then prevailing1 instead of being seen in its true light as a foreshadowing of the ,divine mind and revelation concerning coming troubles on the world and their true causes40--,c4 #baj2 ,rev4 #b3aj4 #ag3ae4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,the ,,these waters which thou sawest where the whore sitteth4--,see ,rev4 #ag3a1 #i4 ,are ,,both peoples1 and multitudes1 and nations1 and tongues4--,and not1 therefore1 literal water or literal hills1 or forms of government which have ruled the city of ,rome4--,isa4 #h3g4 #ag3af4 ,and the ten horns which thou sawest4--,the rulers of ,europe and ,america1 and their subjects1 descendants of the ten powers which originally composed the old ,roman ,empire4 ,upon ,,and the beast4--,the reestablished temporal dominion of the pope in ,rome and elsewhere4 8,of her boastings and threats the following from a ,catholic journal of recent date is a fair sample3 #8,the ,papacy will regain its temporal sovereignty1 because it is useful and convenient to the ,church4 ,it gives the head executive of the church a fuller liberty and a fuller sway4 ,the ,pope can be no king's subject long4 ,it is not in keeping with the divine office to be so4 ,it cramps him and narrows his influence for good4 ,europe has acknowledged this influence1 and will be forced to bow to it in greater times of need than this4 ,social upheavals1 and the red hand of anarchy1 will yet crown ,leo or his successor with the reality of power which the third circle symbolizes1 and which was once recognized universally4' ,yes1 as the day of trouble draws on1 ecclesiasticism will endeavor to use its power and influence more and more to secure its own political welfare1 by its control of the turbulent elements of society2 but in the crisis of the near future the lawless element will spurn all conservative influence and break over all restraints1 the red hand of ,anarchy will do its dreadful work1 and ,babylon1 political and ecclesiastical1 shall fall40--,d4 #ch4 ,these shall hate the whore1 and shall make her desolate and naked4--,people and governments will have a common hatred for their mutual enemy when the motives which actuate her are clearly revealed4--,ezek4 #af3cedd2 #bc3bb1 #bi2 ,zech4 #a3ai4 ,and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire4--,unite to complete her utter destruction4--,rev4 #ah3h1 #ah2 ,dan4 #g3aa2 ,c4 #fh2 ,gen4 #ch3bd2 ,ezek4 #af3da2 ,lev4 #bj3ad2 #ba3i4 #ag3ag4 ,for ,god hath put in their hearts to fulfill ,his will4--,as expressed in ,his ,word4 ,and to agree4--,the ,european war would stop tomorrow if it were not for the officers holding the men to the task of butchery4 ,and to give their kingdom unto the beast4--,put their liberties into the hands of the ,papacy1 as ,arbitrator4 ,until the words of ,god shall be fulfilled4--,and the travail of nominal ,zion shall disclose her true character4 #ag3ah4 ,and the woman which thou sawest4--,the ,apostate ,church1 the antitypical ,jezebel4 ,is that great city4--,the 8,,holy ,,roman ,,empire40 ,which reigneth over the kings ,,kingdoms of the earth4--8,expositors of every school generally agree that ,rome ,pagan1 or ,rome ,papal1 or ,rome under both aspects1 is intended here4 ,in order to repel the application to the ,papacy1 many ,roman expositors also apply what is said of the destruction of ,rome1 to the future--to ,rome again become ,pagan3 ,this is the hypothesis1 observes ,bishop ,wordsworth1 of ,suarez1 ,viegas1 ,ribera1 ,lessius1 ,menochius1 ,c4 ,lapide1 and others1 particularly ,dr4 ,manning in our own day4 ,thus ,stern writes3--,babylon is really the ,city of ,rome1 not only1 however1 according to the oldheathenish1 but also according to the newheathenish signification of the ,world's history40--,cook4 ,could there ever come a time when men1 the world over1 could be more heathenish at heart than now2 and does not1 therefore1 even ,papal comment show that this ,scripture is ready to be fulfilled8 8,whene'er the storms come down on thee1 ,and days of peace all seem to flee2 ,this thought thy peace again shall bring1 ,why should ,i fear8--the ,lord is ,king4 ,e'en when the tempest rages high1 ,and darkest clouds are drawing nigh1 ,with hands of faith to this1 ,o6 cling1-- ,why should ,i fear8--the ,lord is ,king2 ,amid the stormy waves of life1 ,above the tumult and the strife1 ,the chimes of hope still sweetly ring1-- ,be not afraid--the ,lord is ,king40 ,revelation #ah--,the ,fall ,of ,ecclesiasticism #ah3a4 ,and after these things4--,as another view of the ,harvest epoch4 ,i saw another angel4--,messenger1 the ,messenger of the ,covenant1 the ,lord ,jesus4--,mal4 #c3a2 ,rev4 #aj3a2 #ad3a4 ,come down from ,heaven4--,in #ahgd4 ,see ,rev4 #c3ad4 ,having great power4--8,all power in ,heaven and in earth40--,matt4 #bh3ah4 ,and the earth was lightened4--,see ,mal4 #d3b2 ,rev4 #g3b4 ,with ,his glory4--,some of the glories of the ,new ,day1 all discovered since #ahgd1 are adding machines1 aeroplanes1 aluminum1 antiseptic surgery1 artificial dyes1 automatic couplers1 automobiles1 barbed wire1 bicycles1 carborundum1 cash registers1 celluloid1 correspondence schools1 cream separators1 ,darkest ,africa1 disk ploughs1 ,divine ,plan of the ,ages1 dynamite1 electric railways1 electric welding1 escalators1 fireless cookers1 gas engines1 harvesting machines1 illuminating gas1 induction motors1 linotypes1 match machines1 monotypes1 motion pictures1 ,north ,pole1 ,panama ,canal1 ,pasteurization1 railway signals1 ,roentgen rays1 shoe sewing machines1 smokeless powder1 ,south ,pole1 submarines1 radium1 sky scrapers1 subways1 talking machines1 telephones1 typewriters1 vacuum cleaners and wireless telegraphy4--,ezek4 #dc3b2 ,john #a3i2 ,matt4 #be3ca2 ,titus #b3ac4 #ah3b4 ,and he cried mightily with a strong ,,mighty voice4--,how apt are these ,scriptures that refer to ,pastor ,russell as a 8voice06 7,rev4 #g3b2 #aj3c2 #af3a47 ,so modestly are his works written that the author is nowhere manifest1 but attention is always and everywhere drawn to the ,lord4 ,saying1 ,babylon the great is fallen1 is ,,babylon ,,the ,,great fallen4--8,the expression1 #8,babylon is fallen1' indicates that at some time a sudden and utter rejection is to come upon ,babylon1 when all favor will forever cease1 and when judgments will follow--just such a rejection as we have shown was due in #ahgh40--;,c4 #aee2 ,isa4 #ac3aibb2 #ba3i2 ,jer4 #ea3hac2 ,rev4 #ad3h2 #af3ai4 8,in spite of all our wealth1 the blight of poverty1 with its accompanying sickness1 suffering1 crime1 insanity and vice1 continues4 ,the social disease manifested in #8atrophy and hypertrophy1' in #8extremities bleeding at the bottom1 bloating at the top1 decay in both1' is a portent of the modern world4 ,the net result of our wonderful civilization is that men have less time now than they have ever had since the world began40--,current ,literature2 ,z4 '#aadbj4 8,alienists the country over are sounding a solemn note of warning to the ,american people over the alarming rush in which we live4 ,according to ,dr4 ,harvey ,w4 ,wiley1 federal pure food and drugs expert1 nearly every man and woman at some time in their lives border on insanity4 ,that view is also indorsed by the famous ,dr4 ,william ,a4 ,white1 head of the ,united ,states government hospital for the insane1 who backs up the stand taken recently by ,dr4 ,owen ,copp1 new head of the ,pennsylvania ,hospital for the ,insane4 ,because of the terrible ravages of drink and drugs1 particularly in the ,united ,states1 thousands of people are rendered so extremely nervous that they are always on the verge of going crazy4 ,the rush and worry of modern life he gives as the causes40--,z4 '#aabbh4 ,and is become the habitation of devils4--8,the ,new ,york ,world publishes an interview with ,bishop ,fallows1 of the ,reformed ,episcopal ,church1 as follows3 #8,telepathy is an established fact4 ,in recent years great strides have been made in the explanation of psychic phenomena and in the years to come the science of communication with the dead will be made a part of the curriculum of great educational institutions4 ,i have called the new science 8,immortalism0 because it depends for its existence upon the immortality of the soul1 in which we all believe1 and the preservation of identity beyond the grave4' ,bishop ,fallows will be recognized by many as one of the ministers who have recently been taking a great interest in ,faith ,healing clinics4 ,we have already pointed out that to our understanding these cures are effected by hypnotic influences and that hypnotism is but another form of ,spiritism4 ,we believe that through this channel the fallen angels 7#8wicked spirits1' ,eph4 #f3ab7 are seeking to break down the human will2 and that the results1 shortly1 will be direful in the extreme1 leading to spirit control and every evil work40--,z4 '#jicee2 ,ecc4 #i3e2 #a ,pet4 #c3ai2 ,jude #f2 ,jer4 #ea3cgda2 ,rev4 #af3ad2 ,isa4 #ac3aibb2 #cd3ad4 ,and the hold of every foul spirit4--,rev4 ,wm4 ,sunday has exceptional opportunity for learning1 and in his public discourses repeatedly 8scores the ministers because they have no faith4 ,he condemns their neglect of ,bible study4 ,he says the theological seminaries are turning out infidels4 ,he refers to the large amount of saloon property that belongs to church members4 ,he enumerates all kinds of worldly doings which go on in these denominations4 ,he would have us believe that the moral standard of thousands high in the churches is so low as to almost stagger reason4 ,now if what ,mr4 ,sunday says about the denominations is true they are not fit places for good1 respectable people1 to say nothing of true ,christians4 ,in fact1 if they are only half as bad as he says1 then every faithful child of ,god ought to get out of them as quickly as he can4 ,if they are but one quarter as bad as ,mr4 ,sunday tells1 then the only safety on the part of one who wishes to retain his faith is to get out of such spiritual pest holes40--,z4 '#aebjg4 ,and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird4--8,how true it is1 that the most execrable of society seek and wear the garb of ,christian profession and ceremonialism1 in some of the various quarters 7sects7 of ,babylon4 ,of all the defaulters1 and deceivers of men and of women1 how many are professedly members of ,christ's ,church6 and how many even use their profession as a cloak under which to forward evil schemes6 ,it is well known that a majority of even the most brutal criminals executed die in the ,roman ,catholic communion4 ,babylon has contained both the best and the worst1 both the cream and the dregs1 of the population of the civilized world40 7,c4 #afb47 ,a parliamentary report of the status of society in ,england and ,wales in #ahgc showed that there were then no ,jewish criminals1 #a of every #bj1jjj infidels was a criminal1 #a of every #fff ,dissenters was a criminal1 #a of every #gb ,church of ,england1 and #a of every #dj ,roman ,catholics4 7,c4 #afc47 8,the great system in which the #8fowl of heaven' delight to roost1 and which they have grievously befouled 7,luke #ac3ah1 #ai71 and which has in fact become #8a cage of every unclean and hateful bird1' is to be hewn down1 and shall deceive the world no longer40--,c4 #ahg2 ,isa4 #cd3aa2 ,jer4 #ej3ci2 ,zeph4 #b3ad4 #ah3c4 ,for all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication4--8,the stimulating power is not the spirit of a sound mind1 but the delusion of a false doctrine2 as the ,prophet declares1 they are #8drunken1' but not with wine4 7,isa4 #bi3iac47 ,the people in general have lost their taste and appreciation for the water of life1 the ,truth2 and false teachers warn them against it as poison4 ,the wine of false doctrines now being manufactured at all the ,theological ,seminaries is the wine of evolution and higher criticism1 which does not satisfy the thirst1 but increases the confusion of mind4 ,even ,babylon's notables are dissatisfied1 famished4--,see ,amos #h3aa40--,z4 '#jacdi4 ,and the kings of the earth4--,the governments of ,austria1 ,denmark1 ,france1 ,germany1 ,england1 ,russia1 ,spain1 ,portugal1 etc4 ,have committed fornication with her4--,joined themselves to the ,roman ,catholic1 ,lutheran1 ,anglican and ,greek ,catholic ,churches4 ,and the merchants of the earth4--,popes1 ,cardinals1 ,archbishops1 ,bishops1 ,presiding ,elders1 ,reverends1 etc4--,rev4 #ah3aa1 #ae2 ,isa4 #dg3ae2 #bc3h2 ,ezek4 #bg3cf4 ,are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies4--,supplied partly in cash and partly in leftovers from church fairs1 suppers1 etc4 #ah3d4 ,and ,i heard another voice from heaven4--,the ,,watch ,,tower ,,bible ,,and ,,tract ,,society1 the corporate body which ,pastor ,russell personally organized to conduct the ,harvest work 7,rev4 #h3c2 #ad3ah74 ,this voice has been exerted continuously since #ahhd4 8,our thought is that it is the ,lord who calls ,his people out of ,babylon2 the call to to be recognized especially as a ,voice from ,heaven4 ,apparently1 the ,voice is ,present ,truth40--,z4 '#adahj4 ,saying1 ,come out of her4--8,this call applies not only to those in ,babylon the ,great1 but to those in other denominations--mother and daughters4 ,be not of those who cannot see the errors of ,babylon and who1 consequently1 are not of the called ones4 ,the object of the call to come out is not for people merely to withdraw from a nominal church4 ,no one is called out of ,babylon until he sees her true condition4 ,this call to associate with ,christ1 with ,messiah1 is given by the ,lord through the ,prophet when ,he says1 #8,gather ,my saints together unto ,me2 those that have made a ,covenant with ,me by sacrifice4' 7,psa4 #ej3e47 ,they were to be gathered1 not to the ,roman or other systems1 but to the ,lord1 to become one with ,him40 7,z4 '#abbgg47 8,the ,lord's call out of ,babylon is not in audible one--,he merely calls us by the principles of righteousness4 ,he lifts the curtain before the eyes of understanding of ,his consecrated ones and thus lets them see some of the errors1 some of the falsities in which they and others of ,babylon are involved--dishonoring the holy name--blaspheming the holy name by misrepresentation of the ,divine character and ,plan4 ,this is and should be call enough for those who are of the ,lord's ,spirit1 for those who love the ,lord and the honor of ,his name more than they love houses or lands or parents or children or any other creature or thing--yea1 more than they love their own lives4 ,such are sure to respond and to come out of ,babylon2 others who remain1 in spite of seeing the light1 fail to be overcomers of the highest class--fail therefore to be in the elect ,bride class1 and must be counted in with the ,great ,company1 which will come through great tribulation1 and will get out of ,babylon only when she has been cast as a great millstone into the midst of the sea--in the time of anarchous trouble with which this ,age will close40 7,z4 '#jfcdc47 8,baptists think their preachers have no authority4 ,but the ,baptists cannot do anything without the consent of the preachers4 ,the preachers hold a power that ,god did not repose there4 ,god never authorized any men to go and ordain another man to preach the ,gospel4 ,god does the ordaining2 and it is for the church to decide1 according to its best judgment1 whom the ,lord ordains or calls as a pastor4 ,the people in the ,methodist church have almost no liberty1 except the privilege of giving money4 ,the bishops control the presiding elders1 and under them the presiding elders control the preachers2 and so it is all the way down to the class leaders4 ,they have their head or chief amongst them4 ,they have a human head4 ,the ,general ,conference is the highest authority4 ,so the ,presbyterian church has a head in the way of a ,general ,assembly which has the deciding of matters4 8,on one occasion ,i was called upon by a minister of the ,reformed church4 ,he wanted to know how ,i managed my church4 ,i said to him1 #8,brother ----1 ,i have no church4' ,he said1 #8,you know what ,i mean4' ,i answered1 #8,i want you to know what ,i mean1 too4 ,we claim that there is only one ,church4 ,if you belong to that ,church1 you belong to our ,church4' ,he looked at me in surprise4 ,then he said1 #8,you have an organization2 how many members are there8' ,i replied1 #8,i cannot tell2 we do not keep any membership rolls4' #8,you do not keep any list of the membership8' #8,no4 ,we do not keep any list2 their names are written in ,heaven4' ,he asked1 #8,how do you have your election8' ,i said1 #8,we announce an election2 and any or all of ,god's people1 who are consecrated and are accustomed to meet with this company1 or congregation1 may have the privilege of expressing their judgment of who would be the ,lord's preference for elders and deacons of the congregation4' #8,well1' he said1 #8that is simplicity itself4' ,i then added1 #8,we pay no salaries2 there is nothing to make people quarrel4 ,we never take up a collection4' #8,how do you get the money8' he asked4 ,i replied1 #8,now1 ,dr4 ----1 if ,i tell you what is the simplest truth you will hardly be able to believe it4 ,when people get interested in this way1 they find no basket placed under their nose4 ,but they see there are expenses4 ,they say to themselves1 8,this hall costs something1 and ,i see that free lunch is served between meetings1 for those living at some distance4 ,how can ,i get a little money into this thing80 ' ,he looked at me as if he thought1 #8,what do you take me for--a greenhorn8' ,i said1 #8,now1 ,dr4 ----1 ,i am telling you the plain truth4 ,they do ask me this very question1 8,how can ,i get a little money into this cause80 ' 0 7,pastor ,russell ,question ,meeting4 ,gen4 #ai3ae1 #bb2 ,isa4 #dh3bj2 #eb3aa2 ,jer4 #ej3h2 #ea3f1 #de2 ,matt4 #bd3af47 8,the present work of gathering the ,lord's saints out of ,babylon is represented under various symbolic descriptions1--it is the gathering of the wheat from the tares into the barn 7,matt4 #ac3cj73 it is the gathering of the good fish into baskets and the casting of the unsuitable fish caught in the ,gospel net back into the sea 7,matt4 #ac3dgdi72 it is the gathering of ,his jewels 7,mal4 #c3ag72 it is the midnight cry to the virgins1 which separates the wise from the foolish 7,matt4 #be3f72 and it is the gathering of the #8,elect' from all the nonelect of ,christendom1 from the four winds--from every quarter40 7,matt4 #bd3ca47 7,d4 #fjj47 8,lot's wife1 after starting to flee as directed1 #8looked back2' coveting the things behind3 and so with some now fleeing from ,babylon to the mountain 7,kingdom7 of the ,lord2 they are more in sympathy with the things behind than with the things before4 ,only those will run the race to the finish who set their affections on the things above1 and not on the things beneath40 7,d4 #fjh47 8,those who thus flee to the ,lord will neither be consumed by fear and dread1 nor swallowed up by the projects and false theories--science falsely so called--with which this day abounds4 ,and1 withal1 they may be in the devouring fire trouble1 witnesses for ,god and ,his ,plan1 and teachers of the people--pointers to the glorious outcome of ,jehovah's ,plan1 lifting up a standard for the people4--,isa4 #fb3aj40 7,b4 #ca47 8,the tables of the various sects of ,christendom were started as tables of the ,lord1 and adorned to some extent with food from ,his storehouse1 the ,word4 ,but the great ,adversary placed upon these tables errors1 delusions1 doctrines of devils1 which have blemished them as a whole2 wherefore it is appropriate now to apply to them the words of the ,scriptures1 #8,come out from amongst them and be ye separate2 touch not the unclean thing4' 0 7,z4 '#jgia47 8,our friends1 like ,abraham's friends1 would persuade us of the folly of leaving ,babylon1 its comforts and associations3 they assure us that our opportunities for greatness1 etc41 will be distinctly lessened by the course of obedience which we take4 ,nevertheless we1 like ,abram1 go forth taking all of our possessions with us1 great or small--nothing must be left behind to be a treasure in ,babylon and to attract our hearts thither again4 ,all things must be brought with us so that not our own lives and talents only1 but our influence upon others1 must all be made to count40 7,z4 '#jabca7 8,as to missionary activities 7,matt4 #bc3ae71 what advantage can accrue to the heathen from giving them the false doctrines of the ,adversary8 ,the few who may be reached will have the more to unlearn when the ,times of ,restitution begin40--,f4 #fda4 ,my people4--8,we would not be understood as including all ,christians as #8,babylonians4' ,quite to the contrary4 ,as the ,lord recognizes some in ,babylon as true to ,him and addresses them now1 saying1 #8,come out of her1 ,my people' 7,rev4 #ah3d71 so do we2 and we rejoice to believe that there are today thousands who have not bowed the knee to the ,baal of our day--,mammon1 ,pride and ,ambition4 ,those who will not come out until ,babylon falls and they come through the #8great tribulation' 7,rev4 #g3iad7 shall not be accounted worthy to share the ,kingdom4 ,compare ,rev4 #b3bf2 #c3ba2 ,matt4 #aj3cg2 ,mark #h3cd1 #ce2 ,luke #ad3bf1 #bg40 7,see ,micah #b3aj2 ,jer4 #ab3gaa2 #bc3ccdj2 ,jer4 #aa3ad1 #ae2 ,prov4 #ai3bg2 ,matt4 #ad3bh1 #bi2 ,hos4 #d3f2 ,isa4 #bg3ab47 8,the begetting of spiritual children of ,god1 through the ,word of ,his grace1 and their being to some extent cherished1 nourished and brought forward by these human sectarian tare systems1 is well illustrated by certain insects1 the young of which are injected into the backs of their enemies1 and there warmed1 nourished and developed1 up to the time of their complete birth and deliverance1 which means1 usually1 the death of the insect which temporarily carried them about40 7,f4 #fef47 ,now the point of deliverance has been reached4 ,that ye be not partakers of her sins4--8,if you fail to obey the ,lord through fear of earthly loss1 it will prove that these things are more precious to you than ,his favor1 and ,he will treat you as ,he treats the hypocrites2 you will have a share in their experiences40 7,z4 '#adahj47 8,we do not know but that they may go to the extreme in our day--to kill socially1 to kill ecclesiastically1 perhaps to kill physically4 ,nearly all the persecutions that have come to ,god's people have come from professed ,christians1 fellowbelievers4 #8,your brethren that hated you1 that cast you out for ,my ,name's sake1 said1 ,let the ,lord be glorified2 but ,he shall appear to your joy1 and they shall be ashamed4' 7,isaiah #ff3e470--,z4 '#adaha2 ,num4 #af3bf4 ,and that ye receive not of her plagues4--,see ,rev4 #af3aba4 #ah3e4 ,for her sins have reached ,,cleaved ,,together unto ,heaven4--,ezekiel has touched on this6--,jer4 #ea3i2 ,gen4 #aa3c1 #d2 ,luke #aj3aa4 ,and ,god hath remembered her iniquities4--,by seven plagues2 the seven volumes of ,studies in the ,scriptures4--,rev4 #af3aba4 ,see also bottom of this page4 #ah3f4 ,reward her even as she rewarded you4--,a diligent attempt has been made in this direction4 ,anything overlooked will be inserted in the next edition4--,psa4 #acg3h2 ,jer4 #ej3ae1 #bi2 #ea3bd4 ,and double unto her double according to her works4--,make a double exposition 7explaining ,revelation and ,ezekiel7 that will show her up just as she is4 ,in the ,,her cup which she hath filled4--,the ,scriptures which she has twisted1 distorted and misapplied4 8,the cup which she has used as a means of seduction shall now be changed into the instrument of her punishment40--,cook4 ,fill to her double4--,greek1 8the double40 7,isa4 #fa3g47 ,give her enough light on ,ezekiel and ,revelation to show her the exit4--,isa4 #ba3gaj4 #ah3g4 ,how much she hath glorified herself1 and lived deliciously4--,and to what lengths has not ,papacy gone in this direction1 with the ,protestant sects doing their best to keep the pace6 ,so much torment and sorrow4--,mourning for the dead1 ,greek4--,amos4 #h3aj4 ,give her4--8,i have laid a snare for thee1 and thou art also taken1 ,o ,babylon1 and thou wast not aware2 thou art found1 and also caught1 because thou hast striven against the ,lord4 ,the ,lord hath opened ,his armoury ,ezekiel and ,revelation and hath brought forth the weapons of ,his indignation3 for this is the work of the ,lord ,god of ,hosts in the land of the ,chaldeans 444 the vengeance of the ,lord our ,god1 the vengeance of ,his ,temple4444 ,recompense her according to her work2 according to all that she hath done1 do unto her40--,jer4 #ej3bdbi4 ,for she saith in her heart4--,babylon really believes her prosperity will continue forever4 ,they 8shall believe the lie40--#b ,thes4 #b3aa4 ,i sit a queen1 and am no widow1 and shall see no sorrow4--,see ,isa4 #dg3h1 #i2 ,d4 #dc2 ,zeph4 #b3ae4 #ah3h4 ,therefore4--8,because she will violently struggle for life and power40--,d4 #ci4 ,shall her plagues4--,death1 mourning1 famine and fire4 ,come in one day4--,the year of #aiah4 ,see ,rev4 #c3ad2 #aa3aa4 ,death4--8,by the hand of her enemies40 ,and mourning4--,for the loss of her people4--,rev4 #ah3g4 ,and famine4--,literal and symbolic4 7,amos4 #h3aa74 8,as we call to mind the long train of evils by which ,babylon has oppressed and worn out the saints of the most ,high 7the true ,zion71 and how it is written that ,god will avenge ,his own ,elect1 and that speedily2 that1 according to their deeds1 ,he will repay recompense to ,his enemies2 that ,he will render unto ,babylon a recompense 7,luke #ah3g1 #h2 ,isa4 #ei3ah2 ,jer4 #ea3f71 we begin to realize that some fearful calamity awaits her4 ,the horrible decrees of ,papacy1--the reproach and reward of which ,protestantism also is incurring by her present compromising association with her1--for the burning1 butchering1 banishing1 imprisoning and torturing of the saints in every conceivable way1 executed with such fiendish cruelty in the days of her power by the arm of the ,state1 whose power she demanded and received1 await full measure of just retribution40--,d4 #ci4 ,and she shall be utterly burned with fire4--,completely destroyed in the anarchy to follow4--,rev4 #ag3af2 ,gen4 #ch3bd2 ,ezek4 #af3da2 ,lev4 #bj3ad2 #ba3i4 ,for strong is ,,god the ,lord ,god who judgeth ,,judged her4--8,compare ,rev4 #ag3ag1 where the event is expressly declared to have been overruled by ,god40 7,cook47 8,and ,i will punish ,bel in ,babylon the ,god of ,babylon1--the ,pope2 and ,i will bring forth out of his mouth that which he hath swallowed up he shall repudiate in his extremity the #8great swelling words' and blasphemous titles which he has long appropriated to himself--that he is the #8infallible vicar1' #8vicegerent of ,christ1' #8another ,god on earth1' etc41 and the nations shall not flow together any more unto him4 ,yea1 the wall of ,babylon the civil power that once defended it1 and that in a measure does so still shall fall4444 ,thus saith the ,lord of ,hosts3 the broad walls of ,babylon shall be utterly broken1 and her high gates shall be burned with fire shall be destroyed2 and the people shall labor in vain1 and the folk in the fire to prop and save the walls of ,babylon1 and they shall be weary4--,jer4 #ea3dd1 #eh40--;,d4 #dj4 ,the people are already getting weary of supporting murderous governments4 #ah3i4 ,and the kings of the earth1 who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her4--,in the illicit unions of ,church and ,state the advantage1 from a worldly viewpoint1 has been on the side of the ,church4 ,she has compelled the ,state to cleanse her filthy linen while she proceeded to pollute another lot4 ,far from living deliciously1 the horns have really hated the harlot for her impudent1 shameless conduct4 ,shall bewail her1 ,,wail and lament for her4--,not because they loved her1 but because she was useful to them in keeping the people in ignorance and subjection4--,jer4 #ej3df2 ,ezek4 #bf3ae to #bg3cf4 ,when they shall see the smoke of her burning4--,when they witness her confusion and signs of imminent destruction as portrayed in the seventh plague--8the handwriting on the wall40--,dan4 #e3ai2 ,rev4 #ah3ah2 #ai3c4 #ah3aj4 ,standing afar off for fear of her torment4--,realizing that this is a question of interpretation of the ,scriptures and not wishing to get entangled in it any more than absolutely necessary4--,jer4 #ea3cjcc4 ,saying1 ,alas1 alas1 that great city ,babylon1 that mighty city4--,alas1 that great religious system that was always eager to affiliate with us and give a religious coloring to even wholesale murder by enticing its young men to enlist under our banners6 ,for in one hour is thy judgment come4--,in the one year #aiagaiah4--,rev4 #ag3ab4 #ah3aa4 ,and the merchants of the earth4--,salesmen of religious goods--,popes1 ,cardinals1 ,archbishops1 ,bishops and smaller fry4--,ezek4 #bg3cf2 ,isa4 #bc3h2 #dg3ae2 ,rev4 #ah3c1 #ae1 #bc4 ,shall weep and mourn over her4--,saying1 in substance1 8,what shall ,i do8 for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship3 ,i cannot dig2 to beg ,i am ashamed40--,luke #af3c4 ,for no man buyeth their merchandise any more4--8,and it shall come to pass in that day1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts1 that ,i will cut off the names of the idols all sectarian denominations out of the land1 and they shall no more be remembered3 and also ,i will cause the prophets the clergy and the unclean spirit their false doctrines to pass out of the land4 ,and it shall come to pass that when any former clergyman shall yet prophesy try to still further mislead the people into giving him reverence and coin1 then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him1 ,thou shalt not live2 for thou speakest lies in the name of the ,lord3 and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth so enraged will they be when they realize how they have been deceived respecting fears of hell or assurances of ,heaven for themselves and other descendants of monkeys1 which the preachers have taught them they are4 ,and it shall come to pass in that day that the prophets clergy shall be ashamed every one of his vision of the creeds1 when he hath prophesied preached2 neither shall they wear a rough garment distinctive clothing--collars fastened on backwards1 in harmony with their conceptions of religious things1 and ties and clothing in mourning to suit to deceive3 ,but he shall say ,i am no prophet no preacher of the gospel at all1 ,i am an husbandman a farmer2 for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth4 ,ezekiel #cd3aca shows how poorly they kept the cattle4 ,and one shall say unto him1 ,what are these wounds marks of rough usage in thine hands8 ,then he shall answer1 ,those with which ,i was wounded in the house of my friends by my parishioners40--,zech4 #ac3bf4 #ah3ab4 ,the merchandise of gold4--,truths respecting the ,divine nature4 ,there was a time when the nominal church had the custody of these truths1 but that privilege passed in #ahgh4 ,and of silver4--,truths respecting the ,great ,company4 ,and precious stones4--,truths respecting the ,lord's jewels4--,mal4 #c3ag4 ,and of pearls4--,truths respecting the things purchased by the ,lord's death4--,matt4 #ac3de1 #df4 ,and fine linen4--,truths respecting the righteousness of the ,lord's saints4--,rev4 #ai3h2 ,rom4 #h3d2 #b ,pet4 #a3i4 ,and purple4--,truths respecting the ,church's expectation of coming royalty4--,rev4 #e3aj2 #bj3d2 ,luke #ab3cb2 #bb3bi1 #cj2 ,james #b3e2 ,mark #aj3bc2 #a ,cor4 #d3h2 ,rev4 #c3ba2 #b ,tim4 #b3ab2 ,rev4 #b3bf1 #bg2 ,psa4 #b3hab2 #di3ad2 ,rom4 #h3ai2 #af3bj4 ,and silk4--,truths respecting the most beautiful of all the fabrics of the loom--grand1 beautiful characters made so by the wisdom and mercy of ,god out of men and women that to start with were only poor worms of earth4 ,and scarlet4--,truths respecting the ,ransomsacrifice of our ,lord4 7#a ,tim4 #b3f2 ,rom4 #ad3i2 ,rom4 #e3ah1 #ai2 ,john #a3bi2 #a ,john #b3b47 ,all these truths have passed away from ,babylon1 but the errors must go1 too4 ,and all thyine wood4--,errors respecting man's inherent immortality4 ,thyine wood is a sweetsmelling wood2 wood is a symbol of human traditions4 ,the sweetest of all human theories is the declaration that when a man dies he is not dead at all4 7#a ,cor4 #c3ab47 ,very shortly men will begin to come back from the dead1 8the last first0 7,matt4 #ai3cj2 #bj3af72 and stories that they have been in some fabulous hell or in ,heaven will be at a considerable discount4 ,and all manner vessels of ivory4--,stories of deathbed repentance and dreams1 used to decorate unscriptural doctrines4 ,ivory was and is used in the harness of horses4 ,it was also used to decorate beds4 7,amos #f3d47 ,horses symbolize teachings1 and beds symbolize creedbeds4 ,the application fits1 whichever way the symbol is applied4--,jer4 #bc3bh4 ,and all manner vessels of most precious wood4--,errors that appeal to the heart of the natural man4--#a ,cor4 #c3ab4 ,and of brass4--,copper2 errors respecting the nature of man1 created perfect and to be recreated in the same likeness4--,gen4 #a3ca2 ,rev4 #ba3e4 ,and ,iron1 ,and marble4--,errors respecting the 8iron rule0 and when it is to be exercised4--,dan4 #b3dj2 ,rev4 #b3bg4 #ah3ac4 ,and cinnamon1 and spice1 and odours1 and ointments4--,errors respecting the nature and work of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,these principal spices represent things which go to make up the anointing which we receive to become priests and kings with ,christ4 ,,exodus #cj3bc ,,exodus #ca3c ,,isaiah #aa3b ,holy ,anointing ,oil ,bezaleel ,christ ,olive oil1 an hin ,filled with the ,spirit of ,lord ,spirit of ,god4 resting upon ,him4 ,myrrh1 #ejj ,wisdom ,wisdom ,cinnamon1 #bej ,understanding ,understanding ,calamus1 #bej ,knowledge ,knowledge ,cassia1 #ejj ,workmanship ,counsel and might 8,in the above parallel we find knowledge parallel with calamus and understanding with cinnamon1 and of each a like quantity is prescribed4 ,we have the understanding of all the knowledge received of ,god40--,z4 '#jgcdi4 ,and frankincense4--,errors respecting the kind of praise proper to offer4 ,much of the hymnbook theology is bad4 ,and wine4--,errors respecting our privilege of draining the ,lord's cup of sorrow now1 that we may drink the cup of joy with ,him hereafter4--,matt4 #bj3bb2 #bf3bg4 ,and oil4--,errors with reference to the anointing of the ,royal ,priesthood4--,psa4 #acc3ac2 #a ,pet4 #b3e4 ,and fine flour4--,errors as to why the true wheat are so repeatedly crushed1 broken and sifted--until 8nothing of earth is seen40 ,and wheat4--,errors as to who are the true wheat4 ,a sister on her first service of ,truth literature at a church door was asked by the pastor1 8,what are you doing around here80 ,startled1 the ,sister replied1 8,i am looking for the wheat40 ,the pastor replied1 with some anger1 8,go away6 ,there is no wheat here40 ,and beasts4--,cattle2 errors as to the nature of sacrifices with which the ,lord is pleased4--,psa4 #ff3ae4 ,and sheep4--,errors as to how to care for the true sheep4 ,and horses4--,errors as to the kind of doctrines to employ4--,rev4 #i3agai4 ,and chariots4--,errors in multiplying organizations not authorized in the ,scriptures and not in harmony therewith4 ,and slaves4--,errors respecting what it means to be a servant of the ,lord4--,luke #af3ac2 #b ,tim4 #b3bd2 ,matt4 #aj3bd1 #be2 #bc3aa4 ,and souls of men4--,errors respecting what is the soul4--,ezek4 #ah3d2 ,isa4 #ec3ab4 #ah3ad4 ,and the fruits that thy soul lusted after4--,love of ease1 money and praise of men4 ,are departed from thee4--,replaced by the conditions affecting the common people4 8,every valley lowly and depressed one shall be exalted1 and every mountain and hill highly exalted one shall be made low3 and the crooked doctrines shall be made straight1 and the rough places where the iron heel of oppression has made a hard path for the weary multitudes to follow shall be made plain40--,isa4 #dj3d4 ,and all things which were dainty and goodly4--,stained glass windows1 soft carpets and upholstery1 church suppers1 etc4 ,are departed ,,perished from thee1 and thou shalt ,,they ,,shall find them no more at all4--,the future of the clergy is that in the ,millennial ,age they will have to work for a living1 like everybody else6 ,isn't it awful to contemplate8 ,it means an expense of #fe;c for an alarm clock in every preacher's house in ,christendom6 #ah3ae4 ,the merchants of these things4--,the salesmen of these goods1 the clergy4--,rev4 #ah3c1 #aa2 ,ezek4 #bg3cf2 ,isa4 #bc3h2 #dg3ae4 ,which were made rich by her4--,who have hitherto made a good living in the profession of the ministry4 ,shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment1 weeping and wailing4--,over their lost jobs4 #ah3af4 ,and saying1 ,alas1 alas1 that great city4--,babylon1 mother and daughters4 ,that was clothed in fine linen4--,seemed to the worshipers of the beast and his image very righteous4 ,and purple4--,seemed to be already reigning on the earth4 ,and scarlet4--,seemed to have been faithful to the blood shed on ,calvary4 ,and decked with gold4--,seemed to have been the repository of ,truth ,divine4 ,and precious stones4--,seemed to have included in her membership all the ,lord's jewels4 ,and pearls4--,seemed to be the sure heir of all that the ,lord purchased by ,his death4 #ah3ag4 ,for in one hour so great riches is come to nought4--,in one short year1 #aiagaiah1 the vast and complicated system of sectarianism reaches its zenith of power1 only to be suddenly dashed into oblivion4--,rev4 #ah3aj4 ,and every shipmaster4--,pilot 7sky pilot71 ,greek4--,ezek4 #bg3bg4 ,and all the company in ships ,,every ,,one ,,who ,,saileth ,,by ,,the ,,place4--,all the passengers4--,ezek4 #bg3bi4 ,and sailors4--,mission workers4 ,and as many as trade by sea4--,as many as work the sea1 ,greek4 ,salvation ,army1 ,volunteers of ,america1 and others who work solely among the masses not under religious restraint4 ,stood afar off4--,realized that the old doctrines and the schemes for raising money would never work again4 #ah3ah4 ,and cried when they saw the smoke of her burning4--,her confusion and destruction by the ,lord4 ,saying1 ,what city is like unto this great city4--,with its millions of adherents1 all professedly interested in mission work4 #ah3ai4 ,and they cast dust on their heads ,,head4--,did a certain amount of mudslinging4--,ezek4 #bg3cj2 ,lam4 #b3aj4 ,and cried1 weeping and wailing4--,and gnashing their teeth1 too1 no doubt4 ,saying1 ,alas1 alas that great city4--,that wonderful religiopolitical combination4 ,wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea4--,all preachers who were strong enough and clever enough to manage people's churches1 independent of the sects4 ,many such 8independent0 churches have large memberships4 ,by reason of her costliness4--,by reason of the amount of money that can be raised in and for such institutions4 ,for in one hour is she made desolate4--8,to them the fall of ,babylon at first is astounding1 a perplexity1 but will work no real injury1 because the reign of ,babylon over the earth will be superseded by the reign of the ,new ,jerusalem--the ,kingdom of ,god's dear ,son40--,pastor ,russell2 ,rev4 #ah3h2 #c3ad2 #aa3aa4 #ah3bj4 ,rejoice over her1 thou ,heaven4--,new powers of spiritual control1 ,christ and ,his ,bride1 appointed to take her place4--,jer4 #ea3dh2 ,phil4 #c3bj2 ,rev4 #aa3ai4 ,and ye holy ,,saints ,,and ,apostles4--,you who have suffered at her hands4--,matt4 #bc3cd1 #ce2 ,rev4 #ac3ae2 #ah3bd4 ,and ,prophets4--,the faithful teachers of the ,christian church1 and also the ,prophets of old1 who foresaw ,mystic ,babylon's rise and fall1 and knew that it stood between them and the fulfilment of their hopes4 8,daniel1 who was thinking specially of ,israel1 and of the fulfilment of ,god's promises to the fathers1 perceived that all that he had heard could not occur in #bcjj literal days1 especially when ,gabriel said to him1 #8,but shut thou up the vision1 for it will be fulfilled after many days4' ,and though he knew not how long each symbolic day would be1 he was made sick at heart by the thought of so many evils as were coming upon ,god's people--though he saw not the change of that name from fleshly to spiritual ,israel4 ,we read1 #8,and ,i1 ,daniel1 languished and was sick for some days4' 0--,c4 #aje4 ,for ,god hath avenged you on her4--,this vengeance of ,god for the wrongs done to ,his saints in all ages began in #ahgh 7,rev4 #f3aj1 #aa71 and closes with the full end of the ,harvest4 ,when the last member of the ,great ,company class is delivered the system will utterly perish4 #ah3ba4 ,and a mighty angel4--,the common people4 ,took up a stone like a great millstone4--,temporarily lifted ecclesiasticism to great heights4 ,and4--,experiencing a sudden conviction of their error in so doing1 and of the truly devilish character of the system4 ,cast it into the sea4--,overwhelmed it in a flood of anarchy4 ,when this occurs there will be a 8great hissing noise0 7#b ,pet4 #c3aj1 ,diaglott71 indicating that the millstone will be warm1 wrathy1 at the moment of disappearance4 ,the effect of throwing a hot stone into water is to disintegrate it completely4--,jer4 #ea3fafd2 ,ex4 #ae3e2 ,neh4 #i3aa4 ,saying1 ,thus with violence shall that great city ,babylon be thrown down1 ,and shall be found no more at all4--8,the masses of the people1 no longer ignorantly stupid as during the ,dark ,ages1 will awaken to the true situation1 and will execute upon ,babylon the ,great--already repudiated by the ,lord--the judgment foretold4 ,she shall be cast like a great millstone into the sea1 never to rise again4 ,the sea represents the masses of the people1 especially a restless opposition class40 7,z4 '#accdc47 8,the fact is the world has outgrown the redhot and peppery dishes that suited the last generation1 and it is quite beyond the power of a very few solemn gentlemen to produce a reaction40--,d4 #aaj2 ,jer4 #ea3fd4 #ah3bb4 ,and there shall be no more found in her the voice of harpers1 and musicians1 and of pipers1 and trumpeters4--,those able to make melody and harmony out of the ,scriptures4--,isa4 #bd3h2 ,ezek4 #bf3ac4 ,,it shall be heard no more at all in thee4--,even now ,ecclesiasticism is entirely unable to supply any explanation of either ,ezekiel or ,revelation1 or to understand the one that is supplied4 ,and no craftsman1 of whatsoever craft he be1 shall be found any more in thee2 ,and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee4--,god is the great craftsman4 8,we are laborers together with ,god3 ye are ,god's husbandry1 ye are ,god's building4 ,according to the grace of ,god which is given unto me1 as a wise masterbuilder1 ,i have laid the foundation and another buildeth thereon4 ,but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon40--#a ,cor4 #c3i1 #aj4 #ah3bc4 ,and the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee2 ,and the voice of the ,bridegroom and of the ,bride4--,christ and ,his true ,church4--,jer4 #g3cd2 #af3i2 #be3aj2 #cc3aa4 ,shall be heard no more at all in thee4--,neither ,christ nor ,his saintly ones have had anything to say in the affairs of the nominal church since #ahgh2 nor have they wished to have4 8,the rejection of ,babylon 7#8,christendom'71 in #ahgh1 was the rejection of the mass of professors--the #8host1' as it is termed by ,daniel1 to distinguish it from the ,sanctuary or ,temple class40--,c4 #ahj4 ,for thy merchants were the great men of the earth4--,they said so1 themselves4 ,they have attempted to direct everything from prize fights up4 ,rev4 ,rainsford even tried to run a beer saloon1 but was not able to make it a coinproducer for the church and gave it up4--,isa4 #bc3h2 #dg3ae2 ,rev4 #ah3c1 #aa1 #ae2 ,ezek4 #bg3ba1 #cf4 ,for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived4--8,consider1 again1 why ,babylon is so named4 ,evidently1 because of her many errors of doctrine1 which1 mixed with a few elements of ,divine ,truth1 make great confusion1 and because of the mixed company brought together by the mixed truths and errors4 ,this sin of holding and teaching error at the sacrifice of truth is one of which every sect of the church nominal is guilty1 without exception4 ,where is the sect in which you can obey the ,master's words and let your light shine8 ,we know of none40--,c4 #aha2 ,rev4 #ag3b2 #b ,ki4 #i3bb4 #ah3bd4 ,and in her was found the blood of ,prophets4--,they are accounted as having slain the ,prophets because they refuse to heed them1 and to that extent caused them to lay down their lives needlessly6--,rev4 #af3f2 #ag3f4 ,and of saints4--,they are accounted as having slain the saints because they have given no heed to their warnings1 and to that extent caused them to die in vain4--,jer4 #ea3di4 ,and of all that were slain upon the earth4--,the great ,european war1 and other wars1 are justly laid at the door of the system that has perpetuated the doctrines of ,divine right of clergy and kings2 and it is for this reason that ,god has decreed her sins must be wiped out first with symbolical blood 7,rev4 #ad3bj71 and afterwards with literal blood in the red sea of anarchy4--,ex4 #ad3babh2 ,isa4 #fc3af4 ,illustration ,the ,traveler ,inquires ,the ,way ,to ,heaven ,illustration ,whom ,should ,we ,believe--,god ,or ,the ,clergy8 ,revelation #ai--,the ,overthrow ,of ,satan's ,empire #ai3a4 ,and after these things4--,after the saints are glorified and present ecclesiastical systems are destroyed4 ,i heard ,,as ,,it ,,were a great voice of much people4--,the ,great ,company4--,rev4 #g3aj4 ,in heaven4--,the only heavenlyminded ones remaining on earth4 ,saying1 ,alleluia2 ,salvation4--,deliverance from the ,papacy and other sects has come at last4 ,and glory1 and honor1 and power unto the ,lord ,,of our ,god4--,it has been accomplished not by human power1 but by the ,wisdom and ,power of ,god4--,rev4 #g3ab4 #ai3b4 ,for true and righteous are ,thy judgments4--8,god is light1 and in ,him is no darkness at all40--#a ,john #a3e2 ,rev4 #ae3c2 #af3g4 ,for ,he hath judged the great whore4--,has executed the judgments long foretold4 ,which did corrupt the earth with her fornication4--,her illicit union with worldly governments4 ,and hath avenged the blood of ,his ,,her servants at her hand4--,the millions who have perished in the ,great ,war have been the servants of ,babylon4 ,the direct cause of their slaughter is the doctrine of the ,divine right of the clergy4 ,these have maintained the kings of ,europe on their thrones1 falsely telling them they are ruling as part of ,christ's ,kingdom4 ,this position has led to the death of all these millions1 and their blood will be required at ,babylon's hand4 #ai3c4 ,and again they said1 ,alleluia4--,the more they think it over1 the happier they will become4 ,and her smoke4--,the evidences of her destruction2 the remembrance4--,isa4 #cd3aj2 ,rev4 #ad3aa2 #ah3i1 #ah4 ,rose up for ever and ever4--,will be recorded in secular history1 even as it is recorded in 8the ,word of ,god1 which liveth and abideth for ever40--#a ,pet4 #a3bc4 #ai3d4 ,and the four and twenty ,,four elders4--,the prophecies4--,rev4 #d3d1 #aj4 ,and the four beasts4--,infinite ,power1 ,justice1 ,wisdom and ,love4--,rev4 #d3g4 ,fell down and worshipped ,god that sat on the ,throne1 saying ,amen2 ,alleluia4--,the ,god1 the mighty ,one1 here referred to is the ,lord ,jesus4--,rev4 #e3c4 #ai3e4 ,and a voice ,,voices4--,the ,little ,flock1 beyond the veil4 ,came out of the ,throne4--,they will be in the ,throne at that time4--,rev4 #c3ba4 ,saying1 ,praise our ,god1 all ye ,his servants4--,of the ,great ,company class4--,rev4 #g3ae2 ,psa4 #acd3ac4 ,and ye that fear ,him1 both small and great4--,your deliverance was wholly due to the ,lord4 ,we did what we could to help you1 but it was as nothing4 ,to the ,lord belongs all the glory for your deliverance and ours4--,rev4 #aa3ah4 #ai3f4 ,and ,i heard as it were the voice of a great multitude4--8,in the ,age to come1 when ,god shall #8pour out ,his ,spirit upon all flesh1' as during the present ,age ,he pours it upon ,his #8servants and handmaids1' then indeed all will understand and appreciate the promises now being grasped by the #8little flock'2 and they will rejoice in the obedience and exaltation of the ,church1 saying1 #8,let us be glad and rejoice1 and give honor to ,god1 for the ,marriage of the ,lamb is come1 and ,his ,wife hath made herself ready4' ,they will rejoice in the glorification of the ,church1 through which blessings will then be flowing to them2 and while they will realize that the #8exceeding great and precious promises' inherited by the ,anointed 7,head and ,body7 are not for them1 but have been fulfilled upon us1 they will be blessed by the lesson illustrated in the ,church2 and while they run for the blessings then held out to them1 they will profit by the example of the ,church and glorify ,god on her behalf4 ,but this knowledge will not bring covetousness2 for under the new order of things their calling to perfect human nature will fully satisfy them1 and will seem more desirable to them than a change of nature40--,a4 #hf4 ,and as the voice of many waters4--,all mankind4--,rev4 #ag3ae4 ,and as the voice of mighty thunderings4--,an overwhelming and complete reaction in favor of the ,truth4 ,the 8seven thunders0 will then be thundering as never before4--,rev4 #aj3d2 #h3e4 ,saying1 ,alleluia3 for the ,lord ,god ,,our ,,lord ,,the ,omnipotent reigneth4--8,shows ,himself to be king by subduing ,his enemies40 7,cook47 ,thoroughly convinced of the greatness of the ,lord's power1 as all men will be by the end of the ,time of ,trouble1 they will be glad to entrust all their interests to ,his care4 #ai3g4 ,let us be glad and rejoice1 and give honor to ,him4--8,thy people shall be willing in the day of ,thy power40--,psa4 #aaj3c4 ,for the ,marriage of the ,lamb is come4--,the marriage of men and women is declared in the ,scriptures to be a type of the marriage of ,christ and ,his ,church4 7,eph4 #e3bbbc47 ,it is a recognized principle that the antitype is greater than the sum of all the types4 ,the death of ,christ was greater than all the sacrifices throughout the ,jewish ,age4 ,now call to mind that the wedding day is the happiest of every human being4 ,think of all the happiness caused by all the weddings that have ever occurred1 and know that the sum total is as nothing compared to the joy that will pervade the ,universe when the festal day of eternity takes place1 and ,christ and ,his ,bride are made one4 ,and ,his ,wife4--8,the ,bride represents #8all who have believed up to the commencement of the ,millennium4 ,these alone are the mystical ,body of ,christ4 ,but after they are completed1 at the ,second ,advent the earth will be peopled by the 8nations of the saved0 in flesh and blood1--a totally different party from the then glorified ,bride4' 0--,cook4 ,hath made herself ready4--,the witnessing to the world during the present ,age is quite secondary and incidental to the ,church's more important work of making herself ready4--,f4 #fjh2 ,t4 #aae2 ,matt4 #bb3aad2 #be3a2 #b ,cor4 #aa3b2 ,eph4 #e3bg2 ,rev4 #ba3b1 #i2 ,john #c3bi2 ,cant41 all2 ,psa4 #de3ajad2 ,matt4 #i3ae2 ,mark #b3ai2 ,lu4 #ab3cf4 #ai3h4 ,and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen1 ,,bright ,,and clean and white4--8 #8,she shall be brought unto the ,king in raiment of needle work' 7,psa4 #de3ad7--;in the simple white robe of her ,lord's own furnishing1 the robe of ,his righteousness1 upon which she will have wrought1 with much carefulness1 the beautiful adornments of the ,christian graces4 ,and great will be the rejoicing in ,heaven and in earth at her abundant entrance into the ,king's palace4--#b ,pet4 #a3eh1 #aa40--;,c4 #aic4 ,for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints4--,here and there throughout the ,scriptures are keys which unlock its mysteries4 7,rev4 #c3ah2 ,psa4 #acb3i47 ,this is the key to several otherwise obscure passages4 #ai3i4 ,and he4--,the faithful and wise ,servant to whom the custody of all the things in ,his ,storehouse was especially promised by the ,lord of the ,harvest4--,luke #ab3dbdd2 ,rev4 #c3ad2 #a3a4 ,saith unto me1 write4--,to representatives of the ,john class1 commissioned to write something of encouragement to the ,church after he himself had ceased to write4 ,blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the ,lamb4--,the ,marriage ,supper 7,lu4 #ad3ae7 will be like all the other feasts the ,church has had1 not of physical food1 but of truths ,divine4 ,that will be the time when the ,lord1 the ,head of the family1 will explain to us every part of every verse in all ,his ,holy ,word4 ,we shall have perfect memories then1 in which to treasure every word ,he utters1 and perfect bodies1 too1 in which to perform to the full all ,god's holy will4 ,we have the will to do it now4 ,we have tried to understand ,his ,word1 and tried to help others to understand it2 but the best we could do was far from perfect4 ,the ,lord1 in ,his love and mercy1 has accepted our best endeavors here as evidence of our worthiness for the perfect opportunities that await us4 8,ultimately the full number purposed by the great ,householder will have been called1 accepted1 and found worthy through ,christ to have a place at that table--to share in that great ,feast4 7,matt4 #bb3aaj47 ,at that feast1 we are assured1 will be a secondary company1 not worthy to be of the ,bride class4 ,these may be figuratively styled the bridesmaids1 the ,great ,company class2 for after the account of the gathering of the ,bride we have the ,lord's message to these subsequently delivered from ,babylon1 saying1 #8,blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the ,lamb4' ,you can imagine the honors and joys of that great banquet60--,z4 '#adgd4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,these ,,my ,,true ,,sayings1 are the true sayings of ,god4-- 8,ascend1 beloved1 to ,his joy2 ,thy festal day has come2 ,tonight the ,lamb doth feast ,his own1 ,tonight ,he with ,his ,bride sits down1 ,tonight puts on the spousal crown1 ,in the great ,upper ,room40 #ai3aj4 ,and ,i fell at his feet to worship him4--8,if there come to any of us a thought of doing homage to the ,lord's messengers or servants it would be our duty to fully recognize that ,god alone1 however much ,he may use human instrumentalities in conveying ,his blessings1 is to be honored and reverenced and appreciated as the ,author and ,giver of every good and perfect gift4--,james #a3ag40--,z4 '#jgaje2 ,rev4 #bb3h4 ,and he said unto me1 ,see thou do it not4--,but ,satan said to the ,lord1 8,all these things will ,i give thee1 if ,thou wilt fall down and worship me40 7,matt4 #d3i47 ,when ,papacy did this1 ,satan was true to his promise4 ,by resorting to worldly forms1 customs and entertainments all the daughters have followed the example of the mother4 ,i am thy fellowservant4--8,st4 ,john in his humility forgets his own share in imparting the revelation2 and the ,angel in his humility brings this to light 7,acts #aj3be1 #bf740--;,cook2 ,acts #ad3ad1 #ae2 ,rev4 #bb3i2 ,rom4 #a3a2 ,phil4 #a3a2 ,tit4 #a3a2 #b ,pet4 #a3a4 ,and of thy ,,the brethren that have the testimony of ,jesus3 worship ,god4--8,whose servants we both are2 of ,whose prophetic ,spirit we alike partake in this our common ministry2 and therefore one of us may not worship the other40--,cook4 ,for the testimony of ,jesus is the spirit of prophecy4--8,all ,christians1 in every age1 who can receive and understand prophecy1 have this spirit40 7,cook2 #a ,cor4 #ab3ac47 ,however1 8,the design of prophecy is to bear testimony to ,jesus4 ,this is its great and ultimate end4 ,the word prophecy here seems to be used in the large sense in which it is often employed in the ,new ,testament--meaning to make known the divine will1 and the primary reference here would seem to be to the preachers and teachers of the ,new ,testament4 ,the sense is1 that their grand business is to bear testimony to the ,saviour4 ,they are all appointed for this1 and therefore should regard themselves as #8fellowservants4' ,thus understood1 this passage has no direct reference to the prophecies of the ,old ,testament1 and teaches nothing in regard to their design1 though it is in fact undoubtedly true that their grand and leading object was to bear testimony to the future ,messiah40--,barnes2 ,rev4 #ab3ag4 #ai3aa4 ,and ,i saw heaven opened4--,the hidden things of ,god as recorded in the ,seventh ,volume of ,studies ,in ,the ,scriptures4--,rev4 #aa3ai4 ,and behold a white horse4--,teachings which1 however unpalatable to ,churchianity1 are nevertheless the truth4 ,and ,he that sat upon him was called ,faithful4--8,the faithful and true ,witness40--,rev4 #c3ad4 ,and ,true4--8,he that is holy1 ,he that is true40--,rev4 #c3g4 ,and in righteousness ,he doth judge and make war4--8,while the ,lord forbids ,his people to fight with carnal weapons1 and while ,he declares ,himself to be a ,god of peace1 a ,god of order and of love1 ,he also declares ,himself to be a ,god of justice1 and shows that sin shall not forever triumph in the world1 but that it shall be punished4 #8,vengeance is ,mine1 ,i will repay1 saith the ,lord4' 7,rom4 #ab3ai2 ,deut4 #cb3ce47 ,and when ,he rises up to judgment against the nations1 taking vengeance upon all the wicked1 ,he declares ,himself #8a man of war' and #8mighty in battle1' and having a #8great army' at ,his command4--,exod4 #ae3c2 ,psa4 #bd3h2 #de3c2 ,isa4 #aa3d2 ,joel #b3aa40--;,d4 #edi4 #ai3ab4 ,his eyes were as a flame of fire4--,the ,lord's ,wisdom sees that the time has come for the destruction of present iniquitous systems4--,rev4 #a3ad4 ,and on ,his head were many crowns4--,the right to rule all the kingdoms of the earth4--,ezek4 #ba3bg4 ,and ,he had a name written1 that no man knew1 but ,he ,himself4--,this new name is to be also the name of the ,church1 ,his ,bride4 ,possibly it has not yet been revealed4--,rev4 #b3ag2 #c3ab4 #ai3ac4 ,and ,he was clothed with a vesture dipped in ,,sprinkled ,,with blood4--,a reference to ,his faithfulness even unto death1 and a hint to ,his ,body what to expect shortly4 ,and ,his name is ,,hath ,,been called the ,word of ,god4--,in this picture ,he is represented as coming1 not as the ,messenger of the ,covenant1 but in apokalupsis1 revealment as earth's rightful ,king4--,john #a3a2 ,rev4 #a3b4 #ai3ad4 ,and the armies which were in heaven4--,all the armies of ,rev4 #g3eh1 the ,little ,flock1 whether on this side of the veil or on the other4--,rev4 #ag3ad4 ,followed ,him4--8,the sheep follow ,him3 for they know ,his voice4 ,and a stranger will they not follow40--,john #aj3d1 #e4 ,upon white horses4--,teachings clean and pure4 ,clothed in fine linen1 white and clean4--8,the righteousness of saints40--,rev4 #ai3h4 #ai3ae4 ,and out of ,his mouth goeth a sharp sword4--8,our examination1 in a preceding volume1 of the great difference in character between the ,kingdom of ,god and the beastly kingdoms of earth1 prepares us to see also a difference in modes of warfare4 ,the methods of conquest and breaking will be widely different from any which have ever before overthrown nations4 ,he who now takes ,his great power to reign is shown in symbol as the ,one whose sword went forth out of ,his mouth1 #8that with it ,he should smite the nations2 and ,he shall rule them with a rod of iron4' ,that sword is the ,truth 7,eph4 #f3ag740--;,b4 #ajj2 ,isa4 #aa3d2 #di3b2 #b ,thes4 #b3h2 ,rev4 #a3af2 #b3ab1 #af2 #ai3ba2 ,hos4 #f3e2 ,heb4 #d3ab4 ,that with it ,he should smite the nations4--8 #8,he shall smite the earth with the rod of ,his mouth1 and with the breath of ,his lips the force and spirit of ,his ,truth shall ,he slay the wicked4' 7,isa4 #aa3d2 ,psa4 #ih3a47 ,to no human generalship can the honors of the coming victory for truth and righteousness be ascribed4 ,wild will be the conflict of the angry nations1 and worldwide will be the battlefield and the distress of nations2 and no human ,alexander1 ,csar or ,napoleon will be found to bring order out of the dreadful confusion4 ,but in the end it will be known that the grand victory of justice and truth1 and the punishment of iniquity with its just deserts1 was brought about by the power of the ,king of kings and ,lord of lords40--,d4 #ai4 ,and ,he shall rule them with a rod of iron4--8,in this #8,day of ,jehovah1' the #8,day of ,trouble1' our ,lord takes ,his great power 7hitherto dormant7 and reigns1 and this it is that will cause the trouble1 though the world will not so recognize it for some time4 ,that the saints shall share in this work of breaking to pieces present kingdoms1 there can be no doubt4 ,it is written1 #8,this honor have all ,his saints--to execute the judgments written1 to bind their kings with chains1 and their nobles with fetters of iron'--of strength4 7,psa4 #adi3h1 #i47 #8,he that overcometh1 and keepeth ,my works unto the end1 to him will ,i give power over the nations1 and he shall rule them with a rod of iron2 as the vessels of a potter shall they the empires be broken to shivers4' 0--,rev4 #b3bf1 #bg2 ,psa4 #b3h1 #i2 ,b4 #ajj4 ,and ,he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of ,,the ,,anger ,,of ,almighty ,god4--,the ,lord assumes an interest in and responsibility for the complete series of ,studies ,in ,the ,scriptures1 the last one of which especially represents the winepress feature 7,rev4 #ad3ahbj71 but it would be unreasonable to expect that the ,lord would miraculously use imperfect tools to do an absolutely perfect work and each must use his judgment as to the value of the interpretations in this book4 ,additionally1 it should be remarked that the language here is more intense than in ,rev4 #ad1 indicating the extension of the winepress feature to other than ecclesiastical matters4 #ai3af4 ,and ,he hath on ,his vesture and on ,his thigh a name written4--8,the thigh is introduced as the place where the sword 7which is not mentioned here1 see ver4 #ae7 is usually found1 in accordance with ,psa4 #de3c3 #8,gird ,thee with ,thy sword upon ,thy thigh1 ,o ,most ,mighty4' 0--,cook4 ,king of kings and ,lord of lords4--,before the controversy aroused by this book is finished1 every person in the world will be convinced that it marks a distinct step by the ,lord in ,his seizure of ,satan's ,empire4--#a ,tim4 #f3ae2 ,rev4 #ag3ad2 ,dan4 #h3be4 #ai3ag4 ,and ,i saw an ,,another angel4--,the ,elijah class after the publication of ,volume ,seven1 ,studies in the ,scriptures4 ,see ,rev4 #h3ce2 #ad3ah4 ,standing in the sun4--,resplendent in the light of the ,gospel4--,rev4 #ab3a2 ,matt4 #ac3dc4 ,and he cried with a loud voice4--,fearlessly and plainly declaring the ,truth4 ,saying to all the fowls4--,birds1 ,greek4--,matt4 #bd3bh4 ,that fly in the midst of heaven4--,first to the 8eagles10 the farsighted ones1 the ,little ,flock1 and then1 by extension1 to all who live1 mentally1 on any plane above the grossly material4 ,come and gather yourselves ,,be ,,gathered together unto the ,,great supper of the great ,god4--,we should look for applications appropriate to the symbolical book we are studying1 even though it develop later1 as it will1 that these passages will have a literal and terrible fulfilment in a deluge of actual bloodshed1 of which the ,european ,war is but a preliminary4 #ai3ah4 ,that ye may eat the flesh of kings4--,five of these kings or rulers are enumerated in ,rev4 #f3d4 ,doubtless the reader has eaten them1 in the symbolical sense4 ,they are there to be eaten4 ,and the flesh of captains4--,lesser commanders1 enumerated in ,rev4 #h3gab4 ,no doubt the reader has eaten these also4 ,and the flesh of mighty men4--,warriors4 ,these warriors are referred to in ,rev4 #i3g1 #i1 although there mentioned under the name of locusts4 ,if the reader has not eaten 7appropriated1 absorbed1 digested7 the account1 the task should be undertaken at once1 or something will be missed4 ,that the ,lord made no mistake in selecting the ,locust as a symbol of the ,methodist system of blindly following leaders is clear from the following extract from the works of a traveller3 8,while sojourning in ,syria ,i was told that the whole country round ,mt4 ,lebanon was dismayed one year by the news that a vast army of marching locusts was coming from the eastern desert4 ,the governor of the district ordered a regiment of soldiers to aid the people to construct a great rampart of heath bushes to be set on fire as the locusts came up to it1 hoping thus to save the gardens of ,beyrout4 ,these locusts always hopped straight ahead1 deviating neither to the right nor left1 and on coming to a house went up its stone walls1 over it and down it1 as if it were a level place1 and in such inconceivable numbers that an ,american resident described the noise of the great host passing over the roof as like to that of a tremendous hailstorm4 ,at every green leaf on the way each took a bite1 and then went on for the next one to take his bite1 until in an incredibly short time not a green thing could be seen4 ,when they reached the prepared heaps of heath1 and these were set on fire1 the locusts marched on without pausing1 until in a brief time they put the bonfires completely out4 ,as the sea was not far off everybody hoped that they would take to surf bathing4 ,and so they did4 ,just as certain injurious political crowds among us can always be always depended upon to march up to the polls and vote the straight ticket1 when the vanguard reached the waves1 like all good true locusts1 in they hopped1 followed by all the rest1 till the billows seemed to roll only grasshoppers2 nor did the scene end until the last of the rear guard had skipped over the heaps of his dead comrades to make his last jump into the blue waters of the ,mediterranean40--,jer4 #ea3fd4 ,and the flesh of horses4--,did you not see the horses in ,rev4 #i3ag1 #ah1 and did you not eat them1 fire1 jacinth1 brimstone and all8 ,and of them that sit on them4--,did we not find two hundred millions of these horsemen1 and did you not eat them8--,see ,rev4 #i3af4 ,and the flesh of all men1 both free and bond1 both small and great4--,and did we not find all the rest of the men included in ,rev4 #i3bj1 #ba1 and did we not eat them in the same manner8 ,we did1 indeed4 ,we ate or appropriated the truth concerning them4 ,it is our eating of these truths that lead to the events next narrated4 #ai3ai4 ,and ,i saw the beast4--,the ,papacy restored to power4 ,weymouth's ,new ,testament in ,modern ,speech translates this verse as follows1 and adds a footnote that the 8once for all10 though not expressed in the ,greek1 is implied in the aorist tense of the verb3 8,and ,i saw the ,wild ,beast1 and the kings of the earth1 and their armies1 all assembled to make war1 once for all1 against the ,rider upon the horse and against ,his army40 ,and the kings of the earth4--,called to the war by demons4 7,rev4 #af3acaf47 8,the kings of the earth set themselves in opposition1 and the rulers not knowing that they are fighting against the establishment of the ,lord's ,kingdom1 take counsel together against the ,lord and against ,his ,anointed1 but ,he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh2 the ,lord shall have them in derision40--,psa4 #b3b1 #d2 ,d4 #eb4 ,and their armies4--,their following1 ,civil1 ,social1 ,ecclesiastical and ,financial4 ,gathered together to make war4--8,the war10 ,greek4 ,against ,him that sat on the horse1 and against ,his army4--,although composed of the twelve symbolical tribes 7,rev4 #ai3ad2 #g3dh7 they are1 after all1 but one army1 all 8,one in ,christ ,jesus40 8,let it be seen that the best and the worst of earth's nations are but #8kingdoms of this world1' whose lease of power from ,god is now expired1 that they may give place to their ordained successor1 the ,kingdom of ,messiah1 the ,fifth ,universal ,empire of earth 7,dan4 #b3dd2 #g3ad1 #ag1 #bg7--;and it will do much to establish truth and to overthrow error4 ,but as it is1 the actions of ,papacy in this regard1 sanctioned by the ,protestant ,reformers1 go unquestioned among ,christian people4 ,and since they should uphold the ,kingdom of ,christ1 they feel themselves called to the aid of the present falling kingdoms of socalled ,christendom--to the side of the kingdoms of this world1 and the prince of this world1 rather than to the side of the coming true ,kingdom of ,christ40--,a4 #bgj2 ,rev4 #af3af2 #ag3ac1 #ad4 #ai3bj4 ,and the beast was taken4--,the ,papacy was caught4 7,jer4 #ej3dcdf47 ,no doubt the publication of this book has come at a time unfavorable to the schemes of ,papacy and will interfere greatly with its efforts at re establishment--,rev4 #ag3ad4 ,and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him4--,the ,image of the ,beast4--,rev4 #ac3aa1 #ac1 #ad #ae2 #ad3i1 #aa2 #ae3b2 #af3b1 #ac2 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj2 ,matt4 #bd3bd4 ,with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast4--,catholics4 ,and them that worshipped his image4--,protestants4 ,these both4--,both of these systems1 not the people4 ,were cast alive4--,while they are still organized and operative4--,h4 #ei4 ,into a lake of fire burning with brimstone4--,into the complete and everlasting destruction1 of the anarchy 7symbolized by fire7 of the ,time of ,trouble4 ,this utter destruction of these systems is the beginning of the annihilation of everything out of harmony with ,god's righteous arrangements4 ,it was typified by the valley of ,gehenna1 just outside of ,jerusalem4 ,by the aid of brimstone the bodies of specially detestable criminals were there burned with the other refuse of ,jerusalem4 ,standing upon the edge of this valley at night it had the appearance of a lake burning with fire and brimstone4 ,burning brimstone is the most deadly agent known1 and symbolizes utter destructiveness4--,dan4 #g3aa4 #ai3ba4 ,and the remnant4--,the people who are left after their systems are destroyed4 ,were slain with the sword of ,him that sat upon the horse4--,will1 in due time1 come into loving and cheerful submission to the truth4--,rev4 #ai3ae2 #b ,cor4 #aj3d4 ,which sword proceeded out of ,his mouth4--,all should be able to see that it is not a literal sword that is here referred to4 ,and all the fowls were filled with their flesh4--,see ,rev4 #ai3ah4 ,revelation #bj--,the ,thousand ,years' ,reign #bj3a4 ,and ,i saw an ,angel come down from ,heaven4--,the ,messenger of the ,covenant at ,his ,second ,advent4--,mal4 #c3a4 ,having the key of the bottomless pit ,,abyss4--,only ,infinite ,wisdom could provide the key to the solution of present difficulties in the earth4 ,here is a system of superstition and crime two thousand years old1 and the praise and service of it ingrained into nearly every human being4 ,all literature is poisoned with it4 ,public opinion is for it4 ,the educated1 the refined1 the wealthy1 the powerful are all for it and all against any change that would give the lower strata of society a fair chance4 ,to overcome conditions like this is a task for ,divinity itself4 ,and a great chain in ,his hand4--,the ,,truth1 as contained in the ,seven ,volumes of ,scripture ,studies4 ,this chain of ,truth has been forged1 link by link1 over a period of forty years4 ,each volume has made it more certain that old systems can never hope to stand against it4 #bj3b4 ,and ,he laid hold on the dragon4--,the iniquitous system of civil government which has associated with it the principle of holding the masses in subjection by preying upon their fears beyond this life4 ,the subject of special condemnation in this regard1 the masterpiece of ,satan1 is the old ,roman ,empire1 still living in the ,papacy and the ,church,state governments of ,europe4 ,this system is about contemporaneous with the 7seven7 ,times of the ,gentiles 7#bebj years ending in ,oct41 #aiad71 which began in the ,fall of #fjg ,b4 ,c41 or1 as we would say1 at the beginning of #fjf1 ,jewish ,time4 ,rome was already well started on its upward path at that time4 8,lucius ,tarquinius ,priscus1 fifth legendary king of ,rome1 #fafegh ,b4 ,c41 appointed guardian to the sons of ,ancus ,marcius1 he succeeded in supplanting them on the throne on their father's death4 ,he laid out the ,circus ,maximus1 instituted the great games1 built the great sewers1 and began the construction of the temple of ,jupiter on the ,capitol4 ,he removed from ,tarquinii in ,etruria to ,rome by the advice of his wife1 the prophetess ,tanaquil4 ,tanaquil was famous for her shrewdness and prophetic gifts1 which enabled her to foretell the future greatness of her husband40 7,brit47 ,that old serpent1 which is the ,devil1 and ,satan4--8,while the name ,old ,serpent includes ,satan1 #8the prince of devils1' it is here evidently used as a synonym for all the sinful agencies and powers which had their rise in him40 7,s4 #cb47 8,our ,lord's declaration that ,satan is the great ,adversary1 not only of ,god1 but of humanity1 is by no means a fancy sketch1 but the plain truth4 ,satan alone is the wilful1 intelligent plotter and schemer who uses a superhuman intelligence and1 so far as permitted1 superhuman powers1 in opposing righteousness and truth and those who are of the ,truth4 ,the inspired record asserts1 persistently and consistently1 that ,satan began the rebellion against the divine law1 and seduced our first parents into disobedience1 through his own ambition for power2 and that since man's fall this same ,adversary has been the implacable opponent of ,god1 of righteousness and of truth2 and not only the ensnarer of mankind1 but the opposer of the great ,plan of ,atonement which ,god devised and is prosecuting through ,christ4 ,from the ,scriptural account it does not appear that ,satan had any sympathizers or associate conspirators amongst the angels at the time of his secession and attempt to establish a lordship or dominion of his own in the earth40--,f4 #faa4 ,and bound him4--8 #8,the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not1 lest the light of the glorious gospel of ,christ1 who is the image of ,god1 should shine unto them4' 7#b ,cor4 #d3d47 ,god wills that all should be so saved from all the train of evils following ,adam's sin and curse1 that they may come to a knowledge of the ,truth4 ,why does ,he will this8 ,to the intent that having a clear knowledge of the ,truth they may make the very best possible use of the new trial for life secured for them by their ,redeemer's ,ransomsacrifice4 ,it is for the carrying out of this1 ,god's will1 that the ,redeemer will inaugurate ,his ,millennial ,kingdom1 which will first bind ,satan 7restrain all outside evil influences7 and then release man from his blindness2--as it is written1 #8the eyes of the blind shall be opened4' 7,isa4 #ce3e47 ,for the same reason1 viz41 that the new trial shall be most favorable for man1 it is the ,divine arrangement that its work shall be done gradually and require a thousand years40 7,e4 #dhj1 #dgj47 8,the ,millennial ,day is dawning1 with its change of earth's rulership from the control of the #8prince of this world' and his faithful1 to the control of ,him #8whose right it is' 7by purchase7 and ,his faithful saints4 ,we have seen that though the result of this change will be a great blessing2 yet the time of the transfer1 while the present prince1 the #8strong man1' is being bound and his household driven out of power 7,matt4 #ab3bi71 will be a time of intense trouble40 7,c4 #cda47 8,in reference to it ,jesus said1 #8,no man can enter into a strong man's house and spoil his goods1 except he will first bind the strong man1 and then he will spoil his house4' 7,mark #c3bbbg2 ,luke #aa3bb47 ,this effective binding of ,satan is accordingly shown to be the first work of the ,new ,dispensation40 7,a4 #fh47 8,the ,adversary's every deceptive and misleading influence will be restrained--so that evil shall no longer appear to men to be good1 nor good appear undesirable1 evil4 ,truth shall no longer appear to men untrue1 nor falsehoods be caused to appear true40 7,d4 #eai47 8,the words of inspiration give us to understand that ,satan's struggles to retain control of mankind will be especially desperate at its close40--,s4 #gh4 ,a thousand years4--,the ,millennial ,day1 the ,day of the ,lord's rest1 following the six thousand years of evil which ended in #ahgd4 8,one ,day is with the ,lord as a thousand years40 7#b ,pet4 #c3h2 ,psa4 #ij3d47 8,it was the claim of the ,papacy that the thousand years of ,christ's ,reign1 the ,millennium1 promised in ,scripture to follow ,christ's ,second ,advent1 began in the year #hjj ,a4 ,d41 under ,pope ,leo ,,iii41 who claimed to be the representative of ,christ1 ,his vicegerent1 to begin ,christ's ,reign in ,his stead4 ,in that year the #8,papal states' were ceded to the ,church by ,emperor ,charlemagne4 ,their #8,millennium' ended1 it was claimed1 in the year #agii1 when ,napoleon confiscated the territories granted to the ,church and took the ,pope1 ,pius ,,vi41 a captive to ,france1 where he died4 ,the succeeding freedom from ,papal persecution1 and the widespread circulation of the ,bible in the languages of the people1 was declared by the ,papal leaders to be the #8little season' 7,rev4 #bj3c7 to follow the thousandyear ,reign of ,christ on earth2 and they are hoping that soon they will regain their former power and prestige and once more reign supreme1 and that their rule will be permanent4 ,this ,papal ,millennium is known in history as the #8,dark ,ages4' ,during those dark centuries millions were tortured1 exiled and murdered for refusing to bow to the mandates of the apostate ,church1 under the leadership of ,popes1 ,bishops and priests4 ,agents and spies were employed to apprehend and bring to punishment any who were found to express sentiments contrary to the ,papal hierarchy1 or who failed to bow in abject submission to their authority4 ,thus were the nations of ,europe paganized1 and steeped in error and superstition and in reverence for men who falsely claimed to be the special and authorized representatives of ,god on earth4 ,they presumed to have authority to alter the ,laws of ,god when it seemed advisable to them to do so1 and thought to change the time for the ,reign of ,christ as we have shown40 7,dan4 #g3be2 ,z4 '#afaha2 ,b4 #ced47 8 #8,those who lived next to the ,apostles1 and the whole ,church for #cjj years1 understood them the 8,thousand ,years0 in the plain literal sense4' ,according to ,jewish theology1 as collected from the ,talmud1 ,messiah is to gather in from the ,dispersion all the scattered descendants of the ,tribes1 to discomfit their foreign oppressors1 and from ,jerusalem as a centre to rule over the whole earth which is to be a scene of temporal enjoyment and prosperity4 ,thus ,r4 ,salomon writes3 #8,it is fixed that the world shall stand for #fjjj years1 according to the number of the days of the week2 but on the seventh ,day is the ,sabbath1 and during the seventh ,millennium the world has rest4' 0--,cook4 #bj3c4 ,and cast him into the bottomless pit ,,abyss4--,oblivion4 ,in this instance it signifies ,satan's enforced idleness1 which will surely be oblivion for him after the busy time he has had during the past six thousand years4 ,how small he will feel when he sees the ,lord ,jesus undo in one thousand years all that he accomplished in six thousand6 ,and shut him up1 and set a seal upon him4--,the ,spirit of ,truth in the hearts of men2 the desire to win the favor of earth's new ,king1 will deprive ,satan of all his subjects4 ,all his evil companions1 human and angelic1 will be destroyed in the ,time of ,trouble4 ,alone1 idle and humiliated constantly for a thousand years1 is a punishment he richly deserves4 ,that he should deceive the nations no more1 till the thousand years should be fulfilled4--8,some have become so deluded by the sophistries of ,satan1 by which he has deceived all nations1 that they do not believe that there is a ,god2 others believe in ,him as a great and powerful adversary1 without love or sympathy1 ready and anxious to torment them to all eternity2 others are confused by the ,babel of conflicting reports that have reached them1 concerning the ,divine character1 and know not what to believe2 and1 seeking to draw near unto ,god1 are hindered by their fears and by their ignorance40 7,e4 #ai1 #ah47 8,the trial1 or judgment1 of the overcomers of the ,christian ,dispensation and of the ,dispensation that preceded it1 has been much more severe than the trial of the world will be in its judgment day2 for these have had to withstand ,satan1 the prince of this world1 with all his wiles and ensnarements1 while in the world's judgment day ,christ will be reigning1 and ,satan will be bound1 that he may not deceive the nations4 ,these have suffered persecution for righteousness' sake1 while then men will be rewarded for righteousness1 and punished only for unrighteousness4 ,these have had great stumbling blocks and snares in the way1 which will be removed when the world is placed on trial4 ,but though the trial of these two special companies has been much more severe than the trial of the world will be1 the rewards are correspondingly greater40--,a4 #adf4 ,and after that he must be loosed a little season4--,to see who are in heart harmony with the ,lord's will1 and who are governed by other motives4 ,as evil will be bound by the prompt infliction of punishment upon the wouldbe evildoer1 so we may presume it will be loosed by allowing evil deeds to go temporarily unpunished4--,rev4 #bj3h4 #bj3d4 ,and ,i saw thrones1 and they sat upon them4--,the thrones of present earthly kingdoms4--,z4 '#hbcf4 ,and judgment was given unto them4--,judicial sentence was passed upon them as unfit to longer continue4 7,z4 '#hbcf47 ,this word is rendered condemnation in ,luke #bc3dj2 ,jas4 #c3a2 ,jude #d4 ,and ,i saw the souls4--,persons1 beings4--,z4 '#hbcf4 ,of them that were beheaded for the witness of ,jesus4--8,all constituting the ,kingdom class are here referred to as beheaded4 ,the ,apostle gives us the key1 saying4 #8,the ,head of every man is ,christ2 the head of the woman is the man2 and the ,head of ,christ is ,god4' 7#a ,cor4 #aa3c47 ,as a woman who becomes a wife accepts her husband as the head of the family 7loses her name1 her individuality1 to become his bride71 so the ,church accepts ,christ as her ,head1 and each member of the ,church thus comes into relationship with the ,lord as a member of ,his ,body4 ,it is required of every one who would be counted in as a member of the true ,church1 that he should be not only beheaded 7lose his selfwill71 but that he shall be united to the true ,head of the ,church and recognize himself as a member of the true ,body of ,christ--#8the ,church of the living ,god1 whose names are written in ,heaven4' 0--,z4 '#jabbg2 ,rev4 #a3i2 #ai3aj4 ,and for the word of ,god4--,on account of the ,word of ,god and by means of it4 ,we are 8,begotten by the ,word of ,truth10 and to live in fullest harmony with its every precept1 at any cost to the flesh1 is the distinguishing peculiarity of the overcoming ,church of ,god4 8,only now are ,bible students beginning to emerge from under the great cloud of false doctrine which for fifteen hundred years has misrepresented ,god and the ,bible1 putting darkness for light4 ,only now can ,bible study be prosecuted in its true spirit1 without the fear of man1 which brings a snare4 ,only now is there general education1 which permits of ,bible study in this true sense4 ,only now have we the convenient ,bible1 cheap and in every home4 ,only now have we more leisure and opportunity for ,bible study4 ,only now have we good light by which to study40--,z4 '#accff4 ,and which ,,if ,,any ,,therefore had not worshipped the beast1 neither his image4--,see ,rev4 #ac3acah4 ,neither had received his mark upon their foreheads1 or in their hands ,,forehead ,,and ,,on ,,their ,,hand4--,in years to come millions will be surprised to know that they had these marks of assent and service to ,satan's empire4 8,the gospel of ,satan is not a system of revolutionary principles1 nor yet a programme of anarchy4 ,it does not inspire wars and strife1 but peace and security4 ,it does not set the mother against her daughter and the father against his son1 but promotes the fraternal spirit whereby the race is regarded as one great ,brotherhood4 ,it does not seek to drag down and degrade the natural man1 but to improve and uplift him4 ,to use a popular phrase1 it appeals to #8the best1 all that is good within us4' ,it aims to make this world such a comfortable and congenial habitat that the absence of ,christ will not be felt and ,god will not be needed4 ,it endeavors to make men so satisfied with this life that they shall be totally indifferent to the life hereafter4 ,it propagates the principles of self sacrifice1 mercy1 charity and benevolence1 teaching men to live for the good of others and to be kind to all4 ,for those who observe its conditions and obey its commands1 it promises the development of certain inherent occult powers1 the solution of the more recondite problems of man's constitution and the accumulation of esoteric knowledge which is withheld from the multitude4 ,in short1 it declares that all who will eat of the forbidden fruit shall #8be as gods4' ,the gospel of ,satan is one of works4 ,the ,devil's ,delusion is that we can be saved by our own works1 and justified by our own deeds4 ,whereas ,god tells us1 #8,by grace are ye saved through faith1 444 not of works1 lest any man should boast4' ,and again1 #8,not by works of righteousness which we have done1 but according to ,his mercy ,he saved us4'--,eph4 #b3h1 #i2 ,tit4 #c3e40--,z4 '#afdb4 ,and they ,,both lived and reigned with ,christ4--,see ,rom4 #h3ag2 #b ,tim4 #b3ab2 ,rev4 #e3aj4 ,a thousand years4--8,the loss of this hope by our forefathers led on to all the grievous errors from which we are now seeking to escape4 ,do we not still pray1 #8,thy ,kingdom come1 ,thy will be done on earth as it is done in ,heaven8' ,the ,messiah's coming ,kingdom is the key to the world's blessing by ,restitution back to human perfection in a worldwide ,eden40--,pastor ,russell4 ,observe how many times this period is mentioned in ,rev4 #bj3bg4 #bj3e4 ,but the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished4--8,these words are not found in the oldest and most reliable ,greek ,,mss41 the ,sinaitic1 ,vatican ,nos4 #abji and #aafj1 nor the ,syriac ,,ms4 ,however1 the repudiation of this clause is not essential to the #8,plan' as herein set forth2 for the rest of the dead--the world at large--will not live again in the full sense1 in the perfect sense that ,adam lived before he sinned and came under the sentence #8dying thou shalt die4' ,perfect life without weakness or dying is the only sense in which ,god recognizes the word life4 ,from ,his standpoint all the world has already lost life1 is dying1 and might now be more properly described as dead than as alive40--#b ,cor4 #e3ad2 ,matt4 #h3bb4 8,the word resurrection 7,greek1 anastasis7 signifies raising up4 ,as related to man1 it signifies raising up man to that condition from which he fell1 to full perfection of manhood--the thing lost through ,adam4 ,the process of resurrection will be a gradual one1 requiring the entire ,age for its full accomplishment2 though the mere awakening to a measure of life and consciousness1 as at present enjoyed1 will of course be a momentary work4 ,and since anything short of perfect life is a condition of partial death1 it follows that1 although the above words are no part of the inspired record1 it would be strictly true to say that the rest of the dead will not live again 7will not regain the fulness of life lost7 until the thousand years of restitution and blessing are complete40--,a4 #bhh4 ,this is the ,first ,resurrection4--8,it is impossible for the tongue to describe this great honor and dignity40--#a ,cor4 #b3i2 ,pastor ,russell4 #bj3f4 ,blessed and holy is he that hath part in the ,first ,resurrection4--8 #8,we shall be like ,him the glorified 8changed0 ,jesus1 for we shall see ,him as ,he is4' ,he is a ,spirit ,being1 #8the express image of the ,father's person1' #8far above angels1 principalities and powers1 and every name that is named1' and hence1 far above perfect manhood4 ,if we shall be like ,him and share ,his glory and ,his nature1 it means that we too shall be images of the ,father's person1 #8whom no man hath seen nor can see1 dwelling in light which no man can approach unto2' but to whom we can approach and whom we can see as ,he is1 because we have been #8changed4' 7#a ,john #c3b2 #a ,tim4 #f3af1 #a3ag2 ,exod4 #cc3bj47 ,lest any should misunderstand him1 the ,apostle guards the above language by adding1 #8,as we the ,church have borne the image of the earthly one1 we shall also bear the image of the ,heavenly ,one4' ,it is not the ,apostle's thought that all shall bear the image of the ,heavenly ,one1 in this sense1 ever4 ,such was not the design of our ,creator4 ,when ,he made man ,he designed to have a fleshly1 human earthly being1 in ,his own likeness mentally1 morally1 to be the lord and ruler of the earth1 as the representative of ,his ,heavenly ,creator40 7,gen4 #a3bfbh2 ,psa4 #h3dg2 ,f4 #gbb47 8,if we know how to reproduce the human voice1 it gives us a little illustration of how ,god1 with ,his unlimited ,power1 can preserve everything recorded by the convolutions of our brain1 and of how these could be preserved in the future absolutely--everything by which we could know ourselves in the future40--,z4 '#adcae4 ,on such the ,second ,death hath no power4--,aside from the ,father and the ,son1 these are the only ones in the ,universe that will forever be beyond the possibility of death4--,rev4 #b3aa2 ,rom4 #b3g2 #a ,tim4 #f3af4 ,but they shall be priests4--8,the antitypical consecrating of the antitypical priests is confined to the present ,gospel ,age4 ,it has progressed steadily since our ,lord and ,forerunner #8offered up ,himself'--and will be complete before this ,age has fully ended4 ,and if we fail to be among the priests now1 during the time of consecration1 we cannot be of them when they begin their service for the people in the ,kingdom1 when these same priests 7now despised of men1 but a #8sweet savor to ,god'7 will have the title of ,king added1 and will1 with their ,head1 ,jesus1 rule and bless all nations40--,t4 #dg2 #a ,pet4 #b3i2 ,rev4 #a3f2 #e3aj4 ,of ,god and of ,christ4--8,no mention is made here of being priests of the ,holy ,ghost as it would undoubtedly have been mentioned if it had been the third person of the #8trinity4' 0 ,and shall reign with ,him a thousand years4--8,the #8kingdoms of this world1' even while being crushed by the ,kingdom of ,god1 will be quite ignorant of the real cause of their downfall1--until1 in the close of this #8day of wrath1' the eyes of their understanding shall open1 so that they will see that a ,new ,dispensation has dawned1 and learn that ,immanuel has taken to ,himself ,his great power1 and has begun ,his glorious and righteous ,reign40--,c4 #abi2 ,rev4 #bj3d4 ,and when the thousand years are expired1 ,satan shall be loosed out of his prison4--8,it will be for only a little season2 for1 his heart remaining unchanged1 he will soon see a new avenue to the success of his long cherished ambition4 ,he will see not merely a perfect human pair with power to produce a mighty race destined to live forever1 but a race restored to life and vigor4 ,his thought will be1 #8,if ,i can win this mighty race to my standard1 my triumph and exaltation will be speedily accomplished4' ,again1 therefore1 he will figure as a leader1 though1 as now1 unrecognized by men4 ,doubtless the temptation will again rest upon his old doctrine--that they shall not surely die1 even if they do disregard the will of ,god40--,z4 '#idbea4 #bj3h4 ,and shall go out to deceive all the nations4--8,at the close of the ,millennial ,age there will be a 'harvest' time1 for sifting and separating amongst the billions of human beings then living1 each of whom will have enjoyed a full opportunity of attaining perfection4 ,the ,harvest of the ,millennial ,age will witness the complete separation of the #8goats' from the #8sheep4' 0 7,d4 #fdd47 8,while the blessing of the ,lord will provide an abundance for all1 nevertheless we may safely assume that the provision will be in the hands of their fellows4 ,it will be the 'sheep' that will be especially interested in1 praying for and preparing for1 those who are in the great prisonhouse of death4 ,and by so engaging their time and energy these #8sheep' will be manifesting a purpose1 a will1 in harmony with that of the ,creator4 7,john #e3bh1 #bi47 ,any one not interested in that work will be lacking in ,god's ,spirit2 and this is what is charged against the goat class40--,z4 '#adbfh4 ,which are in the four quarters of the earth ,,corners1 ,gog4--,proud 7,gog means high71 ,natural ,israelites4 7#a ,chr4 #e3c1 #d47 8 #8,ye proud and unfaithful ,jews shall see ,abraham and ,isaac and ,jacob and all the ,prophets in the ,kingdom of ,god the earthly phase1 and ye yourselves thrust out1' 7,luke #ac3bh740--,z4 '#jgcjb4 ,and ,magog4--,those who1 during the ,gospel ,age1 were nominal ,spiritual ,israelites1 but at heart were never anything but 8tares0 and always remain such4 ,magog was the descendant of ,japheth4 7,gen4 #aj3b47 ,europe was peopled by his descendants1 and it was to them that the ,gospel call of the ,age now ending was by ,divine appointment sent4 7,acts #af3f1 #i47 ,the ,gospel was sent into ,europe that it might be demonstrated that ,god could call and make into ,christlike characters representatives of even the most cruel1 bloodthirsty1 quarrelsome1 rapacious people on earth4 ,such they are4 ,japan is proof that contact with ,europeans will in a generation transform a contented1 peaceloving people into a people of unbounded ambition1 imbued with the spirit of the very ,devil4--,ezek4 #ch3b2 #ci3a4 ,,and to gather them together to battle4--8,when at the close of the ,millennial ,age all the obedient of mankind shall have attained all that was lost in ,adam and redeemed by ,christ--then all1 armed with complete knowledge and experience1 and hence fully able to stand the test1 will be tested severely 7as was ,adam71 but individually1 and only those found in fullest heartsympathy1 as well as in outward harmony1 with ,god and ,his righteous arrangements1 will be permitted to go beyond the ,millennium into the everlasting future or #8world age without end4' ,all others will be destroyed in the ,second ,death40 7,e4 #dah1 #djb47 8,we read1 regarding that testing1 that ,satan will endeavor to lead astray all mankind1 whose numbers will then be as the sand of the sea for multitude2 but that many of them will choose evil and disobedience1 with past experience before them1 and unhampered by present weaknesses and blinding influences1 we do not suppose40--,h4 #fb4 #bj3i4 ,and they went up on the breadth of the earth4--8,building upon a supposed weakness in the ,divine character1 these may be led to try to take advantage of the grace 7favor7 of ,god1 and to use it as a license for wilful sin40--,h4 #fb4 ,and compassed the camp of the saints about4--8,just as in ,great ,britain1 the people have gone to ,parliament to protest1 so the rebellious faction of mankind will protest against their faithful princes4 ,the separation of the ,ancient ,worthies from the rest of the world seems to imply that ,god has some special purpose in respect to them4 ,the term camp itself implies that theirs is only a temporary condition or arrangement1 and that ,god has some better thing in store for them40 7,z4 '#acec47 8,the noble work of elevating the race by sure and steady steps 7under the direction of the unseen spiritual members of the ,kingdom7 is the high honor to which the ,ancient ,worthies are appointed1 and for which they will come forth prepared soon after the final wreck of the kingdoms of this world40 7,a4 #bia47 8,israel as a nation will be the first among the nations to come into harmony with the new order of things2 the earthly ,jerusalem will be rebuilt upon her old heaps2 and their polity will be restored as in the beginning under princes or judges4 7,isa4 #a3bf2 ,psa4 #de3af2 ,jer4 #cj3ah470 7,a4 #bid47 8,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob and all the ,prophets0 and ,ancient ,worthies referred to by our ,lord and by the ,apostles 7,matt4 #h3aa2 ,heb4 #aa3ddj71 having passed their trial1 will be awakened from death perfect4 8,just as ,adam1 while perfect1 before transgression1 could commune direct with the ,heavenly powers1 so will these ,worthies commune1 when restored to the same state of perfection40 7,d4 #fai47 8,the veil which ,moses wore before the people1 but laid off when with the ,lord in the ,mount would seem to typify the earthly phase of his ,kingdom1 the #8princes in all the earth1' 0 7,d4 #fcj47 8,the friendship of ,david and ,jonathan seems to be suggestive of that beautiful accord which shall exist between the glorified ,church and the earthly princes who shall be next to them in the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,each will be delighted to fill his honored place in the wonderful ,plan of ,god1 and will love the other as his own soul40 7,z4 '#iebia47 8,as we consider the heavens1 the work of ,god's hands1 and the innumerable worlds therein under preparation for inhabitants1 we may reasonably suppose that these ,ancient ,worthies1 who were faithful during the reign of evil1 even unto death1 will have some further honorable service1 not only during the ,millennial ,age1 but subsequently4 ,for various reasons1 therefore1 we rank them higher in honor than the ,great ,company40 7,z4 '#jdcac47 8,these ,ancient ,worthies will be unlike the remainder of mankind1 not alone in the fact that their trial is past while the trial of the world in general will just be beginning2 but they will be unlike them also in the fact that they will have attained the reward of their faithfulness--they will be perfect men4 ,when ,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob and all the ,ancient ,worthies have been resurrected1 and shall appear amongst the regathered ,israelites1 their perfect minds will quickly grasp presentday knowledge and inventions4 7,john #g3ae47 ,and as ,jesus taught the people positively1 definitely1 clearly1 and not doubtfully and in a confused way1 as did the scribes1 so it will be with the perfected ,ancient ,worthies1 when they appear amongst men40--,d4 #fbe4 8,isa4 #aa3aj points us to the ,millennial ,day1 and another root of ,jesse1 as connected with the blessing of the ,gentiles4 ,this latter seed seems to be referred to also in ,heb4 #aa3ci1 #dj4 ,the ,ancient ,worthies shall not only be the princes1 the representatives of the spiritual1 invisible ,kingdom1 but also grand ensigns or standards set up before mankind1 as illustrations of what all mankind may attain unto40 7,z4 '#ihcab47 8,the painful experiences of the ,ancient ,worthies during the ,jewish age will be a store of blessings1 instruction and help1 by which they1 when made subordinate #8princes' in the ,kingdom1 will assist in the restitution work40 7,t4 #aaa47 8,while the ,worthies are not in any sense part of the ,sin,offering1 they are nevertheless connected with the cleansing from sin3 their ashes 7the knowledge and remembrance of their faithfulness unto death71 mingled with the water of ,truth1 and applied with the purgative1 cleansing hyssop1 is valuable1 purifying1 sanctifying40 7,t4 #ajh47 8,the service which the ,ancient ,worthies will be given will be more than ,god would ordinarily entrust to a perfect human being4 ,it will be a part of this service to deal with the imperfect1 fallen creatures and to help them up out of sin and imperfection4 ,while in one sense of the word this work is desirable1 yet it is not what a perfect human being would prefer4 ,these ,ancient ,worthies will come forth from the tomb perfect2 but during the entire ,millennium they will be amidst imperfect surroundings4 8,a part of the evidence that the ,ancient ,worthies will be made sharers of the spirit nature and become members of the ,great ,company class is built upon the fact that they seem to be represented typically by the tribe of ,levi4 ,the fact that this tribe had no inheritance in the land seems to imply that the ,ancient ,worthies will have no earthly inheritance4 ,since the ,heavenly ,father has been pleased to arrange for the ,great ,company a place on the spirit plane1 and since ,he is operating according to some general principles of righteousness1 we are inclined to think that ,he may have something more for the ,ancient ,worthies than will come to the remainder of mankind4 ,when ,abraham was called upon to offer up his son ,isaac1 he exhibited a degree of loyalty greater than the ,great ,company will be called upon to manifest4 ,furthermore1 in ,gen4 #ag3h1 ,god said unto ,abraham1 #8,and ,i will give unto thee and to thy seed after thee1 the land wherein thou art a stranger1 all the land of ,canaan1 for an everlasting possession2 and ,i will be their ,god4' ,two thousand years later1 ,st4 ,stephen said that ,god never gave ,abraham so much as a foot of the promised land 7,acts #g3f72 but he implied that ,abraham will yet receive that land and afterward leave it to his posterity4 ,if the land is to be given to ,abraham and his coadjutors1 and then to be left to his seed and mankind in general1 the thought would seem to be implied that the ,ancient ,worthies will pass to the spirit nature40--,z4 '#aceb4 8 #8,o ,jerusalem1 lift up thy voice with strength6 ,after the ,church1 the ,bride1 has been glorified with the ,lord1 the faithful ones of the fleshly seed of ,abraham will begin to come into prominence before the world by reason of the leaders whom ,god will then raise up for them4 ,lift it up1 be not afraid2 say unto the cities of ,judah all who shall then be in covenant relationship with ,god1 ,behold6 ,your ,god is here6' ,thus the message now given by #8the feet' of ,christ--that the ,millennial ,kingdom is already beginning its rule 7,isa4 #eb3g7--will be taken up by the earthly class when the #8feet of ,him' have passed beyond the veil4--,isa4 #dj3i40--,z4 '#ibgh4 ,and the beloved city4--8,the #8beloved city' is the ,new ,jerusalem1 the ,church in glory1 not the ,church in the flesh4 ,the rebellion incited by ,satan will be not only against the earthly princes1 but also against ,the ,christ40--,z4 '#acec4 ,and fire came down from ,god out of ,heaven1 and devoured them4--,they will be instantaneously and mercifully electrocuted1 not tormented4 #bj3aj4 ,and the devil that deceived them was cast into the ,lake of ,fire and ,brimstone4--8,he is to be destroyed1 together with all his angels--his messengers1 all who follow his leading and his course4--,matt4 #be3da2 ,heb4 #b3ad40--;,f4 #fai4 ,where the beast and ,,where the false prophet are4--,papacy and the ,protestant ,church ,federation will have been in destruction a thousand years at the time this ,scripture is fulfilled4--,rev4 #ac3aa1 #ac1 #ad1 #ae2 #ad3i1 #aa2 #ae3b2 #af3b1 #ac2 #ai3bj2 #bj3aj2 ,matt4 #bd3bd4 ,and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever4--,the ,seven ,volumes of ,scripture ,studies are the instruments the ,lord is using to bring these iniquitous systems to their end2 and so long as these books remain1 the torment of these systems will be in evidence4 ,the systems will cease1 but the 8,seven ,plagues0 will continue forever4--,rev4 #ad3aa2 #ai3c4 #bj3aa4 ,and ,i saw a great white ,throne4--8,the whiteness of the ,throne indicates the purity of the justice and judgment which will be meted out40--,b4 ,s4 ,m4 ,and ,him that sat on it4--8,the ,throne is ,messiah's2 it represents ,his ,mediatorial ,dominion of earth for a thousand years40--,b4 ,s4 ,m4 ,from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away1 and there was found no place for them4--8,the heavens and earth which will flee from the presence of the great ,immanuel will not be the ,heavens of ,god's ,throne1 nor the earth which he has given to the children of men4 ,the heavens and earth which will flee away1 and for which no place will be found1 are1 of course1 the symbolical ones4 ,the symbolic heavens represent spiritual influences--,ecclesiasticism1 ,churchianity4 ,thus interpreted1 our text declares that when ,messiah assumes control of the world1 the result will be that the social system of today1 as well as presentday ecclesiasticism1 will pass out of existence--no place will be found for them40 7,b4 ,s4 ,m47 8 #8,heaven and earth'3 ,to our ,lord's contemporaries the religious and social system under which they lived seemed almost as fixed and as eternal as the earth and sky4 ,indeed1 #8heaven and earth' appears to have been a name which they gave to the thenexisting order of things in recognition of what they deemed its permanence and fixity40--,weym42 ,rev4 #ba3a2 ,dan4 #b3ce4 #bj3ab4 ,and ,i saw the dead1 small and ,,both great ,,and ,,small stand before ,god ,,the ,,throne4--,what a grand privilege is that which awaits 8,him whom man despiseth1 ,him whom the nation abhorreth1 a servant of rulers10 8,that thou mayest say to the prisoners the twenty billions in the prisonhouse of death1 ,go forth2 to them that are in the darkness of the tomb1 ,show yourselves40 7,isa4 #di3g1 #i2 ,rev4 #aa3ah2 #ai3e74 7,the dead are standing while they are dead4 ,see ,rev4 #bj3e comments47 ,and the books were opened4--8,the books of the ,bible will then all be opened--understood4 ,all will then see that the ,golden ,rules laid down by inspiration through ,moses and the ,prophets1 ,jesus and ,his ,apostles1 are the very ones which ,god will require of men in the future and which ,messiah will then enable the willing and obedient to comply with by assisting them up out of their sin and degradation40 7,b4 ,s4 ,m47 ,the entire ,word of ,god will not be opened until after the ,church is beyond the veil4 ,much of it 7perhaps nearly all7 will be opened by the ,great ,company class during the ,time of ,trouble1 but some of it may wait for the ,prophets themselves4 ,meantime1 all that is necessary for salvation and service has been provided4--,dan4 #g3aj4 ,and another book was opened1 which is the ,book of ,life4--8,in the great ,day of the world's trial or ,judgment another ,book of ,life will be opened4 ,a record will be made of all who1 by obedience1 show themselves worthy of everlasting life on the human plane40 7,b4 ,s4 ,m47 8,the ,first ,book of life is called the ,lamb's ,book of ,life1 containing the names of the elect ,church1 ,his ,bride4 ,this other ,book of ,life will be the book1 or record1 of those who shall pass the restitutional trial or judgment satisfactorily40--,z4 '#jjbci4 ,and the dead were judged4--8,this judgment1 or rulership1 cannot begin until ,christ1 whom ,jehovah hath appointed to be the ,judge or ,ruler of the world1 has come again--not again in humiliation1 but in power and great glory3 not again to redeem the world1 but to judge rule the world in righteousness4 ,a trial can in no case proceed until the judge is on the bench and the court in session at the appointed time4--,matt4 #be3ca40--;,a4 #cde4 ,out of those things which were written in the books4--8,it is by the ,word of the ,lord that men are judged 7,john #ab3dhej72 and not by the opinions or precedents of fellowmen in any capacity4 ,therefore all should imitate the noble ,bereans who #8searched the ,scriptures daily' to see if the things taught them were true4 7,acts #ag3aa47 #8,to the ,law and to the ,testimony2 if they speak not according to this word1 it is because there is no light in them4'--,see #a ,thes4 #e3ba2 ,isa4 #h3bj40--;,d4 #ff4 ,according to their works4--8,the judgment of that time1 the test1 will not be of faith2 for knowledge will be universal1 and all the darkness and obscurity created by ignorance and superstition will have passed away4 ,the test at that time will be of works1 whereas the tests of the ,church at the present time are of faith40--,b4 ,s4 ,m4 #bj3ac4 ,and the sea4--,the masses of mankind1 not under religious restraint--the condition of the whole world in the time of anarchy due in its full severity in the fall of #aibj4 ,see page #agh4 ,gave up the dead which were in it4--,earth's new ,ruler will deal first with those who survive the ,time of ,trouble1 reckoned dead1 even though actually having a small measure of life4 ,when the ,lord said1 8,let the dead bury their dead0 7,matt4 #h3bb71 ,he used the same word to describe both classes4 ,those under the death sentence are counted by the ,lord in the same class with those upon whom the sentence has been already executed4 ,none but ,god's people have 8passed from death unto life40 7#a ,john #c3ad47 ,all the rest of the world1 in ,god's sight1 are dead4 ,and death4--8,from the first1 or ,adamic death1 a resurrection has been provided4 ,all that are in their graves shall come forth4 ,it was in view of ,god's plan for redeeming the race from that first death that in both the ,old and ,new ,testaments it is called a #8sleep4' 0--,h4 #eh4 ,and hell4--8,the dark1 secret condition1 the grave1 which in the present time speaks to us of a hope of future life by ,god's resurrection power in ,christ40--,z4 '#ajda4 ,delivered up the dead which were in them4--8,thus ,god tells us through the ,prophet1 #8,i will ransom them from the power of the grave ,sheol4 ,i will redeem them from death4444 ,o grave ,sheol ,i will be thy destruction4' 7,hos4 #ac3ad47 ,the first or ,adamic death shall no longer have liberty or power over men1 as it has had for the past six thousand years2 no longer shall any die for ,adam's sin4 7,rom4 #e3ab2 ,jer4 #ca3bi1 #cj2 ,ezek4 #ah3b470--,z4 '#ajda4 ,and they were judged every man according to their works4--8,since all mankind will not be raised at once1 but gradually1 during the thousand years1 each new group will find an army of helpers in those who will have preceded it4 ,the love and benevolence which men will then show to each other 7the brethren of ,christ7 the ,king will count as shown to ,him4 7,rom4 #ac3aj470--,z4 '#ajci4 #bj3ad4 ,and death and hell were cast into the lake of fire4--8,the destruction of the first death and ,hades commences with the beginning of the ,millennial ,reign and continues to its close4 ,hades 7the grave7 will be destroyed when all the dead in it have heard the ,lord's voice and come forth4 7,john #e3be47 ,but #8death' will still have hold upon these1 since every ache and pain and every mental and moral imperfection is a part of the inherited ,adamic penalty4 ,the millions awakened will be still under condemnation1 still in death2 but in proportion as they render obedience to the terms of the ,new ,covenant1 progress will be made toward health1 perfection and life4 ,on the other hand1 those who1 after full knowledge1 refuse to accept and personally apply the merit of the sacrifice of ,christ1 will remain under condemnation2 because their wills consent to evil1 they will progress toward the ,second ,death4 ,in the case of the obedient1 death will be swallowed up of life4 ,in the case of the disobedient1 death will be swallowed up of the ,second ,death4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bf1 #ed1 #ee2 ,isa4 #be3fh470--;,h4 #ff4 ,,and this is the ,second ,death2 ,,the ,,lake ,,of ,,fire4--8,this destruction or death is called the ,second ,death in contradistinction to the ,first or ,adamic death1 and not to signify that everything which goes into it dies a second time4 ,for instance1 death 7the first or ,adamic death71 and ,hades1 the grave1 are to be cast into it1 which work will require the entire ,millennium to accomplish it2 and in no sense will they ever have been destroyed before4 ,so also the devil1 the beast1 and the false prophet1 will never have been destroyed before40--,h4 #eh2 ,rev4 #ba3h4 #bj3ae4 ,and whosoever was ,,shall not ,,be found written in the ,book of ,life4--,the writing1 the judging1 is still future4 ,was cast into the ,lake of ,fire4--8,the ,second ,death1 during the ,millennial ,age1 is a part of the utter destruction which will include every improper1 injurious and useless thing4 7,isa4 #aa3i2 ,psa4 #aja3eh47 ,but the ,second ,death1 the sentence of that individual trial1 will be final3 it will never be destroyed4 ,we rejoice that there is no danger of this1 but that ,divine ,justice unites with ,divine ,wisdom1 ,love and ,power1 to bring in everlasting righteousness on a permanent basis40--,h4 #fg2 ,rev4 #ai3bj2 ,psa4 #ej3bb4 8,a thousand years1 earth's coming glory1 ',tis the glad ,day so long foretold2 ',tis the bright ,morn of ,zion's glory ,prophets foresaw in times of old4 8,what if the clouds do for a moment ,hide the blue sky where ,morn appears8 ,soon the glad ,sun of ,promise given ,rises to shine a thousand years60 ,revelation #ba--,the ,descending ,kingdom #ba3a4 ,and ,i saw a new heaven and a new earth4--8,it may be that this1 rather than #8the ,millennium1' is the name which we ought to give to the ,golden ,age1 of purity and bliss which next awaits the world4 ,the words seem to include a transformation and glorification of our material globe40--,weym4 8,paradise1 the ,garden of ,god1 applicable as a name to ,eden1 where our first parents resided1 is ,scripturally applied to the new earth when ,restitution blessings shall1 during the ,millennium1 have brought it to perfection4 ,this ,paradise of the future is referred to by the ,apostles as #8the third heaven1' and as #8a new heavens and a new earth4' 7#b ,corinthians #ab3b2 #b ,peter #c3ac47 ,they are not referring to new planets1 nor to heavens ranged one above another1 as many have supposed1 but to the third of three great periods of time1 beginning with man's creation and extending into the illimitable future4 ,the first of these periods1 termed the first heavens and earth--the old order of things--passed away with the ,deluge of ,noah's day4 ,the second period1 #8the heavens and the earth which are now1' the present order of things1 are reserved of ,god to pass away with a great symbolic fire of trouble--revolution1 etc4--which will utterly destroy the present spiritual powers and the present social arrangements4 7#b ,peter #c3f1 #g2 ,galatians #a3d2 ,zephaniah #c3h1 #i47 ,the third great period is to be a #8world without end1' under ,divine administration4 ,this will be the third heavens and the third earth1 or the new heavens and the new earth1 which will differ from the present condition of things in that they will be righteous6 whereas the present arrangement is imperfect1 unrighteous4 ,the #8new heavens' will consist of the new spiritual ruling powers of the future--,christ the ,head1 and the ,church ,his ,body40--,z4 '#afcib4 ,for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away4--8,the ,scriptures show us that in this general rupture the nominal church 7including all denominations7 will be gradually drawn more and more to the side of the governments and the wealthy1 will lose much of its influence over the people1 and will finally fall with the governments4 ,thus the heavens ecclesiastical rule being on fire1 will pass away with a great hissing40 7,a4 #ccc47 ,two of the causes that operate to 8burn0 the present 8earth0 are declared to be hunger1 and the misrule of beastly governments4 7,deut4 #cb3bd7 ,in the end all will be glad to see the unclean heavens pass away 7,job #ae3ae7 rent in twain 7,isa4 #fd3a7 and the new heavens planted 7,isa4 #ea3af7 which will be heard in their lightest petition to the ,god of all grace 7,hos4 #b3ba74 8,drop down1 ye ,heavens from above40--,isa4 #de3h4 ,and there was no more sea4--8,under the control of the new ,heaven--spiritual powers--the reconstructed social order will be so satisfactory1 so complete1 so thorough1 that there will be no more dissatisfied masses4 ,everything will be reduced to law and order1 obliterating the differences of wealth and power as they now exist40--,z4 '#afcib4 #ba3b4 ,and ,i1 ,john saw the ,holy ,city1 ,new ,jerusalem4--8,the ,new ,jerusalem is not #8that great city government which ruleth over the kings of the earth' 7,revelation #ag3ah7 but is the new ,spiritual ,government of the ,millennial ,age4 ,it is not reared by men2 but1 descends from ,god out of ,heaven4 ,it is for this ,kingdom1 this ,government1 that our ,lord taught ,his disciples to pray1 #8,thy ,kingdom come2 ,thy will be done on earth1 as it is done in ,heaven4' 0--,z4 '#afcib2 ,isa4 #eb3a2 ,matt4 #e3ce2 ,heb4 #aa3aj1 #af2 #ac3ad2 ,rev4 #c3ab2 #ba3aj2 #aa3b2 #bb3ai4 ,coming down from ,god out of ,heaven1 ,,from ,,god4--8,we are not to think of this ,holy ,city as being composed of literal stones1 but of #8living stones' 7#a ,peter #b3dg2 ,ephesians #b3aibb47 ,neither ,christ nor the saints in glory can be seen of men4 ,but the whole world will quickly be made aware of the fact that a new ,government has been instituted--a government of righteousness and all power40--,z4 '#afcib2 ,heb4 #aa3aj2 #ab3bb2 ,rev4 #c3ab2 #ba3aj4 ,prepared as a bride adorned for her husband4--8,this declaration implies its beauty1 grandeur and perfection1 as a bride's adornment on such an occasion is particular and elaborate to the last degree4 ,additionally1 the statement reminds us that in the government of the future the world's judges are to be the saints selected throughout the ,gospel ,age and frequently called #8the ,bride1 the ,lamb's ,wife4' 0--,z4 '#afcib2 #b ,cor4 #aa3b2 ,john #c3bi2 ,eph4 #e3ca1 #cb4 #ba3c4 ,and ,i heard a great voice4--,the ,lord ,jesus1 the ,father's ,word4 ,out of heaven ,,was saying1 ,,out ,,of ,,the ,,throne1 ,behold the ,tabernacle of ,god is with men4--8,this verse associates this ,city with the other figure of a symbolic ,temple1 which the ,lord is now preparing1 of which the saints will constitute the #8pillars4' ,god will dwell in this ,temple1 and the world of mankind will approach ,god in it to receive the ,divine blessings1 as ,israel approached the typical ,tabernacle and the ,temple in their typical religious services40 7,z4 '#jaaii47 8,when we think of the ,church as the ,temple under construction1 it impresses upon us the thought that there is a future work to be accomplished4 ,why construct a ,temple1 and then not use it8 ,st4 ,paul says1 the ,church is ,god's workmanship4 7,ephesians #b3aj47 ,and ,his work will be so perfectly accomplished that there will be no need of rectification or alteration beyond the veil1--beautifully illustrated in the erection of ,solomon's ,temple1 of which we read that its stones were prepared at the quarry and then finally assembled for the construction of the ,temple1 and that they were so perfectly shaped and marked for their various places that they came together without the sound of a hammer40--,z4 '#aeahi2 #b ,cor4 #f3af4 ,and ,he will dwell ,,dwelleth with them and they shall be ,his people4--8,all mankind will be treated from the standpoint of reconciliation1 the ,propitiation 7price7 for the sins of the whole world 7#a ,john #b3b7 having been provided at ,calvary1 and the due time having then come for the manifestation of ,divine favor40--,z4 '#jabjj2 ,psa4 #fh3ah2 ,ezek4 #cg3bg2 ,zech4 #h3h4 ,and ,god ,himself shall be with them1 and be their ,god4--8,it will be the ,kingdom of ,god1 because ,god's dear ,son and ,his jointheir1 the ,church1 will be in absolute accord with the ,father1 and all that shall be done under their control will fully and completely represent the ,divine will respecting men4 ,nevertheless1 it will be a separate ,kingdom from that of the remainder of the ,universe1 as the ,apostle ,paul indicates4 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bd1 #be1 #bh470--,z4 '#jabjj2 ,jer4 #cj3bb2 #ca3cc2 ,ezek4 #aa3bj4 #ba3d4 ,and ,god ,,he shall wipe away all tears from their eyes4--8,the wiping away of tears implies a gradual work1 such as we see will be the process of that glorious time4 ,man will not be exempt from every weakness and trial and difficulty at the beginning1 but if he will conform to the ,laws of the ,kingdom1 all cause for distress will gradually pass away1 as restitution blessings will lift him out of death into life40--,z4 '#jabjj2 ,isa4 #be3h2 #fe3ai4 ,and there shall be no more death2 neither sorrow nor crying ,,shall ,,be4--8,what a glorious sunburst of blessing is in these words6 ,what a grand fulfilment will be there of the ,apostle's declaration respecting #8,times of ,restitution of all things which ,god hath spoken by the mouth of all the holy ,prophets since the world began'6 ,the declaration1 however1 applies to the very end of the ,millennial ,age1 and not in full to any previous time in that ,age4 7,john #e3bh1 #bi470--,z4 '#jabjj2 #a ,cor4 #ae3bf1 #ed2 ,rev4 #bj3ad2 ,isa4 #ce3aj2 #ea3aa2 #fe3ai4 ,neither shall there be any more pain ,for the former things are passed away4--,the reign of ,satan1 sin and death will have ended forever4 8,to gain a place in the earthly phase of the ,kingdom of ,god will be to find the gratification of every desire and ambition of the perfect human heart40--,a4 #bia4 #ba3e4 ,and ,he that sat upon the ,throne said1 ,behold1 ,i make all things new4--8,this expression does not relate merely to rocks and trees1 etc41 but to the great work which our ,lord undertook2 viz41 the regeneration of humanity to the complete perfection contemplated in the original ,divine ,plan40--,z4 '#jabja2 ,rev4 #bj3aa4 ,and ,he said unto me1 ,write3 for these words are true and faithful1 ,,and ,,true4--8,present conditions seem so contrary to all this grand ,restitution outcome that it cannot be fully believed and trusted by any except those who have learned to walk with the ,lord4 ,to all others these things will appear untrue1 and ,god will appear unfaithful1 and the matters which we are here discussing will seem #8idle tales1' as fables and golden fancies3 but to us who believe1 these promises are precious40--#a ,pet4 #b3g4 #ba3f4 ,and ,he said ,,saith unto me1 ,it is done4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 the ,beginning and the ,end4--8,it was the ,father's good pleasure that the ,blessed ,one1 the ,only ,begotten of the ,father1 should accomplish the entire program of redemption and restitution2 and be forever the ,associate and ,representative of the ,father1 through whom and by whom all things should continue1 as ,he was the one through whom all things were made that were made40--,z4 '#jabja2 ,rev4 #a3h2 #bb3ac4 ,i will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely4--8,it is this one who1 during the ,millennial ,age1 will extend to all the willing and obedient the ,water of ,life1 everlasting life--the privilege of perpetual existence4 ,but they must thirst for it1 must desire it2 and this desire must be manifest in obedience to the terms1 the laws1 upon which it will be supplied freely40--,z4 '#jabja2 ,rev4 #bb3ag2 ,isa4 #ee3a2 ,john #g3cg4 #ba3g4 ,he that overcometh shall inherit all ,,these things4--,these earthly things4--,acts #c3ba4 ,and ,i will be his ,god1 and he shall be ,my son4--8,those addressed are not the ,bride class1 selected during the ,gospel ,age1 7#a ,john #c3b7 but the sheep class of ,matt4 #be--such of mankind as during the ,millennial ,age become the ,lord's sheep and obey ,his voice4 ,they shall inherit the earth1 the purchased possession--which ,jesus will restore at the close of the ,millennium to all the children of ,adam who shall have accepted ,his gracious favors and been regenerated by ,him1 and thus become ,his sons1 and ,he their ,god--their ,father4 7,isa4 #i3f70--,z4 '#jabja2 ,zech4 #h3h2 ,heb4 #h3aj2 ,rom4 #h3ba4 #ba3h4 ,but the fearful4--8,if any1 enlightened by the ,truth1 and brought to a knowledge of the love of ,god1 and restored to human perfection1 become #8fearful1' and #8draw back' 7,heb4 #aj3ch1 #ci71 they1 with the unbelievers1 will be destroyed from among the people4 7,acts #c3bc470--;,a4 #ajg4 ,and unbelieving4--,who will not trust ,god1 after all the marvels of ,his grace they will have seen and experienced4--,heb4 #aa3f2 ,rom4 #aj3ag2 ,john #bj3ca2 ,john #ag3bj2 #a ,tim4 #f3ab2 ,luke #ag3e2 ,james #b3ag4 ,and the abominable4--8,those abominable characters among men1 who1 knowing the truth1 yet love unrighteousness40--,h4 #fj4 ,and murderers4--,slanderers4--,psa4 #ada3c2 ,deut4 #e3ag2 ,matt4 #e3ba1 #bb2 #ae3ahbj2 #a ,john #c3ae2 ,james #c3bab2 ,james #d3aa2 ,prov4 #d3bc1 #bd2 ,matt4 #ab3cdcg2 ,eph4 #d3ca2 ,psa4 #ae3ac2 #ai3ad2 #cd3ac2 #aja3e2 ,prov4 #ab3ai2 #af3bh2 #ag3d2 #bf3bjba2 ,jer4 #bj3aj2 #a ,cor4 #aj3aj2 ,james #a3ai2 ,deut4 #cb3b4 ,and whoremongers4--,not at heart faithful to the ,lord4 ,and sorcerers4--,dreamers1 theorists1 pseudophilosophers1 endeavoring to accredit to themselves the great salvation wrought4--,rev4 #bb3ae4 ,and idolaters4--8,such as misappropriate and misuse ,divine favors1 who give to self or any other creature or thing that service and honor which belong to ,god40--,h4 #fc4 ,and all liars4--8,all who do not love the ,truth and seek it1 and at any cost defend and hold it40 7,h4 #fc47 8,if something is six inches long1 let it be just six inches for six inches40--,z4 '#abadg4 ,shall have their part in the ,lake which burneth with fire and brimstone4--8,the severest punishment inflicted by the ,jews upon any criminal4 ,the corpse 7after the man had been stoned to death7 was thrown out into the ,valley of ,hinnom 7,gay,hinnom7 and was devoured by the worm or the flame40--,weym4 ,which is the ,second ,death4--8,such company would be repulsive to any honest1 upright being4 ,it is hard to tolerate them now1 but in the close of the ,millennial ,judgment1 when the ,lord1 the righteous ,judge1 shall have given every advantage and opportunity of knowledge and ability1 the righteous will be glad when the corrupters of the earth1 and all their work and influence1 shall be destroyed40--,h4 #fc4 #ba3i4 ,and there came unto me4--,to the ,john class1 the ,church1 on this side of the veil4 ,one of the seven angels4--,the ,seventh4 ,which had the seven vials full4--,they are still full after they are poured out on ecclesiasticism6 ,of the seven last plagues4--,the ,seven volumes of ,studies in the ,scriptures4 ,and talked with me1 saying1 ,come hither1 ,i will shew thee4--,see ,lu4 #d3ba4 ,the ,bride1 the ,lamb's ,wife4--8,as a grand lesson of the ,divine sovereignty1 and as a sublime contradiction to all evolution theories1 ,god elected to call to this place of honor 7as #8the ,bride1 the ,lamb's ,wife and ,joint heir'--,rom4 #h3ag71 not angels and cherubs1 but some from among the sinners redeemed by the precious blood of the ,lamb4 ,the continued permission of evil is for the purpose of developing these #8members of the ,body of ,christ' and to furnish them the opportunity of sacrificing their little and redeemed all1 in the service of ,him who bought them with ,his precious blood2 and thus of developing in their hearts ,his spiritual likeness1 that when1 at the end of the ,age1 they are presented by their ,lord and ,redeemer before the ,father1 ,god may see in them #8the image of ,his ,son4' 0--,col4 #a3bb2 ,rom4 #h3bi2 ,e4 #dab1 #cie2 ,rev4 #ai3g2 #ba3b4 #ba3aj4 ,and he carried me away in the ,spirit4--8,god hath revealed them unto us by ,his ,spirit40--#a ,cor4 #b3aj2 ,rev4 #a3aj2 #ag3c4 ,to a great and high mountain4--,how similar is the language1 recording the experience of the first and greatest ,member of the ,church1 at the beginning of ,his ministry4 ,concerning the ,lord's third temptation we read3 8,in this temptation the ,lord is taken1 not physically1 but in the spirit of ,his mind1 up into a high mountain--a very exalted kingdom4 ,physically ,he was all this time in the desert near ,jerusalem2 and as a matter of fact there is neither in that desert nor anywhere in the world a mountain from which all the kingdoms of the world could be viewed except with the mind's eye40--,z4 '#jfdc4 ,illustration ,st4 ,john's ,vision of the ,descending ,kingdom ,and shewed me that great ,,the ,,holy ,city1 ,the holy ,jerusalem1 descending out of ,heaven from ,god4--,the city came down from ,heaven to earth4 ,if we went up to ,heaven1 it would not be found there4 ,if ,rev4 #ba is to be literally interpreted1 then the whole surface of ,palestine is far from sufficient to hold a city of this size4 ,besides1 its height1 length and breadth were to be equal4--,rev4 #ba3b4 #ba3aa4 ,having the glory of ,,from ,god4--,the ,church has a foretaste of this glory on this side of the veil4--#a ,pet4 #d3ad4 ,and her light4--8,the ,lamb is the ,light thereof40--,rev4 #ba3bc2 #bb3e4 ,was like unto a stone most precious4--8,the brightness of ,his the ,father's glory1 and the express image of ,his person40--,heb4 #a3c4 ,even like a jasper stone1 clear as crystal4--,a beautiful greentinted diamond4--,rev4 #d3c4 #ba3ab ,and had ,,having a wall great and high4--,the pictures here are all pictures of the ,bride4 ,nevertheless1 the wall1 the protection of that ,heavenly ,city1 in a special sense represents our ,heavenly ,father4 ,no picture of the ,bride would be complete that did not include ,him who dwells within us1 who is the ,author of the ,plan1 and the ,source of all our joys4 ,now as to the application of the picture of the wall to the ,bride herself1 one of ,pastor ,russell's coworkers has aptly said3 8,we are like living stones1 in the plural--#add1jjj stones in one1 if you will4 ,there was one perfect ,stone to begin with1 and all the others had to be conformed to the image of that ,stone4 ,men have discovered a way of taking two glasses of different density and fusing them together1 so you cannot tell where the point of fusion is4 ,and so1 with this ,little ,flock of #add1jjj1 they are going to be welded together in one--there will be but one mind in that whole #add1jjj4 ,there is only one thing they have in view1 and that is to perform ,jehovah's will2 and they rejoice in doing ,his will absolutely40 ,and had ,,having twelve gates4--,the twelve mystical tribes of ,israel4--,rev4 #g3eh2 ,ezek4 #dh3cacd4 ,and at the gates twelve angels1 and ,,their names written thereon4--,the entire ,little ,flock2 twelve thousand of each tribe1 each working together1 under ,god's direction1 as one angel1 or messenger4 ,doubtless certain special work is reserved for each tribe4 ,all who gain membership in that tribe will be particularly suited to the work to which they will be assigned4 ,which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of ,israel4--,their names1 and the characteristics they signify1 are given in ,rev4 #g3eh4 #ba3ac4 ,on the ,east4--,toward the ,sunrising1 toward the ,dawn1 toward the ,little ,flock1 specially honored and blessed in their sacrifices on behalf of the ,church4 ,the side of the ,amramites4--,num4 #c3ai2 ,f4 #abh4 ,three gates4--,the mystical tribe of ,joseph1 ,benjamin and ,manasseh--,manasseh taking the place of ,dan4--,ezek4 #dh3cb2 ,rev4 #g3e1 #g1 #h4 ,,and on the ,north4--,the side of the ,merarites1 the ,great ,company4--,num4 #c3cc2 ,f4 #abi4 ,three gates4--,the mystical tribes of ,judah1 ,reuben and ,levi4--,ezek4 #dh3ca2 ,rev4 #g3e1 #g4 ,,and on the ,south4--,the side of the ,kohathites1 the ,ancient ,worthies4--,num4 #d3b2 ,f4 #abi4 ,three gates4--,the mystical tribes of ,simeon1 ,issachar and ,zebulun4--,ezek4 #dh3cc2 ,rev4 #g3g1 #h4 ,and on the ,west4--,the side of the ,gershonites1 the ,restitution classes4--,num4 #d3bb2 ,f4 #abi4 ,three gates4--,the mystical tribes of ,gad1 ,asher and ,naphtali4--,ezek4 #dh3cd2 ,rev4 #g3e1 #f4 ,although the pictures here given are pictures of the ,bride1 and the gates apply as above shown1 nevertheless these gates also represent the ,ancient ,worthies1 who during the ,millennial ,age will be the earthly representatives of the ,church1 and1 perhaps1 exactly #add1jjj in number4 ,additionally1 the ,ancient ,worthies are called 8gates0 in ,isa4 #bf3b4 8,the gates or entrances of the ,city1 which are twelve in number1 are inscribed with the names of the twelve tribes of ,israel4 ,this is in harmony with what we have learned of the earthly phase of the ,kingdom of ,god that the ,ancient ,worthies from the various tribes of ,israel1 selected during the ,jewish ,age1 will be the visible representatives of the ,heavenly ,kingdom in the earth through whose instrumentality the nations may enter into the blessings of the ,kingdom40--,z4 '#ibaf4 8,the city lies open and accessible to all quarters1 and to all quarters alike40--,luke #ac3bi4 ,weym4 #ba3ad4 ,and the wall of the ,city had twelve foundations4--8,the ,lord himself1 is the foundation1 #8,other foundations can no man lay than that is laid--,jesus ,christ4' 7#a ,cor4 #c3aa47 ,he is the great ,rock1 and ,st4 ,peter's confession of ,him as such was1 therefore1 a rock testimonial--a declaration of the foundation principles underlying the ,divine ,plan4 ,st4 ,peter disowned any pretension to being the foundationstone himself and properly classed himself to with all the other #8living stones' 7,gr4 lithos17 of the ,church1--though petros1 rock1 signifies a larger stone than lithos1 and all the ,apostles as #8foundation' stones would in the ,divine ,plan and order have a larger importance than their brethren40--,f4 #bbj2 ,matt4 #af3ah2 ,eph4 #b3bj4 ,and in ,,on them the ,,twelve names of the ,twelve ,apostles of the ,lamb4--8,we are entirely out of accord with the views of ,papacy1 of the ,protestant ,episcopal ,church1 of the ,catholic,apostolic ,church1 and of the ,mormons1 all of whom claim that the number of the ,apostles was not limited to twelve1 and that there have been successors since their day who spoke and wrote with equal authority with the original ,twelve4 7#b ,cor4 #aa3ac470 7,f4 #bji47 8,we still have with us the gift of ,apostles1 in that we have their teachings in the ,new ,testament1 so full and complete as to require no addition2 and hence the ,twelve ,apostles have no successors1 and need none1 since there are but #8,twelve ,apostles of the ,lamb2' they are the twelve stars2 the twelve foundations4'0--,john #f3gj2 ,e4 #bbi1 #bjg4 #ab3ae4 ,and he that talked with me4--,volume ,,vii of ,studies in the ,scriptures4 ,had a golden ,,measuring reed of gold4--,the ,divine ,word4 ,to measure the ,city1 and the gates thereof1 and the wall thereof4--,surely1 if we can not find the measurement in the ,scriptures it is hopeless to look elsewhere4--,zech4 #b3a1 #b2 ,rev4 #aa3a2 ,ezek4 #dj3c4 #ba3af4 ,and the ,city lieth foursquare1 and the length is as large as the breadth4--,a perfect cube1 like the ,most ,holy of the ,tabernacle4 ,and he measured the ,city with the reed1 twelve thousand furlongs4--8,the number of #8buildings' in the ,city seems to be indicated by the measures--#ab1jjj times #ab1jjj furlongs equals #add1jjj1jjj square furlongs4 ,this area contains #add1jjj buildinglots of one thousand square furlongs each--which circumstance may well signify that the #add1jjj1 faithful ones will reign with ,jesus during a thousand years 7one square furlong representing a year407 ,the length and the breadth and the height of it are equal4--,each view of the ,city1 from any side1 presents to view1 ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 #ba3ag4 ,and he measured the wall thereof4--,its thickness4 ,an hundred and forty and four cubits1 according to the measure of a man4--,the measure of a man1 the ,man ,christ ,jesus1 is #a1jjj4 ,his ,day is to be #a1jjj years in length4 ,adam's ,day was a thousand years long4 ,the total measure is #add1jjj1 the number of the ,elect4 ,we should expect to find the number of those rescued during the ,millennium shown somewhere in these measurements2 and this we also find4 ,the cubit1 in symbolism1 is flexible in length1 like the word 8day40 ,if we multiply the number of square furlongs in any wall by the #add measures of a man1 i4 e41 #add1jjj1jjj ,x #add1 the result is #bj1gcf1jjj1jjj1 the estimated number of the sheep class at the end of the ,millennial ,age4--,matt4 #be3cddj2 ,z4 '#jebga4 ,that is1 of the angel4--,as interpreted by the angel4 #ba3ah4 ,and the building of the wall of it was of jasper4--8,the solid fabric of the wall was jasper2 and the city itself was made of gold1 resembling transparent glass40--,weym4 ,and the ,city was pure gold1 like unto clear glass4--,of ,divine origin1 and made up of those who have the ,divine nature4 #ba3ai4 ,and the foundations of the wall of the ,city were garnished with all manner of precious stones4--,mosaic manufacturers make #ae1jjj colors2 and it is estimated the trained eye can detect a million colors4 ,in selecting and polishing the #add1jjj gems and putting them in place in the ,temple ,god is preparing a beautiful harmony of characters in infinite variety that will delight the hearts of all ,his creatures to all eternity4--#a ,chron4 #bi3b4 ,the first foundation was jasper4--,likeness to the ,father4 ,see comments on ,rev4 #d3c4 ,,and the second1 sapphire4--,faithfulness4 ,the sapphire of the ancients is the modern lapiz lazuli1 or azure stone1 a mineral substance valued for decorative purposes in consequence of the fine blue color which it usually presents4 ,it has the appearance of being spotted with gold dust4 8,the stones of it are the place of sapphires3 and it hath dust of gold40 7,job4 #bh3f47 ,the brilliant spots in the deep blue matrix invite comparison with the stars in the firmament4 ,the crystals form into units having twelve equal sides4 ,the blue is the color of faithfulness2 the gold shows the faithfulness towards ,god2 the starlike appearance shows the faithfulness towards all the ,heavenly beings--angels1 archangels1 and the ,great ,company2 the crystalline formation shows the faithfulness towards the symbolical and actual twelve tribes of ,israel which1 in the last analysis1 include all who shall become heirs of salvation4 ,those who gain the prize of the ,high ,calling can be trusted4--#a ,cor4 #d3b2 ,luke #af3ajab4 ,,and the third1 a chalcedony4--,obedience2 ,submission4 ,a green quartz1 found in the copper mines of ,chalcedon4 ,it crystallizes in the twelvesided and twentyfoursided forms of cubic crystalline formation4 ,in the twelve sided crystals each side is a surface of five equal sides and angles4 ,the ,church's obedience is perfect towards ,god as indicated in the faces of the crystals1 five being a symbol of ,divinity4 ,it is operative towards the brethren as in the twelvefaced crystals1 and towards both phases of the ,kingdom1 as in the twentyfoursided crystals4 ,the fourth1 an emerald4--,deathlessness4 ,one of the most beautiful of gems1 of a bright green color1 without any mixture1 crystallizing in long1 hexagonal 7sixsided7 crystals4 ,the stone loses color when strongly heated4 ,from those originally imperfect 7as shown in the sixsided crystals7 ,god is creating a race of deathless ones4 ,nevertheless1 though begotten to the ,divine nature1 should they cling to the dross of their fleshly natures too determinedly1 so great fires may be applied to burn away the dross as will destroy the value of the gem4 ,this gem1 too1 represents the ,church's power to bestow life upon the dead world4 ,the crystals may be broken or split crosswise4 ,the everlasting life for the world1 which may be made continuous1 is nevertheless susceptible of being broken off at any time for disobedience4 #ba3bj4 ,the fifth1 sardonyx4--,humility2 ,purity2 ,martyrdom4 ,an ornamental stone much used for seals and cameos4 ,it was considered by ancient oriental authorities that a fine oriental sardonyx should have at least three strata1 a black base1 a white intermediate center1 and a superficial layer of red2 these colors typifying the three cardinal virtues--humility1 black2 chastity1 white2 modesty or martyrdom1 red4 ,the sixth1 sardius4--,loyalty to ,christ4 ,a reddish stone much used by the ancients as a gem stone2 it has been in all ages the commonest of the stones used by the gem engraver4--,rev4 #d3c4 ,the seventh1 chrysolyte4--,heavenly ,wisdom4 ,greek ,chrysos1 gold1 and lithos1 stone4 ,the meaning of the term makes it the golden stone4 ,it is a gem of a golden color1 lightly tinted with green4 ,it is very transparent4 8,the wisdom that is from ,above is first pure40--,jas4 #c3ag4 ,the eighth1 beryl4--,love of the ,father4 ,a pellucid gem of a bluish green color1 much prized as a gem stone by the ancients4 ,it crystallizes in the hexagonal system1 with sixtysix sides of various sizes and shapes4 ,on each of the six principal sides are diamondshaped marks1 alternately five and eight marks to a side1 with four marks at the end4 ,the sixtysix sides represent the sixtysix books of the ,bible2 the two ends represent the ,old and ,new ,testaments2 the diamond shaped marks represent the ,heavenly ,father2 the three groups of eight each represent the twentyfour prophecies of the kingdom2 five is a symbol of ,divinity1 and four represents ,justice1 ,power1 ,wisdom and ,love4 ,the ninth1 topaz4--,benevolence4 ,it is generally held that the mineral now called topaz was unknown to ancient writers1 and that their topaz is our peridot4 ,this is the name applied by jewelers to 8noble olivine40 ,it is a dark1 decidedly greencolored mineral4 ,much mystery for a long time surrounded the locality which yielded most of the peridot for commerce2 but it is now identified with the island of ,st4 ,john in the ,red ,sea1 probably the 8,topaz ,isle0 of the ancients4 ,it crystallizes in twentysix sided figures4 ,in some views--i4 e41 when the ,great ,company or the classes that are to be destroyed are taken into consideration--the tribes of ,israel number thirteen2 and when ,spiritual and ,fleshly ,israel are considered separately1 the total number is twentysix4 ,it is not the wish of the ,heavenly ,father that any of these should perish1 and it is the wish of the ,church to do all humanly and ,divinely possible to save the unworthy from the final consequences of their own willfulness4 ,this spirit will be exercised to the last limit of love4 ,the tenth1 chrysoprasus4--,constant1 cheerful endurance4 ,the modern ,chrysoberyl is a yellow or green gem stone1 remarkable for its hardness1 being exceeded in this respect only by the diamond and the jacinth4 ,it is not infrequently cloudy1 due to microscopic cavities4 ,the hardness signifies ability to 8endure hardness as good soldiers10 and the clouds signify difficulties1 troubles1 to be overcome4 ,the eleventh1 jacinth4--,unchangeableness4 ,the modern sapphire1 next to the diamond in hardness2 a beautiful blue stone4 ,many of the crystals are particolored1 the blue being distributed in patches in a colorless stone2 but by skillful cutting the deepcolored portion may be caused to impart color to the entire gem4 ,this stone crystallizes in the most beautiful and wonderful pattern conceivable1 consisting of a sixsided pyramid at either end1 separated by three different sets of surfaces of six each and two different sets of surfaces of three each4 ,we may think of the two ends as representing the teachings of the ,twelve ,apostles1 and the twentyfour surfaces between as representing the twentyfour elders 7prophecies pertaining to the ,kingdom of ,god74 ,god is unchangeable2 although the different operations of ,his ,plan1 in different ages1 make ,him seem changeable to mankind4 ,but the perfected ,plan will be the adoration of all ,his creatures4 ,this gem also shows how ,god can take characters whose conduct may have been very irregular1 and by skillful cutting make them copies of ,himself4 ,the twelfth1 an amethyst4--,royalty4 ,a stone of a violet color1 bordering on purple1 composed of a strong blue and deep red4 ,the name is derived from the ,greek a1 not1 and methyskein1 to intoxicate1 expressing the old belief that the stone protected its owner from strong drink4 ,it was held that wine drank out of a cup of amethyst would not intoxicate4 ,it crystallizes in double pyramids 7base to base7 of three sides on each pyramid4 ,amethyst was ,pastor ,russell's birthstone2 and behold how perfect its application6 ,he was true blue in his faithfulness1 and fully loyal to the blood of ,christ1 as shown by the red4 ,he has the royalty now1 thank ,god6 ,the cup which he poured never intoxicated with error those who drank its livegiving draughts from the ,fountain of all ,truth1 our ,father's ,word4 ,the sixsided crystallization represents his ,six ,volumes of ,scripture ,studies1 and this1 the ,seventh1 a summary of all1 represents the stone as a whole4 ,there are over ninety varieties of crystals in nature4 ,surely1 8,the fool hath said in his heart1 ,there is no ,god40 ,the following is ,william ,miller's dream1 as given in ,the ,three ,worlds1 the first of ,pastor ,russell's books1 long since out of print1 where it is told only as a dream4 7,jer4 #bc3bh47 ,it calls to mind a dream of ,pastor ,russell's1 often told in private4 ,in his early youth he dreamed of sleeping in an attic4 ,suddenly he awoke to see the morning sun1 just emerged over the hilltop1 blazing directly in his face4 ,he jumped to his feet with a start1 thinking that it must be late4 ,in doing so he stumbled over several forms still asleep4 ,he was about to reproach himself for thus rudely awakening them1 when he discovered that not one of the sleepers had been disturbed4 ,the application is evident4 8,the light shineth in darkness1 and the darkness comprehendeth it not40 ,pastor ,russell was awakened by the light of the ,sun of the ,new ,day4 ,he tried to waken others1 and succeeded with 8just one here1 one there20 but the great mass are still asleep4 ,however1 the ,dawn comes on apace4 ,now for ,william ,miller's dream3 8,i dreamed that ,god1 by an unseen hand1 had sent me a curiously wrought casket1 about ten inches long by six square1 made of ebony and pearls curiously inlaid4 ,to the casket there was a key attached4 ,i immediately took the key and opened the casket1 when1 to my wonder and surprise1 ,i found it filled with all sorts and sizes of jewels--diamonds1 precious stones--and gold and silver coin of every dimension and value1 beautifully arranged in their several places in the casket2 and thus arranged1 they reflected a light and glory equalled only by the sun4 ,these jewels are the beautiful truths which the open casket unfolded to his sight4 ,i thought it was my duty not to enjoy this wonderful sight alone1 although my heart was overjoyed at the brilliancy1 beauty and value of its contents4 ,i therefore placed it on a centertable in my room1 and gave out the word that all who had a desire might come and see the most glorious and brilliant sight ever seen by man in this life4 ,the people began to come in1 at first few in number1 but increasing to a crowd4 ,when they first looked into the casket1 they would wonder and shout for joy4 ,but when the spectators increased1 every one would begin to trouble the jewels1 taking them out of the casket and scattering them on the table4 8,i began to think that the owner would require the casket and jewels again at my hand2 and that if ,i suffered them to be scattered1 ,i could never place them in their places in the casket again as before1 and felt ,i should never be able to meet the accountability2 for it would be immense4 ,i then began to plead with the people not to handle them1 nor take them out of the casket4 ,but the more ,i pleaded1 the more they scattered2 and now they seemed to scatter them all over the room1 on the floor1 and every piece of furniture in the room4 ,i then saw that among the genuine jewels and coin they had scattered an innumerable quantity of spurious jewels and counterfeit coin4 ,i was highly incensed at their base conduct and ingratitude1 and reproved and reproached them for it2 but the more ,i reproved1 the more they scattered the spurious jewels and false coin among the genuine4 ,i then became vexed in my very soul1 and began to use physical force to push them out of the room2 but while ,i was pushing out one1 three more would enter1 and bring in dirt1 shavings1 sand1 and all manner of rubbish1 until they had covered every one of the true jewels1 diamonds and coins from sight4 ,they also tore into pieces my casket and scattered it among the rubbish4 ,i thought that no man regarded my sorrow or my anger4 ,i became wholly discouraged and disheartened1 and sat down and wept4 ,when the #ahdd time passed1 how perfectly was this fullfilled4 ,while ,i was thus weeping and mourning for my great loss and accountability1 ,i remembered ,god1 and earnestly prayed that ,he would send me help4 8,immediately the door opened and a man entered the room1 when the other people all left it4 ,then he1 having a dirt brush in his hand1 opened the windows and began to brush the dust and rubbish from the room4 ,i cried to him to forbear2 that there were some precious jewels scattered among the rubbish4 ,but he told me to fear not1 for he would take care of them4 ,then while he brushed the dust and rubbish1 the false jewels and counterfeit coin1 all rose and went out of the window like a cloud and the wind carried them away4 ,in the bustle ,i closed my eyes for a moment4 ,when ,i opened them the rubbish was all gone1 and the precious jewels1 the diamonds1 the gold and the silver coins lay scattered in profusion all over the room4 ,he then placed on the table a casket1 much larger and more beautiful than the former1 and gathered up the jewels1 the diamonds1 the coins1 by the handful1 and cast them into the casket1 till not one was left1 although some of the diamonds were not bigger than the point of a pin4 ,he then called upon me to come and see4 ,i looked into the casket1 but my eyes were dazzled with the sight4 ,the contents shone with ten times their former glory4 ,i thought that they had been scoured in the sand by the feet of those wicked persons who had scattered and trod them in the dust4 ,they were arranged in beautiful order in the casket--every one in its place--without any visible pains on the part of the man ,pastor ,russell who cast them in4 ,i shouted for joy2 and that shout awoke me40 #ba3ba4 ,and the twelve gates were twelve pearls2 every several gate was of one pearl4--8,the peculiar lustre of a pearl is dependent on the fact that the surface is not perfectly smooth1 but covered with the irregularly sinuous edges of innumerable layers of inconceivable thinness1 deposited one over the other4 ,the distance of these edges from each other varies indefinitely1 the pearls of the finest water having them closest4 ,they are always1 however1 too fine to be detected by the naked eye4 ,the edges make so many steps1 so to speak2 and the iridescence is produced by the mutual interference of the rays of light reflected from these thousands of angles4 ,for their water1 or lustre1 as distinguished from iridescence1 pearls are indebted to their being composed of thin layers1 which allow light to pass through them1 while their numerous surfaces disperse and reflect the light in such a manner that it returns and mingles with that which is directly reflected from the exterior4 ,the thinner and more transparent the constituent layers1 the more perfect is the lustre4 ,the immediate occasion of the production of a pearl appears to be always the presence of some extraneous substance inside of the shell of the mollusk40 7,mc,c47 ,the mollusk is the earthly tabernacle2 the extraneous substance is the ,new ,mind4 ,the successive layers are the additions made to it1 8precept upon precept1 precept upon precept2 line upon line1 line upon line2 here a little and there a little40--,isa4 #bh3ac4 ,and the street of the ,city was pure gold1 as it were transparent glass4--,there will be but one street in that ,city1 the street which has been in process of construction throughout the ,age4 ,the ,prophets tell us of it4--,prov4 #af3ag2 ,isa4 #dj3c2 #di3aa2 #ce3h2 #fb3ajab4 #ba3bb4 ,and ,i saw no temple therein4--,no special place of worship1 for the use and benefit of the ,little ,flock4 ,for ,,because the ,lord ,god ,almighty and the ,lamb are the ,temple of it4--,the ,bride's whole life is completely wrapped up in the ,father and the ,son4 ,her one consuming wish is to glorify the ,lord's dear name4 ,of what need is any special place of worship for one who can say1 8,for to me to live is for ,christ to live80--,phil4 #a3ba4 #ba3bc4 ,and the ,city had no need of the sun1 neither of the moon1 to shine in ,,on it4--8,the sun signifies the light of this ,gospel ,age2 the moon signifies the typically reflected light of the ,gospel in the ,law and the ,prophets of the previous ,dispensation4 ,the glorified ,church will have no need of the light which in the present time she so much enjoys through the ,word and the ,spirit1 and the ,law and the ,prophets4 ,she will have1 instead of these1 a much more excellent glory1 being1 herself1 a part of the ,sun of ,righteousness40 7,z4 '#jabja47 8 #8,then shall the righteous shine forth as the ,sun in the ,kingdom of their ,father'--our ,lord ,jesus1 the ,head of the ,church1 of course being included4 ,the ,prophet mentions the same ,sun of ,righteousness1 saying1 #8,the ,sun of ,righteousness shall arise with healing in ,his beams4'--,malachi #d3b40--,z4 '#afcic4 ,for the glory of ,god did lighten it1 and the ,lamb is the light thereof4--8,we are not to lose sight of the fact that ,christ is the ,head of the ,church1 even as the ,father is the head of ,christ ,jesus4 7#a ,cor4 #aa3c47 ,hence the ,lord ,god ,almighty and the ,lamb will always be an inner ,temple in this great ,temple which ,god has provided for the world's blessing during ,restitution ,times40--,z4 '#afcic2 ,isa4 #bd3bc2 #fj3ai1 #bj2 ,rev4 #ba3aa2 #bb3e4 #ba3bd4 ,and the nations of them which are saved shall walk in ,,by the light of it ,,thereof4--8,the word #8nations' here signifies peoples1 and is intended to show that all peoples1 not merely the ,israelites1 will be thus favored under ,god's ,kingdom4 ,the world will not be divided into nationalities as at present40--,z4 '#afcid2 ,isa4 #fj3c1 #e4 ,and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it4--8,when mankind reaches perfection at the close of the ,millennial ,age1 as already shown1 they will be admitted into membership in the ,kingdom of ,god and given the entire control of earth as at first designed--each man a sovereign1 a king40 7,a4 #bif47 8,that ,kingdom1 in which all will be kings1 will be one grand1 universal ,republic1 whose stability and blessed influence will be assured by the perfection of its every citizen1 a result now much desired1 but an impossibility because of sin40 7,z4 '#ajci47 8,during the ,millennial ,age the kings will be the ,ancient ,worthies2 but subsequently a ,new ,dispensation will open1 under new conditions1 in which mankind 7perfected7 will be granted the privilege of ruling themselves in harmony with the ,divine ,law40 7,z4 '#igcjd47 ,in this verse the ,ancient ,worthies are directly referred to2 while in verse #bf the rest of mankind are referred to4 ,notice the tenses of the verbs 8do bring0 and 8shall bring0--present and future--in the ,millennium and after4 #ba3be4 ,and the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day4--,throughout the long ,millennial ,day of a thousand years all who will may seek and find salvation through the broad gates of the ,city of ,god that will then be wide open4 7,isa4 #fj3aa47 ,now1 8,narrow is the way that leadeth unto life1 and few there be that find it40--,matt4 #g3ad4 ,for there shall be no night there4--8,the period in which sin is permitted has been a dark ,night to humanity1 never to be forgotten2 but the glorious ,day of righteousness and ,divine favor1 to be ushered in by ,messiah1 who1 as the ,sun of ,righteousness1 shall arise and shine fully and clearly into and upon all1 bringing healing and blessing1 will more than counterbalance the dreadful night of weeping1 sighing1 pain1 sickness and death1 in which the groaning creation has been so long4 #8,weeping may endure for a night1 but joy cometh in the morning4'--,psa4 #cj3e40 7,a4 #i47 ,the ,psalmist explains how the smile of the ,father was turned away from mankind4 ,he describes mankind as 8,such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death1 being bound in affliction and iron2 because they rebelled against the words of ,god by disobedience of ,his express command and contemned set at naught the counsels of the ,most ,high4 ,therefore ,he brought down their heart with labor each sex with its own peculiar kind2 they fell down1 and there was none to help40 7,psa4 #ajg3ajab47 ,this disobedience brought our entire race into the ,valley of the ,shadow of ,death 7,psa4 #bc3d72 but the ,prophets encouraged us to hope for a watchman who would tell us of the coming of the ,day4 7,isa4 #ba3ab47 ,in the ,apostle's time he declared the night was far spent1 being then more than twothirds gone4 7,rom4 #ac3ab47 ,the event that is to bring in the ,day is the rising of the ,sun of ,righteousness4 7,mal4 #d3b47 ,when here at the ,first ,advent ,christ was the light of the world 7,john #h3ab72 and the people in ,his immediate neighborhood saw a great ,light1 shadowing forth ,his coming glory4 7,isa4 #i3b47 ,he declared that we1 too1 should be lights in the world4 7,matt4 #e3ad47--8,you in your little corner1 and ,i in mine20 and that in the resurrection all these #add1jjj brightly burning candles should be brought together and with ,him constitute the ,sun of ,righteousness that is to heal and bless the world4 8,then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the ,kingdom of their ,father40--,matt4 #ac3dc4 ,the sun rises quietly1 like a thief4 7#a ,thes4 #e3a47 ,when the ,morning comes1 the first work is banishing the works of the night4 7,ezek4 #g3gab47 ,next comes the opening of the spiritually blind eyes of those that have physical sight4 7,amos #e3ah47 ,surely1 the best time for a great oculist to open the eyes of the blind is in the day time4 7,isa4 #ce3e47 ,now matters are more or less obscured 7#a ,cor4 #ac3ab72 but the time is coming when the blind shall be shown a way of life they have not hitherto known4 7,isa4 #db3af47 ,will the ,lord show wonders in the dark8 7,psa4 #hh3aj47 ,he will indeed2 and when the nations come forth from the tomb1 they will seek ,him that turneth the shadow of death into the morning4 7,amos #e3h2 ,isa4 #db3 #f1 #g47 ,they will seek ,him and will find ,him4 ,no wonder1 then1 that the ,psalmist1 looking down the stream of time to that happy ,day1 exultingly exclaims1 8,then after full experience with sin and death they cried unto the ,lord in their trouble1 and ,he saved them out of their distresses4 ,he brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death1 and brake their bands in sunder4 ,oh1 that men would praise the ,lord for ,his goodness1 and for ,his wonderful works to the children of men6 ,for ,he hath broken the gates of brass that stood between them and perfection1 and cut the bars of iron asunder that held them in death's prison house40 7,psa4 #ajg3acaf47 8,and there shall be no more death1 neither sorrow1 nor crying1 neither shall there be any more pain2 for the former things are passed away40 7,rev4 #ba3d47 8,for there shall be no night there40 8,weeping may endure for a night1 but joy cometh in the ,morning40--,psa4 #cj3e2 ,zech4 #ad3g4 #ba3bf4 ,and they shall bring the glory and honor of the nations into it4--8,this rendering of glory to the ,kingdom will continue throughout the entire ,millennial ,age2 for the princes throughout the earth will make known to the peoples that not in their own name or authority do they rule and execute judgment and establish righteousness1 but in the name of the glorified ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 whose representatives they are40--,z4 '#afcid4 #ba3bg4 ,and there shall in no wise enter into it anything that defileth ,,common4--,no one who could or would contaminate others by speech or example1 will ever find a place in that ,city4 ,neither whatsoever worketh abomination4--,nor anything tending in the direction of pride or sectarianism4 ,or maketh a lie4--,nor anything countenancing the teaching of error for pleasure or profit4--#a ,john #b3bb4 ,but they which are written in the ,lamb's4 ,book of ,,the ,life ,,of ,,heaven4--8,the ,lamb's ,book of ,life we must understand to include only those who attain to the position of jointheirship with ,christ1 those whose names are written in ,heaven during this ,gospel ,age and who are faithful to their ,covenant4 7,psa4 #ej3e470--,z4 '#afcid2 ,phil4 #d3c2 ,rev4 #c3e1 #ac3h4 ,revelation #bb--,the ,river ,of ,grace ,and ,truth ,illustration ,the ,river ,of ,life #bb3a4 ,and he showed me a pure ,river of ,water of ,life1 clear as crystal4--8,one would think that1 even with no knowledge of the symbols of ,revelation1 no thinking ,christian should have any difficulty in realizing that the book portrays trouble for the ,church throughout this ,gospel ,age and the triumphant ,millennial ,reign at its close40--,z4 '#jeagj2 ,ezek4 #dg3aab2 ,joel #c3ah2 ,zech4 #ad3h2 ,psa4 #df3d4 ,proceeding out of the ,throne of ,god and of the ,lamb4--8,the ,scriptures nowhere speak of the ,river of the ,water of ,life now4 ,there is none1 and can be none until the ,heavenly ,city descends1 for the river must flow from the midst of it1 from the ,throne4 ,describing the condition of the ,lord's saints at the present time very differently1 the ,lord declares that those who are ,his have in them a well of water springing up into life eternal40--,z4 '#jeagb2 ,ezek4 #dg3a2 ,zech4 #ad3h4 #bb3b4 ,in the midst of the street of it4--,in the midst of the ,highway of ,holiness4--,rev4 #ba3ba4 ,and on either side of the ,river4--,nourished and blessed by the lifegiving ,waters of ,truth4--,ezek4 #dg3ab4 ,was there the ,tree of ,life4--,the ,christ1 ,head and ,body4 ,which bare twelve manner of fruits1 and yielded her fruit ,,fruits every month4--,twelve kinds of fruit1 twelve times a year1 for a thousand years--a total fruitage of #add1jjj4 ,and the leaves of the tree ,,trees were for the healing of the nations4--8,the symbolic picture suggests nourishment and healing for the sinsick1 starving world1 which then may partake freely of all the blessings and privileges thus symbolized40--,z4 '#jeaga2 ,rev4 #ba3bd2 ,ezek4 #dg3ab4 #bb3c4 ,and there shall be no more curse4--8,instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree1 and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree3 and it the removal of the curse shall be to the ,lord for a name1 for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off40 7,isa4 #ee3ac47 8,upon no subject is the testimony of the ,scriptures more positive1 consistent and conclusive than on this subject of the curse1 its effects upon man1 the redemption from it1 and its ultimate removal40--,e4 #dba1 #dje4 ,but the ,throne of ,god and of the ,lamb shall be in it4--8,a spiritual police force will have humanity under absolute control4 ,every misdeed will be punished as soon as it is determined upon and before it shall have been put into effect4 ,likewise1 every good act1 good word and good thought will bring a blessing of restitution1 health1 strength--mental1 moral1 physical40--,z4 '#aebfg4 ,and ,his servants shall serve ,him4--,beautiful inheritance of the ,great ,company class4--,rev4 #g3ae4 #bb3d4 ,and they shall see ,his face4--,this will be worth all they will be called upon to endure4--,matt4 #e3h4 ,and ,his name shall be in ,,on their foreheads4--,at present many of this class do not have clear perceptions of the ,father's character4 ,all misunderstandings will be cleared up shortly4 ,they only await the departure of the last of the ,elijah class1 in the spring of #aiah4 #bb3e4 ,and there shall be no ,,more night there4--,doubtless1 at first1 the ,great ,company's memories of her dark night will be very keen4--,rev4 #g3ad2 #ba3bc1 #be4 ,and they need no ,,not ,,the ,,light ,,of ,a candle4--,light from the ,church in the flesh4 ,neither ,,and light of the sun4--,the ,gospel1 through the ,word4 ,for the ,lord ,god giveth ,,will ,,give them light4--8,blessed are they which are called unto the ,marriage ,supper of the ,lamb40--,rev4 #ai3i2 #g3afag2 ,psa4 #hd3aa4 ,and they shall reign for ever and ever4--,they--,christ and ,his ,bride1 in whose blest ,heavenly courts the ,beloved ,bridesmaids will always find their happy station4--,dan4 #g3bg2 #b ,tim4 #b3ab2 ,rev4 #c3ba4 #bb3f4 ,and he4--,the same angel mentioned in ,rev4 #a3a2 #ai3i1 #aj2 representing ,pastor ,russell1 beyond the veil4 ,said unto me4--,the ,john class1 in the flesh4 ,these sayings are faithful and true4--8,there hath not failed one word of all ,his good promise40--#a ,kings #h3ef4 ,and the ,lord ,god of the holy ,,spirits ,,of ,,the ,prophets4--,it is still possible to have the same spirit as filled the ,prophets of old1 even though the prophecies themselves have ceased to be miraculously uttered or interpreted4--#a ,cor4 #ac3h4 ,sent ,,me ,his angel to shew unto ,his servants the things which must shortly be done4--,especially the events of the immediate future4--,rev4 #a3a4 #bb3g4 ,,and behold ,i come quickly4--,see ,rev4 #af3ae2 #bb3aj1 #ab1 #bj4 ,jesus is the speaker4 ,blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book4--,the ,elijah class1 who see its clear import and accept the responsibilities implied4--,rev4 #a3c2 #c3ad4 #bb3h4 ,and ,i ,john saw these things1 and heard them4--,understood them4--,rev4 #a3c4 ,and when ,i had heard and seen1 ,i fell down before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things4--8,this may signify that in the end of this ,gospel ,age as the whole ,church1 the ,john class1 comes to see the unfolding of the ,divine ,plan1 there might be a spirit or disposition amongst them to do too much honor to the one used of the ,lord in communicating to them the ,divine light now due40--,z4 '#jeagc2 ,judges #ac3ag1 #ah4 #bb3i4 ,then saith he unto me1 see thou do it not3 for ,i am thy fellow servant4--8,the angel's refusal to accept homage should be a lesson to all ministers 7servants--messengers7 of ,god40--,z4 '#ifcje2 ,rev4 #ai3aj4 ,and of thy brethren the ,prophets4--,prophets1 in the ,new ,testament use of the word1 refer to ,christian speakers4 ,and of them which keep the sayings of this book3 worship ,god4--8,god alone should be worshiped3 ,he is the ,author of the great ,plan and will be the ,finisher of it4 ,it is brought to our attention now by ,him because it is now #8due time' for ,his people to come to an appreciation of ,his plans40--,z4 '#jeagc4 #bb3aj4 ,and he saith unto me1 ,seal not the ,,these sayings of the prophecy of this book3 for the time is at hand4--8,make no secret10 he added1 8of the meaning of the predictions contained in this book2 for the time for their fulfillment is now close at hand40--,weym4 #bb3aa4 ,he that is unjust1 let him be unjust still4--8,at the time that the features of this symbolical ,revelation shall come to be understood and appreciated by the ,lord's people1 they may know that the time of the completion is near at hand4 ,we are not to expect that the telling of this ,message will have the effect of converting the world4 ,it was not intended to do this and will not do it40--,z4 '#jeagc2 ,dan4 #ab3aj4 ,and he which is filthy1 let him be filthy still4--8,present ,truth1 although full of comfort and encouragement to the ,church in respect to their dear friends who are out of ,christ1 has no effect whatever upon those who love sin1 who are filthy1 who are unrighteous4 ,the unrighteous and the filthy simply ignore this message and are not moved specially by it40--,z4 '#jeagc4 ,and he that is righteous1 let him be righteous ,,work ,,righteousness still4--8,to lovers of righteousness1 of truth1 the revelations of the ,divine ,plan now unfolding commend themselves1 and intensify their love for righteousness and appreciation of full consecration to the ,lord40--,z4 '#jeagc4 ,and he that is holy1 let him be holy still4--8,the word seems to denote development and crystallization of character1 immediately preceding the coming of the great ,judge of all40 7,weym47 8,love is patient and kind4 ,love knows neither envy nor jealousy4 ,love is not forward and selfassertive1 nor boastful and conceited4 ,she does not behave unbecomingly1 nor seek to aggrandize herself1 nor blaze out passionate anger1 nor brood over wrongs4 ,she finds no pleasure in injustice done to others1 but joyfully sides with the truth4 ,she knows how to be silent4 ,she is full of trust1 full of hope1 full of patient endurance40--#a ,cor4 #ac3dg4--,weym4 #bb3ab4 ,and behold1 ,i come quickly4--,see ,rev4 #af3ae2 #bb3g1 #aj1 #bj4 ,the ,lord ,himself becomes the speaker4 ,and ,my reward is with ,me1 to give ,,be ,,given every man4--,every man in ,christ4 ,according as his work shall be ,,is4--,the ,church's work is practically finished4 ,the reward is given on the basis of the work already done1 in character development and in the natural outgrowth of that development--works4 #bb3ac4 ,i am ,alpha and ,omega1 ,,the ,,first ,,and ,,the ,,last1 the ,beginning and the ,end1 the ,first and the ,last4--8,our ,lord tells us over and over again 7,see ,rev4 #a3h1 #aa1 #ag2 #b3h2 #c3ad2 #ba3f71 that ,he is the ,beginning and the ,ending1 the ,first and the ,last1 of the creation of ,god40--,z4 '#icaae4 #bb3ad4 ,blessed are they that do ,his commandments ,,wash ,,their ,,robes4--,the ,great ,company class4--,rev4 #g3ad4 ,that they may have right to the ,tree of ,life4--,rev4 #bb3b4 ,and may enter through the gates into the ,city4--8,whose ,builder and ,maker is ,god40 7,heb4 #aa3aj47 ,to these dear brethren we would say1 ,the object of your trials is to remove the dross 7,ex4 #cj3g2 ,mal4 #c3b7 that you may be fit companions of the ,christ4 7,ex4 #ab3h2 ,heb4 #b3ag2 ,rom4 #e3c2 ,col4 #a3aa47 ,do not think it strange4 7,james #a3ab2 #a ,pet4 #a3g2 #d3ab2 #e3aj47 ,when you get the right viewpoint1 you will rejoice in your sufferings4 7,deut4 #ac3c2 ,psa4 #bc3d2 #aai3fg47 ,the trials will not last forever 7,psa4 #ci3a72 and in them all you may hear the songs of deliverance4 7,psa4 #cb3f1 #g47 ,there is nothing to turn back to 7,heb4 #aj3ch72 but there is joy untold to look forward to1 and it is nigh4--,rev4 #ai3i2 ,psa4 #de3ad1 #ae4 #bb3ae4 ,for without are dogs4--,there will be no clergy class1 as such1 in the ,kingdom4--,isa4 #ef3aj2 ,phil4 #c3b2 #b ,tim4 #c3h1 #i4 ,and sorcerers1 and whoremongers1 and murderers1 and idolators4--,see ,rev4 #ba3h4 ,and whosoever loveth and maketh ,,and ,,loveth a lie4--,the old lies will die hard2 and some may try to carry them far into the ,time of ,trouble1 on the wellknown principle that if a pigeon's brains are removed1 and the wound allowed to heal1 the bird will no longer seek its food1 though it can still swing on a perch and ruffle its feathers and show fight4 ,ere long1 however1 the ,truth will be so manifest that all must give way before it4 #bb3af4 ,i ,jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches4--,all down the ,age the ,church has had this ,message2 all down the ,age holy men of ,god have sought to understand its mysteries2 all down the ,age it has remained a closed book4 ,but now the ,mystery of ,god is finished2 and the object of keeping the book closed is accomplished4 ,god wished the world to know when the time for the complete removal of error and for the establishment of ,his ,kingdom would come2 and so ,he enables the last members of ,his ,church to give the ,message4 ,i am the ,root and the ,offspring of ,david4--8,according to the flesh1 our ,lord ,jesus was1 through ,his mother1 the ,son1 the ,branch1 the ,offshoot or ,offspring of ,david4 ,it was by virtue of ,his sacrifice of ,his undefiled life that ,he became the #8,root1' origin1 source of life1 and development of ,david40--,e4 #aej1 #acf2 ,rev4 #e3e4 ,and the bright and morning ,star4--8,and ,i will give him the ,morning ,star40 7,rev4 #b3bh47 ,christ's gift of ,himself to the ,bride is the greatest of all gifts4--,job4 #ch3g2 ,psa4 #aah3bbbe4 #bb3ag4 ,and the ,spirit and the ,bride say1 ,come4--8,the ,gospel ,age makes ready the chaste ,virgin1 the faithful ,church1 for the coming ,bridegroom4 ,and in the end of the ,age1 when she is made #8ready' 7,rev4 #ai3g2 #ba3b1 #i71 the ,bridegroom comes2 and they that are ready go in with ,him to the ,marriage4 ,the ,second ,adam and the ,second ,eve become one1 and then the glorious work of ,restitution begins4 ,in the next ,dispensation1 the ,new ,heaven and the new earth1 the ,church will be no longer the espoused ,virgin1 but the ,bride40--,a4 #ih4 ,and let him that heareth say1 ,come4 ,and let him that is athirst come4--8,blessed are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled40--,matt4 #e3f2 ,isa4 #ee3a4 ,and whosoever will1 let him take of the ,water of ,life freely4--8,now the prospective members of the ,bride class have the ,lord's ,spirit in them1 #8a well of water springing up unto everlasting life4' 7,john #d3ad47 ,by and by these wellsprings brought together in glory with the ,lord shall constitute the source of the great ,river of ,life which shall bless and heal all nations4 ,by and by the prophecy will be fulfilled3 #8,he that believeth in ,me1 out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water4' 0 #bb3ah4 ,for ,i testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book4--,to all who ever understand it4 ,if any man shall add unto these things4--,as was done in many instances during the ,dark ,ages1 even in this very verse4--,deut4 #d3b2 #ab3cb2 ,prov4 #cj3e1 #f4 ,god shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book4--,his penalty will be1 when he comes forth from the tomb in the ,times of ,restitution1 that he will have to read the ,seven ,volumes of ,scripture ,studies1 and get the matter straightened out in his own mind4 #bb3ai4 ,and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy4--,shall seek to nullify or minimize its teachings1 now that the time has come for it to be understood4 ,god shall take away his part out of the ,book ,,from ,,the ,,tree of ,life4--,he will not be a part of the lifegiving ,tree described in ,rev4 #bb3b2 not a part of the ,little ,flock4 ,and out of the ,holy ,city1 and from the things which are written in this book4--,he will not be one of the ,lord's jewels1 counted worthy of a place in the ,new ,jerusalem4 #bb3bj4 ,he which testifieth these things ,,to ,,be saith1 surely ,i come quickly4--,the apokalupsis is at hand6 ,see ,rev4 #af3ae4 ,amen4 ,even so come1 ,lord ,jesus4--,the union with the ,bridegroom draweth nigh4 #bb3ba4 ,the grace of our ,,the ,lord ,jesus ,christ be with you all ,,the ,,saints1 ,amen4--,the first of the saints to whom will be extended the unmerited favor of a raising up out of death to perfection will be the ,little ,flock2 the next class of saints to be reached will be the ,great ,company2 next in order will come forth the ,ancient ,worthies2 and finally the millions and billions of mankind1 until at last ,adam1 himself1 shall come forth from the prisonhouse in which he has lain so long1 and may1 if he will1 receive again by the will of ,god1 as a favor or grace at the hands of ,christ1 the unspeakable boon of eternal life4 8,the sweet persuasion of ,his voice ,respects thy sanctity of will1 ,he giveth day2 thou hast thy choice ,to walk in darkness still40--,whittier4 ,,the ,,song ,,of ,,solomon ,the ,bridal ,anthem #a3a4 ,the song of songs--,the harmony of harmonies--the assembling in one beautiful picture of many of the most beautiful figures of the ,divine ,word4 ,which is ,solomon's--,type of ,christ in glory1 as ,david was a type of ,christ in the flesh4 #a3b4 ,let him kiss me--,a form of salutation signifying closest fellowship4 8,greet all the brethren with an holy kiss40 8,betrayest thou the ,son of man with a kiss80 ,with the kisses--,the oft repeated endearments4 ,of ,his ,mouth--,of ,his ,word1 the ,scriptures4 ,for ,thy love--,thy caresses1 the repeated assurances of guidance1 protection1 companionship1 love and care4 ,is better than wine--,wine is a symbol of doctrine4 8,they also have erred through wine40 8,they are drunken1 but not with wine40 8,all nations have drunk of the wine40 8,i will not henceforth drink of this fruit of the vine40 8,be not drunk with wine40 ,although a sound faith is essential1 yet of faith1 hope and love1 the greatest is love2 therefore1 love is better than wine4 ,the ,lord's assurances of love are even more precious to the ,bride than the precious doctrines so vital to her happiness4 #a3c4 ,because of the savour--,the sweet perfume4 ,of ,thy good ointments--,the ,holy ,spirit1 the holy anointing oil of the priesthood4 ,thy name--,christ1 which means 8,anointed40 ,is as ointment--,the holy anointing oil1 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,poured forth--,at ,his baptism upon the ,head1 at ,pentecost on the ,body4 ,therefore--,because of their admiration and appreciation of ,christ's ,holy ,spirit4 ,do the virgins--,the pure in heart4 ,love ,thee--,seek fellowship with ,thee1 aspire to learn of ,thee1 to cultivate ,thy graces1 to be near ,thee4 #a3d4 ,draw me--8,no man can come to ,me except the ,father draw him40 8,all ,thine are ,mine40 ,we will run--,not sit in the seat of the scornful1 nor stand in the way of sinners1 nor walk in the counsel of the ungodly1 but run with patience the race set before us4 ,after ,thee--,the ,forerunner4 ,the ,firstborn from the dead4 ,the first to pass over the narrow way4 ,the ,head1 that in all things ,he might have the preeminence4 ,not after the flesh1 but after the ,spirit4 ,the ,king--,the ,lord ,jesus1 typified by ,solomon4 8,so shall the ,king greatly desire thy beauty40 ,hath brought me--,even in the present life4 ,into ,his chambers--,into the 8,holy10 the spiritbegotten condition1 the first heavenly condition2 made us to sit down in heavenly places in ,christ4 ,we will be glad--8,be glad in the ,lord1 and rejoice1 ye righteous40 ,and rejoice in ,thee--8,and again ,i say1 ,rejoice40 ,we will remember--,will meditate upon1 think of4 ,thy love--,thy caresses1 assurances of guidance1 protection1 companionship1 love and care4 ,more than wine4--,more even than the doctrines4 ,the upright--,those without deceit1 guileless1 honest4 ,love ,thee--,seek fellowship with ,thee1 aspire to learn of ,thee1 to cultivate ,thy graces1 to be near ,thee4 #a3e4 ,i am black--,the bride of ,moses1 ,zipporah1 type of the ,bride of ,christ1 was an ,ethiopian woman--a ,gentile4 ,but comely--8,the ,king's ,daughter is all glorious within02 her intentions are pure1 spotless in ,god's sight4 ,o ye daughters--,professed children4 ,of ,jerusalem--,of the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,the true ,church instinctively recognizes that her detractors are to be found among ,god's professed people4 ,as the tents of ,kedar--,kedar was one of the children of ,ishmael1 and the name thus stands for the ,ishmaelites1 or ,bedouins4 ,their tents are their homes2 and though made of black goat's hair and outwardly stained they are often luxurious in the interior1 being hung with costly tapestries4 ,as the curtains--,between the ,holy and the ,most ,holy4 ,of ,solomon--,of ,solomon's ,temple4 ,these curtains1 or rather a similar curtain which hung in ,herod's temple1 and which was rent in twain on the day of our ,lord's death1 was most wonderful1 being some thirty feet long1 fifteen feet wide and five inches thick4 #a3f4 ,look not upon me--,look not so upon me 7,leeser72 the ,bride kindly expostulates with her critics4 ,because ,i am black--,because ,i am somewhat black 7,leeser72 the ,bride does not deny her imperfections1 but is not disposed to admit that she is altogether worthless4 ,because the ,sun--,the searching light of the true ,gospel which exposes every defect4 ,hath looked upon me--,judgment must begin at the ,house of ,god4 ,the ,bride's sins are open beforehand1 known to all men4 ,god's ,word exposes the weaknesses of almost every noble character whose life is there recorded4 ,my mother's children--,sitting and speaking against their brother1 their own mother's son4 ,were angry with me--8,your brethren that hated you1 that cast you out for ,my name's sake10 etc4 8,the brother shall betray the brother to death40 ,they made me--,elected me1 appointed me4 ,the keeper--,classleader1 ,sundayschool teacher1 etc4 ,of the vineyards--,sundayschools1 ,christian ,endeavor societies1 ,epworth ,leagues1 ,young ,people's unions4 ,but mine own vineyard--,the cultivation of the fruits of the ,spirit4 ,have ,i not kept--,i have been too busy with 8church work10 to look after my own best spiritual interests4 #a3g4 ,tell me--,the ,bride continues4 ,o ,thou--,christ4 ,whom my soul loveth--,whom having not seen1 we love4 ,where ,thou feedest--8,wheresoever the carcase is there will the eagles be gathered together40 ,where thou--,the ,good ,shepherd4 ,makest ,thy flock--,the ,flock of ,god4 ,to rest--,my people have forgotten their restingplace4 ,at noon--,where the grass is long and sweet1 and where there are opportunities to draw specially near to the ,shepherd4 8,he maketh me to lie down in green pastures40 ,for why should ,i be--,why should ,i longer appear to others to be4 ,as one that turneth aside--,as one that goeth astray4 ,by the flocks--,not in them2 for ,i never was in any other intentionally4 ,i thought these other flocks were yours4 ,of ,thy companions--,other great teachers2 heads of other churches2 ,antichrist systems4 #a3h4 ,if thou know not--,the ,heavenly ,one replies4 ,o thou fairest--,the ,lord does not taunt her with her selfconfessed stains4 ,among women--,churches1 true and false4 ,go thy way forth--,there is something for you to do4 ,by the footsteps--,he goeth before them1 and the sheep follow ,him4 ,of the flock--,look about you2 and when you see those whose lives indicate that they are true sheep1 and when they urge you 8,come and see10 follow ,nathaniel's example4 ,and feed thy kids--,inquiring ones1 newly interested1 especially if they manifest any goatlike tendencies4 ,beside the shepherds' tents--,take them to the elders' or deacons' homes for further instruction in the right ways of the ,lord2 or1 apply the same principle by bringing the ,scripture ,studies to their attention1 thus introducing them to the teacher who has answered all our hard questions4 #a3i4 ,i have compared thee--,the ,lord continues4 ,o ,my ,love--8,love one another as ,i have loved you40 ,to a company--#add1jjj4 ,of horses--,fond of their ,master1 quick to do ,his bidding1 easily guided1 quiet1 faithful1 temperate1 longsuffering4 ,in ,pharaoh's chariots--,the best in the world4 #a3aj4 ,thy cheeks are comely--,the ,lord continues to shower compliments upon ,his ,espoused4 ,with rows of jewels--,jewels of ,divine ,truth2 the ornaments of a meek and quiet spirit4 ,thy neck--,the yokebearing member4 8,take ,my yoke upon you02 a yoke is built for two--,jesus and one other4 ,with chains of gold4--,the ,divine nature4 ,each act of loyal burdenbearing becomes a link in the golden chain4 #a3aa4 ,we--,my ,father and ,i4 ,will make thee borders--8,a ,house not made with hands eternal in the ,heavens40 ,of gold--,the ,divine nature4 ,with studs of silver--,the ,house will be truly yours2 that which is your own4 #a3ab4 ,while the ,king--,the ,bride thus speaks of her ,lord4 ,sitteth at ,his table--,breaking the ,bread of ,life to ,his ,household4 ,my spikenard--,devotion1 as ,illustrated by ,mary's alabaster box4 ,sendeth forth the smell thereof--8,did not our hearts burn within us while ,he talked with us by the way1 and while ,he opened to us the ,scriptures80 ,at such times the fires of ,heavenly love burn fiercest4 #a3ac4 ,a bundle of myrrh--,wisdom4 8,in ,him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and of knowledge40 ,is my wellbeloved--,christ4 ,unto me--8,who of ,god is made unto us ,wisdom40 8,we have the mind of ,christ40 ,he shall lie all night--,during this dark time while evil is permitted4 ,betwixt my breasts--,i will take the ,lord into my bosom1 8,more dear1 more intimately nigh than e'en the sweetest earthly tie40 #a3ad4 ,my ,beloved--,christ1 on the other side of the veil4 ,is unto me--,the ,bride1 still toiling on this side of the veil4 ,as a cluster of camphire--,a cooling1 fragrant shade1 a refuge from the fierce heat2 8as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land40 ,in the vineyards of ,engedi--,located on the shore of the ,dead ,sea1 in one of the hottest of climates4 #a3ae4 ,behold thou art fair4--,the ,bridegroom speaks again4 ,my love--,my ,bride to be4 ,behold thou art fair--,beautiful of heart4 ,thou hast dove's eyes--,heavenly wisdom--the wisdom of the ,holy ,spirit4 #a3af4 ,behold ,thou art fair--8,fairer than the children of men40 ,the ,bride returns the compliment4 ,my ,beloved--8,greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends40 ,yea pleasant--,the disciplines are as nothing compared to the joy of your fellowship4 ,also1 our bed--,the place of our rest2 8let the saints be joyful in glory1 let them sing aloud upon their beds40 ,is green--,our rest will be everlasting4 8,they rest from their labors40 #a3ag4 ,the beams of our house--,the covering over us2 8the ,head of ,christ is ,god40 ,are cedar--,immortal4 ,and our rafters--,wainscoting2 the environment on all sides4 ,of fir--,everlasting4 ,where changes never come4 #b3a4 ,i am the rose--,glorious1 beautiful1 without a peer4 ,of ,sharon--7,the ,plain74 ,not seeking exaltation4 ,the lily--,pure1 fragrant1 exquisite4 ,of the valleys--,meek and lowly of heart4 #b3b4 ,as the lily--,pure1 humble1 defenseless2 so the ,heavenly ,one responds4 ,among thorns--,which scratch1 tear and wound4 ,so is ,my love--8,continue ye in my love40 ,among the daughters--,nominal church organizations4 #b3c4 ,as the apple tree--,the ,bride thus refers to ,christ4 ,among the trees--,with a fruitage greater in variety1 color1 flavor1 quantity and lasting quality4 ,of the wood--,which run largely to leaves1 professions4 ,so is my ,beloved--8,we love ,him because ,he first loved us40 ,among the sons--,the other sons of ,god with whom we are acquainted4 ,i sat down--8,come ye yourselves apart1 and rest awhile40 ,under ,his shadow--,his protecting love and care4 ,and ,his fruit--,his perfect fruitage of love4 ,was sweet to my taste4--8,oh1 taste and see that the ,lord is good60 #b3d4 ,he brought me--,guided me by ,his ,word and providences4 ,to the banqueting house--,to sup with ,him and ,he with me4 ,and ,his banner--,the banner under which ,he fought the good fight of faith4 ,over me--,and under which ,i also am enlisted4 ,was love--,love of the highest order4 #b3e4 ,stay me--,nerve me for the war4 ,with flagons--,the pure doctrines of the ,kingdom4 ,comfort me--,strengthen me for the conflict4 ,with apples--,spiritual food2 bread from ,heaven4 ,for ,i am sick of love--,am lovesick1 oversentimental1 dreamy1 not sufficiently awake to the fact that true love includes service and sacrifice4 #b3f4 ,his left hand--,his power as illustrated in the guidance of ,his people into all necessary ,truth4 ,is under my head--,directing my mental faculties4 ,and ,his right hand--,his power as illustrated in overruling all things that would harm me4 ,doth embrace me--8,secure in ,his tender embrace1 ,i've nothing to doubt or to fear40 #b3g4 ,i charge you--,i must give you this message4 ,o ye daughters--,professed children2 nominal ,spiritual ,israel4 ,of ,jerusalem--,the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,by the roes--,which you regard as the loveliest things of earth1 as illustrated by the statuary on your estates4 ,and by the hinds--,the things which you regard as most full of grace2 therefore typical of your churches1 colleges1 hospitals1 libraries and charitable institutions4 ,of the field--,the world1 the present order of things4 ,that ye stir not up--,seek not to arouse4 ,nor awake my love--,to take charge of earth's affairs4 ,till ,he please4--,for when ,he does stand up to assume control1 8there will be a ,time of ,trouble1 such as never was10 in which all these beautiful things upon which you have set your heart will be obliterated4 #b3h4 ,the voice of my ,beloved--,the ,church suddenly recognizes the joyful sound1 betokening the ,second ,presence of her ,lord4 ,behold ,he cometh--8,at midnight there was a cry raised4 ,behold1 ,he cometh60 ,leaping upon--,dismembering or changing the form of4 ,the mountains--,the autocratic governments of ,spain1 ,portugal1 ,sweden1 ,russia1 ,turkey1 ,persia and ,china4 ,skipping upon--,shattering old customs and old political parties1 and placing the people more in the ascendency4 ,the hills--,the less autocratic governments of the ,united ,states1 ,mexico1 ,great ,britain1 ,france1 etc4 8,the hills melt like wax at the presence of the ,lord40 #b3i4 ,my ,beloved is like--,in swiftness of movement4 ,a roe or a young hart--,swiftly leaping from mountain to mountain2 preparing the world for ,his coming ,reign4 ,behold ,he standeth--8,there standeth ,one among you whom ye know not40 ,behind our wall4--,the wall of our earthly house1 unseen by the eye of flesh4 ,he looketh forth--,he looketh in4 ,at the windows--,the windows of the soul1 the eyes of the understanding4 ,showing ,himself--,revealing the fact of ,his ,second ,presence4 ,through the lattice--,parallels and cross references of ,holy ,writ4 #b3aj4 ,my ,beloved spake--8,thine ears shall hear a voice behind thee40 ,and said unto me--,through the words of the ,prophets and the ,apostles4 ,rise up1 ,my love--8,awake1 awake6 put on thy strength40 ,my fair one--8,put on thy beautiful garments40 ,and come away--,from earthly to ,heavenly conditions4 #b3aa4 ,for lo1 the winter--,the time of the burning of the tares2 8pray ye that your flight be not in the winter40 ,is past--,will shortly be past4 ,the rain--,the deluge of ,truth4 ,is over and gone4--,the ,harvest work is all accomplished3 will have been finished at the time here indicated4 #b3ab4 ,the flowers--,promise of a new fruitage4 ,appear on the earth--,among the restitution class4 ,the time of the singing--,the harmonious mating4 ,of birds is come--,of ,heavensent prophecies and their fulfilments4 8,search ye out and see2 not one of these shall want her mate02 i4 e41 every word of every prophecy will be fulfilled4 ,the voice of the turtle--,the turtledove2 8the congregation of ,thy poor0 is thus described by the ,psalmist4 ,is heard in our land--,the poor begin to take hope2 the harbingers of the ,new ,era are about us on every hand4 #b3ac4 ,the fig tree--,the ,jewish nation4 ,putteth forth--8,behold the fig tree1 and all the trees2 when they now shoot forth 444 know ye that the ,kingdom of ,god is nigh40 ,her green figs--,plans for reestablishment in ,palestine4 ,and the vines--,of the ,father's right hand planting4 ,with the tender grape--,bearing the precious fruitage of love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 selfcontrol4 ,give a good smell--,yield a sweet perfume to the husbandman4 8,my ,father is the ,husbandman40 ,arise ,my ,love--8,awake1 thou that sleepest1 and arise from the dead40 ,my fair one--,the queen in gold of ,ophir1 ,daughter of the ,great ,king4 ,and come away4--8,forget also thine own people and thy father's house40 #b3ad4 ,o my ,dove--,the ,bride addresses her unseen ,lord4 ,that art in--,directly in1 fully in1 guiding1 controlling4 ,the clefts--,the apparent fractures or injuries4 ,of the rock--,the ,kingdom2 the ,stone cut out without hands4 ,in the secret places--,the dark corners of life's experiences1 where we halt trembling and afraid4 ,of the stairs--,the stepping stones by which we ascend to the ,heavenly ,city4 ,let me see ,thy countenance--8,i shall be satisfied when ,i awake in ,thy likeness40 ,let me hear ,thy voice--8,the sheep follow ,him2 for they know ,his voice40 ,for sweet is ,thy voice--8,grace is poured into ,thy lips40 ,and ,thy countenance is comely--8,i will that they may be with ,me where ,i am1 that they may behold ,my glory40 #b3ae4 ,take us the foxes--,take away from us the sly faults1 originating in the deceitful mind of the flesh4 ,the little foxes--,secret beginnings of sin in the mind4 ,that spoil the vines--,that prevent us from yielding the fruitage of love so precious in ,thy sight4 ,for our vines--8,i am the ,vine2 ye are the branches40 ,have tender grapes--,have begun a fruitage1 which is ripening beautifully in the ,father's sight4 #b3af4 ,my ,beloved is mine--8,the ,head can not say to the feet1 ,i have no need of you40 ,and ,i am ,his--8,if the foot shall say1 ,because ,i am not the hand1 ,i am not of the body1 is it not of the body80 ,he feedeth--,bestows ,his spiritual favors upon4 ,the lilies--8,the meek will ,he guide in judgment2 the meek will ,he teach ,his way40 #b3ag4 ,until the day break--,until the ,messianic ,morning has fully dawned4 ,and the shadows--,of the reign of sin and death4 ,flee away--,depart forever4 ,turn my ,beloved--,continue to hide ,thyself from earthly eyes4 ,and be ,thou like--,in ,thy swiftness of movement4 ,a roe or a young hart--,leaping from mountain to mountain--kingdom to kingdom4 ,upon the mountains--,gentile dominions4 ,of ,bether--,of divisions1 which separate us from ,thee and separate ,thee from ,thy longpromised ,reign4 #c3a4 ,by night--,while ,i was still in the dark in regard to ,god's great ,plan4 ,on my bed--,my creed bed1 the one from which ,i have now been taken1 but in which many others are still left4 ,i sought ,him--,sought intimate fellowship with ,him4 ,whom my soul loveth--8,he that loveth father or mother 444 son or daughter more than ,me is not worthy of ,me40 ,i sought ,him--,christ1 the ,heavenly ,bridegroom4 ,but ,i found ,him not--,certainly not2 how absurd of me to expect to greet the ,bridegroom when ,i was in bed1 sound asleep6 #c3b4 ,i will rise now--,this creed bed is uncomfortable2 it is 8shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it40 ,and go about the city--,interest myself in the activities of ,christendom4 ,in the streets--,enter into the affairs of its governments4 ,and in the broad ways--,plunge into its pleasures--8gay white ways10 etc4 ,i will seek ,him--,try to find the place of rest4 ,whom my soul loveth--,for which my soul longs4 8,we who have believed do enter into rest40 ,i sought ,him--,sought rest of heart in all these ways4 ,but ,i found ,him not--8,all that my soul has tried left but an aching void40 #c3c4 ,the watchmen--,of nominal ,zion2 the clergy4 ,that go about the city--,christendom1 ,babylon4 ,found me--,drew me under their influence4 ,to whom ,i said--,having become deeply interested in the subject of the ,lord's promised ,return4 ,saw ye ,him--,have you discerned the fact of the ,bridegroom's ,presence8 ,whom my soul loveth--,there was no reply1 for the reason that 8,his watchmen are blind2 they are all ignorant3 they are all dumb dogs2 they cannot bark40 #c3d4 ,it was but a little--8,he is not far from us40 ,that ,i passed from them--,became unbound1 unfettered4 ,but ,i found ,him--,was made acquainted with the proofs of the ,parousia4 ,whom my soul loveth--,we ought to live for ,him who died for us4 ,i held ,him--8,hold that fast which thou hast1 that no man take thy crown40 ,and would not let ,him go--8,i will not let ,thee go1 except ,thou bless me40 ,till ,i had brought ,him--,till ,i had accompanied ,him4 ,into my mother's house--,the antitypical ,sarah tent4 ,and into the chamber--,heaven itself4 ,of her that conceived me--,the ,sarah ,covenant2 the ,oathbound ,covenant4 #c3e4 ,i charge you--,i must give you this message4 ,o ye daughters--,professed children4 ,of ,jerusalem--,the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,by the roes--,which you regard as the loveliest things of earth1 as illustrated by the statuary on your estates4 ,and by the hinds--,the things which you regard as most full of grace2 therefore typical of your churches1 colleges1 hospitals1 libraries and charitable institutions4 ,of the field--,the world1 the present order of things4 ,that ye stir not up--,seek not to arouse4 ,nor awake my ,love--,to take charge of earth's affairs4 ,till ,he please--,for when ,he does stand up to assume control1 8there will be a ,time of ,trouble such as never was10 in which all these beautiful things upon which you have set your heart will be obliterated4 #c3f4 ,who is this that cometh--,the ,lord's professed people thus speak of the evidences of the ,lord's ,second ,presence4 ,out of the wilderness--,the ,time of ,trouble having come1 they recognize that the longpromised ,second ,coming of the ,lord is an accomplished fact4 ,like pillars of smoke--,terrible in majesty1 definite1 personal1 intangible4 8,i will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth1 blood and fire and pillars of smoke40 ,perfumed with myrrh--,anointed with ,wisdom4 ,and frankincense--,praise to ,jehovah4 ,with all powders--,all ingredients of the holy anointing oil1 type of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,of the merchant--,the apothecary2 the ,heavenly ,father4 8,god gave not the ,spirit by measure unto ,him40 #c3g4 ,behold ,his bed--,the place of ,his ultimate rest and ours4 ,which is ,solomon's--,christ's1 in glory4 ,threescore valiant men--,the sixty centuries during which evil has been permitted4 ,are about it--,standing between the people of ,god and the rest which ,he has promised4 ,of the valiant--,invincible1 immovable4 ,of ,israel--,of the people of ,god4 ,all the centuries belong to ,god2 they are ,his servants1 working out ,his sovereign will4 #c3h4 ,they all hold swords--,since the slaughter of ,abel1 all the centuries have been filled with bloodshed4 ,being expert in war--,war has prevailed throughout the earth during all that time4 ,every man hath his sword--,every century has its implements of war4 ,upon his thigh--,ready for use upon the slightest provocation4 ,because of fear--,the present worldwar is due to mutual fear and distrust4 ,in the night--,the time of the permission of evil2 the time for dark motives and dark deeds4 #c3i4 ,king ,solomon--,christ1 in glory4 ,made ,himself a chariot--,appiryon1 palanquin2 a magnificent vehicle provided for a queen's reception and her entrance into the royal city1 and in which the ,king goes forth to meet her2 typified by the chariot of fire which bore ,elijah away from earthly scenes3 the magnificent spectacle with which this ,age will end4--,see page #fc4 ,of the wood of ,lebanon--,the saints4 ,the typical temple was built1 in part1 of cedar and fir timber cut from ,mt4 ,lebanon4 #c3aj4 ,he made the pillars thereof--,the corner posts1 just outside the place of greatest honor4 ,of silver--,the ,great ,company4 ,the bottom thereof--,the canopy overhead2 8that in all things ,he might have the preeminence40 ,of gold--,the ,divine nature4 ,the covering thereof--,the seat2 the ,throne of the ,royal ,priesthood4 ,of purple--,royalty4 ,the midst thereof--,the heart of it4 ,being paved with love--,love of the highest order--love for enemies4 ,for the daughters--,the professed children2 nominal ,spiritual ,israel4 ,of ,jerusalem--,the ,kingdom of ,god4 #c3aa4 ,go forth--8,come out of her10 out of ,babylon4 ,o ye daughters of ,zion--,my people2 ,god's people4 ,and behold ,king ,solomon--,get clear views of ,christ4 ,with the crown--,the ,crown of ,life2 the ,divine nature4 ,wherewith ,his mother--,the ,sarah ,covenant4 ,crowned ,him--,with glory and honor4 ,in the day--,pentecost4 ,of ,his espousals--,when the antitypical ,eliezer was received by the antitypical ,rebecca4 ,and in the day--,now at hand1 praise the ,lord6 ,of the gladness of ,his heart--,when the marriage of the ,lamb takes place4 8,blessed is he that is called to the marriage supper of the ,lamb40 #d3a4 ,behold thou art fair--,the ,lord addresses ,his ,bride anew4 ,my love--8,greater love hath no man than this1 that a man lay down his life for his friend40 ,behold thou art fair--8,so shall the ,king greatly desire thy beauty40 ,thou hast dove's eyes--,the ,heavenly wisdom4 ,thy hair--,woman's hair was given her for a covering1 and it is her glory4 ,the righteousness of ,christ is the ,bride's covering1 and it is her glory4 ,is as a flock of goats--,thick1 luxuriant4 ,that appear from ,mt4 ,gilead--,the flocks of goats on ,mt4 ,gilead are of unusual size to this day4 #d3b4 ,thy teeth--,masticators1 grinders1 assimilators of spiritual food4 ,are like a flock--,in glistening array4 ,that are even shorn--,when the lips are parted4 ,which come up from the washing--,cleansing by salivation4 ,whereof every one bear twine--,whereof they come forth in pairs4 ,and none is barren--,none is without its mate4 ,among them--,the teeth are perfect in form and number1 illustrating the ,bride's ability to feed upon the strong meat which 8belongeth to them that are of full age40 #d3c4 ,thy lips--8,o ,lord open ,thou my lips60 8,my mouth shall praise ,thee with joyful lips40 ,are like a thread of scarlet--,as the scarlet thread of redemption runs through the ,divine ,word1 so it is with you1 and on your lips--the all absorbing theme of life4 ,and thy speech is comely--8,my speech shall distil as the dew40 ,thy temples are like--,thy mind1 the mind of the ,new ,creature1 may be properly compared to4 ,a piece of pomegranate--,the pomegranate curiously combines the flavors of all fruits4 ,it thus well illustrates the ,new ,mind1 which1 under the influence of the ,holy ,spirit1 brings to perfection the fruitage of love1 the sum of all the ,christian graces4 ,within thy locks--,behind thy veil2 concealed by the veil of the flesh4 #d3d4 ,thy neck--,willingness to bear burdens4 ,is like the tower of ,david--,david was a type of the ,church militant4 ,builded for an armory--,designed to accommodate a great number4 ,whereon there hang a thousand--8,one shall chase a thousand40 ,bucklers of shields of mighty men--8,i can do all things through ,christ1 which strengtheneth me40 #d3e4 ,thy two breasts--8,the breasts of her consolations1 whereof ye may suck and be satisfied1 milk out and be delighted40 ,are like two young roes--,the ,scriptures1 the ,word of ,god1 quick and powerful4 ,that are twins--,the ,old and ,new ,testament ,scriptures are identical in origin1 spirit and purpose4 ,which feed among the lilies--8,the meek will ,he guide in judgment2 the meek will ,he teach ,his way40 #d3f4 ,until the ,day--,the ,millennial ,day4 ,the ,bride is the speaker4 ,break--,has fully dawned4 ,and the shadows--,of the ,valley of the ,shadow of ,death in which ,i now walk4 ,flee away--,are gone4 ,i will get me--,in spirit4 ,to the mountain of myrrh--,the ,kingdom of ,wisdom4 ,and to the hill of frankincense--,praise1 heart adoration4 #d3g4 ,thou art all fair--,blameless1 faultless4 ,the ,lord responds4 ,my love--,his love is commended to us in that 8while we were yet sinners ,christ died for the ungodly40 ,there is no spot--,you have kept your garments unspotted from the world4 ,in thee--8,if we confess our sins1 ,he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us40 #d3h4 ,come with ,me--,to our ,heavenly inheritance4 ,from ,lebanon--,from your present unfinished condition4 ,the typical temple was built1 in part1 of cedar and fir timbers from ,lebanon2 but they had to be hewn and finished before they could be used4 ,my spouse--,my espoused ,bride4 ,with ,me from ,lebanon--,you are but following in the path ,i trod4 ,look from the top of ,amana--,the view from this peak is said to be indescribably grand4 ,look away to ,heaven4 ,from the top of ,shenir--7,peak or pointed47 ,look beyond the sharp experiences of the present4 ,and ,hermon--7,rugged or abrupt47 ,look beyond the unkind words and deeds you now encounter4 ,from the lions' dens--,you are now in the lions' dens1 but look beyond them4 ,satan goes about as a roaring lion2 but no lion shall be there4 ,from the mountains--,kingdoms of this world4 ,look beyond them4 ,of the leopards--,papacy and those of her spirit4 8,and the beast which ,i saw was like unto a leopard40 #d3i4 ,thou hast ravished ,my heart--,taken it away4 ,my sister1 ,my spouse--,the ,bride of ,christ is ,his sister4 ,his ,father is their ,father4 ,his mother1 the ,sarah covenant1 is their mother4 8,we1 brethren1 as ,isaac was1 are the children of the ,promise40 ,with one of thine eyes--,with thy singleness of vision4 8,if thine eye be single1 thy whole body shall be light40--,matt4 #f3bb4 ,with one chain of thy neck--,with thy one bond of servitude2 consecration to the service of the ,great ,king4 #d3aj4 ,how fair is thy love--,how various and beautiful are its forms of expression4 ,my sister1 ,my spouse--,my ,father's ,daughter1 ,my espoused ,bride4 ,how much better is thy love--,the ways in which you show your devotion to me4 ,than wine--,than thy doctrines1 some of which1 in the past1 have been badly mixed4 ,and the smell--,the sweet fragrance4 ,of thine ointments--,the anointing oil2 the ,holy ,spirit4 ,than all spices--,than all other virtues4 #d3aa4 ,thy lips1 ,o ,my spouse--,my beloved ,bride to be4 ,drop as the honeycomb--,distil a dropping of pure honey2 sweet and helpful words4 ,and the smell--,the sweet perfume4 ,of thy garments--,the robe of ,christ's righteousness4 ,is like the smell--,the lifegiving odors4 ,of ,lebanon--,the cedar and fir trees of ,lebanon4 #d3ab4 ,a garden enclosed--,a heartgarden1 shut out of sight of all but its owners4 ,is ,my sister1 ,my spouse--,my ,father's daughter1 ,my espoused ,bride4 ,a spring shut up--8,it shall be in you a well of water springing up unto everlasting life40 ,a fountain sealed--,sealed with the ,king's own signet1 until the time comes that all the well springs are brought together in the first resurrection1 to constitute the fountain from which will flow the ,river of the ,water of ,life4 #d3ac4 ,thy plants are--,the plants in your heartgarden are illustrated by4 ,an orchard of pomegranates--,the pomegranate curiously combines the flavors of all fruits and thus well represents love1 the sum of all the ,christian graces4 ,with pleasant fruits--,pleasing characteristics4 ,camphire--,rest1 trust1 confidence4 ,with spikenard--,fragrant devotion1 as illustrated by ,mary's alabaster box4 #d3ad4 ,spikenard and saffron--,fragrant devotion and longsuffering4 ,calamus and cinnamon--,knowledge and understanding4 ,with all trees of frankincense--,praise1 heart adoration4 ,myrrh and aloes--,wisdom and patience4 ,with all chief spices--,all the remaining elements of ,christian character4 #d3ae4 ,a fountain--,in the midst4 ,of gardens--,beautiful1 clear1 sparkling1 lifegiving4 ,a well of living waters--,invigorating the whole world in the ,new ,age4 8,the water that ,i shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life40 ,and streams from ,lebanon--,pure1 refreshing4 #d3af4 ,awake ,o ,north wind--,storms of adversity4 ,the ,bride speaks4 ,and come thou ,south--,balmy breezes4 8,some days are bright and sweet with praise1 some with accepted pain40 ,blow upon my garden--,my heartgarden1 in which ,i seek to develop the fruits most pleasing to my ,lord4 ,that the spices thereof--,the aroma of good deeds1 kind words and noble thoughts4 ,may flow out--,manifest itself to the ,lord and to others4 ,let my ,beloved--,bridegroom1 ,christ4 ,come into ,his garden--,come into my heart4 ,and eat--,appropriate to ,his use and pleasure4 ,his pleasant fruits--,the fruits of love1 which ,he has cultivated within me4 #e3a4 ,i am come--,the ,lord responds4 ,into ,my garden--,i have accepted your invitation to come in and make ,my abode with you4 ,my sister1 ,my spouse--,my ,father's ,daughter1 ,my espoused ,bride4 ,i have gathered ,my myrrh--,wisdom2 generally the result of bitter experience4 ,myrrh means bitter4 ,with ,my spice--,the fragrant and sweet ingredients of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,i have eaten--,accepted1 appropriated1 consumed4 ,my honeycomb--,the sacrificers themselves4 ,with ,my honey--,with the sacrifices of praise which they offered4 ,i have drunk ,my wine--,taken note of the doctrines you teach4 ,with ,my milk--,noticed also the manner and spirit with which you present the milk of the ,word to those not so far advanced4 ,eat1 ,o friends--,the ,lord addresses the needy world4 ,drink1 yea1 drink abundantly1 ,o beloved--8,he1 every one that thirsteth1 come ye to the waters1 and he that hath no money2 come ye1 buy and eat2 yea1 come1 buy wine and milk without money and without price40 #e3b4 ,i sleep--8,while the ,bridegroom tarried1 they all slumbered and slept40 ,the ,foolish ,virgin class is here represented as speaking4 ,but my heart waketh--,at heart the ,foolish ,virgins are loyal to the ,lord4 ,it is the voice of my ,beloved--,she recognizes the evidences of the ,lord's ,second ,advent4 ,that knocketh--8,behold1 ,i stand at the door and knock40 ,saying ,open to me--8,if any man hear ,my voice and open the door1 ,i will come in to him40 ,my sister1 ,my love--,the ,foolish ,virgins are children of the same ,father1 and are also born of the ,sarah ,covenant1 but the ,lord does not address them as ,his spouse4 ,my dove1 ,my undefiled--,the ,great ,company class are pure in their hearts intentions4 ,for ,my head--8,as one who has vowed a vow of a ,nazarite to separate himself unto ,jehovah40 ,is filled with dew--,freshness1 vigor4 8,thou hast the dew of ,thy youth40 ,and ,my locks--8,all the days of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head4 ,till the days be fulfilled in the which he separateth himself unto ,jehovah1 he shall be holy1 and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow40 ,with the drops--,experiences4 ,of the night--,my consecration to ,jehovah has been steadfast throughout the world's dark night of sin4 #e3c4 ,i have put off--,temporarily laid aside4 ,the ,foolish ,virgins reply4 ,my coat--,the wedding robe which ,you provided4 ,how shall ,i--,how can ,i see to4 ,put it on--,i am in the midst of the dark night of the ,time of ,trouble4 ,i have washed my feet--,i am a church member1 in good and regular standing4 ,how shall ,i defile them--,why should ,i leave my creed bed and obey ,your call to come out of ,babylon8 #e3d4 ,my ,beloved--,in ,his great love and pity for me4 ,put in ,his hand--,exerted ,his mighty power4 ,by the hole of the door--,rattled the timelock4 ,and my bowels--,my heart4 ,were moved for ,him--,was stirred to action1 but too late to go in with ,him to the wedding4 #e3e4 ,i rose up--,roused myself to activity4 ,to open to my ,beloved--,just as the ,harvest was past4 ,and my hands--,holding the keys to the ,bible1 the ,studies4 ,dropped with myrrh--,wisdom1 gleaned from the ,scripture ,studies1 till then neglected4 ,with sweet smelling myrrh--,a knowledge of all the precious things of ,present ,truth4 ,upon the handles--,the lines of prophetical evidence4 ,of the lock--,the time features of the ,lord's ,plan4 #e3f4 ,i opened to my ,beloved--,after the ,harvest work was finished4 ,but my ,beloved--,true to ,his word4 ,had withdrawn ,himself--8,and they that were ready went in with ,him to the marriage40 ,and was gone--,and the door was shut4 ,my soul failed when ,he spake--,i lacked the love1 faith and hope to obey promptly4 ,i sought ,him--8,many shall strive to enter in but shall not be able when once the ,master of the ,house hath risen up and shut to the door40 ,but found ,him not--8,i am ,he that shutteth and no man openeth40 ,i called ,him--8,not every one that saith unto ,me1 ,lord1 ,lord1 shall enter in40 ,but ,he gave me no answer--,no hope of being ,his ,bride and ,jointheir4 #e3g4 ,the watchmen--,watchmen in nominal ,zion1 the clergy of the nominal church4 ,that went about the city--,christendom4 ,found me--,observed my course in accepting ,present ,truth and withdrawing from their systems4 ,they smote me--8,with arrows1 even bitter words40 ,they wounded me--,wounded my reputation4 ,the keepers--,civil authorities4 ,of the walls--,the ,governments1 the bulwarks of ,christendom4 ,took away my veil from me--,were instigated to destroy me1 to cause me to pass into death4 #e3h4 ,i charge you--,the ,foolish ,virgin class continues4 ,o daughters of ,jerusalem--,o all who profess to love ,him4 ,if ye find my ,beloved--,if you yourself expect to be of the ,bride class4 ,that ye tell ,him--,in my behalf4 ,that ,i am sick of love--,hungering for ,his companionship1 longing to see ,his face1 despite the fact that ,i did not open to ,him promptly4 #e3i4 ,what is thy ,beloved--,the ,lord's professed people1 now in nominal ,zion1 speak4 ,more than another beloved--,why is ,christ any more to you than ,he is to me8 ,o thou fairest among women--,the ,lord's professed people in nominal ,zion begin to awake to the fact that the last of the spirituallyminded ones are leaving them4 ,what is thy ,beloved--,to you4 ,more than another beloved--,to another4 ,that thou dost so charge us--,we would like to understand the reasons why you are so deeply concerned1 and why you persist in saying1 8,the ,harvest is past1 the summer is ended1 and we are not saved40 #e3aj4 ,my ,beloved is white--8,holy1 harmless1 undefiled and separate from sinners40 ,the ,foolish ,virgin class responds to the ,lord's professed people in nominal ,zion4 ,and ruddy--,a reference to ,his pierced side4 8,he was clothed in a vesture dipped in blood40 ,the chiefest--,the standardbearer or chieftain4 ,among ten thousand--,among ten thousand warriors4 #e3aa4 ,his head--8,god gave ,him to be the ,head over all things to the ,church which is ,his ,body1 that in all things ,he might have the preeminence40 ,is as the most fine gold--8,who only hath immortality40 ,his locks are bushy--,his consecration is perfect and complete4 ,and black as a raven--,and ,he remained steadfast in it unto death4 #e3ab4 ,his eyes--,wisdom4 ,are as the eyes of doves--,pure1 peaceable1 gentle4 ,by the rivers of waters--,by the channels of truth4 ,washed with milk--,primary elements of the ,truth4 ,and fitly set--,all in perfect harmony4 #e3ac4 ,his cheeks--,his countenance towards me4 ,are as a bed of spices--,the personification of every virtue and every grace4 ,as sweet flowers--,towers of perfumes 7margin71 flowers trained upon trellises2 shedding a beauty and fragrance compelling the attention of all4 ,his lips like lilies--,his speech modest1 beautiful and sweet4 8,never man spake like this ,man40 ,dropping sweet smelling myrrh--,distilling ,heavenly wisdom4 8,my speech shall distil as the dew40 #e3ad4 ,his hands--,as in rolling or unrolling a scroll or parchment4 ,are as gold rings--,conform to the shape of the roll4 8,thou art worthy to take the roll and to open the seals thereof40 ,set with the beryl--,love of the ,father4 ,see page #cce4 ,his belly--,the word signifies the whole body1 from shoulders to thighs4 ,is as bright ivory--,a beautiful vision4 ,overlaid with sapphires--,faithfulness4 ,see page #ccd4 8,and they saw the ,god of ,israel1 and there was under ,his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone40 #e3ae4 ,his legs--,the members that have been carrying on the work of the ,body4 ,are as pillars of marble--8,him that overcometh will ,i make a pillar in the ,temple of ,my ,god40 ,set upon sockets--,feet1 the foot members4 ,of fine gold--8,how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of ,him60 ,his countenance--,smile of favor4 ,is as ,lebanon--,pure1 invigorating1 refreshing4 ,excellent as the cedars--,everlasting life4 #e3af4 ,his mouth--,his ,word4 8,man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god40 ,is most sweet--8,all bare ,him witness and wondered at the gracious words that proceeded out of ,his mouth40 ,yea1 ,he is altogether lovely--,it is impossible to describe all ,his excellencies2 ,he is the sum of all that is to be desired4 ,this is my ,beloved--,this is the ,one ,i love supremely4 ,and this is my ,friend--8,i've found a ,friend1 ,o such a ,friend60 ,o daughters of ,jerusalem--,o you who are nominally ,his4 #f3a4 ,whither is thy ,beloved gone--,after the door is shut1 those who have been nominally ,christ's begin to give heed to the message of the ,foolish ,virgins4 ,o thou fairest among women--,o most spirituallyminded amongst us4 ,whither is thy ,beloved turned aside--,we realize that ,he has entirely withdrawn ,himself from us4 ,that we may seek ,him with thee--,show us in the ,word how ,he is now to be found4 8,all that a man hath will he give for his life40 #f3b4 ,my ,beloved--,the ,foolish ,virgin class1 now thoroughly aroused to the facts1 explain to the ,lord's professed children in nominal ,zion4 ,is gone down--,his ,second ,advent is accomplished4 ,into ,his garden--,he has taken ,his ,bride to ,himself4 ,to the beds of spices--,to accept from her heartgarden the fragrant and sweet ingredients of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,to feed in the gardens--,to receive to ,himself the precious fruits love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 self control4 ,and to gather lilies--,to take the humble sweet ones home2 to gather the wheat class into the ,heavenly garner4 #f3c4 ,i am my ,beloved's--,the ,great ,company can not forget that they are precious in the ,lord's sight4 ,and my ,beloved is mine--8,fade1 ,fade1 each earthly joy1 ,jesus is mine40 ,he feedeth among the lilies--8,the meek will ,he guide in judgment2 the meek will ,he teach ,his way40 #f3d4 ,thou art beautiful--,at heart4 ,the ,lord again addresses ,his ,bride4 ,o ,my love--8,love one another as ,i have loved you40 ,as ,tirzah--,a delight4 ,comely as ,jerusalem--8,the ,city of the ,great ,king40 ,terrible--,in the conquest of evil4 ,as an army with banners--,to an opposing host4 #f3e4 ,turn away thine eyes from ,me--,observe the ,lord's modesty and humility4 ,for they have overcome ,me--,how the ,lord delights to express ,his appreciation of the virtues of ,his ,bride1 despite the fact that they are all but feeble reflections of ,his own6 ,thy hair--,righteousness4 ,woman's hair was given her for a covering1 and it is her glory4 ,the righteousness of ,christ is the ,bride's covering1 and it is her glory4 ,is as a flock of goats--,thick1 luxuriant4 ,that appear from ,mt4 ,gilead--,the flocks of goats on ,mt4 ,gilead are of unusual size to this day4 #f3f4 ,thy teeth--,masticators1 grinders1 assimilators of spiritual food4 ,are as a flock--,in glistening array4 ,which go up from the washing--,cleansing by salivation4 ,whereof every one bear twins--,they come forth in pairs4 ,and there is not one barren--,none is without its mate4 ,among them--,the teeth are perfect in form and number1 illustrating the ,bride's ability to feed upon the strong meat which 8belongeth to them that are of full age40 #f3g4 ,as a piece of pomegranate--,the pomegranate curiously combines the flavors of all fruits4 ,it thus well illustrates the ,new ,mind1 which1 under the influence of the ,holy ,spirit1 brings to perfection the fruitage of love1 the sum of all the ,christian graces4 ,are thy temples--,thy mind1 the mind of the ,new ,creature4 ,within thy locks--,behind thy veil2 concealed by the veil of the flesh4 #f3h4 ,there are threescore queens--,nominal church organizations openly joined to earthly heads4 ,and fourscore concubines--,even more are secretly violating their pledges of spiritual virginity4 ,altogether the census shows about #aej sects4 ,see page #afj1 where all the principal sects are enumerated4 ,and virgins without number--,foolish ,virgins1 really pure at heart4 #f3i4 ,my dove1 ,my undefiled--,the ,virgin ,bride of ,christ4 ,is but one--8,that they may be one1 as ,we are40 ,the only one--,to share the glory1 honor and immortality of ,christ4 ,of her mother--,the ,oathbound ,covenant4 ,she is the choice one--,the specially favored one4 ,of her that bore her--,the antitypical ,sarah4 ,the daughters--,professed children of ,god4 ,saw her--,discerned her1 at the time of the manifestation of the ,sons of ,god4 ,and blessed her--,called her blessed4 ,yea the queens--,those openly affiliated with worldly churches in union with worldly governments4 ,and the concubines--,those secretly thus affiliated4 ,and they praised her--,acknowledged1 in the end1 that her course was right and her exaltation merited4 #f3aj4 ,who is she--,the ,bride4 ,that looketh forth--,beams resplendent4 ,as the morning--,the ,millennial ,morning4 ,fair--,pure1 just1 holy1 good4 ,as the moon--8,the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the ,spirit40 ,clear--,glorious1 lightgiving4 ,as the ,sun--8,then shall the righteous shine forth as the ,sun in the ,kingdom of their ,father40 8,who hath ears to hear1 let him hear40 ,and terrible--,in the conquest of evil4 ,as an army with banners--,to an opposing host4 #f3aa4 ,i went down--,following the exaltation of the ,bride4 ,christ speaks4 ,into the garden of nuts--,the heartgardens of the ,foolish ,virgin class4 ,a garden of nuts does not as quickly yield its treasures as a garden of spices1 to which the ,bride's heart garden is likened4 ,to see the fruits of the valley--,of the class that had not risen with the ,bride to the ,pisgah heights of faith and hope and love4 ,and to see whether--,as a result of their experiences in the ,time of ,trouble4 ,the vine flourished--,their characters had been properly affected4 ,and the pomegranates budded--,to see whether there is promise of the fruits of the ,spirit coming to perfection4 #f3ab4 ,or ever ,i was aware--,i knew not how it was4 ,my soul--,filled with love and pity for them4 ,made me like the chariots--,swiftly speeding to them to bless and help them in their hour of extremity4 ,of ,amminadib--,of ,my willing people1 the ,bride4 #f3ac4 ,return1 return--8,return1 ye backsliding children1 and ,i will heal your backslidings40 ,o ,shulamite--7,uneven one71 you who have been uneven in your love1 hope and faith4 ,return1 return1 that ,we--,my ,father and ,i4 ,may look upon thee--,smile upon thee2 bestow blessings4 8,with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought3 they shall enter into the ,king's palace40 ,what will ye see--,you who study the matter4 ,in the ,shulamite--,the ,foolish ,virgin class4 ,the answer is that you will see4 ,as it were the company--,the ,great ,company4 ,of two armies--8,a great multitude which no man can number40 #g3a4 ,how beautiful are thy feet--8,how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that preach the ,gospel of peace40 ,the ,lord again addresses ,his ,bride4 ,with shoes--8,feet shod with the preparation of the ,gospel of peace40 ,o ,prince's daughter--,daughter of the ,king1 ,jehovah4 ,the joints--8,the whole ,body1 fitly joined together and compacted with that which every joint supplieth40 ,of thy thighs--7,softness7 gentleness1 tenderness4 ,are like jewels--8,they shall be ,mine1 saith the ,lord of ,hosts1 in that day when ,i make up ,my jewels40 ,the work of the hands--8,for we are ,his workmanship40 ,of a cunning workman--8,as for ,god1 ,his work is perfect40 #g3b4 ,thy navel--,umbilical cord2 by which you are joined to the ,oathbound ,covenant1 the ,sarah ,covenant2 the cord of faith4 ,is like a round goblet--,generous in capacity4 ,which wanteth not liquor--,is full of the ,divine promises4 ,thy belly--,spiritual digestive tract4 ,is like a heap of wheat--,solid spiritual food4 ,set about with lilies--,flowers of humility4 #g3c4 ,thy two breasts--8,the breasts of her consolations1 whereof ye may suck and be satisfied1 milk out and be delighted40 ,are like two young roes--8,the ,scriptures1 the ,word of ,god1 quick and powerful40 ,that are twins--,the ,old and ,new ,testament ,scriptures are identical in origin1 spirit and purpose4 #g3d4 ,thy neck--,willingness to bear burdens4 ,is as a tower of ivory--,purity and strength4 ,thine eyes--,wisdom1 ,heavensent4 ,like the fishpools in ,heshbon--,pure1 deep4 ,by the gate of ,bath,rabbim--,calm and strong4 ,thy nose--,scent for spiritual food4 ,is as the tower of ,lebanon--,lofty1 high1 noble4 ,which looketh toward ,damascus--8,visions of beauty rise before us40 8,he that lacketh these things is blind and can not see afar off40 #g3e4 ,thine head upon thee--,thy reasoning faculties4 ,is like ,carmel--7,crimson47 8,come now and let us reason together1 saith the ,lord2 though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow2 though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool40 ,and the hair of thine head--,thy righteousness4 ,woman's hair was given for a covering1 and her glory4 ,the righteousness of ,christ is the ,bride's covering1 and her glory4 ,like purple--,royalty4 ,the robe of ,christ's righteousness1 which the ,bride now wears1 will ultimately become the robe of the ,queen4 ,the ,king is held--,bound1 captive4 ,in the galleries--,the happy prisonhouse of the charms of ,his ,bride4 #g3f4 ,how fair--,beautiful at heart4 8,the ,king's daughter is all glorious within40 ,and how pleasant--,when the ,new ,creature is in full control4 ,art thou1 ,o beloved--8,who shall separate us from the love of ,christ80 ,for delights--,for one with whom to enjoy the ,father's favors and blessings throughout eternity2 heirs together of the grace of life4 #g3g4 ,this thy stature--,the stature of the fulness of ,christ4 ,is like a palm tree--,tall1 upright4 ,and thy breasts--8,the breasts of her consolations40 ,to clusters of grapes--,suggestive of food and refreshment for the hungry1 when they shall suck and be satisfied1 milk out and be delighted4 #g3h4 ,i said--,the world1 in the ,messianic ,age1 is the speaker4 ,i will go up to the palm tree--8,and many people shall come and say1 ,come and let us go up to the ,house of the ,lord40 ,i will take hold--,lay hold of eternal life4 ,of the boughs thereof--,the members bending over to lift me out of the miry clay and the horrible pit4 ,now also thy breasts--,feeding and helping the famishing world in the ,new ,age4 ,shall be as clusters of the vine--,giving life and health4 ,and the smell of thy nose--,thy scent for spiritual things and the blessed results that follow4 ,like apples--,food for the hungry4 #g3i4 ,and the roof of thy mouth--,where the praises of ,jehovah reverberate4 ,like the best wine--,the new wine of the ,kingdom4 ,for my ,beloved--,christ will then be the world's ,beloved1 also4 ,that goeth down sweetly--8,i will not henceforth drink this fruit of the vine till ,i drink it new with you in the ,kingdom40 ,causing the lips--8,awake and sing1 ye that dwell in the dust40 ,of those that are asleep--,in death4 ,to speak--,shall the dead arise and praise thee8 #g3aj4 ,i am my ,beloved's--,the ,bride speaks again4 ,and ,his desire is towards me--8,so shall the ,king greatly desire thy beauty40 #g3aa4 ,come ,my beloved--,the ,lord addresses ,his ,bride after the ,time of ,trouble4 ,let us go forth--,on our great mission of love and mercy4 ,into the field--,into the world1 which needs us so much4 ,let us lodge--,take up our temporary dwellingplace4 ,in the villages--8,have thou authority over ten cities60 8,the tabernacle of ,god is with men40 #g3ab4 ,let us get up early--,in the dawn of the ,new ,age4 ,to the vineyards--,the hearts of mankind in general4 ,let us see if the vine flourish--,if men are beginning to draw nigh to ,god4 ,the tender grape appear--,if there is promise of an ultimate fruitage pleasing to the ,father4 ,and the pomegranates appear--,if there are evidences that love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 meekness1 are going to abound4 ,there--,when you see with what infinite patience and wisdom and love ,i cultivate the heartgardens of men4 ,will ,i give thee--,cause thee to appreciate fully4 ,my loves--,the love with which ,i have loved thee4 #g3ac4 ,the mandrakes give a smell--,the regeneration of the world is nigh4 ,and at our gates--,the ,ancient ,worthies are the gates by which the restitution classes will come to the ,mediator4 ,are all manner of pleasant--,agreeable1 attractive1 pleasing4 ,fruits new and old--,the virtues which the ,bride cultivated and others especially appropriate to the changed conditions of the ,new ,age4 ,which ,i have laid up--,as a part of the muchdiversified ,plan of the ,ages4 ,for thee1 ,o ,my beloved--,for thy enjoyment4 #h3a ,o that ,thou--,my ,lord and ,head4 ,the ,bride addresses her ,lord4 ,wert as my brother--,not so immeasurably above me in character and station4 ,that sucked the breasts of my mother--,so that we would be on an equality with each other4 ,when ,i should find ,thee without--,beyond the house of flesh4 ,i would kiss ,thee--,would feel free to express in ,thy presence the great love ,i feel4 ,yea ,i should not--,under such circumstances4 ,be despised--,by the critics who now blame me for presuming to so high a station as to be ,thy ,bride4 #h3b4 ,i would lead thee and bring thee--,but now it is ,thou alone that are competent to lead4 ,into my mother's house--,the antitypical ,sarah tent4 ,who would instruct me--8,they shall be all taught of ,god40 ,i would cause ,thee to drink--,accept1 appropriate1 enjoy4 ,of spiced wine--,doctrines flavored with the ,holy ,spirit4 ,of the juice of my pomegranate--,the pomegranate curiously combines the flavors of all fruits4 ,it thus well illustrates the fruitage of love1 the sum of all the ,christian graces4 #h3c4 ,his left hand--,his power as illustrated in the guidance of ,his people into all necessary truth4 ,should be under my head--,directing my mental faculties4 ,and his right hand--,his power as illustrated in overruling all things that would harm me4 ,should embrace me--8,secure in ,his tender embrace1 ,i'd have nothing to doubt or to fear40 #h3d4 ,i charge you--,i must give you this message4 ,o daughters of ,jerusalem--,professed children of ,god4 ,that ye stir not up--,seek not to arouse4 ,nor awake my ,love--,to take charge of earth's affairs4 ,until ,he please--,for when ,he does stand up to assume control1 8there will be a ,time of ,trouble such as never was10 in which all the earthly organizations upon which you have set your heart will be obliterated4 #h3e4 ,who is this--,the ,heavenly ,father thus speaks of the ,bride4 ,that cometh up--,that cometh forward into prominence4 ,from the wilderness--,at the end of #abfj years of wilderness hiding and papal supremacy4 ,leaning upon her ,beloved--,upon her ,lord4 ,i raised thee up--8,it is ,god that justifieth4 ,who is he that condemneth80 ,under the apple tree--,under ,christ1 the ,author and ,finisher of your salvation4 ,there thy mother--,the antitypical ,sarah4 ,brought thee forth--8,shall ,i bring to the birth and not cause to bring forth80 ,there she brought thee forth--,the ,oathbound ,covenant accomplished its end4 ,that bare thee--,from earthly to ,heavenly conditions4 #h3f4 ,set me as a seal--,indelibly impressed4 ,the ,bride beseeches her ,lord4 ,upon ,thy heart--,thine infinite love4 ,as a seal upon ,thine arm--,thine infinite power4 ,for love--,such love as ,i have for ,thee4 ,is strong as death--8,neither death nor life shall be able to separate us from the love of ,god which is in ,christ ,jesus our ,lord40 ,jealousy--,the fear that ,i may not1 after all1 prove acceptable to ,you1 as ,your ,bride4 ,is cruel as the grave--,sheol1 oblivion4 ,the coals thereof--,the weaknesses of my fallen flesh4 ,are coals of fire--,burned into my very soul4 ,which hath a most vehement flame--,these burning thoughts of my imperfections will be with me as long as ,i am in this tabernacle4 #h3g4 ,many waters--,nor angels nor principalities4 ,cannot quench love--,the ,father reassures the anxious ,bride4 ,neither can the floods--8,nor things present nor things to come40 ,drown ,it--,extinguish it4 ,if a man--,the ,man whom ,i have ordained4 ,would give all the substance of his ,house--,all ,his own glorious station with me on the ,throne of the ,universe4 ,for love--,in exchange for the love you have manifested for ,him throughout the dark night of your earthly career4 ,it would utterly be condemned--,despised by the courts of ,heaven4 #h3h4 ,we--,the ,lord and ,his ,bride together speak4 ,have a little sister--,the ,foolish ,virgin class1 born of the same ,father and the same antitypical ,sarah1 the ,oathbound ,covenant4 ,and she hath no breasts--,is not fully developed4 ,what shall we do--,what will be the ,divine arrangement8 ,for our sister--,the ,great ,company class4 ,in the day--,the close of the ,time of ,trouble4 ,when she shall be spoken for--,called to render up her account4 #h3i4 ,if she be a wall--,bulwark of truth1 on the ,one ,foundation4 ,we will build upon her--8,other foundation can no man lay40 ,a palace of silver--,give her a place with the ,great ,company class4 ,and if she be a door--,by which men and women have found the ,lord and the ,truth4 ,we will inclose her--,give her an environment4 ,with boards of cedar--,everlasting life4 #h3aj4 ,i am a wall--,the ,bride thus refers to herself as having been a staunch defender of the ,truth4 8,lo1 we have left all and followed ,thee40 ,what then shall we have8 ,and my breasts--,unlike the ,foolish ,virgins4 ,like towers--8,whereof ye may suck and be satisfied milk out and be delighted40 ,then--,because ,i reached the development of character ,he desired4 ,was ,i in ,his eyes--,the eyes of the ,bridegroom4 ,as one that found favor--,peace 7margin74 #h3aa4 ,solomon--,christ4 ,had a ,vineyard--,for growing the fruitage of love4 ,at ,baalhamon--7,lord of the multitude47 ,a reference to the ,messianic ,reign1 in which ,christ will be ,lord of all4 ,he let out the vineyards--,gave the immediate care4 ,unto keepers--,the ,ancient ,worthies1 8whom ,thou mayest make princes in all the earth40 ,every one--,of the keepers4 ,for the fruit thereof--,the kind of fruitage expected4 ,was to bring--,present1 offer4 ,a thousand pieces of silver--,yield a rich return of truth and praise from the hearts cultivated4 #h3ab4 ,my vineyard--,the same vineyard4 ,which is mine--,we are made jointheirs with ,christ4 ,is before me--,will take a thousand years to till4 ,thou1 ,o ,solomon--,christ4 ,must have a thousand--,tributes of praise4 ,and those that kept the fruit thereof--,the ,ancient ,worthies4 ,two hundred--,a fifth as much1 as their portion4 #h3ac4 ,thou--,the restitution classes1 address their ,lord4 ,that dwellest in the gardens--,the heartgardens of the redeemed race4 ,the companions--,the ,great ,company2 the companions that followed the ,bride4 ,hearken to thy voice--,have entered with joy into the ,king's palace4 ,cause me to hear it--,o ,lord1 ,i see there is hope to me4 ,i also would be ,thine4 ,show me ,thy will4 #h3ad4 ,make haste1 my ,beloved--,the restitution classes continue4 ,and be ,thou like--,in thy swiftness of movement4 ,to a roe or to a young hart--,leaping from mountain to mountain1 kingdom to kingdom4 ,upon the mountains--,the various divisions of the ,kingdom of ,god during the ,messianic ,reign4 ,of spices--,good deeds1 kind words and noble thoughts4 8,and ,i will make all my mountains a way1 and my highways shall be exalted40 8,the kingdoms of this world are become the ,kingdom of our ,lord1 and of ,his ,christ1 and ,he shall reign for ever and ever40 ,amen4 ,the ,heavenly ,bridegroom ,that ,he is mine and ,i am ,his1 ,oh6 wondrous thought4 ,i am so poor1 so weak1 so lowly1 can there aught ,of worthiness in me be found1 that ,he should love ,and seek me for ,his ,bride8 ,i hear ,his voice1 8,my ,dove1 ,thou art all fair1 ,my ,spouse1 there is no spot in thee2 ,thy speech is comely1 better is thy love to ,me ,than wine6 ,thine eyes as ,heshbon's fishpools1 and like flocks ,upon ,mount ,gilead are thy spiced and flowerdecked locks4 ,the winter's past1 ,my ,dove1 come1 come with ,me away1 ,far spent the night1 make ready for thy nuptial day60 ,my heart responds1 8,throughout the manycenturied night ,i've longed for ,thee4 ,i've waited for the dawning light2 ,and ,i have laid ,thee like sweet myrrh upon my breast1 ,thine arm beneath my weary head hath brought me rest4 ,thou whom my soul doth love1 ,thy countenance is fair ,to see within the secret places of the stair2 ,thy head is like fine gold1 how beautiful ,thy feet6 ,thine eyes as doves' eyes1 and ,thy lips with honey sweet4 ,i rise1 my ,lord1 ,i leave my father's house1 behold ,my ,robe of ,righteousness1 my raiment of wrought gold6 ,oh6 wealth of love divine1 that claims me for ,thine own4 ,oh6 miracle of grace1 to seat me on ,thy ,throne4 ,oh6 glorious future hopes1 ,oh6 bliss beyond compare1 ,through all eternity ,thy love and work to share60 --,g4,w4,s4 ,june #be1 #aiag4 ,,the ,,book ,,of ,,the ,,prophet ,,ezekiel ,ezekiel #a--;,god's ,character ,and ,plan #a3a4 ,now it came to pass in the thirtieth year1 in the fourth month1 in the fifth day of the month1 at ,i was among the captives by the river of ,chebar1 that the heavens were opened1 and ,i saw visions of ,god4--,christ promised that at ,his ,second ,advent ,he would raise up a 8faithful and wise servant10 or 8steward10 who should watch and give forth in due season meat for the ,household of ,faith4 ,this one should be given charge of all the ,storehouse1 the ,word of ,god1 to bring out of it things new and old4 7,matt4 #bd3dddg2 ,luke #ab3dbdd47 ,the ,prophet ,ezekiel types this servant4 ,as ,ezekiel was among the ,lord's people1 the ,hebrews1 in captivity in literal ,babylon1 this servant was among those in captivity in ,mystic ,babylon1 beside the great river ,chebar 78,joining071 the stream of commerce which joins the nations1 on which ,christendom is founded1 and from which she draws her support1 as did in a literal sense ,babylon from her great river1 ,euphrates4 ,in the early seventies ,charles ,taze ,russell found himself engaged in commerce1 but earnestly studying the ,word of ,god1 and striving to teach what he found therein4 ,in fulfilment of the ,divine promise the ,heavenly things were opened to him 7,matt4 #c3af71 and he saw the significance of the visions1 prophecies1 given in olden times by the ,almighty4 ,he was given a crystalclear understanding of the character of ,jehovah4 ,illustration ,ezekiel's ,vision ,by ,the ,river ,of ,chebar #a3b1 #c4 ,in the fifth day of the month1 which was the fifth year of king ,jehoiachin's captivity1 the ,word of the ,lord came expressly unto ,ezekiel the priest1 the son of ,buzi1 in the land of the ,chaldeans by the river ,chebar2 and the hand of the ,lord was there upon him4--,men do not raise themselves up to become great and honored agents in ,god's outworking of the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages 7,luke #ah3ad2 ,eph4 #c3aa72 but now and then throughout the centuries ,jehovah ,himself 7#a ,cor4 #ab3ah7 has raised up ,christian men to carry forward one step or another of ,his purposes4 ,god made special use of ,st ,paul1 ,st ,john1 ,arius1 ,peter ,waldo1 ,john ,wycliffe1 ,martin ,luther and ,charles ,t4 ,russell4 ,the significance of the word ,ezekiel is 8,god is strong10 and epitomizes the faith and the message of ,pastor ,russell4 ,he shows the power of ,jehovah to save ,his people now 7,acts #ae3ad71 and later to save all the willing and obedient of mankind4 7,acts #ae3ag47 ,as ,ezekiel was the son of ,buzi1 8,contemned of ,god10 ,pastor ,russell was born the child of a nominal religious system which is unfaithful to ,jehovah4 ,pastor ,russell1 by the faithful carrying out of his vow of consecration to ,divine service1 was accepted as a true priest of the ,almighty4 ,he sacrificed himself and all that he had until1 in ,october1 #aiaf1 he died penniless1 but rich in the things of ,god4 ,chosen expressly by ,god to declare the message of ,present ,truth to the last1 or ,laodicean age1 of the ,church1 the hand1 power1 of ,jehovah was upon him4 #a3d4 ,and ,i looked and behold1 a whirlwind came out of the north1 a great cloud1 and a fire infolding itself1 and a brightness was about it2 and out of the midst thereof as the colour of amber1 out of the midst of the fire4--,as a young man ,charles ,t4 ,russell was looking intently to see what might be discerned in the ,word of ,god4 8,watch10 said the ,master4 ,pastor ,russell took for his motto1 8,i will stand upon my watch1 and set me upon the tower1 and will watch to see what ,he will say unto me40 7,hab4 #b3a7 ,he called his semimonthly publication1 8,,the ,,watch ,,tower02 and1 firm in the belief that the ,second ,advent took place in #ahgd1 he included as a sub title1 8,and ,herald of ,christ's ,presence40 ,the north symbolizes the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom of ,god4 7,isa4 #ad3ac2 ,d4 #fec47 ,pastor ,russell beheld coming1 permitted by ,god1 a great ,time of ,trouble1 a whirlwind of warfare1 revolution and anarchy4 7,jer4 #be3cb2 ,psa4 #eh3i1 #aj2 ,d4 #ebh47 ,it was the cloud accompanying the approach to human affairs of ,him for whose ,kingdom many have so long prayed4 8,clouds and darkness are round about ,him3 righteousness and judgment are the habitation of ,his ,throne1 a fire goeth before ,him and burneth up ,his enemies round about40 7,psa4 #ig3b7 ,a conflagration1 beginning with world war1 is upon the earth1 developing into revolution and anarchy4 ,fire symbolises the last of these misfortunes4 7,dan4 #g3aa7 ,the situation is complicated1 infolding1 perplexing4 ,none of the national leaders understand the situation4 ,to the poor world1 in gross darkness1 and lying 8in the wicked one10 the cloud is full of darkness 7,isa4 #fj3b71 of gloominess 7,joel #b3b2 ,zeph4 #a3ae72 but to those who are taken out of the world and into ,christ1 it is full of brightness and hope--a white cloud1 with a silver lining4 ,in the bright light of the dawning ,day of ,christ the faces of the ,lord's people light up with joy as they see these things coming to pass2 for their 8deliverance draweth nigh0 7,luke #ba3bh7--the deliverance1 too1 of the whole world from the kingdom of ,satan1 the god of this world 7#b ,cor4 #d3d71 into the glorious ,kingdom of ,god1 the other side of the trouble4 ,with the understanding of ,god1 ,his work1 plan and purpose1 there shone forth the amber1 golden glow of the ,divine presence1 and of the true character1 nature and glory of the ,almighty ,god of ,love4 ,the ,father ,himself is supervising the troublous commotion1 bruising to heal 7,hos4 #f3a71 and 8shortening the days40--,matt4 #bd3bb4 ,illustration ,one ,of ,the ,living ,creatures #a3e4 ,also out of the midst thereof came the likeness of four living creatures4 ,and this was their appearance2 they had the likeness of a man4--,out of the contemplation of the cloud of trouble1 the worldwide commotion1 the destructive anarchy1 and of the golden amber glow of ,god's presence1 came a wonderful understanding of something long misunderstood and misrepresented--the character of ,god4 ,as the vision showed 8four living creatures10 so the ,divine character was seen by the ,laodicean steward to consist of four active principles 7,rev4 #c3ad72 ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,the four have the likeness of a perfect man4 #a3f4 ,and every one had four faces1 and every one had four wings4--,each of the four attributes has four characteristics or attributes2 and each has the ,word of ,god 7wings--,rev4 #ab3ad71 in the ,old and ,new ,testament1 in two different ways of operation 7two pairs74 #a3g4 ,and their feet were straight feet2 and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot3 and they sparkled like the colour of burnished brass4--,the feet members of ,christ1 embodying the ,divine attributes on earth1 are righteous 7straight7 in ,christ's righteousness1 pure1 unblemished in ,god's sight1 holy1 acceptable1 living sacrifices 7the calf is a type of unblemished sacrifice72 and they shine with the imputed perfection of the ,man ,christ ,jesus4 #a3h4 ,and they had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides3 and they four had their faces and their wings4--,the hand is symbolic of power and of execution of purpose4 ,overshadowed by the ,word of ,god is the ,divine power 7hand7 to execute the thing purposed1 operating through human channels1 through the power of men4 ,he shows the qualities of the ,divine mind through man4 ,shielded1 protected1 sustained by the ,word 7wings7--7,psa4 #fa3d71 the work of the ,almighty goes on through 8the foolishness of preaching40 7#a ,cor4 #a3ba47 ,men and women are 8coworkers with ,god40 7#b ,cor4 #f3a47 ,the hands 7powers7 of man are instruments for the operation of infinite ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 #a3i4 ,their wings were joined one to another2 they turned not when they went2 they went everyone straight forward4--,the wings 7,psa4 #ia3d2 ,rev4 #ab3ad7 are perfectly joined together in unity of purpose and action4 ,straight on to the end ordained of ,god goes ,his ,word1 upholding and strengthening4--,isa4 #df3aj1 #aa4 #a3aj4 ,as for the likeness of their faces1 they four had the face of a man1 and the face of a lion1 on the right side3 and they four had the face of an ox on the left side2 they four also had the face of an eagle4--,the character of ,jehovah possesses four fundamental attributes1 each composed of all the others4 ,the four faces or features of the living creatures represent the four attributes of ,god1 each inseparable from the others1 and in each operate each and all of the four4 ,divine ,justice operates in the fulness of ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,in the fall of man into sin1 unbending ,justice enforced death for disobedience4 ,love delayed the execution of the sentence upon ,adam #icj years 7,gen4 #e3e71 that ,wisdom might impress upon the erring human son an indelible lesson of the exceeding sinfulness of sin 7,rom4 #g3ac7 and the extent of the penalty1 death1 that man1 by said experience1 might 8know evil40 7,gen4 #c3e47 ,divine power will raise man from the dead1 that he may learn to 8know good0 and experience the fulness of the ,father's ,love and ,wisdom4 ,all who are willing and obedient1 who consecrate fully to ,god's will1 shall enjoy 8pleasures forevermore0 7,psa4 #af3aa7 in the sunshine of ,divine favor4 ,the unwilling and disobedient shall suffer the full penalty of ,justice in the ,second ,death 7,rev4 #ba3h71 8utter destruction0 7#b ,thes4 #a3i71 final and eternal obliteration4 7,psa4 #cg3aj47 ,the face of a man symbolizes the quality of ,love1 in the character image and likeness of ,god 7,gen4 #a3bg71 the ,god of love4 7#a ,john #d3h47 ,the ox represents ,power 7,rev4 #d3g72 for no animal is stronger1 or more patient in the exercise of strength4 ,the majestic lion is ,god's ,justice1 roaring its message of death1 and executing all that oppose its voice4 7,psa4 #hi3ad47 ,no other creature is so farsighted1 or soars so high as the eagle4 ,the eagle symbolizes ,wisdom1 farseeing1 ordering all the affairs of the ,almighty along the lines of ,justice1 ,power and ,love4 #a3aa4 ,thus were their faces3 and their wings were stretched upward2 two wings of every one were joined one to another1 and two covered their bodies4--,each pair of wings 7,rev4 #ab3ad7 symbolizes a separate function of ,god's ,word2 one pair to fly with1 to carry forward the ,plan in the spirit realm1 the powers of the air 7,eph4 #b3b71 the other to uphold 8all things by the ,word0 7,heb4 #a3c7 and to cover and protect4--,psa4 #ia3d4 #a3ab4 ,and they went every one straight forward3 whither the spirit was to go1 they went2 and they turned not when they went4--,not with wavering1 as darkened minds imagine1 proceeds the ,divine ,word1 but 8without variableness or shadow of turning40 7,jas4 #a3ag47 ,wheresoever the mind1 or ,spirit1 of ,jehovah sends forth ,his ,word1 thither straight onward go perfect ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 #a3ac4 ,as for the likeness of the living creatures1 their appearance was like burning coals of fire1 and like the appearance of lamps3 it went up and down among the living creatures2 and the fire was bright1 and out of the fire went forth lightning4--,god's ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom glow with the light of wisdom4 ,the understanding of ,god's attributes makes every quality of the ,almighty to glow with a wondrous illumination to anyone given to see the 8visions of ,god0 first perceived clearly by the ,laodicean ,servant4 8,thy ,word is a lamp0 7,psa4 #aai3aje71 shedding light in the darkness1 effecting a personal local illumination4 ,the ,word is a lamp to the 8feet0 members of ,christ4 7,eph4 #a3bc47 ,up and down1 everywhere1 throughout all the ,divine qualities1 wherever manifested1 spreads the illumination now shining through the ,lamp1 the ,word4 #a3ad4 ,and the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning4--,in the operation of ,divine ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom are sudden gleams of ,heavenly wisdom upon great problems1 such as now light up the dark clouds of the ,time of ,trouble4 #a3ae4 ,now as ,i beheld the living creatures1 behold one wheel upon the earth by the living creatures1 with his four faces4--,the word 8cycle10 or 8wheel10 is familiar in bicycle1 motorcycle1 and in cycle as applied to epochs4 ,the ,divine attributes operate upon human society1 the symbolic earth1 in cycles1 or ages 7,eph4 #c3aa71 and in the mechanisms of ages by which ,god's ,plan is carried forward1 ,his character1 or face1 is seen4 #a3af4 ,the appearance of the wheels and their work was like unto the colour of a beryl3 and they four had one likeness2 and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel4--,pliny says of the beryl or chrysolithos1 8,it is a transparent stone with a refulgence like that of gold40 ,says ,smith's ,bible ,dictionary1 8,the ancient chrysolithos1 or modern topaz1 appears to have a better claim than any other stone to represent the tarshish of the ,hebrew ,bible40 ,gold is symbolic of things ,divine4 ,these golden cycles are the ,divinely appointed ages in connection with the four attributes of ,deity4 ,the ,divine operations are not in one simple age1 cycle1 or manner of operation1 but cycle within cycle1 age within age1 many operations working together 8manifold0 7,eph4 #c3aj71 like a vast and complicated machine4 #a3ag4 ,when they went1 they went upon their four sides2 and they turned not when they went4--,divine ,justice conflicts not with ,divine ,love1 nor with ,wisdom nor ,power1 but all qualities are in simultaneous operation4 ,they proceed along lines planned ages ago4--,jas4 #a3ag4 #a3ah4 ,as for their rings1 they were so high that they were dreadful2 and their rings were full of eyes round about them four4--8,as the heavens are higher than the earth1 so are ,my ways 7plans7 higher than your ways40 7,isa4 #ee3i47 ,the ,plan of the ,ages reveals the lengths1 breadths1 heights and depths of the purposes of ,god1 and fills the reverent soul with awe4 ,the ,plan of ,god is full of the infinite ,wisdom 7eyes--,psa4 #cb3h7 of its ,author4--,b4 #cje4 #a3ai4 ,and when the living creatures went1 the wheels went by them3 and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth1 the wheels were lifted up4--,whenever ,god's attributes operate they are in accordance with the ,divine ,plan2 sometimes the ,divine qualities are exercised towards celestial things and sometimes towards things terrestrial4--#a ,cor4 #ae3dj4 #a3bj4 ,whithersoever the spirit was to go1 they went1 thither was their spirit to go2 and the wheels were lifted up over against them3 for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels4--,the ,spirit1 or ,power of ,god1 is in all ,his attributes and in all their operations4 #a3ba4 ,when those went1 these went2 and when those stood1 these stood2 and when those were lifted up from the earth1 the wheels were lifted up over against them2 for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels4--,in whatever direction the ,divine ,spirit is to act1 whether in earthly things or among spirit beings1 thither the operations of the ,spirit go in the cooperative action of all ,god's attributes4 ,when an age is finished and one attribute ceases its action1 they all cease4 #a3bb4 ,and the likeness of the firmament upon the heads of the living creature was as the colour of the terrible crystal1 stretched forth over their heads above4--,the firmament in the air or atmosphere 7,gen4 #a3bj71 and symbolizes the powers of spiritual control4 ,above the attributes of ,god and controlling their operations is the ,divine will4 ,the expression of ,god's will during the time indicated by the vision is the ,christ1 ,head and ,body4 8,all power in ,heaven and in earth0 7,matt4 #bh3ah7 is given unto ,christ1 and will be shared by ,his ,bride and ,jointheir4 7,rev4 #bj3d47 8,the terrible crystal0--literally 8the reverential ice0--suggests the reverence due to the ruling ,christ ,head and ,body1 and their own reverential attitude towards the ,father4 ,the color is that of ice1 clear as crystal1 pure1 unmixed 8truth in the inward parts0 7,psa4 #ea3f71 characterizing the new ruling powers in the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom of ,god4 #a3bc4 ,and under the firmament were their wings straight1 the one toward the other3 every one had two1 which covered on this side1 and every one had two1 which covered on that side1 their bodies4--,beneath1 subject to the direction of the ,christ1 ,head and ,church triumphant1 are the wings 7,word of ,god--,rev4 #ab3ad74 ,whenever ,divine ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom are in action1 the ,word of ,god points straight up to the ,father as the ,source of every good thing4 #a3bd4 ,and when they went1 ,i heard the noise of their wings1 like the noise of great waters1 as the voice of the ,almighty1 the voice of speech1 as the noise of a host3 when they stood1 they let down their wings4--,the sound of the ,father's ,word is as the voice of great waters 7,rev4 #a3ae71 mighty truths1 in 8the voice of speech10 for the benefit of ,his children4 ,it is the voice of ,god1 too1 when spoken by ,his people4 ,when ,divine ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom operate upon human society1 then the ,word of ,god is in full harmony therewith4 #a3be4 ,and there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads1 when they stood1 and had let down their wings4--,it is through the reigning ,christ1 ,zion1 that the voice of ,jehovah shall sound forth4 8,the ,lord will roar from ,zion40 7,amos #a3b47 8,out of ,zion shall go forth the ,law40 7,isa4 #b3c47 ,through ,the ,christ sounds forth the ,word of ,god bespeaking to the world infinite ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 #a3bf4 ,and above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne1 as the appearance of a sapphire stone3 and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a ,man above upon it4--8,,the ,,head ,,of ,,christ ,,is ,,god40 7#a ,cor4 #aa3c47 ,above the triumphant ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 is the ,throne of ,almighty ,god4 8,the ,son is subject to ,him that put all things under ,him40 7#a ,cor4 #ae3bh47 ,the ,throne represents the dominion of ,god4 ,as the blue sapphire 7symbolic of faithfulness71 so is the rulership of the ,almighty4 8,god is faithful40 7#a ,cor4 #a3i47 ,in the contemplation of the watchers1 the faithfulness1 unchangeableness of ,god1 is seen shining through the ,christ1 the firmament1 like the soft blue of the sapphire stone4 ,man is in the image and likeness of ,god4 ,reigning over all is ,one whom men can understand1 a ,deity whose perfect ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom elicit complete consecration4 ,god is seen to be not a ferocious demon1 belying ,his own command of love1 but a just1 reasonable1 loving ,god1 able to save all the willing and obedient4 ,jesus1 the friend of sinners1 was and is the perfect image of the ,father4 #a3bg4 ,and ,i saw as the colour of amber1 as the appearance of fire round about within it1 from the appearance of ,his loins even upward1 and from the appearance of ,his loins even downward1 ,i saw as it were the appearance of fire1 and it had brightness round about4--8,god dwelleth in light whereto no man can approach40 7#a ,tim4 #f3af47 ,radiant is the ,almighty with the golden glow of the ,divine nature4 8,our ,god is a consuming fire0 7,heb4 #ab3bi72 only the perfect can stand in ,his presence2 for all dross1 not refinable 7,mal4 #c3b1 #c71 is consumed by ,justice4 ,the essence of the ,divine ,revelation is ,love1 the golden light radiating in every direction from ,our ,father4 8,he that loveth his brother abideth in the light0 7#a ,john #b3aj71 in the ,divine lovelight that surrounds the ,throne and pervades the entire spirit realm4 ,this love is the light of the world1 to light men unto ,god4 #a3bh4 ,as the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain1 so was the appearance of the brightness round about4 ,this was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the ,lord4 ,and when ,i saw it1 ,i fell upon my face1 and ,i heard a voice of one that spake4--,the ,throne and ,he that sat thereon were surrounded by all the colors of the rainbow4 7,rev4 #d3c47 ,the love spirit finds fruitage in character fruits4 ,so the light of our ,father is divisible into the warm red of love1 the glowing blue of faithfulness1 the brilliant green of immortality1 the royal purple of kingship1 for those on any plane who are worthy of that honor1 etc4--the manifestation of every good character fruit and every good purpose for the blessing of all ,his creatures4 7,john #ae3h2 ,gal4 #e3bb47 ,the glory of ,god is not a display of blinding light to terrify men2 but it is to do good1 to manifest to the uttermost ,his character of love4 ,when the watchman of the ,laodicean age discerned the ,divine character and ,plan he fell upon his face 7,rev4 #a3ag71 in reverential worship and in complete consecration to do the will of his ,father in ,heaven4 ,there sounded forth and through him1 from the pages of ,god's ,word 7,isa4 #cj3ba71 the voice of the ,sublime ,one who has been speaking to ,christendom during this dawn of the ,golden ,age4 ,ezekiel #b--,the ,rebellious ,house ,and ,the ,book #b3a4 ,and ,he said unto me1 ,son of man1 stand upon thy feet1 and ,i will speak unto thee4--,it is a mark of favor to stand before a king4 7,prov4 #bb3bi47 ,those who stand before rulers receive commissions1 are invested with authority and power4 #b3b4 ,and the spirit entered into me when ,he spake unto me1 and set me upon my feet1 that ,i heard ,him that spake unto me4--8,the words which ,i speak1 they are spirit40 7,john #f3fc47 ,when the full import of the ,word was discerned1 ,pastor ,russell took a firm stand4 ,the spirit1 power1 influence of ,god entered into him1 never to leave4 ,he stood firmly1 before ,god1 before his friends1 and before all the hostile hosts of ,mystic ,babylon the ,great4 #b3c4 ,and ,he said unto me1 ,son of man1 ,i send thee to the children of ,israel1 to a rebellious nation that hath rebelled against ,me2 they and their fathers have transgressed against ,me1 even unto this very day4--,pastor ,russell's work was largely among professing ,christians--not slum work1 ,christian work among the professedly non,christians1 or a revivalistic work calling to repentance and conversion4 ,this was not the work appropriate to the ,harvest of the ,christian ,age4 ,john the ,baptist announced the ,first ,presence of ,messiah1 and began the harvesting of ,jewry1 and was not sent to the heathen1 but to the ,lord's people1 the ,jews1 to acquaint them with the ,first ,advent1 expose those withholding the keys of knowledge 7,luke #aa3eb71 and warn of the impending destruction of ,jerusalem and ,judea in ,a4 ,d4 #gj and #gc4 7,matt4 #c3g2 #bd3b47 ,a like work was to be accomplished in ,spiritual ,israel1 ,christendom1 after the ,lord's ,second ,advent in #ahgd4 ,the man raised up1 8set upon his feet10 and given wisdom1 grace and power for the task1 was ,pastor ,russell4 #b3d4 ,for they are impudent children and stiffhearted4 ,i do send thee unto them2 and thou shalt say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god4--,few things are more trying than a family of impudent children4 ,forwardness in evil doing and evilspeaking was one of the characteristics of the ,hebrew people4 ,they violated the ,word of ,god and justified the violation4 7,matt4 #ae3e47 ,by impudent--hard faced--tradition they made void the ,word of ,god4 ,the effrontery of the 8,christian0 era has been unsurpassed4 ,possessing greatest light1 they have sinned most grievously4 ,the ,word said1 8,he that is begotten of ,god sinneth not0 7#a ,john #c3i72 yet ,john ,tetzel was1 and in some countries ,roman ,catholic priests still are1 selling indulgences to commit sin4 ,professing 8,christians0 keep ,christianity out of their affairs with the phrase1 8,business is business40 #b3e4 ,and they1 whether they will hear1 or whether they will forbear1 7for they are a rebellious house17 yet shall know that there hath been a ,prophet among them4--,the work of ,ezekiel among the ,hebrews in captivity proved a thankless task4 ,he was rejected by both those in captivity and those remaining at ,jerusalem under ,zedekiah4 ,his following was almost nothing4 ,but he witnessed faithfully1 and no ,hebrew could say that he had not been cautioned of danger and warned of impending catastrophe4 ,whether the clergy and people of ,christendom wished to heed ,pastor ,russell or not1 they certainly heard his words4 7,z4 '#jcdcf47 ,his work was peculiarly prospered4 ,against difficulties it grew and extended beyond the wildest dreams1 until it compassed the civilized world4 ,in the face of the united opposition of ,protestant and ,romanist clergy1 the steward of ,almighty ,god accomplished the most gigantic preaching work ever done by one man4 8,i cannot open the morning paper without ,pastor ,russell staring me in the face10 said a prominent minister4 ,in the newspapers1 in the theatres1 on the billboards1 in billions of tract pages distributed gratis1 in millions of home libraries1 in the questions of inquiring church members1 it was evident everywhere that a great preacher was faithfully sounding forth a trumpet message4 ,with a voice of many waters1 reverberating like thunder throughout the world1 spoke ,pastor ,russell2 and ere long 8they shall know that there hath been a ,prophet preacher among them40 #b3f1 #g4 ,and thou1 son of man1 be not afraid of them1 neither be afraid of their words1 though briers and thorns be with thee1 and thou dost dwell among scorpions2 be not afraid of their words1 nor be dismayed at their looks though they be a rebellious house4 ,and thou shalt speak ,my words1 unto them1 whether they will hear1 or whether they will forbear2 for they are most rebellious4--,fearlessness characterized ,ezekiel and ,pastor ,russell1 both outcasts among the 8best0 people4 ,pastor ,russell was thrust by the church people into a wilderness condition1 amid the briers of opposition and reproach4 ,though the thorns of persecution crowned his head1 he was never afraid of words nor of angry looks4 7,jer4 #a3haj47 8,i would rather see him stoned to death10 said a ,wilkes,barre1 ,pa4 preacher1 in answer to a kindly invitation to come and hear ,pastor ,russell preach4 8,he ought to be skinned alive1 and his hide stretched on a door10 remarked a ,chicago 8divine0 to another 8divine10 coming out from one of ,pastor ,russell's addresses4 ,a scorpion has a great swelling1 formidable looking head1 but it stings with its tail4 7,rev4 #i3e1 #aj47 ,ecclesiasticism is made up of organizations whose heads utter boastful1 swelling words1 but which do injury through their followers4 ,the sting of a scorpion--of the followers of synods and popes--is through poisoned words4 ,every great reformer has had some turn on him who were very close to him4 ,not from outside did ,pastor ,russell suffer most4 ,a few from among his own household1 whom he had befriended1 helped1 pushed1 advanced1 struck at him to ruin him and destroy his influence and his work4 ,it is characteristic of the scorpion to sting and poison in the dark corners of a man's own home4 8,be not afraid1 though thou dost dwell among scorpions40 #b3h4 ,but thou1 son of man1 hear what ,i say unto thee2 ,be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house2 open thy mouth1 and eat that ,i give thee4--,the attitude of the rebellious ,christian was not that of ,god's chosen servant4 ,never did he rebel against the ,divine leading1 nor seek to pervert the ,word of ,god4 8,my flesh is meat 7food7 indeed40 7,jno4 #f3ee47 8,man shall not live by bread alone1 but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of ,god40 7,matt4 #d3d47 ,whatever the word or message that came from the ,father's lips through the inspired pages of the ,bible1 the ,laodicean steward was to appropriate1 assimilate4--,rev4 #aj3i4 #b3i4 ,and when ,i looked1 behold1 a hand was sent unto me2 and lo1 a roll of a book was therein4--,the ,divine hand sent from ,god is the ,divine power1 support1 upholding and advancing the interests of whatever is in the hand4 8,the book therein0 is the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages1 ,present ,truth1 especially as relating to the impending downfall of ,christendom in the end of this ,age4 ,ancient books were written on a continuous sheet1 rolled up4 ,the sheet was often written on both sides4 ,the writing outside could be plainly read until covered by the rolling1 but that inside was entirely hidden from view4 ,present ,truth1 the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages1 contains features which are plain to any one who looks at them2 such as those relating to the earthly features of ,god's ,plan--the evil in the earth1 the clashing interests of rich and poor1 and various other elements of the present order of things1 the great war1 and the approach of a better order of things after the present troubles are over4 ,present ,truth1 8the roll of the book10 also contains hidden1 deep truths1 discernible only to those who have the ,holy ,spirit4 ,it possesses features impossible for natural men1 not anointed with the ,spirit1 to perceive4 8,the natural man perceiveth not the things of the ,spirit1 neither can he know them2 for they are spiritually discerned40 7#a ,cor4 #b3ad47 ,many thousands of consecrated ,christians are upheld1 comforted and rejoiced by the deep things of ,god1 made clear for the first time in centuries by the 8roll of the book40 #b3aj4 ,and ,he spread it before me2 and it was written within and without2 and there was written therein lamentations1 and mourning1 and woe4--,what an honor to be the person before whom the ,almighty would clearly spread out ,his purposes1--the honor which came to ,pastor ,russell1 and with it a witness work of vast extent and responsibility6 ,the purpose of ,present ,truth is to inform the ,lord's people and the people of the world1 as far as they may listen1 concerning the significance of the times4 ,all classes profit more or less from the warning of ,pastor ,russell1 as the message goes broadcast throughout the world4 ,it comes with a different significance to ,church and to world4 ,to the ,church it is a trumpet call of truth 7,rev4 #aj3bg71 to get ready quickly for deliverance1 resurrection glory1 honor and immortality4 ,to the world1 the worldlyminded1 the ,present ,truth is something to be dreaded4 7,isa4 #bh3ai47 ,this world1 age1 state of affairs1 is in process of destruction4 ,the destroying agencies1 as portrayed in the ,scriptures 7#a ,kings #ai3aa1 #ab2 ,z4 '#jdbdi2 ,z4 '#ihbjg1 #bjh7 are worldwide war1 then revolutions on an unprecedented scale1 and finally universal anarchy--savagery4 ,the significance of anarchy is appreciated by but few4 ,it means an utter absence of government1 first the paralysis1 and ultimately the ceasing1 of the governmental functions which now afford protection1 peace and safety to property and life4 ,as matters progress to the climax1 as disaster after disaster overtakes human effort1 and disintegration descends into the dissolution of law and order1 the whole earth will be 8filled with violence04 7,gen4 #f3aa2 ,micah #f3ab72 and men's hearts will utterly fail4 7,luke #ba3bf47 ,picture the worst revolutions ever known2 this trouble will outdo them all4 ,paint the darkest picture1 and none will be as black as the sable pall of this dreadful night1 this reign of terror already settling down upon mankind4 ,truly1 8mourning1 lamentation and woe0 were the burden of ,god's ,prophet ,ezekiel1 as he foresaw the destruction of his beloved city1 ,jerusalem--and of ,pastor ,russell1 as he foreknew the desolation of a world6 ,ezekiel #c--,pastor ,russell's ,divine ,ordination #c3a4 ,moreover ,he said unto me1 ,son of man1 eat that thou findest2 eat this roll1 and go speak unto the house of ,israel4--,the ,prophet was to find something4 ,as ,ezekiel ate the book in the hand of ,god1 so the 8faithful and wise servant0 of this day absorbed1 assimilated1 the ,plan of the ,ages which was in the power 7hand7 of the ,almighty4 ,pastor ,russell searched diligently to find all that he could of the purposes of ,god4 ,as he understood1 he was to go speak to 8the ,house of ,sons0 7,heb4 #c3f71 all the children1 sons of ,god--to nominal ,spiritual ,israelites4 #c3b4 ,so ,i opened my mouth1 and ,he caused me to eat that roll4--8,i never knew any one so willing to do the will of ,god10 said the private secretary and traveling companion of ,pastor ,russell4 ,he was eager to learn all he could about the ,heavenly ,father's will4 ,it was not of himself that he learned and taught the ,divine ,plan2 but ,god ,himself caused him to learn1 believe and teach4 #c3c4 ,and ,he said unto me1 ,son of man1 cause thy belly to eat1 and fill thy bowels with this roll that ,i give thee4 ,then did ,i eat it2 and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness4--,no mere casual scanning of ,present ,truth would suffice4 ,the man of ,god was to be filled with the great ,message4 7,rev4 #aj3i1 #aj47 8,the sweetest story ever told0 7,psa4 #ai3aj2 #aai3ajc7 brought inexpressible peace4 ,it sweetened the experiences of a life of sacrifice4 ,whoever eats1 assimilates ,present ,truth1 finds every heart question answered1 every doubt silenced4 ,he learns 8the peace of ,god that passeth understanding0 7,phil4 #d3g71 and a sweetness as of honey in the promises1 plans1 and purposes of the ,father of ,love4 #c3d4 ,and ,he said unto me1 ,son of man1 go1 get thee unto the house of ,israel1 and speak with ,my words unto them4--,from apostolic days to today all to whom the ,spirit gives utterance begin to speak 7,acts #b3aah7 because constrained to do so1 because they 8love to tell the story40 ,to ,ezekiel1 and to the greatest preacher of modern times1 came a readiness of speech1 when ,jehovah ,himself gave them ,his ,spirit1 and commanded to 8get thee unto the house of ,israel1 and speak with ,my words unto them40 #c3e4 ,for thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of a hard language1 but to the house of ,israel4--,present ,truth was not to go to the heathen1 the drunkards1 unbelievers1 but to the ,christian people of the world1 the spiritual ,house of ,israel4 #c3f4 ,not to many people of a strange speech and of a hard language1 whose words thou canst not understand4 ,surely1 had ,i sent thee to them1 they would have hearkened unto thee4--,if the ,message of ,present ,truth had been sent to the heathen with its glad tidings for all1 they would have turned from devil worship1 to worship the true ,god4 7,matt4 #aa3ba1 #bc47 ,on two occasions the trumpet sound was heard by 8people of a strange speech and of a hard language40 ,pastor ,russell passed through ,japan and ,india on a roundtheworld tour4 ,in ,japan the people requested that he stay4 ,it was the message they had longed for4 ,in ,india the natives heard him gladly4 ,in eastern and southern ,africa a believer in ,present ,truth found his way from ,nyassa to the ,cape1 and many thousands of natives embraced the ,truth and were baptised4 #c3g4 ,but the house of ,israel will not hearken unto thee2 for they will not hearken unto me2 for all the house of ,israel are impudent and hardhearted4--,christendom has never hearkened unto ,god4 ,they hear and do not4 7,jas4 #a3bb47 ,they are forgetful hearers of the ,word4 7,jas4 #a3be47 ,they know their ,master's will and do it not4 7,luke #ab3dg47 ,because they hear not ,god1 they heed not the ,word of ,god when brought to them by ,his servants4 #c3h4 ,behold1 ,i have made thy face strong against their faces1 and thy forehead strong against their foreheads4--,whatever situation ,pastor ,russell faced1 ,god made him more than equal to it4 ,this last and most illustrious of the reformers never asked for money2 yet he had enough entrusted to him to carry on the work4 ,champions of ,christendom met him on the debating platform2 each encounter widened and strengthened the witness for ,present ,truth4 ,he faced the modern enemies of ,reformation with books by tens of millions1 and they were unable to combat their power4 8,to read the ,studies in the ,scriptures10 admonished a ,southern preacher to his flock1 8is to believe them40 ,no argument could be devised to stem the flood of ,truth1 only a ban on the reading of the books4 ,in innumerable places priestcraft caused the public burning of the books4 ,practically every home in ,america1 ,england1 ,germany1 ,sweden1 ,australia1 and other ,protestant countries was reached by a deluge of free tracts4 ,such a tracting of the world with billions of pages1 was never known4 ,the enemies of ,truth were wholly unable to check the spread of knowledge4 ,a further situation faced was the production of the free ,photo,drama of ,creation1 seen and heard by twelve millions4 ,no answer could be put forth by clerical foes of truth1 but baseless1 cruel libels on the private life of one of ,god's noblemen4 ,audiences by the thousands listened to ,bible lectures by ,pastor ,russell and by hundreds of public speakers1 and their voice is still heard all over the world4 ,stinging assaults of slander were ignored by a man of destiny1 who had too much of ,god's work to do to pay attention to the yelpings of little men--of the ,d4 ,d4's of ,christendom 7,isa4 #ef3aj71 who love slumber1 but who snarl and bite when disturbed in their dreams of 8peace1 peace0 7,jer4 #f3ad71 social and civic gospels1 church unity1 and evangelistic raids on the pockets of the masses4 ,not a situation or a person but was faced victoriously4--,isa4 #ed3ag4 ,illustration ,pastor ,russell in the ,critics' ,den #c3i4 ,as an adamant harder than flint have ,i made thy forehead2 fear them not1 neither be dismayed at their looks1 though they be a rebellious house4--,the forehead is symbolic of wisdom4 ,a man of high forehead1 as was ,pastor ,russell1 is of a high type of intellect4 ,pastor ,russell's mind was made strong against opponents of the ,reform which is ushering in the everlasting ,kingdom of ,messiah4 ,it is impossible for error to withstand truth4 7,luke #ba3ae47 ,as in apostolic days1 believers in ,present ,truth call themselves 8in the ,truth0 7#b ,pet4 #a3ab71 the teachings of the ,word of ,god are termed 8the ,truth0 7#a ,john #c3ai71 and those who believe them are known as 8,truth people40 7#c ,john #d47 ,the mind of ,pastor ,russell was filled with ,truth4 ,crystal clear1 with hard1 irresistible logic1 the ,present ,truth1 which constituted his wisdom and understanding1 was the hardest proposition ecclesiasticism ever encountered4 7,isa4 #ej3g47 ,the mind of ,god's steward was as adamant4 ,adamant is literally1 in ,hebrew1 8a diamond point40 ,with diamond hardness 7,rev4 #d3c71 the ,present ,truth cuts its way through all opposition1 though the opposing thought be hard as flint4 ,the diamond is the most crystal clear of stones1 and represents the truth in irresistible form4 ,it is futile to oppose the mind of any ,present ,truth believer1 for truth is irrefutable4 ,to those who have it1 it imparts the mind of an intellectual giant--the mind of ,christ1 of ,god4 7#a ,cor4 #b3af47 ,their foreheads are made as diamond4 ,in the light of the sun the diamond sparkles with indescribable beauty4 ,it breaks the sunlight up into its component parts and reflects and refracts in prismatic flashes of rainbow colors4 ,the sun is the ,gospel of ,divine ,love and its embodiment1 ,jesus ,christ4 ,the component parts of ,christian love are the character fruits4 8,the fruit of the spirit is love1 joy1 peace1 longsuffering1 gentleness1 goodness1 faith1 meekness1 temperance40 7,galatians #e3bbc47 ,the minds1 wisdom1 characters of ,god's true people are full of manifestations of the shining upon them of the glorious ,gospel of the ,son of ,righteousness--full of the beauty of righteousness4 ,the minds of ,god's saints are made as the diamond in its excelling hardness and sunlit radiance4 #c3aj4 ,moreover ,he said unto me1 ,son of man1 all ,my words that ,i shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart and hear with thine ears4--,like ,ezekiel1 ,pastor ,russell was to hold back1 pervert1 or wrest nothing4 #c3aa4 ,and go1 get thee to them of the captivity1 unto the children of thy people1 and speak unto them1 and tell them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 whether they will hear1 or whether they will forbear4--,it was to be a message for the ,lord's people in captivity to the king of this world4 ,satan1 bound in ,mystic ,babylon the ,great1 the governmentalecclesiastical commercial system of ,christendom4 #c3ab4 ,then the ,spirit took me up1 and ,i heard behind me a voice of a great rushing1 saying1 ,blessed be the glory of the ,lord from ,his place4--,through the begetting of the ,holy ,spirit we are raised up to walk in newness of life 7,rom4 #f3d71 to sit with ,christ in heavenly places 7,eph4 #b3f71 in the ,spiritbegotten condition4 ,the ,spirit raised ,pastor ,russell up to an understanding and appreciation of ,heavenly things4 7,matt4 #c3af47 ,at ,pentecost the place where the ,apostles were sitting was filled with a rushing sound as of a mighty wind1 and they received the ,holy ,spirit 7,acts #b3b47 ,the mighty rushing sound represented ,pastor ,russell's receiving a rich endowment of the ,spirit of ,god1 to whose leadings he was fully consecrated and to whose influence and guidance he wholly devoted his life4 ,the words of ,christ and of ,god are contained in the ,bible1 written thousands of years ago1 behind in the stream of time4 ,it was in the ,word of ,god1 behind him in time 7,isa4 #cj3ba71 that ,pastor ,russell perceived the rushing sound1 the utterances of the ,holy ,spirit4 ,the message of the ,bible has been perverted by ,catholic and ,protestant misunderstandings into anything but a glorious and blessed ,gospel4 ,it is a thing to be dreaded1 if the glory of ,god is to eternally torment the vast majority of humans4 ,but the ,message of ,truth sounded forth by ,pastor ,russell declares the grace of the ,gospel which is to reach every man1 woman and child 7#a ,tim4 #b3f7 with its blessed influence1 power1 wisdom and love1 so that all creation in due time may join in a mighty paeon of praise4 8,blessed be the glory of ,jehovah from ,his place40--,psa4 #ajf3dh4 ,illustration ,the ,clergy ,would ,censor ,the ,bible #c3ac4 ,i heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another1 and the noise of the wheels over against them1 and a noise of a great rushing4--,many ,christian ministers have had glimpses of the ,word of ,god1 knowledge of some details of the ,plan1 some measure of the ,holy ,spirit2 but to ,pastor ,russell1 ,god's messenger to the last stage of the ,church1 was given a superabundance of gifts1 to set the things of ,god in order 7,isa4 #dd3g71 to proclaim an harmonious understanding of all the ,divine purposes for mankind and of some for the angels4 7,eph4 #c3aj47 ,he heard the full harmony of 8the song of ,moses and the ,lamb40 7,rev4 #ae3c47 ,to him the wings 7,rev4 #ab3ad71 the ,word of ,god1 ,old ,testament and ,new1 sounded their ,glad ,tidings1 a message whose parts 8touched one another10 were in complete touch1 full harmony4 ,he heard for the first time since ,apostolic days the ,plan of ,god1 8the noise of the wheels cycles1 ages40 ,he heard the manifestations of the operation of the ,holy ,spirit1 the 8noise of a great rushing10 and was filled with the ,spirit in a measure beyond the portion of most ,christian men4 ,his patience with the stupid and erring was godlike and his lovelit face was an inspiration4 #c3ad4 ,so the ,spirit lifted me up1 and took me away2 and ,i went in bitterness1 in the heat of my spirit2 but the hand of the ,lord was strong upon me4--8,god hath taken you out of the world0 7,john #ag3af72 raised 8to sit with ,christ in ,heavenly places40 7,eph4 #b3f47 ,the ,spirit took ,pastor ,russell away from earthly aims and raised him up to the plane of sacrificing priesthood4 ,he turned from commercial pursuits to devote his life to the ,heavenly ,message4 ,he tasted the bitter herbs of persecution1 of suffering with ,christ2 and amid ostracism and persecution he lived the life of ,christian service4 ,he carried on his work in fervency of spirit2 for the power of ,god was upon him1 strengthening him with might in the inner man 7,eph4 #c3af71 and with wisdom to deliver1 in the face of the determined opposition of priestcraft1 the trumpet message announcing the ,presence of ,christ--the sound of the ,seventh ,trumpet1 the trump of ,god4--,rev4 #aj3g4 #c3ae4 ,then ,i came to them of the captivity at ,telabib1 that dwelt by the river of ,chebar1 and ,i sat where they sat and remained there astonished among them seven days4--,future historians will record1 as most remarkable1 the mental1 moral and spiritual bondage in which professing ,christians were held during the ,gospel ,age1 through the machinations of priestcraft1 under the king of the age1 ,satan himself4 ,pastor ,russell came with his message1 in a day of supposed enlightenment1 to a people bound hand and foot4 ,telabib in ,hebrew is 8,hill of ,grass0 7from 8,tel10 hill1 and 8,abib10 sprouting1 budding74 ,abib was another name for ,nisan1 the first month of the ,hebrew sacred year1 corresponding to ,april4 ,in type or symbol a place represents a condition1 or a stage in historic development4 ,the 8hill of budding10 the beginning of the sacred year1 symbolizes the dawn of the ,times of ,restitution1 the 8,millennial ,dawn40 ,the ,millennium 7,rev4 #bj3c1 #d1 #g7 began in #ahgd1 with the ,return of ,christ4 ,it was at about that time that ,pastor ,russell came to his fellow,christians with the beginning of a better understanding of the ,bible1 8the vision of ,god40 ,it was1 as it were1 the buddingtime of the good promises of ,god for the blessing of all peoples4 ,the ,christian people lived on and by the stream of commercial1 social and economic intercourse that feeds and supports ,christendom1 ,babylon4 #c3af4 ,and it came to pass at the end of seven days1 that the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying4--,in a time prophecy a day in the prophecy usually signifies a year in fulfillment4 ,for seven years after ,christ's ,return in #ahgd--until #ahha--,pastor ,russell1 although he knew much of ,god's ,plan1 was in some degree in the same condition as other ,christians in imperfect understanding of ,god's ,word4 ,in #ahha a former associate1 ,mr4 ,barbour1 of ,rochester1 ,n4 ,y41 who had been a faithful fellowwatcher1 developed into the 8,evil servant0 of ,matt4 #bd3dhfa and ,zechariah #aa3ag1 and produced a work on the ,hebrew ,tabernacle types in opposition to the fundamentals of true ,christianity4 ,pastor ,russell desired the truth on the subject4 ,he gave himself up to prayer and study of this matter alone4 ,for days he struggled with the problem and wrestled with ,god in supplication4 ,at length the matter cleared up4 ,he then wrote 8,tabernacle ,shadows of the ,better ,sacrifices40 of which #a1ejj1jjj copies have since aided ,christians to understand the deeper things of the ,word and to make complete consecration unto death4 ,this was in #ahha1 at which time he also published 8,food for ,thinking ,christians10 a work embodying much afterwards expanded into the six volumes of 8,studies in the ,scriptures40 ,the same year1 #ahha1 is prophetically marked at the time for the final withdrawal of favor from the churches1 a favor which had begun to be withdrawn in #ahgh--the year in which the clergy were cast off as representatives of the ,divine ,word1 and when ,pastor ,russell began his work by the publication of #ej1jjj copies of 8,object and ,manner of the ,lord's ,return40 ,in #ahgc the stewardship of the things of ,god1 the teaching of ,bible truths1 was taken from the clergy1 unfaithful to their agelong stewardship1 and given to ,pastor ,russell4 ,in the interim1 until #ahha1 the new steward was setting the things in order1 getting the truths of the ,bible in logical and ,scriptural form for presentation1 until the last great item of the ,hebrew ,tabernacle types1 was ready4 ,then1 in #ahha1 he became ,god's watchman for all ,christendom1 and began his gigantic work of witness4 #c3ag4 ,son of man1 ,i have made thee a watchman unto the house of ,israel2 therefore hear the word at ,my mouth1 and give them warning from ,me4--,the function of watchmanship was not given until #ahha4 7,jer4 #f3ag2 ,isa4 #ba3fab47 ,faithfulness in individual watching during a trial period of seven years was rewarded by the bestowal of the office of the greatest servant whom the ,church of ,god has had since the ,apostle ,paul4 8,whosoever will be chief among you let him be your servant40 7,matt4 #bj3bg47 ,pastor ,russell at all times served the ,church in great things and small4 ,no request was too insignificant to get his careful attention4 ,rich and poor alike were faithfully served in every possible way4 ,this work prior to #ahha was a great work for any ordinary man1 but insignificant compared with what was to follow4 ,by #ahhd the watchman's work had grown to such proportions as to cause the founding of ,,the ,,watch ,,tower ,,bible ,,and ,,tract ,,society4 ,this is the agency through which ,god's appointed watchman has delivered his message to ,christendom4 ,pastor ,russell paid no attention to the words or opinions of man1 however learned or pious1 whether men of modern days or the 8early fathers0 of postapostolic times4 ,he listened to the word direct from the mouth of ,god1 spoken by holy men of old as moved by the ,holy ,spirit4 7#b ,peter #a3ba47 ,ezekiel was raised up shortly before the destruction of ,jerusalem to warn the ,hebrews of the impending calamity4 ,pastor ,russell's warning to ,christendom1 coming direct from ,god1 has been of the imminent collapse of the present 8,christian0 civilization in a welter of war1 revolution and anarchy1 to be succeeded by the early establishment of the ,kingdom of ,god4 ,in all his warnings he claimed no originality4 ,he said that he could never have written his books himself4 ,it all came from ,god1 through the enlightenment of the ,holy ,spirit4 #c3ah4 ,when ,i say unto the wicked1 ,thou shalt surely die2 and thou givest him not warning1 nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way1 to save his life2 the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity2 but his blood will ,i require at thine hand4--,pastor ,russell saw and revived the teaching of the ,word of ,god that death is death4 8,all have sinned40 7,rom4 #c3bc47 8,death passed upon all40 7,romans #e3ab47 8,the wages of sin is death40 7,rom4 #f3bc47 8,there is none righteous40 7,rom4 #c3aj47 8,the dead sleep in the dust40 7,isa4 #bf3ai47 8,their thoughts perish40 7,psa4 #adf3d47 ,he taught clearly the ,word of ,god first enunciated to ,adam1 8,thou shalt surely die40 7,gen4 #b3ag47 ,man is not inherently immortal4 ,at death he is dead1 unconscious1 asleep until the resurrection1 not 8more alive than ever10 as taught by a blinded and apostate priestcraft4 ,man1 soul and body1 is not a being whom ,god cannot destroy4 8,fear ,him who is able to destroy both soul and body40 7,matt4 #aj3bh47 ,to all erring mankind ,pastor ,russell was directed by ,god to reiterate the ,divine penalty for sin1 as death1 and not eternal torment4 ,this was a fundamental part of the message both of ,ezekiel and of ,pastor ,russell4 #c3ai4 ,yet if thou warn the wicked1 and he turn not from his wickedness1 nor from his wicked way1 he shall die in his iniquity2 but thou hast delivered thy soul4--,pastor ,russell faithfully warned the wicked4 ,he published a complete exposition of the ,bible statements regarding the ,adamic death--#c1jjj1jjj copies of a pamphlet1 8,what ,say the ,scriptures ,about ,hell10 quoting all ,bible passages mentioning ,sheol and ,hades1 the death state4 ,he scarcely ever spoke in public without dwelling on this cardinal tenet1 that the dead are dead4 ,to the very best of his ability he taught ,christendom the truth4 ,by faithful testimony he delivered himself from liability4 #c3bj1 #ba4 ,again1 ,when a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness1 and commit iniquity1 and ,i lay a stumblingblock before him1 he shall die3 because thou hast not given him warning1 he shall die in his sin1 and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered2 but his blood will ,i require at thine hand4 ,nevertheless1 if thou warn the righteous man1 that the righteous sin not1 and he doth not sin1 he shall surely live1 because he is warned2 also thou hast delivered thy soul4--,another cardinal teaching of ,god's ,word1 clearly taught by ,pastor ,russell1 is the nature of the eternal punishment to be visited upon the incorrigible backslider4 ,clergy1 bishops and popes have taught for centuries on this subject an irrational combination of extreme symbolism with gross literalism1 as suited their ambition to exercise worldly power and hold the masses in subjection--minds1 bodies and pocketbooks4 ,they have interpreted one symbolism symbolically and the next literally4 ,they have said that the 8,lake of ,fire0 and the 8torment0 are literal1 but that the 8beast0 and the 8false prophet0 are symbolic 7,rev4 #ai3bj71 even though it involved the absurdity of a symbolic beast going into a literal lake of fire6 ,blind and deaf to those who have pointed out the unreasonableness of such foolishness1 they have turned savagely upon those that have the ,truth4 ,in eighteen centuries they have killed fifty million adherents of ,christ1 and persecuted innumerable others4 ,it is impossible to compute the number that they will do to death in this1 the close of the ,gospel,age ,harvest1 when governmental protection shall be withdrawn from lovers of truth1 except that1 this time1 they will get all such6 ,an important feature of ,pastor ,russell's teaching is that the ,scriptural punishment of the incorrigibly wicked is not life in torment but oblivion1 annihilation1 the 8second death0 7,rev4 #ba3h72 that every one is1 either in this life or after the resurrection1 to be brought to a full knowledge of the ,truth 7#a ,tim4 #b3d72 to receive some measure of the ,holy ,spirit2 that those who incur the extreme penalty for sin will be only those who backslide beyond recovery4 ,in full conformity with ,ezekiel's prophecy ,pastor ,russell taught that 8when a righteous man doth commit iniquity1 he shall die0--the ,second ,death4 #c3bb4 ,and the hand of the ,lord was there upon me2 and ,he said unto me1 ,arise1 go forth into the plain1 and ,i will there talk with thee4--,ezekiel was impelled by the ,holy ,spirit to depart from the river ,chebar with its teeming activities4 ,pastor ,russell's consecration led him to separate himself from commercial activities and to give his life to the service of ,god4 ,the hand of the ,lord was upon him to do this4 ,the ,lord's people1 the ,hebrews1 mingled with the ,chaldeans1 living in the plain--literally 8vale0 or 8valley40 ,pastor ,russell turned from ordinary avocations to all the people dwelling in the ,valley of the ,shadow of ,death 7,psa4 #bc3d72 and in that condition ,god communed with ,his true ,watchman4 ,pastor ,russell has been known to pass entire nights in prayer1 and go about his work the next day as though nothing unusual had taken place4--,rev4 #c3ad4 #c3bc4 ,then ,i arose1 and went forth into the plain2 and1 behold1 the glory of the ,lord stood there1 as the glory which ,i saw by the river of ,chebar3 and ,i fell on my face4--,continually the vision was before ,pastor ,russell of the character1 plan and work of the ,almighty4 ,daily he renewed his covenant of consecration and daily sought to carry it out4 #c3bd4 ,then the ,spirit entered into me1 and set me upon my feet1 and spake with me1 and said unto me1 ,go1 shut thyself within thine house4--,a thought possesses propulsive power1 and must result in action unless hindered by an opposing thought4 ,the ,spirit1 thoughts1 words of ,god were continually entering1 from the ,bible1 into ,pastor ,russell's mind and setting him into action4 ,all who have set themselves apart to do the will of ,god and have received the ,holy ,spirit1 are members of ,christ1 in the ,house of ,sons 7,heb4 #c3f71 the ,royal ,priesthood4 ,in the consecration of the typical priesthood1 the priest shut himself in the ,tabernacle for seven days4 7,lev4 #h3cc47 7,seven symbolizes completeness47 ,so ,christ and those in ,him abide continually in the antitypical ,holy1 the spiritbegotten condition4 ,pastor ,russell lived in the ,spirit from his consecration to his death4 #c3be4 ,but thou1 ,o son of man1 behold1 they shall put bands upon thee1 and shall bind thee with them1 and thou shalt not go out among them4--,each forward step in any branch of knowledge renders institutions based on past partial knowledge functionless2 and consequently the adherents and beneficiaries of such institutions oppose the march of events4 ,the clergy1 trying to stem the tide of ,truth1 to uphold an effete ecclesiasticism tottering to its fall1 put every restraint upon the influence of ,pastor ,russell2 but the bands upon him served also to bind the tares more tightly into the organization bundles4 7,matt4 #ac3cj47 ,in fulfillment of the prophetic parable the bundles are to be destroyed in the anarchy about to ensue4 ,church members have been urged to get rid of every scrap of paper bearing the ,message of ,present ,truth2 the ,truth has been preached against in practically every church in the ,english1 ,german and ,swedish speaking world2 people have been warned against reading the ,truth2 ,truth people have been discharged or refused employment2 in ,europe they have been imprisoned at hard labor2 some have been done to death by firing squads2 they have been forbidden to hold meetings4 ,neither ,pastor ,russell nor his fellowbelievers were permitted to utter the ,bible ,truth before the congregations of ecclesiasticism4 ,it was not to go out among 8them10 and his greatest work was the deepening of the spirit of consecration among those of the 8,house of ,sons40 #c3bf4 ,and ,i will make thy tongue cleave to the roof of thy mouth1 that thou shalt be dumb1 and shalt not be to them a reprover2 for they are a rebellious house4--,it is impossible to witness spiritual things to the carnallyminded 7#a ,cor4 #c3a2 ,john #af3ab74 ,but ,pastor ,russell never refrained from speaking or publishing the ,word of ,god4 ,the ,bible teaches that the service of ,god must be of a willing heart4 ,it is a privilege which may be accepted or rejected1 as the hearer desires4 ,yet to the worldly1 ,pastor ,russell was as 8dumb01 for they would not hear4 ,ezekiel #d--,the ,papal ,and ,protestant ,sieges #d3a4 ,thou also1 son of man1 take thee a tile1 and lay it before thee1 and portray upon it the city1 even ,jerusalem4--,in ,ezekiel's days1 in ,chaldea1 a book was a collection of inscribed tiles4 ,the ,laodicean servant was to be a writer of books4 ,in many articles and chapters on the kingdoms of this world and their judgment and fall1 and that of their ecclesiastical1 political and business systems1 ,pastor ,russell portrays ,christendom1 typically spoken of as ,jerusalem4 ,it bore the ,lord's name1 but was defiled by the evil practices of its inhabitants4 7,c4 #bie47 ,as a type1 ,jerusalem represents particularly the ecclesiastical phase of ,christendom4 #d3b4 ,and lay siege against it1 and build a fort against it1 and cast a mount against it1 set the camp also against it1 and set battering rams against it round about4--,ecclesiasticism was to experience prolonged siege by a class symbolized by ,ezekiel4 ,the siege was to be conducted by ,truth1 encompassing the stronghold of the nominal city of ,god4 ,beleaguered ecclesiasticism was to go through experiences like that of a besieged city shut off from its province1 shorn of its actual dominion1 while nominally retaining it1 cut off from the supplies that had flowed from the tributary peoples4 ,in addition to the slow weakening of a close besiegement1 it was to withstand occasional assaults1 make sorties and go through a period of warfare1 with only one possible end1 the utter destruction of the city4 ,the besieged city was surrounded on every side with a line of military works1 trenches1 palisades and forts1 collectively called a fort2 from which1 especially from the principal center of offense1 it was continually harassed by wearingdown activities and assaulted by surprise attacks4 ,so ecclesiasticism was to be surrounded and placed on the defensive1 by strongly entrenched and fortified enemies4 8,god is our fortress40 7#b ,sam4 #bb3b47 ,it was to be done by a class of progressive and libertyloving ,christians in revolt against and attack upon the intolerance1 superstition1 and tyranny of priestcraft4 ,ancient cities were surrounded by high walls1 with frequent towers for watchmen1 spearmen1 bowmen and slingmen4 ,the walls1 in emergencies1 were lined with such fighters and with throwers of boulders and firebrands4 ,the attack was made upon a weak point in the wall2 and an earthen mound or mounds was cast up to furnish an elevation from which to equalize for the besiegers the advantages of the defenders4 ,the walls of ecclesiasticism are its defense of creeds and of formalism and1 not least of all1 of the civil powers and the men who stand as a bulwark against attack4 ,a 8mount0 symbolizes a government4 7,dan4 #b3dd1 #de47 ,the nation 7mount7 was organized1 militant ,protestantism4 ,the camp is the temporary abiding place of those who are fighting on the ,lord's side4 7,heb4 #ac3ac47 ,a battering ram was a device for battering down the wall of a city to make a breach for the attack of the soldiery4 ,ecclesiasticism has surrounded itself with walls of living stones1 soldiers1 police and other officers of the civil powers who protect the churches and church people 7,isa4 #ei3aj71 educators to build up belief in ecclesiasticism1 writers to write articles and books1 and a host of other adherents and supporters4 ,in the siege of ecclesiasticism the ,lord's yeomen have attacked aggressively with books1 newspapers1 missionaries1 lectures and education2 seeking to loosen and dislodge some of the living stones surrounding organized error4--,jer4 #f3f4 #d3c4 ,moreover take thou unto thee an iron pan1 and set it for a wall of iron between thee and the city2 and set thy face against it1 and it shall be besieged1 and thou shalt lay siege against it4 ,this shall be a sign to the house of ,israel4--,an iron pan1 literally a 8thin plate10 was between besieging ,protestantism and beleaguered ecclesiasticism4 8,they were holpen with a little help0 7,dan4 #aa3cd74 ,the civil powers were to stand as a wall of iron protecting the ,lord's people from the persecuting power of ruling priestcraft4 ,no breaches could be made in the wall4 ,it was a 8wall of iron40 8,no evil shall befall thee40 7,psa4 #ia3aj47 8,greater is ,he that is for thee than all these that be against thee40 7#b ,kings #f3af47 ,iron1 as in the iron claws and teeth of the beast of ,daniel1 symbolizes the agencies of an irresistible power4 ,turning the face toward or against anything was a mark of favor or of disfavor4 7,psa4 #ajd3bi47 ,the ,lord's people were resolutely to disfavor established ecclesiasticism and to besiege it from the ,reformation to the close of the ,harvest4 ,when ,ezekiel sees another doing something it usually signifies another than ,pastor ,russell doing it1 but may signify ,pastor ,russell seeing himself1 or the ,ezekiel class4 ,the ,ezekiel prophecy types and symbolizes ,pastor ,russell or the ,reformer class seeing ,pastor ,russell or the ,reformer class or some member of that class doing the thing typed or symbolized4 ,here1 the ,protestant class from the ,protestant ,reformation down through the ,harvest period1 is seen systematically and effectually besieging established ecclesiasticism4 ,the house of ,israel ordinarily meant the ,hebrew nation1 the nominal fleshly house of ,israel4 ,the ,hebrews were divided into the ten tribes 7,israel71 thoroughly infected with ,pagan beliefs and practices1 and the two tribes 7,judah71 holding more closely to ,jehovah4 ,in antitype1 when both ,israel and ,judah are mentioned1 and the prophecy is intended for an antitypical fulfillment1 ,israel signifies the ,papacy and ,judah signifies established ,protestantism4 ,here the sign was to be the whole nominal house of ,israel--all professing ,christians1 ,catholics and ,protestants4--,z4 '#jeagi4 #d3d4 ,lie thou also upon thy left side1 and lay the iniquity of the house of ,israel upon it3 according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon it thou shalt bear their iniquity4--,in verses #d to #f ,israel and ,judah are included in the same picture1 and signify ,papacy and established1 corrupted ,protestantism4 ,the left side was a sign of less favor4 ,romanism kept on in sin and kept adding1 multiplying evil deeds1 until iniquity should come to the full 7,gen4 #ae3af74 ,a day in prophecy signifies a year in fulfillment4 7,num4 #ad3cd47 ,ezekiel here represents the reformer class which had to endure the iniquities of ,papacy1 both by persecution and by the shame of seeing professed ,christians believing grossest error4 ,the iniquity of ,papacy1 the house of ,israel1 lay in the fact that the ,reformers had shown them insistent proofs of their wrong course1 and yet they continued in their own way1 heedless of the ,divine warnings4 ,hence less favor has been felt by ,jehovah toward them than toward ,protestantism4 #d3e4 ,for ,i have laid upon thee the years of their iniquity1 according to the number of the days1 three hundred and ninety days2 so shalt thou bear the iniquity of the house of ,israel4--,upon the reform element was laid the burden of seeing the dupes of ,papal priestcraft continually learning and living error4 ,this was a burden upon conscience1 and was repugnant to the enlightened mind of the reform element1 known for centuries1 in name at least1 as ,protestant4 ,priestcraft of the larger division of ,christendom was to be under attack for #cij years1 during which time the besieging element1 the reformers1 were to be protected from ,papacy by the 8iron wall0 of the civil powers4 ,this began in #aebh and ends in #aiah4 ,the year #aebh is one of the turning points of history4 ,protestantism in ,england and in ,germany was in the balance4 ,the sudden rise of ,charles ,v of ,germany to great power had emboldened ,pope ,clement to side with ,charles4 ,he induced the ,emperor to support a measure designed to limit the spread of ,protestantism1 to be followed by its utter destruction4 ,under the proposed law no ,protestant was to convert a ,romanist to the reformed faith1 nor would it be allowable for ,protestantism to spread to other countries4 ,it meant for all ,protestants an end such as the ,huguenots came to in ,france1 the suppression of the ,renaissance with its 8increase of knowledge0 7,dan4 #ab3d71 and the end of the prosperous and comparatively enlightened civilization of modern times4 ,the future of the whole world1 and of the ,divine ,plan1 was at stake6 ,a general war was barely avoided to destroy ,lutheranism4 ,philip ,landgrave of ,saxony discovered the plot1 took arms1 and in #aebh forced indemnity from a ,catholic bishop4 ,other princes of ,germany stood with ,philip4 ,to quote from ,dr4 ,peter ,bayne1 ,,ll4 ,d41 the historian 78,martin ,luther071 page #dhf3 8,these 7the princes of the reformed faith7 were inflexibly determined that the decree of the majority should not be assented to4 ,philip of ,hesse1 ,john of ,saxony1 ,markgraf ,george the ,pious of ,brandenburg ,anspach1 the ,dukes of ,lunenburg and ,brunswick1 the ,prince of ,anhalt1 and the representatives of ,strasburg1 ,nurnberg and twelve other free cities1 entered a solemn protest against the prospective revolution4 ,they were called ,protestants6 ,all1 to this hour1 who claim that ,truth shall be unveiled1 and that no ,pope1 or ,kaiser1 shall congeal the everadvancing stream of progress and improvement1 may take an honorable pride in tracing their spiritual descent to the intrepid ,philip and the magnanimous and simplehearted ,john40 7p4 #dha73 8,how thoroughly is the whole pageant of that war1 #aebh1 erased from the memory of the present generation6 ,and yet the effect of those events is not yet exhausted2 nor would it be possible for any one without forming some comprehension of them1 to understand how link added itself to link in the evolutionary chain of modern history40 ,thus ,germany set up the iron wall of civic defense between the besieging ,protestants and beleaguered ,papacy4 ,in ,england1 too1 the other great empire which has stood as an iron wall between the reform element and ,papacy1 the break with ,rome began to take form in #aebh4 ,this was the year when ,pope ,clement appointed his legates1 ,correggio and ,wolsey1 to conduct the divorce trial of ,queen ,katherine of ,aragon1 at the behest of ,henry ,,viii4 7,rev4 #h3h1 #i47 ,as ,god raised up a willful1 stubborn ,pharaoh when ,he purposed to deliver the ,hebrews from ,egypt1 so ,he raised up the lustful ,henry ,,viii as the agent through whom the break should come between ,england and ,rome4 8,the natural result0 of ,henry's divorce proceedings1 says ,a4 ,f4 ,pollard1 the historian1 in his 8,henry ,,viii10 8was the separation of ,england from ,rome40 ,thus did ,divine wisdom use 8the wrath of man to praise ,him0 and cause the 8iron wall0 of the civil1 military and naval powers of the ,british ,empire1 ,germany1 and of the ,united ,states1 to stand an impregnable barrier against the persecuting power of ,great ,babylon4 ,safe behind the iron wall1 the reform element was able to live and grow in its camp and to keep up its siege of ,roman ,catholic priestcraft4 #d3f4 ,and when thou hast accomplished them1 lie again on thy right side1 and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of ,judah forty days3 ,i have appointed thee each day for a year4--,the right side signifies less disfavor than to ,papacy4 ,the house of ,judah represents ,protestantism1 the ,protestant churches4 ,until #ahgh1 when cast off by the returned and present ,messiah1 ,protestantism enjoyed ,divine favor1 just as the two tribes1 collectively called ,judah1 did as compared with the idolatrous ten tribes of ,israel4 ,after #ahgd the ,present ,truth took the form of a general overhauling of creeds and the announcement of ,christ's ,second ,presence4 ,this was unanimously rejected by the ,protestant churches2 and organized ,protestant ecclesiasticism from #ahgh on for forty years became the ,judah of this type1 besieged on every side by the reform element1 under the leadership of the steward of ,divine ,truth1 ,pastor ,russell4 ,until #aiah1 ,hebrew reckoning1 beginning in the fall of #aiag1 the civil powers continue as a 8wall of iron10 protecting the ,lord's people in their witness against error4--,rev4 #c3ad2 ,b4 #ff1 #ia4 #d3g4 ,therefore thou shalt set thy face toward the siege of ,jerusalem1 and thine arm shall be uncovered1 and thou shalt prophesy against it4--,the ,ezekiel class1 the true ,protestant reform class1 during the #cij and the #dj years set themselves to the attack upon priestcraft4 ,pastor ,russell seldom spoke without some words of objection to or warning about ecclesiasticism4 ,the arm symbolizes power 7,e4 #ej1 #dg7 and the uncovering of the arm is as when a man takes off his coat in attacking a task4 ,the siege was to be carried on with energy4 ,the reform element was to preach continually1 not condoning or excusing priestcraft1 but directly and pointedly attacking it4 #d3h4 ,and1 behold1 ,i will lay bands upon thee1 and thou shalt not turn thee from one side to another1 till thou hast ended the days of thy siege4--,god bound ,his true people to this work4 ,the reform element were not to change their attitude1 but continually to keep at the attack upon ecclesiastical corruption until the siege should end in #aiah4 ,the ,hebrew year #aiah1 begins in ,october1 #aiag4 #d3i4 ,take thou also unto thee wheat1 and barley1 and beans1 and lentiles1 and millet1 and fitches1 and put them in one vessel1 and make thee bread thereof1 according to the number of the days that thou shalt lie upon thy side2 three hundred and ninety days shalt thou eat thereof4--,these grains represent different grades of spiritual food1 each kind of food to be eaten by the kind of ,christian represented by the food4 ,wheat represents the true ,gospel of the ,kingdom1 as in the parable of the sower 7,matt4 #ac3acj71 and is the food of the ,little ,flock4 ,barley among the ,hebrews was little esteemed1 for it was the price of an adulteress4 7,hos4 #c3b47 ,it signifies the spiritual food of a class guilty of spiritual adultery1 unhallowed alliance with the world in the bringing forth of 8strange0 children4 7,hos4 #e3g47 ,beans1 lentiles1 millet and fitches represent grades of food inferior to wheat 7which contains every element to support life7 and inferior even to barley4 ,their continued use as foods1 causes physical deficiencies1 weaknesses and disease4 ,lentiles are usually cultivated for fodder4 ,millet is still inferior4 ,symbolically it represents ,christians who 8have no depth of earth40 7,matt4 #ac3e47 ,vetches1 sometimes called 8tares0 or 8prickly spelt10 are a very poor food4 ,their prickly nature suggests a type of hardtogetalongwith ,christians1 and the kind of mental1 moral and spiritual food that produces them4 ,in with some of the true wheat1 in established churchianity1 as shown by verse #af1 were to be gathered ,christians of various degrees of development1 each eating the kind of food corresponding to his ,christian development1 the wheat class assimilating the best of the ,divine ,word1 and so on down to those who absorbed the poorest grade of spiritual provender1 some of it food usually regarded as fit only for animals4 ,this was the food the various classes should subsist on1 each according to his capacity1 from #aebh to #aiah1 and from #ahgh to #aiah4 #d3aj1 #aa4 ,and thy meat which thou shalt eat shall be by weight1 twenty shekels a day3 from time to time shalt thou eat it4 ,thou shalt drink also water by measure1 the sixth part of a hin3 from time to time shalt thou drink4--,a shekel was half an ounce2 twenty shekels were ten ounces4 ,a hin was a gallon and a half4 ,the sixth part of a hin was one quart4 ,this was the daily ration1 a starvation allowance4 ,they were not to feed on it continuously1 but on ,sundays1 or two or three times a week--8from time to time40 ,the people would1 as a class1 have a scanty spiritual subsistence during the siege period4 #d3ab4 ,and thou shalt eat it as barley cakes1 and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man1 in their sight4--,cakes1 made of this mixture1 were used by the very poor in times of scarcity1 depicting the scarcity of spiritual food among the followers of ecclesiasticism4 ,the poor1 not having stones or ovens1 baked their bread or cakes on heated stones or in the fire1 or roasted them by placing them between layers of dung1 which burns slowly4 ,only the dung of animals was used ordinarily4 ,no insult or defilement was greater than to turn a man's house into a receptacle for human excrement4 7,deut4 #bc3abad47 ,our ,lord associated human dung with 8that which defileth a man40 7,matt4 #ae3aa47 ,luther spoke of the 8dunghill of ,roman decretals40 ,the human dung signifies human traditions1 clerical additions to the ,word of ,god4 #d3ac4 ,and the ,lord said1 ,even thus shall the children of ,israel eat their defiled bread among the ,gentiles1 whither ,i will drive them4--,the spiritual food1 poor as the mixture was1 was to be thoroughly defiled4 #d3ad4 ,then said ,i1 ,ah ,lord ,god6 behold1 my soul hath not been polluted3 for from my youth up even till now have ,i not eaten of that which dieth of itself1 or is torn in pieces2 neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth4--,this typifies the heart desire of the reformer class to keep clear of defiling errors4 #d3ae4 ,then he said unto me1 ,lo1 ,i have given thee cow's dung for man's dung1 and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith4--,the spiritual food would be unsavory enough4 #d3af4 ,moreover he said unto me1 ,son of man1 behold1 ,i will break the staff of bread in ,jerusalem2 and they shall eat bread by weight1 and with care2 and they shall drink water by measure2 and with astonishment4--,the type enacted by ,ezekiel was intended to depict spiritual conditions in ecclesiasticism1 ,romish after #aebh ,a4 ,d4 and ,protestant after #ahgh ,a4 ,d41 in ,jerusalem 7churchianity71 the besieged city1 where there would be a famine of the ,word of ,god4 ,as prophecies often have a literal as well as a symbolic fulfillment1 this refers also to the straitness of the siege of literal ,jerusalem and to the literal scarcity of food in the ,time of ,trouble upon ,christendom1 with its high cost of living1 food dictators and food tickets4--,lev4 #bf3bf4 #d3ag4 ,that they may want bread and water1 and be astonied one with another1 and consume away for their iniquity4--,like as people on poor food in starvation quantities weaken and die1 so ,christians weaken and die spiritually on the diet provided by priests and clergy4 ,ezekiel #e--,the ,severed ,hair ,calamities #e3a4 ,and thou1 son of man1 take thee a sharp knife1 take thee a barber's razor1 and cause it to pass upon thine head and upon thy beard3 then take thee balances to weigh1 and divide the hair4--,this is located 8after the days of the siege0 of ,jerusalem1 or in antitype after ,romanism's and ,protestantism's siege is ended in #aiah4 ,it had a literal fulfillment in #fjf ,b4 ,c4 and is to have a literal and a symbolic fulfillment in and after #aiah4 ,it depicts the several kinds of troubles upon ,christendom1 and the causes provoking them4 ,the shaving of the head represents the affliction of ,christendom4 7,isaiah #c3ag1 #bj1 #bd2 ,jer4 #g3bi47 ,the shaving of the beard was part of the ceremonial treatment of a leper 7,lev4 #ad3h1 #i71 and signifies that after #aiah ,christendom will be treated by outraged ,justice at a moral leper1 unclean with incurable iniquity1 the perverseness1 which1 in the face of continual preaching of the ,gospel1 led up to the recent wars4 ,ezek4 #e3b1 #ab1 #af1 #ag1 relate to features of the destruction of literal ,jerusalem in #fjf ,b4 ,c4 and #gjgc ,a4 ,d4 and of ,christendom in #aiad to #aiah ,a4 ,d4 ,since in verse #ab a third part of the persons were to suffer death or affliction1 the hair in verses #a1 #b and #c signifies the people in ,jerusalem--,christendom4 ,in ,samson's case the hair represented his strength2 and here the hair cut off signifies that the people who are the strength of ,christendom shall be cut off in the brief but terribly eventful period beginning in #aiah ,a4 ,d4 ,a third part are 8burned with fire in the midst of the city40 ,fire symbolises destruction4 ,one large part of the adherents of ecclesiasticism win die from pestilence and famine4 7,deut4 #cb3bd47 ,in #e3af1 #ag the shafts of hunger are represented as the evil arrows of famine4 ,the staff is that upon which one leans2 the staff of bread is the food supply of ,christendom4 ,in #aiaf there was already a #be per cent4 crop shortage throughout the world1 presaging worse conditions to come4 ,in verse #ah the evil beasts sent upon ,christendom are the savage 8,christian0 governments of the world 7,deut4 #cb3bd71 which1 by unheardof barbarity in war1 are bereaving the people by millions and causing bloodshed unparalleled in history4 #e3b4 ,thou shalt burn with fire a third part in the midst of the city1 when the days of the siege are fulfilled3 and thou shalt take a third part1 and smite about it with a knife3 and a third part thou shalt scatter in the wind2 and ,i will draw out a sword after them4--,a third part of the hair was to be smitten with a knife4 ,see #e3ab4 ,this represents people not definitely in or under ecclesiasticism1 but associated with it1 favoring it1 and benefiting from it ,these are to be smitten with the sword drawn for destruction of life in the ,time of ,trouble4 ,a considerable portion of the people will be separated by the winds of warfare and commotion from all connection with churchianity4 ,these have been connected with1 sympathizers with1 or beneficiaries from churchianity4 ,this class also will be involved in the bloodshed of the 8great tribulation40--,matt4 #bd3ba2 ,rev4 #g3ad4 #e3c1 #d4 ,thou shalt also take thereof a few in number1 and bind them in thy skirts4 ,then take of them again1 and cast them into the midst of the fire1 and burn them in the fire2 for thereof shall a fire come forth into all the house of ,israel4--,to bind in the skirts is a symbol of close affiliation4 ,a few adherents of churchianity will affiliate themselves with those believing ,present ,truth1 but so searching will be the circumstances of the trouble period that none not at heart 8in ,present ,truth0 7#b ,pet4 #a3ab7 will be able to remain in the protection overshadowing the ,lord's people4 ,these few will be separated1 and finally become involved in the destruction upon all supporters of1 sympathizers with and beneficiaries of churchianity4 ,not one shall escape2 it will be upon 8all the house of ,israel40 ,babylon's conflagration will be hastened by the adherents here described4 ,after #aiah the people supporting churchianity will cease to be its supporters1 be destroyed as adherents1 by the spiritual pestilence of errors abroad1 and by the famine of the ,word of ,god among them4 ,the ,sword of the ,spirit 7,eph4 #f3ag71 which is the ,word of ,god1 will be wielded in the hands of 8,present ,truth0 believers in such a manner as to cause conscientious supporters of ecclesiasticism to cease to be supporters4 #e3e4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,this is ,jerusalem3 ,i have set it in the midst of the nations and countries that are round about her4--,god1 through the increase of knowledge1 the ,renaissance1 and the dynamic power of belief in the ,word of ,god1 has set up ,christendom on a pinnacle of power in the midst of the heathen nations or the world4 #e3f4 ,and she hath changed my judgments into wickedness more than the nations1 and my statutes more than the countries that are round about her3 for they have refused my judgments and my statutes1 they have not walked in them4--,god taught ,christendom the principles of ,justice and gave her ,his law of ,divine1 selfsacrificing love--8,a new law1 that ye love one another40 7,john #ac3cd47 ,relatively to the light of ,christendom and heathendom1 ,christendom is far the more wicked2 for1 having the instructions1 exhortations and examples of the ,bible1 she has both refused them and not walked in them4 #e3g4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because ye multiplied more than the nations that are round about you1 and have not walked in ,my statutes1 neither have kept ,my judgments1 neither have done according to the judgments of the nations that are round about you4--,christendom under the blessing of ,god has multiplied in material things and in knowledge more than heathendom1 and yet has not only not walked in ,god's ,law of ,love1 but has not lived up to the standards of righteousness and justice of the heathen4 ,chinese are more reliable in business engagements than are ,christians4 ,some tribes in ,africa are more moral sexually than are whites1 and explorers have noted the natural kindness of the negroes of ,nyassa and ,soudan4 #e3h4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god3 behold1 ,i1 even ,i1 am against thee1 and will execute judgments in the midst of thee in the sight of the nations4--,because of ,christendom's wickedness against light1 ,god is against this system calling itself by ,christ's holy name1 and will execute upon it judgment of such unprecedented awfulness as to constitute a lasting lesson to 8uncivilized0 peoples4 #e3i4 ,and ,i will do in thee that which ,i have not done1 and whereunto ,i will not do any more the like1 because of all thine abominations4--,the punishments come because of churchianity's illicit union of church and state1 termed spiritual 8fornication0 7,rev4 #ag3b72 her licensing of liquor1 vice and crime2 her doctrines of devils 7#a ,tim4 #d3a71 such as eternal torment1 inherent immortality and ,trinity2 her desolating abomination in the ,romish mass 7,matt4 #bd3ae72 and her ,phariseeism in the face of wilful butchery of millions4 #e3aj1 #aa4 ,therefore the fathers shall eat the sons in the midst of thee1 and the sons shall eat their fathers2 and ,i will execute judgments in thee1 and the whole remnant of thee will ,i scatter into all the winds4 ,wherefore1 as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god2 ,surely1 because thou hast defiled ,my ,sanctuary with all thy detestable things1 and with all thine abominations1 therefore will ,i also diminish thee2 neither shall ,mine eye spare1 neither will ,i have any pity4--,the ,hebrew sanctuary or temple typed the ,christian ,sanctuary class1 the ,church of living stones 7#a ,pet4 #b3e71 the ,temple of the ,holy ,spirit 7#a ,cor4 #c3af1 #ag47 ,true ,christianity1 pure in apostolic days1 was defiled 7#b ,chr4 #cf3ad7 with practices and doctrines detestable and abominable to ,god1 until now it is termed 8the great whore10 7apostate church of ,romanism7 and the daughters 8harlots0 7,protestant churches74 7,rev4 #ag3e47 ,divine ,justice will not spare nor pity1 until upon ,christendom has been visited all the righteous blood of hundreds of millions of victims of her long centuries of unchristian wars and persecutions4 #e3ab1 #ac4 ,a third part of thee shall die with the pestilence1 and with famine shall they be consumed in the midst of thee3 and a third part shall fall by the sword round about thee2 and ,i will scatter a third part into all the winds1 and ,i will draw out a sword after them4 ,thus shall ,mine anger be accomplished1 and ,i will cause ,my fury to rest upon them1 and ,i will be comforted3 and they shall know that ,i the ,lord have spoken it in ,my zeal1 when ,i have accomplished ,my fury in them4--,job hoped for the time when ,god's wrath should be past4 7,job #ad3ac47 ,the wrath of ,god will be over forever when this trouble time is past4 7,isa4 #aj3be47 ,divine ,justice will be comforted1 will rest1 having accomplished its sentence of death1 with the accompaniments of sickness1 sorrow1 tears and degradation1 mental1 moral and physical1 upon the human race4 #e3adag4 ,moreover ,i will make thee waste1 and a reproach among the nations that are round about thee1 in the sight of all that pass by4 ,so it shall be a reproach and a taunt1 an instruction and an astonishment unto the nations that are round about thee1 when ,i shall execute judgments in thee in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes4 ,i the ,lord have spoken it4 ,when ,i shall send upon them the evil arrows of famine1 which shall be for their destruction1 and which ,i will send to destroy you3 and ,i will increase the famine upon you1 and will break your staff of bread3 ,so will ,i send upon you famine and evil beasts1 and they shall bereave thee2 and pestilence and blood shall pass through thee2 and ,i will bring the sword upon thee4 ,i the ,lord have spoken it4--,christendom is to be laid waste by war1 revolution1 anarchy1 famine 7,luke #ba3bf71 and pestilence1 from end to end4 ,her vaunted and envied eminence will pass1 through selfdestruction1 due to false ideals of honor1 into a desolation causing the taunts and reproaches of the heathen1 and being to the heathen nations a cause of astonishment and source of instruction4 ,the fury of ,god's anger against her appears in the expression 8in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes40 ,ezekiel #f--,sword--,famine--,pestilence #f3ad4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 set thy face toward the mountains of ,israel1 and prophesy against them1 and say1 ,ye mountains of ,israel1 hear the word of the ,lord ,god2 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god to the mountains and to the hills1 to the rivers and to the valleys2 ,behold1 ,i1 even ,i1 will bring a sword upon you1 and ,i will destroy your high places4 ,and your altars shall be desolate1 and your images shall be broken3 and ,i will cast down your slain men before your idols4--,this chapter relates to the ,divine wrath1 after #aiah ,a4 ,d41 upon the governments1 symbolically called 8mountains and hills10 and the rivers1 the denominations4 #f3eg4 ,and ,i will lay the dead carcasses of the children of ,israel before their idols2 and ,i will scatter your bones round about your altars4 ,in all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste1 and the high places shall be desolate2 that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate1 and your idols may be broken and cease1 and your images may be cut down1 and your works may be abolished4 ,and the slain shall fall in the midst of you1 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,all state churches are to be destroyed1 literally by the sword1 and by the truth about them in the ,word of ,god1 the ,sword of the ,spirit4 7#b ,ki4 #bc3acbb47 ,at the tops of the hills and mountains1 the governments1 are the altars1 the centers of the nation's worship4 ,great sacrifices are made by the masses to maintain these altars4 #f3h4 ,yet will ,i leave a remnant1 that ye may have some that shall escape the sword among the nations1 when ye shall be scattered through the countries4--,heathendom will be the safest place on earth in the time of ,zion's travail6 7,jer4 #dd3bh47 #f3i4 ,and they that escape of you shall remember ,me among the nations whither they shall be carried captives1 because ,i am broken with their whorish heart1 which hath departed from ,me1 and with their eyes1 which go a whoring after their idols3 and they shall loathe themselves for the evils which they have committed in all their abominations4--,god has completely broken relations with the churches1 which with heart and eye have 8departed from ,me40 #f3aj4 ,and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 and that ,i have not said in vain that ,i would do this evil unto them4--,after the trouble is over1 the survivors will have a thousand years in which to recognize the hand of ,god4 #f3aa4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,smite with thine hand1 and stamp with thy foot1 and say1 ,alas for all the evil abominations of the house of ,israel3 for they shall fall by the sword1 by the famine1 and by the pestilence4--,the attitude of the ,lord's true people1 8the mourners in ,zion0 7,isa4 #fa3c71 is that of righteous indignation against the abominations of ,christendom4 #f3ab4 ,he that is far off shall die of the pestilence2 and he that is near shall fall by the sword2 and he that remaineth and is besieged shall die by the famine3 thus will ,i accomplish ,my fury upon them4--,in spite of the manifest judgments of ,god1 the devotees of ,mystic ,babylon1 8,christians10 will not turn to ,god but1 while doing reverence and rendering service to their altars and idols1 will be overtaken by literal sword1 famine and pestilence 7,jer4 #ae3b7 and by the spiritual ,sword of the ,spirit1 by starvation from the lack of ,god's ,word1 and by pestilential doctrines4--,psa4 #ia3f1 #g4 #f3ac4 ,then shall ye know that ,i am the ,lord1 when their slain men shall be among their idols round about their altars1 upon every high hill1 in all the tops of the mountains1 and under every green tree1 and under every thick oak1 the place where they did offer sweet savour to all their idols4--,in the ,roman and ,greek churches the idols1 images and ikons are literal4 ,there are other idols in all the churches--power1 prestige1 social position1 clerical honor1 gold1 worldly education1 etc4 ,as in the ,tabernacle types1 zealous1 obedient sacrifice caused a 8sweet savor0 to rise to ,god1 so the same service raises a sweet savor to the idols of ,christendom4 ,the 8green trees0 and 8thick oaks0 were favorite objects of idolatry 7,jer4 #b3bj2 ,hos4 #d3ac71 and typed the worship of prominent preachers and other men4--,psalm #cg3ce4 #f3ad4 ,so will ,i stretch out ,my hand upon them1 and make the land desolate1 yea1 more desolate than the wilderness toward ,diblath1 in all their habitations2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,christendom is to be made more desolate than the wilderness surrounding ,palestine1 wiped off the face of the earth1 to make way for the ,new ,order of things1 8the world to come0 7,heb4 #b3e71 8wherein dwelleth righteousness40--#b ,pet4 #c3ac4 ,ezekiel #g--;,dawn ,of ,the ,evil ,day #g3af4 ,moreover the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,also1 thou son of man1 thus saith the ,lord ,god unto the land of ,israel2 ,an end1 the end is come upon the four corners of the land4 ,now is the end come upon thee1 and ,i will send ,mine anger upon thee1 and will judge thee according to thy ways1 and will recompense upon thee all thine abominations4 ,and ,mine eye shall not spare thee1 neither will ,i have pity2 but ,i will recompense thy ways upon thee1 and thine abominations shall be in the midst of thee2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,an evil1 an only evil1 behold1 is come4 ,an end is come1 the end is come2 it watcheth for thee2 behold1 it is come4--,chapter #g includes what ,ezekiel saw in type and what the ,ezekiel class now sees in antitype--the destruction of the symbolic earth 7the social order71 and the causes therefor2 the escape of the remnant who will pass alive through the trouble into the better order of things2 the defilement and destruction of ,god's 8ornament10 ,christendom2 and the binding and destruction of the rule of wicked might4 ,pastor ,russell's mission1 in large part1 was to advise ,christendom of its impending end1 in the time of worldwide trouble4 ,it is the ,divine judgment upon the nations4 ,they reap as they have sown4 ,in times past ,god winked at the iniquity of men 7,acts #ag3cj72 but now evil shall receive its just recompense in the wrath of longinsulted ,justice4 ,it will be a period of unmixed evil upon ,christendom1 the purpose of which will be to demonstrate to men's certain knowledge that 8thy ,god reigneth40 7,isa4 #eb3g47 ,there will be no chance of escaping from destruction1 though the nations--as in cases of ,germany1 the ,allies and the ,united ,states--earnestly seek in vain for some way of securing peace4 ,the trouble is due to the dawning of the ,day of ,christ1 the ,millennium4 ,it is the ,day of ,vengeance1 which began in the world war of #aiad and which will break like a furious morning storm in #aiah4--,lam4 #d3ah4 #g3gi4 ,the morning is come unto thee1 ,o thou that dwellest in the land3 the time is come1 the day of trouble is near1 and not the sounding again of the mountains4 ,now will ,i shortly pour out ,my fury upon thee1 and accomplish ,mine anger upon thee2 and ,i will judge thee according to thy ways1 and will recompense thee for all thine abominations4 ,and ,mine eye shall not spare1 neither will ,i have pity2 ,i will recompense thee according to thy ways and thine abominations that are in the midst of thee2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord that smiteth4--,the chiefest sufferers will be those setting affections on earthly things1 earth dwellers and earth lovers4 ,steep mountain valleys are full of echoing sounds1 falling trees1 dislodged rocks1 avalanches1 landslides1 waterfalls1 or the thunders of local storms4 ,earth's nations have been resounding for centuries with local wars1 seditions1 revolutions1 famine and pestilence4 7,a4 #cah47 ,these passed away2 but the present commotion and impending revolution and anarchy will not cease1 but will spread and increase until this order of things is destroyed4 #g3aj4 ,behold the ,day1 behold it is come3 the ,morning is gone forth2 the rod hath blossomed1 pride hath budded4--8,pride goeth before destruction40 7,prov4 #af3ah47 ,human pride among kaisers1 clergy1 labor leaders1 and capitalists1 has budded1 blossomed forth into acts that will bring destruction4 ,the rod is a symbol of authority4 ,organized authority is perverted from its ,divinely appointed function of restraint and punishment of crime into a ruthless rule of might and bloodshed4 #g3aa4 ,violence is risen up into a rod of wickedness2 none of them shall remain1 nor of their multitude1 nor of any of theirs2 neither shall there be wailing for them4--,those who rule by violence shall be utterly rooted out of the earth in the ,time of ,trouble1 unhonored and unwept 7,jer4 #af3df71 accursed for the evil they have wrought4 ,the clergy1 for whom many would even have died in the past1 but who have preached the people into this war and into the world's ruin1 will become objects of popular hatred4 #g3ab4 ,the time is come1 the ,day draweth near2 let not the buyer rejoice1 nor the seller mourn2 for wrath is upon all the multitude thereof4--,the year #aiah1 with its fearful revolutions and succeeding anarchy1 is at the door4 #g3ac4 ,for the seller shall not return to that which is sold1 although they were yet alive3 for the vision is touching the whole multitude thereof1 which shall not return2 neither shall any strengthen himself in the iniquity of his life4--,this indicates the languishing and eventual decline and cessation of business4 7,isa4 #cc3h47 ,symbolically1 it represents the ceasing of the clergy from 8selling0 religion and the people from buying4 8,success consists in knowing how to be discreetly dishonest0 is now a common rule of practice2 but the time is at hand when iniquitous practices and precepts will no longer profit any4 #g3ad4 ,they have blown the trumpet1 even to make all ready2 but none goeth to the ,battle2 for ,my wrath is upon all the multitude thereof4--,there are other trumpets than the trumpet of ,truth4 ,established error has its trumpet message4 ,ecclesiasticism1 capitalism1 and governments together have blown the trumpet of the ,divine right of kings1 magnates1 and clergy1 of the civicbetterment gospel and of 8preparedness40 ,labor leaders have rallied the people to fight for their unions4 ,trumpet messages will summon the people of the world to yet other strife4 ,but so furious and heart breaking will be the trouble that none will have the spirit to respond4 ,there is a hint here that conscription will meet with opposition4 #g3ae4 ,the sword is without1 and the pestilence and the famine within3 he that is in the field shall die with the sword2 and he that is in the city1 famine and pestilence shall devour him4--,worldly people in ,christendom1 not professors of ,christianity1 will be pressed into the active fighting of the ,time of ,trouble and will perish4 7,deut4 #cb3be2 ,jer4 #ad3ah47 ,those in the city refer to the professors of ,christianity--church members4 #g3af4 ,but they that escape of them shall escape1 and shall be on the mountains like doves of the valleys1 all of them mourning1 every one for his iniquity4--,there will be survivors of the ,time of ,trouble who will live on into the ,millennium proper4 ,those of dovelike character will be most likely to survive4 ,the dove has a mournful note4 ,this class will appreciate their iniquity1 repent of it and pray for forgiveness and deliverance4--,e4 #bca1 #bab4 #g3ag4 ,all hands shall be feeble1 and all knees shall be weak as water4--,the hands symbolize power4 ,the people of ,christendom will realize their helplessness4 ,the extremity of the situation will weaken the strongest4--,zeph4 #a3ad2 ,a4 #cae4 #g3ah4 ,they shall also gird themselves with sackcloth1 and horror shall cover them2 and shame shall be upon all faces1 and baldness upon all their heads4--,in mourning for their dead1 men's minds and hearts will revolt at the horrors of the calamity4 ,all will realize with shame that by drunkenness with ,babylon's mixed teachings 7,rev4 #ag3b7 they have brought the trouble on themselves4 ,in grief the ,hebrews shaved the head4--,isa4 #c3bd4 #g3ai4 ,they shall cast their silver in the streets1 and their gold shall be removed2 their sliver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the ,lord2 they shall not satisfy their souls1 neither fill their bowels2 because it is the stumblingblock of their iniquity4--,with the demonetization of silver1 gold has become as a thing unclean 7is losing its purchasing power74 ,all forms of money1 bonds1 stocks and valuables will be worthless when governments are gone and whole nations are starving4 7,d4 #de47 ,there was a literal fulfillment of this ,scripture in #ahih when in ,italy a miller who had publicly thanked the ,virgin for dear bread1 literally threw gold and silver to a crowd in the streets in a vain endeavor to pacify them4 ,they demanded his life and took it4--,z4 '#ihcca4 #g3bj4 ,as for the beauty of ,his ornament1 ,he set it in majesty2 but they made the images of their abominations and of their detestable things therein2 therefore have ,i set it far from them4--8,jerusalem is a crown of glory and a royal diadem04 7,isa4 #fb3c47 ,christianity1 the embryonic ,kingdom of ,god1 was originally 8,his ornament10 in the apostolic age of the ,church4 ,literal images were set up by the ,hebrews in secret places1 and to this day are worshipped by ,romanists literally4 ,romanists and ,protestants alike worship the images of worldpower1 wealth1 statechurch affiliation1 clergy lordship1 eternal torment1 human immortality and trinity1 all alike detestable to a jealous ,god4 ,the actual ornament of ,god1 ,his jewel1 ,his diadem1 is the true ,church1 composed mostly of the poor1 rich in faith 7,jas4 #b3e7--of the reform element who since #ahgh have been withdrawing from ecclesiasticism and coming to ,god4 #g3ba4 ,and ,i will give it into the hands of the strangers for a prey1 and to the wicked of the earth for a spoil2 and they shall pollute it4--,the nominal jewel1 churchianity1 has become the prey of clerical and social anarchists4--,d4 #eej4 #g3bb4 ,my face will ,i turn also from them1 and they shall pollute ,my secret place2 for the robbers shall enter into it1 and defile it4--,the secret place is the condition of consecration1 which an apostate clergy pollute by misrepresentations1 such as that bravery in battle1 suffering in the trenches1 devotion to a falling order of things 7,hab4 #b3ac71 win a place in ,heaven--won only by loyal devotion to ,god's ,word1 and by the spirit begotten alone4 8,i am the ,door4 ,he that entereth in by another way is a robber40--,john #aj3a4 #g3bc4 ,make a chain3 for the land is full of bloody crimes1 and the city is full of violence4--,bind1 unite them together1 let the ,divinely 767 appointed clergy and the governments for which they stand sponsor1 make common cause4 7,d4 #eej47 ,christendom is full of the beastly crimes of the most barbarous warfare ever known4 ,a city symbolizes a government4 #g3bd4 ,wherefore ,i will bring the worst of the heathen1 and they shall possess their houses3 ,i will also make the pomp of the strong to cease2 and their holy places shall be defiled4--,macaulay1 the ,english historian1 spoke of ,america as destined to be destroyed by its own ,huns and ,vandals1 the unassimilated1 uncivilized elements1 especially of the cities4 ,the anarchistic masses will literally live in the houses of the erstwhile rulers and prominent people4 ,the display of power and magnificence of the strong one1 ,satan1 the alleged eternaltorment ,god1 and the devil worshipers of ,christendom shall cease4 ,literally1 the churches1 ,y4 ,m4 ,c4 ,a4's1 monasteries and convents1 supposedly holy1 will be defiled by the impious4 #g3be4 ,destruction cometh2 and they shall seek peace1 and there shall be none4--,there shall be no peace with ,god1 or peace among the conflicting elements of society4 #g3bf4 ,mischief shall come upon mischief1 and rumour shall be upon rumour2 then shall they seek a vision of the prophet2 but the law shall perish from the priest1 and counsel from the ancients4--,literally 8accident upon accident0 will befall the affairs of ,christendom4 7,jer4 #d3bi47 ,the people1 wild with perplexity1 will seek to the clergy for an understanding of the worldholocaust2 but the true ,law1 the ,word of ,god1 has departed from a clergy more learned in church politics and moneyraising schemes than in the ,bible4 ,the ancients1 the 8reverends10 college professors and savants do not know what counsel to give to meet the crisis4--,isa4 #bi3iad4 #g3bg4 ,the king shall mourn1 and the prince shall be clothed with desolation1 and the hands of the people of the land shall be troubled3 ,i will do unto them after their way1 and according to their deserts will ,i judge them2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,satan shall mourn the downfall of his power1 as will the heads of the savage1 beastly governments under his control4 7,matt4 #d3h1 #i47 8,the exalted one0 or prince1 ,satan's chief representative among men1 is the pope2 and he1 with his princes1 cardinals1 archbishops1 bishops1 priests and clergy1 shall see the desolation due to their work4 8,o thou of little faith1 who dost thou fear8 ,the tempest hath no power when ,i am near2 ,will not the angry waves be still at ,my command8 ,step out1 ,i'll hold thy hand1 ,then1 wherefore dost thou fear80 ,ezekiel #h--,molech1 ,the ,torment ,deity #h3a4 ,and it came to pass in the sixth year1 in the sixth month1 in the fifth day of the month1 as ,i sat in mine house1 and the elders of ,judah sat before me1 that the hand of the ,lord ,god fell there upon me4--,chapters #h to #bd continue the recital of the sins of ,jerusalem1 ,christendom1 and the ,divine punishment to be inflicted on her4 ,chapter #h refers literally to the temple1 and its defilement by the seating of an idol of ,baal at the door near the ,brazen ,altar1 by the desecration of its interior with symbols of ,egyptian heathenism and by the practicing of heathen worship within the temple4 ,this types the condition of the spiritual ,temple of ,god1 8which ,temple ye are01 the ,church of ,god1 originally pure and holy1 but defiled by the clergy with pagan practices4 ,the type refers back to #b ,chronicles #cc3ai1 where ,king ,manasseh established heathen worship throughout ,palestine1 set up a carved image in ,solomon's temple and 8made ,judah and the inhabitants of ,jerusalem to err and to do worse than the heathens whom the ,lord had destroyed before the children of ,israel40 ,this resulted in ,manasseh's overthrow at the hands of the ,assyrians4 ,the name ,manasseh means 8causing forgetfulness40 ,he typed ,satan1 the god of this world1 who1 by his lying deceptions has made professing ,christians forget ,god4 ,satan's chief 8angel of light0 is the pope of ,rome1 ably seconded in keeping the people in the dark by the cardinals1 bishops1 priests1 monks and sisters of apostate ,rome and by the bishops and ministers of an apostate ,protestantism4 ,these keep 8their people0 from real ,bible study1 and encourage them in their forgetfulness of ,god and their individual obligations to ,god1 the ,word of ,god1 to fellow,christians and to the world4 ,the house is the ,house of the ,sons of ,god1 the consecrated4 ,the elders1 chosen by the people1 represented all the people4 ,the ,protestant clergy continually sat before the ,lord's steward1 could not pick up a paper that they did not see his sermons in it2 but they would not hear his words1 and they rejected him and the truths which he so plainly and so kindly stated4 #h3b1 #c4 ,then ,i beheld1 and lo a likeness as the appearance of fire3 from the appearance of his loins even downward1 fire2 and from his loins even upward1 as the appearance of brightness1 as the colour of amber4 ,and ,he put forth the form of a hand1 and took me by a lock of mine head2 and the spirit lifted me up between the earth and the heaven1 and brought me in the visions of ,god to ,jerusalem1 to the door of the inner gate that looketh toward the north2 where was the seat of the image of jealousy1 which provoketh to jealousy4--,through the illumination of the ,holy ,spirit1 the ,ezekiel class is now taken up mentally into the powers of spiritual control1 to discern the significance of the evil done by ,satan and the clergy4 ,they are brought to ,jerusalem the antitypical1 to consider established priestcraft4 ,they are brought to the door of the inner gate1 the gate of the altar between the people's court and priest's court--7the same as the ,tabernacle court47 ,they are brought to the antitypical ,temple1 to the ,chord of ,god1 to the ,lord's people--8,ye are the ,temple of ,god04 7#a ,cor4 #c3af47 8,i am the ,door0 7,john #aj3i47 ,the ,door represents ,christ1 through whom all that enter must come4 ,the ,north symbolizes the seat of ,divine government1 the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom4 7,isa4 #ad3ac47 ,the ,door1 ,christ1 looks toward1 tends toward spiritual things4 ,those that enter through ,christ are expected to look forward from the condition of belief to that of full consecration1 the spiritbegotten condition4 ,in the ,door1 in the very place of ,christ1 ,manasseh1 type of the devil1 and an apostate clergy set up an idol1 an image of the ,devil himself4 ,those who thereafter entered the court had to worship the image1 typing that under clergy rule all entering the church1 the condition of belief1 had to do honor to ,satan1 whose seat of chief power is at ,rome1 and whose influence spreads wherever the clergy class is found4 ,the word 8,baal0 means 8,lord40 ,the clergy have set themselves as lords over ,god's heritage 7#a ,pet4 #e3c71 the ,church4 ,by perversion of the plain meaning of literal ,bible statements1 they have set up in the place of ,god the deity of the ,devil4 ,this ,god of ,romanism and ,protestantism is not one1 but three2 he inflicts tortures eternal2 his favor can be bought for money2 he dwells in earthly buildings 7,acts #g3dh71 which are consecrated to him2 he teaches the direct opposite of the ,word of ,god--that the dead are alive2 he favors spiritual adultery--the union of the church with the governments of this world2 he fosters lordship of the clergy class4 ,the clergy's ,god is plainly not ,jehovah1 but the ancient deity1 hoary with the iniquities of ages--,baal--the ,devil himself4 ,god pity the clergy1 who have so long deceived themselves and the people with their 8carved image1 the work of their own hands60 8,i am jealous for ,zion with a great jealousy40 7,zech4 #a3ad47 8,i1 ,jehovah1 thy ,god1 am a jealous ,god40 7,ex4 #bj3e47 ,there is little wonder that the literal typical ,baal of the ,jews and the anti typical eternaltorment ,god of the clergy should provoke ,jehovah to jealousy4 #h3d4 ,and1 behold1 the glory of the ,god of ,israel was there1 according to the vision that ,i saw in the plain4--,the usual place of the ,shekinah ,light was in the ,most ,holy between the cherubim above the golden ,mercy ,seat4 ,it was from this glory that fire came out at times like lightning to consume and destroy iniquitous offenders4 7,lev4 #aj3b47 ,it bodes ill for the devotees of the eternaltorment god that the glory of ,jehovah has come out against them4 #h3e1 #f4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,son of man1 lift up thine eyes now the way toward the ,north4 ,so ,i lifted up mine eyes the way toward the ,north1 and behold northward at the gate of the altar this image of jealousy in the entry4 ,he said furthermore unto me1 ,son of man1 seest thou what they do8 even the great abominations that the house of ,israel committeth here1 that ,i should go far off from ,my sanctuary8 but turn thee yet again1 and thou shalt see greater abominations4--,it is needless to look for abominations far off when such an abomination has been set up by 8impudent children0 at the very door of the ,church4 #h3g4 ,and ,he brought me to the door of the court2 and when ,i looked1 behold a hole in the wall4--,in ,solomon's temple the court of the priests was surrounded not by a simple wall1 but by a row of rooms or chambers where the priests and ,levites stayed4 ,the hole in the wall was an opening or window into one of the chambers4 #h3h4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,son of man1 dig now in the wall1 and when ,i had digged in the wall1 behold a door4--,the wall was the wall of secrecy1 misrepresentation and deception1 by reason of which the pagan practices and beliefs of various classes of professed ,christians were hidden from publicity and consequent popular judgment4 ,a little was known about them1 represented by the little hole in the wall4 ,it is the work of the ,ezekiel class to dig through the wall and throw the light on these hidden things4 ,the time has come for judgment1 and for everything that is done in a chamber to be proclaimed from the housetops4 7,luke #ab3c47 ,once the wall of secrecy is dug through1 the door is open to see whatever transpires4 #h3i4 ,and ,he said unto me1 ,go in1 and behold the wicked abominations that they do here4--,the court typifies the condition of faith--tentative justification4 ,the chambers surrounded the court4 ,they symbolize the condition of those who profess faith and justification1 but whose lives and beliefs contradict their professions4 #h3aj4 ,so ,i went in and saw2 and behold every form of creeping things1 and abominable beasts1 and all the idols of the house of ,israel1 portrayed upon the wall round about4--,to the ,egyptians1 artistic portrayals of creatures had a religious significance4 ,all kinds of living creatures were worshipped4 ,chief of these was the bull ,apis1 which symbolized life and especially the power of procreation4 ,the devotees of the antitype are never so happy as when giving life to new spiritual offspring4 ,the children thus begotten are mostly tares4 ,but few of them have the life that comes from consecration to the ,word of ,god4 ,the revivalist and the clergy care little for any begotten of the ,word of ,god and do little to help them grow up in ,christ4 ,they grow1 if at all1 like starved1 neglected children4 ,as the service of this worship could be conducted only by the regular priests of ,egypt1 so the antitypical work can be done only by the manmade clergy class of the world 7,egypt7 and those 8ordained0 by them4 ,among the creeping things1 objects of worship1 was the fly--the evangelist4 7,rev4 #af3b47 ,the prince of the flies was ,beelzebub4 ,flies breed in and feed upon the 8dung hill of ,popish decretals0 and other 8traditions of men40 ,they never get far above earthly things1 but circulate in the lower strata of the air--ecclesiasticism4 ,they bite and annoy both worldly people and the ,lord's people1 as did the plague of flies in ,egypt1 and are specially persistent in the humid condition of a rain--a downpour of ,truth4 ,these1 like all clergyapproved workers1 are looked up to1 worshipped by the people of ,christendom4 ,other creeping things that fly signify degrading of forbidden beliefs and practices1 attractive1 garbed in the cloak of religion1 under church auspices1 as typed by their flying in the air1 ecclesiastical powers2 but they are displeasing to ,god and tending toward death4 #h3aa4 ,and there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of ,israel1 and in the midst of them stood ,jaazaniah the son of ,shaphan1 with every man his censer in his hand2 and a thick cloud of incense went up4--,worshipping the pictured images were the elders1 or ancients1 appointed by and representing all the people of ,jerusalem4 ,jaazaniah was a ,levite1 typical of a believer in ,christ4 ,the word ,shaphan means 8sly01 and suggests the slyness of the adherents of wrong beliefs4 ,jaazaniah means 8,god is listening10 and signifies the fact that whatever 8,christian0 sinners may say1 ,god is actually paying attention4 ,the censer was used to carry the fire in which incense was burned4 7,rev4 #h3c47 ,it types the bearing of the fiery trials signified by the fire4 ,the devotees of error suffer in its behalf1 as ,truth people suffer for the ,truth4 ,incense types the heart's best endeavors1 here wrongly directed by many professing ,christians in the service of ,satan1 as were ,saul's in persecuting ,christians4 7,acts #bb3c1 #d47 ,tares are often more devoted to their errors than are the ,lord's people to the ,truth4 8,the children of this world are wiser in their generation than the children of light40 7,luke #af3h47 ,it was unlawful for a ,hebrew to burn incense1 except as in the regular temple service4 ,it is an abomination for a professing ,christian to put forth his heart's best endeavors except in the service of ,god4 #h3ab4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,son of man1 hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of ,israel do in the dark1 every man in the chambers of his imagery8 for they say1 ,the ,lord seeth us not2 the ,lord hath forsaken the earth4--,these departures from true ,christian belief are carried on 8in the dark40 7,john #c3ai47 ,every tare1 imitation ,christian1 has his own peculiar beliefs and practices in 8the chamber of his imagery10 his mind4 ,because ,god knows how to defer retribution until the ,day of ,judgment 7#b ,pet4 #b3i71 these unwise ones delude themselves that the ,all,seeing ,one does not see4 ,those not familiar with the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages1 seeing the conditions of savage war trending into worse things1 apparently have the delusion that the ,lord has forsaken the earth4 #h3ac1 #ad4 ,he said also unto me1 ,turn thee yet again1 and thou shalt see greater abominations that they do4 ,then ,he brought me to the door of the gate of the ,lord's house which was toward the north2 and1 behold1 there sat women weeping for ,tammuz4--,tammuz means 8perfect 7tam7 by burning0 7muz74 ,he was a heathen god whose death was lamented annually by women idolaters4 ,he was the god of fire worship1 the same as ,molech1 to whom children were burned alive4 ,he types the eternaltormentpurgatory ,god1 who perfects 7supposedly7 by the fires of purgatory4 ,the women weeping for him typify the oncevirgin churches1 who honor the alleged hellfire god and lament the ones in the fire4 ,there is a unity of heathen religions with apostate 8,christianity0 which stamps them all as pagan4 ,the original heathen god was ,nimrod1 8the mighty hunter0 of ,gen4 #aj3had1 where is related the origin of ,babylon and ,ninevah4 ,nimrod led men and women from the true religion of devout ,noah into gross sensuality and neglect of the worship of ,jehovah4 ,he was beloved by fallen women4 ,for his iniquitous influence1 ,nimrod was condemned to death by the council of judges2 and his dead body was cut into pieces1 which were sent to all parts of the inhabited world1 with the threat of death to any who practiced his evil ways4 ,nimrod married his own mother1 ,semiramis1 so that1 in a sense1 he was his own father and his own son4 ,here was the origin of the ,trinity doctrine4 ,nation ,father,husband ,son ,the ,woman ,asia ,decius ,cybele ,assyria ,winged bull ,babylonia ,lord of ,heaven ,babylonia ,ninus ,tammuz ,queen of ,heaven ,chaldea ,bal ,ishtar ,chaldea ,cahna,bel ,the ,seed 7,cannibal7 ,chaldea ,molech ,ashtaroth ,chaldea ,zoroaster ,the ,seed of the ,fire ,china ,child ,madonna ,egypt ,apis bull ,cow of ,athor ,egypt ,osiris ,horus ,isis ,english ,the ,devil ,greece ,bacchus ,rhea ,greece ,capricornus ,astarte ,greece ,kissos ,mother of gods ,greece ,kronos ,aphrodite ,greece ,orion ,babe ,ceres ,greece ,saturn ,venus ,greece ,plutus ,irene ,india ,vishnu ,christina ,india ,tsi ,eswara ,italy ,pope ,virgin ,mary ,japan ,child ,madonna ,nineveh ,nimrod ,nimrod ,semiramis ,palestine ,baal ,persia ,sun ,moon ,persia ,sun ,god ,persia ,child ,madonna ,philistia ,dagon ,rome ,jupiter ,jupiter ,puer ,fortuna ,scandinavia ,woden ,thor ,frieda ,thibet ,child ,madonna ,the practices of ,nimrod were continued in secret by ,semiramis2 and as every caution had to be taken1 the things done were veiled in mystery4 ,each act and person was represented only in symbols known to the initiated4 ,here originated the various secret societies1 with their blood curdling oaths of secrecy--,masonry1 ,oddfellowship1 ,jesuitism1 ,knights of ,malta1 and so on4 ,these are lineal descendants of the 8mysteries0 of pagan sensuality1 all of them abominations to ,god4 ,semiramis1 to further her schemes1 pretended that ,nimrod1 the fatherson1 had been raised from the dead in the form of the sun1 which thus became an object of worship4 ,she represented herself as the moon1 which was also adored4 ,this was the original ,trinity--,nimrod the father1 ,nimrod1 or ,tammuz1 the son and ,semiramis the mother1 the power1 or spirit1 back of all4 ,as the people multiplied and scattered they took with them this heathen ,trinity which appears in various nations in the partial list shown on the preceding page4 ,these under inspiration of the ,devil1 put the false seed of the woman--,nimrod1 ,tammuz1 etc41--in the stead of the true ,seed1 pushed ,jehovah aside1 then into the background1 and then out altogether4 ,the ,devil1 through the ,pope of ,rome1 substituted forms of paganism for the simplicity of true ,christianity4 8,such things are10 says ,cardinal ,newman1 8the very instruments and appendages of demon worship10 but 8sanctified by adoption into the church40 ,roman ,catholicism is a heathen religion4 ,protestantism also worships ,molech1 the fire god1 ,tammuz1 the deity of torture1 whom popes1 cardinals1 bishops1 priests1 clergy1 ministers1 and laymen unite in honoring and worshipping under the delusion that they are worshipping ,jehovah1 ,god of ,abraham1 the true ,god of the ,bible4 ,however1 ignorantly1 8they worship devils40--#a ,cor4 #aj3bj4 #h3ae1 #af4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,hast thou seen this1 ,o ,son of man8 turn thee yet again1 and thou shalt see greater abominations than these4 ,and ,he brought me into the inner court of the ,lord's house1 and behold1 at the door of the temple of the ,lord1 between the porch and the altar1 were about five and twenty men1 with their backs toward the temple of the ,lord1 and their faces toward the east2 and they worshipped the sun toward the east4--,in the court itself 7#a ,ki4 #f3cf71 in the very presence of the blood bought sacrifice1 these men were gathered4 ,only priests and ,levites might be in this court4 ,they typified the believers and spiritbegotten ones of the ,christian ,church4 ,they were divided into about twentyfive courses or sections and served in rotation4 ,these typed the divisions of ,christians into about twentyfive principal denominations4 ,in the ,united ,states these are ,adventists1 ,baptists1 ,brethren 7,dunkards71 ,catholics 7,greek71 ,christian1 ,churches of ,christ ,scientist1 ,churches of ,god1 ,congregationalists1 ,disciples of ,christ1 ,evangelical1 ,friends1 ,german ,evangelical ,protestant1 ,german ,evangelical ,synod1 ,latter ,day ,saints1 ,lutherans1 ,scandinavian ,evangelical1 ,menonites1 ,moravians1 ,methodists1 ,pentecostals1 ,presbyterians1 ,protestant ,episcopals1 ,reformed1 ,salvation ,army1 and ,united ,brethren4 ,with their backs toward the ,temple of the ,lord 7,jer4 #b3bg71 these treat with contempt and scorn the little company of ,god's true saints1 rich in faith1 8the ,temple40 ,to turn the back is a gross insult4 ,their faces are toward the east4 7,jer4 #h3b47 ,all these denominations worship the firegod1 the sun1 the heathen god whose identity with paganism appears foregoing4 #h3ag4 ,then ,he said unto me1 ,hast thou seen this1 ,o ,son of man8 ,is it a light thing to the house of ,judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here8 for they have filled the land with violence1 and have returned to provoke ,me to anger2 and1 lo1 they put the branch to their nose4--,so lightly do modern ,babylonians1 apostate religionists1 regard their abominable beliefs1 that they will not even give consideration to the presentation of the truth about ,jehovah and ,his ,divine ,plan of the ,ages4 ,it is the church--clergy and members--who brought on the barbarous worldwar4 ,they could have stood like a rock for peace2 but the clergy1 with devilish exhortations1 urged their fellowsavages to bloodshed4 ,the ,divine judgment has gone against them and soon will swallow them up in the earthquake 7revolution7 and fire 7anarchy7 of the ,time of ,trouble4 ,the last clause should read4 8,they send a stench to ,my nostrils40 ,illustration ,destructive ,criticism ,of ,the ,bible #h3ah4 ,therefore will ,i also deal in fury2 ,mine eyes shall not spare1 neither will ,i have pity3 and though they cry in ,mine ears with a loud voice1 yet will ,i not hear them4--,the fury of 8,christians0 in this savage war will be visited upon them in the succeeding revolution and anarchy4 ,when the real ,time of ,trouble is on1 after the war1 ,christendom will realize the terrible truth that it is the punishment of ,divine ,justice--and will pray mightily to ,god4 ,their prayers cannot be favorably answered 7,prov4 #a3bh7 until 8the great tribulation0 7,rev4 #g3ad7 has finished its work of 8bruising to heal40--,hos4 #f3a4 8,in the world despised1 neglected1 ,deemed its refuse and its dross1 ,she whose ,lord the earth rejected ,shares ,his sorrow1 bears ,his loss40 ,ezekiel #i--,the ,man ,with ,the ,inkhorn #i3a4 ,he cried also in mine ears with a loud voice1 saying1 ,cause them that have charge over the city to draw near1 even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand4--,chapter #i depicts the slaughter of the idolaters of ,jerusalem4 ,it types the literal slaughter of the spiritual idolaters of ,christendom in the ,time of ,trouble1 and also their destruction as tares 7,matt4 #ac3dj7 by the ,word of ,truth1 which will manifest their true condition and cause them to cease the pretense of being ,christians4 ,the picture corresponds to the harvesting of wheat and tares by the sickle of ,truth 7,rev4 #ad3ae71 and the burning of the tares4 ,there is a twofold significance here--those having material charge of ,christendom1 and those having spiritual charge 7,d4 #ebg47 ,the first class comprises the rulers of the great nations2 the second class1 the feet members of the ,little ,flock 7,luke #ab3cb7--8;,all things are yours40 7#a ,cor4 #c3ba72 8,inheritors of the ,kingdom0 7,gal4 #e3ba72 8,given charge of all ,his goods0 7,luke #ab3dd71 the ,bible truths4 ,the first class has as weapons the armies and navies4 ,the second has the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god4 ,illustration ,seats ,free ,and ,no ,collection ,was ,never ,babylon's ,slogan #i3b4 ,and1 behold1 six men came from the way of the higher gate1 which lieth toward the ,north1 and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand2 and one man among them was clothed with linen1 with a writer's inkhorn by his side3 and they went in1 and stood beside the brazen altar4--,the six with earthly weapons are the rulers of the six great nations--,russia1 ,germany1 ,austria1 ,france1 ,england and ,italy4 ,the six with the ,sword of the ,spirit symbolize all the ,elijah class1 the six1 with one other1 making up the seven1 the complete number4 ,these have their commission from 8the north10 from the seat of ,divine ,dominion1 from ,god ,himself4 ,practically all ,bible translators and commentators agree that the one with a writer's inkhorn by his side was not one of the six1 but a seventh1 garbed as a priest1 or as a clerk or officer in an army of the ,east4 ,the linen signifies the imputed righteousness of ,christ1 7,rev4 #ai3h47 ,the writer's inkhorn symbolizes that the seventh man's function was to write4 ,god identified him thus3 ,when ,,the ,,watch ,,tower ,,bible ,,and ,,tract ,,society was at ,allegheny1 ,pa41 an open ,bible was to be painted on one of the large front window of the office4 ,a sign painter1 not in the ,truth1 painted the open ,bible2 and without instruction from any one1 of his own volition1 he painted the ,bible as open at ,ezekiel1 ,chapter #i4 ,the man in linen was the ,laodicean servant1 the ,lord's faithful and wise steward1 ,pastor ,russell4 ,when ,pastor ,russell saw this1 he turned pale4 ,ezekiel seeing the man in linen1 types ,pastor ,russell thereafter seeing himself to be the antitype of that man--one of the most prolific writers of the ,age1 and the only one to write and publish widely the glad tidings of the actual ,second ,presence of ,christ4 ,the seven men stood beside the brazen altar--there1 in connection with ,god's ,plan1 based upon the ,ransom sacrifice to receive their ,divinely appointed commission4 #i3c4 ,and the glory of the ,god of ,israel was gone up from the cherub1 whereupon ,he was1 to the threshold of the house4 ,and ,he called to the man clothed with linen1 which had the writer's inkhorn by his side4--,one of the four living creatures is here designated a 8cherub40 ,this one was ,justice1 about to operate upon the iniquities of ecclesiasticism4 ,the threshold of the house refers to the door of the ,holy1 the condition of the spirit begotten4 8,the spirit of glory and of ,god is upon thee40 7#a ,pet4 #d3ad7 ,the message was to sound forth from the ,lord's consecrated people during the ,harvest of the ,gospel ,age1 from #ahgh to #aiah4 #i3d4 ,and the ,lord said unto him1 ,go through the midst of the city1 through the midst of ,jerusalem1 and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof4--,the center of ,christendom is the nations of the ,united ,states1 ,canada1 ,great ,britain1 ,france1 ,germany1 ,russia and ,scandinavia4 ,hither and thither1 traveling and preaching for nearly forty years ,pastor ,russell obeyed this command2 and through the printed page of books1 tracts and newspapers he went into every corner of the world4 8,set a mark01 literally 8set a #8tav' upon the foreheads40 ,the 8,tav0 was the twentysecond letter of the ,hebrew alphabet1 and in its earlier form had the shape of a cross 774 ,the forehead signifies the intellect 7,rev4 #g3c2 #ad3a74 ,pastor ,russell's great work was to imprint indelibly in the minds of certain ones the truth about the ,cross1 the sacrifice of the ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 and the part of the ,church therein4 ,it was the duty of the clerk or officer of an oriental army to mark the people1 either for slaughter or to be left untouched4 ,the 8mourners in ,zion0 7,isa4 #fa3c7 are those faithful ones in ,christendom that appreciate that conditions are evil in churchianity1 perhaps without understanding just how4 ,all these are to be marked in their minds with the knowledge of the ,present ,truth4 #i3e4 ,and to the others ,he said in mine hearing1 ,go ye after him through the city1 and smite3 let not your eye spare1 neither have ye pity4--,after ,pastor ,russell's writings have reached an individual1 the other members of the ,elijah class1 the 8,truth people10 approach him with the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god4 ,this is to each individual a 8savor of life to life1 or of death to death40 7#b ,cor4 #b3adaf47 ,those not believing ,present ,truth will become only the more confirmed in error4 7#b ,thes4 #b3aa47 ,they will be smitten by the ,sword of the ,spirit1 which in them will operate at this time to destroy any pretense of being ,christians1 and cause them to take their proper stand as worldings--to be destroyed as tares4 ,in this1 ,god's 8strange work0 7,isa4 #bh3ba71 the ,word of ,god will operate seemingly without pity1 to separate the people into two classes1 in ,present ,truth or out of it4 ,in a literal sense the rulers of this evil ,age will pitilessly carry the ,sword throughout the lengths and breadths of ,christendom4 #i3f4 ,slay utterly old and young1 both maids and little children1 and women3 but come not near any man upon whom is the mark2 and begin at ,my ,sanctuary4 ,then they began at the ancient men which were before the house4--,here are depicted the savagery of the revolutions and the anarchy succeeding the great war4 ,though they are to be literally martyred1 the consecrated in ,present ,truth cannot be hurt of either slaughter weapon2 their hopes and their treasures are in ,heaven 7,matt4 #f3bj71 and no earthly calamity can in any wise work them ill4 ,symbolically the ,sword of the ,spirit will do no harm to mature ,christians--8men10--but many young or undeveloped believers1 not having the ,holy ,spirit1 regardless of sex1 will fall as tares1 as will all of the idol worshipers of ,christendom4 ,the literal trouble will begin with a revolutionary outburst of anarchy against the churches and the clergy 7#a ,pet4 #d3ag71 as responsible for the trouble because of having preached the people into the war1 in the face of innumerable ,scriptures against fighting with carnal weapons 7,matt4 #e3ci1 #dd2 ,john #ah3aa2 #b ,cor4 #aj3d7 and of those teaching ,christians to love one another and to forgive trespasses 7,luke #f3bgch71 personal or national4 7,rom4 #ab3agba47 ,the ,sword of the ,spirit will begin its work with the sanctuary class1 the professing ,christians 7#a ,pet4 #d3ag74 ,it will begin with 8the ancient men01 the representatives of the people--the clergy1 doctors of divinity1 priests1 bishops and other ecclesiastics4 #i3g4 ,and ,he said unto them1 ,defile the house1 and fill the courts with the slain3 go ye forth4 ,and they went forth1 and slew in the city4--,typically the house of ,god was defiled by a dead body4 ,the ,temple1 the ,body of ,christ1 the true ,church1 is defiled by the presence in it of any one who has become spiritually dead4 ,the priests and ,levites alone might enter the priests' court2 and this types that many professing to be consecrated ,christians will lose all claim to being followers of ,christ--be slain religiously4 ,so many will thus lose belief that ,christendom will be filled with them4 ,literally the sanctuaries and the streets of ,christendom will be filled with the slain of the ,time of ,trouble4 #i3h4 ,and it came to pass1 while they were slaying them1 and ,i was left1 that ,i fell upon my face1 and cried1 and said1 ,ah ,lord ,god6 wilt ,thou destroy all the residue of ,israel in ,thy pouring out of ,thy fury upon ,jerusalem8--,it will almost seem that none in ,christendom will escape alive2 and1 indeed1 8,except those days be shortened1 no flesh should be saved40--,matt4 #bd3bb4 #i3i1 #aj4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,the iniquity of the house of ,israel and ,judah is exceeding great1 and the land is full of blood1 and the city full of perverseness3 for they say1 ,the ,lord hath forsaken the earth1 and the ,lord seeth not4 ,and as for ,me also1 ,mine eyes shall not spare1 neither will ,i have any pity1 but ,i will recompense their way upon their head4--,on account of the light of the ,gospel of ,love they possess1 both ,romanism and ,protestantism are guilty to an extraordinary degree before ,god4 ,christendom1 through its savage wars1 is drenched with blood4 ,churchianity is full of wilful sin4 ,god will seem to have left the social order to its own destruction4 #i3aa4 ,and1 behold1 the man clothed with linen1 which had the inkhorn by ,his side1 reported the matter1 saying1 ,i have done as ,thou hast commanded me4--,pastor ,russell was faithful to his great task of writing and publishing the ,truth and imprinting the 8tav0 of ,present ,truth in the minds of the spiritbegotten4 ,in ,october1 #aiaf1 he died1 and beyond the veil has1 ere this1 undoubtedly1 reported in the presence of ,christ that he has done the work he was given to do4 8,faithful when with tears thine eyes were dim1 ,faithful when joys' cup o'erflowed its brim2 ,faithful when ,god seemed to veil ,his face1 ,faithful when ,he crowned thy work with grace1 ,faithful till was fled life's fleeting breath1 ,eager hands were folded still in death40 ,ezekiel #aj--,scattering ,coals ,of ,fire #aj3a4 ,then ,i looked1 and1 behold1 in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone1 as the appearance of the likeness of a throne4--,verses #a1 #haa1 #ab1 #adbb are explained in ,chapter #a4 ,the repetition of the symbols of the ,justice1 ,wisdom1 ,love and ,power of ,god1 of the wings 7,word of ,god71 of the wheels1 and the wondrous light1 are assurances that in the anarchous destruction of ,christendom1 our ,father is acting wisely1 justly1 lovingly and in accordance with ,his ,word and ,plan for the good of mankind4--,t4 #abe4 #aj3b4 ,and ,he spake unto the man clothed with linen1 and said1 ,go in between the wheels1 even under the cherub1 and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim1 and scatter them over the city4 ,and he went in in my sight4--,ezekiel1 typing ,pastor ,russell1 sees himself as acting in the manner here described4 ,he was to go in between the wheels1 to do his work in accordance with the ,divine ,plan1 to act under the dictates of the ,divine ,justice1 8the cherub40 ,the coals of fire are symbolic of the fiery trials1 distress1 8great tribulation10 with which ,christendom will be overwhelmed in the last period of the ,time of ,trouble1 and the prophecies of these events4 7,rev4 #h3e47 ,these ,divinely permitted troubles have the approval of ,divine ,wisdom1 ,justice1 ,love and ,power1 as necessary from every viewpoint1 and the inevitable retribution of a long forbearing ,god4 ,pastor ,russell was to do this work1--8fill his hand10 with all his might1 to devote himself wholly to this task4 ,over the whole world was scattered the warning of impending trouble4--,d4 #eg4 #aj3c4 ,now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house1 when the man went in2 and the cloud filled the inner court4--,the cherubim stood by the nominal ,temple class--to inquire and visit the offences of ,christendom4 ,the house was on their left1 the place of disfavor4 ,when no priests were in the ,holy1 it was filled with a cloud4 ,in #a ,kings #h3aj and in #b ,chron4 #e3aaad the cloud filled the ,holy1 and the priests were unable to serve there because of it4 ,when the cloud filled the ,court1 no one could see to serve in it4 ,this types that in the ,harvest period1 from #ahgh to #aiah1 while ,pastor ,russell was dispensing as part of the 8food in due season0 the impending downfall of ,christendom1 those who had been serving in the believing ,court condition--clergy and other church workers--were no longer permitted to do so4 ,it corresponds to the passing of the stewardship from the clergy to ,pastor ,russell in #ahgh4 ,this applies also to verse #d1 where the presence of the cloud also types the presence of ,jehovah to visit punishment for wickedness4--,b4 #ach4 #aj3d4 ,then the glory of the ,lord went up from the cherub1 and stood over the threshold of the house2 and the house was filled with the cloud1 and the court was full of the brightness of the ,lord's glory4--,pastor ,russell saw more clearly than any one in this end of the ,age the glorious ,gospel of ,god in the ,ransom for all 7,court and altar74 #aj3e4 ,and the sound of the cherubim's wings was heard even to the outer court1 as the voice of the ,almighty ,god when he speaketh4--,here is indicated the sounding forth of the ,word of ,god through ,pastor ,russell's proclamation of ,present ,truth4 ,the inner ,court typed the condition of faith and justification1 and the outer ,court typed the condition of those not fully believing1 nor directly serving ,god4 ,the preaching and writings of ,pastor ,russell were heard by all classes of believers and unbelievers4 ,it was the voice of ,jehovah1 represented as almighty to save1 that was heard throughout the world4 #aj3f4 ,and it came to pass that when ,he had commanded the man clothed with linen1 saying1 ,take fire from between the wheels1 from between the cherubim2 then he went in1 and stood beside the wheels4--,in the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages ,pastor ,russell was to find clearly indicated the great tribulation then close at hand4 #aj3g4 ,and one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim1 and took thereof and put it into the hands of him clothed with linen2 who took it1 and went out4--,justice gave to ,pastor ,russell the knowledge of impending troubles1 to go out and publish to ,christendom4 #aj3h4 ,and there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man's hand under their wings4--,the work of witness here depicted is carried out by human beings1 under the power and protection of the ,word of ,god4 #aj3iaa4 ,and when ,i looked1 behold the four wheels by the cherubim1 one wheel by one cherub1 and another wheel by another cherub3 and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone4 ,and as for their appearance1 they four had one likeness1 as if a wheel had been in the midst of a wheel4 ,when they went1 they went upon their four sides2 they turned not as they went1 but to the place whither the head looked they followed it2 they turned not as they went4--,see ,chapter #a for explanation4 ,the leading face in the head was the man's face1 typical of ,divine ,love4 ,this is the dominating attribute of ,god's character1 directing the course of the other three4 #aj3ab4 ,and their whole body1 and their backs1 and their hands1 and their wings1 and the wheels1 were full of eyes round about1 even the wheels they four had4--,every part of the ,divine character1 as well as every operation of the ,divine attributes and of the human beings through which ,god acts is full of ,wisdom4--,b4 #cje4 #aj3ac4 ,as for the wheels1 it was cried unto them in my hearing1 ,o wheel4--,very emphatic was the ,divine directing of the attention toward the wheels--the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages4 ,pastor ,russell always directed the ,bible student's mind toward the great ,plan4 #aj3adbb4 ,and every one had four faces2 the first face was the face of a cherub1 and the second face was the face of a man1 and the third the face of a lion1 and the fourth the face of an eagle4 ,and the cherubim were lifted up4 ,this is the living creature that ,i saw by the river of ,chebar4 ,and when the cherubim went1 the wheels went by them3 and the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth1 the same wheels also turned not from beside them4 ,when they stood1 these stood2 and when they were lifted up1 these lifted up themselves also2 for the spirit of the living creature was in them4 ,then the glory of the ,lord departed from off the threshold of the house1 and stood over the cherubim4 ,and the cherubim lifted up their wings1 and mounted up from the earth in my sight3 when they went out1 the wheels also were beside them1 and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the ,lord's house1 and the glory of the ,god of ,israel was over them above4 ,this is the living creature that ,i saw under the ,god of ,israel by the river of ,chebar2 and ,i knew that they were the cherubim4 ,every one had four faces apiece1 and every one had four wings2 and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings4 ,and the likeness of their faces was the same faces which ,i saw by the river of ,chebar1 their appearance and themselves3 they went every one straight forward4--,see explanation of these verses in ,chapter #a4 7,hos4 #i3ab7 8,yea1 woe also to them when ,i depart from them40 ,ezekiel #aa--,the ,wicked ,counsel #aa3a4 ,moreover the ,spirit lifted me up1 and brought me unto the east gate of the ,lord's house1 which looketh eastward3 and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men2 among whom ,i saw ,jaazaniah1 the son of ,azur1 and ,pelatiah1 the son of ,benaiah1 princes of the people4--,the east gate types ,christ1 the entrance to true ,christianity4 7,john #aj3i47 ,at the door of the gate were the leading sects1 ,jaazaniah1 the son of ,azur 7helper7 types the idea that by selfhelp man can please ,god4 ,pelatiah 7,jah delivers71 the son of ,benaiah 7,jah is intelligent71 types the belief that earthly wisdom will deliver the world from its difficulties4 7#a ,cor4 #a3ba47 ,these were 8princes among the people0--very popular ideas4 #aa3b4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,son of man1 these are the men that devise mischief1 and give wicked counsel in this city4--,these teachings have actuated many of the erroneous beliefs and wicked acts of nominal ,christians4 #aa3c4 ,which say1 ,it is not near2 let us build houses3 this city is the caldron1 and we be the flesh4--,ecclesiasticism's thought is that the ,time of ,trouble is not near1 and the destruction of ,christendom is not to be thought of4 7#a ,thes4 #e3c47 8,let us build houses0 is an expression implying confidence in the permanence of things as they are4 7#b ,pet4 #c3d47 8,this city is the caldron1 and we be the flesh0 7,jer4 #a3ac7 is a proverb1 here applied to the iron sides of the caldron keeping away the fire1 or in antitype civil and military powers1 protecting from actual anarchy 7fire71 however hot things may become4 #aa3d1 #e4 ,therefore prophesy against them1 prophesy1 ,o son of man4 ,and the ,spirit of the ,lord fell upon me1 and said unto me1 ,speak3 ,thus saith the ,lord2 ,thus have ye said1 ,o house of ,israel3 for ,i know the things that come unto your mind1 every one of them4--,the false teachings of the clergy are nothing new4 ,every one of them is the old worship of ,nimrod and ,baal4 #aa3f4 ,ye have multiplied your slain in this city1 and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain4--,there never was a war that a clergy did not preach 8their people0 into it1 and multiply the slain4 ,furthermore1 the number is legion of those who would have liked to gain spiritual life1 but the clergy have discouraged 7,john #g3dh71 and in millions of cases caused their actual death4 #aa3g4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it1 they are the flesh1 and this city the caldron3 but ,i will bring you forth out of the midst of it4--,another sense in which the ,jerusalem ,jews used this proverb was that the ,jews taken captive into ,babylon were worthless1 and they in ,jerusalem were the valuable flesh remaining4 7,mi4 #c3c47 ,god here tells that the only ones to remain in ,christendom will be the literally dead1 or those who are dead to the claims of ,mystic ,babylon4 ,these have the best chance of surviving the trouble4 ,the walls1 defences1 military and police1 will be broken down by war and revolution2 and nothing can save the adherents of ecclesiasticism from their fate4 #aa3h4 ,ye have feared the sword2 and ,i will bring a ,sword upon you1 saith the ,lord4--,the devotees of established priestcraft fear both the literal sword and the ,sword of the ,spirit4 ,the armies of the nations will be in open revolt against the established powers1 religious1 political and economic4 ,also the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god1 will cut through all pretense and bring about the death of religion in all not begotten of the ,holy ,spirit4 #aa3i4 ,and ,i will bring you out of the midst thereof1 and deliver you into the hands of strangers1 and will execute judgments among you4--,christendom win fall literally into the hands of revolutionists and anarchists1 ,industrial ,workers of the ,world1 ,syndicalists1 ,socialists1 unfriendly to established systems1 and spiritually into the power of the ,word of ,god in the hands of ,his 8strangers40 7#a ,pet4 #a3a2 #b3aa17 a 8just recompense of reward40 7,heb4 #b3b47 #aa3aj1 #aa4 ,ye shall fall by the sword2 ,i will judge you in the border of ,israel1 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4 ,this city shall not be your caldron1 neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof2 but ,i will judge you in the border of ,israel4--,the ,jews taken captive out of ,jerusalem were tried and slain at ,riblah 7a bare place7 outside of ,palestine1 typifying that the destroying judgments on ,christendom will come upon her after her institutions have gone to pieces1 and she is desolated4 #aa3ab4 ,and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord3 for ye have not walked in ,my statutes1 neither executed ,my judgments1 but have done after the manner of the heathen that are round about you4--,the people of ,christendom will finally appreciate that their distress is a punishment from ,god1 because of not having followed the plain injunctions of the ,bible1 having mistaught the ,word of ,god1 and having lived no better than unbelievers4 #aa3ac4 ,and it came to pass1 when ,i prophesied1 that ,pelatiah1 the son of ,benaiah1 died4 ,then fell ,i down upon my face1 and cried with a loud voice1 and said1 ,ah ,lord ,god6 wilt ,thou make a full end of the remnant of ,israel8--,while ,pastor ,russell's reasonable and ,divinely appointed teachings are doing their good work throughout ,christendom the idea that human wisdom1 ,prussian culture1 etc41 can save the old order of things1 will be seen lifeless4 #aa3ad4 ,again the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying4--,verses #ad to #be are the message of comfort and hope to those who are now out of harmony with ecclesiasticism4 #aa3ae4 ,son of man1 thy brethren1 even thy brethren1 the men of thy kindred1 and all the house of ,israel wholly1 are they unto whom the inhabitants of ,jerusalem have said1 ,get you far from the ,lord3 unto us is this land given in possession4--,the ,jews in captivity were despised by those remaining in the 8holy0 city1 ,jerusalem4 ,they type the people of ,christendom who honestly own themselves to be of the world and are despised by the 8best people10 the educated1 religious 8holy0 ,churchianity4 8,get you far from the ,lord0 is the attitude of the tares toward those who do not pretend as much1 but who are often much better in ,god's sight4 ,the 8best people0 not merely own most of the earth now1 but expect to own ,heaven too--with the now worldly people forever consigned to a devilimagined hell of eternal torment4 #aa3af4 ,therefore say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,although ,i have cast them far off among the heathen1 and although ,i have scattered them among the countries1 yet will ,i be to them as a little ,sanctuary in the countries where they shall come4--,god especially favors the honesthearted1 humble minded1 however far they may now be from ,him in outward appearance4 ,christ avoided the ,scribes and the ,pharisees1 but freely associated with the publicans and sinners4 #aa3ag4 ,therefore say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will even gather you from the people1 and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered1 and ,i will give you the land of ,israel4--,in the coming ,kingdom ,god will gather first the outcasts from their condition of disfavor1 even from the dead1 and will give them possession of the earth before the proudminded ecclesiastics are permitted to return from the dead4 ,this is to have also a literal fulfillment on ,fleshly ,israel4--,z4 '#idgf4 #aa3ah4 ,and they shall come thither1 and they shall take away all the detestable things thereof and all the abominations thereof from thence4--,the common people1 free from the perverse influence of priestcraft1 in ,christ's ,millennial ,kingdom will abolish all the clergy fostered ideas and practices now so abominable to ,god4 #aa3ai4 ,and ,i will give them one heart1 and ,i will put a new spirit within you2 and ,i will take the stony heart out of their flesh1 and will give them a heart of flesh4--,they will be singlehearted to serve ,god and do ,his will alone4 7,jer4 #cb3ci47 ,from having the spirit or mind of natural men they will be given the ,holy ,spirit1 when ,god 8pours out ,his ,spirit upon all flesh40 7,a4 #ccc2 ,z4 '#jcaga47 ,from being hardhearted they will become tenderhearted1 forgiving one another even as ,god1 for ,christ's sake will forgive them4--,eph4 #d3cb4 #aa3bj4 ,that they may walk in ,my statutes1 and keep ,mine ordinances1 and do them3 and they shall be ,my people1 and ,i will be their ,god4--,they will keep ,god's ,law of ,divine love4 ,the 8best people10 who now regard themselves as ,god's people1 in the ,age to come will learn that ,god opposes the proud and favors the humble4 #aa3ba4 ,but as for them whose heart walketh after the heart of their detestable things and their abominations1 ,i will recompense their way upon their own heads1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,those who at heart love established ecclesiasticism are counted as having the heart1 mind or will of the author of priestcraft1 the ,devil4 8,ye generation of serpents 7devils71 how scarcely shall ye escape the condemnation of ,gehenna 7,second ,death740--,matt4 #bc3cc4 #aa3bb1 #bc4 ,then did the cherubim lift up their wings1 and the wheels beside them2 and the glory of the ,god of ,israel was over them above4 ,and the glory of the ,lord went up from the midst of the city1 and stood upon the mountain which is on the east side of the city4--,god1 and ,divine favor1 has ceased to be in or with ,christendom 7,d4 #ebg71 but is upon and with the true ,kingdom 7mountain7 of ,god 7,a4 #cah71 toward the east 7,zech4 #ad3d71 the antitypical ,mount of ,olives4--,d4 #fec4 #aa3bd1 #be4 ,afterwards the spirit took me up1 and brought me in a vision by the ,spirit of ,god into ,chaldea1 to them of the captivity4 ,so the vision that ,i had seen went up from me4 ,then ,i spake unto them of the captivity all the things that the ,lord had shewed me4--,these things seen in the ,scriptures are now preached and published to the captives in ,mystic ,babylon4 ,ezekiel #ab--;,christendom's ,blind ,flight #ab3a1 #b4 ,the word of the ,lord also came unto me saying1 ,son of man1 thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house1 which have eyes to see1 and see not2 they have ears to hear1 and hear not2 for they are a rebellious house4--,in ,chapter #ab3aaf is depicted the blind flight of ,christendom into revolution and anarchy4 ,pastor ,russell and his coworkers once dwelt in the midst of the rebellious nominal house1 or church1 of ,god1 with eyes blinded and ears made deaf by their spiritual defection4--,matt4 #ac3ac4 #ab3c4 ,therefore1 thou son of man1 prepare thee stuff for removing1 and remove by day in their sight2 and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight3 ,it may be they will consider1 though they be a rebellious house4--,he found in the ,bible the ,truth of ,god1 which exhorts to 8come out of her1 ,o ,my people0 7,rev4 #ah3d72 and in obedience1 he came out of his church home into a condition of separateness1 by every means of publicity 7in their sight7 drawing the attention to his removal1 in the hope that those left behind might turn truly back to ,god4 #ab3d4 ,then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight1 as stuff for removing3 and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight1 as they that go forth into captivity4--,in their estimation1 he did this as one taken by the ,evil ,one4 #ab3e4 ,dig thou through the wall in their sight1 and carry out thereby4--,he dug through the creeds walls and thus 8came out of her40 #ab3f4 ,in their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders1 and carry it forth in the twilight3 thou shalt cover thy face1 that thou see not the ground3 for ,i have set thee for a sign unto the house of ,israel4--,to them he was one not knowing whither he went1 with eyes blinded2 whereas his action and his publishing of the ,truth was but ,god's way of beseeching ,christendom and warning her of her own fate4 #ab3g4 ,and ,i did so as ,i was commanded3 ,i brought forth my stuff by day1 as stuff for captivity1 and in the even ,i digged through the wall with mine hand2 ,i brought it forth in the twilight1 and ,i bare it upon my shoulder in their sight4--,pastor ,russell and the ,truth people did this with their limited power 7hand71 and laboriously 7upon shoulder7 made their way with their goods1 the precious ,truths1 8out of her40 #ab3hi4 ,and in the morning came the word of the ,lord unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 hath not the house of ,israel1 the rebellious house1 said unto thee1 ,what doest thou8--,the nominal church 7home7 of ,spiritual ,israel have often inquired of ,pastor ,russell and of the ,truth people1 8,what doest thou80 #ab3aj4 ,say thou unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,this burden concerneth the prince in ,jerusalem1 and all the house of ,israel that are among them4--,the import of the answer concerns the exalted class 7prince1 exalted one71 the lords in ,christendom1 the clergy1 and all professing ,christians that are with them4 #ab3aa4 ,say1 ,i am your sign1 like as ,i have done1 so shall it be done unto them3 they shall remove and go into captivity4--,what has been1 is a lesson for them2 as the ,royal ,priesthood has done1 so shall it be done unto them2 they shall move down from their exalted place and go into captivity to the laborite and revolutionary elements4 ,the ,jews were literally to go into captivity into ancient ,babylon1 which they did4 #ab3ab4 ,and the prince that is among them shell bear upon his shoulder in the twilight1 and shall go forth3 they shall dig through the wall to carry out thereby2 he shall cover his face1 that he see not the ground with his eyes4--,as to the ,jews1 their ruler ,zedekiah was by night to try to escape from ,jerusalem1 but he should not see the way4 ,regarding ,christendom's clergy1 they shall at the close of their day1 abandon ,christendom in the time of revolution1 to save what they can for themselves1 and 8get out of her40 ,they shall find a still more worldly way out of their creed walls and shall be selfblinded to the real condition of society 7the earth74 #ab3ac4 ,my net also will ,i spread upon him1 and he shall be taken in ,my snare3 and ,i will bring him to ,babylon to the land of the ,chaldeans2 yet shall he not see it1 though he shall die there4--,like a snare shall revolution1 in the guise of freedom for all1 come upon them2 and1 utterly blind to the significance of world events1 they shall be forced into revolution and anarchy1 and there shall this lordly class come to its end4 7,hos4 #g3ab47 ,the literal application upon ,king ,zedekiah is of course understood2 for he went to ,babylon1 but never saw it1 because his eyes were put out4 #ab3ad4 ,and ,i will scatter toward every wind all that are about him to help him1 and all his bands2 and ,i will draw out the sword after them4--,god will scatter in war1 tumult and confusion and in error2 all that adhere to the clergy class1 and all their congregations 7bands72 and against them shall ,he direct weapons of war and the ,word of ,god1 the ,sword of the ,spirit4 #ab3ae4 ,and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i shall scatter them among the nations1 and disperse them in the countries4--,and they shall appreciate that ,jehovah is ,god1 when this has come4 #ab3af4 ,but ,i will leave a few men of them from the sword1 from the famine1 and from the pestilence2 that they may declare all their abominations among the heathen whither they come3 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,from among them ,god will leave a few manly believers1 who shall escape the sword1 the famine1 literal and of the ,word1 and from the pestilential errors2 that they1 as then faithful members of the ,great ,company1 may explain to the revolutionists and anarchists the ,truth about the ,divinely forbidden doctrines and deeds of the clergy1 and their following4 #ab3ag1 #ah4 ,moreover the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 eat thy bread with quaking1 and drink thy water with trembling and with carefulness4--,the ,lord's people were to eat1 drink and live with great economy4 #ab3ai4 ,and say unto the people of the land1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god of the inhabitants of ,jerusalem and the land of ,israel2 ,they shall eat their bread with carefulness1 and drink their water with astonishment1 that her land may be desolate from all that is therein1 because of the violence of all them that dwell therein4--,they were to say to the people of ,christendom3 8,god says to the clergy and people of nominal ,spiritual ,israel1 the churches3 ,you shall eat your food by measure1 and with economy--on the foodticket plan--and drink your ,truth with amazement at the famine2 for ,christendom is to be desolated of its people1 because of the violent wars1 and the revolutions and anarchy of the people40 #ab3bj4 ,and the cities that are inhabited shall be laid waste1 and the land shall be desolate2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,the governments 7cities7 shall be destroyed and the social order desolated in anarchy2 and they shall feel the outworkings of ,jehovah's purposes upon them4 #ab3ba1 #bb4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 what is that proverb that ye have in the land of ,israel1 saying1 ,the days are prolonged1 and every vision faileth8--,nominal clergy and ,christians say concerning the ,bible1 that this ,age will last for thousands of years and that ,bible prophecies fail of fulfillment--#b ,pet4 #c3d4 #ab3bc4 ,tell them therefore1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will make this proverb to cease1 and they shall no more use it as a proverb in ,israel2 but say unto them1 ,the days are at hand1 and the effect of every vision4--,god says that ,he will make their saying to cease2 for close at hand is the ,time of ,trouble and of the ,kingdom of ,god1 and the fulfillment of prophecy4 #ab3bd4 ,for there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of ,israel4--,there shall be no more1 in the churches1 delusive theories of the everlasting welfare of ,christendom or of evolution1 or immortality1 or flattering prediction of peace1 peace4--,lam4 #b3ad4 #ab3be4 ,for ,i am the ,lord2 ,i will speak1 and the word that ,i shall speak shall come to pass2 ,it shall be no more prolonged3 for in your days1 ,o rebellious house1 will ,i say the word1 and will perform it1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,jehovah's ,word shall come to pass promptly1 in the present day4--,isa4 #ee3aa4 #ab3bf1 #bg4 ,again the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 behold1 they of the house of ,israel say1 ,the vision that he seeth is for many days to come1 and he prophesieth of the times that are far off4--,the clergy say that ,pastor ,russell's predictions of early trouble and the setting up of the ,kingdom are for hundreds or thousands of years to come1 and about things that are far off4--,amos4 #f3c4 #ab3bh4 ,therefore say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,there shall none of ,my words be prolonged any more1 but the ,word which ,i have spoken shall be done1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,jehovah says that none of the words spoken through ,his servant ,pastor ,russell1 shall wait any longer for fulfillment1 but the things shall come as spoken4 8,sometime1 when all life's lessons have been learned1 ,and sun and stars forevermore have set1 ,the things which our weak judgment here has spurned-- ,the things o'er which we grieved with lashes wet-- ,will flash before us out of life's dark night1 ,as stars shine most in deeper tints of blue2 ,and we shall see how all ,god's plans were right1 ,and how what seemed unkind was love most true40 ,ezekiel #ac--,the ,gaps ,in ,the ,wall #ac3a1 #b4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me saying1 ,son of man1 prophesy against the prophets of ,israel that prophesy1 and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts1 ,hear ye the ,word of the ,lord4--,god's ,word is to write and speak against the preachers of ,christendom that say things originating in their own imaginations2 let them listen now to the ,words of ,jehovah4 #ac3c4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,woe unto the foolish prophets1 that follow their own spirit1 and have seen nothing4--,woe to the foolish preachers1 who as blind leaders have seen nothing respecting today's crisis in the ,word of ,god1 or in the signs of the times6 #ac3d4 ,o ,israel1 thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts4--,o ,christendom1 thy preachers will be like cunning foxes1 finding profit in the desolation of their country6 #ac3e4 ,ye have not gone up into the gaps1 neither made up the hedge for the house of ,israel to stand in the battle in the ,day of the ,lord4--,they have not preached ,god's ,truth to fill up the breaches among ,christendom's defenders1 or to build up the brokendown forsakers of ,christendom's moral and spiritual defenses1 to enable ,christendom to have strength to stand before ,god in the ,time of ,trouble4 #ac3f4 ,they have seen vanity and lying divination1 saying1 ,the ,lord saith3 and the ,lord hath not sent them3 and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the ,word4--,they have taken and taught fallacious and delusive theories of evolution1 destructive criticism of the ,bible1 the ,divine right of kings and of clergy1 and preached their people into savage warfare1 saying it was the ,word of ,god1 when ,god has not said it2 and they have made others believe their lies4 #ac3g4 ,have ye not seen a vain vision1 and have ye not spoken a lying divination1 whereas ye say1 ,the ,lord saith it2 albeit ,i have not spoken4--,they have misrepresented ,jehovah4 #ac3h4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because ye have spoken vanity1 and seen lies1 therefore1 behold1 ,i am against you1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,wherefore ,god is against them4 #ac3i4 ,and ,mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity1 and that divine lies2 they shall not be in the assembly of ,my people1 neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of ,israel1 neither shall they enter into the land of ,israel2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord ,god4--,god will stretch out ,his hand against these preachers4 ,they shall not be in the ,church triumphant 7,heb4 #ab3bc71 nor shall they be written as members of the spiritborn ,great ,company2 nor shall they enter the ,heavenly phase of the ,kingdom4 #ac3aj4 ,because1 even because they have seduced ,my people1 saying1 ,peace2 and there was no peace2 and one built up a wall1 and lo1 others daubed it with untempered mortar4--,because the clergy have deceived and ruined ,christendom 7,micah #c3eg7 proclaiming peace when there was no peace 7,jer4 #f3ad72 and when one of them would build up a slight wall of workers of earthly1 civic1 social betterment1 the others would bind it together with the binder of selfinterest1 not with truth 7water7 or love4 #ac3aa4 ,say unto them which daub it with untempered mortar1 that it shall fall2 there shall be an overflowing shower2 and ye1 ,o great hailstones1 shall fall2 and a stormy wind shall rend it4--,it shall fall2 there shall be an overflowing downpour of the water of ,truth2 and hard truths1 great hard facts shall fall upon the wall2 and gigantic wars and world wide commotion shall tear to pieces the preachers' earthlycivicsocial defense4 #ac3ab4 ,lo1 when the wall is fallen1 shall it not be said unto you1 ,where is the daubing wherewith ye daubed it8--,behold1 when ,christendom's slight defense against the forces of evil1 is fallen1 it shall be inquired of the clergy1 8,where is that worthless1 loveless1 selfish binder wherewith you inefficiently cemented together its members80 #ac3ac4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will even rend it with a stormy wind in ,my fury2 and there shall be an overflowing shower in ,mine anger1 and great hailstones in ,my fury to consume it4--,therefore ,god says3 ,i will destroy your defense with a furious storm of war and revolution1 with a flood of ,truth and great hard facts4 #ac3ad4 ,so will ,i break down the wall that ye have daubed with untempered mortar1 and bring it down to the ground1 so that the foundation thereof shall be discovered1 and it shall fall1 and ye shall be consumed in the midst thereof3 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,so will ,i break down your flimsy defenses of selfishness2 they shall fall and you shall be buried in their fall4 #ac3ae4 ,thus will ,i accomplish ,my wrath upon the wall1 and upon them that have daubed it with untempered mortar1 and will say unto you1 ,the wall is no more1 neither they that daubed it4--,the defense of ,christendom exists no more1 neither they that plastered it with showy selfinterest4 #ac3af4 ,to wit1 the prophets of ,israel which prophesy concerning ,jerusalem1 and which see visions of peace for her when there is no peace4--,namely1 the preachers of ,christendom who preach peace when there is no peace4 #ac3ag4 ,likewise1 thou son of man1 set thy face against the daughters of thy people1 which prophesy out of their own heart2 and prophesy thou against them4--,god directs true ,christians to set their faces against the manmade churches1 which preach things of their own imagining4 #ac3ah4 ,and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,woe to the women that sew pillows to all armholes1 and make kerchiefs upon the head of every stature to hunt souls6 ,will ye hunt the souls of ,my people1 and will ye save the souls alive that come unto you8--,woe to the churches 7women7 that practice superstition 7sew amulets about their elbows--an oriental method of incantation71 and wear veils of mystery to ensnare men4 #ac3ai4 ,and will ye pollute ,me among ,my people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread1 to slay the souls that should not die1 and to save the souls alive that should not live1 by your lying to ,my people that hear your lies8--,shall they continue to profane and prostitute ,my name among ,my people1 for the price of the spiritual fornication of churchstate union 7barley was the customary offering for an adulteress7 and for the weekly collections offering1 to discourage1 persecute and kill the godly8 #ac3bj4 ,wherefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against your pillows1 wherewith ye there hunt to make them fly1 and ,i will tear them from your arms1 and will let the souls go1 even the souls that ye hunt to make them fly4--,god will strip the churches of the power of their superstitions1 and will let the people go out of the bondage4 #ac3ba4 ,your kerchiefs also will ,i tear1 and deliver ,my people out of your hand1 and they shall be no more in your hand to be hunted1 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,their veil of mystery will ,he tear away1 and deliver ,his people1 the ,great ,company1 out of bondage4 #ac3bb4 ,because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad1 whom ,i have not made sad2 and strengthened the hands of the wicked1 that he should not return from his wicked way1 by promising him life4--,wherefore the churches shall no more hold forth delusive hopes4 ,ezekiel #ad--;,insincere ,inquirers #ad3a4 ,then came certain of the elders of ,israel unto me1 and sat before me4--,there will come certain of the clergy of ,christendom to the ,truth people to listen and inquire4 #ad3b1 #c4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 these men have set up their idols in their heart1 and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face3 should ,i be inquired of at all by them8--,god's ,word for them will be that these men have insincerely set up in their hearts their idols of gold1 power1 etc41 and with a pretended facetoface sincerity1 have retained their iniquitous stumbling block of love of sin4 ,should ,god be inquired of at all by such men8 #ad3d4 ,therefore speak unto them1 and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,every man of the house of ,israel that setteth up his idols in his heart1 and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face1 and cometh to the prophet2 ,i the ,lord will answer him that cometh1 according to the multitude of his idols3--,every man in the nominal church that insincerely clings to his idols and to his love of iniquity1 and yet comes to one of ,god's people1 ,jehovah will answer not with words1 but with the retribution deserved for his idolatry4 #ad3e4 ,that ,i may take the house of ,israel in their own heart1 because they are all estranged from ,me through their idols4--,god will treat the nominal ,christian church in a manner like their own insincere hearts1 because by the idols they serve they are all estranged from their love for ,him4--#b ,thes4 #b3aa1 #ab4 #ad3f4 ,therefore say unto the house of ,israel1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,repent1 and turn yourselves from your idols2 and turn away your faces from all your abominations4--,say first to them3 ,repent of your evil deeds1 turn away from your idols1 ,o ,christendom1 and resolutely turn your faces unto ,him1 and from superstition1 error1 and from practices which are abominable to ,his standards4 #ad3g4 ,for every one of the house of ,israel1 or of the stranger that sojourneth in ,israel1 which separateth himself from ,me1 and setteth up his idols in his heart1 and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face1 and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning ,me2 ,i the ,lord will answer him by ,myself4--,every church member and every one associated with him1 who ceases to love ,god supremely1 sets his heart upon other subjects of love or worship1 clings to iniquitous practices1 and then comes to the ,truth people to find what ,god says1 verily ,jehovah ,himself will answer him--with deeds1 not with words merely4 #ad3h4 ,and ,i will set ,my face against that man1 and will make him a sign and a proverb1 and ,i will cut him off from the midst of ,my people2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,god will thoroughly disfavor that man1 and make him an example and a byword2 ,he will cut him off from a place among ,his people4 #ad3i4 ,and if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing1 ,i the ,lord have deceived that prophet1 and ,i will stretch out ,my hand upon him and will destroy him from the midst of ,my people ,israel4--,and if any preacher--even one of the ,truth people--shall get so wrong in heart that he is deceived in what he says 7,jer4 #bj3g71 ,jehovah will 8send him a strong delusion that he should believe a lie10 and will be against him and will destroy him from the midst of ,his people4 #ad3aj4 ,and they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity3 the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him4--,both shall bear the same punishment for their iniquity--the preachers and the man that listens to him4 #ad3aa4 ,that the house of ,israel may go no more astray from ,me1 neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions2 but that they may be ,my people1 and ,i may be their ,god1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,professed ,christian people shall stray no longer from ,him1 nor become unclean spiritually through their wrongdoing1 but may truly be ,god's people1 and ,he their ,god4 #ad3ab1 #ac4 ,the ,word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 when the land sinneth against ,me by trespassing grievously then will ,i stretch out ,mine hand upon it1 and will break the staff of the bread thereof1 and will send famine upon it1 and will cut off man and beast from it4--,when a whole country sins against ,god with grievous1 willful sin1 then will ,he exercise ,his power against it1 and cut off the necessary supply of material 7,lev4 #bf3bf7 and spiritual food--send a famine of food and of the ,word of ,god upon it1 and cut off all life from it4 #ad3ad4 ,though these three men1 ,noah1 ,daniel and ,job1 were in it1 they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,though in that country were the three most upright men of history1 ,noah1 ,daniel and ,job--typing here the ,little ,flock1 the ,great ,company1 and the ,household of ,faith--they should by their righteousness save but their own lives4 #ad3ae4 ,if ,i cause noisome beasts to pass through the land1 and they spoil it1 so that it be desolate1 that no man may pass through because of the beasts4--,god has caused savage governments to overrun ,christendom with military and naval forces1 and to ruin and desolate it1 so that no manly independent man can exist there4 #ad3af4 ,though these three men were in it1 as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters2 they only shall be delivered1 but the land shall be desolate4--,though these three classes be in ,christendom1 they shall deliver no one but themselves2 they only shall be delivered1 but ,christendom shall be desolated4 #ad3ag4 ,or if ,i bring a sword upon that land1 and say1 ,sword1 go through the land2 so that ,i cut off man and beast from it3--,god has brought upon ,christendom destroying weapons 7,lev4 #bf3be71 and the ,sword of the ,spirit is to go through ,christendom and cut off all that can be cut off1 and no one shall save aught but himself4 #ad3ah1 #ai4 ,though these three men were in it1 as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters1 but they only shall be delivered themselves4 ,or if ,i send a pestilence into that land1 and pour out ,my fury upon it in blood1 to cut off from it man and beast4--,god will permit a pestilence1 both of literal disease and of pestilential errors in ,christendom1 in wrath to take away life4 #ad3bj1 #ba4 ,though ,noah1 ,daniel and ,job were in it1 as ,i live saith the ,lord ,god1 they shall deliver neither son nor daughters2 they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,how much more when ,i send ,my four sore judgments upon ,jerusalem--the sword1 and the famine1 and the noisome beast1 and the pestilence--to cut off from it man and beast4--,christendom is so corrupt that ,god is sending upon her ,his four dreadful punishments--the sword1 the famine1 the savage government and the pestilence--as ,his destroyers6 #ad3bb4 ,yet behold1 therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth1 both sons and daughters3 behold1 they shall come forth unto you1 and ye shall see their way and their doings3 and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that ,i have brought upon ,jerusalem1 even concerning all that ,i have brought upon it4--,there shall be left from the anarchy a few who shall be brought through into the ,kingdom as samples of ,christendom's pollution4 ,they will live among those who have suffered in ,christendom's trouble1 and amid the blessed ,kingdom influences by contrast the others shall see their continued evil ways and doings4 ,and they will cause everyone to feel satisfied1 content1 over the trouble ,god is bringing upon ,christendom4 #ad3bc4 ,and they shall comfort you1 when ye see their ways and their doings3 and ye shall know that ,i have not done without cause all that ,i have done in it1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,when the others see their evil ways and doings1 they will be content as to the need of the ,time of ,trouble1 for they shall realize that not without good cause shall ,god have done all that ,he will do to ,christendom4 ,ezekiel #ae--;,fit ,for ,fuel ,only #ae3ah4 ,and the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 ,what is the vine tree more than any tree1 or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest8 ,shall wood be taken thereof to do any work8 or will men take a pin of it to hang any vessel thereon8 ,behold1 it is cast into the fire for fuel2 the fire devoureth both the ends of it1 and the midst of it is burned4 ,is it meet for any work8 ,behold1 when it was whole1 it was meet for no work3 how much less shall it be meet yet for any work1 when the fire hath devoured it1 and it is burned8 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,as the vine tree among the trees of the forest1 which ,i have given to the fire for fuel1 so will ,i give the inhabitants of ,jerusalem4 ,and ,i will set ,my face against them2 they shall go out from one fire1 and another fire shall devour them2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i set ,my face against them4 ,and ,i will make the land desolate1 because they have committed a trespass1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,ecclesiasticism1 which imagines itself to be the true vine 7,john #ae3a7 with the sects as branches1 is a wild vine 7,rev4 #ad3ah71 unable to support itself and clinging like a parasite upon others for support4 ,it brings forth no character fruitage1 is unfit for any ,divine purpose1 is slender1 half charred by the assaults of ,higher ,criticism1 and fit only to be destroyed4--,psa4 #hj3haf4 ,ezekiel #af--,unfaithfulness ,of ,god's ,people #af3ae4 ,again the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 cause ,jerusalem to know her abominations1 and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god unto ,jerusalem2 ,thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of ,canaan2 thy father was an ,amorite1 and thy mother a ,hittite4 ,and as for thy nativity1 in the day thou was born thy navel was not cut1 neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee2 thou wast not salted at all1 nor swaddled at all4 ,none eye pitied thee1 to do any of these unto thee1 to have compassion upon thee2 but thou wast cast out in the open field1 to the loathing of thy person1 in the day that thou wast born4--,chapter #af is an amplification of the symbolic description of ,babylon the ,great 7,jerusalem71 ecclesiasticism 7,rev4 #ag71 as a once virgin but now apostate woman 7church74 ,the peoples of whom the church was composed were originally heathen 7#af3c71 in and of the world 7field74 #af3fh4 ,and when ,i passed by thee1 and saw thee polluted in thine own blood1 ,i said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood1 ,live2 yea1 ,i said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood1 ,live4 ,i have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field1 and thou hast increased and waxen great1 and thou art come to excellent ornaments3 thy breasts are fashioned1 and thine hair is grown1 whereas thou wast naked and bare4 ,now when ,i passed by thee1 and looked upon thee1 behold1 thy time was the time of love2 and ,i spread ,my skirt over thee1 and covered thy nakedness3 yea1 ,i sware unto thee1 and entered into a covenant with thee1 saith the ,lord ,god1 and thou becamest ,mine4--,god through ,christ loved these people and espoused them1 ,he caused the church to grow beautiful4 #af3iab4 ,then washed ,i thee with water2 yea1 ,i thoroughly washed away thy blood from thee1 and ,i anointed thee with oil4 ,i clothed thee also with broidered work1 and shod thee with badger's skin1 and ,i girded thee about with fine linen1 and ,i covered thee with silk4 ,i decked thee also with ornaments1 and ,i put bracelets upon thy hands1 and a chain on thy neck4 ,and ,i put a jewel on thy forehead1 and earrings in thine ears1 and a beautiful crown upon thine head4--,he anointed them with the ,holy ,spirit 7#af3i1 oil71 clothed them with the robe of ,christ's righteousness 7,matt4 #bb3aa7 with the embroidery of character fruits 7,psa4 #de3ad71 and gave them precious ornament of ,divine 7golden7 promises1 put a jewel 7pure1 diamond sparkling ,truth--#a ,cor4 #c3ab7 on their forehead 7minds--,rev4 #g3c71 golden earrings in their ears 7ears to hear ,divine things--,gen4 #bd3bb71 and a beautiful crown on their head 7tentative kingship74--,rev4 #b3aj4 #af3ac4 ,thus was thou decked with gold and silver2 and thy raiment was of fine linen1 and silk1 and broidered work2 thou didst eat fine flour1 and honey1 and oil2 and thou wast exceedingly beautiful1 and thou didst prosper into a kingdom4--,he gave them the purest and best food from the ,word of ,god 7,psa4 #adg3ad72 and they became beautiful in the beauty of holiness 7,psa4 #aaj3c71 and prospered even unto inheritance of the ,kingdom of ,heaven4--,col4 #a3ac4 #af3ad4 ,and thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty2 for it was perfect through ,my comeliness1 which ,i had put upon thee1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,they became renowned for their holy1 kindly characters2 obtainable through sacrificial suffering4--,heb4 #b3aj4 #af3ae4 ,but thou didst trust in thine own beauty1 and playedst the harlot because of thy renown1 and pouredst out thy fornications on every one that passed by2 his it was4--,the spirit of fornication in a church is the desire to form a union with any worldgovernment 7,rev4 #ah3c72 this spirit was manifested to every government4--,isa4 #a3ba4 #af3af4 ,and of thy garments thou didst take1 and deckedst thy high places with divers colours1 and playedst the harlot thereupon2 the like things shall not come1 neither shall it be so4--,the high places are the tops of mountains1 the rulers of governments2 there the church displayed her greatest attractions1 and induced the spiritual fornication of governments1 to an extent never to be witnessed again4 #af3ag4 ,thou hast also taken thy fair jewels of ,my gold and of ,my silver1 which ,i had given thee1 and madest to thyself images of men1 and didst commit whoredom with them4--,she took the ,divine treasures of ,truth1 and shaped and distorted them into the form of traditions of men4 #af3ah1 #ai4 ,and tookest thy broidered garments1 and coveredst them2 and thou hast set ,mine oil and ,mine incense before them4 ,my meat also1 which ,i gave thee1 fine flour1 and oil1 and honey1 wherewith ,i fed thee1 thou hast even set it before them for a sweet savour2 and thus it was1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,the spiritual food of the ,word of ,god was spiced with human errors2 such as ,divine right of kings and clergy1 immortality1 ,trinity and eternal torment1 preached in a way to please the ruling powers and serve their unholy purposes4--,hos4 #b3h4 #af3bj1 #ba4 ,moreover thou hast taken thy sons and thy daughters1 whom thou hast borne unto ,me1 and these hast thou sacrificed unto them to be devoured4 ,is this of thy whoredoms a small matter8 ,that thou hast slain ,my children1 and delivered them to cause them to pass through the fire for them8--,the ,church gave the children of ,god1 begotten of the ,word1 to endure doctrines of hell fire 7,jer4 #g3ca7 and fiery trials in the warfares of governments4 #af3bb4 ,and in all thine abominations and thy whoredoms thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth1 when thou wast naked and bare1 and wast polluted in thy blood4--,in her pride of place1 the church forgot the heathendom from which her members had been raised4 #af3bcbe4 ,and it came to pass after all thy wickedness1 7woe1 woe unto thee6 saith the ,lord ,god47 ,that thou hast also built unto thee an eminent place1 and hast made thee a high place in every street4 ,thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way1 and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred1 and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by1 and multiplied thy whoredoms4--,woe1 woe1 distress1 trouble and destruction to such an apostate1 who in every conspicuous way 7,isa4 #eg3g7 served the interests of the god of this world1 made her 8virtues0 detestable to thoughtful men1 and offered herself for statechurch union to every government 7street71 state1 city and town6 #af3bf4 ,thou hast also committed fornication with the ,egyptians thy neighbors1 great of flesh2 and hast increased thy whoredoms1 to provoke ,me to anger4--,she united herself with the most worldly people1 great in earthly things4 #af3bg4 ,behold1 therefore ,i have stretched out ,my hand over thee1 and have diminished thine ordinary food1 and delivered thee unto the will of them that hate thee1 the daughters of the ,philistines1 which are ashamed of thy lewd way4--,god has now1 since #ahgh1 brought the powers of judgment against the apostate church and caused a famine of the ,word of ,god within church doors4 ,he has given her over to the encroachments of church daughters of aggressive worldliness and doctrines of devils 7,philistines7--,christian ,science1 ,theosophy1 ,new ,thought1 ,higher ,criticism and ,spiritism4 ,even these churches1 founded on doctrines of devils1 are ashamed of the worldly1 selfdebasing ways of the professedly orthodox ,church of ,christ4 #af3bh1 #bi4 ,thou hast played the whore also with the ,assyrians1 because thou wast unsatiable2 yea1 thou hast played the harlot with them1 and yet couldest not be satisfied4 ,thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of ,canaan unto ,chaldea2 and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith4--,the ,church has even sought union with the forces 7,assyrians7 destined to overthrow ,christendom--,socialism1 ,communism1 ,industrial ,workers of the ,world1 ,trade ,unions1 ,syndicalists1 revolutionists1 anarchists1--insatiable in her desire for power4 #af3cjcd4 ,how weak is thine heart1 saith the ,lord ,god1 seeing thou doest all these things1 the work of an imperious whorish woman1 in that thou buildest thine eminent place in the head of every way1 and makest thine high place in every street2 and hast not been as a harlot1 in that thou scornest hire1 but as a wife that committeth adultery1 which taketh strangers instead of her husband6 ,they give gifts to all whores2 but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers1 and hirest them1 that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom4 ,and the contrary is in thee from other women in thy whoredoms1 whereas none followeth thee to commit whoredoms2 and in that thou givest a reward1 and no reward is given unto thee1 therefore thou are contrary4--,how despicable is the attitude of the professed church6 444 lower even than an harlot6 ,for a harlot has some selfrespect and gives herself only for gifts in return2 but the 8,christian0 church has offered inducements to every possible kind and grade of governmental power to enter into ,divinely condemned union of church and state4--,hos4 #h3i4 #af3cecg4 ,wherefore1 ,o harlot1 hear the word of the ,lord3 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because thy filthiness was poured out1 and thy nakedness discovered through thy whoredoms with thy lovers1 and with all the idols of thy abominations1 and by the blood of thy children1 which thou didst give unto them4 ,behold1 therefore ,i will gather all thy lovers1 with whom thou hast taken pleasure1 and all them that thou hast loved1 with all them that thou hast hated2 ,i will even gather them round about against thee1 and will discover thy nakedness unto them1 that they may see all thy nakedness4--,therefore ,god will cause the governments1 with which the apostate church has made alliance1 to hate and burn her with fire4--,rev4 #ag3af4 #af3chdj4 ,and ,i will judge thee1 as women that break wedlock and shed blood are judged2 and ,i will give thee blood in fury and jealousy4 ,and ,i will also give thee into their hand1 and they shall throw down thine eminent place1 and shall break down thy high places3 they shall strip thee also of thy clothes1 and shall take thy fair jewels1 and leave thee naked and bare4 ,they shall also bring up a company against thee1 and they shall stone thee with stones1 and thrust thee through with their swords4--,by ,moses' ,law women that broke wedlock were stoned to death2 in earlier days they were burned alive2 and the guilty men also were killed4 7,lev4 #bj3aj1 #ad1 #bg47 ,ecclesiasticism will be smitten down with the stones of hard facts1 and be destroyed in the fires of anarchy1 8with the fire of ,god's ,jealousy40 7,zeph4 #c3h47 ,she shall be stripped of her tinsel and gilt 7imitation immortality71 her purple 7imperial7 and scarlet 7bloody7 colors1 and of her real and imitation jewels of ,truth4 ,the masses1 incensed by vain sacrifices and privations of a worldwar1 will despatch her4 #af3da4 ,and they shall burn thine houses with fire1 and execute judgments upon thee in the sight of many women2 and ,i will cause thee to cease from playing the harlot1 and thou also shalt give no hire any more4--,her houses 7denominations7 will be wiped out in the anarchy4 ,she will receive her terrible judgments in the wondering sight of many heathen religions 7women74 #af3db1 #dc4 ,so will ,i make ,my fury toward thee to rest1 and ,my jealousy shall depart from thee1 and ,i will be quiet and will be no more angry4 ,because thou hast not remembered the days of thy youth1 but hast fretted ,me in all these things2 behold1 therefore ,i also will recompense thy way upon thine head1 saith the ,lord ,god3 and thou shalt not commit this lewdness above all thine abominations4--,not till ecclesiasticism has perished from the face of the earth will ,god's fury and jealousy cease its retributions4 #af3dd1 #de4 ,behold1 every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee1 saying1 ,as is the mother1 so is her daughter4 ,thou art thy mother's daughter1 that loatheth her husband and her children2 and thou art the sister of thy sisters1 which loathed their husbands and their children3 your mother was a ,hittite1 and your father an ,amorite4--,the ,hittites1 ,amorites1 ,samaritans and ,sodomites were all worshipers of ,baal and ,astarte1 under one name or another1 and were adepts in the heathen and immoral beliefs and practices of that religion1 typical not of fleshly but of spiritual uncleanness1 as explained in foregoing pages4 ,the true ,church's father was our ,father1 her mother the ,sarah ,covenant of ,grace1 and her espoused husband1 ,christ4 ,ecclesiasticism's parentage1 as becometh the 8dwellers in the summits10 the proud 8best0 people1 was the proud1 selfsufficient one1 the ,devil 7,john #h3dd47 ,romanism and ,protestantism are begotten1 not by the ,word of ,god1 but by the words of pride1 of selfishness1 of earthly ambition4 ,her mother was of the ,hittites1 a commercial people1 descendants of ,ham1 under ,divine disapproval2 her spiritual mother was the false promises of human tradition1 which would barter a ,divine promise for an earthly meal2 she loves compromise1 and knows not principle4 8,like mother1 like daughter40 #af3df4 ,and thine elder sister is ,samaria1 she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand2 and thy younger sister1 that dwelleth at thy right hand1 is ,sodom and her daughters4--,samaria and ,sodom were worshipers of ,baal4 ,with like parentage1 ecclesiasticism is a sister religion with the heathen religions1 even acknowledging in many volumes the unity of all religions1 herself included4 ,samaria1 the ten apostate tribes1 mingled the religion of ,jehovah with that of ,baal--a fit religious sister of the 8nominal church10 which reads the ,bible and serves the god of selfishness4 ,samaria elsewhere types not merely ecclesiasticism's sister1 but churchianity herself4 ,sodom1 here named ,jerusalem's 7ecclesiasticism's7 sister religion1 is directly identified as churchianity in ,rev4 #aa3h--8,the great city which spiritually is called ,sodom and ,egypt1 where also our ,lord was crucified40 ,it types professed ,christianity in its lowest phase4 #af3dg4 ,yet hast thou not walked after their ways1 nor done after their abominations3 but1 as if that were a very little thing1 thou was corrupted more than they in all thy ways4--,as though the illfame of ,sodom were not enough1 7apostate7 ,christianity has excelled her in corruption2 ,sodom's literal depravity was 8a very little thing0 to ecclesiasticism's ways4 #af3dhej4 ,at ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 ,sodom thy sister hath not done1 she nor her daughters1 as thou hast done1 thou and thy daughters4 ,behold1 this was the iniquity of thy sister ,sodom1 pride1 fulness of bread1 and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters1 neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy4 ,and they were haughty1 and committed abomination before ,me2 therefore ,i took them away as ,i saw good4--,sodom's greatest depravity 7,a4 #aaa1 #aab7 was a result of depraved sexuality in connection with the religion of ,baal4 8,this dreadful #8consecration' spread over ,phoenicia1 ,syria1 ,phrygia1 ,assyria and ,babylonia4 ,ashtaroth1 the ,greek ,astarte1 was its chief object40 ,its antitype in the churches was1 for national1 state or municipal rulers1 under guise of advancing religion1 to cause their tributary governments to become 8,christianized40 ,whole nations were thus 8,christianized0 and baptized--the peoples of savage governments4 ,through a letting down of the bars of immorality1 spiritual and fleshly1 this ministered to the beastly propensities of rulers and of others4 ,the clergy1 from ,pope to class leader1 prostituted religion for the pleasure and profit of association with the rich and powerful4 ,rulers were assured of the 8,divine right of kings10 and received homage1 as ,god's representatives4 ,the people were led to believe that death for rulers was entrance to ,heaven1 and thousands died in the exhilaration--mistaken for religious uplift--of selfsacrifice in their behalf4 ,ministers of ,satan masquerading as angels of light1 preached these falsities and millions believed them1 and for their own good1 and the good of the world which they have corrupted1 ,god is about to take them away4--,z4 '#ieef4 #af3ea1 #eb4 ,neither hath ,samaria committed half of thy sins2 but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they1 and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done4 ,thou also1 which hast judged thy sisters1 bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they2 they are more righteous than thou2 yea1 be thou confounded also1 and bear thy shame1 in that thou hast justified thy sisters4--,as ,jerusalem's moral corruption justified ,sodom and ,samaria1 so ecclesiasticism's moral and spiritual depravity have justified those elements in ,christendom typed by ,samaria and ,sodom4 ,the clergy1 and their churches1 because of pride of being the 8best people01 have been more abominable than those of baser sort4--,psa4 #aai3aac2 ,prov4 #f3ag2 #h3ac2 #af3ah4 #af3ecee4 ,when ,i shall bring again their captivity1 the captivity of ,sodom and her daughters1 and the captivity of ,samaria and her daughters1 then will ,i bring again the captivity of thy captives in the midst of them4 ,that thou mayest bear thine own shame1 and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done1 in that thou art a comfort unto them4 ,when thy sisters1 ,sodom and her daughters1 shall return to their former estate1 and ,samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate1 then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate4--,in the resurrection of the dead1 8just and unjust0 7,acts #bd3ae71 ,jerusalem1 in shame1 will face ,sodom and ,samaria1 confounded and abased by the fact that her evil practices justified1 excused and 8comforted0 ,sodom and ,samaria4 ,likewise ecclesiasticism1 the clergy and their following of 8best people01 will be in shame over the fact that their iniquity was an incentive to the evil doing of the baser elements of ,christendom4 #af3efei4 ,for thy sister ,sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride4 ,before thy wickedness was discovered1 as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of ,syria1 and all that are round about her1 the daughters of the ,philistines1 which despise thee round about4 ,thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations1 saith the ,lord4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will even deal with thee as thou hast done1 which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant4--,among a proud and corrupt 8best0 people it was a tabooed subject even to mention the depravities of the 8worser kind02 but in the last two score years of merciless 8muckraking0 and publicity of 8,christian0 criminality in choir lofts1 ,sunday ,school rooms1 church 8studies01 belfries1 orphan asylums and convents1 8the wickedness was discovered0 of clergy and church people1 and so widely published that the heathen religions 7daughters of ,syria and of the ,philistines7 have come to know about it and to despise socalled 8,christianity40 ,christendom has despised its vow of consecration to ,god and the ,covenant of ,grace1 by which 8,we1 as ,isaac was1 are the children of the ,promise40 7,gal4 #d3bh71 and under which she was betrothed to ,christ4 ,god will deal with ,christendom in like manner as ,christendom has dealt with ,god4 #af3fj4 ,nevertheless1 ,i will remember ,my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth1 and ,i will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant4--,nevertheless1 8,god is faithful01 7#a ,cor4 #a3i72 and as ,he made a covenant with the church in the pure and faithful days of her youth1 ,he will remember that covenant1 and in the ,times of ,restitution will make with all people1 through the ,jews1 the ,new ,covenant1 everlasting1 under which there will be showers of blessing4--,ezek4 #cd3bf4 #af3fa4 ,then thou shalt remember thy ways1 and be ashamed1 when thou shalt receive thy sisters1 thine elder and thy younger3 and ,i will give them unto thee for daughters1 but not by thy covenant4--,when the people of ,christendom1 come back from the dead to life on the earth they will remember their evil1 faithless ways1 and experience deepest shame when people of the baser sort are given to them as daughters1 to love and cherish in the ,lord4--,d4 #fcc4 #af3fb4 ,and ,i will establish ,my covenant with thee3 and thou shalt know that ,i am the ,lord4--,the coming blessings are not for any faithfulness of ,christendom1 but because ,god is faithful4 #af3fc4 ,that thou mayest remember1 and be confounded1 and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame1 when ,i am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,then the once apostate people1 at last returned to 8the ,bishop and ,shepherd of their souls0 7#a ,pet4 #b3be71 will realize the fullness of ,god's eternal goodness and love1 and come into the peace of ,god 7,phil4 #d3g7--;a peace that will be eternal4--,a4 #aaa2 ,z4 '#iddf4 ,ezekiel #ag--,parable ,of ,the ,eagles #ag3a1 #b4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 put forth a riddle1 and speak a parable1 unto the house of ,israel4--,chapter #ag pictures ecclesiasticism as a king1 his partial captivity to the forces destined to destroy him1 his turning for support to the forces of worldly wisdom and power1 the failure of the attempted alliance1 and his final downfall4 #ag3c4 ,and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,a great eagle with great wings1 longwinged1 full of feathers1 which had divers colours1 came unto ,lebanon and took the highest branch of the cedar4--,the ,assyrians 7a great eagle7 with great wings1 longwinged1 full of feathers 7strong of wing1 powerful71 which had divers colors 7many varieties and phases of appearance7 came to ,lebanon 7the ,hebrew kingdom7 and took the highest branch of the cedar 7carried ,king ,jehoiachim captive74 ,in antitype this signifies3 ,the power destined to destroy ,christendom 7anarchy1 ,nihilism1 ,socialism1 and their wisdom expressed in schools of thought tending to destroy respect for ,christendom7 like an eagle 7wise one7 with great wings 7impressive words7 longwinged 7farreaching71 full of feathers 7full of argument71 has quietly made its way into ,christendom since #ahgh and taken captive the highest ones1 many of the leading class of ,christendom 7the ,cedar7 with doctrines of ,evolution1 ,socialism1 and ,higher ,criticism1 all destructive of the existing order of things4 #ag3d4 ,he cropped off the top of his twigs1 and carried it into a land of traffick2 he set it in a city of merchants4--,these were taken captive by these systems of thought into a condition where the ,heavenly ideals of the church were abandoned for mere trafficking for position and power1 and in human1 earthly theories and philosophies4 #ag3e4 ,he took also of the seed of the land1 and planted it in a fruitful field2 he placed it by great waters1 and set it as a willow tree4--,the remaining people of ecclesiasticism1 more lowly1 the seed from whom had once sprung the ruling classes1 will be planted in rich1 deep soil1 well saturated with waters of the great truths of fraternity1 equality and liberty4 #ag3f4 ,and it grew1 and became a spreading vine of low stature1 whose branches turned toward him1 and the roots thereof were under him3 so it became a vine1 and brought forth branches1 and shot forth sprigs4--,the new ecclesiasticism1 fostered by revivalists1 evangelists1 social and civic workers and other earthly reformers1 will grow and flourish into a form of ecclesiasticism1 low1 never far above earthly things1 whose numbers 7branches7 tended toward anarchous systems of thought1 and whose roots1 fundamental philosophy1 will be under the sway of the same4 #ag3g1 #h4 ,there was also another great eagle with great wings and many feathers3 and1 behold1 this vine did bend her roots toward him1 and shot forth her branches toward him1 that he might water it by the furrows of her plantation4 ,it was planted in a good soil by great waters1 that it might bring forth branches1 and that it might bear fruit1 that it might be a goodly vine4--,but the new1 lowborn ecclesiasticism1 alarmed at the anarchous trend of thought1 shall turn toward another great system of wisdom 7an eagle7 equally of demoniacal origin2 i4 e41 conservative1 worldly wisdom tending to uphold the present unholy state of affairs4 #ag3i4 ,say thou1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,shall it prosper8 shall he not pull up the roots thereof1 cut off the fruit thereof1 that it wither8 ,it shall wither in all the leaves of her spring1 even without great power or many people to pluck it up by the roots thereof4--,the time of ,god's ,kingdom having come1 ,god purposes to uproot the new ecclesiasticism4 ,its character fruitage1 being of the spirit of this world1 must be cut off and withered in the fiery trials of this tribulation time4 ,its promise 7leaves7 shall wither away1 even as it has withered wherever the great war has touched4 #ag3aj4 ,yea1 behold1 being planted1 shall it prosper8 shall it not utterly wither1 when the east wind toucheth it8 ,it shall wither in the furrows where it grew4--,from the east1 the direction of the rising ,sun of ,righteousness comes a wind1 a teaching1 ,present ,truth1 that shall touch the new ecclesiasticism and wither it in a time when there is 8perplexity and distress of nations1 men's hearts failing them for fear of the things coming on the earth0 7,luke #ba3bd1 #be7--the social order--ecclesiasticism--8the vine40--,rev4 #ad3ah4 #ag3aa1 #ab4 ,moreover the word of the ,lord came unto me saying1 ,say now to the rebellious house1 ,know ye not what these things mean8 tell them1 ,behold1 the ,king of ,babylon is come to ,jerusalem1 and hath taken the king thereof1 and the princes thereof1 and led them with him to ,babylon4--,the king of ,babylon1 ,satan1 has already come to ecclesiasticism and taken captive the ruling class1 the prominent clergy4 #ag3ac4 ,and hath taken of the king's seed1 and made a covenant with him1 and hath taken an oath of him2 he hath also taken the mighty of the land4--,he holds the chief ones captive by reason of their agreement with his modern1 false1 religious1 social and economic teachings4 #ag3ad4 ,that the kingdom might be base1 that it might not lift itself up1 but that by keeping of his covenant it might stand4--,as a result ecclesiasticism will not be able to rise above earthly things nor lift itself up to combat anarchous systems of thought4 ,if it could do so1 it might not be overthrown immediately1 but might continue to stand for yet a little while4 #ag3ae4 ,but he rebelled against him in sending his ambassadors into ,egypt that they might give him horses and much people4 ,shall he prosper8 shall he escape that doeth such things8 or shall he break the covenant1 and be delivered8--,ecclesiasticism has rebelled by crying out to the established wisdom of this world 7,egypt71 relying upon strong1 conservative worldly doctrines 7horses7 and many supporters of the reactionary ideas1 to save it from complete overthrow4 #ag3af4 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 surely in the place where the king dwelleth that made him king1 whose oath he despised1 and whose covenant he brake1 even with him in the midst of ,babylon he shall die4--,as ,god lives6 ,in the condition of lawlessness1 wherein ,satan1 the king of anarchy1 liveth1 who elevated ecclesiasticism to its place of power1 there1 in anarchy1 in the midst of lawless hosts1 shall ecclesiasticism perish4 #ag3ag4 ,neither shall ,pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war1 by casting up mounts1 and building forts1 to cut off many persons4--,neither shall worldly wisdom1 with its mighty following1 accomplish anything for ecclesiasticism in its death struggle with anarchy1 not even by raising up governmental support 7mounts7 nor by the united efforts of the strongest elements of this world's might4 #ag3ah1 #ai4 ,seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant1 when1 lo1 he had given his hand1 and hath done all these things1 he shall not escape4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,as ,i live1 surely ,mine oath that he hath despised1 and ,my covenant that he hath broken1 even it will ,i recompense upon his own head4--,ecclesiasticism has been faithless to ,jehovah and will be faithless to its newly acquired philosophy4 #ag3bj4 ,and ,i will spread ,my net upon him1 and he shall be taken in ,my snare1 and ,i will bring him to ,babylon and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against ,me4--,like a snare1 a net1 shall the ,time of ,trouble come upon ecclesiasticism2 and it shall not escape destruction at the hands of anarchy4 #ag3ba4 ,and all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword1 and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds3 and ye shall know that ,i the ,lord have spoken it4--,millions that abandon churches and clergy in the trouble shall fall physically by violence1 and be slain spiritually by the ,sword of the ,spirit2 and those that escape death shall be scattered in the worldwide commotion 7winds7 far from the systems they once supported4 ,they shall know that ,god has spoken truly1 when the day of anarchy shall come4 #ag3bb4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,i will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar1 and will set it2 ,i will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one1 and will plant it upon a high mountain and eminent4--,thus says the ,lord ,god3 ,one of the highest branches of ecclesiasticism is ,judaism4 ,i will establish ,judaism4 ,i will take1 in ,judaism1 one of its young and tender aspirations--,zionism--and will plant it1 establish it at the very pinnacle of the coming ,kingdom of ,god--the ,jews ruling1 through the resurrected ,ancient ,worthies--,abraham1 ,isaac1 ,jacob1 etc4--over the earthly phase of that ,kingdom4--,psa4 #de3af2 ,heb4 #aa3aj4 #ag3bc4 ,in the mountains of the height of ,israel will ,i plant it2 and it shall bring forth boughs1 and bear fruit1 and be a goodly cedar2 and under it shall dwell all fowl of every wing2 in the shadow of the branches thereof shall they dwell4--,it shall branch above all nations 7boughs7 and bear character fruit unto life eternal4 7,john #d3cf47 ,it shall be the desire of all nations 7,hag4 #b3g7 7a goodly cedar74 ,under it shall dwell in peace all the truly wise ones of earth4 #ag3bd4 ,and all the trees of the field shall knew that ,i the ,lord have brought down the high tree1 have exalted the low tree1 have dried up the green tree1 and have made the dry tree to flourish3 ,i the ,lord have spoken and have done it4--,all the people 7trees7 of the world 7field7 shall know that the ,lord has brought down nominal ecclesiasticism and exalted the ,ancient ,worthies1 has dried up 8,christianity0 and given vitality to ,zionism and ,judaism4 ,ezekiel #ah--8,the ,soul ,that ,sinneth0 #ah3a1 #b4 ,the ,word of the ,lord came unto me again1 saying1 ,what mean ye1 that ye use this proverb concerning the land of ,israel1 saying1 the fathers have eaten sour grapes1 and the children's teeth are set on edge8--,the ,word of ,god came to be clearly understood by ,pastor ,russell as to the equity of ,jehovah's dealings with man in condemning all to death4 ,both ,jews and ,christians have asked1 8,how is it just to visit the sins of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations80 8,why have the children's teeth been set on edge by the fathers' eating the sour grape of sin80--,h4 #ei2 ,e4 #ccd1 #cji4 #ah3c4 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 ye shall not have occasion any more to use this proverb in ,israel4--,the doubters queried1 8,doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father80 7#ah3ai47 ,they complained1 8,the way of the ,lord is not equal0 nor just4 7#ah3be47 ,pastor ,russell1 expounding the ,word of ,god1 demonstrated clearly that ,god's way is just 7#ah3be72 that man's ways are unequal1 unjust 7#ah3bi72 and that ,god takes no 8pleasure at all that the wicked should die1 but rather that he should turn from his ways and live40 7#ah3bccb47 ,the time will soon be when the scornful proverb shall no longer possess any force4--,h4 #df4 #ah3d4 ,behold1 all souls are ,mine2 as the soul of the father1 so also the soul of the son is ,mine2 the soul that sinneth1 it shall die4--,in the earthly phase of the thousandyear probationary ,kingdom of ,god the equal justice of ,god will be manifest1 father and son will be treated alike1 no one dying for a parent's sin2 but each soul that sinneth shall die for his own sin4--,e4 #ced1 #cca2 ,a4 #abh4 #ah3ei4 ,but if a man be just1 and do that which is lawful and right1 ,and hath not eaten upon the mountains1 neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of ,israel1 neither hath defiled his neighbour's wife1 neither hath come near to a menstruous woman1 and hath not oppressed any1 but hath restored to the debtor his pledge1 hath spoiled none by violence1 hath given his bread to the hungry1 and hath covered the naked with a garment2 he that hath not given forth upon usury1 neither hath taken any increase1 that hath withdrawn his hand from iniquity1 hath executed true judgment between man and man1 hath walked in ,my statutes1 and hath kept ,my judgments1 to deal truly2 he is just1 he shall surely live1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,the ,father of equal love will beseech each sinner to repent and turn from his transgression1 that iniquity1 wilful sin1 be not his ruin4 8,wherefore turn yourselves and live ye40 7,ezek4 #ah3cj1 #cb47 ,the days of death from ,adamic and parental imperfection will be over2 each one will be solely responsible for his own life or death4 ,to clearly explain the changed situation the several cases are presented4 ,if a righteous man continue in a righteous course he shall live eternally4 #ah3ajac4 ,if he beget a son that is a robber1 a shedder of blood1 and that doeth the like to any one of these things1 ,and that doeth not any of those duties1 but even hath eaten upon the mountains1 and defiled his neighbour's wife1 hath oppressed the poor and needy1 hath spoiled by violence1 hath not restored the pledge1 and hath lifted up his eyes to the idols1 hath committed abomination1 hath given forth upon usury1 and hath taken increase3 shall he then live8 he shall not live3 he hath done all these abominations2 he shall surely die2 his blood shall be upon him4--,if a man's son is a wilful sinner1 8he shall surely die2 his blood shall be upon himself40 #ah3adah4 ,now1 lo1 if he beget a son1 that seeth all his father's sins which he hath done1 and considereth1 and doeth not such like1 that hath not eaten upon the mountains1 neither hath lifted up his eyes to the idols of the house of ,israel1 hath not defiled his neighbour's wife1 neither hath oppressed any1 hath not withholden the pledge1 neither hath spoiled by violence1 but hath given his bread to the hungry1 and hath covered the naked with a garment1 that hath taken off his hand from the poor1 that hath not received usury nor increase1 hath executed ,my ,judgments1 hath walked in ,my statutes2 he shall not die for the iniquity of his father1 he shall surely live4 ,as for his father1 because he cruelly oppressed1 spoiled his brother by violence1 and did that which is not good among his people1 lo1 even he shall die in his iniquity4--,if the wicked man have a good1 upright son1 the good son shall live2 but the father shall die4 #ah3aibc4 ,yet say ye1 ,why8 doth not the son bear the iniquity of the father8 ,when the son hath done that which is lawful and right1 and hath kept all ,my statutes1 and hath done them1 he shall surely live4 ,the soul that sinneth1 it shall die4 ,the son shall not bear the iniquity of the father1 neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son3 the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him1 and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him4 ,but if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed1 and keep all ,my statutes1 and do that which is lawful and right1 he shall surely live1 he shall not die4 ,all his transgressions that he hath committed1 they shall not be mentioned unto him3 in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live4 ,have ,i any pleasure at all that the wicked should die8 saith the ,lord ,god3 and not that he should return from his ways1 and live8--,the wicked man who turns to righteousness shall not have his former sins held against him2 but he shall live4 #ah3bdcj4 ,but when the righteous turneth away from his righteousness1 and committeth iniquity1 and doeth according to all the abominations that the wicked man doeth1 shall he live8 ,all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned3 in his trespass that he hath trespassed1 and in his sin that he hath sinned1 in them shall he die4 ,yet ye say1 ,the way of the ,lord is not equal4 ,hear now1 ,o house of ,israel2 is not ,my way equal8 are not your ways unequal8 ,when a righteous man turneth away from his righteousness1 and committeth iniquity1 and dieth in them2 for his iniquity that he hath done shall he die4 ,again1 when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed1 and doeth that which is lawful and right1 he shall save his soul alive4 ,because he considereth1 and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed1 he shall surely live1 he shall not die4 ,yet saith the house of ,israel1 ,the way of the ,lord is not equal4 ,o house of ,israel1 are not ,my ways equal8 are not your ways unequal8 ,therefore ,i will judge you1 ,o house of ,israel1 every one according to his ways1 saith the ,lord ,god4 ,repent1 and turn yourselves from all your transgressions2 so iniquity shall not be your ruin4--,the righteous man who turns to iniquity shall die4 #ah3ca1 #cb4 ,cast away from you all your transgressions1 whereby ye have transgressed2 and make you a new heart and a new spirit3 for why will ye die1 ,o house of ,israel8 ,for ,i have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth1 saith the ,lord ,god3 wherefore turn yourselves1 and live ye4--,this will be true of individuals as soon as the last member of the spirit begotten ,body of ,christ has died4 ,and it is true now--and has been true since #ahgh--of the institutions of 8this present evil age10 which have been in ,divine judgment since #ahgh4 ,if ecclesiasticism1 8the house of ,israel10 would cast away all their transgressions1 and gain a new heart and a new spirit1 they would abide forever2 but they will never change their evil ways2 their destruction will be their own wilful act--8,why will ye die80 ,ezekiel #ai--,the ,lion's ,whelps #ai3a4 ,moreover1 take thou up a lamentation for the princes of ,israel4--,chapter #ai has the form of a dirge4 ,it represents in antitype the downfall1 in the ,time of ,trouble1 of ecclesiasticism pictured first1 as two roaring lions which are taken captive2 and secondly1 as a vine destroyed by fire of internal origin4 ,the princes of ,israel are the clergy4 #ai3b4 ,and say1 ,what is thy mother8 ,a lioness3 she lay down among lions1 she nourished her whelps among young lions4--,as the father and the mother of ,isaac were ,abraham and ,sarah1 and the spiritual father and mother of the true ,church are ,jehovah and ,his ,covenant of ,grace 7,gal4 #d3bbbh71 so the spiritual father and mother of ecclesiasticism1 priestcraft1 are the ,devil and his covenant with death4 7,gen4 #c3d2 ,isa4 #bh3ah47 8,the ,devil goeth about like a roaring lion40 7#a ,pet4 #e3h47 ,their nourishment has been 8doctrines of devils40 #ai3c4 ,and she brought up one of her whelps2 it became a young lion1 and it learned to catch the prey2 it devoured men4--,ecclesiasticism divided into two classes2 one higher1 richer1 more educated than the other--8one of her whelps40 ,they learned to devour men1 make them their prey4 #ai3d4 ,the nations also heard of him2 he was taken in their pit1 and they brought him with chains unto the land of ,egypt4--,the unbelieving peoples heard them2 they1 the clergy1 were taken in the pit of corrupt doctrine2 they were captivated1 taken captive1 into worldliness1 the wisdom of this world1 of 8,egypt40 #ai3e4 ,now when she saw that she had waited1 and her hope was lost1 then she took another of her whelps1 and made him a young lion4--,another class of ecclesiasticism was developed1 under the same false covenant with death1 into a fullfledged lion1 an embodiment and child of the eternal torment1 trinity1 inherentimmortality teachings4 #ai3f4 ,and he went up and down among the lions1 he became a young lion1 and learned to catch the prey1 and devoured men4--,this was the popular evangelist well trained in catching men and shekels4 #ai3g4 ,and he knew their desolate palaces1 and he laid waste their cities2 and the land was desolate1 and the fulness thereof1 by the noise of his roaring4--,the revivalists caught men by thousands1 and 8the fulness thereof10 great contributions for a few weeks of noisy evangelism4 #ai3h4 ,then the nations set against him on every side from the provinces1 and spread their net over him2 he was taken in their pit4--,then the 8unconvertible0 people1 anarchists1 ,socialists1 etc41 spread the net of their teachings4 ,the people1 indignant at their sufferings from wars and high cost of living1 declined further support4 #ai3i4 ,and they put in ward in chains1 and brought him to the king of ,babylon3 they brought him into holds1 that his voice should no more be heard upon the mountains of ,israel4--,revolution and anarchy will place a complete restraint upon the revivalists1 and bring them to their end4 #ai3aj4 ,thy mother is like a vine in thy blood1 planted by the waters3 she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters4--,the false covenantmother of ecclesiasticism is a system of thought1 in the very blood2 it is part and parcel of the existence of ecclesiasticism4 ,it is 8the vine of the earth10 of ,rev4 #ad3ai4 ,this system of error was once fruitful in gaining adherents4 #ai3aa4 ,and she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bare rule1 and her stature was exalted among the thick branches1 and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches4--,the vine had seeming strong authority for the rulership 8of them that bare rule10 the clergy1 8lords over ,god's heritage40 7#a ,pet4 #e3c47 ,to a mighty and lofty height did the vine of the earth grow4 #ai3ab4 ,but she was plucked up in fury1 she was cast down to the ground1 and the east wind dried up her fruit3 her strong rods were broken and withered2 the fire consumed them4--,but in the fury of the worldwide war she will be 8cast down to the ground40 ,the truths arising from the presence of the dawning ,sun of ,righteousness will dry up the support of her fruit 7church members74 ,her authority--rod--will be broken1 withered1 and destroyed in anarchy4 #ai3ac4 ,and now she is planted in the wilderness1 in a dry and thirsty ground4--,in a world of hostile doctrines of ,socialism and anarchy1 in a worldwide drought of the water of the ,word of ,god1 the old system of sophistries will soon be in the wilderness condition1 in a state of complete ostracism4 #ai3ad4 ,and fire is gone out of a rod of her branches1 which hath devoured her fruit1 so that she hath no strong rod to be a sceptre to rule4 ,this is a lamentation1 and shall be for a lamentation4--,the savage application in the worldwide war of the rod of the ,divine authority of rulers will cause revolt1 revolution and anarchy to spring up1 like a fire1 which will bring to an utter end the denominational clusters1 the fruit of the vine of the earth4 ,ezekiel #bj--,the ,hypocritical ,ecclesiastics #bj3a4 ,and it came to pass in the seventh year1 in the fifth month1 the tenth day of the month1 that certain of the elders of ,israel came to inquire of the ,lord1 and sat before me4--,the elders of ,israel came to confer with ,ezekiel1 but he would not be interviewed by them1 because of their idolatrous tendencies4 ,the ,hebrews had always had such propensities4 ,god had refrained from destroying them in order to preserve ,his own good name among the heathen peoples2 but now ,he was about to punish them1 until the appointed time should come when ,he would regather them4 ,the destruction of ,judaism is here pictured as a fire in a forest4 ,this chapter introduces another group of prophecies against ,christendom1 ending with ,chapter #bd4 ,some of the prominent ecclesiastics will read up or consult ,pastor ,russell and his writings1 and the 8,truth people10 ostensibly to learn what they can4 #bj3b1 #c4 ,then came the ,word of the ,lord unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 speak unto the elders of ,israel1 and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,are ye come to inquire of ,me8 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 ,i will not be inquired of by you4--,present ,truth will refuse any favorable answer to ecclesiasticism4 #bj3d4 ,wilt thou judge them1 son of man1 wilt thou judge them8 cause them to know the abominations of their fathers4--,instead1 it will pronounce judgment upon them4 ,it will cause them to realize the abominations in doctrine and in life of professed ,christians1 as a result of the teachings of the ,dark ,ages4 #bj3e4 ,and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god3 in the day when ,i chose ,israel1 and lifted up ,mine hand unto the seed of the house of ,jacob1 and made ,myself known unto them in the land of ,egypt1 when ,i lifted up ,mine hand unto them1 saying1 ,i am the ,lord your ,god4--,first viewed as ,god's people 8in the world10 ,egypt1 ,god chose them1 made ,himself known to them1 and lifted up for them the hand of ,his power4--,z4 '#idceg4 #bj3f4 ,in the day that ,i lifted up ,mine hand unto them1 to bring them forth of the land of ,egypt into a land that ,i had espied for them1 flowing with milk and honey1 which is the glory of all lands4--,he promised to bring them in the resurrection1 if faithful1 into the 8mansion0 prepared for them--,heaven itself1 the most glorious condition in ,god's ,universe4 #bj3g4 ,then said ,i unto them1 ,cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes1 and defile not yourselves with the idols of ,egypt3 ,i am the ,lord your ,god4--,god had told them to cast away all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit 7#b ,cor4 #g3a71 to do away with the desire of things seen with the fleshly eyes 7#a ,john #b3af71 and no longer to defile themselves spiritually with cravings for earthly power4 ,but while professing ,christ's name1 they rebelled in their heart against ,god1 and would not listen to ,him4 #bj3h4 ,but they rebelled against ,me1 and would not hearken unto ,me3 they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes1 neither did they forsake the idols of ,egypt3 then ,i said1 ,i will pour out ,my fury upon them1 to accomplish ,my anger against them in the midst of the land of ,egypt4--,over and over1 throughout the ,gospel ,age1 ,god was indignant enough to bring destruction upon them2 but ,he did not1 in order that ,his name and reputation might not come into disrespect among the worldly people1 who were taught by professing ,christians that ,god was with them4 #bj3i1 #aj4 ,but ,i wrought for ,my name's sake1 that it should not be polluted before the heathen1 among whom they were1 in whose sight ,i made ,myself known unto them1 in bringing them forth out of the land of ,egypt4 ,wherefore ,i caused them to go forth out of the land of ,egypt1 and brought them into the wilderness4--,god's ,word views professing ,christians also as in the wilderness condition of separateness from and ostracism by the worldly--as 8brought forth out of the land of ,egypt40 #bj3ab4 ,moreover also ,i gave them ,my sabbaths1 to be a sign between ,me and them1 that they might know that ,i am the ,lord that sanctifieth them4--,he gave them the privilege of entering in advance of the world into ,his sabbath 7,millennial7 rest--the rest of peace with ,god by faith1 of justification freely given through the blood of the ,son of ,god4 ,the ,lord ,himself set them apart for ,his holy service4 #bj3ac4 ,but the house of ,israel rebelled against ,me in the wilderness3 they walked not in ,my statutes1 and they despised ,my judgments1 which if a man do1 he shall even live in them2 and ,my sabbaths they greatly polluted3 then ,i said1 ,i would pour out ,my fury upon them in the wilderness1 to consume them4--,as a class1 professed ,christians have rebelled against being in the wilderness condition of separateness from and ostracism by the worldly4 ,they have lived not according to the ,law of ,divine ,love1 but have despised the opportunities of the trial period4 ,they have despised the ,scriptural doctrine of the ,millennium1 and have made a common thing of the rest of faith by introducing all kinds of penances1 masses1 alms1 and other deeds whereby to earn the peace with ,god1 freely offered through faith in ,jesus' atoning ,sacrifice4 ,often was ,god indignant enough to destroy them4 #bj3ad4 ,but ,i wrought for ,my name's sake1 that it should not be polluted before the heathen1 in whose sight ,i brought them out4--,but for ,his own name's sake1 not theirs1 ,god refrained from permitting the ,time of ,trouble to come before the appointed time1 that the people of this world might not belittle ,him and ,his protecting power4 #bj3ae1 #af4 ,yet also ,i lifted up ,my hand unto them in the wilderness1 that ,i would not bring them into the land which ,i had given them1 flowing with milk and honey1 which is the glory of all lands2 because they despised ,my judgments1 and walked not in ,my statutes1 but polluted ,my sabbaths3 for their heart went after their idols4--,yet the ,word of ,god has made it plain that those in the wilderness condition who have not given their whole heart to ,god shall not be changed to the spirit nature and brought to the ,heavenly plane of being4 #bj3agba4 ,nevertheless ,mine eye spared them from destroying them1 neither did ,i make an end of them in the wilderness4 ,but ,i said unto their children in the wilderness1 ,walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers1 neither observe their judgments1 nor defile yourselves with their idols3 ,i am the ,lord your ,god2 walk in ,my statutes1 and keep ,my judgments1 and do them2 and hallow ,my sabbaths2 and they shall be a sign between ,me and you1 that ye may know that ,i am the ,lord your ,god4 ,notwithstanding1 the children rebelled against ,me2 they walked not in ,my statutes1 neither kept ,my judgments to do them1 which if a man do1 he shall even live in them2 they polluted ,my sabbaths3 then ,i said1 ,i would pour out ,my fury upon them to accomplish ,my anger against them in the wilderness4--,god did not at once destroy those in the wilderness condition1 but gave the same fatherly admonition to those who succeeded them1 all in vain4 #bj3bbbd4 ,nevertheless ,i withdrew ,mine hand1 and wrought for ,my name's sake1 that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen1 in whose sight ,i brought them forth4 ,i lifted up ,mine hand unto them also in the wilderness1 that ,i would scatter them among the heathen1 and disperse them through the countries2 because they had not executed ,my judgments1 but had despised ,my statutes1 and had polluted ,my sabbaths1 and their eyes1 were after their fathers' idols4--,god repeated ,his forbearance1 in not scattering them back into the world1 nor destroying them4 #bj3be4 ,wherefore ,i gave them also statutes that were not good1 and judgments whereby they should not live4--,at last ,god gave them up 8to their own heart's desires0 7,psa4 #ha3ab71 to 8worship the hosts of heaven10 their own pulpit stars 7,acts #g3db71 who 8changed the truth of ,god into a lie10 into 8human traditions10 and 8worshipped and served created things rather than the ,creator0 7,rom4 #a3be7--;following evil statutes1 8customs10 and enduring worldly trials and temptations1 bringing them1 not life1 but death4 #bj3bf4 ,and ,i polluted them in their own gifts1 in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb1 that ,i might make them desolate1 to the end that they might know that ,i am the ,lord4--,god gave them up to doctrinal pollutions1 in that they believed in and worshipped the eternal torment god1 ,moloch1 the ,devil1 and singed1 scorched spiritually1 with the fear of 8the hot place10 all their children1 those young in nominal ,christianity4 7,jer4 #cb3ce47 ,this caused them to be desolate1 deserted1 abandoned by the true ,god1 like the heathen without ,god--though not that ,god might ultimately destroy them2 for in the ,times of ,restitution they will by contrast appreciate the true ,god4 #bj3bgbh4 ,therefore1 son of man1 speak unto the house of ,israel1 and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,yet in this your fathers have blasphemed ,me1 in that they have committed a trespass against ,me4 ,for when ,i had brought them into the land1 for the which ,i lifted up ,mine hand to give it to them1 then they saw every high hill1 and all the thick trees1 and they offered there their sacrifices1 and there they presented the provocation of their offering3 there also they made their sweet savour1 and poured out there their drink offerings4--,the ,christian's course was typed by the experience of the ,hebrews in the land of ,canaan 7,isa4 #eg3e71 in the blessedness of ,divine favor and in the abundance of ,god's gifts4 ,when brought into this condition of favor1 instead of being thankful and giving their whole hearts to ,god in devoted consecration1 the great mass of professing ,christians committed the same abominations that the heathen were guilty of--union of church with worldly power1 making the high ones the heads of the church1 as the ,king of ,england and the ,czar of ,russia2 doing homage to all of earth's great ones 7the thick trees72 rendering service and obedience 7sweet savor7 to traditions of men2 and preaching 7pouring out7 strong doctrines1 intoxicating wine of their mixed teachings 7drink offerings74 #bj3bi4 ,then ,i said unto them1 ,what is the high place whereunto ye go8 ,and the name thereof is called ,bamah unto this day4--,in verse #bi ,ezekiel speaks with contempt of the ,hebrew apostasy4 ,he uses a play upon words1 not apparent in the ,english translation4 ,he asks them1 8,mah ba0 7,where go871 and answers1 8,bamah0 7the high places7 is the name to this day4 ,pastor ,russell frequently spoke with contempt--deserved1 from the ,divine viewpoint--of the 8highplace10 nominal church1 her clergy and her laity1 always going to the 8high ones40 #bj3cj4 ,wherefore say unto the house of ,israel1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers8 and commit ye whoredom after their abominations8--,again1 in the phase of captivity in 8,babylon10 the ,lord's people were guilty of doctrinal and moral pollution and of illicit union of church and earthly power4 #bj3ca4 ,for when ye offer your gifts1 when ye make your sons to pass through the fire1 ye pollute yourselves with all your idols1 even unto this day3 and shall ,i be inquired of by you1 ,o house of ,israel8 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 ,i will not be inquired of by you4--,god will not even listen to the prayers of such professed ,christians4 #bj3cb4 ,and that which cometh into your mind shall not be all1 that ye say1 ,we will be as the heathen1 as the families of the countries1 to serve wood and stone4--,their heart's real desire to become goodfellows in the world's fellowship 7,jer4 #dd3ag7 shall fail4 #bj3cc4 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 surely with a mighty hand1 and with a stretched out arm1 and with fury poured out1 will ,i rule over you4--,god began at the appointed time1 #aiad1 to punish the accumulated sins of ,christendom 8with a mighty hand 7power7 and with a stretched out arm0 7,christ present the ,second time1 ,isa4 #ec3a71 and with fury poured out 8a great ,time of ,trouble such as never was0 7,dan4 #ab3a71 and which the ,lord declared would never require a repetition4 #bj3cd4 ,and ,i will bring you out from the people1 and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered1 with a mighty hand1 and with a stretched out arm1 and with fury poured out4--,but even this tribulation will be done in a ,father's love and for the good of ,his erring children1 to cleanse them4 ,through this trouble ,god will search out all professed ,christians1 make them manifestly separate from the openly worldly4--,z4 '#idgf4 #bj3ce4 ,and ,i will bring you into the wilderness of the people1 and there will ,i plead with you face to face4--,god will bring them into a wilderness condition of separateness from the world and of ostracism and persecution by the revolutionary and anarchistic masses1 and face to face ,he will plead with the nominal church to forsake evil and idolatry4 #bj3cf4 ,like as ,i pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of ,egypt1 so will ,i plead with you1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,as ,he did with the ,hebrews in their trial time in the ,wilderness of ,sinai4 #bj3cg4 ,and ,i will cause you to pass under the rod1 and ,i will bring you into the bond of the covenant4--,god will cause ,his people1 all those not utterly devoid of the ,holy ,spirit--8the ,great ,company0 in the churches--to pass under the rod of correction and to resume their fidelity to their vow of consecration4 #bj3ch4 ,and ,i will purge out from among you the rebels1 and them that transgress against ,me3 ,i will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn1 and they shall not enter into the land of ,israel3 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,he will permit conditions of persecution by ,socialists1 revolutionists1 syndicalists1 nihilists and anarchists1 against persons professing ,christianity 78the religion that got the world into trouble071 such that every person not possessing the ,holy ,spirit will renounce all pretense of being ,christian and will get out of the deplorable condition 7country7 wherein the true ,christians will be4 ,this outcast class1 being entirely 8of the earth1 earthy10 shall not enter the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom4 #bj3ci4 ,as for you1 ,o house of ,israel1 thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,go ye1 serve ye every one his idols1 and hereafter also1 if ye will not hearken unto ,me3 but pollute ye ,my holy name no more with your gifts1 and with your idols4--,let who will then serve their idols2 but they shall no longer associate themselves with ,god's children1 nor falsely bear the name of ,christ1 nor pollute ,god's holy name nor ,his ,church with their presence or their practices4 8,if the ,lord be ,god1 follow ,him2 if ,baal1 follow him40 #bj3dj4 ,for in ,mine holy mountain1 in the mountain of the height of ,israel1 saith the ,lord ,god1 there shall all the house of ,israel1 all of them in the land1 serve ,me3 there will ,i accept them1 and there will ,i require your offerings1 and the first fruits of your oblations1 with all your holy things4--,god wounds to heal4 ,in the real 8high places10 the ,kingdom of ,god now at hand1 planned for man's blessed restitution1 all who are truly ,god's shall serve ,him1 some in the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom1 some in the earthly phase4 7,mal4 #c3c1 #d47 ,there ,god will accept all comers1 8,the ,spirit and the ,bride say1 ,come 444 and whosoever will1 let him take of the ,water of ,life freely0 7,rev4 #bb3ag47 ,there ,god will accept their offerings of themselves in heartfelt consecration1 and the first and best of their offerings and all their possessions1 then hallowed by the influences of the ,kingdom of ,love4 #bj3da4 ,i will accept you with your sweet savour1 when ,i bring you out from the people1 and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered1 and ,i will be sanctified in you before the heathen4--,god will accept their heart's best endeavors 7incense71 when ,he gathers ,his children--,his spirit children and ,his earth children--out from the prison house of death1 and out from the dark shadows of a worldwide heathenism4 ,then ,god win be seen to be holy1 sanctified1 in ,his children1 in the sight of all the ,satanblinded idolaters of earth4 #bj3db4 ,and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i shall bring you into the land of ,israel1 into the country for the which ,i lifted up ,mine hand to give it to your fathers4--,god's children1 who have not known ,him as ,he is1 will know ,him then as the ,god of infinite ,justice1 ,wisdom1 ,love and ,power1--when they shall be established in the ,kingdom1 in whatever phase they are fitted for--the ,kingdom whose earthly phase ,god promised to give to ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob and all the ,ancient ,worthies 7,psa4 #de3af71 and whose ,heavenly phase ,he covenanted to give to the spirit class of the ,gospel ,age4--,heb4 #aa3dj4 #bj3dc4 ,and there shall ye remember your ways1 and all your doings1 wherein ye have been defiled2 and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed4--,then those who have not loved the ,god of ,love as they should shall remember their former ways and loathe themselves for the evil done against such ,love ,divine4 #bj3dd4 ,and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i have wrought with you for ,my name's sake1 not according to your wicked ways1 nor according to your corrupt doings1 ,o ye house of ,israel1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,they will humbly1 thankfully and with fervent gratitude and love know that ,jehovah1 who is ,love 7#a ,john #d3h71 dealt with them1 for the carrying out of ,his all holy purposes1 and not as ,justice might have called for in connection with their ways4 #bj3de1 #df4 ,moreover the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 set thy face toward the south1 and drop thy word toward the south1 and prophesy against the forest of the south field4--,the words of ,ezekiel return to the impending destruction of ,jerusalem--of ,christendom4 ,pastor ,russell was to speak1 as from the ,divine viewpoint 7the ,north7 against the multitudes 7trees in the forest7 in the earthly phase 7the south7 of the ,kingdom of ,god1 already established invisibly by ,god in #ahghaiad4 ,jerusalem 7ecclesiasticism7 was in a southerly direction 7belonging to the earth1 earthy71 from the ,prophet's point of view4 #bj3dg4 ,and say to the forest of the south1 ,hear the word of the ,lord2 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold ,i will kindle a fire in thee1 and it shall devour every dry tree3 the flaming flame shall not be quenched1 and all faces from the south to the north shall be burned therein4--,god permitted in #aiad the kindling of the present unquenchable conflagration of war1 and of revolution and anarchy to come4 ,righteous 7green tree7 and wicked 7dry tree7 alike are to suffer in the fiery trials of the trouble time4 ,all who are of the earth1 earthy 7of the south1 earthly phase of the ,kingdom71 but who pretend or claim to be of the spiritual phase1 to have the ,holy ,spirit 7look toward the north1 the spiritual71 are to be burned1 as the tares are burned after the gathering of the wheat into the ,heavenly garner4--,matt4 #ac3cj4 #bj3dh4 ,and all flesh shall see that ,i the ,lord have kindled it3 it shall not be quenched4--,all mankind will understand1 before the ,time of ,trouble is over1 that 8the strange work0 is of ,jehovah4 #bj3di4 ,then said ,i1 ,ah ,lord ,god6 they say of me1 ,doth he not speak parables8--,the people of ecclesiasticism1 misled by the clergy1 are unable to understand ,pastor ,russell's teachings regarding the trouble1 or to get the ,divine viewpoint4 8,there are great truths that pitch their shining tents ,outside our walls1 and though but dimly seen ,in the gray dawn1 they will be manifest ,when the light widens into perfect day40 ,ezekiel #ba--,the ,thrice,doubled ,sword #ba3a1 #b4 ,and the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 set thy face toward ,jerusalem1 and drop thy word toward the holy places1 and prophesy against the land of ,israel4--,the ,lord has drawn the sword against ,jerusalem and sharpened and pointed it in fury4 7#ba3aag47 ,the king of ,babylon 7,satan7 uses divination as to the route by which to bring the sword against ,jerusalem2 the ,jews deride such a method 7#ba3ahbd71 but the ,hebrew crown is to be overturned4 7#ba3beeg47 ,the ,ammonites 7aggressive worldly believers71 too1 are to be given to the sword4--#ba3bhcb4 #ba3c4 ,and say to the land of ,israel1 ,thus saith the ,lord3 ,behold1 ,i am against thee1 and will draw forth ,my sword out of its sheath1 and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked4--,jehovah is against ,christendom1 has drawn against it both the literal weapons of war1 in warfare and revolution1 and the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god4 7,eph4 #f3ag47 ,he will cause both righteous and wicked to die in the ,time of ,trouble2 and by ,his ,word ,he will bring about conditions such that all wicked professing ,christians will abandon all pretense of ,christianity1 and the righteous will 8come out of her0 7,rev4 #ah3d7 and be gathered as wheat into the ,divine garner--,heaven4 #ba3d4 ,seeing then that ,i will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked1 therefore shall ,my sword go forth out of his sheath against all flesh from the south to the north4--,cannon1 rifle1 shot1 shell1 bomb and torpedo shall be unleashed and turned against all flesh1 from those of the earthly 7of the south7 to those having the ,holy ,spirit 7of the north74 ,the ,word of ,god will be taken out of its sheath of mystery and plainly show the meaning of this trouble1 and that it is to be upon all4 #ba3e4 ,that all flesh may know that ,i the ,lord have drawn forth ,my sword out of its sheath3 it shall not return any more4--,all the people shall know that the trouble has come from ,jehovah1 and that its consummation is a certainty4 #ba3f4 ,sigh therefore1 thou son of man1 with the breaking of thy loins2 and with bitterness sigh before their eyes4--,pastor ,russell and the ,truth people have carried a heavy heart burden in this message of the ills coming upon ,christendom4 #ba3g4 ,and it shall be1 when they say unto thee1 ,wherefore sighed thou8 that thou shalt answer1 ,for the tidings1 because it cometh4 ,and every heart shall melt1 and all hands shall be feeble1 and every spirit shall faint1 and all knees shall be weak as water3 behold1 it cometh1 and shall be brought to pass1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,for the days are near when even the strongest shall falter4 #ba3h1 #i4 ,again the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 prophesy1 and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord2 ,say1 ,a sword1 a sword is sharpened1 and also furbished4--,modern weapons of destruction are brought to a hitherto unknown efficiency1 as is the ,sword of the ,spirit in the hands of the 8feet0 members of ,christ4--,isa4 #eb3g4 #ba3aj4 ,it is sharpened to make a sore slaughter2 it is furbished that it may glitter3 should ,we then make mirth8 it contemneth the rod of ,my ,son1 as every tree4--,the weapons of war will make a frightful slaughter among men2 and the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god1 will cause millions to cast off ,christianity4 ,it glitters with flashes of enlightenment reflected from the risen ,sun of ,righteousness1 which to its idolatrous enemies are gleamings of trouble and distress4 ,who could rejoice over the trouble8 ,not the ,lord's people2 for it presages the destruction of the power 7rod7 of all professing to be of the ,son of ,god1 together with all their institutions4 #ba3aa4 ,and he hath given it to be furbished1 that it may be handled3 this sword is sharpened1 and it is furbished1 to give it into the hand of the slayer4--,it is given1 bright and sharp1 to be swung in the hand of skillful slayers4 #ba3ab1 #ac4 ,cry and howl1 son of man2 for it shall be upon ,my people1 it shall be upon all the princes of ,israel3 terrors by reason of the sword shall be upon ,my people3 smite therefore upon thy thigh4 ,because it is a trial1 and what if the sword contemn even the rod8 it shall be no more1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,the destruction by the weapons of war and by the ,word of ,god shall be upon 8,my professed people10 upon all the clergy 7princes74 ,fear shall take hold of churchianity4 #ba3ad4 ,thou therefore1 son of man1 prophesy1 and smite thine hands together1 and let the sword be doubled the third time1 the sword of the slain3 it is the sword of the great men that are slain1 which entereth into their privy chambers4--,pastor ,russell was to give expression to the final wrath of ,jehovah4 ,the destruction will be of double severity three times--in war1 revolution and anarchy4 ,the ,sword of the ,spirit was to be wielded by ,pastor ,russell twice three times1 in his six volumes of ,studies in the ,scriptures4 ,the weapons of destruction will pursue all the great ones of earth1 penetrating into all their most secret places4 ,the ,sword of the ,spirit will search out all the lords of ,god's heritage 7#a ,pet4 #e3c71 the clergy1 exposing their inmost ideas contrary to ,jehovah and ,his ,plan4 #ba3ae4 ,i have set the point of the sword against all their gates1 that their heart may faint1 and their ruins be multiplied3 ah6 it is made bright1 it is wrapped up for the slaughter4--,the point of the sword against ecclesiasticism1 revealing its true nature and imminent fall1 is the present exposition of the prophecies of ,revelation and ,ezekiel4 ,the ,hebrew says that it is made 8lightning brightness40 ,it is an illumination of the whole ,babylonish system1 for ages wrapped in the mystery of types and symbolisms4 ,how gladly the clergy would have destroyed these two books of the ,bible1 had they known what they taught6 #ba3af4 ,go thee one way or the other1 either on the right hand1 or on the left1 whithersoever thy face is set4--,wheresoever ,pastor ,russell and the ,truth people set their face to go1 it is authorized for them by the ,lord4 #ba3ag4 ,i will also smite ,mine hands together1 and ,i will cause ,my fury to rest3 ,i the ,lord have said it4--,god will manifest ,his anger and cause ,his fury to rest upon ecclesiasticism4 #ba3ah1 #ai4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me again1 saying1 ,also1 thou son of man1 appoint thee two ways1 that the sword of the king of ,babylon may come3 both twain shall come forth out of one land3 and choose thou a place1 choose it at the head of the way to the city4--,there were two ways that the weapons of war1 revolution and anarchy might strike2 in either way the blow would come from ,satan1 the king of anarchy4 ,it was to come from ,riblah1 the fork of the roads4 ,riblah means 8desolate40 ,since #ahgh the worldly churches1 and since #aiad the worldly governments1 have been 8left desolate0 7,matt4 #bc3ch7 and subject1 the one to desolation by the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the other to desolation by carnal weapons4 #ba3bj4 ,appoint a way1 that the sword may come to ,rabbath of the ,ammonites1 and to ,judah in ,jerusalem the defenced4--,the sword might go east of ,jordan against the ,ammonites 7,amos #a3ad2 ,jer4 #di3b71 or west of ,jordan1 directly at ,jerusalem1 first of all4 ,it might strike the ,great 7,rabbath7 ,company 7,rev4 #g3i7 of 8fellow companions0 7,psa4 #de3ad7 7,ammonites71 or directly and first strike against churchianity 7,judah7 and ecclesiasticism proper--8the fenced off10 exclusive1 superior1 8best0 people1 hitherto so thoroughly defended from harm4 #ba3ba4 ,for the king of ,babylon stood at the parting of the way1 at the head of the two ways1 to use divination3 he made his arrows bright1 he consulted with images1 he looked in the liver4--,the forces that will overthrow ,christendom are thoroughly under the influence and guidance of evil spirits--as is suggested by the shuffling of arrows named for the two cities1 by the consulting of idols 7theories71 and by the looking in the liver 7spiritism71 by interpretation4 ,the ,devil chooses bitter words 7arrows7 7,psa4 #fd3c71 consults evil spirits 7images71 and is guided even in his opposition to ,jehovah by his own interpretations of ,scripture4--,matt4 #d3f2 #b ,cor4 #aa3ad4 #ba3bb4 ,at his right hand was the divination for ,jerusalem1 to appoint captains1 to open the mouth in the slaughter1 to lift up the voice with shouting1 to appoint battering rams against the gates1 to cast a mount1 and to build a fort4--,the proof from the ,scriptures shows that the evil spirits directed that the revolutionary and anarchistic movement should proceed first to the destruction of ,christendom4 ,the ex,czar of ,russia was a spiritualist1 and maintained mediums for consultation4 ,kaiser ,wilhelm of ,germany1 for years prior to the great war1 followed the guidance of a demon which spoke to him clairaudiently1 urging him to his present course4 ,a surprising number of prominent men consult spirit mediums4 ,the voice of the spirits was for war by every conceivable means1 nation against nation1 but destined to effect the desolation of ecclesiasticism as well4 #ba3bc4 ,and it shall be unto them as a false divination in their sight1 to them that have sworn oaths3 but ,he will call to remembrance the iniquity1 that they may be taken4--,in the sight of those that have sworn allegiance to ecclesiasticism's god1 the father of lies1 this true prediction of the downfall of the nations will seem an erroneous expectation--as it has appeared to all the great ones of ,christendom4 ,they have thought that this war would be as other wars4 ,but the end of the ,age 7world7 has come2 and ecclesiasticism's iniquities shall no longer go unpunished4 #ba3bd4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because ye have made your iniquity to be remembered1 in that your transgressions are discovered1 so that in all your doings your sins do appear2 because1 ,i say1 that ye are come to remembrance1 ye shall be taken with the hand4--,universal muck raking by ,socialists1 ,anarchists1 magazine writers1 social surveyors and reformers has caused ,christendom's forgotten iniquities to be freshly remembered1 and her transgressions uncovered1 so that there is no department--commercial1 financial1 political or religious--in which her sinful practices do not appear4 ,these things ,god has permitted to be made manifest that she may be taken redhanded4 #ba3be4 ,and thou1 profane wicked prince of ,israel1 whose day is come1 when iniquity shall have an end4--,the profane and wicked prince of the ,jews was ,zedekiah1 their last king4 7,a4 #bdh2 ,z4 '#jdcdc47 ,the antitype is churchianity's lordly class1 the clergy1 profaning the holy ,temple of ,god1 the ,church1 the ,body of ,christ1 with doctrines of devils 7#a ,tim4 #d3a71 as wicked in the sight of ,god as were their prototypes1 the scribes1 doctors and ,pharisees1 with their hypocritical pretense of holiness4 ,their time has come--#aiah--when iniquity in the ,house of the ,sons of ,god shall have an end4 #ba3bf4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,remove the diadem1 and take off the crown3 this shall not be the same3 exalt him that is low1 and abase him that is high4--,thus says ,almighty ,god3 ,remove the mitre 7mistranslated 8diadem074 ,the mitre was a band of linen about the forehead1 typing the righteousness of ,christ1 supposed to be in the minds of the clergy1 but no more actually in them as a class than in whited sepulchres4 7,matt4 #bc3bg47 ,the king wore a golden crown on his head1 held there by a white linen mitre4 7,a4 #bdh2 ,b4 #gf1 #gi2 ,z4 '#ihcei47 ,the clergy1 the lords of ,god's heritage1 have crowned themselves with the rulership of earth1 in the person of the pope and in the general desire of clergymen to rule in the affairs of men1 a lordship based upon their supposed righteousness 7mitre74 ,this great crisis will not be like the temporary setbacks of ecclesiasticism in past centuries4 ,the lowly1 revolutionary1 anarchistic masses will exalt themselves to power in the ,time of ,trouble1 and the lofty clergy shall be utterly abased4--,matt4 #bc3ab4 #ba3bg4 ,i will overturn1 overturn1 overturn it2 and it shall be no more1 until ,he come whose right it is2 and ,i will give it ,him4--,in warfare1 revolution and anarchy ,jehovah will triply overthrow ,christendom until ,christ in great power will take the crown and rule the affairs of earth4--,e4 #adg1 #acc2 ,a4 #bdh2 ,b4 #gf1 #gi2 ,z4 '#jebec2 ,h4 #fa4 #ba3bh4 ,and thou1 son of man1 prophesy and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god concerning the ,ammonites1 and concerning their reproach2 even say thou1 ,the sword1 the sword is drawn3 for the slaughter it is furbished1 to consume because of the glittering4--,nor will the openly worldly1 professing ,christian escape1 for war1 revolution and anarchy are abroad--8the sword is drawn0--to consume the worldly1 too4 #ba3bi4 ,while they see vanity unto thee1 while they divine a lie unto thee1 to bring thee upon the necks of them that are slain1 of the wicked1 whose day is come1 when their iniquity shall have an end4--,destruction will come even when the worldlywise are mistakenly asserting that it will not come nigh them4 #ba3cj4 ,shall ,i cause it to return into his sheath8 ,i will judge thee in the place where thou wast created1 in the land of thy nativity4--,the tribulation shall not be quieted--the sword shall not 8return unto his sheath20 for ,god will condemn the worldly ,christian also1 in the condition of unbelief wherein they have been4 #ba3ca4 ,and ,i will pour out ,mine indignation upon thee2 ,i will blow against thee in the fire of ,my wrath1 and deliver thee into the hand of brutish men1 and skilful to destroy4--,god will pour out ,his wrath upon the worldly professing ,christians4 ,he will blow upon them fiery blasts of war1 revolution and anarchy4 ,they shall be delivered into the hands of a revolted soldiery1 brutal1 destructive1 pitiless1 skilled in the arts of slaughter1 taught by ,teutons and ,allies to know the utmost efficiency in war4 ,the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god1 too1 will be in the hands of consecrated ones1 seemingly but not actually cruel1 skilled through ,divine power to use it with telling effect4 #ba3cb4 ,thou shalt be for fuel to the fire2 thy blood shall be in the midst of the land2 thou shalt be no more remembered3 for ,i the ,lord have spoken it4--,institutions ,divinely condemned shall be as fuel for the fires of bloody anarchy and pass into oblivion4 ,the war is the meltingpot of ecclesiasticism4 8,beautiful hands are they that do ,the work of the noble1 good and true1 ,busy for them the long day through2 ,beautiful faces--they that wear ,the light of a pleasing spirit there1 ,it matters little if dark or fair2 ,and truly beautiful in ,god's sight1 ,are the precious souls who love the right40 ,ezekiel #bb--,the ,melting ,pot ,of ,war #bb3ad4 ,moreover the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,now1 thou son of man1 wilt thou judge1 wilt thou judge the bloody city8 yea1 thou shalt shew her all her abominations1 then say thou1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 the city sheddeth blood in the midst of it1 that her time may come1 and maketh idols against herself to defile herself4 ,thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed2 and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made2 and thou hast caused thy days to draw near1 and art come even unto thy years3 therefore have ,i made thee a reproach unto the heathen1 and a mocking to all countries4--,in ,chapter #bb the various iniquities of ,jerusalem are related4 7#bb3aab47 ,their punishment is described under the figure of a meltingpot4 7#bb3acbb47 ,christendom1 and especially ecclesiasticism1 is guilty of bloodshed and of defiling paganism4 ,this1 by a natural process1 has brought about a situation which could not continue4 ,the present outbreak of evil and trouble1 in view of the lofty pretenses of the past1 has made paganized ,christendom a byword among acknowledgedly pagan peoples4--,d4 #gb4 #bb3e4 ,those that be near1 and those that be far from thee1 shall mock thee1 which art infamous and much vexed4--,the unbelievers1 both in and out of 8,christian0 countries1 scoff at 8,christendom0--now defiled of name and 8full of tumult40 #bb3f4 ,behold1 the princes of ,israel1 every one were in thee to their power to shed blood4--,in ,christendom all the rulers1 in the mania for war1 have used every power to promote bloodshed4 ,the spiritual rulers have1 by false teachings1 destroyed the spiritual hopes of millions4--,luke #aa3eb4 #bb3g4 ,in thee have they set light by father and mother3 in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the stranger3 in thee have they vexed the fatherless and the widow4--,they have dealt unjustly by the classes needing help4 ,spiritually they have despised our ,father and ,his ,covenant of ,grace1 and oppressed those who are ,his pilgrims and strangers in the world4--#a ,pet4 #a3a4 #bb3h4 ,thou hast despised ,mine holy things1 and hast profaned ,my sabbaths4--,they have despised the holy teachings of ,god's ,word1 respecting the seventh thousandyear ,day of rest1 and have attempted justification by works instead of in the rest of faith4 #bb3i4 ,in thee are men that carry tales to shed blood3 and in thee they eat upon the mountains3 in the midst of thee they commit lewdness4--,in the churches are gossipers1 evil speakers1 assassins of reputation4 ,in them are some that feast at the tables of devils 7#a ,tim4 #d3a2 #a ,cor4 #aj3ba71 like lords or rulers at the heads of the nations2 they long for unhallowed churchstate union4 #bb3aj1 #aa4 ,in thee have they discovered their fathers' nakedness2 in thee have they humbled her that was set apart for pollution4 ,and one hath committed abomination with his neighbor's wife2 and another hath lewdly defiled his daughterinlaw2 and another in thee hath humbled his sister1 his father's daughter4--,they have not only made statechurches in every possible direction1 but have been in vast numbers guilty of sexual immorality4 #bb3ab4 ,in thee have they taken gifts to shed blood2 thou hast taken usury and increase1 and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion1 and hast forgotten ,me1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,they have used the gifts of ,god for evil purposes1 even to slay ,god's holy martyrs2 they have even practised extortion upon those close to them4 ,this they have done because they have forgotten the ,lord4 #bb3ac4 ,behold1 therefore ,i have smitten ,mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made1 and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee4--,god has shown plain signs of anger against ecclesiasticism's hypocrisy and her spirit of murder4 #bb3ad4 ,can thine heart endure1 or can thine hands be strong1 in the days that ,i shall deal with thee8 ,i the ,lord have spoken it1 and will do it4--,her heart must fail her1 and her powers weaken1 before an abused conscience1 in the days when ,god will deal with her iniquities4 #bb3ae4 ,and ,i will scatter thee among the heathen1 and disperse thee in the countries1 and will consume thy filthiness out of thee4--,he will scatter the ecclesiastics and by fiery trials consume the uncleanness out of ecclesiasticism4 #bb3af4 ,and thou shalt take thine inheritance in thyself in the sight of the heathen1 and thou shalt know that ,i am the ,lord4--,she shall be profaned1 desecrated and destroyed in the sight of earth's nations4 #bb3ag1 #ah4 ,and the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 the house of ,israel is to ,me become dross2 all they are brass1 and tin1 and iron1 and lead1 in the midst of the furnace2 they are even the dross of silver4--,ecclesiasticism1 clergy and laity alike1 are to the just and holy ,god become as the refuse of the baser metals in a fiery furnace of affliction2 they are the dross of the ,great ,company 7silver74 7,jer4 #f3cj47 ,the baser metals type degrees of earthly natures2 brass 7human perfection71 tin 7tares1 begotten of error71 iron 7savage worldly power71 and lead 7sin1 iniquity74 #bb3ai4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because ye are all become dross1 behold1 therefore ,i will gather you into the midst of ,jerusalem4--,god will gather the corrupt peoples and the nations of ,christendom4 #bb3bj4 ,as they gather silver1 and brass1 and iron1 and lead1 and tin1 into the midst of the furnace1 to blow the fire upon it1 to melt it2 so will ,i gather you in ,mine anger and in ,my fury1 and ,i will leave you there1 and melt you4--,this great conglomeration of persons of all shades of baseness shall be gathered as into a blast furnace1 where ,god will permit indescribable troubles to afflict them2 and there ,he will leave them4 #bb3ba4 ,yea1 ,i will gather you1 and blow upon you in the fire of ,my wrath1 and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof4--,they are to be melted in heart and spirit in the fiery afflictions of ,his wrath4 #bb3bb4 ,as silver is melted in the midst of the furnace1 so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof2 and ye shall know that ,i the ,lord have poured out ,my fury upon you4--,as the ,great ,company of ,god's spiritbegotten children have suffered by the millions1 so shall it be with the clergy and laity1 who profess ,christianity without its spirit4 #bb3bc1 #bd4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 say unto her1 ,thou art the land that is not cleansed1 nor rained upon in the day of indignation4--,christendom in this ,time of ,trouble is without the cleansing1 refreshing showers of the water of ,god's ,word4 #bb3be4 ,there is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof1 like a roaring lion ravening the prey2 they have devoured souls2 they have taken the treasure and precious things2 they have made her many widows in the midst thereof4--,among the clergy there is a conspiracy against the ,truth4 ,the 8,federation of the socalled ,churches of ,christ in ,america10 like a very devil 7roaring lion71 will yet tear to pieces the ,present ,truth people1 will put many to death1 and cause some weaker ones to lose their spiritual lives4 ,they will take and destroy the literature containing the precious ,bible truth4 ,literally the preachers by preaching the men into war have made widows by the millions4 #bb3bf4 ,her priests have violated ,my law1 and have profaned ,mine holy things3 they have put no difference between the holy and profane1 neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean1 and have hid their eyes from ,my sabbaths1 and ,i am profaned among them4--,the ,roman ,catholic priests--and the ,protestant clergy--have violated the ,law of ,divine ,love2 have polluted ,god's truths with pagan teachings1 have shown no difference between those cleansed by the blood of ,christ and those still in their sins1 have denied the ,bible teaching of the ,millennium 7,rev4 #bj3bg71 have hidden the ,sabbath rest of justification by faith1 and have promoted a moneygrabbing system of penances and masses for sin and of collections1 which discredits and profanes ,god's name4 #bb3bg4 ,her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey1 to shed blood1 and to destroy souls1 to get dishonest gain4--,the ecclesiastics1 8wolves in sheeps' clothing0 7,matt4 #g3ae71 tear their prey1 the ,body members of ,christ1 shed blood in persecution1 and destroy spiritual life--all to acquire money to perpetuate their infamous1 paganized religion4--,micah #b3iaa4 #bb3bh4 ,and her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar1 seeing vanity1 and divining lies unto them1 saying1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god1 when the ,lord hath not spoken4--,the preachers of ,protestantism have whitewashed the whole crowd of ecclesiastics1 imagining empty doctrines of ,evolution and ,higher ,criticism1 and lying to the people by giving their own theories as ,god's ,word4 #bb3bi4 ,the people of the land have used oppression1 and exercised robbery1 and have vexed the poor and needy2 yea1 they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully4--,the laity of both ,romanism and ,protestantism have oppressed the poor in spirit1 have robbed those needing ,god's help of what comfort they had1 and have wrongfully oppressed the 8pilgrims and strangers0 7,heb4 #aa3ac7 among them4 #bb3cj4 ,and ,i sought for a man among them1 that should make up the hedge1 and stand in the gap before ,me for the land1 that ,i should not destroy it2 but ,i found none4--,god promised not to destroy ,sodom if there should be ten righteous men in it2 ,he will seek for even one who is righteous in ,christ's righteousness1 in ecclesiasticism1 to make up the wall of her goatfold1 and stand in the gap1 that ,he should not destroy her2 but ,he will find not one6 #bb3ca4 ,therefore have ,i poured out ,mine indignation upon them2 ,i have consumed them with the fire of ,my wrath2 their own way have ,i recompensed upon their heads1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,therefore ecclesiasticism is doomed to extinction4 ,ezekiel #bc--,two ,apostate ,church ,systems #bc3a1 #b4 ,the ,word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 there were two women1 the daughters of one mother4--,chapter #bc describes the churchstate unions of the ,roman ,catholic church1 pictured as an unchaste woman1 ,aholah1 and of the ,protestant church1 her unchaste sister1 ,aholibah1 and the destruction of both in the ,time of ,trouble by the nations with which they have made unions4--,jer4 #c3faj4 #bc3c4 ,and they committed whoredoms in ,egypt2 they committed whoredoms in their youth3 there were their breasts pressed1 and there they bruised the teats of their virginity4--,both of these churches have always catered to worldly ideas and people1 and even in their youth were guilty of unions of church with state4 #bc3d4 ,and the names of them were ,aholah the elder1 and ,aholibah her sister3 and they were ,mine1 and they bare sons and daughters4 ,thus were their names2 ,samaria is ,aholah1 and ,jerusalem ,aholibah4--,their names are significant4 ,aholah means 8her own tent40 ,god is not in ,romanist ecclesiasticism at all2 it has its own tabernacle1 called 7,acts #g3dc7 8the tabernacle of ,moloch40 ,satan himself dwells in and actuates the ,papal system4 ,aholibah means 8,my tent is in her40 ,god's ,tabernacle1 the true ,church1 has been among the ,protestants chiefly4 ,in this picture1 an unchaste ,protestant ecclesiasticism is designated 8,jerusalem40 ,they both have sons--prominent ones--and daughters--sectarian churches4 #bc3e4 ,and ,aholah played the harlot when she was ,mine2 and she doted on her lovers1 on the ,assyrians her neighbors4--,the ,romish church dates back to apostolic days1 when she was ,god's ,church ,mine2 but she fell in love with her neighbors1 the rulers of that brutal age1 and sought temporal power4 #bc3f4 ,which were clothed with blue1 captains and rulers1 all of them desirable young men1 horsemen riding upon horses4--,the leaders and rulers in worldly affairs were apparently faithful 7clothed in blue1 typical of faithfulness71 and seemed desirable and attractive to be associated with4 ,they were men of thought and men of action1 riding hobbies of vain philosophies4 #bc3g4 ,thus she committed her whoredoms with them1 with all them that were the chosen men of ,assyria1 and with all on whom she doted3 with all their idols she defiled herself4--,the ,church associated with them for gain of worldly power1 set her affections on them1 instead of on things ,above1 and defiled herself with their pagan ideas4 #bc3h4 ,neither left she her whoredoms brought from ,egypt3 for in her youth they lay with her1 and they bruised the breasts of her virginity1 and poured their whoredom upon her4--,nor did she give up her worldliness when she took up oriental asceticism4 #bc3i1 #aj4 ,wherefore ,i have delivered her into the hand of her lovers1 into the hand of the ,assyrians1 upon whom she doted4 ,these discovered her nakedness3 they took her sons and her daughters1 and slew her with the sword3 and she became famous among women2 for they had executed judgment upon her4--,the rulers discovered the naked1 unprotected condition of ,romanism2 and by hundreds of thousands poured in from the ,east1 literal ,tartars1 ,vandals1 ,huns and ,turks1 and the pagan ideas from the same sources1 and slew the sons and daughters of ,romanism with the literal sword1 as well as her children spiritually4 ,among the ,pagan religions 7women7 ,romanist 8,christianity0 became a name and a byword2 for the invaders had executed the judgment of ,god upon her4 #bc3aa4 ,and when her sister ,aholibah saw this1 she was more corrupt in her inordinate love than she1 and in her whoredoms more than her sister in her whoredoms4--,protestantism began in comparative purity1 but later on developed an inordinate love for temporal power4 ,even more than ,papacy she tried in every nation to 8run things40 #bc3ab4 ,she doted upon the ,assyrians her neighbours1 captains and rulers clothed most gorgeously1 horsemen riding upon horses1 all of them desirable young men4--,she1 too1 set her affections on popularity with earth's rulers1 great and small1 conservative1 radical and revolutionary4 #bc3acag4 ,then ,i saw that she was defiled1 that they took both one way4 ,and that she increased her whoredoms3 for when she saw men portrayed upon the wall1 the images of the ,chaldeans portrayed with vermilion1 girded with girdles upon their loins1 exceeding in dyed attire upon their heads1 all of them princes to look to1 after the manner of the ,babylonians of ,chaldea1 the land of their nativity3 and as soon as she saw them with her eyes1 she doted upon them1 and sent messengers unto them into ,chaldea4 ,and the ,babylonians came to her into the bed of love1 and they defiled her with their whoredom1 and she was polluted with them1 and her mind was alienated from them4--,god saw that both churches1 ,romish and ,protestant1 were of like tendency to churchstate union1 especially ,protestantism2 for she never saw or heard of a great worldly man1 even down to the local leaders of the smallest rural communities1 that she did not desire their influence and help--particularly their money--and systematically invited them to connect themselves with a church1 quite regardless of whether or not they remained worldly4 ,so much did the prominent people in every place crowd into the ,protestant churches and try to 8boss0 things1 that the rank and file even of ecclesiastics and of the less prominent supporters of ecclesiasticism grew sick of them4 #bc3ah4 ,so she discovered her whoredoms1 and discovered her nakedness3 then ,my mind was alienated from her1 like as ,my mind was alienated from her sister4--,the newspaper writers1 ,socialists1 anarchists and muckrakers1 exposed the worldliness of the ,protestant churches2 and ,god ,himself1 from #ahgh on1 has been alienated from them4 #bc3aiba4 ,yet she multiplied her whoredoms1 in calling to remembrance the days of her youth1 wherein she had played the harlot in the land of ,egypt4 ,for she doted upon their paramours1 whose flesh is as the flesh of asses1 and whose issue is like the issue of horses4 ,thus thou calledst to remembrance the lewdness of thy youth1 in bruising thy teats by the ,egyptians for the paps of thy youth4--,protestant ecclesiasticism multiplied her worldly alliances2 and the prominent and wealthy1 8of the earth1 earthy10 filled the churches with tares1 worldlings1 desirous of profiting by association with prominent people4 #bc3bb4 ,therefore1 ,o ,aholibah1 thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,behold1 ,i will raise up thy lovers against thee1 from whom thy mind is alienated1 and ,i will bring them against thee on every side4--,therefore1 ,o ,protestantism1 thus saith the ,lord ,jehovah3 ,i will raise up1 in warfare and revolution1 the worldly people in you1 of whom you are already sick1 and bring them against you on every side4 #bc3bc4 ,the ,babylonians1 and all the ,chaldeans1 ,pekod1 and ,shoa1 and ,koa1 and all the ,assyrians with them2 all of them desirable young men1 captains and rulers1 great lords and renowned1 all of them riding upon horses4--,the worldly1 the worldlywise 7,chaldeans71 the officers 7,pekod71 princes 7,shoa71 and rulers 7,koa71 and all the discontented and anarchistic with them shall come against you1 riding hobbies destructive to you4 #bc3bd4 ,and they shall come against thee with chariots1 wagons1 and wheels1 and with an assembly of people1 which shall set against thee buckler and shield and helmet round about3 and ,i will set judgment before them1 and they shall judge thee according to their judgments4--,they shall war against thy welfare with organizations of their own 7chariots71 with leaders 7riders1 mistranslated wagons71 with a systematic plan of operation 7wheels71 and with a great following of revolutionists2 and they shall condemn thee by their own perverted ideas of justice4 #bc3be4 ,and ,i will set ,my jealousy against thee1 and they shall deal furiously with thee3 they shall take away thy nose and thine ears2 and thy remnant shall fall by the sword2 they shall take thy sons and thy daughters2 and thy residue shall be devoured by the fire4--,unknown to ,protestantism1 ,god's jealousy has been excited by her worldliness2 and ,he will permit the masses to deal with her in fury2 they will destroy her spirituality1 taking away her ability to discern spiritual things 7nose71 and to hear 7ear7 the ,word of ,god4 ,they will force ,protestantism's sons and daughters into service in war and revolution2 and the remnant will be destroyed in the ensuing anarchy4 #bc3bf4 ,they shall also strip thee out of thy clothes1 and take away thy fair jewels4--,protestantism shall be stripped of her robes of self righteousness and of her imitation jewels--those not truly ,christianized2 for they will cast off all pretense of religion4 #bc3bg4 ,thus will ,i make thy lewdness to cease from thee1 and thy whoredom brought from the land of ,egypt3 so that thou shalt not lift up thine eyes unto them1 nor remember ,egypt any more4--,being no longer attractive or useful to the ruling powers1 she will perforce cease her advances toward the grasping of worldly power4 #bc3bh4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i will deliver thee into the hand of them whom thou hatest1 into the hand of them from whom thy mind is alienated4--,all lawabiding people1 and especially ,protestant ecclesiasticism1 hate and fear the lawless forces destructive of society2 but into the cruel hands of such shall they be delivered4 #bc3bi4 ,and they shall deal with thee hatefully1 and shall take away all thy labour1 and shall leave thee naked and bare2 and the nakedness of thy whoredoms shall be discovered1 both thy lewdness and thy whoredoms4--,these evil forces shall deal hatefully with ,protestantism1 take away all the results of her work1 and strip her completely1 because of the ultimate evils wrought by union of church and state4 #bc3cj4 ,i will do these things unto thee1 because thou hast gone a whoring after the heathen1 and because thou art polluted with their idols4--,god will do this because ,protestantism has sought and made churchstate unions1 and has been polluted with worldly ideas and practices4 #bc3ca4 ,thou hast walked in the way of thy sister2 therefore1 will ,i give her cup into thine hand4--,she has walked in the way of ,papacy2 therefore will ,god give to her also ,papacy's cup of tribulation4--,jer4 #be3ae4 #bc3cb4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,thou shalt drink of thy sister's cup deep and large2 thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision2 it containeth much4--,protestantism shall drink deep and large the measure of ,romanism's cup of trouble2 it contains much4 ,as a result of wars and devastation brought on by worldliness1 in the face of boasted godliness1 ,protestantism shall be scorned and derided by the whole world4--,rev4 #i4 #bc3cc4 ,thou shalt be filled with drunkenness and sorrow1 with the cup of astonishment and desolation1 with the cup of thy sister ,samaria4--,protestantism shall be intoxicated with the war spirit 7,jer4 #ac3ac71 and later stupefied with amazement at the ruinous results of her own course1 ending in the same cup of trouble1 utter ruin1 as confronts her sisterchurch1 ,catholicism4 #bc3cd4 ,thou ,shalt even drink it and suck it out1 and thou shalt break the sherds thereof1 and pluck off thine own breasts3 for ,i have spoken it1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,protestantism shall drain the cup of desolation and sorrow and shall suck out the very dregs4 7,isa4 #cj3ad47 ,it shall be broken up in anarchy1 and shall lose all the features that made it attractive to this world's governments for purposes of union of church and state4 #bc3ce4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,because thou hast forgotten ,me1 and cast ,me behind thy back1 therefore bear thou also thy lewdness and thy whoredoms4--,because she has forgotten the ,lord and cast ,him out of her mind1 ,protestantism shall endure unaided by ,him the results of her own evil course4 #bc3cf4 ,the ,lord said moreover unto me3 ,son of man1 wilt thou judge ,aholah and ,ahollbah8 yes1 declare unto them their abominations4--,in ,verses #cf to #di ,romanism and ,protestantism are together jointly condemned4 #bc3cg4 ,that they have committed adultery1 and blood is in their hands1 and with their ,idols have they committed adultery1 and have also caused their sons1 whom they bare unto me1 to pass for them through the fire1 to devour them4--,they have both effected churchstate unions4 ,they have blood guilt1 for wars1 and for causing the spiritual death of multitudes4 ,they have given their hearts to idol doctrines4 ,they have caused ,god's children to endure fiery troubles1 and have scorched1 scarred and burned their religious lives with the eternal torment theory4 #bc3ch4 ,moreover this they have done unto ,me2 they have defiled ,my ,sanctuary ,in the same day1 and have profaned ,my sabbaths4--,they have defiled ,god's ,sanctuary1 the ,church1 with souldestroying doctrines in the same ,day1 the ,gospel ,age4 ,they have derided the ,millennium1 and have substituted works for the rest of faith1 as the basis of justification before ,god4 #bc3ci4 ,for when they had slain their children to their idols1 then they came the same day ,into ,my ,sanctuary to profane it2 and lo1 thus have they done in the midst of ,mine house4--,they would slay their people in war and the same day go to worship ,god1 even in the midst of ,god's ,sanctuary1 the ,little ,flock of the true ,church4 #bc3dj4 ,and furthermore1 that ye have sent for men to come from far1 unto whom a messenger was sent2 and1 lo1 they came2 for whom thou didst wash thyself1 paintedst thy eyes1 and deckedst thyself with ornaments4--,they sought for union with and sent preachers to prominent men1 at heart in a condition far from ,god2 for them they 8whitewashed0 themselves1 made their wisdom 7eyes7 attractive with worldly philosophies1 and adorned themselves with the imitation jewels of courtesy1 tact and politeness4 #bc3da4 ,and satest upon a stately bed1 and a table prepared before it1 whereupon thou hast set ,mine ,incense and ,mine oil4--,they took their seat upon a stately creedbed1 adapted to worldly1 regal purposes1 with a table of religious food1 teachings1 philosophies1 not of ,god1 where they gave their hearts' best endeavor and prostituted what measure of the ,holy ,spirit they had to worldly ends4 #bc3db4 ,and a voice of a multitude being at ease was with her2 and with the men of the common sort were brought ,sabeans from the wilderness1 which put bracelets upon their hands1 and beautiful crowns upon their heads4--,with the ecclesiasticism of ,papacy and ,protestantism was the voice of a multitude of worldly church members1 thoroughly at ease in apostate ,zion4 7,amos #f3a47 ,among the church members were men of the blackest character 7,sabeans1 descendants of ,ham1 disfavored of ,god71 who belonged outside the pale of religion1 who adorned themselves with seeming character jewels and crowns of inherent immortality1 not of ,god1 but of ,plato4 #bc3dc4 ,then said ,i unto her that was old in adulteries1 ,will they now commit whoredoms with her1 and she with them8--,it seemed impossible that the churches should unite with such evil men1 to gain influence and power4 #bc3dd4 ,yet they went in unto her1 as they go in unto a woman that playeth the harlot3 so went they in unto ,aholah and unto ,aholibah1 the lewd women4--,nevertheless1 both ,romish and ,protestant ecclesiasticism did so4 #bc3de4 ,and the righteous men1 they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses1 and after the manner of women that shed blood2 because they are adulteresses1 and blood is in their hands4--,but men with a sense of decency1 justice and the fitness of things will condemn both churches1 ,romish and ,protestant1 as adulteresses were judged among the ,hebrews--stone them to death with hard facts1 and by the ravages of revolution and anarchy4 #bc3df4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,i will bring up a company upon them1 and will give them to be removed and spoiled4--,god will bring up against them a great rabble of people with a keen sense of outraged justice--,socialists1 tradesunion men1 laborites1 social democrats1 nihilists and anarchists4 ,also a multitude of ,god's children1 begotten of the ,holy ,spirit1 will rise up against these apostacies4 #bc3dg4 ,and the company shall stone them with stones1 and dispatch them with their swords2 they shall slay their sons and their daughters1 and burn up their houses with fire4--,this multitude will down ecclesiasticism with hard facts1 and destroy her with material weapons and with the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god4 ,the anarchists will literally slay church members by millions2 and the sons of ,god will by ,his ,holy ,word cause them to cease their pretense of being ,christians4 #bc3dh4 ,thus will ,i cause lewdness to cease out of the land1 that all women may be taught not to do after your lewdness4--,thus will the ,lord cause the desire for the union of churches with worldly power to cease out of human society1 that all religious bodies may learn forever to avoid this abominable practice4 #bc3di4 ,and they shall recompense your lewdness upon you1 and ye shall bear the sins of your idols3 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord ,god4--,thus shall ecclesiasticism's faithless apostasy be recompensed upon her when she suffers the results of the sinfulness of loving other mighty ones than ,jehovah1 and thus shall she learn the supremacy of ,god in the affairs of men4 ,ezekiel #bd--,the ,boiling ,caldron #bd3a1 #b4 ,again in the ninth year1 in the tenth month1 in the tenth day of the month1 the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 write thee the name of the day1 even of this same day3 the king of ,babylon set himself against ,jerusalem this same day4--,it was in the fall of #aiaf--;a year and seven months before the city was to be smitten in the spring of #aiah--that the forces of laborism1 revolution and anarchy1 began to assert themselves against the established order of things in ,christendom--the siege of the city began4 #bd3c4 ,and utter a parable unto the rebellious house1 and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,set on a pot1 set it on1 and also pour water into it4--,jerusalem is likened to a boiling caldron from which meat is taken2 then it is set empty on the fire and the rust burned out4 ,ezekiel's wife dies2 but he suppresses his feelings1 and1 after the ordinance for a priest1 makes no mourning for the dead--a picture of the dumb sorrow of the ,hebrews on the destruction of ,jerusalem4 ,the prophecy of this chapter was uttered on the same day that the king of ,babylon1 ,nebuchadnezzar1 8came1 he and all his host1 and pitched against it2 and they built forts against it round about2 and the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king ,zedekiah40 7#b ,kings #be3a1 #b47 ,its antitype is that on or about ,november #a1 #aiaf1 the date of ,pastor ,russell's death1 ecclesiasticism began to enter upon its lifeanddeath struggle1 materially1 with the forces of laborism and anarchy1 and religiously with the consecrated children of ,god1 whose work from then on was increasingly to bear witness to the apostasy and imminent destruction of churchianity4 ,ecclesiasticism1 rebellious against her ,god1 is as an organization1 like a caldron of brass 7copper71 typing that many of its members believe the ,word of ,god4 ,it is set amid the fiery troubles of revolution and anarchy4 ,there is water in it1 symbolic of what ,truth there is in ecclesiasticism4--,jer4 #a3ac4 #bd3d4 ,gather the pieces thereof into it1 even every good piece1 the thigh1 and the shoulders3 fill it with the choice bones4--,in it are gathered the great and prominent 7good pieces71 and also the strong ones 7bones7 of her flock4 #bd3e4 ,take the choice of the flock1 and burn also the bones under it1 and make it boil well1 and let them seethe the bones of it therein4--,the social elements will grow hot in the ,time of ,trouble until the truths in ecclesiasticism make it exceedingly warm for her members4 ,then the heated1 excited1 troublous condition will be transmitted1 and as the truths warm up1 will get all the church members into exceedingly hot water1 even the strongest ones4 #bd3f4 ,wherefore thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,woe to the bloody city1 to the plot whose scum is therein1 and whose scum is not gone out of it6 bring it out piece by piece2 let no lot fall upon it4--,woe to ,christendom1 ecclesiasticism1 bloody in the blood of soldiers1 peasants1 workingmen1 martyrs and saints1 by the millions1 and blood guilty for the spiritual hopes of millions1 extinguished by her false doctrines4 ,her rust 7,r4 ,v47 is in her4 ,bring out her leading members1 one by one1 indiscriminately1 into captivity to the forces of revolution4 #bd3g4 ,for her blood is in the midst of her2 she set it upon the top of a rock2 the poured it not upon the ground1 to cover it with dust2--,her infamy of blood is in her very substance4 ,she has not been able to conceal it1 but it is exposed to full view in 8the top of her rock10 in the kings and the kaisers1 her heads in churchstate union4 #bd3h4 ,that it might cause fury to come up to take vengeance2 ,i have set her blood upon the top of a rock1 that it should not be covered4--,the fury of a revolted soldiery and populace will rise up against the heads of the governments1 who are also heads of the churches1 to take vengeance upon ecclesiasticism's sins4 #bd3i4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,woe to the bloody city6 ,i will even make the pile for fire great4--,innumerable will be the opponents of churchianity1 and blazing hot their wrath4 #bd3aj4 ,heap on the wood1 kindle the fire1 consume the flesh1 and spice it well1 and let the bones be burned4--,heap up the fires of discontent and anarchy1 consume the tares in ,christendom1 as tares4 ,thicken the broth 7,r4 ,v471 boil it down until the very bones1 the strong church members1 cease to be such4 #bd3aa4 ,then set it empty upon the coals thereof1 that the brass of it may be hot1 and may burn1 and that the filthiness of it may be molten in it1 that the scum of it may be consumed4--,then ecclesiasticism1 the clergy class1 with emptied pews1 shall sit amid the fiery trouble and be consumed1 that their corruption may be done away4 #bd3ab4 ,she hath wearied herself with lies1 and her great scum went not forth out of her3 her scum shall be in the fire4--,she has wearied even the preachers with the dishonesty of preaching things not believed in1 and yet they did not cast out her doctrinal corruption1 which shall be fuel for the fire of anarchy4 #bd3ac4 ,in thy filthiness is lewdness3 because ,i have purged thee1 and thou wast not purged1 thou shalt not be purged from thy filthiness any more1 till ,i have caused ,my fury to rest upon thee4--,her corruption was in her desire to become prominent and powerful through the power of earth's great ones4 ,god purged her of these things to some extent through godly preachers and reformers2 but she was not purged in heart and quickly reverted to the things ,divinely proscribed4 ,since #ahgh ,god has made no further attempt to reform ecclesiasticism2 and she shall not be purged1 but the fury of ,god's jealousy shall rest upon her4 #bd3ad4 ,i the ,lord have spoken it2 it shall come to pass1 and ,i will do it2 ,i will not go back1 neither will ,i spare1 neither will ,i repent2 according to thy ways1 and according to thy doings1 shall they judge thee1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,god ,himself has spoken this and will do it4 ,he will not go back1 neither spare1 nor change ,his ,plan2 but in just recompense for her doings shall the ,socialists and anarchists condemn her4 #bd3ae1 #af4 ,also the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 behold1 ,i take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke3 yet neither shalt thou mourn nor weep1 neither shall thy tears run down4--,god took away from ,pastor ,russell the desire of his eyes1 her whom he loved1 with a stroke1 or 8plague0 of spiritual error1 which completely separated them4 ,by the ,mosaic ordinance a priest on the death of father1 mother1 or wife1 was to show no special sign of grief1 but was to remain in the ,tabernacle1 or ,temple1 and attend as usual to the service of ,god4 ,pastor ,russell1 as a member of the great ,high ,priest and as ,christ's representative in the world1 the sole steward of the 8meat in due season10 suffered deeply1 but shed no tears4 #bd3ag4 ,forbear to cry1 make no mourning for the dead1 bind the tire of thine head upon thee1 and put on thy shoes upon thy feet1 and cover not thy lips1 and eat not the bread of men4--,rather1 he made no mourning for her that was to him as dead1 but continued in the work of the sacrificing priesthood4 ,he was sustained in his affliction1 not by human aid1 but by the consolations of his ,father's ,word4 #bd3ah4 ,so ,i spake unto the people in the morning3 and at even my wife died2 and ,i did in the morning as ,i was commanded4--,he continued his addresses and writings to the ,lord's people2 his wife became to him as one dead3 and he continued uninterruptedly in the work of the ministry4 #bd3ai4 ,and the people said unto me1 ,wilt thou not tell us what these things are to us1 that thou doest so8--,why was ,pastor ,russell caused by his ,father to endure the fiery trials and ecclesiastical falsehoods in connection with this incident of his life8 #bd3bj1 #ba4 ,then ,i answered them1 ,the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,speak unto the house of ,israel1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i will profane ,my ,sanctuary1 the excellency of your strength1 the desire of your eyes1 and that which your soul pitieth2 and your sons and your daughters whom ye have left shall fall by the sword4--,god gives the reason4 ,it was as a picture or parable of what is to happen to ,christendom4 ,until #ahgh the nominal church had been in a sense ,god's sanctuary or ,temple2 but ,he was from then on1 culminating in #aiah1 to remove it with a stroke or plague of erroneous doctrines and deeds ,divinely permitted4 ,the ,church was the strength of ,christendom1 that about which its life centered1 and around which its institutions were built4 ,it was the desire of the eyes of the people1 that which all ,christians loved4 ,nevertheless1 ,god was to make manifest the profanation which ecclesiasticism had made of the ,christian ,church1 and to cause the church organizations to become to ,him as one dead1 an unclean thing1 not to be touched1 or mourned4 ,and the 8children of the church0 shall perish by the sword of war1 revolution and anarchy1 and by the ,sword of the ,spirit be made to see that they have lost their hope of life on the spirit plane--that 8the door is shut40 #bd3bb4 ,and ye shall do as ,i have done3 ye shall not cover your lips1 nor eat the bread of men4--,so universal and dreadful will be the troubles that the dead will literally lie unburied and unwept4 ,there can be no mourning for the dead in a period when the living are overwhelmed by troubles worse than death4 #bd3bc4 ,and your tires shall be upon your heads3 and your shoes upon your feet3 ye shall not mourn nor weep2 but ye shall pine away for your iniquities1 and mourn one toward another4--,the mourning will be an inner sorrow of a people stupefied by terrible experiences1 who pine away and without outward expression sink together into the fellowship of helpless grief4 #bd3bd4 ,thus ,ezekiel is unto you a sign3 according to all that he hath done shall ye do3 and when this cometh1 ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord ,god4--,thus the silent sorrow at ,pastor ,russell's heart was to be a sign to ,christendom4 ,the sorrowful experiences of ,pastor ,russell in this connection shall later on be those of all ,christendom2 8and when this cometh0 they shall know that ,jehovah ,god is supreme1 and back of all the judgments of the trouble time4 #bd3be1 #bf4 ,also1 thou son of man1 shall it not be in the day when ,i take from them their strength1 the joy of their glory1 the desire of their eyes1 and that whereupon they set their minds1 their sons and their daughters4 ,that he that escapeth in that day shall come unto thee1 to cause thee to hear it with thine ears8--,also1 in the year #aiah1 when ,god destroys the churches wholesale and the church members by millions1 it shall be that any that escape shall come to the works of ,pastor ,russell to learn the meaning of the downfall of 8,christianity40 #bd3bg4 ,in that day shall thy mouth be opened to him which is escaped1 and thou shalt speak1 and be no more dumb3 and thou shalt be a sign unto them2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,pastor ,russell's voice has been stilled in death2 and his voice is1 comparatively speaking1 dumb to what it will be4 ,in the time of revolution and anarchy he shall speak1 and be no more dumb to those that escape the destruction of that day4 ,pastor ,russell shall 8be a sign unto them10 shall tell them the truth about the ,divine appointment of the trouble1 as they consult his books1 scattered to the number of ten million throughout ,christendom4 ,his words shall be a sign of hope unto them1 enabling them to see the bright side of the cloud and to look forward with anticipation to the glorious ,kingdom of ,god to be established4 ,then 8they shall know the ,lord40 8,build thee more stately mansions1 ,o my soul1 ,as the swift seasons roll6 ,leave thy low vaulted past6 ,let each new temple1 nobler than the last1 ,shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast1 ,till thou at length art free1 ,leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea40 ,ezekiel #be--,recompense ,upon ,the ,tares #be3a1 #b4 ,the word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 set thy face against the ,ammonites1 and prophesy against them4--,chapter #be foretells that after the fall of apostate ecclesiasticism in revolution1 in #aiah1 the end of the various discordant non,christian elements of ,christendom1 hostile to true ,christianity1 which will seek to profit by her fall1 will come4 ,the ,ammonites 7#be3ag7 and the ,moabites 7#be3haa71 both children of ,lot--who was himself a type of the ,great ,company class--are a type of a class brought into being by their father1 the ,great ,company class 7,lot71 while he was in a state of drunken stupor from mixed doctrines1 through ,lot's daughters1 type of the worldly churches of the ,great ,company4 ,the ,edomites1 descendants of ,esau1 represent a class who sell their birthright to sonship of ,god for a mess of pottage1 worldly advantage 7#be3abad72 and the ,philistines1 a people who migrated from ,egypt1 and aggressively preyed upon the ,jews1 type of a class of aggressive1 middlecourse1 professing ,christians who prey upon true ,christians4 ,the message begins with words against the ,ammonites1 types of those believing worldlings who were brought into the churches by the more or less faithless ,great ,company1 and who in an aggressive and predatory fashion as ,jesuits1 persecuting ,romish priests1 and ,protestant clergy and their kind persecuted the true ,christians4 ,the ,ammonites are described as 8fierce marauders1 crafty1 cruel1 predatory40 ,the ,ammonites worshipped ,baal1 under the name ,chemosh1 the god of fire and of fornication1 type of the eternaltormentpurgatory god1 the encourager of the spiritual adultery of churchstate union4 #be3c4 ,and say unto the ,ammonites1 ,hear the word of the ,lord ,god2 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because thou saidst1 ,aha1 against ,my ,sanctuary1 when it was profaned2 and against the land of ,israel1 when it was desolate2 and against the house of ,judah1 when they went into captivity4--,when ,god's true ,church shall be persecuted in the worldwar and revolution1 and true ,christian faith shall be desolated1 and the multitude of those that praise ,god 7,judah1 praise7 shall go into captivity to the infidel revolutionists1 the persecuting1 worldloving church members 7,ammonites7 will he glad of it4 #bf3d4 ,behold1 therefore ,i will deliver thee to the men of the east for a possession1 and they shall set their palaces in thee1 and make their dwellings in thee3 they shall eat thy fruit1 and they shall drink thy milk4--,god will deliver this class unto the anarchists1 to possess them1 and make themselves at home with their property1 and to make away with their doctrines 7milk74 #be3e4 ,and ,i will make ,rabbah a stable for camels1 and the ,ammonites a couching place for flocks3 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,and ,i will make the lordly clergy class 7,rabbah1 great7 waste and abandoned4 #be3f4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because thou hast clapped thine hands1 and stamped with the feet1 and rejoiced in heart with all thy despite against the land of ,israel4--,because they shall rejoice greatly1 in their despite against ,christianity4 #be3g4 ,behold1 therefore ,i will stretch out ,mine hand upon thee1 and will deliver thee for a spoil to the heathen3 and ,i will cut thee off from the people1 and ,i will cause thee to perish out of the countries3 ,i will destroy thee2 and thou shalt know that ,i am the ,lord4--,therefore ,god will stretch out ,his hand against them1 and deliver them to be despoiled by the infidel anarchists in their midst4 ,he will cut them off as a class1 cause them to cease and destroy them1 and they shall know that ,he is ,god4 #be3h4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,because that ,moab and ,seir do say1 ,behold1 the house of ,judah is like unto all the heathen4--,the ,moabites 78,seir0 should be omitted7 were the civilized part of the descendants of ,lot1 born of incest1 of a drunken father1 ,lot1 and worshippers of ,baal1 while acknowledging ,jehovah4 ,they typed a church membership begotten by the mixture of truth and error1 by the ,great ,company class1 through their worldloving churches 7daughters of ,lot71 and worshipping the eternal torment ,god1 imagining him to be ,jehovah1 and practicing the spiritual harlotry of union of church and state4 ,moab was 8a nation high spirited1 wealthy1 populous1 civilized1 and of wide reputation and popularity40 ,they type a like class4 #be3i4 ,therefore1 behold1 ,i will open the side of ,moab from the cities1 from his cities which are on his frontiers1 the glory of the country1 ,bethjeshimoth1 ,baalmeon1 and ,kiriathaim4--,god will cause this class to be attacked in the anarchy 7,bethjeshimoth1 place of desolation71 on two grounds1 their apostate clergy 7,baalmeon1 lord of the habitation7 and churchstate system 7,kiriathaim1 double city74 #be3aj4 ,unto the men of the east with the ,ammonites1 and will give them in possession1 that the ,ammonites may not be remembered among the nations4--,the anarchists will also overcome the aggressive class 7,ammonites74 #be3aa1 #ab4 ,and ,i will execute judgments upon ,moab2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because that ,edom hath dealt against the house of ,judah by taking vengeance1 and hath greatly offended1 and revenged himself upon them4--,the professedly ,christian 8,edomites0 7,d4 #adai7--nominally believers in ,god 7descendants of ,abraham71 but worshipping a variety of gods of power1 wealth1 and worldliness1 especially the eternaltorment ,god--7,josephus says the ,edomites worshipped ,cese1 the destroyer7--will help greatly in pulling down ,christianity4 #be3ac4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will also stretch out ,mine hand upon ,edom1 and will cut off man and beast from it2 and ,i will make it desolate from ,teman2 and they of ,dedan shall fall by the sword4--,god will stretch ,his hand against this class 7,edom,idumea7 and from end to end they shall fall by the weapons of destruction1 and by the ,sword of the ,spirit4--,isa4 #cd3e1 #f2 ,jer4 #di3gag4 #be3ad4 ,and ,i will lay ,my vengeance upon ,edom by the hand of ,my people ,israel3 and they shall do in ,edom according to ,mine anger and according to ,my fury2 and they shall know ,my vengeance1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,the ,truth people shall declare what ,god will do to this class in ,his furious anger4--,isa4 #ae3ai2 ,jer4 #dh3adg4 #be3ae4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because the ,philistines have dealt by revenge1 and have taken vengeance with a despiteful heart1 to destroy it for the old hatred4--,the worldly professing ,christians 7,philistines1 emigrants from ,egypt7 persecute ,god's true people1 and shall in the revolution despitefully aid in destroying ,christianity4--,joel #c3d4 #be3af1 #ag4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i will stretch out ,mine hand upon the ,philistines1 and ,i will cut off the ,cherethim1 and destroy the remnant of the sea coast4 ,and ,i will execute great vengeance upon them with furious rebukes2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i shall lay ,my vengeance upon them4--,god will1 through the anarchists1 stretch out ,his hand against this class1 and will cut off those that carry out persecution and death upon ,his people 7,cherethim1 executioners71 and all worldly professing ,christians as such1 including those that border on anarchy 7sea coast74 ,ezekiel #bf--;,downfall ,of ,philosophy #bf3a4 ,and it came to pass in the eleventh year1 in the first day of the month1 that the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying4--,chapter #bf depicts ecclesiasticism in the guise of an elaborate system of philosophy4 ,the name ,tyrus signifies 8,rock20 and human philosophy1 particularly ,greek ,platonic philosophy1 is the real rock foundation of ecclesiastical teachings4 ,any true ecclesiastic1 when driven by the ,word of ,god from his untenable errors1 claims sanction for them by reference to the philosophy of ,plato and the inherent immortality of man1 etc4 #bf3b4 ,son of man1 because that ,tyrus hath said against ,jerusalem1 ,aha1 she is broken that was the gates of the people2 she is turned unto me2 ,i shall be replenished1 now she is laid waste4--,this system and its adherents will manifest their essentially non,christian nature when ,christendom 7,jerusalem7 falls at the hands of the revolutionists in #aiah4 ,philosophy1 ,higher ,criticism1 will rejoice that ecclesiasticism1 which claimed to be the gateway to ,god for the people1 is broken4 ,they will imagine that the adherents of a ,christianity that has failed will turn to philosophy1 and that the adherents of philosophy will be increased now that ecclesiasticism is desolated4 ,human philosophy will seem to be the sole refuge of the people of ,christendom4 #bf3c4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against thee1 ,o ,tyrus1 and will cause many nations to come up against thee1 as the sea causeth his waves to come up4--,because ,christendom has borne the name of ,christ and had the oracles of ,god1 therefore ,god is against philosophy and will cause the many nations of ,christendom to come up against established philosophy1 as a sea of anarchy1 with the discontented masses attacking1 wave after wave1 endlessly4 #bf3d4 ,and they shall destroy the walls of ,tyrus1 and break down her towers3 ,i will also scrape her dust from her1 and make her like the top of a rock4--,the anarchists shall destroy the walls of defense1 composed of the adherents to human philosophy1 and shall break down the loftiest and strongest organizations1 its towers of defense4 ,god will remove the last vestiges of human adherence to ,christendom's system of philosophy4 #bf3e4 ,it shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea3 for ,i have spoken it1 saith the ,lord ,god3 and it shall become a spoil to the nations4--,in the anarchy1 human philosophy shall be utterly abandoned--deprived of all its former supporters1 by whole nations of anarchists4 #bf3f4 ,and her daughters which are in the field shall be slain by the sword3 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,the religious organizations 7daughters7 founded on philosophy1 which are in the world 7field71 shall be wiped out2 and in the ,kingdom their former adherents shall come to know ,jehovah as ,he is4 #bf3g4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i will bring upon ,tyrus ,nebuchadrezzar king of ,babylon1 a king of kings1 from the north1 with horses1 and with chariots1 and with horsemen1 and companies1 and much people4--,jehovah ,god declares that against human philosophy 7,tyrus7 and its systems and adherents1 ,he will array ,satan--the king of this evil world1 ruler of mystic ,babylon1 8the gateway to ,bel10 to devil worship1 king over the kings and other children of disobedience4 ,he shall be permitted to come by ,god ,himself 7the ,north7 7,jer4 #a3ad71 with teachings 7horses7 of anarchy1 with institutions based upon such teachings 7chariots71 with leaders and teachers riding these hobbies 7horsemen71 with an organised following 7companies7 and with many people following after anarchy in unorganized mobs 7much people74 #bf3h4 ,he shall slay with the sword thy daughters in the field3 and he shall make a fort against thee1 and cast a mount against thee1 and lift up the buckler against thee4--,with weapons of destruction 7swords7 anarchy shall seek to destroy the philosophical churches and other religious organizations 7daughters7 in the world 7field7 and shall systematically besiege them4 #bf3i4 ,and he shall set engines of war against thy walls and with his axes he shall break down thy towers4--,anarchy shall make war against their defenders 7walls71 and with keen1 strong1 cutting arguments 7axes71 shall break down philosophy's strongholds 7towers74 #bf3aj4 ,by reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee3 thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen1 and of the wheels1 and of the chariots1 when he shall enter into thy gates1 as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach4--,anarchistic teachings 7horses7 without limit shall fill the air with confusion 7dust72 philosophy's defenders 7walls7 shall fear and quake at the tumult 7noise7 of the leaders and teachers of anarchy 7horsemen71 and of their systematic plans 7wheels7 of destruction1 and of the anarchistic organizations 7chariots71 when ,anarchy shall pour its forces through the great ones 7gates7 of ,philosophy1 for the great ones will become channels 7breaches7 for the inpouring teachings of anarchy4 #bf3aa4 ,with the hoofs of his horses shall be tread down all thy streets3 he shall slay thy people by the sword1 and thy strong garrisons shall go down to the ground4--,with the impact 7hoofs7 of doctrines 7horses7 of destruction1 anarchy shall beat down all the orderly ways 7streets7 of philosophy4 ,anarchy shall destroy the adherents of philosophy with weapons of destruction1 and the learned and mighty colleges and universities 7garrisons7 shall go down in failure and ruin4 #bf3ab4 ,and they shall make a spoil of thy riches1 and make a prey of thy merchandise3 and they shall break down thy walls1 and destroy thy pleasant houses3 and they shall lay thy stones and thy timber and thy dust in the midst of the water4--,and the anarchists shall spoil the ideals 7riches71 and stop the teaching 7merchandise7 of philosophy2 they shall break down the defense of philosophy's adherents 7walls71 and destroy the pleasing philosophical organizations 7pleasant houses74 ,they shall engulf the believers 7stones7 and supporters 7timbers7 in the rising tide of anarchy4 #bf3ac4 ,and ,i will cause the noise of thy songs to cease2 and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard4--,and ,god will cause the noise of philosophy's siren songs1 her falsely pleasant teachings 7songs7 to cease2 and the utterance of her melodious books 7harps7 shall be no more heard forever4 #bf3ad4 ,and ,i will make thee like the top of a rock3 thou shalt be a place to spread nets upon2 thou shalt be built no more3 for ,i the ,lord have spoken it1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,philosophy1 falsely socalled1 shall be utterly desolated1 and shall be built up no more forever2 for ,jehovah ,god has spoken it4 #bf3ae4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god to ,tyrus2 ,shall not the isles shake at the sound of thy fall1 when the wounded cry1 when the slaughter is made in the midst of thee8--,the world will be full of revolutionary republics 7isles71 devoid of ,christian principles and following manmade ideas2 these republics shall be shaken to their foundations1 when anarchy begins its dread slaughter of men and of systems4 #bf3af4 ,then all the princes of the sea shall come down from their thrones1 and lay away their robes1 and put off their broidered garments3 they shall clothe themselves with trembling2 they shall sit upon the ground1 and shall tremble at every moment1 and be astonished at thee4--,then shall the rude rulers of the revolutionary1 halfanarchistic republics lose their positions of power 7thrones71 and lay aside their honors 7robes71 and discard their works of revolution 7broidered garments72 they shall be filled with dread and with trembling1 and shall marvel at the downfall of their socialistic and revolutionary philosophies4 #bf3ag4 ,and they shall take up a lamentation for thee1 and say to thee1 ,how art thou destroyed1 that wast inhabited of seafaring men1 the renowned city1 which wast strong in the sea1 she and her inhabitants1 which cause their terror to be on all that haunt it6--,they shall lament2 for the great systems of human philosophy shall be destroyed1 where abode polished cosmopolitan men of the world 7seafaring men71 the renowned system of thought which was strong among all peoples 7in the sea71 even in the midst of a world of restless1 discontented masses4 #bf3ah4 ,now shall the isles tremble in the day of thy fall2 yea1 the isles that are in the sea shall be troubled at thy departure4--,now shall the revolutionary republics 7isles7 tremble in the year of philosophy's downfall2 the republics in the midst of the anarchistic peoples 7sea7 shall be in trouble with the failure of the system of manmade philosophy4 #bf3ai4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,when ,i shall make thee a desolate city1 like the cities that are not inhabited2 when ,i shall bring up the deep upon thee1 and great waters shall cover thee4--,for ,god will utterly desolate philosophical teachings2 when ,he brings up the sea of anarchy upon them1 and engulfs them in the tidal wave4 #bf3bj4 ,when ,i shall bring thee down with them that descend into the pit1 with the people of old time1 and shall set thee in the low parts of the earth1 in places desolate of old1 with them that go down to the pit1 that thou be not inhabited2 and ,i shall set glory in the land of the living4--,god will bring human philosophy down to destruction1 without an adherent and in disgrace and reproach 7into the pit71 in order that ,he may establish ,his glorious truth in the ,kingdom of resurrection and of life4 #bf3ba4 ,i will make thee a terror1 and thou shalt be no more3 though thou be sought for1 yet shalt thou never be found again1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,god will make human philosophy a wasted1 desolated thing 7a terror72 never shall it exist any more2 though men and devils should seek to reestablish it1 never shall it be found again1 saith ,jehovah ,god4 ,ezekiel #bg--,philosophy's ,utter ,ruin #bg3a4 ,the ,word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying4--,in ,chapter #bg ,christendom1 regarded as an independent system of pagan philosophy1 is represented as a gallant ship4 ,its component parts are represented symbolically 7#bg3dg71 as are its mariners and pilots 7#bg3hi74 ,in verses #i to #be the figure reverts to a mercantile city1 and the sources of its articles of trade4 ,it is again pictured as a ship1 which is steered by its mariners into an angry sea1 and wrecked4--,verses #bf to #cf4 #bg3b4 ,now1 thou son of man1 take up a lamentation for ,tyrus4--,the manmade system of ,pagan philosophy must fall4 #bg3c4 ,and say unto ,tyrus1 ,o thou that art situate at the entry of the sea1 which art a merchant of the people for many isles1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god3 ,o ,tyrus1 thou hast said1 ,i am of perfect beauty4--,o ,christendom1 thou that hast the entree to the ears of the peoples 7sea71 which art a salesman 7merchant7 of philosophical doctrines for the people of many revolutionary republics1 thus says the ,lord ,god3 ,o ,christendom1 ecclesiasticism1 thou hast regarded thy pagan philosophies as perfect1 faultless and beautiful4 #bg3d4 ,thy borders are in the midst of the seas1 thy builders have perfected thy beauty4--,thou1 as an independent pagan religious organization or system1 belongest among the disobedient children 7sea7 of the world4 ,thy philosophers1 doctors of divinity1 professors and writers1 have perfected thy seemingly beautiful philosophy4 #bg3e4 ,they have made all thy ship boards of fir trees of ,senir2 they have taken cedars from ,lebanon to make masts for thee4--,they have made as thy fundamental supporters 7boards7 believers in everlasting human life 7firs1 evergreen trees71 in high stations in society 7,mount ,senir1 or ,hermon1 8pointed rock0 was in ,benjamin1 one of the ,hebrew tribes1 and type of the ,great ,company74 ,they have taken as the support 7masts7 of thy seeming righteousness 7linen sails7 earth's greatest men and the rulers1 believers in inherent immortality 7cedars71 picturing them as from the loftiest1 purest sources4 7,lebanon1 a great mountain range1 means 8white1 snowy4074 #bg3f4 ,of the oaks of ,bashan have they made thine oars2 the company of the ,ashurites have made thy benches of ivory1 brought out of the isles of ,chittim4--,the prominent tares1 leaders 7oaks71 whom other tares follow and worship1 and who are fruitful in producing more tares 7,bashan means fruitful71 are the mechanism 7oars7 for making thee move and progress among the people4 ,the company of freethinkers 7,ashurite means freemen7 have made thy white 7supposedly righteous7 seats 7ivory signifies dreams--of immediate spirit life when they die7 to be the seats 7seats of the mighty71 of the rowers who work the oars4 #bg3g4 ,fine linen with broidered work from ,egypt was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail2 blue and purple from the isles of ,elishah was that which covered thee4--,thy ensigns1 banners1 sails1 over thee1 to be driven by the winds of error1 are false righteousness 7linen71 with innumerable works of selfrighteousness 7broidered work71 and of worldliness 7,egypt72 thou wast covered with the faithfulness 7blue7 and royalty 7purple7 of the worst of earth's pagan peoples 7,elishah1 descended from ,javan1 ,european1 the most cruel and ferocious people of earth1 as shown by their history1 including this furious worldwar47 #bg3h4 ,the inhabitants of ,zidon and ,arvad were thy mariners2 thy wise men1 ,o ,tyrus1 that were in thee1 were thy pilots4--,the adherents of the belong toachurch or gotohell idea 7,zidon meant 8fortress10 and the idea is the fortress of ecclesiasticism71 and the supporters of the falsely comforting refuge of ,platonic immortality of the soul 7,arvad means refuge1 and ,platonic heathen philosophy is the refuge of philosophic ,christendom7 were thy mariners1 the ones who 8worked0 thy oars2 thy philosophers 7wise ones71 from ,plato to ,nietsche1 charted thy evil course1 and were the real 8skypilots0 for the rowers to row by4 #bg3i4 ,the ancients of ,gebal and the wise men thereof were in thee thy calkers2 all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in thee to occupy thy merchandise4--,the doctors of divinity 7ancients of ,gebal7 7,psa4 #hc3g7 and the creed builders said enough on both sides of any question for theological authorities 7calkers7 to keep the people 7sea7 from getting on the inside1 or having any real participation in thy affairs4 ,in the middle of verse #i the figure changes back to that of the prosperous mercantile city that ,tyre was4 ,all the independent religious and philosophical churches and other organizations 7ships7 of the sea 7peoples and nations7 with their skypilots 7mariners7 were in thee1 ,o ,christendom1 thou aggregation of confused and contradictory philosophies1 to receive1 hold and disseminate thy teachings1 doctrines1 traditions1 fables and philosophies 7merchandise74 #bg3aj4 ,they of ,persia and of ,lud and of ,phut were in thine army1 thy men of war2 they hanged the shield and helmet in thee2 they set forth thy comeliness4--,believers in the hellfire superstition 7,persians were fire worshippers71 and middlecourse1 conservative worldly men of sin 7the people of ,lud and ,phut were darkskinned men1 living probably west of ,egypt1 type of worldly compromisers with sin7 were in thine army1 those that fight the bad fight of error for thee2 in thee they hung the shield of credulity 7faith7 and the helmet of a false salvation2 they extolled the loveliness of thy philosophy4 #bg3aa4 ,the men of ,arvad with thine army were upon thy walls round about1 and the ,gammadim were in thy towers2 they hanged their shields upon thy walls round about2 they have made thy beauty perfect4--,the believers in human immortality1 thy philosophic refuge 7,arvad means 8refuge07 with thine army just mentioned were the wall of thy defense and thy watchmen1 college professors1 economists 7the ,gammadim are thought to mean watchmen or guards7 were in thy watch towers2 upon thy walls1 in the minds of thy supporters 7walls7 they hanged their shields of credulity2 they have made thy philosophies and sophistries seem perfectly beautiful4 #bg3ab4 ,tarshish was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of all kinds of riches2 with silver1 iron1 tin1 and lead1 they traded in thy fairs4--,thy preachers 7merchants1 trading in philosophy for gain7 were a hard proposition 7,tarshish means hard71 with an abundant supply of teachings regarded worth while by the world2 with worldly truth--silver--with strong earthly authority--iron--with actually worthless philosophies 7tin was as the dross of silver7 and with downright wicked doctrines 7lead symbolized wickedness--,zech4 #e3gh7 they taught and preached 7traded7 in thy preaching places 7fairs74 #bg3ac4 ,javan1 ,tubal1 and ,meshech1 they were thy merchants3 they traded the persons of men and vessels of brass in thy market4--,believers in ,greek philosophy 7,javan represented the ,greek race71 and believers in the most farfetched and uncouth ideas1 such as monkeyborn evolution 7,tubal and ,meshech were the remotest and rudest of nations71 were thy preachers 7merchants74 ,they sold men into bondage to sin1 and presented teachings of human perfection 7brass7 attainable otherwise than through ,christ4 ,brass should be translated copper1 and signifies perfect human nature4--,t4 #ah4 #bg3ad4 ,they of the house of ,togarmah traded in thy fairs with horses and horsemen and mules4--,the representatives of the rudest and crudest ideas 7,togarmah7 preached in thy churches with doctrines 7horses7 and with followers of the doctrines and with mixed human and spirit nature ideas 7mules74 #bg3ae4 ,the men of ,dedan were thy merchants2 many isles were the merchandise of thine hand3 they brought thee for a present1 horns of ivory and ebony4--,men of low ideals 7,dedan means low7 were thy preachers2 many revolutionary republics 7islands7 were thy preaching places2 they presented thee with dreams1 visions 7ivory7 of power 7horns71 good and bad 7ebony74 #bg3af4 ,syria was thy merchant by reason of the multitude of the wares of thy making3 they occupied in thy fairs with emeralds1 purple1 and broidered work1 and flat linen1 and coral1 and agate4--,believers in doctrines of lofty selfrighteousness 7,syria signifies high land7 were thy preachers2 they traded for gain in philosophies of eternal life 7emeralds7 without ,christ's purchase1 with teachings of selfkingship 7purple71 with works of selfmastery 7broidered work71 with selfrighteousness 7linen71 with an imitation ransom 7red coral71 and imitation character jewels 7agate74 #bg3ag4 ,judah1 and the land of ,israel1 they were thy merchants3 they traded in thy market wheat of ,minnith1 and ,pannag1 and honey1 and oil1 and balm4--,with thine errors were mingled ,god's ,truth to make up thy mixed doctrines4 ,some of thy preachers were really believers in the ,bible 7of ,judah and ,israel71 taught the wholesome spiritual ,bible truths 7wheat71 good teachings for the natural man 7,pannag means millet71 and teachings about ,christ's ,second ,coming 7honey71 the anointing oil of the ,holy ,spirit 7,rev4 #aj3i1 #aj71 and the balm of the comfort of the ,word of ,god4--,rom4 #ae3d4 #bg3ah4 ,damascus was thy merchant in the multitude of the wares of thy making1 for the multitude of all riches2 in the wine of ,helbon1 and white wool4--,thy preachers 7merchants7 were among the chiefest of the lofty1 selfrighteous1 lordly ones 7,damascus was capital of ,syria1 the high land71 trading in all varieties of thy doctrines and philosophies1 especially the mixed doctrines 7wine7 of earthly prosperity 7,helbon1 fruitfulness7 and in natural human righteousness 7white wool74 #bg3ai4 ,dan also and ,javan going to and fro occupied in thy fairs3 bright iron1 cassia1 and calamus1 were in thy market4--,apostate ,christians 7,dan was the seat of idolatry and types a class once spiritbegotten but fallen away7 and ,grecian pagans 7,javan represented the ,greeks7 preached in thy church gatherings2 lordship1 authority 7iron71 the claim of apostolic authority 7cassia1 deputyship71 and a claimed knowledge of the ,bible 7calamus7 were in thy churches 7markets74 #bg3bj4 ,dedan was thy merchant in precious clothes for chariots4--,preachers of low ideals 7,dedan1 low7 preached that thy church organizations 7chariots7 should be made presentable by being robed in the embroidery of many works1 church fairs and suppers1 institutional work1 and civic and social service 7chariot clothes or robes74 #bg3ba4 ,arabia1 and all the princes of ,kedar1 they occupied with thee in lambs1 and rams1 and goats3 in these were they thy merchants4--,thy preachers1 with claims of consecration1 separateness 7,arabia1 wilderness71 and all the powerful right reverends1 fathers1 and other lords 7,kedar1 powerful71 they traded 7exchanged from one church to another7 their converts 7lambs71 old church members 7rams71 and outandout tares 7goats74 #bg3bb4 ,the merchants of ,sheba and ,raamah1 they were thy merchants3 they occupied in thy fairs with chief of all spices1 and with all precious stones1 and gold4--,the preachers in captivity 7,sheba1 captivity7 to ,satan1 and those who tremble at ,satan's word 7,raamah1 trembling7 set forth a counterfeit of the ,holy ,spirit 7principal spices1 ,exodus #cj3bc71 all kinds and degrees of selfdevelopment of character 7precious stones71 and the alleged inherent spark of the ,divine 767 in man 7gold74 #bg3bc4 ,haran1 and ,canneh1 and ,eden1 the merchants of ,sheba1 ,asshur1 and ,chilmad1 were thy merchants4--,the preachers of ,new ,thought1 ,theosophy1 ,christian ,science and other phases of ,spiritism1 selfstyled1 strong and enlightened 7,haran71 set up and distinguished 7,canneh71 and believers in delightful delusions 7,eden1 delight71 are in captivity 7,sheba1 captivity7 to ,satan1 and really without hope of ,kingdom honors 7,chilmad1 level1 plain1 without mountains74 #bg3bd4 ,these were thy merchants in all sorts of things1 in blue clothes1 and broidered work1 and in chests of rich apparel1 bound with cords1 and made of cedar1 among thy merchandise4--,these selfreliance preachers set forth the robes of a counterfeit faithfulness 7blue71 fruitless works of selfimprovement 7broidered work71 and organizations 7chests7 offering an imitation righteousness 7rich apparel71 bound with cords of freethought love and a delusive hope1 and represented as having eternal life 7cedar74 #bg3be4 ,the ships of ,tarshish did sing of thee in thy market3 and thou wast replenished1 and made very glorious in the midst of the seas4--,the mighty independent religious sects 7ships of ,tarshish--,isa4 #c3af7 did preach of thy philosophies and thou wast richly supported 7replenished7 and made of great reputation 7glorious7 among the peoples and nations 7seas74 #bg3bf4 ,thy rowers have brought thee into great waters3 the east wind hath broken thee in the midst of the seas4--,the picture changes back to a gallant ship4 ,thy strong preachers 7rowers7 have steered thee into angry seas 7anarchy72 the doctrines 7winds7 from the presence of ,christ the ,sun of ,righteousness 7east wind7 have broken thy power in the midst of a time of anarchy 7seas74 #bg3bg4 ,thy riches1 and thy fairs1 thy merchandise1 thy mariners1 and thy pilots1 thy calkers1 and the occupiers of thy merchandise1 and all thy men of war1 that are in thee1 and in all thy company which is in the midst of thee1 shall fall into the midst of the seas in the day of thy ruin4--,thy philosophies1 thy churches1 thy doctrines1 thy preachers1 thy philosophers1 thy ,doctors of ,divinity 7skypilots71 thy church members1 all thy church workers1 and all the multitude that come to church1 shall fall in the anarchy in the day of thy ruin4 #bg3bh4 ,the suburbs shall shake at the sound of the cry of thy pilots4--,those affiliated with thee shall quake at the shoutings and threatenings of thy skypilots4 #bg3bi4 ,and all that handle the oar1 the mariners1 and all the pilots of the sea1 shall come down from their ships1 they shall stand upon the land4--,all those that work1 the influential church members1 the preachers1 and all the skypilots of the anarchistic masses 7sea7 7,rev4 #ah3agah71 shall abandon their independent organizations or their heathen religions1 and shall try to find more solid ground to stand on than thou wast on4 #bg3cj4 ,and shall cause their voice to be heard against thee1 and shall cry bitterly1 and shall cast up dust upon their heads1 they shall wallow themselves in the ashes4--,they shall speak against thee1 and cry out with bitterness against thee1 they shall show signs of grief4 #bg3ca4 ,and they shall make themselves utterly bald for thee1 and gird them with sackcloth1 and they shall weep for thee with bitterness of heart and bitter wailing4--,it was a custom in ancient times for those who had suffered great calamities to shave their heads4 ,the ,lord promises such an occasion for weeping to ,zion1 ,his professed people4--,isa4 #c3bd4 #bg3cb4 ,and in their wailing they shall take up a lamentation for thee1 and lament over thee1 saying1 ,what city is like ,tyrus1 like the destroyed in the midst of the sea8--,in their bemoaning the downfall of socalled 8,christian philosophy0 they shall lament over thee1 saying1 ,what organization was ever like ,christendom1 like her who has been destroyed in anarchy8 #bg3cc4 ,when thy wares went forth out of the seas1 thou filledst many people2 thou didst enrich the kings of the earth with the multitude of thy riches and of thy merchandise4--,when thy philosophies were accepted by the masses1 thou didst satisfy many people4 ,thou didst enrich materially and mentally the rulers and the clergylords of society with thy innumerable philosophies and thy doctrines4 #bg3cd4 ,in the time when thou shalt be broken by the seas in the depths of the waters1 thy merchandise and all thy company in the midst of thee shall fall4--,when thou shalt be broken and engulfed in the roaring waves of anarchy1 thy doctrines shall cease and all thy supporters shall fall4 #bg3ce4 ,all the inhabitants of the isles shall be astonished at thee1 and their kings shall be sore afraid1 they shall be troubled in their countenance4--,all the people of the revolutionary republics shall marvel at thy fall1 and the rulers of that brief era shall be troubled and afraid of meeting thy fate in the anarchy4 #bg3cf4 ,the merchants among the people shall hiss at thee2 thou shalt be a terror1 and never shalt be any more4--,the preachers 7merchants7 then taking their place among the unbelieving masses shall scoff at thee2 thou shalt be a 8wornout and wasted thing0 7literal7 and never shalt thou exist any more4 ,o bliss of the purified6 bliss of the free6 ,i plunge in the crimson tide opened for me2 ,o'er sin and uncleanness exulting ,i stand1 ,and point to the print of the nails in ,his hand4 ,o bliss of the purified6 ,jesus is mine2 ,no longer in dread condemnation ,i pine2 ,in conscious salvation1 ,i sing of ,his grace1 ,who lifteth upon me the light of ,his face4 ,o ,jesus1 the crucified6 thee will ,i sing1 ,my blessed ,redeemer1 my ,god and my ,king2 ,my soul filled with rapture shall shout o'er the grave1 ,and triumph o'er death in the 8,mighty to save40 ,ezekiel #bh--;,destruction ,of ,the ,devil #bh3a4 ,the ,word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying4--,chapter #bh3aaj depicts the destruction of priestcraft by the sword of revolution and anarchy and by the ,sword of the ,spirit1 the ,word of ,god4 #bh3b4 ,son of man1 say unto the prince of ,tyrus1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because thine heart is lifted up1 and thou hast said1 ,i am a god1 ,i sit in the seat of ,god1 in the midst of the seas2 yet thou art a man1 and not ,god1 though thou set thine heart as the heart of ,god4--,to the exalted class1 the clergy 7prince7 of ,christendom1 as a system of paganized philosophy3 ,because of thy pride of heart1 thou hast said through thy chief representative1 the ,pope of ,rome1 ,i am as a god1 ,i am the vice gerent of ,jehovah1 my seat is 8upon many waters0 7,rev4 #ag3a71 upon 8peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues0 7,rev4 #ag3ae71 yet thou art manmade1 manordained1 and not of ,god1 not ,divinely ordained1 even though thou set thine heart to pose before the people as ,divinely ordained4 #bh3c4 ,behold1 thou art wiser than ,daniel2 there is no secret that they can hide from thee4--,behold1 thou thinkest that thou art wiser than ,daniel 7,z4 '#jebhj72 that through supposed ,divine inspiration1 the confessional and the universal clergyspy system1 there is nothing in ,heaven or earth which thou dost not know4 #bh3d4 ,with thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches1 and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures4--,with thy false philosophy and thy misunderstanding thou hast acquired riches1 much gold and silver into thy treasury--many1 too1 of both ,little ,flock 7gold7 and ,great ,company 7silver7 into bondage4 #bh3e4 ,by thy great wisdom and by thy traffick has thou increased thy riches1 and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches4--,by scientific suppositions of infidel ,evolution and ,higher ,criticism1 and by good salesmanship of these worthless goods1 thou hast heaped up wealth2 and thou hast become proud1 because of thy riches of materials1 doctrines and membership4 #bh3f4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of ,god4--,therefore ,jehovah says1 ,because thou hast set thyself up in pride to be as ,god1 claiming to represent ,him on earth as ,god's vicegerent4 #bh3g4 ,behold1 therefore ,i will bring strangers upon thee1 the terrible of the nations3 and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom1 and they shall defile thy brightness4--,i will bring upon thee paganized anarchists1 strangers to thy theories1 the terror of the nations--and also ,my pilgrims and strangers1 the sons of ,god1 those whom thy philosophy dreadest2 and the anarchists shall turn their weapons of destruction against thee1 and the sons of ,god shall smite with the ,sword of the ,spirit thy falsely beautiful philosophy1 and shall expose the real pollution of thy wisdom4 #bh3h4 ,they shall bring thee down to the pit1 and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the sea4--,they shall bring thee down to a dishonored oblivion1 and materially and religiously thou shalt die the deaths of those slain in the roaring waves of anarchy4 #bh3i4 ,wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee1 ,i am ,god8 but thou shalt be a man1 and no ,god1 in the hand of him that slayeth thee4--,though thou sayest to the anarchy that shall slay thee materially and to ,him that shall destroy thee religiously1 8,i represent ,god60--yet thou shalt be seen to be manmade and not ordained by ,god1 in the power of the destroyer appointed by ,jehovah4 #bh3aj4 ,thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers3 for ,i have spoken it1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,thou shalt die the deaths of the wicked by the hand of the anarchists1 and be destroyed religiously as one of unclean conscience 7uncircumcised7 at the hand of the sons of ,god1 ,my strangers and pilgrims in the earth 7#a ,pet4 #a3a72 for ,jehovah hath spoken it4 #bh3aa4 ,moreover the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying4--,verses #aa to #bf deal with the destruction of the ,devil1 pictured as the ,king of ,tyrus4 #bh3ab4 ,son of man1 take up a lamentation upon the ,king of ,tyrus1 and say unto him1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,thou sealest up the sum1 full of wisdom and perfect in beauty4--,satan1 the ,devil1 the father of lies and king over ,christendom's system of pagan philosophy1 is by nature the summation of perfection1 the personification of ,wisdom 7,wisdom was one of the cherubs7 and by nature perfect in the beauty of holiness4--,z4 '#jcace4 #bh3ac4 ,thou hast been in ,eden the garden of ,god2 every precious stone was thy covering3 the sardius1 topaz1 and the diamond1 the beryl1 the onyx1 and the jasper1 the sapphire1 the emerald1 and the carbuncle1 and gold3 the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created4--,thou wast in the garden of ,eden at the fall of man4 ,every good fruit of character wast thine adornment 7,rev4 #ba3ahba72 with this perfection of character endowment thou wast created4 #bh3ad4 ,thou art the anointed cherub that covereth2 and ,i have set thee so2 thou wast upon the ,holy mountain of ,god2 thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire4--,before thy fall thou wast appointed the caretaker 7coverer7 of the innocent pair in ,eden4 ,thou wast the embodiment of ,wisdom 7cherub71 and endowed with the ,holy ,spirit 7anointed72 and ,i so made thee4 ,thou wast in high position in the holy heavenly ,kingdom of ,god 7,eph4 #f3ab72 thou hast had thy course of life among ,god's holy angels 7,isa4 #ad3ac7--stars1 fiery stones4 #bh3ae1 #af4 ,thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created1 till iniquity was found in thee4 ,by the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence1 and thou hast sinned3 therefore ,i will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of ,god3 and ,i will destroy thee1 ,o covering cherub1 from the midst of the stones of fire4--,by their multitudinous trading in mixed doctrines 7merchandise7 8for revenue only0 thy adherents1 demons and clergy1 have filled thy following with violence and warfare2 and thou hast sinned unto death4 ,therefore ,i will cast thee as polluted out of the ,kingdom of ,god 7,a4 #cah72 and ,i will destroy thee from amongst ,my holy angels4 #bh3ag4 ,thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty1 thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness2 ,i will cast thee to the ground1 ,i will lay thee before kings1 that they may behold thee4--,thou becamest proud because of thine endowment of beauteous character4 ,thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy conceited teaching of counterfeit wisdom 7brightness72 ,i will humble thee to the dust1 and expose thy real character4 #bh3ah4 ,thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities1 by the iniquity of thy traffick3 therefore will ,i bring forth a fire from the midst of thee1 it shall devour thee1 and ,i will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee4--,thou hast defiled the churches of ,christendom by thine iniquitous doctrines and the teaching of them4 ,therefore ,i will utterly destroy thee with annihilation1 and thy following with anarchy1 in the sight of all that behold thee1 in ,heaven and on earth4 #bh3ai4 ,all they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee3 thou shalt be a terror1 and never shalt thou be any more4--,all shall marvel at thy destruction2 thou shall become wasted1 devastated 7a terror71 and never shalt thou exist any more4 #bh3bj4 ,again the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1--,verses #bj to #bf relate to the destruction of organized ,churchianity4 #bh3ba4 ,son of man1 set thy face against ,zidon1 and prophesy against it4--,zidon meant 8fortress02 and the fortress of churchianity since the third century ,a4 ,d4 has been the doctrine that1 to be saved1 men must belong to a church organization4 ,the ,king of ,zidon typed the ,devil4 #bh3bb4 ,and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against thee1 ,o ,zidon2 and ,i will be glorified in the midst of thee2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i shall have executed judgments in her1 and shall be sanctified in her4--,god says1 ,i am against thee1 organized churchianity1 and ,i will be glorified and made holy in thee1 only when ,i have executed retribution and justice upon thee4 #bh3bc4 ,for ,i will send into her pestilence1 and blood into her streets2 and the wounded shall be judged in the midst of her by the sword upon her on every side2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,for ,i will afflict thee with literal and spiritual sickness and death 7shed blood74 #bh3bd4 ,and there shall be no more a pricking brier unto the house of ,israel1 nor any grievous thorn of all that are round about them1 that despised them2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord ,god4--,the adherents to the churchorganization idea have persecuted and dispersed both ,jews and ,christians1 but they shall do so no more4 #bh3be1 #bf4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,when ,i shall have gathered the house of ,israel from the people among whom they are scattered1 and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen1 then shall they dwell in their land that ,i have given to ,my servant ,jacob4 ,and they shall dwell safely therein1 and shall build houses1 and plant vineyards2 yea1 they shall dwell with confidence1 when ,i have executed judgments upon all those that despise them round about them2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord their ,god4--,the ,jews shall enjoy ,god's earthly blessings1 and the true ,christians ,his ,heavenly blessings1 when ,he has executed justly earned judgments upon the people that have adhered to or taught the belongtoa churchorgotohell idea4--,z4 '#idgf4 ,ezekiel #bi--,the ,egyptians ,a ,type #bi3a4 ,in the tenth year1 in the tenth month1 in the twelfth day of the month1 the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying4--,chapters #bi to #cb are directed against ,egypt1 its king and people1 and against the surrounding peoples4 ,egypt was divided into ,upper and ,lower ,egypt1 and was known as ,mizraim1 which meant 8,middle ,country10 and typed organized1 entrenched and enthroned middlecourse worldliness4 ,the word ,egypt means 8that binds or oppresses10 and signifies the bondage of the ,lord's people to the oppressive1 enslaving spirit of the world--the spirit that slew our ,lord 7,rev4 #aa3h71 and has enslaved and slain millions of ,god's saints4 ,chapter #bi3ag represents worldliness as a crocodile1 the dragon of ,revelation #ab3c1 etc4 #bi3b4 ,son of man1 set thy face against ,pharaoh1 king of ,egypt1 and prophesy against him1 and against all ,egypt4--,this message is against ,satan1 the ,devil1 the king of this present evil world1 and against all worldliness4 #bi3c4 ,speak1 and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against thee1 ,pharaoh king of ,egypt1 the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers1 which hath said4 ,my river is mine own1 and ,i have made it for myself4--,jehovah says1 ,i am against thee1 ,satan 7,pharaoh means the sun1 the god of the sun worshipper1 the ,devil71 the great wicked dragon1 also called ,pagan ,rome 7later ,papal ,rome71 that dwells in the midst of the church denominations 7rivers1 channels of ,truth71 and says1 ,the church system is mine own1 and ,i 7not ,god7 made it for my own purposes4 #bi3d4 ,but ,i will put hooks in thy jaws1 and ,i will cause the fish of thy rivers to stick unto thy scales1 and ,i will bring thee up out of the midst of thy rivers1 and all the fish of thy rivers shall stick unto thy scales4--,god will bind thy utterances 7jaws7 with a chain 7hook means chain or ring7 7,rev4 #bj3a71 and will cause thy active worldly church members and other adherents in thy churches 7rivers7 to adhere to thy protecting doctrines 7scales7 and will alienate thy churches from thee 7corresponds to drying up ,euphrates7 and from all thy active supporters4 #bi3e4 ,and ,i will leave thee thrown into the wilderness1 thee and all the fish of thy rivers3 thou shalt fall upon the open fields2 thou shalt not be brought together1 nor gathered3 ,i have given thee for meat to the beasts of the field and to the fowls of the heaven4--,and ,i will cause thee to be forsaken 7in the wilderness71 thee and all thy adherents 7fish74 ,thou shalt fall unprotected into the hands of a cold1 cruel world 7open fields71 not to be established again in power1 but to be destroyed by the evil revolutionary governments 7beasts7 of the world 7field71 in world wide revolution1 and by wicked criminals1 jail birds 7fowls7 and anarchists4 #bi3f4 ,and the inhabitants of ,egypt shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 because they have been a staff of reed to the house of ,israel4--,the worldly people who have been no real support to either ,jews or true ,christians 7,isa4 #cf3f2 ,z4 '#ieadd71 shall realize that ,jehovah is the ,lord4 #bi3g4 ,when they took hold of thee by thy hand1 thou didst break1 and rend all their shoulder3 and when they leaned upon thee1 thou brakest1 and madest all their loins to be at a stand4--,when they in their weakness sought some aid of thee1 thou didst roughly abuse them2 and didst try to destroy them in persecution4 #bi3h1 #i4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i will bring a sword upon thee1 and cut off man and beast out of thee4 ,and the land of ,egypt shall be desolate and waste2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord3 because he hath said1 ,the river is mine1 and ,i have made it4--,and worldliness shall be destroyed1 and the people shall know ,jehovah as ,he is2 because ,satan said1 ,the churches are mine4 #bi3aj4 ,behold1 therefore ,i am against thee1 and against thy rivers1 and ,i will make the land of ,egypt utterly waste and desolate1 from the tower of ,syene even unto the border of ,ethiopia4--,i am against thee and thy churches1 and will utterly destroy worldliness from end to end4 #bi3aa1 #ab4 ,no foot of man shall pass through it1 nor foot of beast shall pass through it1 neither shall it be inhabited forty years4 ,and ,i will make the land of ,egypt desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate1 and her cities among the cities that are laid waste shall be desolate forty years3 and ,i will scatter the ,egyptians among the nations1 and will disperse them through the countries4--,christendom shall be uninhabited and desolate for forty years after its devastation4 #bi3ac4 ,yet thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,at the end of forty years will ,i gather the ,egyptians from the people whither they were scattered4--,after forty years ,god will gather into the ,kingdom the scattered worldly people4 #bi3ad4 ,and ,i will bring again the captivity of ,egypt1 and will cause them to return into the land of ,pathros1 into the land of their habitation2 and they shall be there a base kingdom4--,and will bring them back from the dead into their own country1 where they shall be insignificant4 #bi3ae4 ,it shall be the basest of the kingdoms2 neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations3 for ,i will diminish them1 that they shall no more rule over the nations4--,this has been literally fulfilled upon ,egypt1 which for many centuries has not enjoyed selfgovernment4 #bi3af4 ,and it shall be no more the confidence of the house of ,israel1 which bringeth their iniquity to remembrance1 when they shall look after them3 but they shall know that ,i am the ,lord ,god4--,neither ,jews nor ,christians shall ever again look to the worldly people 7,egypt71 7,isa4 #cj3ae7 for help2 for the sight of the worldly will make them remember ,christendom's iniquity4 #bi3ag1 #ah4 ,and it came to pass in the seven and twentieth year1 in the first month1 in the first day of the month1 the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 ,nebuchadrezzar king of ,babylon caused his army to serve a great service against ,tyrus3 every head was made bald1 and every shoulder was peeled3 yet had he no wages1 nor his army1 for ,tyrus1 for the service that he had served against it4--,the forces of anarchy's king1 the ,devil1 will perform a great service in the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages1 but there will be nothing in it for the anarchists4 #bi3ai4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i will give the land of ,egypt unto ,nebuchadrezzar king of ,babylon2 and he shall take her multitude1 and take her spoil1 and take her prey2 and it shall be the wages of his army4--,jehovah will give worldly ,christendom to anarchy3 and this shall be the material reward of the forces of anarchy4 #bi3bj4 ,i have given him the land of ,egypt for his labour wherewith he served against it1 because they wrought for ,me1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,god will give worldly ,christendom to anarchy1 for its labor in serving the interests of ,god's plans against pagan religion masquerading as ,christendom1 because in doing so anarchy will do its part4 #bi3ba4 ,in that day will ,i cause the horn of the house of ,israel to bud forth1 and ,i will give thee the opening of the mouth in the midst of them2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,during the ,time of ,trouble ,god will cause the power 7,t4 #db7 of the ,jews to bud forth in ,zionism1 and make known the glad tidings of the ,kingdom1 taught in ,studies in the ,scriptures4--,isa4 #ai3abe4 ,ezekiel #cj--,pharaoh's ,two ,arms ,broken #cj3a1 #b4 ,the ,word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying1 ,son of ,man1 prophesy and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,howl ye1 ,woe worth the day4--,thus saith ,jehovah3 ,weep1 and cry6 ,o woeful day6 #cj3c4 ,for the day is near1 even the day of the ,lord is near1 a cloudy day2 it shall be the time of the heathen4--,the day is near1 the day of ,jehovah1 a gloomy day--the time of infidel anarchy6--,joel #a3ae2 ,zeph4 #a3g4 #cj3d4 ,and the sword shall come upon ,egypt1 and great pain shall be in ,ethiopia1 when the slain shall fall in ,egypt1 and they shall take away her multitude1 and her foundations shall be broken down4--,the weapons of anarchy and the ,sword of the ,spirit shall come against worldly ,christendom4 ,great distress shall be upon nonchurch members 7,ethiopia1 black7 socialists1 laborites and revolutionists1 when ,christendom's slain shall fall literally and spiritually1 when her multitude shall abandon her1 and when her foundations--social1 economic1 moral and religious--shall be broken down in war1 revolution and anarchy4 #cj3e4 ,ethiopia1 and ,libya1 and ,lydia1 and all the mingled people1 and ,chub1 and the men of the land that is in league1 shall fall with them by the sword4--,the worst peoples1 darker religiously and morally--the socialists1 laborites and revolutionists1 in touch with worldly ,christendom--shall fall with ,christendom by literal weapons and by the ,word of ,god4 #cj3f4 ,thus saith the ,lord2 ,they also that uphold ,egypt shall fall2 and the pride of her power shall come down3 from the tower of ,syene shall they fall in it by the sword1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,all supporters of worldly ,christendom shall fall2 her pride of power shall be humbled2 from end to end of ,christendom shall they fall4 #cj3g4 ,and they shall be desolate in the midst of the countries that are desolate1 and her cities shall be in the midst of the cities that are wasted4--,worldly ,christendom shall be utterly desolated4 #cj3h4 ,and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i have set a fire in ,egypt1 and when all her helpers shall be destroyed4--,they shall know that ,jehovah permitted anarchy to start in ,christendom1 and will recognize ,him1 when they see that all their helpers are destroyed4 #cj3i4 ,in that day shall messengers go forth from me in ships to make the careless ,ethiopians afraid1 and great pain shall come upon them1 as in the day of ,egypt3 for1 lo1 it cometh4--,at the time of ,christendom's fall1 the message from ,god shall be borne by independent religious organizations to the tooconfident socialists1 laborites1 and revolutionists that shall make them afraid of anarchy1 and great distress shall ensue upon them1 as in ,christendom's fall4 #cj3aj4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will also make the multitude of ,egypt to cease by the hand of ,nebuchadrezzar king of ,babylon4--,god will make the multitude of adherents to worldly ,christendom to cease adhering to her1 by the power of revolution and anarchy and their instigator1 the ,devil4 #cj3aa4 ,he and his people with him1 the terrible of the nations1 shall be brought to destroy the land3 and they shall draw their swords against ,egypt1 and fill the land with the slain4--,satan and his followers--devils and humans--the most terrible of all the nations--the anarchists--shall destroy ,christendom's worldly order of things4 ,they shall attack ,christendom with their weapons and fill the land with their slain--as will the ,sword of the ,spirit with those slain spiritually4 #cj3ab4 ,and ,i will make the rivers dry1 and sell the land into the hand of the wicked3 and ,i will make the land waste1 and all that is therein1 by the hand of strangers3 ,i the ,lord have spoken it4--,god will cause the denominations to become dry of members and of money1 will give the order of things over into the power of the wicked anarchists1 and will desolate ,christendom's order of things and all belonging to it1 literally by the power of anarchists1 strangers to the existing order of things1 and spiritually by the sons of ,god4 #cj3ac4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will also destroy the idols1 and ,i will cause their images to cease out of ,noph2 and there shall be no more a prince of the land of ,egypt3 and ,i will put a fear in the land of ,egypt4--,god will destroy ,christendom's idols of love of gold1 power1 etc 7,jer4 #dc3ab1 #ac71 and will cause these gods to cease among the more prosperous people of ,christendom 7,noph was the ,delta and richer part of ,egypt72 and there shall be no more an exalted class1 a worldly clergy class1 in ,christendom2 but ,god will put in her fear and failing of heart4 #cj3ad4 ,and ,i will make ,pathros desolate1 and will set fire in ,zoan1 and will execute judgments in ,no4--,god will make the upper classes 7,pathros1 upper ,egypt71 desolate1 will permit anarchy and destruction to start among them 7,zoan1 capital of ,egypt71 and will execute retributive judgments upon the leaders of the upper classes 7,no1 capital of ,upper ,egypt74 #cj3ae4 ,and ,i will pour ,my fury upon ,sin1 the strength of ,egypt2 and ,i will cut off the multitude of ,no4--,god will pour ,his fury upon ,papacy1 the strength of worldly ,christendom1 and will cut off the multitudes that support the upper classes4 #cj3af4 ,and ,i will set fire in ,egypt3 ,sin shall have great pain1 and ,no shall be rent asunder1 and ,noph shall have distresses daily4--,god will let anarchy start in ,christendom4 ,papacy shall have great distress2 the upper classes shall be rent asunder1 and the lower classes shall suffer daily distress4 #cj3ag4 ,the young men of ,aven and of ,pibeseth shall fall by the sword3 and these cities shall go into captivity4--,the young men who follow ,christendom's vain show 7,aven1 vanity71 and her honors 7,pibeseth1 very exalted71 shall fall by the sword of anarchy2 for these things shall come to their end in anarchy4 #cj3ah1 #ai4 ,at ,tehaphnehes also the day shall be darkened1 when ,i shall break there the yokes of ,egypt3 and the pomp of her strength shall cease in her3 as for her1 a cloud shall cover her1 and her daughters shall go into captivity4 ,thus will ,i execute judgments in ,egypt3 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,for the lower classes also 7,tehaphnehes1 in ,lower ,egypt71 it shall be a dark day when ,god breaks the bondage imposed by worldly ,christendom4 ,her pompous power shall cease4 ,a cloud of trouble shall cover her1 and her churches 7daughters7 shall be taken and lost in anarchy4 #cj3bj1 #ba4 ,and it came to pass in the eleventh year1 in the first month1 in the seventh day of the month1 that the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 ,i have broken the arm of ,pharaoh king of ,egypt2 and1 lo1 it shall not be bound up to be healed1 to put a roller to bind it1 to make it strong to hold the sword4--,ecclesiasticism1 ,satan's right arm shall be broken1 never to be healed4 ,the ,lord's time for their punishment has come4 #cj3bb4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against ,pharaoh king of ,egypt1 and will break his arms1 the strong1 and that which was broken2 and ,i will cause the sword to fall out of his hand4--,god is against ,satan1 the mighty king of worldliness1 and will break also the civil powers1 and make him powerless to use his sword4 #cj3bc4 ,and ,i will scatter the ,egyptians among the nations1 and will disperse them through the countries4--,god will scatter the worldly people among the anarchists4 #cj3bd4 ,and ,i will strengthen the arms of the king of ,babylon1 and put ,my ,sword in his hand3 but ,i will break ,pharaoh's arms1 and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man4--,god will strengthen the civil and philosophic 7infidel1 anarchistic religions7 powers of ,anarchy2 and anarchy shall both use the ,bible 7,god's ,sword7 and shall wield the sword of earthly weapons1 as ,his own sword2 and this evil order of things1 with powers broken down1 shall utter its dying groans of distress4 #cj3be4 ,but ,i will strengthen the arms of the king of ,babylon1 and the arms of ,pharaoh shall fall down2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i shall put ,my sword into the hand of the king of ,babylon1 and he shall stretch it out upon the land of ,egypt4--,but this order of things1 with powers broken1 and the anarchistic state of affairs with strengthened power1 shall realize that it is of ,jehovah's might1 when anarchy grows in power and attacks the existing order of things4 #cj3bf4 ,and ,i will scatter the ,egyptians among the nations1 and disperse them among the countries2 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,and the worldly peoples scattered everywhere1 shall by the fulfillment of this prophecy know that ,jehovah rules in the affairs of men4 8,mine eyes can see the glory of the presence of the ,lord2 ,he is trampling out the winepress where his grapes of wrath are stored2 ,i see the flaming tempest of ,his swift descending ,sword3 ,our ,king is marching on4 8,i can see ,his coming judgments1 as they circle all the earth1 ,the signs and groanings promised1 to precede a second birth2 ,i read ,his righteous sentence1 in the crumbling thrones of earth3 ,our ,king is marching on40 ,ezekiel #ca--;,christendom ,not ,to ,endure #ca3a1 #b4 ,and it came to pass in the eleventh year1 in the third month1 in the first day of the month1 that the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 speak unto ,pharaoh king of ,egypt1 and to his multitude2 ,whom art thou like in thy greatness8--,chapter #ca represents ,christendom as a cedar tree which is cut down4 ,it opens with a message respecting ,satan 7,pharaoh1 the sungod7 king of worldly ,christendom 7,egypt7 and her multitudes4 ,what comparison could be made of her greatness6 #ca3c4 ,behold1 the ,assyrian was a cedar in ,lebanon with fair branches1 and with a shadowing shroud1 and of a high stature2 and his top was among the thick boughs4--,behold1 ,satan and his counterfeit ,christian system 7tree2 8,assyrian0 should probably read 8teashur10 a boxtree71 thought of as never to end 7cedar1 type of man with eternal life71 and as a righteous kingdom 7,lebanon1 a mountain1 white1 snowy71 having as members 7branches1 like the branches of ,christendom7 the great1 the evil and the good1 worldly people1 with protecting power 7shadowing shroud7 and very prominent1 with the greatest people at the very top4 #ca3d4 ,the waters made him great1 the deep set him up on high with her rivers running round about his plants1 and sent out her little rivers unto all the trees of the field4--,the peoples and the secular truth 7waters7 made ,satan's system great2 the great nations and the apparently profound truths of liberty1 fraternity and equality1 made it prominent1 with its roots 7plantings7 nourished by nations and sects 7rivers7 and sending out national and denominational influences throughout all the systems of the world4 #ca3e4 ,therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field1 and his boughs were multiplied1 and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters1 when he shot forth4--,therefore ,christendom's prominence was exalted above everything like it in the world2 and its mighty members were increased in number and made of far reaching influence1 because of the multitude of their people and of their teachings4 #ca3f4 ,all the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs1 and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young1 and under his shadow dwelt all great nations4--,all the jailbirds 7fowls7 of the powers of spiritual control1 made their church organizations 7nests7 among its members2 and under the power of its membership 7branches7 did all of the governments 7beasts7 of this world 7field7 bring forth their progeny2 and under its defense 7shadow7 dwelt all nations4 #ca3g4 ,thus was he fair in his greatness1 in the length of his branches3 for his root was by great waters4--,thus was it magnificent in its greatness1 and in the extent of its ramifications2 for it was rooted in great peoples and in great secular truths4 #ca3h4 ,the cedars in the garden of ,god could not hide him3 the fir trees were not like his boughs1 and the chestnut trees were not like his branches2 not any tree in the garden of ,god was like unto him in his beauty4--,in ,christendom's egotism there was nothing equal to her in this age or the next4 #ca3i4 ,i have made him fair by the multitude of his branches2 so that all the trees of ,eden1 that were in the garden of ,god1 envied him4--,christendom felt itself the envy of everything1 present and to come4 #ca3aj4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because thou hast lifted up thyself in height1 and he hath shot up his top among the thick boughs1 and his heart is lifted up in his height4--,because of ,christendom's self exaltation and pride4 #ca3aa4 ,i have therefore delivered him into the hand of the mighty one of the heathen2 he shall surely deal with him3 ,i have driven him out for his wickedness4--,god will deliver ,christendom into the power of the god 7el1 mighty one7 of the heathen1 the ,devil himself2 ,he shall surely deal vengeance to her2 ,he will drive her out of existence4 #ca3ab4 ,and strangers1 the terrible of the nations1 have cut him off1 and have left him3 upon the mountains and in all the valleys his branches are fallen1 and his boughs are broken by all the rivers of the land2 and all the people of the earth are gone down from his shadow1 and have left him4--,the anarchists1 the terror of the nations1 will lay her low2 upon the kingdoms 7mountains71 and among the people 7valleys7 her members 7branches7 will fall1 and be broken off by her seceding denominations2 all the people of this order of things will leave her protection1 and abandon her4 #ca3ac4 ,upon his ruin shall all the fowls of the heaven remain1 and all the beasts of the field shall be upon his branches4--,the jailbirds of ecclesiasticism1 and all the revolutionary governments of this state of affairs1 shall profit by her ruin and through her members 7branches74 #ca3ad4 ,to the end that none of all the trees by the waters exalt themselves for their height1 neither shoot up their top among the thick boughs1 neither their trees stand up in their height1 all that drink water2 for they are all delivered unto death1 to the nether parts of the earth1 in the midst of the children of men1 with them that go down to the pit4--,no other earthly system may follow her proud example2 for all of them are delivered1 as systems1 into death1 to a dishonored place among the lowest in society4 #ca3ae4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,in the day when he went down to the grave ,i caused a mourning3 ,i covered the deep for him1 and ,i restrained the floods thereof1 and the great waters were stayed2 and ,i caused ,lebanon to mourn for him1 and all the trees of the field fainted for him4--,in the year #aiah1 when ,christendom shall go down as a system to oblivion1 7,sheol7 to be succeeded by revolutionary republics1 ,god will cause mourning4 ,he will restrain and defer for a brief period the threatening waves of anarchy4 ,he will cause the nations to mourn for ,christendom1 and all the manmade systems 7trees7 of the world 7field7 to become weak on account of her fall4--,e4 #cib1 #cgb4 #ca3af4 ,i made the nations to shake at the sound of his fall1 when ,i cast him down to hell 7,sheol7 with them that descend to the pit3 and all the trees of ,eden1 the choice and best of ,lebanon1 all that drink water1 shall be comforted in the nether parts of the earth4--,god will cause the nations to shake with gigantic revolutions1 when ,he shall cast worldly ,christendom1 as an organized system1 down to oblivion 7as ,he did the ,jews in the ,dives parable74 #ca3ag4 ,they also went down into hell 7,sheol7 with him1 unto them that be slain with the sword2 and they that were in his arm1 that dwelt under his shadow in the midst of the heathen4--,but they also shall go down to oblivion 7,sheol7 7,e4 #cib1 #cgb71 with ,christendom1 as well as those that were her power1 that dwelt under her defense among the people4 #ca3ah4 ,to whom art thou thus like in glory in greatness among the trees of ,eden8 yet thou shalt be brought down with the trees of ,eden unto the nether parts of the earth2 thou shalt lie in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword4 ,this is ,pharaoh and all his multitude1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,though worldly ,christendom is unsurpassed in glory and in greatness among other systems1 yet shall she be brought down to be one of the most disesteemed grades of the social order2 she shalt be counted as one of the ungodly4 ,the ,egyptians practiced circumcision1 typical of worldly ,christendom's counterfeit ease of conscience through belief in error4 ,this is said of ,satan1 the god of ,christendom and all his multitude4 ,ezekiel #cb--;,christendom's ,utter ,downfall #cb3a1 #b4 ,and it came to pass in the twelfth year1 in the twelfth month1 in the first day of the month1 that the word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 take up a lamentation for ,pharaoh king of ,egypt1 and say unto him1 ,thou art like a young lion of the nations1 and thou art as a whale in the seas3 and thou camest forth with thy rivers1 and troubledst the waters with thy feet1 and fouledst their rivers4--,in ,chapter #cb ,christendom's destruction is depicted in several ways3 as the catching of a sea monster 7#cb3af72 as the putting out of her light 7#cb3gh72 also1 in addition the downfall of her systems 7#cb3iaj7 as a worldly system destroyed by anarchy 7#cb3aaaf72 as the going down of worldly ,christendom to oblivion 7#cb3agba72 as the fall into oblivion of the anarchists 7#cb3bbbc72 of the ,eastern mysticism in ,christendom 7#cb3bdbe72 of her worst classes 7#cb3bfbh72 of the worldly religious people 7#cb3bi72 of the church organization of ecclesiasticism 7#cb3cj71 and of ,christendom's king1 ,satan1 and all his multitudes4 7#cb3cacb47 ,the message begins with a lamentation over ,satan 7,pharaoh71 king of worldly ,christendom 7,egypt71 and his visible representatives1 the apostate clergy4 ,among the nations they are as a lion in power and ferocity 7lion also symbolizes the ,devil72 and as a monstrous power 7whale7 among the peoples 7seas72 they came with their sects 7rivers71 and muddied the ,truth 7waters7 with their earthly minded members1 the clergy 7feet71 and filled their churches 7rivers7 with worldliness4 #cb3c4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will therefore spread out ,my net over thee with a company of many people2 and they shall bring thee up in ,my net4--,god will gradually bring the ,time of ,trouble upon ,christendom like a snare1 as a movement toward liberty for the people1 through a multitude of progressives1 radicals1 revolutionists and anarchists2 and these shall ensnare her unknowingly in the great tribulation1 and bring her up out of favor with the people 7out of the sea47 #cb3d4 ,then will ,i leave thee upon the land1 ,i will cast thee forth upon the open field1 and will cause all the fowls of the heaven to remain upon thee1 and ,i will fill the beasts of the whole earth with thee4--,then ,god will leave her defenseless against the whole world1 and will cause the worst classes 7birds7 of an apostate ,christianity 7heavens7 to feed upon her1 and will cause the evil revolutionary governments 7beasts7 of the whole earth to fill themselves up with her former members4 #cb3e4 ,and ,i will lay thy flesh upon the mountains1 and fill the valleys with thy height4--,and her prominent members shall die1 and of her lesser people a great number4 #cb3f4 ,i will also water with thy blood the land wherein thou swimmest1 even to the mountains2 and the rivers shall be full of thee4--,the loss of life shall extend to her highest government officials and rulers 7mountain72 and the churches shall be full of her dead4 #cb3g1 #h4 ,and when ,i shall put thee out1 ,i will cover the heaven1 and make the stars thereof dark2 ,i will cover the sun with a cloud1 and the moon shall not give her light4 ,all the bright lights of heaven will ,i make dark over thee1 and set darkness upon thy land1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,when ,god shall put out ,christendom's light in #aiah1 ,he will blind the minds of ecclesiasticism 7heaven7 7,a4 #cah71 and deprive their pulpit stars of wisdom from the true apostolic stars1 the ,apostles4 7,d4 #eia74 ,he will darken the understanding of the ,gospel 7sun7 of ,jesus ,christ 7,d4 #eij7 with the cloud of the ,time of ,trouble2 and the light 7truth7 of the ,mosaic ,law shall not shine forth in her4 #cb3i4 ,i will also vex the hearts of many people1 when ,i shall bring thy destruction among the nations1 into the countries which thou hast not known4--,god will also trouble the hearts of many other peoples1 when ,he shall visit the same ,time of ,trouble upon other nations1 where the clergy had no sway4 #cb3aj4 ,yea1 ,i will make many people amazed at thee1 and their kings shall be horribly afraid for thee1 when ,i shall brandish ,my ,sword before them2 and they shall tremble at every moment1 every man for his own life1 in the day of thy fall4--,yea1 ,he will make many nations to marvel at ,christendom's fall2 and their rulers shall fear and quake on account of her destruction1 when they are threatened with destruction by anarchy4 ,every moment shall every man of them tremble for his life4 #cb3aa4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,the sword of the king of ,babylon shall come upon thee4--,the destructive weapons of the ,devil1 the ,king of ,confusion 7,babylon71 of ,anarchy1 shall be turned against worldly ,christendom4 #cb3ab4 ,by the swords of the mighty will ,i cause thy multitude to fall1 the terrible of the nations1 all of them3 and they shall spoil the pomp of ,egypt1 and all the multitude thereof shall be destroyed4--,by the weapons of a mighty1 revolted soldiery will ,god cause their multitudes to fall1 even all the terrible men of all ,christendom2 and the anarchists shall take as their spoil the pomp of the nations1 and all the adherents of the nations of ,christendom shall cease to support them4 #cb3ac4 ,i will destroy also all the beasts thereof from beside the great waters2 neither shall the foot of man trouble them any more1 nor the hoofs of beasts trouble them4--,god will destroy all of the ferocious governments from beside the great nations 7waters72 neither shall worldly men trouble the people any more1 nor the downtreading oppression of savage governments make them trouble4 #cb3ad4 ,then will ,i make their waters deep1 and cause their rivers to run like oil1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,then will ,god give the people peace 7deep waters71 and make their course to run with quiet smoothness4 ,they shall know the deep things of ,god1 and have the ,holy ,spirit4 #cb3ae4 ,when ,i shall make the land of ,egypt desolate1 and the country shall be destitute of that whereof it was full1 when ,i shall smite all them that dwell therein1 then shall they know that ,i am the ,lord4--,when ,god shall have made worldly ,christianity desolate1 and worldliness shall be destitute of its prosperous worldlings1 when ,he shall have smitten with the great tribulation all that are at home in their worldliness1 then1 in the better days to come1 shall they know ,him as ,he is4 #cb3af4 ,this is the lamentation wherewith they shall lament her3 the daughters of the nations shall lament her3 they shall lament for her1 even for ,egypt1 and for all her multitude1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,the heathen religions 7daughters7 shall lament worldly ,christendom's downfall1 and the downfall of her adherents4 #cb3ag1 #ah4 ,it came to pass also in the twelfth year1 in the fifteenth day of the month1 that the word of the ,lord came unto me saying1 ,son of man1 wail for the multitude of ,egypt1 and cast them down1 even her1 and the daughters of the famous nations1 unto the nether parts of the earth1 with them that go down into the pit4--,these verses depict the mourning for the multitudes of worldly ,christians1 tares1 when they and worldly ,christendom and the churches 7daughters7 of the great powers 7nations7 are cast down to the disesteemed lower strata of the social order1 with those that die a disreputable death 7pit74 #cb3ai4 ,whom dost thou pass in beauty8 go down1 and be thou laid with the uncircumcised4--,worldly ,christendom has imagined herself of unsurpassable desirability1 but she shall go down to oblivion1 with those regarded as polluted 7uncircumcised74 #cb3bj4 ,they shall fall in the midst of them that are slain by the sword3 she is delivered to the sword3 draw her and all her multitudes4--,her populace shall fall by weapons of destruction1 and by the ,sword of the ,spirit2 she is delivered to destruction4 ,they shall draw her as a system1 and her adherents1 as adherents1 away for burial6 #cb3ba4 ,the strong among the mighty shall speak to him out of the midst of hell with them that help him3 they are gone down1 they lie uncircumcised1 slain by the sword4--,the one strong among ,christendom's great men1 no longer men of power1 and those that helped her shall speak of her downfall1 in their fallen condition 7,sheol72 they shall have fallen from high positions1 and be as men outcast and polluted1 reduced to lowliness by the might of anarchy1 and by the ,sword of the ,spirit4--,e4 #cib1 #cgb4 #cb3bb1 #bc4 ,asshur is there and all her company3 his graves are about him3 all of them slain1 fallen by the sword3 ,whose graves are set in the sides of the pit1 and her company is round about her grave2 all of them slain1 fallen by the sword1 which caused terror in the land of the living4--,the revolutionists 7,asshur1 ,assyria1 the revolutionary anarchists7 in multitudes shall go down to oblivion1 dead literally or dead to their order of things4 #cb3bd4 ,there is ,elam and all her multitude round about her grave2 all of them slain1 fallen by the sword1 which are gone down uncircumcised into the nether parts of the earth1 which caused their terror in the land of the living2 yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit4--,there in oblivion shall be buried ,new ,thought1 ,christian ,science1 and other forms of ,oriental religion or ,mysticism 7,elam1 ,persia1 home of ,mysticism71 and the multitude of their believers1 ceased then to be mystics2 all fallen by the literal sword or by the ,sword of the ,spirit4 #cb3be4 ,they have set her a bed in the midst of the slain with all her multitude3 her graves are round about him3 all of them uncircumcised1 slain by the sword3 though their terror was caused in the land of the living1 yet have they borne their shame with them that go down to the pit3 he is put in the midst of them that be slain4--,the anarchists shall put ,mysticism to rest in destruction4 #cb3bf4 ,there is ,meshech1 ,tubal1 and all her multitude3 her graves are round about him3 all of them uncircumcised1 slain by the sword1 though they caused their terror in the land of the living4--,there shall be the worst classes of ,christendom1 the anarchists themselves1 in oblivion1 all in disrepute1 destroyed in the destruction they wrought4 #cb3bg4 ,and they shall not lie with the mighty that are fallen of the uncircumcised1 which are gone down to hell with their weapons of war3 and they have laid their swords under their heads1 but their iniquities shall be upon their bones1 though they were the terror of the mighty in the land of the living4--,and they shall not be mentioned1 not even with these great men who have gone down as evil but with some small degree of repute2 and with them shall be the end of war 7,h4 #af72 but the very memory of the anarchists shall be as of iniquity personified4 #cb3bh4 ,yea1 thou shalt be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised1 and shalt lie with them that are slain with the sword4--,they shall be thought of as evil only1 slain with the sword1 and disesteemed by the ,word of ,god4 #cb3bi4 ,there is ,edom1 her kings1 and all her princes1 which with their might are laid by them that were slain by the sword3 they shall lie with the uncircumcised1 and with them that go down to the pit4--,in the general ruin shall be worldly apostate persecuting ,christendom1 slain by anarchy's weapons and by the ,word of ,god4 ,they shall be polluted1 and come to a disreputable end4 #cb3cj4 ,there be the princes of the north1 all of them1 and all the ,zidonians1 which are gone down with the slain2 with their terror they are ashamed of their might2 and they lie uncircumcised with them that be slain by the sword1 and bear their shame with them that go down to the pit4--,the great ecclesiastical lords 7north7 and all the adherents of the belongto achurchorgotohell doctrine 7,zidonians1 among whom was ,jezebel7 shall go to oblivion4 ,though a dreadful terror in their activities1 they shall be ashamed2 they shall go down1 as polluted with iniquity4 #cb3ca4 ,pharaoh shall see them1 and shall be comforted over all his multitude1 even ,pharaoh and all his army slain by the sword1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,satan 7,pharaoh71 the god of worldly ,christendom1 then bound for a thousand years1 shall see the fall of these his multitudes1 slain by the literal sword1 or by the ,word of ,god4 #cb3cb4 ,for ,i have caused ,my terror in the land of the living3 and he shall be laid in the midst of the uncircumcised with them that are slain with the sword1 even ,pharaoh and all his multitude1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,satan and his multitude shall cease to trouble the earth1 gone down finally to oblivion1 as one polluted with iniquity4 ,from chapters #be to #cb ,ezekiel prophesied against seven foreign nations 7,ammon1 ,moab1 ,edom1 ,philistia1 ,tyre1 ,sidon and ,egypt71 indicating ,,all non,christian elements4 ,ezekiel #cc--,why ,ecclesiasticism ,must ,perish #cc3a1 #b4 ,again the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 speak to the children of thy people1 and say unto them1 ,when ,i bring the sword upon a land1 if the people of the land take a man of their coasts1 and set him for their watchman4--,a mutual responsibility exists between one of ,god's watchmen and ,his people1 the one to speak and the other to listen4 7#cc3aai47 ,ezekiel recites his warning of ,jerusalem's fall4 7#cc3bjbi47 ,the people listen1 but do not believe4 7#cc3cjcc47 ,this chapter repeats the statements of #c3agba and #ah3ebi regarding the watchman set to warn the people of ,christendom1 his message and responsibility1 and the responsibility of the ,christian people toward the watchman--,pastor ,russell1 and his message and warning from ,god4 8,a man of their coasts0 refers to the clergy class appointed and ordained by the people1 and set by them as their watchman4 #cc3c4 ,if when he seeth the sword come upon the land1 he blow the trumpet1 and warn the people4--,who of the clergy class have blown the trumpet of ,truth and warned 8their0 people of the impending doom of ,christendom8 #cc3d4 ,then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet1 and taketh not warning2 if the sword come1 and take him away1 his blood shall be upon his own head4 ,he heard the sound of the trumpet1 and took not warning2 his blood shall be upon him4 ,but he that taketh warning shall deliver his soul4--,the people who have heard the warning have only themselves to blame4--,isa4 #eh3a4 #cc3f4 ,but if the watchman see the sword come1 and blow not the trumpet1 and the people be not warned2 if the sword come1 and take any person from among them1 he is taken away in his iniquity2 but his blood will ,i require at the watchman's hand4--,the clergy have an awful responsibility4 ,faithful watching on their part with their great influence among the people1 would have saved tens of millions from physical death1 and a host from the religious death that will overtake so many4 ,the outraged people will turn on the clergy1 as they did in the ,french ,revolution1 and in a frightful carnival will exact full toll for the lives lost in war4 ,responsibility for the ,time of ,trouble lies squarely at the door of ecclesiasticism2 for had the clergy taken a united stand upon the ,word of ,god against industrial1 social1 political1 moral and religious evils1 they could have reformed ,christendom and prevented the world war and the ensuing revolution and anarchy4 ,our ,lord said1 prophetically1 8,upon this generation shall come all the blood--to the blood of ,zechariah1 whom you will murder between the sanctuary and the altar40 7,matt4 #bc3ce ,diaglott1 footnote47 ,josephus says of this man that he boldly accused the clergy of ,jerusalem with being the cause of the trouble upon the city4 ,he was tried1 accused of inciting anarchy1 was found innocent1 and was then slain by the clergy class4 ,his fate represents experiences coming upon the ,lord's true people shortly4 #cc3gi4 ,so thou1 ,o son of man1 ,i have set thee a watchman unto the house of ,israel2 therefore thou shalt hear the word at ,my mouth1 and warn them from ,me4 ,when ,i say unto the wicked1 ,o wicked man1 thou shalt surely die2 if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way1 that wicked man shall die in his iniquity2 but his blood shall ,i require at thine hand4 ,nevertheless1 if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it2 if he do not turn from his way1 he shall die in his iniquity2 but thou hast delivered thy soul4--,pastor ,russell faithfully taught that 8the wages of sin is death0 7,rom4 #f3bc71 and not eternal torment4 ,he also warned the wicked systems of earth1 political1 economic and religious1 that they should surely perish from the earth1 if they did not turn wholeheartedly to ,jehovah1 the ,god of infinite ,love4 #cc3aj4 ,therefore1 ,o thou son of man1 speak unto the house of ,israel2 ,thus ye speak1 saying1 ,if our transgressions and our sins be upon us1 and we pine away in them1 how should we then live8--,the nominal ,christians of our day were typed by the ,hebrews who went to ,ezekiel with insincere objections4 ,they have treated ,pastor ,russell with a seeming but insincere respect4 ,when they inquired into his writing and predictions1 based upon the ,word of ,god1 they had no sincerity either in their questions or their professions toward him or the ,word set forth by him4 #cc3aaai4 ,say unto them1 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 ,i have no pleasure in the death of the wicked2 but that the wicked turn from his way and live3 turn ye1 turn ye from your evil ways2 for why will ye die1 ,o house of ,israel8 ,therefore1 thou son of man1 say unto the children of thy people1 ,the righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression3 as for the wickedness of the wicked1 he shall not fall thereby in the day that he turneth from his wickedness2 neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sinneth4 ,when ,i shall say to the righteous1 that he shall surely live2 if he trust to his own righteousness1 and commit iniquity1 all his righteousness shall not be remembered2 but for his iniquity that he hath committed1 he shall die for it4 ,again1 when ,i say unto the wicked1 ,thou shalt surely die2 if he turn from his sin1 and do that which is lawful and right2 if the wicked restore the pledge1 give again that he had robbed1 walk in the statutes of life1 without committing iniquity2 he shall surely live1 he shall not die4 ,none of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him3 he hath done that which is lawful and right2 he shall surely live4 ,yet the children of thy people say1 ,the way of the ,lord is not equal3 but as for them1 their way is not equal4 ,when the righteous turneth from his righteousness1 and commiteth iniquity1 he shall even die thereby4 ,but if the wicked turn from his wickedness1 and do that which is lawful and right1 he shall live thereby4--,god has no pleasure in the destruction of ,christendom4 ,if it had turned from its spiritual idolatry and harlotry to obey ,god it would have been saved from its impending doom4 ,its destruction is traceable directly to a 8small group of willful men10 leaders and guides of the masses2 namely the pope1 the cardinals1 bishops1 priests1 ministers1 revivalists and other religious leaders who have mistaught rulers and people1 and by their combination of worldly and religious teachings brought the world into a condition where the social elements are working their mutual destruction4 ,god pity the clergy for what is coming upon them2 for the people will surely recognize the part they have signally failed to play in not1 by concerted preaching of true godliness1 checking the world's mad rush to anarchy and annihilation4 ,literally the ,scriptures foregoing are an affirmation that any one who kept the ,mosaic ,law perfectly should enjoy life indefinitely as long as he kept the law4 ,spiritually it teaches the ,christian that if he has turned from sin to serve ,god1 under the spirit of the ,divine ,law of ,love1 he shall have life everlasting4 7,rom4 #h3ac1 #ad47 ,symbolically it speaks to this evil state of affairs1 or world1 especially to that wicked one1 ecclesiasticism1 and enumerates its iniquities3 it has sinned before ,god3 it has broken ,god's ,law of ,love and every other ,law1 and excused the breach by sophistries4 ,romanism1 with which ,protestantism has linked hands1 teaches the most iniquitous and wicked things4 8,a culprit or a witness questioned by a judge1 but in an illegal manner 7of which the culprit1 of course1 is the judge7 may swear that he knows nothing of the crime about which he is questioned1 although he knows it well1 meaning mentally1 that he knows nothing in such manner as to answer40--,alphonso ,maria de ,liguori1 ,popish theologian1 bishop and founder of the order of ,redemptorists1 #afifaghg4 ,again 8,saint0 ,liguori3 8,he may swear that he knows nothing1 when he knows that the person who committed the crime committed it without malice2 or if he knows the crime1 but secretly1 and there has been no scandal4 ,when a crime has been well concealed1 the witness and even the criminal1 may and even must1 swear that the crime has never been committed4 ,the accused may deny his crime under oath1 understanding that he has not committed this crime in such a manner as to be obliged to confess it4 ,he who has sworn to keep a secret is not obliged to keep his oath1 if any consequential injury to him or to others is thereby caused4 ,if any one has sworn before a judge to keep the truth1 he is not obliged to say secret things4 7,a woman who has really committed adultery may deny it under oath1 provided she has been to confess3 for then the sin has been pardoned1 and has really ceased to exist47 ,it is right to advise any one to commit a robbery1 or a fornication in order to avoid a murder4 ,we may be allowed to conceal the truth1 or disguise it under ambiguous or equivocal words or signs1 for a just cause1 and where there is no necessity to confess the truth40 ,and ,liguori is still a 8saint0 in the ,roman ecclesiasticism1 8where ,satan's seat is10 and with whom ,episcopalians1 ,church of ,england men1 and ,protestants generally1 are trying to come together in a church union or federation1 destined fortunately to an early decease4 8,they are not to be called oaths1 but rather perjury1 which are in opposition to the welfare of the ,romish church40--,the ,lateran ,council 78infallible074 8,if any1 either alone or before others1 whether asked or of his own accord1 or for the purpose of sport1 or for any other object1 swears that he has not done something else which he has done1 or in a different way from that in which he has done it1 or any other truth that is added1 he does not really lie1 nor is he perjured40--,pope ,innocent ,,xi1 another of the 8saints40 #afaaafhi4 8,a man may swear that he never did such a thing 7though he actually did it71 meaning within himself that he did not do so on a certain day1 or before he was born1 or understanding any other such circumstances1 while the words which he employs have no such sense as would discover his meaning40 8,promises are not binding1 when the person in making them had no intention to bind himself40--8,saint0 ,antonio ,escobar of ,mendoza1 a ,spanish ,casuist and ,jesuit1 #aehiafii 78,papacy and ,civil ,power10 page #fjg74 8,i pronounce all ,roman ,catholic priests1 bishops1 popes1 monks1 friars and nuns to be the most deliberate and willful set of liars that ever infested this or any other country1 or disgraced the name of religion40--,william ,hogan1 a prominent southern lawyer1 formerly a priest1 on page #agb of his book1 8,popery40 ,stealing is authorized by ,popish ecclesiasticism3 8,a servant has the right to rob his master1 a child his father1 and a poor man the rich4 ,the poor man who has concealed the goods and effects of which he has need1 may swear that he has nothing40 ,in ,romish theology it is ordinarily a mortal sin to steal two pieces of gold2 but1 8,if any one steal small sums at different times1 either from the same or from different persons1 not having the intention of stealing large sums1 nor of causing a great damage1 his sin is not mortal4 ,if several persons steal from the same master1 in small quantities1 each in such a manner as not to commit a mortal sin1 though each knows that all of these little thefts together cause a considerable damage to their master1 yet no one of them commits a mortal sin1 even when they steal at the same time4 ,a son does not commit a mortal sin when he steals only twenty or thirty pieces of gold from a father who has an income of #aej pieces of gold40--8,saint0 ,liguori4 ,ecclesiasticism1 the dominant power of the ,gospel ,age1 authorizes murder3 8,a man who has been excommunicated by the ,pope may be killed anywhere1 because the ,pope has an indirect jurisdiction over the whole world1 even in temporal things40--,dens1 a ,roman ,catholic theological authority in his 8,theologica ,morales40 ,pope ,gregory ,,vii 7alias 8,saint0 ,hildebrand71 #ajbjajhe1 pronounced that it was no murder to kill an excommunicated person4 8,this rule has been for #gjj years and continues to be1 part of the ecclesiastical law4 ,one of the later popes has declared that the murder of a ,protestant is so good a deed that it atones and more than atones for the murder of a ,catholic40--,lord ,acton in the ,london ,times1 ,july #bf1 #ahgb4 ,says ,dr4 ,isaac ,j4 ,lansing in 8,romanism and the ,republic20 8,every person who had anything to do with the assassination of ,abraham ,lincoln was a ,roman ,catholic4 ,john ,wilkes ,booth was a ,roman ,catholic2 ,payne and ,atseroth1 also ,dr4 ,nudd1 who dressed ,booth's leg2 ,garrett1 in whose premises he was killed2 also ,harold was a ,roman ,catholic2 ,mrs4 ,suratt and her son were ,roman ,catholics2 their house was the headquarters for ,roman ,catholics and for the ,jesuit priests4 ,all this was brought out before the military tribunal which condemned some of them to death4 ,when ,john ,suratt fled from ,washington he was taken charge of by ,jesuits1 and under a ,jesuit convoy was carried to ,france40--,page #bgb4 8,catholics who shall assume the cross for the extermination of heretics1 shall enjoy the same indulgences and be protected by the same privileges as are granted to those who go to the help of the ,holy ,land4 ,we decree1 further that all who may have dealings with heretics1 shall be excommunicated40--,the ,lateran ,council 7composed of candidates for ,roman ,catholic 8saintship4074 ,papacy1 the mother of harlots1 also permits her clergy to become criminals3 8,were even the lives of her ministers debased by crime1 they are still within her pale1 and therefore lose none of the powers with which her ministry invests them40--,catechism of the ,council of ,trent4 8,a mortal sin is that which kills the soul and deserves hell10 says ,archbishop ,john ,hughes1 of ,new ,york4 ,papal ecclesiasticism controls the education of the nations under threat of mortal sin3 8,catholic electors 7voters7 in this country1 who do not use their electoral 7voting7 power in behalf of separate 7religious public7 schools1 are guilty of mortal sin4 ,likewise parents not making the sacrifices necessary to secure such schools1 or sending their children to mixed schools4 ,moreover1 the confessor 7priest7 who would give absolution to such parents1 electors or legislators as support mixed schools1 to the prejudice of separate schools1 would be guilty of a mortal sin40--,right ,reverend ,charbonnel1 ,bishop of ,toronto1 ,canada4 ,the chastity of an attractive and obedient young nun may hang by the following slender thread3 8,when a nun receives a precept from her prelate1 superior1 or confessor1 she should immediately execute it1 not only to please them1 but principally to please ,god1 whose will is known by their command4 ,if then1 you receive a command from one who holds the place of ,god 7a manmade priest67 you should observe it as if it came from ,god ,himself4 ,there is more certainty of doing the will of ,god by obedience to our superiors than by obedience to ,jesus ,christ should ,he appear in person and give ,his command4 ,the nun shall be most certain of not having to render an account of the actions performed through obedience2 for these the superior only1 who commands them1 shall be accountable40--,liguori1 8,saint10 in ,popish constellation of fallen stars4 ,according to ,cardinal ,manning1 a bright star in the ,roman ,catholic heavens 7page #hi of his 8,true ,story of the ,vatican ,council07 the pope is infallible in matters of faith and morals3 and the canonizing of 8saints0 comes under this head4 ,cardinal ,newman on page #hd of his 8,via ,media10 #ahhg edition1 asserts concerning the canonizing of 8,saints30 8,the infallibility of the church must certainly extend to this solemn and public act1 canonization2 and that because so serious a matter1 affecting the worship of the faithful1 the church1 that is1 the ,pope1 must be infallible40 ,one of the persons duly authorized by infallible ,romish canonization is 8,saint0 ,bridget1 who lived in #acfj4 ,this 8saint0 says3 8,the ,pope is a murderer of souls4 ,he destroys the flock of ,christ and fleeces it4 ,more savage is he than ,judas1 and more unjust than ,pilate1 and worse and more wicked than ,lucifer4 ,he has exchanged all the ten commandments of ,god for this single one of his own1 #8,give me money1 money1 money4' ,the ,pope with his clergy are the forerunners of ,antichrist1 rather than the servants of ,christ4 ,the ,pope's court on earth plunders the ,heavenly court of ,christ4 ,the clergy never read the ,book of ,god2 but they are ever studying the book of this world4 ,i once loved priests more than men and even angels4 ,the kiss of those fornicating priests is the kiss of ,judas when he betrayed our ,lord60--,montagu1 pages #cjef4 ,an essential factor in the power of this evil one1 and an important part of the iniquity of ecclesiasticism is the ,romish confessional1 which many ,episcopal and ,protestant ecclesiastics would1 if they could1 establish in the harlot daughters1 the daughter churches1 ,protestantism4 ,this feature is of ,pagan origin4 8,auricular confession was enjoined in the ,elusinian mysteries1 by ,zoroaster in ,persia1 by ,buddha in ,india1 and was practiced by the ancient ,babylonians and ,egyptians1 the ,mexicans before ,cortez1 the ,peruvians before ,pizarro1 by the ,japanese1 the ,siamese1 and others40 ,the confessional has made of every priest a spy upon the privacy of the home1 the inner secrets of business and the confidential affairs of city1 state1 province1 and nation4 ,theoretically the confessions are confidential1 as ,dr4 ,dens says3 8,it is not lawful to reveal anything that is told in confession1 though it be to avoid the greatest evil that can happen2 but actually the secrets of the confessional are revealed40 8,de ,sanctis10 page #abb1 says3 8,while the penitent arraigns his faults with all the fatuity of a simpleton1 what is the confessor doing8 ,laughing at the simplicity of the penitent3 and afterwards in the priestly orgies that follow a morning of great confessions1 in the hilarity that flows from wine1 amid coarse explosions of laughter1 they describe the stupid folly of their penitents2 and each priest vies with his fellows in rendering his own penitents more ridiculous than the rest4 ,this breach of faith extends to the highest of ,rome's degraded ecclesiasticism40 ,history records that ,pope ,pius ,v1 8saint0 7#aejdaegb7 8for the punishment of certain offences took advantage of the confessional1 which ought to be an inviolable sanctuary40 ,pope ,sixtus ,v 7#aebaaeij7 told the under clergy that 8they could make a report to the ,pontiff1 without any danger attached to revealing a confession1 he giving them absolution for the whole40 ,elliott1 a former priest1 in 8,delineation of ,roman ,catholicism10 says1 8,all our conversation ran upon the stories he another priest heard in confession4 ,it is the ordinary discourse of the priests1 when they meet1 to inform one another of what they have heard in confession4 ,i was often present at such conferences1 where the conversation was so indecent that even an honest pagan would have blushed40 8,every day they 7the ,dominican monks7 came and talked most licentiously1 relating things that had happened at the ,holy office at ,perugia1 confessions they had heard1 etc40--,scipione ,ricca1 ,bishop of ,pistoria1 and an ,italian reformer1 #agdaahaj4 ,bishop ,hugh ,latimer1 of ,england 7#adheaeee71 whom the ,romish ecclesiasticism caused to be burned at the stake1 said3 8,and so they came to know all the secrets that were in men's hearts1 so that neither emperor nor king could say nor do1 nor think anything in his heart1 but they knew it1 and so applied all the purposes and intents of princes to their own commodities4 ,and this was the fruit of their auricular confession40 ,finally1 from ,de ,sanctis1 page #acc1 etc3 8,confession in relation to society may be defined as an universal spydom1 organized and complete4 ,confessors are not content to know the sins of those who confess2 but they must learn the regulation and management of the family2 and when an ingenuous youth or innocent maiden comes under the fangs of a knavish confessor 7and which of them is not a knave87 they do not escape until they have first revealed the secrets of the family circle--without1 however1 being aware of it40 8,de ,sanctis0 continues3 8,encouragement is given to theft1 as to every other crime1 by the facility of obtaining pardon1 and absolutions are given to robbers1 usurers1 murderers1 without their having made any restitution whatever4 ,they repair to the confessor1 present him with a goodly offering for a mass2 or1 if they are robbers of celebrity1 men abounding in wealth1 they found a chapelry1 a benefice1 or something of the kind4 ,at ,rome1 for instance1 every one knows that ,pius ,,vii 7#agdbahbc7 granted to all who hear confessions in the ,holy house ,ponterotto1 the privilege of absolving from restitution all who have defrauded the ,rev4 ,apostolic ,chambers1 or the government2 and all defraud1 and run there to receive absolution4 ,but this is not enough4 ,leo ,x 7#adgeaeba71 in his bull beginning with #8,postquam ad ,apostulatus' gives confessors the privilege not only of absolving robbers1 but of permitting them to retain in all good conscience1 the fruits of their usury1 robberies1 thefts1 etc41 on condition that part of the goods be given to the church60 ,ecclesiasticism is a greedy robber3 8,by confession many families are immersed in poverty2 because the grasping confessor1 taking advantage of the weak moments of a dying man1 has had the will made to the profit of the clergy2 and facts of the kind may be reckoned by the million4 ,the grasping cupidity of ecclesiasticism's willhunters1 and the consequent ruin of innocent and helpless families1 formed the subject of an indignant remonstrance of the ,german princes at the ,diet of ,nuremberg4 ,to such a length was this execrable practice sometimes carried that the last sacraments were denied to the dying man until he consented to make a will in the priest's favor40 ,ecclesiasticism's apostasy1 in teachings and in life1 has sown the seeds of the fiery harvest of anarchy3 8,the horrible consequence for religion is that infidelity advances with huge strides1 especially in ,roman ,catholic countries4 ,the enlightenment of the age no longer permits men to believe in the priests blindly1 as in the times of ignorance4 ,free discussion alone could show that the doctrines of the ,roman church are not those of the ,gospel2 discussion1 as it would prove their falsehood to a demonstration1 would establish the truth4 ,discussion being prevented1 it follows that1 seeing clearly the falsehood and iniquity of the ,roman doctrines1 men believe them1 because they are not discussed1 to be the doctrines of the ,christian religion1 and abandon them1 and live in indifference and infidelity40 ,protestantism1 ecclesiasticism1 has been an apt follower of ,papacy in suppression of discussion4 ,witness the systematic worldwide ban on any discussion of ,present ,truth as presented by ,god's watchman1 ,pastor ,russell6 ,ecclesiasticism1 priestcraft1 had for ages supplanted the worship of ,god with paganism1 and in the ,gospel ,age has insidiously transformed the ,gospel of ,christ1 has tried to destroy liberty and progress and has built up a gigantic system of oppression and destruction of the friends of the ,truth4 ,the most ferocious of the popes are made the 8saints0 of ,satan's church4 ,and1 says ,de ,sanctis3 8,in canonizing such men1 the ,popes have canonized their doctrines2 hence it cannot he said that despotism1 obscuration suppression of ,truth1 oppression of nations1 and hatred for any kind of progress1 exist through the malpractice of any one of the popes2 they exist by the very system of the ,papacy4 ,the corruption of religion ought not to be attributed to abuse of it by the individual1 but to the system2 therefore the ,gospel ought to reign in its purity1 and ought to be delivered from this great enemy2 and ,italy and ,rome ought to confer upon the world this great benefit of despoiling the popes of their usurped power40 ,why not reform1 purge1 cleanse ecclesiasticism8 ,as well try to reform cancer4 ,the sole safeguard is the destruction1 excision of the germs4 ,any real reform would cause the prompt dropping out of the systemloving millions who would soon reorganize into another vicious system4 ,the very constitution of ecclesiasticism forbids its ever being other than what the ,wall ,street ,journal denominates1 8that international nuisance1 the churchstate40 ,here are some of the articles of ,papacy's present1 past and future constitution 7infallible73 #a4 ,all human power is evil1 and must therefore be under the ,pope4 #b4 ,the temporal powers must act unconditionally1 in accordance with the orders of the spiritual4 #c4 ,the ,church is empowered to grant or take away any temporal possession4 #d4 ,the ,pope has the right to give countries and nations which are non,catholic to ,catholic regents1 who can reduce them to slavery4 #e4 ,the ,pope can make slaves of those ,christian subjects whose prince or ruling power is interdicted by the ,pope4 #f4 ,the laws of the ,church concerning the liberty of the ,church and the ,papal power are based upon ,divine inspiration4 #g4 ,the ,pope has the right to practice the unconditional censure of books4 #h4 ,the ,pope has the right to annul state laws1 treaties1 constitutions1 etc42 to absolve from obedience thereto1 as soon as they seem detrimental to the rights of the ,church1 or those of the clergy4 #i4 ,the ,pope possesses the right of admonishing1 and if needs be of punishing1 the temporal rulers1 emperors and kings1 as well as of drawing before the spiritual forum any case in which a mortal sin occurs4 #aj4 ,without the consent of the ,pope no tax or rate of any kind can be levied upon a clergyman or upon any church whatsoever4 #aa4 ,the ,pope has the right to absolve from oaths1 and obedience to the persons and the laws of the princes whom he excommunicates4 7,note4 ,all ,protestants are excommunicated47 #ab4 ,the ,pope can annul all legal relations of those in ban1 especially their marriage4 #ac4 ,the ,pope can release from every obligation1 oath1 vow1 either before or after being made4 #ad4 ,the execution of ,papal commands for the persecution of heretics causes remission of sins4 #ae4 ,he who kills one that is excommunicated is no murderer in a legal sense48--,the ,canon ,law01 by ,dr4 ,g4 ,f4 von ,schulte1 ,professor of ,canonical ,law at ,prague4 ,here the crafty and wicked ,mother of ,harlots1 ecclesiasticism1 asserts her infallible right to permit1 directly or indirectly1 any and every crime possible for depraved humanity to commit4 ,protestantism longs for the oldtime power of the clergy4 ,it has the spirit1 disposition1 of spiritual fornication1 goes to the limit in its efforts to control affairs through local1 state1 and national governmental agencies1 and now is ready and willing to ally itself with liberty destroying papal ecclesiasticism4 ,it displays its true nature and its indifference to the good of the people in its willing eagerness to unite in any manner with the force which has for centuries throttled liberty1 banished the ,word of ,god1 and stifled freedom in blood4 ,let not the people of ,christendom overlook this when the ,protestant clergy advocate church union1 as they will4 ,what can be done with such an organization as apostate ecclesiasticism8 ,the truly ,christian individual's answer must be to obey the ,divine command1 8,come out of her1 ,my people1 that ye be not partakers partners in of her sins outlined foregoing1 ad nauseam and that ye receive not of her plagues40 7,rev4 #ah3d47 ,the ,lord's people1 all that really have the ,holy ,spirit1 will and must 8come out of her10 clean away from this unhallowed partnership and federation with iniquity4 ,ecclesiasticism1 however1 may rest assured that she will not suffer greatly in loss of members or of persons of wealth and power2 for but few of the ,lord's people are in her4 ,each ecclesiastic can be assured that 8his people10 the tares1 the worldly church members1 the ,babylonians1 the spiritual idolaters and fornicators1 the congregation of ,molech1 will stick by him until the heat of the fiery trials of the time of trouble drives even 8the clergy's people0 out into the open of worldliness4 ,verse #ac shows that1 in view of the enormity of ecclesiasticism's iniquity1 both ,roman and ,protestant1 their partnership in criminality1 and their stubborn and willful persistence in evil1 8,for his iniquity that he hath committed1 he shall die40 #cc3bj4 ,yet ye say1 ,the way of the ,lord is not equal4 ,o ye house of ,israel1 ,i will judge you every one after his ways4--,o house of nominal churchianity1 the time has come for ,god to ,judge you1 to recompense you double1 according to your ways6--,rev4 #ah3f4 #cc3ba4 ,and it came to pass in the twelfth year of our captivity1 in the tenth month1 in the fifth day of the month1 that one that had escaped out of ,jerusalem came unto me1 saying1 ,the city is smitten4--,in #bd3bebg1 after having cited the skepticism of the ,jews as to ,ezekiel's message1 it was stated that from the time of ,jerusalem's fall until the tidings of the fall should arrive1 ,ezekiel was to be dumb1 having no new message to be heard by the people4 ,the intervening prophecies1 chapters #bf to #cb are not against the ,hebrews1 but against the heathen nations4 ,the city fell in the eleventh year of ,zedekiah's reign1 the fourth month1 the ninth day 7#b ,kings #be3b1 #c71 from which to the coming of the tidings of the city's fall1 on the twelfth year1 tenth month and fifth day1 was one year1 five months1 twentysix days4 ,on that momentous day came the tidings1 8,the city is smitten60 ,pastor ,russell's voice was stilled in death on ,october #ca1 #aiaf4 ,if an application of ,ezekiel's period of dumbness is valid here as a time feature1 the tidings1 the realization that ,christendom is smitten by the onslaughts of revolution1 might be expected to flash throughout the world on or about ,april #bg1 #aiah1 a year1 five months and twentysix days after the death of ,god's great watchman4 ,as in ,ezekiel #bd3bg1 this would be a sign1 an indication to ,christendom of the truth of ,pastor ,russell's commission from the ,almighty4 #cc3bb4 ,now the hand of the ,lord was upon me in the evening1 afore he that was escaped came2 and had opened my mouth1 until he came to me in the morning2 and my mouth was opened1 and ,i was no more dumb4--,the ,lord made good ,his promise while the news was approaching2 and removed ,ezekiel's dumbness half a day before1 in the evening1 before the morning when the tidings arrived4 ,it was on the same day2 for in the ,hebrew system of time1 the evening began the day4 ,this signifies that perhaps half a year prior to the general realization of ,christendom's downfall1 ,pastor ,russell1 though dead1 shall again speak through this1 the seventh volume of his ,studies in the ,scriptures--for this is but the completion of his great work of admonition and warning for the ,church and for ,christendom4 #cc3bc1 #bd4 ,then the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 they that inhabit those wastes of the land of ,israel speak1 saying ,abraham was one1 and he inherited the land3 but we are many2 the land is given us for inheritance4--,after ,jerusalem had been sacked and ,king ,zedekiah captured1 as related in #b ,kings #be1 8the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen40 ,these 78those inhabiting those wastes of the land of ,israel07 imagined that 8the land is given to us for an inheritance40 ,they thought they would be left in undisturbed possession1 but certain of them came into further conflict with the ,assyrians4 ,then the land was made utterly desolate4 ,this signifies1 in fulfillment1 that while the revolution overthrowing ecclesiasticism will make quite a clean sweep1 there will still remain some of the more lowly adherents of ecclesiastical systems1 who will imagine that they and their ideals are to prosper and spread even to the control of the revolutionary order of things4 #cc3be1 #bf4 ,wherefore say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,ye eat with the blood1 and lift up your eyes toward your idols1 and shed blood2 and shall ye possess the land8 ,ye stand upon your sword1 ye work abomination1 and ye defile every one his neighbor's wife2 and shall ye possess the land8--,but ,god knows their hearts1 and is against them1 for their continuance in the evil ways of ecclesiasticism4 #cc3bg4 ,say thou thus unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,as ,i live1 surely they that are in the wastes shall fall by the sword1 and him that is in the open field will ,i give to the beasts to be devoured1 and they that be in the forts and in the caves shall die of the pestilence4--,a sad awakening awaits them4 ,as ,jehovah lives1 those tares then surviving the ravages of revolution shall be slain by the sword of anarchy1 and shall have taken away all pretense of being ,christians4 ,those that have the spirit of earthly ambition shall be given to be destroyed by the savagery of anarchy2 and those in the strongholds and in the protected conditions of revolution shall die literally of pestilence and be destroyed religiously by the pestilential teachings of those evil days4 #cc3bh4 ,for ,i will lay the land most desolate1 and the pomp of her strength shall cease2 and1 the mountains of ,israel shall be desolate1 that none shall pass through4--,god purposes to utterly desolate this evil order of things and to completely abase the last vestiges of its pride and pomp1 and to cause the governments of this ,age1 even in their changed forms of revolution1 to pass away4 #cc3bi4 ,then shall they know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i have laid the land most desolate1 because of all their abominations which they have committed4--,then at last the people that remain will realize that the war1 revolution and anarchy1 were the righteous judgments of the ,almighty against the spiritual1 political and economic abominations of ,christendom4 #cc3cj4 ,also1 thou son of man1 the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses1 and speak one to another1 every one to his brother1 saying1 ,come1 ,i pray you1 and hear what is the ,word that cometh forth from the ,lord4--,reverting to the present time1 about contemporary with the realisation that ,christendom is smitten1 the hypocrisy of professed ,christians is spoken against4 ,the tares in their churches 7houses7 will talk of ,pastor ,russell and his works and words--they will read this book1 and will urge one another to 8hear what is the ,word that cometh from the ,lord40 #cc3ca4 ,and they come unto thee as the people cometh1 and they sit before thee as ,my people1 and they hear thy words1 but they will not do them2 for with their mouth they shew much love1 but their heart goeth after their covetousness4--,they will come in numbers1 apparently 8as ,my people20 and like all tares1 imitation ,christians1 they will listen respectfully to ,god's ,words urging haste in consecration for the coming ,kingdom2 but they will not do the things they hear4 ,they will manifest with their mouths great love for ,god1 but will at heart be the selfseekers they always were6 #cc3cb4 ,and lo1 thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a voice1 and can play well on an instrument3 for they hear thy words1 but they do them not4--,to these people1 in their insincerity and hypocrisy1 ,pastor ,russell's works will be scarcely a grade higher than an entertainment1 a beautiful song1 8the song of ,moses and the ,lamb10 well played on the manystringed harp1 the ,bible1 but not heeded as of solemn import4 #cc3cc4 ,and when this cometh to pass 7lo1 it will come71 then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them4--,but when the things predicted in the entire sens volumes of the ,studies in the ,scriptures come to pass1 then shall the tares1 too late1 realize that a great and ,divinely ordained preacher 8hath been among them40 8,master1 speak6 ,thy servant heareth1 ,longing for ,thy gracious ,word1 ,longing for ,thy voice that cheereth2 ,master1 let it now be heard4 ,i am listening1 ,lord1 for ,thee2 ,what hast ,thou to say to me80 ,ezekiel #cd--,the ,unfaithful ,shepherds #cd3a1 #b4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 prophesy against the shepherds of ,israel1 prophesy and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god unto the shepherds2 ,woe be to the shepherds of ,israel that do feed themselves6 should not the shepherds feed the flocks8--,god is against the clergy4 ,chapter #cd is a burning arraignment of ecclesiasticism4 ,it is to be taken in a dual sense as concerning the clergy's treatment of ,god's true people1 the true ,church on the spiritual plane1 and of the ,jews on the earthly plane1 both of whom the self appointed shepherds1 the clergy1 have neglected1 abused and scattered4 7#cd3ah1 #agba47 ,god will judge ecclesiasticism 7#cd3i1 #aj1 #af1 #ag1 #bj1 #bb71 and will ,himself1 through ,his own agencies1 regather and bless ,his true flock1 ,jewish and ,christian4 7#cd3aj1 #aaag1 #bbca47 ,the words 8shepherd0 and 8pastor0 have the same meaning 7,d4 #fb2 ,f4 #bhg74 ,thus saith ,jehovah ,god to the clergy1 from ,pope to preachers1 ,woe--in the revolution and anarchy1 from #aiah on--woe to the clergy that selfishly look out for 8,no4 #a10 that seek big salaries1 live in taxfree and rentfree parsonages and rectories1 that apply to themselves every promise of the ,divine ,word4 ,should not the clergy1 the pastors1 unselfishly feed the flock of ,god8 #cd3c4 ,ye eat the fat1 and ye clothe you with the wool1 ye kill them that are fed3 but ye feed not the flock4--,ye live on the choicest offerings of the people4 ,ye 8fleece0 the sheep of their golden fleece4 ,them that are fed to fatness with the ,word of ,god1 ye kill spiritually if ye can4 ,ye have literally killed over fifty millions in bloody persecutions4 ,ye have preached millions into a dreadful death in the trenches4 ,ye do everything to the sheep but feed them4 ,did ,i not command you thrice1 8,feed ,my sheep80--,john #ba3ag2 #a ,pet4 #e3b4 #cd3d4 ,the diseased have ye not strengthened1 neither have ye healed that which was sick1 neither have ye bound up that which was broken1 neither have ye brought again that which was driven away1 neither have ye sought that which was lost2 but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them4--,those weakened by spiritual disease--by the pestilence of false doctrines--ye have not strengthened with the pure ,word of ,god1 the ,bread of ,life4 ,rather ye have thrown them poisonous1 deathdealing doctrines 7#a ,cor4 #aj3ba7 from the 8table of devils40 ,ye have not healed with the ,divine ,word of comfort 7#b ,cor4 #a3cg2 ,rom4 #ae3d7 those spiritually sick with temporary ailment of the soul4 ,ye have not bound up1 with the strong promises of ,god1 the broken in spirit 7,isa4 #fa3a47 ,neither have ye brought back into renewed faithfulness those driven away by your treatment1 nor sought to find and bring to renewed relation to ,god those sheep that have strayed from him in life and doctrine4 ,rather than feed them1 serve and shepherd them1 ye have ruled them1 lorded over ,god's heritage 7#a ,pet4 #e3c71 as concerns both ,god's true ,christian sheep and ,his sheep of the ,hebrew race4 #cd3e4 ,and they were scattered1 because there is no shepherd3 and they became meat to all the beasts of the field1 when they were scattered4--8,my sheep know ,my voice of love1 and a stranger will they not follow40 7,john #aj3d1 #e47 ,they were not kept together1 cared for and cherished in the bonds of ,christian love4 ,there were not among you the true undershepherds having ,my ,spirit of ,divine ,love2 and you1 adulterous priests of ,baal1 and of ,molech--the cruel1 fierytorment ,god--none having ,my ,spirit could hear or follow4 ,and when they were scattered1 they1 the inoffensive1 unresisting ones1 became the prey of every evil government and of every evil employer and corporation4 ,ye made them cannonfodder by the thousands for the bloodguilty kaisers1 czars1 kings and generals of your evil order of things4 #cd3f4 ,my sheep wandered through all the mountains1 and upon every high hill3 yea1 ,my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth1 and none did search or seek after them4--,my people wandered homeless and friendless throughout all the nations of this evil world4 ,my flock of ,apostles1 martyrs1 sacrificers1 was scattered throughout all human society4 ,not one of the selfish1 idolatrous clergy of either ,romanism or ,protestantism cared for them1 or loved ,my beloved ones enough to seek after them2 but rather ignored them1 ostracized them1 compelled their silence1 drove them out from the churches1 and stilled their voices in persecution and in death4 #cd3g4 ,therefore1 ye shepherds1 hear the ,word of the ,lord4--,ye have done this for centuries2 and ,god permitted you to continue1 because the time had not come4 ,but now has come the hour of your judgment1 ye popes1 cardinals1 bishops1 priests1 preachers1 revivalists1 and clergy of ,baal1 of every order and grade4 ,hear ye the ,word of ,jehovah4 #cd3h4 ,as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 surely because ,my flock became a prey1 and ,my flock became meat to every beast of the field1 because there was no shepherd1 neither did ,my shepherds search for ,my flock1 but the shepherds fed themselves1 and fed not ,my flock4--,as ,i live1 saith the ,living ,god1 surely because ,my true flock became a prey1 and was exploited by every evil ruler and employer1 because there was no true shepherd among you1 and you clergy did not love and cherish and seek for ,my beloved flock1 but you loved and fed yourselves1 and starved ,my true people with a famine for the hearing of the ,word of ,god4--,amos #h3aa4 #cd3i4 ,therefore1 ,o ye shepherds1 hear the word of the ,lord4--,therefore1 ye clergy1 hear the ,word of the true ,god1 ,jehovah4 #cd3aj4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against the shepherds2 and ,i will require ,my flock at their hand1 and cause them to cease from feeding the flock2 neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more2 for ,i will deliver ,my flock from their mouth1 that they may not be meat for them4--,thus saith ,jehovah ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against the clergy 7,h4 #ab71 great and little1 high and low2 and ,i will exact from them an accounting for ,my beloved people2 ,i will take ,my flock entirely from them4 8,come out of her1 ,o ,my people1 and touch not the unclean thing40 7,rev4 #ah3d2 #b ,cor4 #f3ag47 ,and ,i will cause the clergy to cease from feeding or attempting to preach to ,my flock1 or any flock in ,my name2 for in a ,time of great ,trouble ,i will deliver ,my people from the mouths of the clergy 7,rev4 #i3agai71 that ,my flock may not furnish them support any more1 that ,my people may not ever again be preached by the clergy into slaughter4 #cd3aa4 ,for thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i1 even ,i1 will both search ,my sheep1 and seek them out4--,jehovah will ignore the hireling1 faithless clergy1 and through an agency of ,his own lowly despised1 caluminated1 ostracised will patiently1 persistently1 lovingly search for all ,his 8little ones10 those having ,his ,spirit1 and will seek them out4 #cd3ab4 ,as a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered2 so will ,i seek out ,my sheep1 and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day4--,as an oriental shepherd1 who knows and loves his sheep and is known and loved of them1 seeks them out1 when they are scattered 7,john #aj3dae71 so will ,god seek out every one of ,his beloved ones1 and will deliver them out of the condition of loneliness1 distress1 famine and persecution1 where they have been scattered by the apostate clergy in the troublous and dark period of the ,gospel ,age4 #cd3ac4 ,and ,i will bring them out from the people1 and gather them from the countries1 and will bring them to their own land1 and feed them upon the mountains of ,israel by the rivers1 and in all the inhabited places of the country4--,god himself will bring them together from the various paganized 8,christian0 denominations1 into the joy and peace and love of a condition at one with ,himself and with others of like precious faith4 ,upon the height of the ,heavenly ,kingdom will ,he feed them1 by rivers of crystal clear ,truth1 and amid the rejoicing throngs of the ,heavenly courts4 ,his chosen people1 the ,jews1 will ,god bring by the agency of the resurrected ,ancient ,worthies to ,palestine1 where ,he will feed them upon the historic mountains of that hallowed land1 in the then great cities of a realized ,zionism4 #cd3ad4 ,i will feed them in a good pasture1 and upon the high mountains of ,israel shall their fold be3 there shall they lie in a good fold1 and in a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains of ,israel4--,god will feed ,his ,little ,flock1 first on ,present ,truth and then1 at the ,marriage ,supper of the ,lamb ,he will appoint their place as ,kings and ,priests of the ,kingdom4 ,he will make them abide forever in the place1 the ,divine spirit nature1 which ,christ went to ,heaven to prepare4 ,upon the ,word1 fresh from the mind of ,god1 shall they feast forever1 in the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom4 ,to the ,jews will be fulfilled these promises in the earthly phase of the ,kingdom4 #cd3ae4 ,i will feed ,my flock1 and ,i will cause them to lie down1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,god will feed ,his ,flock with ,present ,truth1 and will give them the rest of 8the peace that passeth understanding40--,phil4 #d3g4 #cd3af4 ,i will seek that which was lost1 and bring again that which was driven away1 and will bind up that which was broken1 and will strengthen that which was sick2 but ,i will destroy the fat and the strong2 ,i will feed them with judgment4--,not one true sheep shall be lost4 ,god's unerring eye will seek every one1 and bring all back1 first into the ,truth1 and then into the ,kingdom4 ,he will bind up the broken in spirit and strengthen the spiritually sick4 ,in the latter part of this verse the picture of the shepherds is dropped and a new parable begins1 likening the clergy and their strong supporters and 8laity0 to different classes of sheep and goats 7cattle74 ,god purposes in the impending revolution and anarchy to destroy all the fat priests and clergy of all grades--as priests and clergy1 at least--and those that1 like the ,pharisees of old1 are sure they will securely stand in the presence of the ,lord4 8,let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall40 7#a ,cor4 #aj3ab47 ,he will feed them with famine and destruction1 and with the judgments pronounced in ,his ,word4 #cd3ag4 ,and as for you1 ,o ,my flock1 thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i judge between cattle and cattle1 between the rams and the goats4--,the nominal flock is made up of clergy and laity of sheep and goats4 ,in the flock ,god discerns the weaker sheep and the stronger rams and the goats--the clergy1 classleaders1 etc41--some of whom are real sheep and some goats1 destined to the left side of disfavor4 ,many of these are even wolves in sheep's clothing4--,matt4 #g3ae4 #cd3ah4 ,seemeth it a small thing unto you to have eaten up the good pasture1 but ye must tread down with your feet the residue of your pastures8 and to have drunk of the deep waters1 but ye must foul the residue with your feet8--,the stronger ones have not helped the weak to feed and grow strong2 but1 as though it were a small matter1 the clergy1 have lived on the fat of the land1 relatively to their poorer congregations4 ,they have eaten up the good ,word of ,god for themselves1 particularly the ,romish clergy2 and what spiritual food they have given the laity1 they have walked all over with muddy feet--mingled it with earthly doctrines1 social and civic betterment and traditions of men4 ,they have drunk of the water of ,truth 7,c4 #fe7 coming from the ,bible1 but have spoiled the waters by mingling it with ,evolution and ,higher ,criticism4 #cd3ai4 ,and as for ,my flock1 they eat that which ye have trodden down with your feet2 and they drink that which yet have fouled with your feet4--,and the laity1 ,god's flock1 whom ,god commissioned the shepherds to feed with the good ,word of ,god1 have eaten and drunk spiritual food polluted by the clergy with doctrines of devils4 #cd3bj4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god unto them2 ,behold ,i1 even ,i1 will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle4--,therefore ,god ,himself is about to judge and make a manifest difference between the unfaithful1 rich in learning and opportunity1 and the poorer ones on whom they have imposed4 #cd3ba4 ,because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder1 and pushed all the diseased with your horns1 till ye have scattered them abroad4--,because the rich1 learned and exclusive have shoved aside the weaker ones1 and have1 by their earthly power1 pushed out of the churches all ,his flock1 those not 8at ease in ,zion40--,amos #f3a2 ,isa4 #ff3e4 #cd3bb4 ,therefore will ,i save ,my flock1 and they shall no more be a prey2 and ,i will judge between cattle and cattle4--,therefore will ,god ,himself save ,his own in these troublous times1 by teaching them ,present ,truth2 and they shall 8come out of her0 7,rev4 #ah3d71 out of the churches altogether1 so that the clergy and the 8best0 people can no longer exploit them4 #cd3bc4 ,and ,i will set up one ,shepherd over them1 and ,he shall feed them1 even ,my servant ,david2 ,he shall feed them1 and ,he shall be their ,shepherd4--,god has established ,jesus 7,david7 the ,beloved 7,jer4 #bc2 #d1 #e2 ,john #aj3aa71 and ,pastor ,russell as a faithful and wise undershepherd1 to bring forth from the ,bible ,storehouse truths new and old1 to feed the sheep4 #cd3bd4 ,and ,i the ,lord will be their ,god1 and ,my servant ,david a prince among them2 ,i the ,lord have spoken it4--,jehovah 7not the eternaltorment ,molech ,god7 will be their ,god1 and ,his beloved ,son and his undershepherds shall occupy exalted places among them4 ,in the ,times of ,restitution the ,beloved ,christ1 ,head and body1 7,david1 beloved7 will be the true ,shepherd to the earthly flock1 the ,jews4 #cd3be4 ,and ,i will make with them a covenant of peace1 and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land3 and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods4--,with the truly ,christian flock ,god will make a covenant of the peace that passeth understanding 7,phil4 #d3g72 and with the ,jews will make the ,new ,covenant through its ,mediator1 ,the ,christ4 ,he will cause the roaring lion 7,isa4 #ce3i71 ,satan1 to cease from troubling 7,job #c3ag71 and will forever restrain in oblivion the evil governments4 ,his flock shall dwell securely1 even in the wilderness condition1 until their change come 7,job4 #ad3ad71 and shall rest in the cooling shadows 7,cant4 #b3c71 in the refreshing truths brought forth from the ,storehouse by righteous1 strong teachers and leaders among them4 #cd3bf4 ,and ,i will make them and the places round about ,my hill a blessing2 and ,i will cause the shower to come down in his season2 there shall be showers of blessing4--,the ,lord will make the ,truth people1 ,his flock1 and everything and every condition related to ,his ,kingdom1 a blessing to others 7,mal4 #c3aj72 they shall be the ,seed of ,abraham1 to bless all the families of the earth4 7,gal4 #c3h47 ,god has caused showers of truth to descend upon ,his flock at their appointed times1 downpours of spiritual blessing in the 8,studies in the ,scriptures40 ,at the appointed time of the beginning of returning favor to the ,jews1 #ahgh1 the latter rains began to fall in ,palestine1 making that fertile land a fit habitation again for the chosen nation4 #cd3bg4 ,and the tree of the field shall yield her fruit1 and the earth shall yield her increase1 and they shall be safe in their land1 and shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i have broken the bands of their yoke1 and delivered them out of the hand of those that served themselves of them4--,thinking1 manly men1 gathered into ,present ,truth from the world1 yield their fruitage of spirit fruits of character2 and the blessed condition in which they are yields its increase of spiritual blessing and food2 they are safe in their place1 8seated with ,christ in the ,heavenlies0 7,eph4 #a3c1 #bj71 where they assuredly know ,god with heart knowledge4 ,god has broken the bands of the heavy yoke of ecclesiasticism1 and delivered them out of the hand of a clergy that lived upon ,his flock1 calling it 8their people40 ,for ,fleshly ,israel and those who shall become ,israelites there shall be the blessings of an earthly ,eden1 with an abundance of fruitage from trees and soil 7,a4 #aib74 #cd3bh4 ,and they shall no more be a prey to the heathen1 neither shall the beast of the land devour them2 but they shall dwell safely1 and none shall make them afraid4--,god's flock of spiritbegotten ones shall be no more preyed upon by paganized 8,christians10 nor persecuted1 devoured1 destroyed1 by the great 8beast0 of ,christendom1 the ,papacy1 with its 8,holy ,inquisition20 but they shall dwell safely in the hollow of ,his hand1 ,his power1 and none can make afraid those sealed in their foreheads with the ,truth4 #cd3bi4 ,and ,i will raise up for them a plant of renown1 and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land1 neither bear the shame of the heathen any more4--,god raised up1 in #ahgh1 in the ,first ,resurrection of the dead1 the ,body members of ,his ,son1 8the ,stem of ,david10 and previously in #ahgd1 had sent again ,his ,son to feed the flock1 to serve them 7,luke #ab3cg71 and sup with them 7,rev4 #c3bj7 in a feast of fat things spiritual--the ,present ,truth4 ,those in the ,truth shall never again suffer from famine of the ,word of ,god2 nor shall they1 when raised up to sit with ,christ in power and glory 7,matt4 #ai3bh71 ever again bear reproach from a paganized 8,christian0 apostasy4 #cd3cj4 ,thus shall they know that ,i the ,lord their ,god am with them1 and that they1 even the house of ,israel1 are ,my people1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,this is the way that the ,lord's ,spiritual ,flock and both ,jews1 and nominal ,christians1 shall come to know of a certainty that ,jehovah is with them1 that they are ,his people4 #cd3ca4 ,and ye ,my flock1 the flock of ,my pasture1 are men1 and ,i am your ,god1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,this prophecy1 this type1 this symbolism1 refers to the people who constitute ,god's flock1 ,jewish and nominal4 ,ezekiel #ce--;,edom ,a ,type #ce3a1 #b4 ,moreover the ,word of the ,lord came onto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 set thy face against mount ,seir1 and prophesy against it4--,mount ,seir and ,edom are practically synonymous2 for the ,edomites inhabited the mountain range region along the east side of the valley1 extending from the ,dead ,sea to the ,elamitic or ,persian ,gulf4 ,what ,edom types ,pastor ,russell makes clear in volume ,,iv of ,scripture ,studies1 pp4 #ad1 #bj4 ,one of the features of the ,time of ,trouble will be upon the fleshlyminded ,christians1 tares1 who after the fall of ecclesiasticism1 will repudiate ,christianity1 and take their stand as worldings1 ,edomites--the 8people of ,mount ,seir10 mere tares4 ,these1 having assisted in the downfall of ecclesiasticism1 will seek to take the place and power of defunct ,christendom in an utterly ,christless arrangement of things4 #ce3c4 ,and say unto it1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god1 ,behold1 ,o mount ,seir1 ,i am against thee1 and ,i will stretch out ,mine hand against thee1 and ,i will make thee most desolate4--,the godless nations that will succeed fallen ,christendom will also find ,god against them1 and that ,his power is stretched out against them and will make them1 too1 most desolate4 #ce3d4 ,i will lay the cities waste1 and thou shalt be desolate1 and thou shalt know that ,i am the ,lord4--,god will1 through anarchy1 lay waste the ,socialistic1 laborunion1 socialdemocratic and other governments which will emerge as the outcome of the revolutions of ,christendom4 #ce3e4 ,because thou hast had a perpetual hatred1 and hast shed the blood of the children of ,israel by the force of the sword in the time of their calamity1 in the time that their iniquity had an end4--,these economic political movements--,socialism1 laborunionism1 syndicalism1 nihilism1 and others1 but not including anarchy1 which will swallow them up--have had a long standing hatred against ecclesiasticism1 have spoken and worked against it1 and against the social order characteristic of the past age4 ,in the overthrow of ecclesiasticism1 the fleshlyminded tares1 8,edomites0 and the classes mentioned1 will turn on the clergy and laity of the churches1 as well as upon the ,lord's spiritbegotten children--upon any remaining to profess ,christianity1 whether through adherence to the church systems or through consecration to ,god--and will slaughter them by thousands4 #ce3f4 ,therefore1 as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 ,i will prepare thee unto blood1 and blood shall pursue thee2 since thou hast not hated blood1 even blood shall pursue thee4--,in gatherings of ,socialists1 there is no end to the differences of opinion as to what ,socialism is and how it is to be worked out in practice4 ,this factional division contains the seeds of the destruction of the shortlived governmental system of ,socialism1 under whatever name1 for a bloody end4 ,they courted revolution and shall receive of the same4 #ce3g4 ,thus will ,i make mount ,seir most desolate1 and cut off from it him that passeth out and him that returneth4--,thus will ,god cause the brief ,socialistic phase of the ,time of ,trouble to become 8most desolate40 ,not one person connected with it shall escape the universal anarchy1 the last and worst phase of the tribulation4 #ce3h4 ,and ,i will fill his mountains with his slain men2 in thy hills1 and in thy valleys1 and in all thy rivers1 shall they fall that are slain with the sword4--,the ,socialistic1 laborridden nations 7mountains71 shall be filled with the slain2 among the upper classes of socialism1 and among the more insignificant people 7valleys7 and in connection with all their channels of ,socialistic truth 7rivers71 the people of that order of things shall be slain4 ,in a sense the ,sword of the ,spirit1 will slay them2 it foretells their destruction4 #ce3i4 ,i will make thee perpetual desolations1 and thy cities shall not return2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,the ,socialistic state shall be utterly destroyed1 and its various forms of government 7cities7 go to oblivion4 #ce3aj4 ,because thou hast said1 ,these two nations and these two countries shall be mine1 and we will possess it2 whereas the ,lord was there4--,the then nonreligious ,socialists1 laborites1 etc41 will say3 8,these two systems 7nations71 ,catholic and ,protestant1 and the condition of things characteristic of them1 shall come under the sway of ,socialism1 and we ,socialists1 etc41 shall rule over and control them01 whereas they will overlook the allimportant fact that ,god has been among these people1 and they were called ,god's people4--8,the ,lord was there40 #ce3aa4 ,therefore1 as ,i live1 saith the ,lord ,god1 ,i will even do according to thine anger1 and according to thine envy1 which thou hast used out of thy hatred against them2 and ,i will make ,myself known among them1 when ,i have judged thee4--,therefore as the ,socialists1 etc41 will turn upon ecclesiasticism and ,christianity in anger and fury and with hateful envy1 so ,god will do to the ,socialistic laborite order of things4 ,as they aid in smiting down ,christianity1 so will the anarchists smite them down4 #ce3ab4 ,and thou shalt know that ,i am the ,lord1 and that ,i have heard all thy blasphemies1 which thou hast spoken against the mountains of ,israel1 saying1 ,they are laid desolate1 they are given us to consume4--,the laborites1 etc41 will learn that ,god rules in the affairs of men1 and that the ,almighty will pay attention to their utterances against the nations 7mountains7 of ,christendom 7,israel71 when1 after ecclesiasticism's fall1 the laborites shall say1 8,the nations have been desolated1 and are given to us working people to divide up for ourselves40 #ce3ac4 ,thus with your mouth ye have boasted against ,me1 and have multiplied your words against ,me3 ,i have heard them4--,the ,socialistic and kindred movements1 while speaking savagely against capitalism1 and covertly against ,christianity1 have in reality been speaking against an order permitted by ,god1 and in which ,god was--in the indwelling of ,his ,holy ,spirit1 in such true ,christians as were in the systems4 ,in expressing the determination to lead the world out of the darkness of evil economic1 social and political conditions1 they unwittingly boast against ,god by presuming to perform what ,god previously planned to be done by ,his faithful ,church1 and which by any lesser agency is absolutely impossible of accomplishment1 ,god will not pass by unnoticed the words of ,socialists1 syndicalists1 laborites1 etc4 ,he will hear them1 and remember them for just recompense4 #ce3ad4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,when the whole earth rejoiceth1 ,i will make thee desolate4--,when the ,times of ,restitution of all things come1 one of the things not to be restored is the ,socialist1 laborite movement4 ,when all society rejoices in the new order of things ordained of ,god1 the ,socialistic state will have been utterly and forever desolated4 #ce3ae4 ,as thou didst rejoice at the inheritance of the house of ,israel1 because it was desolate1 so will ,i do onto thee2 thou shalt be desolate1 ,o mount ,seir1 and all ,idumea1 even all of it3 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,as the fleshlyminded apostates from ,christianity1 siding with the radicals and revolutionaries1 will rejoice at the inheritance of desolation that will be ,christendom's after #aiah1 so will ,god do to the successful revolutionary movement2 it shall be utterly desolated1 8even all of it40 ,not one vestige of it shall survive the ravages of worldwide allembracing anarchy1 in the fall of #aibj4 7,rev4 #aa3gac7 ,ezekiel #cf--;,christendom's ,early ,restoration #cf3a4 ,also1 thou son of man1 prophesy unto the mountains of ,israel1 and say1 ,ye mountains of ,israel1 hear the ,word of the ,lord4--,in ,chapter #f is described the iniquities of the nations of ,christendom and their doom4 ,chapter #cf describes the rejoicing of the non,christian elements over her fall1 and ,god's jealous anger against them4 ,it foretells the early re peopling of the nations of ,christendom1 their conversion to true ,christianity1 and the reason for ,god's action in behalf of the nations just previously destroyed4 ,taken literally1 it foretells the same good future for ,his chosen but longchastised people1 the ,jews4 ,this is the message to the nations 7mountains7 of ,christendom1 as the ,word of ,jehovah concerning them4 #cf3b4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because the enemy hath said against you1 ,aha1 even the ancient high places are ours in possession4--,because the revolutionists1 who shall overthrow the nations of ,christendom1 shall say against them1 8,aha1 even the oldest and greatest nations of ,christendom are under the control of us revolutionists1 ,socialists and laborites40 #cf3c4 ,therefore prophesy and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because they have made you desolate1 and swallowed you up on every side1 that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen1 and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers1 and are an infamy of the people4--,thus saith ,jehovah ,god to the nations of ,christendom3 ,because the revolutionists shall have justly made you desolate and overrun you in every direction1 so that you might be ruled over by pagan1 fleshlyminded1 infidel1 revolutionary rulers1 and because you shall be the subject of flippant discussion among the revolutionaries1 and through your fall become infamous among all the heathen peoples of the world1 in ,europe1 ,america and elsewhere4--,lam4 #b3ae1 #af4 #cf3d4 ,therefore1 ye mountains of ,israel1 hear the ,word of the ,lord ,god2 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god to the mountains and to the hills1 to the rivers and to the valleys1 to the desolate wastes and to the cities that are forsaken1 which became a prey and derision to the residue of the heathen that are round about4--,therefore1 ye nations of ,christendom1 thus saith ,jehovah to the nations1 great and small1 to the religious denominations1 to the lowly members of society1 to the masses wasted and desolated by war and revolution1 to the governments1 local and national that shall be abandoned1 which shall become the victims of the ,socialists1 laborites and other revolutionists1 who shall hold you in derision for your fall from eminence to desolation4 #cf3e4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,surely in the fire of ,my jealousy have ,i spoken against the residue of the heathen1 and against all ,idumea1 which have appointed ,my land into their possessions with the joy of all their heart1 with despiteful minds1 to cast it out for a prey4--,therefore1 saith ,god1 surely ,i am jealous over the reflections they cast upon ,me1 and at the mouths of many prophets have ,i foretold the destruction by anarchy of the rest of those who falsely profess ,my name and then help to desolate ,christendom--the 8,christian0 infidels and all the former fleshlyminded ,christians 7,idumeans7 who shall have presumed1 with malicious joy1 to overthrow the order of things which bears ,my name--,christendom6 #cf3f4 ,prophesy therefore concerning the land of ,israel1 and say unto the mountains and to the hills1 to the rivers and to the valleys1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold ,i have spoken in ,my jealousy and in ,my fury1 because ye have borne the shame of the heathen4--,o nations of fallen ,christendom1 ,my people1 because you shall have borne shame and reproach from the ungodly revolutionists1 ,i will bring ,my jealous fury to bear upon your destroyers4 #cf3g4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i have lifted up ,mine hand1 ,surely the heathen that are about you1 they shall bear their shame4--,jehovah has sworn 7lifted the hand7 that the ,socialists1 laborites1 etc41 shall bear a similar shame and reproach1 when their shortlived order of things has in turn been desolated by the anarchists4 #cf3h4 ,but ye1 ,o mountains of ,israel1 ye shall shoot forth your branches1 and yield your fruit to ,my people of ,israel2 for they are at hand to come4--,a branch signifies a person born from another2 as1 ,christ was a ,branch of ,david4 ,here the branches shooting forth from the mountains are the people of ,christendom1 slain in revolutions and anarchy1 springing forth1 rising from the dead1 to people ,christendom again4 ,but you1 ,o nations1 of ,christendom1 your dead shall rise up from their sleep in the dust of the earth1 to the earthly restitution--resurrection2 you shall yield proper fruitage as the truly ,christian people of ,christendom2 for they are close at hand to come back in the dust of the earth1 in the mire of trenches1 fortresses and battle fields4 ,they sleep in death1 ready to come1 for 8,all that are in their graves shall hear the voice of the ,son of ,god1 and shall come forth0 to resurrection4--,john #e3bh1 #bi4 #cf3i4 ,for1 behold1 ,i am for you1 and ,i will turn unto you1 and ye shall be tilled and sown4--,now that the ,times of ,restitution are at the door1 ,god will be for them and will turn his favor unto them1 and they shall be cultivated by truly ,christian preachers commissioned by the resurrected ,ancient ,worthies at ,jerusalem1 and sown with the seed of the true ,gospel of the ,kingdom of restitution and blessing for all people4 #cf3aj4 ,and ,i will multiply men upon you1 all the house of ,israel1 even all of it2 and the cities shall be inhabited1 and the wastes shall be builded4--,the dead1 fallen by the sword of war1 revolution and anarchy1 shall come forth from their graves to inhabit the earth4 ,thus1 as they multiplied the dead1 will ,god multiply the living1 to the number of all the dead of ,christendom1 even every one of them2 they shall become in ,his sight1 not dead in trespasses and sins1 but living1 trueblue1 manly men for the ,christ of divine love4 ,the governments 7cities7 shall be reestablished2 and commerce1 transportation1 industry and art1 wasted by the ,time of ,trouble1 shall be built up again1 upon the foundation of the wholly righteous principles of the ,new ,era4 #cf3aa4 ,and ,i will multiply upon you man and beast2 and they shall increase and bring fruit2 and ,i will settle you after your old estates1 and will do better unto you than at your beginnings3 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,god will multiply useful workers in industries1 and the invention of laborsaving machinery--the beasts of burden and of the productive arts and trades4 ,they shall increase in numbers and in service to mankind1 and shall multiply the productivity of the workers1 bringing forth with the busy1 happy hum of industry1 plenty for all1 fruitage abundant for the needs of humanity4 ,god will settle them1 establish them in permanent conditions1 and will do for them far better than ,he could do in the former days of ,christendom1 when the operation of ,his ,spirit energizing mind and spirit in invention1 art1 industry1 commerce and religion1 was hindered by apostasy of clergy and rulers4 ,men shall learn by happy experience how good is ,jehovah and how truly ,he is love1 and not the firegod1 eternal torment ,molech1 whom they ignorantly worshipped1 thinking they did ,jehovah service4 #cf3ab4 ,yea1 ,i will cause men to walk upon you1 even ,my people ,israel2 and they shall possess thee1 and thou shalt be their inheritance1 and thou shalt no more henceforth bereave them of men4--,god will cause men1 perfected by processes of restitution and resurrection1 to live in the nations of resurrected ,christendom4 ,men of this highly exalted type shall possess ,christendom1 when ,christ's ,kingdom shall be inherited by the kingly men for whom it was prepared from the foundations of the earth4 ,never more shall the nations of ,christendom bereave themselves of men1 as they have done in centuries of oppression1 misrule and persecution1 and especially in the ,time of ,trouble4 #cf3ac4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,because they say unto you1 ,thou land devourest up men1 and hast bereaved thy nations4--,because the infidel revolutionists will throw at ,christendom the taunt1 8,your social order1 economic1 political and religious1 eats up1 destroys men1 in industry1 persecution1 war1 and revolution1 and bereaves the nations of their best men40 #cf3ad4 ,therefore thou shalt devour men no more1 neither bereave thy nations any more1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,never shall this be any more1 says ,god4 #cf3ae4 ,neither will ,i cause men to hear in thee the shame of the heathen any more1 neither shalt thou bear the reproach of the people any more1 neither shalt thou cause thy nations to fall any more1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,neither will ,god permit men to hear the infidel peoples put ,christendom to shame1 nor to heap reproach upon her2 for ,christendom shall be no more a reproach among the heathen1 nor shall she cause her nations to fall again4 #cf3af1 #ag4 ,moreover the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 when the house of ,israel dwelt in their own land1 they defiled it by their own way and by their doings3 their way was before ,me as the uncleanness of a removed woman4--,while ecclesiasticism and its adherents control ,christendom1 they defile it spiritually by their traditions1 doctrines and actions4 ,their spiritual condition is before ,god as a church polluted1 unclean spiritually1 unfit to touch1 which ought to be 8cut off from social privileges and her citizenship among ,god's people put in abeyance10 as long as the spiritually unclean condition lasts1 an uncleanness which may be removed only by a liberal application of 8the waters of separation0 7,lev4 #ae3aica7--the cleansing reformation of the pure1 unadulterated1 fearlessly preached and applied ,word of ,god1 8the water of the ,word40--,eph4 #e3bf4 #cf3ah4 ,wherefore ,i poured ,my fury upon them for the blood that they had shed upon the land1 and for their idols wherewith they had polluted it4--,the penalty for wilful violation of the ,hebraic precepts regarding uncleanness was the final cutting off of the culprit from the ,lord's people4 ,wherefore ,god shall pour out upon ecclesiasticism ,his fury in war1 revolution1 and anarchy1 for the lives--physical and religious--taken throughout the lengths and breadths of human society1 and for the idolatrous worship of ,molech1 the eternaltorment ,god1 and of ,baal1 the god of adulterous churchstate union1 wherewith she has polluted ,christendom4 #cf3ai4 ,and ,i scattered them among the heathen1 and they were dispersed through the countries3 according to their way and according to their doings ,i judged them4--,god will scatter the church adherents among the revolutionists1 and disperse them throughout a variety of infidel1 ,socialistic1 laborite and other like conditions1 judging the ecclesiastics according to their apostasy4 #cf3bj4 ,and when they entered unto the heathen1 whither they went1 they profaned ,my holy name1 when they said to them1 ,these are the people of the ,lord1 and are gone forth out of ,his land4--,wherever these fleshlyminded ,christians shall be scattered1 they will blaspheme ,god's holy name1 with the reproach that though they had claimed to be ,jehovah's people1 ,god had been unable to safeguard them and they had abandoned all pretense of being ,christians4 #cf3ba4 ,but ,i had pity for ,mine holy name1 which the house of ,israel had profaned among the heathen1 whither they went4--,but ,god will have regard for the prestige of ,his reputation for justice1 power1 love and wisdom1 which the apostate of ,christendom shall impugn during the revolutionary order of things4 #cf3bb4 ,therefore say unto the house of ,israel1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i do not this for your sakes1 ,o house of ,israel1 but for ,mine holy name's sake1 which ye have profaned among the heathen1 whither ye went4--,therefore ,jehovah says that what ,he is about to do1 ,he will not do for their sakes1 for they deserve nothing at ,his hand but the judgments justly visited upon them2 but that ,he will do it for ,his holy name's reputation1 which they have persistently misrepresented and blasphemed4 #cf3bc4 ,and ,i will sanctify ,my great name1 which was profaned among the heathen1 which ye have profaned in the midst of them2 and the heathen shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 saith the ,lord ,god1 when ,i shall be sanctified in you before their eyes4--,god will make ,his name sacred1 and forever hallowed1 among the pagan peoples1 the name which apostate ,christians have profaned and defamed among them2 and ,god will make the infidel peoples to know of a certainty that ,he is the allwise1 just1 loving and almighty ,jehovah1 when ,he finally converts all such to true ,christianity4 #cf3bd4 ,for ,i will take you from among the heathen1 and gather you out of all countries1 and will bring you into your own land4--,god will save ,his professed people from the faithless1 unbelieving condition of the revolutionists and the professedly pagan peoples1 and will gather them out of all the evil conditions into which they shall fall1 into a condition of genuine conversion and consecration to ,himself4 ,how much like ,god6 all will exclaim1 who know ,jehovah4 ,what an example does the ,father set to ,his children1 the sons of ,god6--,eph4 #e3a2 ,z4 '#ibfc4 #cf3be4 ,then will ,i sprinkle clean water upon you1 and ye shall be clean3 from all your filthiness1 and from all your idols1 will ,i cleanse you4--,then will ,jehovah wash ,his apostate people with the pure1 unpolluted water of the ,word of ,truth2 and from all their filthiness of flesh and spirit1 of life and of doctrine1 and from their idolatry of ,molech and of ,baal1 will ,he cleanse them2 and they shall be clean4--,a4 #ccc2 ,z4 '#ibfd4 #cf3bf4 ,a new heart also will ,i give you1 and a new spirit will ,i put within you2 and ,i will take away the stony heart out of your flesh1 and ,i will give you a heart of flesh4--,god judges the thoughts and intents of the heart1 and ,he will give ,his professed people a pure heart to serve ,him and to love ,him with fullness of consecration4 ,he will take away from them the stony heart 7,jer4 #ca3cc71 wherewith for sake of earthly emoluments and honor of men1 they have resisted ,him and hardened their consciences against ,his ,truth4 ,he will put within them a new spirit which they have not known--the spirit of willing service and obedience to ,jehovah1 the spirit of the truth1 the spirit of wisdom1 of courage1 of a sound mind1 and of ,divine love4--#b ,tim4 #a3g2 ,z4 '#iiahg2 ,a4 #caj2 ,z4 '#jcaga4 #cf3bg4 ,and ,i will put ,my ,spirit within you1 and cause you to walk in ,my statutes1 and ye shall keep ,my judgments1 and do them4--,god will give them ,his ,holy ,spirit and cause them to walk in ,his 8royal law of love0 7,jas4 #b3h71 so that they shall keep that law and do it--,z4 '#iiach4 #cf3bh4 ,and ye shall dwell in the land that ,i gave to your fathers2 and ye shall be ,my people1 and ,i will be your ,god4--,and they shall abide in the condition of ,divine favor that the fathers walked in1 and truly be ,god's people2 and ,jehovah1 the ,god of love--not ,molech1 nor ,baal--shall be their ,god4 #cf3bi4 ,i will also save you from all your uncleanness3 and ,i will call for the corn1 and will increase it1 and lay no famine upon you4--,god will save the people now constituting ,his professed1 but apostate church1 from all their spiritual and fleshly uncleanness4 ,he will call for the wheat1 the bread of life1 the ,word of ,god1 and will give them to feed on this good ,word1 and will permit no more famine of the ,word of ,god among them4 #cf3cj4 ,and ,i will multiply the fruit of the tree1 and the increase of the field1 that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen4--,god will multiply the fruits of righteousness1 and cause the new social order to increase its character fruitage1 so that ,christians shall receive no more from the heathen the reproach that there is among them a famine of ,god's ,word1 and that they fail to practise what they profess4--,amos4 #h3aa4 #cf3ca4 ,then shall ye remember your own evil ways1 and your doings that were not good1 and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations4--,then1 in the abundance of the wonderful and undeserved goodness and love of ,god1 ,god's professed people shall remember their former evil doctrines1 that misrepresented ,his holy character1 and their doings that were not good1 especially their grasping for world power and their persecution of the sons of ,god4 ,then they shall loathe themselves for their iniquitous doctrines and for their sectarian abominations4 #cf3cb4 ,not for your own sakes do ,i this1 saith the ,lord ,god1 be it known unto you3 be ashamed and confounded for your own ways1 ,o house of ,israel4--,be it known1 in advance1 that ,jehovah will do these good things1 not for their sakes in any sense2 for they merit far different treatment at ,his hands4 ,they shall be ashamed and utterly confounded at ,his goodness4 ,thus1 with goodness and with love overflowing will ,god recompense the evil they have done ,him and ,his true children4 #cf3cc4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 in the day that ,i shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities ,i will also cause you to dwell in the cities1 and the wastes shall be builded4--,in the #a1jjjyear day1 the ,millennium1 the 8,times of ,restitution of all things0 7,acts #c3aiba71 when ,god shall have cleansed those who are now ,his professed people from their iniquities1 ,he will cause them to abide in new governments of the nations and cities of ,christendom 7,lu4 #ai3ag71 whose wasted arts1 manufactures1 industries1 transportation and commerce shall be built up again4 #cf3cd4 ,and the desolate land shall be tilled1 whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by4--,christendom1 utterly desolated in war1 revolution and anarchy1 and lying desolate in the sight of the whole world1 shall be cultivated in the arts1 sciences1 trades and professions1 and especially with the true ,gospel of the ,kingdom4 #cf3ce4 ,and they shall say1 ,this land that was desolate is become like the garden of ,eden2 and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced1 and are inhabited4--,and the infidel peoples shall exclaim1 8,christendom that was utterly desolated1 has become like the ,garden of ,eden60 ,for governments1 national1 city1 and local1 which were wasted1 desolated and ruined1 have been replaced by better and permanent 7fenced7 arrangements brought about by the mighty power of ,jehovah's ,love4 #cf3cf4 ,then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that ,i the ,lord build the ruined places1 and plant that that was desolate3 ,i the ,lord have spoken it1 and ,i will do it4--,then the unbelieving peoples will come to the realization that the ,one that shall rebuild ruined ,christendom and plant the desolate people with the seed of the glad gospel of the ,kingdom is ,jehovah4 ,jehovah has spoken it1 and will bring it to pass4 #cf3cg4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,i will yet for this be inquired of by the house of ,israel1 to do it for them2 ,i will increase them with men like a flock4--,god will yet be supplicated by desolated ,christendom to do this for them4 ,then1 in answer to their prayers1 ,he will1 by awakenings from the dead1 increase their numbers with men in multitudes4 #cf3ch4 ,as the holy flock1 as the flock of ,jerusalem in her solemn feasts2 so shall the waste cities be filled with flocks of men3 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,like as vast flocks of sheep and cattle were gathered for sacrifice at the annual feasts at ,jerusalem1 so shall the devastated nations of ,christendom be filled with great crowds of consecrated1 holy men1 each devoted as a willing thank offering forever to live for ,god4 ,and they shall know1 when ,god has brought them back from the dead1 that ,he is ,jehovah1 a ,god of infinite ,justice1 ,power1 ,love and ,wisdom4 ,hail to the brightness of ,zion's glad morning6 ,joy to the lands that in darkness have lain6 ,hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning6 ,zion1 in triumph1 begins her glad reign4 ,see the dead risen from land and from ocean2 ,praise to ,jehovah ascending on ,high2 ,fall'n are the engines of war and commotion2 ,shouts of salvation are rending the sky4 ,ezekiel #cg--,the ,valley ,of ,dry ,bones #cg3a4 ,the hand of the ,lord was upon me1 and carried me out in the ,spirit of the ,lord1 and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones4--,chapter #cg3aad has a fourfold application3 7#a7 to the ,valley of ,jehoshaphat1 the ,adamic death1 into which the ,hebrew nation has gone2 7#b7 to the captivity of the ,hebrews in literal ,babylonia2 7#c7 the captivity of the ,hebrews in ,mystic ,babylon1 ,christendom2 and 7#d7 the dead condition of the hopes of ,christendom in and after the ,time of ,trouble4 ,it is because the ,jews were types of the ,christians that the blessed fulfilment of this prophecy applies with peculiar force to ,christendom in and after the ,time of ,trouble4 ,the power 7hand7 of ,jehovah was upon ,ezekiel to enable him to see and expound this vision for the benefit of the ,hebrews and their dead hopes in captivity 7#b7 in literal ,babylon1 7#c7 in ,mystic ,babylon 7,christendom7 and 7#a7 in the ,adamic death4 7,z4 '#iiaij2 '#jaceh47 ,the power of ,god is now upon ,his people to understand the application of the vision of dry bones as pertaining to the hopes of 7#d7 the people of ,christendom1 who1 though believers in ,god1 have not the ,holy ,spirit to illuminate their mental vision1 and who will find themselves in the depths 7valley7 of despair in and after the ,time of ,trouble4 ,the condition of the withered hopes of ,christendom in the ,time of ,trouble and death is pictured by the ,valley of ,jehoshaphat 7,joel #c3b1 #iad73 8,i will gather all nations1 and will bring them down into the ,valley of ,jehoshaphat of judgment and death1 and will plead in war1 revolution and anarchy with them there for ,my people and ,my heritage ,israel the true ,church whom they have scattered among the nations1 and parted ,my land into several hundred denominations4 ,proclaim ye this among the nations3 ,prepare war1 wake up the mighty men1 let all the men of war draw near2 let them come up2 beat your plowshares into swords1 and your pruning hooks into spears2 let the weak ,belgium1 etc4 say1 ,i am strong4 ,assemble yourselves1 and come1 all ye heathen1 and gather yourselves together round about2 thither cause thy mighty ones the ,little ,flock1 mighty in the power of the ,lord to come down1 ,o ,lord4 ,let the heathen in ,christendom1 and out be wakened1 and come up to the ,valley of ,jehoshaphat3 for there will ,i sit to judge all the heathen round about4 ,put ye in the sickle1 for the harvest of the vine of the earth1 7,rev4 #ad3ai7 ,christendom is ripe2 come1 get you down2 for the press is full1 the fats overflow2 for their wickedness is great4 ,multitudes1 multitudes in the valley of decision for or against ,god and ,his ,word for the ,day of vengeance of the ,lord is near in the valley of decision40--,joel #c3b1 #iae4 ,vast will be the slaughter1 complete the devastation1 heartrending the ruin and the desolation of the hopes and aspirations of ,christendom in the dark and gloomy valley of the ,day of ,vengeance of ,jehovah4 ,it will indeed be a valley--a cast down1 humbled1 lowly condition1 in which the people of proud ,christendom will suddenly find themselves1 a condition full of the memories of ruined hopes1 7bones7 7,mal4 #d3a47 ,the valley is full of dried up hopes 7bones73 7#a7 the twelve tribes of ,israel in death2 7#b1 #c7 the ,hebrews in captivity to literal and mystical ,babylon2 and 7#d7 the hopes of ,christendom4 #cg3b4 ,and caused me to pass by them round about3 and behold1 there were very many in the open valley2 and lo1 they were very dry4--,the hopes of the ,hebrews1 held out to them in ,scripture1 were very many1 but until the regathering out of literal and mystical ,babylon1 and from the dead1 were and shall be lifeless4 ,pastor ,russell1 in ,volume ,,iv of ,studies in the ,scriptures1 compassed the entire range of the afflictions and desolated hopes of mankind in war1 revolution and anarchy of the great ,time of ,trouble4 #cg3c4 ,and he said unto me1 ,son of man1 can these bones live6 ,and ,i answered1 ,o ,lord ,god1 ,thou knowest4--8,is there any hope for the scattered people of ,israel1 that they will ever be restored as a nation8 ,can the good hopes of ,christendom1 ruined by war1 revolution and anarchy1 be revived80 8,o ,jehovah ,god1 ,thou knowest and hast foretold the answer by the mouths of ,prophets and ,apostles1 and ,thine own ,son60 #cg3d4 ,again ,he said unto me1 ,prophesy upon these bones1 and say unto them1 ,o ye dry bones1 hear the ,word of the ,lord4--,and ,god says about the ,scriptural hopes of both ,jews and of ,christendom1 whose fall1 ignominy and captivity in literal ,babylon1 in mystic ,babylon1 in the ,adamic death and in the ,time of ,trouble have caused1 and will cause1 so great sufferings and so many tears4 8,hear the good ,word of ,jehovah concerning thy ruined hopes40 #cg3e4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god unto these bones2 ,behold1 ,i will cause breath to enter into you1 and ye shall live4--,thus saith ,jehovah ,god about the hopes of ,christendom3 ,behold1 in the blessed ,times of ,restitution1 the time for ,his great love for men to be revealed1 ,he shall cause the people that are left among the ,hebrews and in ,christendom to talk and pray about their good hopes for the uplift of themselves and all the world to better1 higher things4 ,and their hopes shall live again2 for ,god will cause the spirit of life1 lifeenergy1 to enter into their hopes and into their dead--those captive in the ,adamic death and in the ruin of the great tribulation4--,e4 #cda1 #caf4 #cg3f4 ,and ,i will lay sinews upon you1 and will bring up flesh upon you1 and cover you with skin1 and put breath in you1 and ye shall live2 and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,god will make their hopes strong2 for ,his ,word encourages their realization2 and ,he gives them power1 form and substance and protection1 and will finally give them vitality1 and they shall live1 shall become a bright and vital reality4 ,then with thanksgiving they shall know ,him truly as ,jehovah4--,e4 #cda1 #caf4 #cg3g4 ,so ,i prophesied as ,i was commanded3 and as ,i prophesied1 there was a noise1 and behold a shaking1 and the bones came together1 bone to his bone4--,while ,ezekiel was speaking there began 8a shaking0--the commotion incident to the fall of ,babylon and the transfer of the empire to the ,medes and ,persians1 typifying the coming ,time of ,trouble4 ,and while ,pastor ,russell was preaching there began--in #aiad--the shaking of ,christendom1 in wars1 revolutions and anarchy1 preparatory to the transfer of the rulership from ,mystic ,babylon1 ,christendom1 to the twophase1 spiritual and natural1 ,kingdom of ,god2 also the ,zionistic hopes of the ,jews began to assume definite1 connected and ,scriptural form4 ,in due time1 after the hopes of ,christendom shall have been utterly ruined in the trouble1 there will be 8a noise10 as of the rushing wind of a second ,pentecostal outpouring of the ,holy ,spirit 8upon all flesh40 ,it will be upon all ,christendom1 where men will be awaiting it with prayer and supplication4 ,and behold6 all ,christendom will be shaken with emotion and with a revival of hope2 and all the good hopes of ,christendom1 whose realization hitherto had been vague and disconnected1 will be seen in their proper and ,divinely appointed relation 7bone to his bone74--,z4 '#iiaia4 #cg3h4 ,and when ,i beheld1 lo1 the sinews and the flesh came up upon them1 and the skin covered them above3 but there was no breath in them4--,as a result of ,ezekiel's prophesying among the ,hebrews captive in ,babylon1 hope grew strong and positive1 and the protection of ,jehovah 7skin7 was seen to be upon it1 but yet there was no vitality to it4 ,the time was not ripe for the fruition of hope4 ,pastor ,russell1 too1 preached to the ,jews about their ,zionist hopes1 and pointed them to the ,hebrew ,bible to understand the proper fulfillment of their hopes2 and while he was preaching ,zionism grew into a strong movement4 ,there is a due time also for ,christendom's hopes to be strengthened by the books of ,pastor ,russell in millions of homes throughout ,christendom4 ,the surviving people of ,christendom will read the ,studies in the ,scriptures during and after the time of the ruination of their hopes4 ,but even then something will be lacking--the ,spirit1 power1 to cause the fulfillment of hope4--,e4 #cda1 #caf4 #cg3i4 ,then said ,he unto me1 ,prophesy unto the wind1 prophesy1 son of man1 and say to the wind1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,come from the four winds1 ,o breath1 and breathe upon these slain1 that they may live4--,ezekiel was commissioned to say1 as the ,word of ,god ,himself1 concerning the operation of the ,holy ,spirit 7wind1 ruach7 or power of ,god1 that the whole power 7four winds7 of ,god as concerned the ,hebrew nation in captivity in literal ,babylon should be exercised to cause the revival of their national and ,messianic hopes4 8,the words that ,i speak1 they are ,spirit40 ,the whole ,word of ,god 7four winds1 the whole ,spirit7 foretold the regathering of the willing and obedient of the ,hebrews from ,babylon to ,jerusalem1 after seventy years' captivity4 ,pastor ,russell1 as ,ezekiel's antitype1 was commissioned to say to the ,hebrews1 scattered throughout the world in captivity in ,mystic ,babylon1 ,christendom1 that the whole ,word of ,god pointed to two great blessings3 7#a7 the revival of their ,zionist hope and its realization in the regathering of many ,hebrews to ,jerusalem1 and the founding there of the worldwide ,hebrew dominion over the whole world1 into which should be gathered1 out of ,mystic ,babylon1 all the ,hebrews in the world1 wherever they might remain2 and 7#b7 the regathering of the ,hebrews of all ages from the captivity of death--the tomb--to live on earth again in the earthly phase of the ,kingdom of ,god1 under the invisible spiritual dominion of ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 and under the visible earthly rulership of the resurrected ,ancient ,worthies4 ,beginning in ,october1 #aiaj1 ,pastor ,russell called the attention of ,hebrews by thousands1 throughout the world1 to the fact that the whole ,old ,testament foretold this as the legitimate aspiration of the ,hebrews4 ,for the ,christian people of the world ,pastor ,russell has a similar message3 7#a7 ,for believing ,christians having the ,holy ,spirit1 he revived their hopes and pointed out clearly their gathering out from captivity in ,mystic ,babylon and in death1 unto the glorious spirit phase of the ,kingdom of ,god4 7#b7 ,for the mass of professing ,christians1 who through some measure of unbelief or of unfaithfulness are not begotten of the ,spirit to a change of nature from human to spiritual1 ,he has a ,divine message1 which in due time will bring strong hope and comfort4 ,as the ,time of ,trouble progresses1 professing ,christians by the millions1 losing faith1 as did the ,apostles when1 on the arrest of ,christ they all forsook ,him and fled1 will forsake ,christianity and all profession of being ,christians4 ,they will lose all the hopes they had as ,christians4 ,then ,pastor ,russell's message will preach to ,christendom the necessity of receiving the ,holy ,spirit in its entirety1 in order to realize their hopes2 will turn the people to the whole ,truth of the ,word of ,god 7the four ,winds1 all the ,truth71 all the witness of the ,spirit for them1 that 8salvation cometh of the ,jew0 7,john #d3bb71 and that they must connect themselves with the ,ancient ,worthies1 resurrected and reigning at ,jerusalem2 for without these ,worthies their hopes must remain inactive--through them alone hope can be vitalized4 ,then ,christendom will pray to ,god1 8,we submit ourselves wholly to ,thee in heartfelt consecration4 ,come1 ,o ,spirit1 all the ,spirit1 in the appointed way1 and breathe life into our hopes1 that they may live at last60 #cg3aj4 ,so ,i prophesied as ,he commanded me1 and the breath came into them1 and they lived1 and stood up upon their feet1 an exceeding great army4--,from paying attention to ,ezekiel's message1 the ,hebrews captive in ,babylon realized their hopes at the end of the seventy years captivity4 ,as a result of ,pastor ,russell's teaching1 ,zionistic hopes have gained new vitality2 and in due time the ,hebrew dead will come forth from the ,adamic death in multitudes4 ,from his teachings to the true ,church1 captive in ,mystic ,babylon1 ,christendom1 the ,scriptural hopes of the ,church were clearly seen1 and vitalized for those in ,present ,truth4 ,from his teachings hope will grow afresh in the hearts of the survivors of desolated ,christendom2 and as a result of their prayers the dead of ,christendom will come forth1 an exceeding great army4--,e4 #cda1 #caf4 #cg3aa4 ,then ,he said unto me1 ,son of man1 these bones are the whole house of ,israel3 behold1 they say1 ,our bones are dried1 and our hope is lost3 we are cut off for our parts4--,the dried bones represent all the ,hebrews1 ,fleshly ,israel1 and all the professing ,christians1 ,spiritual ,israel4 ,as outlined foregoing1 they say that their hopes are lost1 and that they are cut off from ,divine favors for their evil course in life4--,isa4 #di3ad2 ,z'#iiaia4 #cg3ab4 ,therefore prophesy and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,o ,my people1 ,i will open your graves1 and cause you to come up out of your graves1 and bring you into the land of ,israel4--,the various classes mentioned were to be brought up from their condition--dead as to their hopes--and brought1 the ,hebrews into ,palestine2 the true ,christians1 into the ,spirit phase of the ,kingdom2 and the nominal ,christians1 into a place of favor in the earthly phase of the ,kingdom4--,isa4 #fj3ba2 ,z4 '#iiaif4 #cg3ac1 #ad4 ,and ye shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 when ,i have opened your graves1 ,o ,my people1 and brought you up out of your graves1 ,and shall put ,my ,spirit in you1 and ye shall live1 and ,i shall place you in your own land3 then shall ye know that ,i the ,lord have spoken it1 and performed it1 saith the ,lord4--,they shall all know that ,god is the ,jehovah of infinite ,justice1 ,wisdom1 ,love and ,power1 when the wonderful power of ,god has thus wrought in them for their blessing4--,e4 #cda1 #caf2 ,z4 '#iiaij4 #cg3ae4 ,the ,word of the ,lord came again unto me1 saying4--,verses #aebh recount the separation of the ,hebrews into two distinct kingdoms2 ,israel1 the corrupt ten tribes2 and ,judah1 the less corrupt two tribes4 ,in antitype it represents corrupt ,catholicism1 the larger branch of ,christendom1 and ,protestantism1 the smaller and less corrupt4 #cg3af1 #ag4 ,moreover1 thou son of man1 take thee one stick1 and write upon it1 ,for ,judah1 and for the children of ,israel his companions3 then take another stick1 and write upon it1 ,for ,joseph1 the stick of ,ephraim1 and for all the house of ,israel and his companions3 ,and join them one to another into one stick2 and they shall become one in thine hand4--,by the power of ,god the two were to be made one nation in the return of the ,hebrews from ,babylonia1 and again will be made one in their return from ,mystic ,babylon1 ,christendom1 to ,palestine4 ,likewise the denominational divisions of ,christian people have been obliterated among those gathered out of ,mystic ,babylon into ,present ,truth1 as they will yet be in the regathering of the dead of ,christendom in the resurrection1 and in the unifying influences that will work among the survivors of ,christendom's trouble4 ,all these are to have as their ,prince forever1 the ,beloved 7,david1 beloved7 of ,god1 ,the ,christ in glory4 #cg3ah4 ,and when the children of thy people shall speak unto thee1 saying1 ,wilt ,thou not show what ,thou meanest by these8--,both ,jews and ,christians have long inquired what ,god has signified by this prophecy4 #cg3ai4 ,say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold ,i will take the stick of ,joseph1 which is in the hand of ,ephraim1 and the tribes of ,israel his fellows1 and will put them with him1 even with the stick of ,judah1 and make them one stick1 and they shall be one in ,mine hand4--,the reuniting of the ,hebrews and of the divisions of ,christians will be by the power of ,god1 and they shall remain one4 #cg3bj4 ,and the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes4--,the uniting of the ,hebrews was apparently due to the prophecy of ,ezekiel4 ,that to come--of the ,hebrews and of the ,christians--will be in accordance with the teachings of ,pastor ,russell4 #cg3ba1 #bb4 ,and say unto them1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i will take the children of ,israel from among the heathen1 whither they be gone1 and will gather them on every side1 and bring them into their own land3 ,and ,i will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of ,israel2 and one king shall be king to them all2 and they shall be no more two nations1 neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all4--,in #ecf ,b4 ,c4 ,god regathered the ,natural ,israelites into ,palestine as one nation1 and will soon regather them out from all the nations of the world4 ,he will gather true ,spiritual ,israel into the ,heavenly phase of the ,kingdom1 where they shall ever be one people in mind in ,christ1 no longer separated as ,little ,flock1 loving ,heavenly things1 and ,great ,company1 loving the earthly4 ,he will regather nominal ,spiritual ,israel from the dead and from their hopeless earthly condition1 into the earthly phase of the ,kingdom1 no longer divided as ,catholic and ,protestant4--,jer4 #ej3df4 #cg3bc4 ,neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols1 nor with their detestable things1 nor with any of their transgressions2 but ,i will save them out of all their dwelling places1 wherein they have sinned1 and will cleanse them3 so shall they be ,my people1 and ,i will be their ,god4--,god will cleanse them all from everything relating to this present evil age and will save them out of their dwellingplaces--the spirit children from their corrupt bodies2 the ,great ,company from their spiritual bondage2 the nominal ,christians from their sects2 and the ,jews from their domiciles in all nations2 and all classes from the sleep of death4 ,they shall all be truly ,god's people2 and ,jehovah1 ,just1 ,wise1 ,loving and ,powerful1 their ,god4 #cg3bd4 ,and ,david ,my servant shall be king over them2 and they shall all have ,one ,shepherd3 they shall also walk in ,my judgments1 and observe ,my statutes1 and do them4--,over them as ,king shall be ,christ ,jesus1 the ,beloved ,head of ,his ,body the ,church1 and the whole ,beloved ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 for all the other classes4 ,christ ,jesus the ,head shall be the ,shepherd of the ,spirit classes2 and ,the ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 the ,shepherd and ,pastor of all the others4 ,all classes in ,heaven and on earth shall walk in the royal ,law of ,love4 #cg3be4 ,and they shall dwell in the land that ,i have given unto ,jacob ,my servant1 wherein your fathers have dwelt2 and they shall dwell therein1 even they and their children1 and their children's children for ever3 and ,my servant ,david shall be their prince for ever4--,the promise to ,jacob is to be understood as both spiritual and earthly1 a place spiritually typifying a condition4 ,the ,jews1 living and resurrected dead1 shall dwell forever in ,palestine1 given by ,god to ,jacob1 wherein their fathers1 ,abraham1 ,isaac and ,jacob1 dwelt4 ,the ,little ,flock and the ,great ,company will dwell forever in the ,heavenly condition1 where their great ,father dwells4 ,the nominal ,christians will dwell in the whole earth1 wherein their then ,father4 ,the ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 dwelt in bodies of humiliation and sacrifice4 ,the ,christ shall forever be their ,king4 #cg3bf4 ,moreover ,i will make a covenant of peace with them2 it shall be an everlasting ,covenant with them3 and ,i will place them1 and multiply them1 and will set ,my ,sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore4--,god will make effective with the ,jews the everlasting ,new ,covenant1 guaranteeing eternal earthly blessings to the willing and obedient2 and the nominal professing ,christians will come under the benefits of the ,covenant4 ,he will make effective the complete fulfillment of the ,covenant of ,grace for the ,church in the spirit phase of the ,kingdom4 ,he will set both classes up in power--the ,church as spiritual ,kings and ,priests unto ,god2 and the ,jews as the rulers of the earth4 ,he will multiply their numbers by the resurrection4 ,he will dwell in the spiritual class1 making them ,his ,sanctuary to the earthly class4 #cg3bg4 ,my tabernacle also shall be with them3 yea1 ,i will be their ,god1 and they shall be ,my people4--,god's abode will be in the spiritual class2 and they will be ,god's ,temple or ,dwellingplace1 from which the ,law of ,love shall proceed for the earthly class4 #cg3bh4 ,and the heathen shall know that ,i the ,lord do sanctify ,israel1 when ,my ,sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore4--,then will follow the conversion of the heathen peoples of the earth--8the residue of men1 even all the ,gentiles40--,acts #ae3ag4 ,ezekiel #ch--;,final ,overthrow ,of ,pride #ch3a1 #b4 ,and the ,word of the ,lord came unto me1 saying1 ,son of man1 set thy face against ,gog1 the land of ,magog1 the chief prince of ,meshech and ,tubal1 and prophesy against him4--,the ,truth people1 the reformers1 are to set themselves against the proud1 lofty rulers 7,gog1 high1 mountain1 ,d4 #eed7 of the revolutionary republics after the war and the fall of ,christendom1 and of the ignorant1 degraded revolutionists4 7,magog was ,scythia1 a rude1 ignorant1 degraded people1 including the savages of ,europe ,d4 #eef1 savage by nature and made doubly so in the most barbarous wars of history4 ,meshech1 north of ,armenia1 and ,tubal1 south of the ,black ,sea1 and also ,spain1 represented the remotest and rudest nations of the world47 ,the prophecy is to have a double fulfillment1 for it refers also to the gathering1 at the close of the #a1jjj years1 of ,satan1 and the deceivable among restored mankind against the camp of the saints4--,rev4 #bj3gaj4 #ch3c4 ,and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against thee1 ,o ,gog1 the chief prince of ,meshech and ,tubal4--,god will be against the rulers of the worst of earth's peoples4 #ch3d4 ,and ,i will turn thee back1 and put hooks into thy jaws1 and ,i will bring thee forth1 and all thine army1 horses and horsemen1 all of them clothed with all sorts of armour1 even a great company with bucklers and shields1 all of them handling swords4--,god will lead them on 7,revised ,version7 and bring them forth to do this deed1 them and all their multitude1 equipped with every conceivable weapon of destruction4 #ch3e4 ,persia1 ,ethiopia1 and ,libya with them2 all of them with shield and helmet4--,the dark peoples of ,africa 7descendants of ,ham1 typical of sinful1 degraded peoples71 trained and equipped in the ,european war4 #ch3f4 ,gomer1 and all his bands2 the house of ,togarmah of the north quarters1 and all his bands2 and many people with thee4--,the remotest peoples of ,europe 7,d4 #eef7 7,gomer was ancestor of the ,celts1 ,scotch1 etc42 ,togarmah was north of ,armenia7 and their armies1 and a multitude with them2 and1 a thousand years later1 all whose heart attitude answers this description4 #ch3g4 ,be thou prepared1 and prepare for thyself1 thou1 and all thy company that are assembled unto thee1 and be thou a guard unto them4--,the foregoing and their savage multitudes of revolutionists are to be the vanguard of the evil host4 ,these people symbolize also those after the #a1jjj years whose heart condition will be like the actual state of these savages4 #ch3h4 ,after many days thou shalt be visited3 in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword1 and is gathered out of many people1 against the mountains of ,israel1 which have been always waste3 but it is brought forth out of the nations1 and they shall dwell safely all of them4--,after the career of the ,ezekiel class is terminated in the flesh1 the nations of ,europe 7and after the thousand years are finished the hosts of ,satan1 unbound7 shall be called to do their dreadful work4 ,at the close of the turbulent revolutionary era ,europe shall come against ,palestine1 then living in a peace contrasting with their turbulence2 and1 at the close of the ,millennium ,satan shall come against the ,millennial order of things1 abounding in holiness and peace4 #ch3i4 ,thou shalt ascend and come like a storm1 thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land1 thou1 and all thy bands1 and many people with thee4--,they shall make the attack in vast numbers4 #ch3aj4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,it shall also come to pass1 that at the same time shall things come into thy mind1 and thou shalt think an evil thought4--,at the end of the revolutionary era turbulent ,europe and ,africa will be obsessed with an idea full of evil for them and for the ,hebrews2 and at the close of the ,millennium ,satan and the hosts in sympathy with his deceptions will dream of seizing the established ,kingdom of ,god4 #ch3aa4 ,and thou shalt say1 ,i will go up to the land of unwalled villages2 ,i will go to them that are at rest1 that dwell safely1 all of them dwelling without walls1 and having neither bars nor gates4--,they shall say that they will go up against ,palestine1 against the ,hebrews living in unwonted peace in a turbulent world4--,d4 #eec4 #ch3ab4 ,to take a spoil1 and to take a prey2 to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited1 and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations1 which have gotten cattle and goods1 that dwell in the midst of the land4--,they will seek to plunder their property1 to turn their weapons against once desolate ,palestine1 against the regathered ,hebrews1 enjoying some measure of prosperity4 ,in like manner the hosts of ,satan will seek to seize the restored ,kingdom of ,god1 at the close of the #a1jjj years4 #ch3ac4 ,sheba1 and ,dedan1 and the merchants of ,tarshish1 with all the young lions thereof1 shall say unto thee1 ,art thou come to take a spoil8 hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey8 to carry away silver and gold1 to take away cattle and goods1 to take a great spoil8--,the people surrounding ,palestine 7,d4 #eef71 with their soldiers1 will join in the plunder4 ,after the ,millennium all classes not in heart harmony with 8the camp of the saints10 will seek to capture the ,kingdom1 to take captive the power of the ,little ,flock and the ,great ,company 7silver and gold71 and the masses of perfect humanity 7cattle1 etc474 #ch3ad4 ,therefore1 son of man1 prophesy and say unto ,gog1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,in that day when ,my people of ,israel dwelleth safely1 shalt thou not know it8--,when ,god's people1 the ,hebrews1 are living peacefully in ,palestine1 the fact will be well known by revolutionary ,europe and ,africa4 ,after the ,millennium ,satan and his former associates1 the apostate clergy of ,christendom and the ,hebrew ,pharisees1 bound for a thousand years1 and loosed for a short time1 will behold the prosperity of restored mankind4 #ch3ae4 ,and thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts1 thou1 and many people with thee1 all of them riding upon horses1 a great company1 and a mighty army4--,europe's hosts shall come from the countries north 7,d4 #eee7 of ,palestine with many people1 riding on horses1 motor cars and railroad trains1 a vast and mighty army4 ,and a thousand years later1 ,satan will appear1 permitted to come by the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom 7the north71 with many new1 lying doctrines 7horses7 to deceive the people4 #ch3af4 ,and thou shalt come up against ,my people of ,israel1 as a cloud to cover the land2 it shall be in the latter days1 and ,i will bring thee against ,my land1 that the heathen may know ,me1 when ,i shall be sanctified in thee1 ,o ,gog1 before their eyes4--,the revolutionists will come against the ,hebrews in the closing years of the ,time of ,trouble1 just at the outbreak of anarchy 7,d4 #eee74 ,this invasion will be permitted by ,god1 that the peoples may know that ,jehovah is ,god1 when ,his mighty power shall perform a dreadful work upon these wicked peoples1 raised up and set apart 7sanctified7 for the enhancing of ,divine prestige4 ,it will also be to demonstrate the ,divine attributes that the ,satanic hosts will be permitted later to conspire against 8the camp of the saints40 #ch3ag4 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,art thou he of whom ,i have spoken in old time by ,my servants the prophets of ,israel1 which prophesied in those days many years1 that ,i would bring thee against them8--,jehovah declares that these evil multitudes1 who will shortly organize a crusade against the ,jews1 will be the ones of whom1 thousands of years before1 the ,hebrew ,prophets wrote4 #ch3ah4 ,and it shall come to pass at the same time when ,gog shall come against the land of ,israel1 saith the ,lord ,god1 that ,my fury shall come up in ,my face4--,the ,divine wrath of furious retribution will be against these classes4 #ch3ai4 ,for in ,my jealousy and in the fire of ,my wrath have ,i spoken1 ,surely ,in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of ,israel4--,in jealous love for ,his beloved people and in jealous destructive 7fire7 wrath against their assailants 7,d4 #ebg7 has ,god foretold a world shaking holocaust of the hosts of evil in the land of ,palestine1 and a thousand years later of the minions of the ,devil4 #ch3bj4 ,so that the fishes of the sea1 and the fowls of the heaven1 and the beasts of the field1 and all creeping things that creep upon the earth1 and all the men that are upon the face of the earth1 shall shake at ,my presence1 and the mountains shall be thrown down1 and the steep places shall fall1 and every wall shall fall to the ground4--,the result will be that the men 7fishes1 ,c4 #bad7 not under religious restraint 7,z4 '#hf3a71 the most execrable of the people of the world 7fowls1 ,c4 #afb71 the revolutionary governments 7beasts1 ,a4 #bfa71 and all the lowest of mankind shall be thrown into revolutionary commotion2 and the nations 7mountains1 ,a4 #cah7 shall be overthrown in anarchy1 together with all the civil powers 7walls1 ,d4 #dj7 of the world4 #ch3ba4 ,and ,i will call for a sword against him throughout all ,my mountains1 saith the ,lord ,god3 every man's sword shall be against his brother4--,god will do ,his dreadful work of ending this present evil world1 and will call for the universal arming of mankind with destroying weapons1 so that every man's weapons will be against every other man4 #ch3bb4 ,and ,i will plead against him with pestilence and with blood2 and ,i will rain upon him1 and upon his bands1 and upon the many people that are with him1 an overflowing rain1 and great hailstones1 fire1 and brimstone4--,god will fight miraculously against the hosts of evil with pestilence and death1 and will overwhelm them with a flood of ,truth--with hard facts1 to smite their hearts--and with anarchy1 destruction1 utter and complete4 ,so also will the ,almighty deal with the rebels of a thousand years later4 #ch3bc4 ,thus will ,i magnify ,myself1 and sanctify ,myself2 and ,i will be known in the eyes of many nations1 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,so will ,god magnify ,his reputation as the ,one to be reverenced1 and the fame of ,his power will spread throughout the world4 ,ezekiel #ci--;,death ,of ,pride's ,multitude #ci3a4 ,therefore1 thou son of man1 prophesy against ,gog1 and say1 ,thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,behold1 ,i am against thee1 ,o ,gog1 the chief prince of ,meshech and ,tubal4--,this has a triple fulfillment3 7a7 the destruction of the literal armies that will attack the ,hebrews at the beginning of the ,millennium2 7b7 the destruction of their pride and their sophistries by the ,truth2 and 7c7 at the end of the ,millennium the literal annihilation of the hosts that will then be deceived by ,satan1 and the destruction of their errors by the loyal members of the ,kingdom4 ,jehovah is against these evil leaders and their multitude4 ,the greatest curse of ,god's people in all times has been pride4--,matt4 #e3c2 #a ,john #c3ab2 ,john #h3dd2 ,isa4 #ad3ad2 ,psa4 #aai3aac2 ,prov4 #f3ag2 ,psa4 #aja3e2 ,prov4 #h3ac2 ,isa4 #b3ab2 ,prov4 #af3ah2 #b ,thes4 #b3d2 ,mal4 #c3ae2 ,mark #aj3dc4 #ci3b4 ,and ,i will turn thee back1 and leave but the sixth part of thee1 and will cause thee to come up from the north parts1 and will bring thee upon the mountains of ,israel4--,jehovah will lead them on 7,r4 ,v471 controlled and directed by the spiritual phase of the ,kingdom 7north7 to 7a1 b7 bring a host against restored ,israel2 and 7c7 a thousand years later another ,satanic multitude against the entire restored ,kingdom4 #ci3c4 ,and ,i will smite thy bow out of thy left hand1 and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand4--,god will 7a1 b7 destroy the weapons and the power of the anti,hebrew crusade2 and 7b1 c7 ,he will also end1 in those hosts1 their hatred 7bow7 and their bitter words 7arrows74 #ci3d4 ,thou shalt fall upon the mountains of ,israel1 thou1 and all thy bands1 and the people that is with thee3 ,i will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort1 and to the beasts of the field1 to be devoured4--,these evil hosts 7a1 b1 c7 shall die2 and ,god will give the first one to be disorganized1 disrupted and destroyed by the most execrable of mankind 7birds and beasts72 and ,he will deliver 7b7 both it and 7c7 the second into the power of the spiritual phase of ,his ,kingdom1 to be wiped out4 #ci3e4 ,thou shalt fall upon the open field3 for ,i have spoken it1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,they shall fall defenseless at the hands of their destroyers4 #ci3f4 ,and ,i will send a fire on ,magog1 and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles3 and they shall know that ,i am the ,lord4--,god will 7a1 b7 send anarchy 7fire7 among the peoples of the revolutionary republics 7isles72 and literal miraculous annihilation upon the second uprising of ,satan and his deceived followers4 #ci3g4 ,so will ,i make ,my holy name known in the midst of ,my people ,israel2 and ,i will not let them pollute ,my holy name any more3 and the heathen shall know that ,i am the ,lord1 the ,holy ,one in ,israel4--,through this miraculous deliverance 7a7 the ,hebrews shall be converted to the ,truth1 so that they shall never again be a discredit to ,god's name2 and 7b1 c7 all mankind also shall thereby learn fully to know ,god4 #ci3h4 ,behold1 it is come1 and it is done1 saith the ,lord ,god2 this is the day whereof ,i have spoken4--,it shall surely come2 it shall be done2 thus shall be the day of the end of evil and the final establishment of right1 whereof ,god has spoken in ,his ,word4 #ci3i4 ,and they that dwell in the cities of ,israel shall go forth1 and shall set on fire and burn the weapons1 both the shields and the bucklers1 the bows and the arrows1 and the handstaves1 and the spears1 and they shall burn them with fire seven years4--,the regathered ,hebrews of ,palestine 7a7 shall be seven years burning and destroying the weapons of war of this evil rabble1 7a7 ,the hosts of heaven and of earth 7b1 c7 shall eternally 7seven years7 recount the lesson of the utter end of ,satan's deceptive doctrines1 of credulity 7shield7 of hatred 7bows71 evilspeaking 7arrows7 and other evil characterfruits4 #ci3aj4 ,so that they shall take no wood out of the field1 neither cut down any out of the forests2 for they shall burn the weapons with fire3 and they shall spoil those that spoiled them1 and rob those that robbed them1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,so numerous will be the weapons of war 7a7 of those ,divinely vanquished armies that the ,hebrews will need no other firewood1 but will burn the weapons4 ,they shall plunder those that plunder them4 ,the innumerable sophistries 7b1 c7 by which ,satan's legions shall seek to grasp the ,kingdom power1 and their miraculous overthrow1 shall forever furnish lessons to help the inheritors of the ,kingdom4 #ci3aa4 ,and ,it shall come to pass in that day1 that ,i will give unto ,gog a place there of graves in ,israel1 the valley of the passengers on the east of the sea2 and it shall stop the noses of the passengers3 and there shall they bury ,gog and all his multitude3 and they shall call it1 ,the valley of ,hamongog4--,god will give 7a7 the selfexalted anti,semite crusaders a place of burial in ,palestine4 ,in the valley used as a highway east of the ,dead ,sea1 the dead shall be a stench to the passersby2 and there shall they bring the proud 7,gog1 high1 proud ones7 hosts to their end1 and they shall call it the ,valley of ,pride's ,multitude 7,hamon1 multitude74 ,then1 and a thousand years later 7b1 c71 the memory of the proud dead shall be offensive to all that recall it4 #ci3ab4 ,and seven months shall the house of ,israel be burying of them1 that they may cleanse the land4--,for seven months 7a7 the ,hebrews shall be burying the crusaders1 that they may cleanse the land defiled by the dead4 ,and then1 and after the ,millennium 7b1 c71 for many years shall the spiritual members of the ,kingdom be neutralizing the sophistries of ,satan1 that they may thoroughly cleanse the ,kingdom of its spiritual defilement4 #ci3ac4 ,yea1 all the people of the land shall bury them2 and it shall be to them a renown the day that ,i shall be glorified1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,yea 7a7 all the nations shall bury the dead2 and the day of pride's 7,gog's7 overthrow shall be a celebrated day among them4 ,all the people of the ,kingdom 7b1 c7 shall loyally assist in cleansing their beloved ,kingdom of the spiritual defilement4 ,it will always be a day to be remembered4--,mal4 #d3a4 #ci3ad4 ,and they shall sever out men of continual employment1 passing through the land1 to bury with the passengers those that remain upon the face of the earth1 to cleanse it3 after the end of seven months shall they search4--,after the seven months 7a7 men shall be hired regularly to search through the land1 in cooperation with any travelers1 for any dead remaining on the earth1 to thoroughly cleanse the land4 ,and then1 and after the thousand years 7b1 c7 spiritual teachers shall be detailed to remove any remaining spiritual defilement1 by teaching the ,truth4 #ci3ae4 ,and the passengers that pass through the land1 when any seeth a man's bone1 then shall he set up a sign by it1 till the buriers have buried it in the valley of ,hamongog4--,any travelers 7a7 passing by1 that see even a human bone1 shall mark it for the buriers to bury in the ,valley of ,pride's ,multitude4 ,and then1 and a thousand years later 7b1 c7 any one noticing any vestige of deathdealing error shall mark it for the special teachers to cleanse away with truth4 #ci3af4 ,and also the name of the city shall be ,hamonah4 ,thus shall they cleanse the land4--,there shall 7a7 be a city there named ,multitude 7,hamonah1 ,multitude74 ,thus shall they cleanse the land2 and then 7b1 c7 and beyond the thousand years there shall be a perfect government 7city7--not such a government as ,satan would establish again1 not usurped by the few1 ,satan and his agents1 but a government1 under ,god--of multitudes of restored and perfect men--a ,divine ,republic1 called 8,multitude40 #ci3ag4 ,and1 thou son of man1 thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,speak unto every feathered fowl1 and to every beast of the field1 ,assemble yourselves1 and come2 gather yourselves on every side to ,my sacrifice that ,i do sacrifice for you1 even a great sacrifice upon the mountains of ,israel1 that ye may eat flesh1 and drink blood4--,god says3 7a7 ,when the proud revolutionists shall set themselves in array against ,his people1 to call to the most execrable of men 7fowls7 and to the revolutionary rulers 7beasts72 ,come to the great destruction of hosts of rebellious humanity1 where you1 in anarchy1 shall destroy these people2 symbolically 7b1 c7 a call to the farsighted spiritual ones 7eagles7 and the believing ones of earth 7beasts--members of the ,lion of the ,tribe of ,judah7 to gather themselves to feast upon1 to destroy with the weapons of ,divine ,truth1 the evil doctrines 7flesh1 as the flesh of ,jesus symbolizes true doctrines7 and the corrupting errors 7blood7 of ,satan4 #ci3ah4 ,ye shall eat the flesh of the mighty1 and drink the blood of the princes of the earth1 of rams1 of lambs1 and of goats1 of bullocks1 all of them fatlings of ,bashan4--,they shall 7b1 c7 consume the sophistries of ,satan 7the mighty71 and annihilate the errors of earth's great false teachers and rulers--,new ,thought doctrines of devils relating to the attainment of perfection1 to whatever kind and degree desired--to be as mature leaders 7rams71 among the sheep1 as tendercharactered lambs1 as selfwilled1 selfmasters through thoughtpower 7goats71 or as perfect human beings 7bullocks71 all imagining themselves actually1 fully developed 7fatlings71 under the delusions of ,satan's fruitful mind 7,bashan1 fruitful74 #ci3ai4 ,and ye shall eat fat till ye be full1 and drink blood till ye be drunken1 of ,my sacrifice which ,i have sacrificed for you4--,they shall 7b1 c7 with the ,truth consume and destroy these false philosophies1 until satiated with the glorious witness for ,god's ,truth4 #ci3bj4 ,thus ye shall be filled at ,my table with horses and chariots1 with mighty men1 and with all men of war1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,thus 7b1 c7 at ,god's table of spiritual food1 ,his people shall have an abundant feeding upon the truths which shall destroy the errors of the ,time of ,trouble1 the doctrines and the organizations actuated by these doctrines and the rulers1 philosophies1 teachers and workers in the cause of evil4 #ci3ba4 ,and ,i will set ,my glory among the heathen1 and all the heathen shall see ,my judgment that ,i have executed1 and ,my hand that ,i have laid upon them4--,god will 7a1 b1 c7 make ,himself renowned among all nations2 and they shall realize that ,he shall have executed judgment upon them1 and that it is ,his hand of ,justice that has been laid upon them for their misdeeds4 #ci3bb4 ,so the house of ,israel shall know that ,i am the ,lord their ,god from that day and forward4--,thus shall 7a7 the ,hebrews and 7b1 c7 all professing ,christians know ,jehovah as their ,god1 from that time on forever4 #ci3bc4 ,and the heathen shall know that the house of ,israel went into captivity for their iniquity3 because they trespassed against ,me1 therefore hid ,i ,my face from them1 and gave them into the hand of their enemies2 so fell they all by the sword4--,the whole world shall know that the ,hebrews 7a7 went into captivity to literal ,babylon and to ,mystic ,babylon1 and that the unfaithful professing ,christians went into captivity 7b7 to ,mystic ,babylon and 7c7 to ,satan's deceptions1 because they sinned against ,god4 ,for this reason ,he disfavored them and gave them over into the power of their enemies4 ,so shall they fall1 by literal weapons of destruction and 7b1 c7 be slain by the ,sword of the ,spirit4 #ci3bd4 ,according to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have ,i done unto them1 and hid ,my face from them4--,according to their physical1 mental1 moral and spiritual pollution1 and to their sinfulness1 ,god will recompense and disfavor them4 #ci3be4 ,therefore thus saith the ,lord ,god2 ,now will ,i bring again the captivity of ,jacob1 and have mercy upon the whole house of ,israel1 and will be jealous for ,my holy name4--,then when the punishment is over 7,d4 #eeg71 will ,god 7a7 release the ,hebrews 7,a4 #cjj7 from their captivity in ,mystic ,babylon and in the tomb1 and antitypically that of ,christendom4 ,he will show ,his mercy and love toward all the ,hebrews1 living and dead 7,d4 #eeg71 and 7b1 c71 toward all of ,christendom1 the quick and the dead1 and will vindicate ,his reputation for righteousness4 #ci3bf4 ,after that they have borne their shame1 and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against ,me1 when they dwelt safely in their land1 and none made them afraid4--,after they 7a7 have thus 7,d4 #eeh7 endured their shame and the punishment for all their sins1 wherein they have erred against the ,lord1 while the ,jews were peacefully dwelling in ,palestine 7b1 c7 and the professing ,christians in ,christendom1 and while no one made them afraid1 the sure results shall follow4 #ci3bg4 ,when ,i have brought them again from the people1 and gathered them out of their enemies' lands1 and am sanctified in them in the sight of many nations4--,in ,zionism 7a7 ,god shall regather the ,jews and 7b1 c7 bring ,jews and ,christians alike back from the great enemy1 death1 and by their holy1 consecrated lives1 ,he will be hallowed in the regard of the whole world4 #ci3bh4 ,then shall they know that ,i am the ,lord their ,god1 which caused them to be led into captivity among the heathen3 but ,i have gathered them unto their own land1 and have left none of them any more there4--,then shall they in humble thankfulness appreciate that ,god is the beloved ,jehovah1 the ,just ,one1 who shall have punished them with captivity among the nations1 and then in infinite ,wisdom1 ,power and ,love shall have gathered all of them1 living and dead1 7a7 back to their former homes in ,palestine 7b1 c7 and in ,christendom1 and shall have left not one in captivity any more4 #ci3bi4 ,neither will ,i hide ,my face any more from them3 for ,i have poured out ,my ,spirit upon the house of ,israel1 saith the ,lord ,god4--,god will not disfavor them any more3 for ,he will pour out upon them 7a7 ,jews and 7b1 c7 ,christians together1 ,his ,holy ,spirit1 the ,comforter1 to abide in them forever4 ,great truths are dearly bought4 ,the common truth1 ,such as men give and take from day to day1 ,comes in the common walk of easy life1 ,blown by the careless wind across our way4 ,great truths are dearly won2 not found by chance1 ,nor wafted on the breath of summer dream2 ,but grasped in the great struggle of the soul1 ,hard buffeting with adverse wind and stream4 ,not in the general clash of human creeds1 ,nor in the merchandise 'twixt church and world1 ,is truth's fair treasure found1 'mongst tares and weeds2 ,nor her fair banner in their midst unfurled4 ,truth springs like harvest from the wellploughed fields1 ,rewarding patient toll1 and faith1 and zeal4 ,to those thus seeking her1 she ever yields ,her richest treasures for their lasting weal4 ,ezekiel #djdh--;,god's ,temple ,and ,river ,of ,truth ,this vision of the prophet ,ezekiel depicts the established theocratic ,kingdom of ,god on earth1 civil and religious1 spiritual and earthly4 ,while the ,temple is an architectural possibility1 as shown in the accompanying illustrations1 7and may be erected at ,jerusalem71 it1 in its various parts1 surroundings1 rites and worshippers1 is a type and symbol of 8better things to come10 after the wars1 revolutions and anarchy of the period from #aiad to #aibe have passed4 ,the ,time of the establishment of the ,kingdom in power is indicated as 8in the fourteenth year after that the city 7,christendom7 was smitten0--or thirteen years after #aiah1 viz41 in #aica4--;,ezek4 #dj3a4 ,place4--,the ,temple was seen in the 8land of ,israel0--in ,palestine4 ,as a place types a condition1 the land of ,israel is typical of the condition of the whole world of mankind2 and the city1 at the south side of a very high mountain1 is symbolic of the established earthly phase 7south7 of the ,divine ,government overshadowed by the autocratic 7very high7 spiritual phase of the ,kingdom 7mountain74--,ezek4 #dj3b4 ,by ,whom4--,the one who showed the ,temple to the ,church1 the ,elijah class1 was 8the man in linen0--,pastor ,russell4 ,the brass 7copper7 of vs4 #c represents his justification4 ,in his power 7hand7 were the ,divine standards of measurement--the reed 7,word of ,god7 and the 8line of flax0 7linen1 righteousness74 ,his standing was in the east gate of the ,sanctuary--in ,christ 7gate74 ,with the ,word he measured the ,temple 7the ,church1 and the subsidiary classes7 and with the standard of perfect ,divine righteousness 7flax1 linen7 he measured the progress of the life giving ,river of ,truth4--,ezek4 #dj3c2 #dc3f2 #dd3d2 #dg3ac4 ,purpose4--,the vision is important4 ,those that have eyes to see and ears to hear1 must set their heart upon all that the ,laodicean steward shows them1 8for to the intent that ,i might show them unto thee1 art thou brought hither40 7#dj3d47 ,the hearers are to declare all that they see1 to professing ,christians 7house of ,israel71 that they may be ashamed of former beliefs and practices1 and in complete consecration seek to conform themselves to all the ,divine standards4--,ezek4 #dc3ajab2 #dd3df2 #dg3f4 ,the ,measures4--,the standards of the ,kingdom will be the fulness of the ,word of ,god 7the reed of #i feet of six 8great cubits10 each about #ah inches1 or of a #ae;inch cubit and a handbreadth7 7,ezek4 #dj3c1 #e71 and the standard of ,divine righteousness4--,ezek4 #dj3c1 #dg3c4 ,an interchangeable decimal system of dry and liquid measures is given1 symbolic of just and righteous dealing4 ,an ephah 7dry measure7 equals a bath 7liquid measure71 and ten of either is a homer or cor4 ,the homer is about #ge gallons and the ephah and the bath1 one tenth of a homer1 or #g gallons each4 7,ezek4 #de3ajaa74 ,the measures of volume are to be used chiefly in connection with the sacrifices--so many ephahs of wheat or baths of oil as a meat or drink offering with a bullock1 etc4 ,symbolisms of ,numbers4--,numbers are used as symbols of completeness or perfection1 or their opposite4 ,the common conception of the symbolisms of numbers is3 ,one--,unity1 selfsufficiency4 ,two--,duality1 couples4 ,three--,that in itself complete1 invisible1 infinite4 ,four--,that in which ,god reveals ,himself completely1 as the four cherubim1 the foursided altar1 and the cubic shaped ,most ,holy4 ,five--,used in connection with ten1 completeness in the stage1 degree1 or power attained or ordained2 a symbol of ,divinity4 ,six--,secular completeness1 or completeness according to man2 imperfection2 also full measure of the ,word4--,ezek4 #dj3e4 ,seven--,the sum of three and four2 religious or ,divine completeness or perfection2 the covenant number4 ,the half of seven 7#c71 the broken number1 appears in connection with suffering4 ,ten--,the natural symbol of perfection1 completeness1 complete development1 a complete and perfect whole4 ,twelve--,three times four2 the number of the covenant people2 completeness of organization2 national completeness4 ,multiples or powers of these numbers combine or intensify their symbolism4 ,illustration ,symbolism of ,directions4--,the north points to spiritual things1 the south to earthly things1 the east to ,christ and ,his ransom sacrifice4 ,the right is the side of favor1 the left of less favor1 or of disfavor4 ,higher elevations represent higher planes of being or of power2 lower planes the opposite4 ,illustration ,figure #a4 ,the ,division ,of ,the ,land ,the ,land and ,its ,divisions4--,as places typify conditions1 the land of ,canaan1 of the children of ,israel1 types the whole world of mankind4 ,its division among the twelve tribes1 in equal parts varying in nearness to the central sacred portion1 suggests1 among restored humanity1 twelve conditions or degrees of honor in the ,kingdom1 each individual being accorded a place befitting his loyalty and love during his trial or judgment period4 ,the meaning of the names of the tribes is suggestive1 the names being in order of nearness to the central sacred portion4 7,see ,figure #a47--,see ,rev4 #g4 ,to the north of the sacred portion3 ,judah 7praise1 ,gen4 #di3hab72 ,reuben 7behold a son1 ,gen4 #di3cd72 ,ephraim 7doubly fruitful1 ,gen4 #dh3aebj72 ,manasseh 7causing forgetfulness1 ,gen4 #dh3aebj72 ,naphtali 7wrestling1 ,gen4 #di3ba72 ,asher 7happy1 ,gen4 #di3bj72 and at the extreme north1 ,dan 7judge1 ,gen4 #di3afah74--;,ezek4 #dh3ag4 ,to the south of the central sacred portion3 ,benjamin 7son of the right hand1 ,gen4 #di3bg72 ,simeon 7hearing1 ,gen4 #di3eg72 ,issachar 7bearing reward1 ,gen4 #di3adae72 ,zebulun 7dwelling1 ,gen4 #di3ac72 and at the extreme south1 ,gad 7seer1 lot1 fortune1 ,gen4 #di3ai74 7,ezek4 #dh3bcbi47 ,the name meanings and ,jacob's prophetic blessings are significant of ,kingdom conditions4 ,figure #a shows the division of ,palestine into the strips assigned to the tribes and the central sacred portion4 ,the ,boundaries of the ,land 7,ezek4 #dg3acba7 are through places whose name meanings are suggestive of ,kingdom conditions4 ,on the north side3 ,hethlon 7stronghold71 ,hamath 7defended1 walled71 ,berotha 7food71 ,sibraim 7double hill71 ,hazar,hatticon 7middle court71 ,hauran 7cave district71 ,hazarenan 7court of the fountains7 and ,damascus 7similitude of burning74 ,on the east side3 ,gilead 7strong1 rocky71 ,israel 7ruling with ,god71 and ,jordan 7descender74 ,on the south side3 ,tamar 7palm71 and ,kadesh 7holy74 ,on the west3 the ,great ,sea 7peoples and nations74 ,the land is to be apportioned by lot1 symbolizing that the station of ,kingdom honor of individuals in the ,times of ,restitution is not predestinated but the result of the degree of effort and of consecration4 7,ezek4 #de3a47 ,whatever the honor attained1 it cannot be taken away4 7,ezek4 #df3ah47 ,all are to have an equal chance4 7,ezek4 #dg3ad47 ,former pagan and heathen persons 7strangers7 are to have the same chance as ,god's chosen people1 the ,jews1 as though born to the same honored favor4--,ezek4 #dg3bbbc4 ,the ,holy ,offering of ,land4--7,figure #b47 ,the people are not to occupy all the land1 but are to devote as a sacred offering1 or 8oblation10 a central strip across ,palestine1 #be1jjj reeds or about #db4f miles wide1 to sacred and governmental uses4 ,figure #b shows the holy offering of land and its divisions4 ,the two ends of the strip will be for the ,prince1 typing the condition of the ,prince1 or ,ancient ,worthy class4 ,the #be1jjjreedssquare dimensions of the central section--as powers and multiples of ten and five--combined with the full measure 7reed7 of the ,divine ,word as applying to the classes therein represented1 suggest the exalted degree of perfection of these classes4 ,the conditions represented are3 at the north 7spiritual7 the ,divine nature of the ,little ,flock 7priests72 in the middle1 the intermediate1 lower spirit nature of the ,great ,company 7,levites72 at the south1 of half the width1 of a lesser degree of honor 7secular71 the perfect human nature of those engaged in the actual government of the world4 ,as in many other types the same antitypes are presented repeatedly in their several phases4--,ezek4 #de3a1 #d1 #g2 #dh3bj4 ,land of the ,priests4--,the northern section1 #aj1jjj reeds wide1 of the holy central square1 typifies the condition of the ,little ,flock1 of the highest spirit nature1 the ,divine1 7northernmost74 ,this is a 8most holy0 condition4 7,ezek4 #dh3iab47 ,in it1 as appertains to the inheritors of the nature of ,god1 will be the ,sanctuary--the entire ,temple and its courts--typing the spiritual domain of the ruling ,christ over all the affairs of the coming ,kingdom of ,heaven on earth4--,ezek4 #dd3bh2 #de3cd2 #dh3hab4 ,illustration ,figure #b4 ,the ,holy ,offering ,of ,land ,land of the ,levites4--,inferior as to direction1 toward the south 7toward earthly things71 the spiritual condition 7land7 of the ,great ,company 7,levites7 will be1 as have been their religious lives--trending from heavenly to earthly throughout the ,gospel ,age of ,divine opportunity4 ,this will be their condition throughout eternity1 unchangeable1 inalienable--but 8holy unto ,jehovah40 ,there will be among them twenty grades of honor--8twenty chambers40--,ezek4 #de3e2 #dh3acad4 ,secular ,land for the ,city4--,at the extreme south 7earthly7 of the holy square will be a #e1jjjreedwide section which will be 8secular for the city40 ,this represents in miniature the perfect human condition of the visible rulers 7city7 of the earthly phase of the ,kingdom and of all those under that ,divine government--the whole world of mankind 7,israel74 ,the city will be in the middle of this section1 a #d1ejjreed square1 which1 with a border or suburb #bej reeds wide all around1 reaches across the secular land1 symbolizing the dominance of the coming world government over the human race4 7,ezek4 #de3f1 #g2 #dh3aebj1 #ce47 ,so extraordinary and heart satisfying will be the methods of and the blessings from the ,divine government 7city7 that it will appropriately be called 8,the ,wonder of ,jehovah40--,e4 #df1 #dc4 ,land for ,sanctuary4--,in the center of the priests' land will be the land for the ,sanctuary1 an area #ejj cubits1 or #gej feet square1 surrounded by a #ej;cubit1 or #ge;foot1 border or 8suburb40 ,in this square will be the walls1 courts and structures of the sanctuary4 ,it will type again in miniature1 in detail1 the conditions of all classes in the ,kingdom from the ,christ 7priests7 down1 as regards their religious relationship to one another and to ,god4--,ezek4 #de3bc4 ,land for the ,prince4--,both of the ends of the #be1jjjreedwide offering of land1 east and west of the central holy square1 will be given to 8the ,prince10 typing the perfect human condition of the ,ancient ,worthies1 or overcomers before the ,gospel ,age1 who shall be 8,princes in all the earth40 ,as the ,prince's land will not be inalienable but may be given away by the ,prince1 so to certain classes it will be given to share in the perfected condition of the ,ancient ,worthies4--,ezek4 #de3gh2 #df3afah2 #dh3babb4 ,the ,classes4--,in the ,kingdom there will be several distinct classes1 according to opportunity and degree of faithfulness in ages preceding establishment of the ,kingdom4 ,the priests will be the glorified ,little ,flock1 faithful unto death1 sons of ,god1 the ,righteous ,one 7,zadok1 righteous71 who during the ,gospel ,age 8kept the charge of ,god's ,sanctuary10 by faithfulness to the ,word of ,god at any cost4 ,they will be 8of the ,divine nature40--,ezek4 #dj3dddf2 #dc3ahbg2 #dd3aeca2 #de3d2 #dh3ajab4 ,the antitypical ,levites 7,great ,company71 will have spirit nature akin to the angelic1 because though during the ,gospel ,age they were also begotten of the ,spirit1 sons of ,god 7,zadok1 righteous71 they 8went astray from ,god1 after their idols20 they ministered unto the people before their idols and caused the house of ,israel 7,christendom7 to fall into iniquity4 ,they shall bear their iniquity4--,ezek4 #dd3ajad2 #de3e2 #dh3acad4 ,the ,ancient ,worthies 7the ,prince71 who in the ,jewish ,age were faithful unto death amid incredible trials of faith 7,heb4 #aa71 will during the #a1jjj years be of the perfect human nature1 and will be on earth the visible leaders and rulers of mankind4--,ezek4 #dd3ac2 #de3gag1 #babe2 #df3afah2 #dh3babb4 ,the servants of the city will be of the perfect human nature1 and engaged in the multifarious duties of a world wide government4 ,they will be taken from amongst mankind4 ,some are spoken of as servants and some as sons of the ,ancient ,worthies4--,ezek4 #dh3ahai2 #df3afah4 ,the people of the ,kingdom will be first the resurrected ,hebrews1 making progress during the #a1jjj years toward human perfection1 but who in previous ages had not been consecrated to ,god and had been far astray from ,him4 7,romans #a47--;,ezek4 #dc3gi2 #dd3fab1 #ae1 #ai1 #bccj2 #de3fba2 #df3ac1 #iaj2 #dg3acad2 #dh3aa1 #ahai1 #bcbi4 ,the 8strangers0 will be the resurrected billions of humanity1 not ,jews1 who gaining the heart circumcision of a conscience cleansed by the blood of ,jesus1 shall be as though born to the same conditions as the ,hebrews4 ,none of them shall have part in the direct service of ,god4--,ezek4 #dd3i2 #dg3bbbc2 ,zech4 #ad3bjba2 ,numbers #ca3dg2 ,joel #c3ag2 ,joshua #i3bbbg2 ,rev4 #ba3bg4 ,sanctuary and ,outer ,court4--,the ,sanctuary will be the entire enclosure devoted to the ,divine service4 ,according to ,ezekiel #de3b the exterior wall is around a square of #ejj cubits1 and by #db3afbj it is #ejj reeds1 or #c1jjj cubits square2 but the latter is translated 8cubits0 in the ,septuagint1 and the former agrees minutely with the internal measurements4 ,about the outer court of #ejj cubits square will be a border or suburb #ej cubits wide to separate the ,sanctuary from the surrounding land4 7,ezek4 #db3bj47 ,the outer court types the condition of the ,ancient ,worthies and of the ,hebrews and the world of mankind1 the former of actually perfect humanity1 and the latter of a perfect heart condition and striving toward human perfection4 ,this court will be at an elevation above the surrounding land and will be reached by seven steps1 symbolizing the human perfection1 actual or heart1 of those that enter the court4 ,it will be surrounded by a wall one reed high and a reed thick4 ,the wall types ,christ in the ,ancient ,worthies1 who will constitute the embodiment of the ,divinely appointed wall of faith about the ,sanctuary4 ,the reed indicates the full measure of the ,divine ,word as regards the human nature4--,ezek4 #dj3f1 #agai1 #bbbc1 #bg1 #cd2 #db3a1 #gi1 #adbj2 #dc3ae2 #dd3ac1 #ai2 #de3ab2 #df3aibd4 ,illustration ,figure #c4 ,the ,sanctuary ,illustration ,figure #d4 ,the ,temple ,illustration ,figure #e4 ,illustration ,figure #f4 ,one ,of ,the ,outer ,court ,gates ,illustration ,figure #g4 ,section ,through ,most ,holy ,across ,the ,sanctuary ,inner ,court4--,the inner court will be an enclosure toward the rear or west of the outer court1 #bjj cubits wide by #cjj deep4 ,it types the spiritborn condition of the ,great ,company 7,levites71 and is at an elevation of eight steps1 symbolizing by one step the change to spirit nature and by seven steps the perfection of that nature--perfect1 though not the highest nature4 ,its wall represents ,christ in the ,great ,company1 and the absence of dimensions for the wall represents that 8it doth not yet appear0 what the spirit nature is like4 ,both inner and outer courts will be adorned with colonnades of pillars1 probably along the inner border of the pavements1 typing those on each plane of being who shall be 8pillars in the house of ,jehovah40--,ezekiel #dj3bg1 #bh1 #cd1 #cg1 #cidg2 #db3bd2 #dc3de2 #dd3agah1 #ba1 #bebg2 #df3aibd4 ,the ,temple4--,the ,temple building 7,figure #d7 will be toward the rear and reaching to within #ej cubits of the rear of the inner court4 ,it will be on a platform #fj cubits wide by #ajj deep4 ,this types the condition of the ,little ,flock1 born from the dead to the nature of ,god4 ,it will be elevated one reed above the inner court1 representing that the ,divine nature is the full measure of the ,word of ,god above any other spirit nature1 8far above angels1 principalities and powers40 ,its infinite height above other natures is indicated by the fact that the number of steps up to it is not stated1 for it is an immeasurable1 infinite elevation4 7#da3haa47 ,the ,temple will be entered by a porch1 and will contain 8the holy0 twenty by forty cubits1 and the 8,most ,holy0 or 8oracle0 twenty cubits square1 inside measurement4 ,these rooms type the glorious condition of the ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 of the nature of ,god4 ,that the person being shown tills did not enter the ,most ,holy 7,ez4 #da3c1 #d7 suggests that it is not given to know yet 8what we shall be10 in that condition where 8the glory of ,jehovah filled the house40--,ezek4 #da3ab1 #dc3e4 ,pavements and ,open ,ways4--,the outer and inner courts will not be simple inclosures1 as was the ,tabernacle court1 but each will include a bordering space1 or pavement1 #ej cubits wide1 occupied by gates1 buildings1 and passage ways1 typing conditions and activities in the condition typed by the inclosure4 ,that embraced by the outer court will be the 8lower pavement40 7#dj3agah47 ,this will contain the east1 north and south gates of the outer court1 and four corner courts where the ,levites will bake and boil the sacrifices of the people4 ,it will also contain #cj chambers1 typing that number of conditions or activities among those resurrected and perfected or progressing toward human perfection4 ,each of the four corner courts upon the lower pavement will be #cj by #dj cubits in size and will be surrounded by a row of structures under which will be the boiling places for the preparation of their sacrifices to be eaten by the people4 7,ezek4 #df3babd47 ,at the center of the east1 north and south lower pavements will be the outer gates1 like covered corridors or lobbies extending entirely across the #ej;cubit pavement to the outer court proper1 as shown in ,figure #c4 ,the corresponding #ej;cubit pavement of the inner court is not definitely termed a pavement1 but the name is inferred from the designation 8lower pavement0 for the outer court pavement4 ,it will contain the inner court gate1 and buildings for certain activities of the priests and the ,levites4 ,the inner court #ej;cubit pavement leaves an inner space of #ajj cubits square--the inner court proper--facing the ,temple and with the brazen altar in the middle4 ,this #ajj;cubitwide area will extend west about the ,temple platform1 surrounding it on the north1 west and south1 with an open space #bj cubits wide1 called 8the separate place40 ,on the upper pavement1 flanking the ,temple north and south1 and of the same length--#ajj cubits--as the ,temple1 will be two buildings on each side for the priests1 called the 8priests' chambers40 ,these buildings will be separated from each other by a #aj;cubit walk along the center line of the upper pavement4 ,the outer of each of the two pairs of 8priests' chambers0 will be #ej cubits long1 half the length of the inner buildings4 ,these are located on the upper pavement4 ,at the rear or west end of the upper pavement will be little square courts1 similar to the corner courts of the lower pavement1 and used by the priests for boiling and baking the sacrifices eaten by the priests4--,ezek4 #dj3agah2 #da3ajae2 #db3aad2 #de3b2 #df3aibd4 ,the lesser elevation of the plane of these pavements1 courts and ways1 types the lower plane of ,spiritual being of the persons1 and their activities type things to be done on that plane4 ,chambers and ,galleries for ,priests4--,in the inner court near the north gate will be a chamber 7,fig #c1 ,d7 with a door looking toward the south1 and one near the east gate with its door looking toward the north4 ,these will be for the ,priestly singers1 the sweet singers in ,israel1 the ,little ,flock1 singing to ,god and to the people concerning the ,kingdom blessings4 ,these immortal ones will sing the praises of ,god for ,his goodness to those in the spirit phase 7north7 of the ,kingdom1 and for the blessings flowing from ,christ's ransom altar 7east gate7 through restitution to those in the earthly 7south7 phase of the ,kingdom4--,ezek4 #dj3dddf4 ,on the north and on the south pavements of the inner court flanking the ,temple will be the two pairs of parallel priests' chambers 7,figures #c and #e71 in each pair the inner building #ajj cubits long and the outer #ej cubits4 ,they will be three stories high1 the top story narrower than the others and leaving galleries facing each other across the #aj;cubit way between them1 into which their doors will open one on each side of the way4 ,in these chambers1 lighted by narrow windows the priests will lay the most holy things1 and eat the most holy things1 including the meat1 sin and trespass offerings of prince and people in the ,millennial ,age2 humanity having been bought by ,christ will make the consecration of themselves and their all to ,christ1 ,head and ,body4 ,the ,christ 7priest7 will accept their consecrations 7lay them in the priests' chambers7 and appropriate them to themselves 7eat the offerings74 ,in the sacred conditions represented by the priests' chambers the priests will have their feasts of love1 as they rejoice over the consecrated efforts of earth's billions in their progress toward human perfection1 and thereafter4 ,when the priests come out to the outer court with the people they will change the holy garments they wore in the priest's chambers and put on other garments4 ,the holy garments type the promises and ,word of ,god as concerns the ,divine immortal nature1 and the other garments will be the ,word and covenant of ,god as respects things concerning the people and their restitution hopes and blessings4--,ezek4 #db3aad2 #dd3ai1 #bicj2 #df3ai #bj4 ,the ,temple will be built with double walls all around1 except the porch in front 7,figures #c1 #d and #e74 ,this will leave a space within the walls termed the 8side chambers10 in three stories reached by winding stairs1 and reaching up set quite to the top of the ,temple inner wall4 ,each story will be divided into #cj rooms4 ,the second story rooms will be wider than the first1 and the third story wider than the second4 ,this will be accomplished by making the thick walls thinner each story up4 ,the floor beams will rest1 not in the walls1 but on the recessions of thickness with each story4 ,no function is stated by ,ezekiel1 but the similar side chambers in ,solomon's ,temple were utilized for keeping ,temple treasures and vessels4 ,in antitype the ,temple is the ,church1 the ,christ1 ,head and ,body1 and in the chambers of memory of the ,divine ,christ will be stored up not only the character treasures of oil and incense and of gold and silver and precious stones laid up in ,heaven during the ,gospel ,age1 but also the like treasures offered by mankind throughout the ,millennial ,age4 ,only the priests will have access to these treasures and the ,little ,flock will forever guard these most precious offerings4 ,the three stories1 each wider1 suggest the character treasures laid up by those on the three planes1 ,human1 ,spirit1 and ,divine4--,ezek4 #da3ei2 #a ,kings #f3eaj2 #b ,chron4 #c3i4 ,the ,ezekiel ,temple represents ,god's finished work4 ,the ,holy does not type the spiritbegotten condition1 but rather the memory of it as a ,divinely accomplished work--for the experiences of the spiritbegotten condition will never be lost4 ,the ,most ,holy types the accomplished ,divine nature4 ,no furniture appears in either of these sacred chambers1 except in the ,holy1 an altar of a kind of wood not stated--an altar designated as 8,this is the table that is before ,jehovah40 ,if it is to be the same as is in ,solomon's ,temple it will be cedar--type of immortality1 the ,divine nature4 ,no mention is made of offerings at this altar1 for the time of the ,christ's sacrifice will be past4 ,the interior of both chambers will be sheathed with wood--presumably cedar1 type of immortality--up to the narrow windows at the top of the inner wall of the ,temple4 ,the interior decorations of palm trees1 alternating with twofaced cherubim1 with the faces of a lion and of a man1 type that the purpose and concern of ,god's glorious ,temple will be the administration of the affairs of perfect righteous men 7palm trees7 under the joint auspices of ,divine ,justice and ,love4 ,if the twoleaved doors into the ,holy and the ,most ,holy are to be of the same wood as in ,solomon's ,temple1 they will be of olive1 type of the peace of ,god that passeth understanding for those privileged to enter through the door of ,christ4--,ezek4 #da3acbe4 ,back of1 or west of the rear of the ,temple1 and separated from it by the twenty cubits of the separate place will be the western building1 a structure of inside dimensions #gj by #ij cubits and with walls #e cubits thick1 making the outside dimensions #hj by #ajj1 or including the #bj;cubit separate place1 #ajj cubits square1 indicating the ,divine perfection of the class represented by it4 ,this is not connected in any way with the altar or the ,holy or ,most ,holy1 and its use is not stated4 ,it answers the description of such a class of beings as the angels4--,ezek4 #da3abac4 ,chambers for the ,levites4--,certain chambers will be set apart for the activities of the ,levites4 ,near the outer door of the north gate of the inner court 7a work done by the spirit phase of the ,kingdom7 on the upper pavement will be a chamber where the ,levite will wash the burnt offerings of the people4 ,in the porch or lobby of the same gate will be four tables of hewn stone1 each #a cubits square by a cubit high1 on which will be laid the instruments for slaying the sacrifices1 and whereon the sacrifices will be slain and their flesh laid out4 ,in the outer court outside the inner court gate and beside the steps leading up to the gate1 will be the four more tables for slaying the sacrifices1 two on each side of the steps4 ,in antitype1 the offerers will make or renew the consecration of themselves1 under the various required conditions1 and will be accepted by the ,great ,company 7,levites7 who will act between the people and the ,little ,flock 7priests74 ,the utter consecration of the persons1 typed by the death of the animals1 will be supervised and directed by the ,great ,company1 and the offerers will endeavor to conform themselves to the character pattern1 suggested by the cut stone of the tables and the resting of the flesh and the slaughter instruments upon the tables4 ,those offering themselves in heartfelt consecration as an expression of their thankfulness to ,god 7burnt offering7 will be cleansed in character by the teachings of the ,word of ,god 7washed with water7 imparted by the ,great ,company 7,levites74--,ezek4 #dj3cidc4 ,certain of their offerings the people are to eat1 figuring their assimilation in their very beings of the consecrations made4 ,this process will not be without fiery trials1 ameliorated by the ,word of ,god 7hot water71 chastenings at the hands of the ,great ,company 7,levites7--typed by the boiling of the sacrifices by the ,levites preparatory to their being eaten by the people4 ,this activity of the ,great ,company is typed in the boiling places at the courts in the corners of the lower pavement4--,ezek4 #df3babd4 ,further activities by the ,levites of thirty kinds in behalf of or in cooperation with the people1 may be typed in the thirty chambers along the lower pavement of the outer court4--,ezek4 #dj3agah4 ,gates1 ,doors1 ,porches1 etc4--,in the ,tabernacle the gate1 the door and the veil1 all facing the east1 typed ,christ and in a certain sense those in ,him4 ,none might enter these holy entrances except those having to do1 as actual or probationary1 participants in the sin offering4 ,so in the ,ezekiel ,temple1 in connection with the east gate of the outer and inner courts is pictured the entrance of those in previous ages having to do with the fiery sufferings connected with the sin offering--the ,little ,flock and the ,ancient ,worthies4 ,the ,little ,flock is depicted as the glory of ,god entering by the east gate of the outer court and the east gate of the inner court1 and finally into the ,temple 7,ezek4 #dc3ae71 typing the progress of the ,christ ,body through ,christ ,jesus1 as the way 7gate7 into imputed human perfection 7outer court7 through the 8change0 to the ,spirit plane 7inner court7 and up to the immeasurable exaltation of the nature of ,god 7,temple74 ,after the full entrance of the ,body of ,christ the outer gate shall be shut1 and no one shall enter except the ,ancient ,worthies1 who were privileged to enter their honorable estate by the door of self sacrifice unto death4 7,ezek4 #dd3ac47 ,in the condition of being in ,christ1 in the mind of ,christ1 the ,ancient ,worthies shall 8sit01 communing with ,christ and with ,god1 assimilating the ,word of ,god 7eating71 which shall strengthen them for their stupendous task of the government and regeneration of the whole world of mankind4 ,the eastern gate of the inner court1 the way to the ,divine nature through sacrifice1 will be closed after the entrance of the glory of ,god1 the ,body of ,christ1 in whom ,god dwells1 and no one shall ever enter therein1 as pictured in the parable of the foolish virgins4 7,z4 '#jebfg2 ,ezek4 #df3a74 ,in this gate1 in ,christ1 at the very inner door of the gate1 having met all the conditions qualifying for entrance upon the spirit nature1 throughout the ,millennium1 ,god's seventh day 7the ,sabbath71 and the day of the ,new ,covenant 7new moon71 the ,ancient ,worthies will have their standing4 ,there in intimate communion with the glorified ,christ they will make their thankful consecrations of themselves and their vows fulfill 7burnt and peace offerings71 having their standing in ,him ,whom they preceded in suffering1 and ,whom they follow in time and place4--,ezek4 #df3ah1 #ab4 ,entrance at the north or south gates of the inner or outer courts signifies1 not participation in1 but benefit from the ,sin ,offering4 ,the gate looking toward the north 7spirit phase7 types the looking toward the ,divinely provided ransom4 ,it will be where the people will present their sacrifices1 and figures their consecrations and their acknowledgment of the altar1 the blood of ,jesus ,christ4 ,the gate looking toward the south will look figuratively toward restitution4 ,those entering it1 too1 will acknowledge the blood1 for in entering it they will face directly toward the altar4 ,on the solemn feast days1 the people and the ,prince entering the north gate must not go out by the same gate1 but by the south gate1 and vice versa4 ,this types that every one entering the plane of actual or heart perfection on the human plane must acknowledge that the restitution 7south7 blessings were brought by the spiritually 7north7 provided blood of the ,redeemer4--,ezek4 #dj3bjca2 #dd3df2 #df3iaj4 ,the typical importance of the gates1 doors and porches is emphasized in ,ezekiel #dd3e 8,mark well1 and behold with thine eyes 7of understanding71 and hear with thine ears 7of spiritual hearing71 all that ,i shall say 7write7 unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of ,jehovah1 and the laws thereof1 and mark well the entering in of the house1 with every going forth of the ,sanctuary40 ,the court gates 7,figure #f7 will be hallways crossing the #ej;cubit pavements4 ,the size will be #ej by #be cubits4 ,the outer court gate will be entered from a flight of seven steps over the outer threshold through a door4 ,the narrow hallway will be flanked by six little chambers projecting out one cubit into the hallway1 three in a side1 and will end over an inner threshold in a porch or lobby1 frequently translated 8arch01 from which an inner door will open into the court4 ,the inner court gate will be of identical but reversed construction1 the porch or lobby coming first4 ,the interior will be dimly lighted by narrow windows4 ,the walls along the hallway--the posts--will be adorned with palm trees1 reminders1 antitypically1 that the purpose of the entire sanctuary is to promote the glory of ,god by the restoration of mankind to perfection 7palms74 ,the six little chambers type six conditions to be complied with by those actually or at heart on the perfect human plane1 the size of the chambers--one reed square--signifying that each of these conditions embraces the full measure of the ,word of ,god 7reed7--perfect requirement in that respect4--,ezek4 #dj3fdc2 #dc3ad2 #dd3ae2 #df3aab4 ,the porch of each gate and of the ,temple types ,christ1 as the resurrection--8,i am the resurrection40 ,in the outer court gates the person entering will pass the little chambers first and the porch afterward1 typing that during the ,times of ,restitution the world of mankind will meet the conditions before being fully resurrected to perfection4 ,in the inner court gates the porch will come first1 signifying that the person is first raised to the spirit condition and then is developed4 ,in connection with the ,temple porch there will be no little chambers1 typing that the ,little ,flock will have met all the conditions before their exaltation4--,ezek4 #dj3hi1 #af1 #bjbb1 #bdbf1 #cccf1 #cidc1 #dhdi2 #da3bcbf4 ,the entrance to the ,temple will be through a lofty porch1 flanked by two great pillars4 ,these pillars will be suggestively named1 as in ,solomon's ,temple1 the right one1 ,jachin 7,he shall establish7 and the left one1 ,boaz 7,in it is strength74 ,in these inspiring reminders are seen the mighty strength of ,the ,christ1 possessors of all power in ,heaven and in earth1 with which ,god through them will establish ,his ,kingdom4--#a ,kings #g3acbb4 ,the priests' chambers on the upper pavement of the ,inner court will be entered by a separate gate and separate stairs from the outer court1 suggesting that the entree to the love feasts of the ,little ,flock will be exclusively for them alone4 7,ezek4 #df3ai74 ,the gates of the city will be twelve in number1 three on a side1 and each named for one of the twelve tribes4--,ezek4 #dh3cacd4 ,the ,altars4--,as the entire ,plan of salvation centers about the ransom sacrifice of ,jesus ,christ1 so at the mathematical center of the ,ezekiel ,temple will be the great brazen altar1 with its rites1 and offerings1 and the blood1 typing the ransom and the antitypical sin offering4 ,it will be at the center of both the outer court and of the inner court1 and of the priests' land and of the land divided among the tribes1 typical of the world4 ,the court gates will all point toward it1 and facing it will be the steps1 porch1 and outer and inner doors of the ,temple4 ,the construction and dimensions of the altar are given in ,fig4 #g4 ,the brazen altar will be #dx#abx#ab cubits2 it will be reached by stairsteps from the east1 and will rest upon two borders or 8settles10 respectively1 #dx#adx#ad cubits and #bx#afx#af cubits1 the lower of which will rest upon a bottom or foundation #ax#ahx#ah cubits4 ,the ,tabernacle altar was #cx#ex#e cubits1 the dimensions suggesting incompleteness1 as compared with the numerical symbolism of the ,ezekiel altar4 ,this altar types the completed work of the ,sin ,offering and will be seen to be of far greater magnitude and importance than even the eye of faith can now perceive while the suffering work is in process4 ,its elevation by the bottom and two settles suggests the lofty exaltation of ,the ,christ who participated in the ,sin ,offering far above the beneficiaries from the blood--the ,great ,company and the perfected world of humanity4 ,it will be approached by stairs to the height of the base of the altar proper1 typing that the evidence of the sacrifices by the offerers will be carried into ,heaven itself4--,ezek4 #dj3dddg2 #dc3acbg2 #de3ahbj2 #dg3a4 ,the ,offerings4--,the various offerings typify the following3 ,a burnt offering will be a thankful prayer to ,god1 acknowledging ,his mercy1 wisdom and love as manifested in the broken ,body of the offerer's great ,ransomer4 ,a peace offering will be the fulfilment of a vow or a willing thank offering2 the offerer eating the sacrifice will be his appropriation to himself of the consecration2 with it he will eat certain things such as unleavened cakes1 oil and anointed wafers1 signifying his faith in ,christ's character which he will copy4 ,a trespass offering signifies reconsecration in connection with restoration for wrong1 with recognition of the offerer's imperfection and the value of the ransom4 ,a meat offering of fine flour1 unleavened cakes1 oil1 etc41 signifies the consecration of the offerer's all1 the sample burned on the altar meaning the consecration's approval and acceptance by ,jehovah4 ,the sin offering will be an acknowledgment of past sins and of the application of the merit of the ,ransom1 with repentance and reconsecration of the offerer4 ,defilement and ,cleansing4--,there will be defilement of individuals and the past defilement of the whole world4 ,the general defilements involving all--referring in part to the typical location of the palace of ,solomon and the kings1 close to the ,temple--are ,christendom's defilement of ,god's holy name by their erroneous teachings about ,him and by the lives of those evil clergy and laity who presumed to bear ,his name2 their 8whoredoms10 or unhallowed union of church and state2 their permitting of prominent persons--clergy and laity--who were dead in trespasses and sins1 to assume elevated places in the worship of ,god2 their conjoining the entrance into the ,temple class 7a church7 with entrance into places of influence2 their establishing the same wall of living members of the churches as the wall of business and the state2 their encouraging unconsecrated persons1 not spiritbegotten1 to serve in the holy things in the church as teachers and clergy2 their breaking their covenant1 made solemnly with ,god in their consecrations2 and their not keeping the charge of the ,divine ,word of truth but hiring paid clergymen to look after it for them4 ,the great mass of the ,spirit begotten 7,levites7 had gone astray from ,god after their man made idols of earthly honor1 power and wealth2 and they had served the evil tendencies of church members in their idol worship4 ,between the people and the clergy every conceivable abomination in the sight of ,god had been practiced1 and will require cleansing and a wholesome memory of it1 to safeguard against future outbreaks and to manifest continual appreciation of the holiness of any service of ,god4--,ezek4 #dc3gi2 #dd3fad4 ,times for ,offerings4--,the times of certain offerings1 as on the sabbaths and new moons1 type that the ,jews and the world might not effectively consecrate themselves until the ,millennial ,age--,god's seventh ,day and the time of the ,new ,covenant4 7,ezek4 #dd3bd2 #de3ag47 ,the sacrifices by the prince for all the people on the first month1 first day1 type the universal consecrations during the first #a1jjjyear ,day of blessing for mankind1 when all consciences will be cleansed by the application of ,christ's merit4 ,those on the ,seventh day type the same consecration during the ,millennium regarded as ,god's great seventh ,sabbatical thousand year ,day1 when sinners and the simple minded will be cleansed from sin and set right4 7,ezek4 #de3bj47 ,on the fourteenth day the celebration of the passover memorial1 and the sevenday feast thereafter1 picture the memorial of the ,lamb of ,god and the feast of thankfulness and consecration for the fulness of the ,new ,covenant forever 7,ezek4 #de3babd72 that on the fifteenth of the seventh month1 and for seven days1 type the application of ,christ's merit through the ,sin ,offering and the thankfulness and consecration of the people in the ,spirit1 eternally thereafter4 7,ezek4 #de3be47 ,the sacrifices and worship of prince and people at the east gate1 on the sabbaths and the new moons1 figure the consecrations and reconsecrations of ,ancient ,worthies and people throughout the #a1jjjyear ,day of ,restitution4--,ezek4 #df3aaa4 ,at any time the ,ancient ,worthies representing the people also may1 of their own free will express their thankfulness and celebrate the fulfilment of their consecration vows1 signifying this as their continuing state of mind4 7,ezek4 #df3ab74 ,the daily burnt and meat offering for the nation1 morning and evening1 signify the continued thankful consecrating of all classes on all planes of being in memory of and through1 8the ,lamb of ,god which taketh away the sin of the world40 7,ezek4 #df3acae74 ,throughout the ,millennial ,age this ,little ,flock will necessarily be in contact with defiling and deathdealing error in some1 with whom they are intimately connected1 in process of restoration to human perfection2 by the close of the great seventh ,day1 before the eighth ,day the application of the merit of the ,sin ,offering will have cleansed or destroyed1 all such cases and ,the ,christ will no more have to be in touch with such defilements4 7,ezek4 #dd3bebg74 ,offerings to cleanse the altar with blood type the memory that the altar class--,the ,christ1 ,head and ,body--were cleansed by the blood1 and that all offerings are sanctified by the blood4 7,ezek4 #dc3ahbg74 ,salt cast upon the offerings types the preserving power of the ,word4--,ezek4 #dc3bcdd4 ,throughout the ,millennium the world of mankind are to regard the perfect human condition toward which they are progressing1 as their inalienable possession1 8bought by the blood40 ,no ruler1 or other power1 is to interfere with this right1 nor teach them otherwise4 7,ezek4 #df3ac2 #dh3bi47 ,the ,hebrews1 the original beneficiaries1 are to welcome the rest of mankind and treat them as of their own number4--,ezek4 #dg3bbbc4 ,they are to submit loyally to the rulership of ,the ,christ1 ,head and body1 and to that of the ,divinely appointed earthly phase of government4 7,ezek4 #dd3bd2 #de3f47 ,they are to receive the instructions of the ,christ4--,ezek4 #dd3bc4 ,through the ,ancient ,worthies1 the rulers of the earthly phase1 the people are at heart to consecrate their all1 typed by offerings of tenths or multiple thereof4 7,ezek4 #de3acbe47 ,to ,the ,christ they are to consecrate their hearts' best endeavors1 their firstfruits1 and everything which they dedicate by vow or consecration4 7,ezek4 #dd3bicj47 ,the ,great ,company they are to love1 and to them they must be loyal4--,deut4 #ad3bgbi4 ,the people must be thoroughly cleansed in conscience4 7,ezek4 #dd3i74 ,they are to put away all their former defilements and abominations and are to worship and serve ,god throughout the ,times of ,restitution and thereafter1 observing that holy period as a solemn feast to the ,lord4 7,ezek4 #dc3fg2 #df3ac1 #iaj2 #de3ag47 ,they are to consecrate themselves daily1 with thankfulness1 with repentance and restitution for sin1 and with vows fulfilled4--,ezek4 #dd3bicj2 #de3a1 #acbe2 #df3aibd2 ,zech4 #ad3bjba4 ,duties of ,prince4--,the duties of the ruling ,ancient ,worthies will be3 to remove violence and exploitation1 execute judgment and justice and take away all former exactions imposed upon the people4 7,ezek4 #de3hi74 ,they are to see that the commercial intercourse of the people is on a just and equal basis for all4 7,ezek4 #de3ajab74 ,they will receive taxes or offerings from the people1 with special attention to the spiritual offerings symbolized by the things offered4 7,ezek4 #de3acaf74 ,the land they are to keep holy1 as they will their own condition of favored perfection1 symbolized by the land4 7,ezek4 #dh3babb74 ,certain ones for special merit--such as any during the ,gospel ,age who lived up to their consecrations as mere believers1 not being taught the things of the ,spirit1 and as those through devoted loyalty making special progress during the ,millennium--they may cause to have the same honored position as themselves1 which will be permanent if the recipients manifest the spirit of sonship1 but lasting only to the close of the #a1jjj years to those failing to show this spirit4 7,ezek4 #df3afag74 ,they will be privileged1 as favored participants in the application of the ,sin ,offering merit1 to go in and out of the outer court east gate--as in the place of ,christ--and there to feed upon the meat in due season from ,christ's bounty4 7,ezek4 #dd3ac74 ,in all holy things they are to be the leaders of the people4 7,ezek4 #df3iaj74 ,they are1 during the entire ,millennial ,age--,god's sabbath--to make offerings 7,ezek4 #de3agbe7 of thankfulness1 praise and recognition of the ransom1 directly through the ,christ with whom they shall be in intimate relations4--,ezek4 #df3aab4 ,duties and ,privileges of ,levites4--,on account of ,gospel ,age disloyalty the ,great ,company1 while enjoying the ,spirit nature 7,numb4 #ah3bcbd71 will occupy an inferior place as servants--not priests--in the service of ,god4 7,ezek4 #dd3ajad74 ,their lower nature on the spirit plane will be inalienable and unchangeable4 7,ezek4 #dh3acad74 ,rather than serve in the ,temple at all1 they are to render service at the various gates1 for whatever functions are typed at or by the gates4 7,ezek4 #dd3aa74 ,rather than do the direct service of ,jehovah1 they will continue as in the ,gospel ,age when they courted and served the desires and lusts of the people--to serve directly and perpetually the people rather than the direct interests of their ,god4 7,ezek4 #dd3aaab74 ,they shall not come near to ,god nor approach to an appreciation of the things of the ,divine nature1 but they shall do whatever menial services there may be given them by the ,little ,flock to do4 7,ezek4 #dd3acad47 ,it will be their part to receive and make effective the consecrations of the people1 to cleanse them with the water of the ,word1 and to administer the stripes and chastening1 many or few1 tempered by the water of the ,word1 whereby the people may thoroughly assimilate 7eat7 the significance of their consecrations4 ,they may possibly restore the literal sacrifices of animals as object lessons 7,z4 '#jebfi74--;,ezek4 #dj3cedc2 #df3babd4 ,duties and ,privileges of the ,priests4--,the ,little ,flock1 the ,church1 will enjoy the nature of ,god1 who ,himself1 in ,his nature1 will be their inheritance and possession4 7,ezek4 #dd3bgbh1 ,numbers #ah3bj47 ,they will serve the ,divine purposes in direct and intimate contact with their ,father1 ,jehovah1 and will continue to keep the charge of ,god's holy doctrines and truths1 as they faithfully kept it during the ,gospel ,age4 7,ezek4 #dj3df2 #dd3aeaf2 #de3d2 #dh3ajab47 ,they will continue having charge of ,god's house1 ,his ,church1 ,his people4 7#dj3ddde2 #dd3h47 ,they will be in various grades of honor 7houses71 as 8star differeth from star in glory40 7,ezek4 #de3d47 ,they alone will have the privilege of entering the ,divine ,temple1 or ,christ class4 7,ezek4 #dd3aeaf47 ,they will forever regard their blessed condition most holy1 most consecrated to ,jehovah4 7,ezek4 #dh3ab47 ,they will keep the law of ,divine ,love in all its manifestations and judge the people according to that exalted standard 7,ezek4 #dd3bd1 ,deut4 #ag3hac72 teach all mankind to know the pattern of true godliness in all its particulars and to discern between holy and secular1 good and evil 7,ezek4 #dc3ajab2 #dd3bc72 sanctify and bless humanity according to the ,oathbound ,abrahamic ,covenant on terms of willing obedience4 7,ezek4 #dd3ai1 #cj2 #df3aibj47 ,these priests will make union with and make fruitful the various covenants and promises 7wives7 by ,god1 avoiding those not ,divinely approved4 7,ezek4 #dd3bb2 ,lev4 #ba3g1 #acad47 ,they will receive tithes of the ,levites4 7,numbers #ah3becb47 ,all dedicated things will belong to them--that is1 all covenants1 vows and consecration of the people will be made to the ,christ4 7,ezek4 #dd3bicj2 ,josh4 #f3ai2 ,lev4 #bg3bjcd2 ,numbers #ah3hbj47 ,theirs will be the charge of the altar--of applying the merit of ,christ to the people 7,ezek4 #dj3dddf71 and they alone shall make the offering to ,god1 declare the ,divine forgiveness and approval of the people and of their consecrations4--,ezek4 #dc3ahbg2 #dd3aeaf1 #bebg2 #de3ahbe2 #df3ag1 #aabd4 ,the ,life,giving ,river4--,the benefits of ,divine ,love flowing to save and bless all the willing and obedient of mankind are pictured in the ,life ,giving ,river4 ,from underneath the threshold1 the place of rulership1 the ,throne of ,the ,christ 7,rev4 #bb3a71 the water of the ,word of ,divine ,love flows forth4 ,under the favor of the ,church 7right of ,temple7 the truth about the loving mercy through the blood of ,jesus ,christ 7altar7 is for the restitution of all in the earthly 7south7 phase of the ,kingdom4 7,d4 #fej1 #fee2 ,z4 '#jebfi2 ,z4 '#iiaif2 ,ezek4 #dg3a47 ,through ,christ1 the ,gate1 with all ,his loving favor 7right7 it flows toward the ,sunrise4 7,ezek4 #dg3b47 ,the same one--,pastor ,russell--who measured the race for the mark of the prize1 with the line of ,divine ,righteousness 7love1 8the fulfilling of the law071 measured also the requirements for character attainment of the ,millennial ,age4 ,one who will have that degree of love1 which is duty love to ,god and man1 even though reaching the utmost fulness of the measure of ,divine ,justice 7#a1jjj cubits71 will be as it were1 only up to the ankles in the stream4 ,he who attains the fulness of the ,divine standard as to love for ,god1 for ,his glorious character1 will be in the stream to his knees4 ,he who shall reach the fulness of love for the 8least0 brethren of that ,age will be up to the loins2 but he who so acquires the spirit of ,divine ,love1 as to love all1 including his enemies1 will have reached the utmost fulness of love4 7,ezek4 #dg3be47 ,any that appreciate this1 see the full purpose of ,divine ,love4 ,it is important--8,son of man1 hast thou seen this80 7,ezek4 #dg3f47 ,this is the love that will insure the healing of the sinsick1 anarchistic world lying in a deadness like the ,dead ,sea4 7,a4 #cah1 ,d4 #fec1 ,z4 '#iiaif1 ,ezek4 #dg3gh47 ,whoever becomes immersed in the fulness of ,divine ,love shall thereby gain life2 and for everyone everywhere1 to whom the water comes1 there shall be life4 7,e4 #ceg1 #cce2 ,c4 #bad2 ,ezek4 #dg3i47 ,in connection with the gospel of the fulness of ,divine ,love there shall be a multitude of fishers of men to spread the net of the gospel of glad tidings of great joy for exceeding many4 7,c4 #bae1 ,ezek4 #dg3aj47 ,but the people who are hopelessly polluted with worldliness 7miry places7 and those impregnated beyond saving with miasmas of iniquity 7marshes7 shall not be healed even when 8brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth40 7,ezek4 #dg3aa47 ,and the stream of the truth of ,divine ,love shall cause many righteous ones to come up 7,dan4 #ab3c7 whose loving teachings shall never be forgotten nor its character fruitage ever pass away2 for they shall bring forth continued fruitage1 because of the ,divine ,truth of perfect love coming to them out of ,zion1 the glorified ,church4 ,and the character fruitage shall forever be for spiritual food 7,john #d3cd7 and the teachings 7leaves7 for the healing of all the willing and obedient of the sinsick world of mankind4--,z4 '#jebfi2 ,matt4 #aj3h2 ,mal4 #d3b2 ,ezek4 #dg3ab4 8,come all ye saints to ,pisgah's mountain1 ,come view our ,home beyond the tide3 ,millennial ,canaan is before us1 ,soon we'll sing on the other side4 ,o there see the 'white ,throne of glory1' ,and crowns which the saints then shall gain2 ,and all who shall love ,christ's appearing1 ,shall be blessed by ,his glorious reign4 ,thence springs of life will e'er be flowing1 ,robing the earth in living green4 ,visions of beauty rise before us ,when the ,king and the saints shall reign4 ,soon our conflicts and toils will be ended2 ,we'll be tried and tempted no more1 ,and mankind of all ,ages and nations ,shall be blessed in that triumphant hour4 ,faith now beholds salvation's ,river1 ,gliding from underneath the ,throne1 ,bearing its life to whomsoever ,will return to his ,father's ,home4 ,they will walk 'mid the trees by the rivers1 ,with the friends they have loved by their side2 ,they will sing the glad songs of salvation4 ,and be ready to follow their ,guide4 ,o6 the prospect6 it is so transporting1 ,reapers1 hasten the gath'ring1 we pray2 ,we rejoice in the glory that's promised1 ,and the dawn of ,millennial ,day40 ,,advertisements 8,go ,ye ,also ,into ,the ,vineyard0 8,he that reapeth receiveth wages1 and gathereth fruit40 ,john #d3cf4 ,all interested in the subjects of this volume1 and who consider its presentations to be 8meat in due season10 will feel more or less constrained to become servants of the truth1 and to bear the 8things new and old0 to yet others of the 8,household of ,faith40 ,your measure of zeal for such service will of course measure your activities in its service1 and determine how much of time1 influence1 means1 etc41 you will devote to its spread4 ,we are glad to cooperate with all1 that those who love much may do much1 and that those who love some may do something1 in the name of the great ,shepherd and in the interest of ,his sheep4 ,to this end we wish you to know that special provision has been made whereby you may be a colaborer in this work1 regardless of whether you have financial means to invest or not4 ,we have quite a variety of excellent tracts1 which we supply free and in large quantities for judicious circulation4 ,we also publish twice a month a #af page journal1 ,the ,watch ,tower1 and desire that our list should bear your name1 if you are interested4 ,if interested in this volume you will undoubtedly be interested in the journal1 which treats similar themes1 and we are prepared to supply you with it upon your own terms--you may have it on credit if it is not convenient to pay for it in advance1 and if never able to pay for it we will1 upon application1 cancel the indebtedness4 ,if you have no prospect of being able to pay for it you will be welcome to it free as one of the 8,lord's poor10 on application1 and upon renewal of the same yearly4 ,if you can afford to pay1 the price is #a 7#ds47 a year4 ,we have various helps for ,bible study1 which we supply to all who are on our ,watch ,tower list at extremely low prices--these include various translations of the ,bible1 ,concordances1 etc41 and especially the ,,scripture ,,studies--8,,the ,,bible ,,keys40 ,colporteuring ,and ,loaning ,the 8,studies40 ,some have numbers of friends to whom they take pleasure in supplying the ,studies gratis2 others keep a quantity at hand which they constantly loan out amongst their friends1 after the manner of a circulating library2 and still others enter the ,colporteur work1 as being one of the most favorable opportunities to them for serving the truth to others1 traveling from town to town introducing the 8,bible ,keys10 soliciting orders and delivering the books4 ,our ,society does all in its power to facilitate these various methods of circulating the truth1 encouraging each to serve the cause to the extent of his zeal and ability1 according to his own preference2 assisting in the matter very materially by supplying the books at remarkably low prices4 ,see page #b of ,,the ,,watch ,,tower for wholesale rates to subscribers1 and if the ,colporteur work appeals to you1 write for 8,hints to ,colporteurs40 ,we shall be glad to hear from you1 and to coperate with you1 and we assure you that you will find a blessing in every sacrifice you may make on behalf of the truth4 ,very truly1 ,your fellowservants1 ,watch ,tower ,bible and ,tract ,society1 ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,branches3--,london1 ,w42 ,elberfeld1 ,melbourne1 ,copenhagen1 ,orebro1 ,christiana1 ,geneva1 ,yokohama4 8,both the ,houses of ,israel0 ,correspondencies ,of ,the ,mosaic ,and ,christian ,dispensations4 ,israel ,after the ,flesh ,israel ,after the ,spirit ,a ,house of ,servants4 #a ,cor4 ,a ,house of ,sons4 ,gal4 #d3e1 #f1 #aj3ah2 ,rom4 #i3g1 #h2 #d3af2 ,heb4 #g1 #cj1 #ca2 #f3ae1 #af2 ,john #c3e4 #a3ab2 ,rom4 #h3ae4 ,founded in ,jacob's ,twelve ,founded in ,jesus' ,twelve ,sons4 #a ,kings #ah3ca4 ,apostles4 ,rev4 #ba3ad4 ,a ,kingdom and ,priesthood1 ,a ,a ,royal ,priesthood1 ,a ,holy ,holy ,nation4 ,exod4 #ai3f4 ,nation4 #a ,pet4 #b3e1 #i4 ,aaron1 ,fleshly ,high,priest4 ,jesus1 ,the ,spiritual ,high ,heb4 #i3g4 ,priest4 ,heb4 #i3aa4 ,circumcision of the ,flesh4 ,circumcision of the ,heart4 ,rom4 #b3bh1 #bi4 ,rom4 #b3bh1 #bi4 ,law of ,sin and ,death4 ,rom4 ,law of the ,spirit of ,life in #h3b4 ,christ ,jesus4 ,rom #h3b4 ,earthly ,promises4 ,gen4 8,better ,promises04 ,heb4 #i3bc2 #ac3adag2 ,acts #g3be4 #aa3dj4 ,in ,captivity ,to ,literal ,in ,captivity ,to ,mystic ,babylon4 #b ,chron4 #cf3bj4 ,babylon4 ,rev4 #ag3e2 #ah3d4 ,length of ,favor #ahde ,years1 ,length of ,favor #ahde ,years1 ,from ,jacob's ,death to ,israel's ,from ,jesus' ,death to the ,rejection and the ,beginning of ,beginning of ,christ's ,reign ,spiritual ,israel1 ,a4 ,d4 #cc4 and the ,rejection of ,babylon1 ,a4 ,d4 #ahgh4 ,the ,nominal ,system ,cast ,off1 ,the ,nominal ,system ,spewed ,out1 ,a4 ,d4 #cc4 ,matt4 #bc3ch4 ,a4 ,d4 #ahgh4 ,rev4 #c3af4 #dj ,years in ,falling1 to ,a4 ,d4 #dj ,years in ,falling1 to ,a4 ,d4 #gc4 #aiah4 ,the end of the age4 ,a harvest ,the end of the age4 ,a harvest of #dj years4 ,luke #aj3i1 #af4 of #dj years1 ,matt4 #ac3bdcj1 #cfdc4 ,our ,lord's ,presence and the ,our ,lord's ,presence and the ,sacrificial ,character of ,his ,sacrificial ,character of ,his ,death1 the ,stumbling,stone4 ,death1 the ,stumbling,stone4 ,the ,watch ,tower ,and ,herald ,of ,christ's ,presence ,this journal1 founded by the author of ,scripture ,studies1 should regularly visit all who have the slightest interest in the topics discussed in this and the other volumes of the ,scripture ,studies series4 ,it is issued twice a month1 #af pages1 at one dollar 7#ds47 a year in advance4 ,that none of the interested may be without it1 the arrangement is that those who need may have it on credit on application1 while those too poor to pay may receive it regularly free by stating the facts and making request each ,december4 ,all new tracts are sent to ,,the ,,watch ,,tower list which it is desired shall represent all interested in ,present ,truth1 the 8,harvest0 message4 ,watch ,tower ,bible and ,tract ,society1 ,,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,branches3--,london1 ,w42 ,elberfeld1 ,melbourne1 ,copenhagen1 ,orebro1 ,christiana1 ,geneva1 ,yokohama4 ,this ,society never solicits donations1 but it uses voluntary contributions as wisely and economically as possible in the propagation of ,christian knowledge along the lines presented in ,scripture ,studies4 ,it yearly circulates tons of tracts and papers free1 through the mails and through voluntary agents4 ,it justifies that portion of its name which relates to the ,bible--7not by publishing ,bibles1 nor by circulating them gratuitously1 but7--by supplying ,bibles and ,biblestudy helps at wholesale prices2 and often below the usual wholesale rates4 ,we mention a few of these on succeeding pages1 of course ranking ,scripture ,studies as the most important helps or 8,bible ,keys10 and ,,the ,,watch ,,tower1 semimonthly1 their efficient supplement4 ,readers who desire to coperate in the circulation of ,scripture ,studies will be supplied at cost prices1 and can have tracts ad libitum4 ,write us respecting this6 ,the ,bible ,students ,monthly ,treating ,live ,topics1 ,supplied ,free4 ,samples will be sent free to anyone requesting them3 and quantities for free circulation will be supplied free to all subscribers to ,,the ,,watch ,,tower1 they being considered working members of the ,society1 whether they specially contribute to its funds or not4 ,send for free samples4 ,what ,say ,the ,scriptures ,about ,hell8 ,an ,examination ,of ,every ,text ,of ,scripture ,in ,which ,the ,word 8,hell0 ,is ,found ,a ,correct understanding of the subject of this booklet is almost a necessity to ,christian steadfastness4 ,for centuries it has been the teaching of 8orthodoxy10 of all shades1 that ,god1 before creating man1 had created a great abyss of fire and terrors1 capable of containing all the billions of the human family which ,he purposed to bring into being2 that this abyss ,he had named 8hell20 and that all of the promises and threatenings of the ,bible were designed to deter as many as possible 7a 8little flock07 from such wrongdoing as would make this awful place their perpetual home4 ,while glad to see superstitions fall1 and truer ideas of the great1 and wise1 and just1 and loving ,creator prevail1 we are alarmed to notice that the tendency with all who abandon this long revered doctrine is toward doubt1 scepticism1 infidelity4 ,why should this be the case1 when the mind is merely being delivered from an error8--do you ask8 ,because ,christian people have so long been taught that the foundation for this awful blasphemy against ,god's character and government is deeplaid and firmly fixed in the ,word of ,god--the ,bible--and consequently1 to whatever degree their belief in 8hell0 is shaken1 to that extent their faith in the ,bible1 as the revelation of the true ,god1 is shaken also2--so that those who have dropped their belief in a 8hell10 of some kind of endless torment1 are often open infidels1 and scoffers at ,god's ,word4 ,guided by the ,lord's providence to a realization that the ,bible has been slandered1 as well as its ,divine ,author1 and that1 rightly understood1 it teaches nothing on this subject derogatory to ,god's character nor to an intelligent reason1 we have attempted in this booklet to lay bare the ,scripture teaching on this subject that thereby faith in ,god and ,his ,word may be restablished1 on a better1 a reasonable foundation4 ,indeed1 it is our opinion that whoever shall hereby find that his false view rested upon human misconceptions and misinterpretations will1 at the same time1 learn to trust hereafter less to his own and other men's imaginings1 and1 by faith1 to grasp more firmly the ,word of ,god1 which is able to make wise unto salvation2 and on this mission1 under ,god's providence1 it is sent forth4 ,price #aj ,cents 7#e;d47 ,per ,copy4--#hh ,pages4 ,special wholesale rates to colporteurs and those who desire to aid in circulating these booklets widely4 ,address ,watch ,tower ,bible and ,tract ,society ,,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,branches3--,london1 ,w42 ,elberfeld1 ,melbourne1 ,copenhagen1 ,orebro1 ,christiana1 ,geneva1 ,yokohama4 ,what ,say ,the ,scriptures ,about ,spiritism8 ,proofs ,that ,it ,is ,demonism4 ,also 8,the ,spirits ,in ,prison0 ,and ,why ,are ,they ,there6 ,the necessity for this little brochure lies in the fact that ,spiritism is showing an increased activity of late1 and meeting with considerable success in entrapping ,christians who are feeling dissatisfied with their present attainments and craving spiritual food and better foundation for faith4 ,the aim is to show the unscripturalness of ,spiritism1 and to point those who hunger and thirst for truth in the direction of ,god's ,word--the counsel of the ,most ,high4 8,thou shalt guide me with ,thy counsel1 and afterward receive me to glory40--,psa4 #gc3bd4 #aai pages2 in paper covers1 #aj cents 7#e;d47 ,address ,watch ,tower ,bible and ,tract ,society1 ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y41 ,u4 ,s4 ,a4 ,branches3--,london1 ,w42 ,elberfeld1 ,melbourne1 ,copenhagen1 ,orebro1 ,christiana1 ,geneva1 ,yokohama4 ,miscellaneous ,advertisements ,old ,,ms4 ,translations1 ,concordances1 ,etc4 ,recommended as ,aids to ,bible ,study ,the ,emphatic ,diaglott ,this ,greek ,new ,testament1 with interlinear wordforword rendering1 and a free reading emphasized translation alongside1 is based upon the famous ,vatican ,,ms4 ,no4 #abji4 ,with each copy sold1 we give one year's subscription to ,,the ,,watch ,,tower--if a ,new subscription4 ,if you already take ,,the ,,watch ,,tower1 your purchase of the ,,diaglott entitles you to send ,,the ,,tower to a friend who may want it1 but this ,new ,subscription must accompany the order1 as we cannot apply subscriptions on back orders4 ,leather bound1 divinity circuit1 gilt edges1 good ,bible paper4 ,price #c4be 7or #b4ej without ,watch ,tower74 ,young's ,analytical ,concordance ,in ,english1 ,hebrew and ,greek1 by ,prof4 ,young 7,presbyterian47 #abdj pages1 cloth binding1 price1 #f4jj postpaid4 ,as we are not permitted to reduce the publisher's price1 we will1 however1 send ,,free with each order any two volumes of ,studies ,in the ,scriptures4 ,smith's ,bible ,dictionary ,interesting and valuable1 #ajbj pp4 ,cloth1 #a4cj postpaid4 ,berean ,bible ,helps 7,,bound ,,separate7 ,these are the same as in 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#be;c ,extra2 ,registry #aj;c4 ,publishers lists of other ,bibles sent on request4 ,international ,bible ,students ,assn41 ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,volume ,i4 8,studies in the ,scriptures0 ,series ,things ,you ,ought ,to ,know ,as ,christian ,bible ,students ,the ,satisfactory ,proofs ,that ,the ,bible is a ,divine ,revelation--reasonable and trustworthy1 revealing a systematic ,plan full of ,justice1 ,wisdom and ,love4 8,the ,key of ,knowledge0 of the ,scriptures1 long lost is found1 and gives ,god's faithful people access to the 8,hidden ,mystery40--,luke #aa3eb1 ,col4 #a3bf4 ,the ,lord ,jesus and ,his faithful are to be not only priests but kings1 and will reign over the earth4 ,this ,kingdom is to come at ,christ's ,second ,advent4 ,god's ,plan is to select and save the ,church in the ,gospel ,age1 and to use this ,church in blessing the world in the ,millennium4 ,a 8ransom for all0 implies an opportunity to all for restitution4 ,the ,day of ,judgment is #a1jjj years long--the world's trial day4 8,the narrow way0 of selfsacrifice will cease with this ,age4 8,the highway0 of righteousness will be open to all the redeemed race in the ,millennium4--,isa4 #ce3h1 #i4 8,the kingdoms of this world0 are but for an ordained period and must give place to the 8,kingdom of ,heaven40 ,god has permitted evil for six thousand years for a wise purpose4 ,these subjects and many others of deep interest to all of ,god's people are discussed fully and in language easy of comprehension in 8,the ,divine ,plan of the ,ages0 7,in ,english1 ,german1 ,swedish1 ,dano,norwegian1 ,italian1 ,french1 ,greek1 ,hungarian1 ,spanish1 ,polish1 ,hollandish1 ,finnish1 ,arabic1 ,slovak1 ,roumanian1 ,lettish1 ,ukrainian1 ,chinese1 ,japanese and ,korean2 also ,braille1 for the blind74 #daf ,pages--,cloth ,bound4 #ej ,cents1 ,postpaid or ,delivered by ,colporteurs4 ,magazine ,edition 7,eng4 and ,ger47 #aj ,cents ,postpaid4 ,international ,bible ,students ,association ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,volume ,,ii4 8,studies in the ,scriptures0 ,series ,a ,remarkable ,book ,skeptics ,should ,read it 4 4 4 ,christians ,should ,study it4 ,things ,you ,want ,to ,know ,as ,christian ,bible ,students ,there ,are ,evidences ,that ,six thousand ,years from ,adam ended in ,a4 ,d4 #ahgb4 ,the ,date of our ,lord's ,birth was ,october ,b4 ,c4 #b4 ,the ,date of ,annunciation to ,mary1 ,dec #beth1 ,b4 ,c4 #c4 ,the ,date of our ,lord's ,baptism was ,october ,a4 ,d4 #bi4 ,the ,date of our ,lord's ,crucifixion1 ,april ,a4 ,d4 #cc4 ,the 8,seventy ,weeks0 of ,israel's favor ended ,a4 ,d4 #cf4 ,the ,jewish ,age 8,harvest0 was #dj years ,a4 ,d4 #cj to #gj4 ,the ,christian ,age 8,harvest0 is its parallel4 ,the ,jewish ,jubilees were typical of the 8,times of ,restitution of all ,things40--,acts #c3aiba4 ,the ,typical ,jubilees mark the ,date of their ,antitype4 ,the 8,times of the ,gentiles0 ended ,a4 ,d4 #aiad4 ,the ,jewish ,age1 in its ,lengths1 its ,ceremonies1 etc41 ,typified the ,realities of the ,christian ,age and its ,length4 ,elias or 8,elijah the prophet0 was a ,type4--,how fulfilled4 ,the ,antichrist has come6--,what8 ,when8 ,where8 ,these subjects and many others deeply interesting to 8the ,household of ,faith10 and 8,meat in due season0 to all who love and study ,god's ,word1 can be had in 8,the ,time ,is ,at ,hand0 7,in ,english1 ,german1 ,swedish1 ,finnish and ,dano,norwegian47 #dhb ,pages--,cloth ,bound1 #ej ,cents1 ,postpaid or ,delivered by ,colporteurs ,international ,bible ,students ,association ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,volume ,,iii4 8,studies in the ,scriptures0 ,series ,do ,you ,know ,that ,we are now living in 8the ,time of the ,end0 of this ,gospel ,age8 ,our ,epoch is 8the ,day of ,god's ,preparation0 for the ,millennial ,age8 ,the 8,days of ,waiting0 are ended and the 8,cleansing of the ,sanctuary0--the ,church--the separating of its ,wheat and ,tares1 is now in progress8 ,this the reason for the beginning of the ,return of ,divine ,favor to ,fleshly ,israel--blinded for centuries--to permit the gathering of an ,elect ,class from among the ,gentiles8 ,this favor now taking shape is known as ,zionism8 ,immanuel's ,kingdom is now being established8 ,the ,great ,pyramid in ,egypt is a ,witness to all these events of the past and present--testifying in symbols8 ,the ,pyramid's ,downward ,passage under 8,a ,draconis0 symbolizes the course of ,sin8 ,its ,first ,ascending ,passage symbolizes the ,jewish ,age8 ,its ,grand ,gallery symbolizes the ,gospel ,age8 ,its ,upper ,step symbolizes the approaching period of tribulation and anarchy1 8,judgments10 upon ,christendom8 ,its ,king's ,chamber the ,divine ,nature1 etc41 of the ,overcoming ,church--the ,christ1 ,head and ,body8 ,its ,ante,chamber the ,correction in ,righteousness of the 8,great ,company0 etc48 ,its ,queen's ,chamber symbolizes those of ,israel and the world who eventually attain ,restitution8 ,all these interesting topics with ten ,pyramid illustrations can be had in 8,thy ,kingdom ,come0 7,english1 ,german1 ,swedish1 ,finnish1 ,dano,norwegian7 #dhb ,pages--,cloth ,bound1 #ej ,cents1 ,postpaid or ,delivered by ,colporteurs ,international ,bible ,students ,association ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,volume ,,iv4 8,studies in the ,scriptures0 ,series 8,none ,of ,the ,wicked ,will ,understand0 ,but 8,the ,wise ,shall ,understand0 ,that ,this ,gospel ,age is closing with a 8,day of ,vengeance40 ,it will affect the whole world1 specially ,christendom4 ,all ,political1 ,social1 ,financial and ,religious systems will fail4 ,these ,judgments1 beginning with the ,house of ,god1 must extend to all4 ,our day is noted by the ,prophets as 8the ,day of ,jehovah40 ,it is symbolically styled 8a ,dark ,day10 a 8,day of clouds10 etc4 ,its trouble is symbolically likened to a ,hurricane1 to a ,flood1 to a ,fire1 etc41 these strong figures being used to give an appreciation1 yet to hide the real nature1 of that 8,time of ,trouble such as ,never ,has been since there was a ,nation40--,dan4 #ac3a4 ,preparations for this symbolic 8,fire0 and 8,tempest0 are now well under way and shortly will rage furiously throughout the world4 ,it will be a contest between ,masses and ,classes4 ,many see it upon us and trust to various schemes to avert it4 ,but all worldly ,schemes and ,panaceas will fail utterly4 ,god's ,kingdom1 the only hope for ,church and world1 is sure4 ,man's extremity will prove to be ,god's opportunity--in the establishment of ,god's ,kingdom--,christ's ,millennial ,kingdom which will establish righteousness by force4--,rev4 #b3bf1 #bg2 ,dan4 #b3cd1 #ce1 #dd1 #de4 ,all these subjects are simply yet forcefully treated1 and ,matthew #bdth ,chapter elucidated1 in 8,the ,battle ,of ,armageddon0 7,in ,english1 ,german1 ,swedish1 ,finnish and ,dano,norwegian47 #gbj ,pages--,cloth ,bound1 #fj ,cents4 ,postpaid or ,delivered by ,colporteurs ,international ,bible ,students ,association ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,volume ,v4 8,studies in the ,scriptures0 ,series ,the ,at,one,ment ,is ,believed ,in ,by ,all ,christian ,bible ,students ,nevertheless1 but few could explain its philosophy ,all ,should ,know ,about the great ,mediator of the ,atonement1 our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 ,respecting the necessity for the ,atonement ,and the necessity that the 8,only ,begotten0 must be 8made flesh10 and then die1 and then rise from the dead in order to effect the ,atonement4 ,respecting the office and work of the ,holy ,spirit in connection with the ,atonement4 ,and the important part of the ,atonement not yet finished--which awaits the ,second ,coming of our ,lord in ,his ,kingdom glory4 ,respecting the central doctrine of ,atonement1 namely1 the ,ransom--what is was--why it was and is the center or 8hub0 around which and into which all ,bible doctrines fit4 ,how this doctrine is the test of the truth or falsity of all doctrines2 so that once understood clearly it is a guard against error in every form4 ,respecting man1 the subject of the great ,atonement1 his nature2 his sin2 his penalty2 his deliverance through ,christ2 his future possibilities through acceptance of the ,atonement4 ,all these interesting and very important themes are lucidly discussed in simple language1 and corroborated by fourteen hundred ,scripture citations1 in 8,the ,at,one,ment ,between ,god ,and ,man0 7,in ,english1 ,german1 ,swedish1 ,finnish and ,dano,norwegian47 #fjj ,pages--,cloth ,bound #fj ,cents1 ,postpaid or ,delivered by ,colporteurs4 ,international ,bible ,students ,association ,brooklyn1 ,n4 ,y4 ,volume ,,vi4 8,studies in the ,scriptures0 ,series ,things ,you ,ought ,to ,know ,as ,christian ,bible ,students ,the ,creative ,week of ,genesis--its actual length--scientifically corroborated4 ,the true ,church of ,christ1 begotten of the ,spirit as the ,new ,creation2 the steps of ,grace ,divine--,justification1 ,sanctification1 and ,deliverance in the ,first ,resurrection4 ,the duties and obligations of the ,new ,creation--toward the ,lord1 toward each other1 toward earthly friends and neighbors1 toward parents1 children1 husbands1 wives1 etc4 ,the ,lord's ,memorial ,supper or ,sacrament3 what it is and what it is not should be clearly discerned by all of ,god's people4 ,true ,baptism--what it is4 ,the many mistakes of nearly all denominations are pointed out in kindly spirit1 and then the true ,baptism is set forth in convincing style--indisputable1 incontrovertible4 ,the foes and besetments of the ,new ,creation1 and the ,scriptural method of overcoming them2 also the present and the future inheritance of the saints4 ,these subjects and many others deeply interesting to all who love and study the ,bible are fully treated in ,the ,new ,creation 7,english1 ,german1 ,swedish1 ,dano,norwegian and ,finnish7 #haf ,pages--,cloth ,bound1 #fj ,cents1 ,postpaid or ,delivered by ,colporteurs ,international ,bible ,students ,association ,brooklyn1 ,n4,y4 ,,footnotes #a ,words not ,in ,sinaitic ,,ms4 are enclosed in brackets4 ,the ,sinaitic ,,ms4 is the oldest known copy of the ,scriptures1 having been written1 it is believed4 ,in ,a4 ,d4 #cca4 ,the 8,authorized0 ,version was made from ,,mss4 none of which were older than the tenth century4 #b ,words in ,sinaitic ,,ms4 which do not appear in 8,authorized0 ,version are printed in capitals4