World Distress Why The Remedy (1923)
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WORLD DISTRESS-WHY ?
THE REMEDY
Why is Evil Permitted?
Rujje TfifiL-
Who Made the Devil?
fjL£C Tl-CJW
Why Does not God Kill the Devil?
Prophecy and its Fulfilment
Pl1££ Nineteen
End of the World
Fbit's Tutnlyihrfc
Immortality
Tu'entycijii
Where are the Dead?
Tniny Mirs
A Ransom for All
Fo^c forrj*/euf
World Distress -Why?
Fj1££ RftHue ’
INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION
NINE TH L A RSES ON BIBLE SUBJECTS
by
J. F. RUTHERFORD
Author <jf
"n<r 2/tlr-p of Cud'r
“Can the Lit in<i Talk with the Bead?'
, "Maiiwu 5’ttit' Living Will .Yfi'er Di*!"
PRINTED IN’ c. S.A.
Cupyriuht&l 1S23 by
■:::! Bible Studenu
Why is Evil Permitted ?
THE earth is full of sorrow; and every one has more or less huyna" ailments, pains and weaknesses, Crime is prevalent in every land; haired, ill will and malice are ma'ifrested without limit; and the question frequently comes to the mind of the one who is asked to consider the divine arrangement: Why fhould a just and wise and loving God pennit evil to be in the world and afflict the people so bug?
Evil is that which produces unhappiness; and anything which either directly or indirectly enures suffering may be classed sis evil. The question is asked: Why did God permit Satan to tempt our first parents and causa them to violate his law? Could he not have prevented all this trouble, the foil of man, and the thousands of years of suffering that have been upon hunitmkind? The statement that Jehovah is ull-powerful at once k-ads to the conclusion that he could have prevented it hud his wisdom dictated that he should do sc. The fort that he did not do so is sufficient proof that he permitted it for some wise and good purpose. When we we and uud<rstand the outworking of his great plan, his wisdom is manifest in all that he has permitted, mid his love is ever numifesi in the method provided for the restoration and blessing cf mankind.
Can Man be Made Good through Evil?
God created the first man perfect, mentally, morally, and physically. Ab suggested in u discussion of this subject in Volume 1, Studies in the ScniiTWa, Page 119: •
“God could have made Tnanklr.d devoid uf ubllliy to div-cere between rijjLt and wrong, or aide only to dlweru and to do right; but to bare made him so would hare been to
«
make merely a living machine, uad certainly not n mental Image of His Creator. Or he might have made num perfect and a free agent, ns he did, and have guarded him from StlUlU's temptation."
Iii no other y>ay could man ultimately be brought to everlasting hupjiiaesH. lie must be free io. exercise his own will; uud be must learn to exercise that in harmony with the divine will, and to so exercise it voluntarily in order for complete happiness to continue.
God created everything for his own pleasure, (Revelation 4: 11) God has no pleasure in wickedness. (Psalm 5:4) There is no way, therefore, that he could so well teach his subjects the baneful effects of wiong-doing and the good effects of right-doing as by permitting them to experience these very things. Jehovah created man to be above till other earthly creatures, and endowed him with moral sense of discerning good and evil. Had his experience been limited io good alone by his being protected and shielded, from evil influences, then man would never have gained by experience a knowledge of the baneful effects of evil: but it would have required constant guarding of man at all times, which would have destroyed his free moral agency. The moral sense and the power to discern right and wrong, and the liberty to use this sense possessed by Adam, were important in making him the likeness of the Lord.
God’s Object in Permitting Evil
It is manifest from the revealed plan of God that he saw an actual experience with evil would be the surest and best and most lasting way to servo mon eternally; nnd for that reason he did not prevent evil, but permitted to an to come in contact with it. While God created the first pm,u perfect in his organism,-yet the man was without experience; and experience can be obtained only by passing through certain conditions. The Scriptures,
' however, hifutm us tlmt when the activity of evil baa been permit!'d long rutugh to give n'-BU a full mid complete b--^ - n o£ its baneful effects. it will cea«e to be active; for all of God's subjects will le willingly submissive tu him and will follow lore and justice.— i t’orinthui'.:; 15:25, ^Li; Hebrews 2: 11.
Why Man Suffers For Adam’s Sin
But it may Le aeked: If ths Lord would permit evil to come tu utu? num, Aduin, why should he permit Adam's offspring for thousands of years tn ft-1 the elk-ch cl it? When lit* iH-wii God’s plan we can see the economy of it and iliul wisdom and love prompted his act ion. Adam was put on trial iu Eden white he was perfect; and while in that condition he begat nu children. After be Lad vi-Juhd the Uw ami hud been ..-.nfenred to death mid driven from Eden, then he begat children, who were born and lived on the. earth- God arrange a that tins judgment of ojndumimtijn. should affect all of Adam's offspring, so that cna rvclcmpitive price would benefit all men. hnporfr it because uf sin, Adam vuuld beget only imperfect children. The IWinH tells us: “Behold, 1 was ehapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (I’.-altu •’■lijr “Vi hei ■ fore, as by one num sin Entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death patsc-d upon all men. for that all have sinned-" (lieirimis 5:12) God provided redemption ot njauhiiid by the sacrifice uf he other perfect one. Hud the judgment rv.-ultii-g from Adam’? viulutiuB mfected him alone, then i: ever Ada1 i get life ui uuj time thereafter he must be redeem rd by the ibni’h uf another perfect being, uud every uue of his offspring who would get life would likewise have to be r--!.-.med. Lt each one was required tu hare si tepante and distinct trial, then there would liuve Lu be a ‘- .parate and distinct r.<vemrj fur tacii one. Therefore Gud includco them
C World Distress—Why? The Remedy all in one judgment, in order that one Redeemer might pumhimt? them all.
It wu' Jebjvtih'x purpose before Hie foundation uf the world to redeem man from the lauiditiim of death a' 1 ■,¥<; him a fair and impartial trial for life after in-had received hi.? full experknei.' with the baneful effects of sin. And when the world is put on trial, each one will l.iiov, sin and the results of yield lug to it; whereas A du r i uhi'tj iirsl tried, had not experienced these things. We lLlii properly siy that when Adam Violated God's law the entire human race vas in his loins, u □produced. The Lord, then, could niakv provision for the satisfying of tl: - judgment against Adam and all of bis offspring Ly another equal to Adam going voluntarily into dealt. The Lord made this promise through the Prophet: "J will ransom them from the power of the grave ; 1 will redeem them from death: 0 death, I will he thy plagues; O grave, 1 will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes" (Ho^ca 13:14) The only way this redemption could be aeeomplisbeil was by the death of u perfect man, and in all the earth there was not one. ‘'None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him"—Psalm 49: 7.
Then it was that Jesus was transferred from the spirit plane to the human. being born as a man, but not begotten by any of Adam’s '-'lispring, ’When he grew to manhood’s estate he was perfect, mentally^ moralli and physically, had none of the contaniinatitnis of the Adamic stock in him, and was the exact counterpart of the perfect man Adam, who stood in liden, unscathed or unmarked by sin. Jesus had come now for the very purpose of redeeming mankind, as he slate-: ''The Nou of man came not to. be ministered unto, hut to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." " i urn eoiue that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.'”—Matthew 30: S3; John 10: Id.
KAy u Permiffcuf
End of Evil after Earth is Populat
The permission o£ the reign of fin mid den thoio in any years guve j>ut1icii-rnt time for enol gli to be bora into tin1 mirth ultimately to fill the w when they are restored to perfect huiinm cotidiiio and afforded maple time aud opportunity for the gro up ones to acquire an experience with the baneful effee of sin. AH those who have died in infamy trill get their experience during the thou Fund-year reign of Christ, during which they will be uplifted, They will acquire knowledge by learning what Lcppcred to others and by teeing the effect Upon ulhers in addition to ilieir own experience. The death of Jestu ra for the benefit of all. Wo read; “We tee Jesus, who w<*.* inndc a litrli? lower than the angc!> fur the suffering of death, crov. i.■ d with glory and honor; that he by the grace of Cod should taste death for every mau." (Hebrews ‘.’if!) Thus we observe it was the purpose of God that thu death of Jeans and his resurrection should provide u price sufficient to t^b-tii the entire Unit;an family—■ Adam and all of his offspring. This is in Inittuimy with Kt Paul’s statement: “Tins is goinl and acceptable in the sight of God uur Savior; who will liw all nun io ln> saved, and to wme unto the knowledge of the truth, bar there is one <«■■■!. and one mediator between Cod and men, the man Cbrisr Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all. to be t .{tiffed in due time/' (1 Timo thy 2: J’G) The order June maned is that first mankind shall be saved from the Adamic curse by the death of Jesus mid the presentation of the merit ul his sanr^cu to Divine JustiLie. and Hint subsequently al] jnanklud must bo brought to a knowledge of the truth and given one fair and imparthjl trial far life.
8 JForldOirfrejs—WTiy? The Remedy
A very Few to Go to Heaven
Another Teasou why Jehovah permitted evil was that it afforded the opportunity of developing from amongst mankind a New creation., which will be the highest and most exalted amongst nil of his creation. Jeeus is the Head of this new creation; the church constitutes his bodv members; and these, associated together in glorv. will be the instrument through which Jehovah will minister restoration blessings to all the human family. It has pleased the heavenly Father to develop this new creation through suiTering. (Hebrews 2:10,11) Jesus left the courts of glory, where he enjoyed happiness supreme hi his association with the great Jehovah God. Ite was made flesh and dwelt amongst men. He grew tip as a tender plant. Perfect in organ ism, he was a beautiful creature. For thirty-three and one half years he associated with sinners. Ue did not refuse to cal bread with publicans and sinners. Ur came in contact with the.->' because they were members of the Adamic race, and one of the purposes of his experiences on earth w us to acquire a knowledge of the sufferings which sin hud brought upon mankind, in order that he might be fully sympathetic in dealing with mankind in the time of trial. Of him the Prophet tays: “He was wounded far our transgressions, he was bruised for our.iniquities: th-? chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripe- we are healed. He was oppressed, and he «u.- afflicted” (Isaiah 53:6-7)—all for the sake of (ring prepared to deal properly with humankind during his glorious reign.
It has pleased the heavenly Father to develop the of the body of Christ through experiences cl suifering, and that is why St. Paul says: “If we .-.utter, we shall also reign with him." (2 Timothy 2:12) And again he states that we are joint-heirs with Christ J i. . us, “if eo be that we suffer with him." (Eomaus
ttTiy tj SiH Permiiiedf t.
St 16, It) This tw-w creation, when completed mid gtarjt- ■ fil'd together, i-liiill lj-■ dm sped.’ i -i< mid J.i. *>f ilm Lori Thu Scripture sp' flk of i;r- new creation uh Ziem, cnucerruBg which the I'salniist Hmfr.*: “Fur ||i" Lord : ’*ji cho ■ is Zion; he hislh desired it fur his iinhitnt (Psalm 13!): 13) In Ollier word thr pew cn,..t i n will Im int'.'ting place between li'.-l mid man, It v,'ll constitute the great Mediator, I'rii. t and King. "I, hii'b Jesus is the Head ami C’ftirf Cbic. Jt will be the representative of Jehovah and the n I'Ksentativc of man, mediating between God tmd nu!i, bringing titan back into harmony with Jehovah. This is the dw that will be rewarded with ii heavenly bcm;-' and glory forever with the Lord.—Revelation 3; JO,
Teaching All Who Ever Lived Righteousness
ifOut of Zi<m, the jwrfectiuri nf beauty. God hath sh ined?' (Psalm 50:3) Then th - Zion via:-.-, or new creation, of which Ji-m;:- is the J;:<i ■ ne, will teach all the people tba truth; first tho.-*1 living on earth at Jw time of the establishment of the kingdom. They will be taught what to tai and what io wear, how to uni ami how Co think, and idtove alt the priuciple? and laws of right*«ni.- nesr; end I14v hg had Li n E; 1 ■■ ■ 1.uj nue with evil, those who hate evil m d love righleauizras will gradually be brought buck by rciwitutmii j)races? to perfect! 011 nf body ami mind mid I curt. And this rm-tiiu-tion proevt? will '.'.''liinue for u itiiriod 01 o tliauEiyid years, viz., the period of the reign of Messiah, during which tunc every oim of Adam's dock, including Adam himself, wjjl have a fair and in . utial trial b.ir life under fnvtijnl'le conditions, h w ill then he •" eovc'wil that death has been a great enemy; but that while ihu people luave been dead, no one of the d«-ad In- been suffering. The 'LTpervni -■ ha.- L.-j) ga'i.*-d and now tha blc-sringts of life have come; and the restored (vpitk*
tion, seeing this, will give praise to God end his Christ for ever imd ever.
Thus we sec there are three primary reasons why God permit? evil: (1) To give mankind n full and Complete lesson in the baneful effects of evil doing; (2) for a sufficient length of time to afford opportunity io fill tile earth with people who get their experience I) font il.ei!' Until trial lor life; and (3) to afford opportunity for the development of a now creation, to constitute the instrument through which the Ijord Jehovah will minister file?sings to mankind, and who thereafter shall be the pride and glory cf Jehovah. lirH.ciiis^ of tire last it is said: “In the ages to come he J will] show the exceeding riches of his grace in hi? kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."—IC ph. 2 ; 7.
In view of the great plan of redemption jmd the ci-us-;.[neni institution of all thing* through Christ, ve can rhnt blessing? result through the permission of evil which could not have been so fully realized in any other way. Not only are men benefited to all eternity by th? experience gained, and angels by their observation of men’s experience?, but all arc further advantaged by h.x'firning fully acquainted with Gndfo ph?= reefer, as mtmifr-ri.'d hi his plan. They will thus behold hh perfect poise and balance—his wisdom, jo riice, love and power, working in exact harmony.
World’s Judgment Now
But why dl the war, famine, strife and Bolshevism, and other unspeakable crimes that the peoples of earth are now witnessing? Briefly answered, this is the reason: Silt;?n the r-vil mu* is designated in the Bible as the ‘hzoc 'if this world.” (2 Corinthians 4:4) “Re has been in control of the nations for many c until ri-?. God foretold ihi day ■ l judgment mi vengeapce upon Satairs cm ;u*d the ” it ions of earth, Wc have now come to
v
TFAy >'.$ J’rif PfrtnHtt■!'
the time <jf Jehovah'* jiidjrin’iit day <■( .....p .mt'? upon
the evil of the earth. This trouble in earth is spprt'iH'hin^ o great climax, which must taku place just before the beginning uf thu rcbtomiten bh'Hingn. Mankind is !''HV in tlml period of lusten funtlt'M by the Lu rd Je.'iu. retting forth the conditions that wmild eiint in the lu-t days just !■■. fore the blo.'Siug of mankind. The find world pas.-j-d niray-in a great ilood. Xot the present aril world te pan in# away in a great liery time of trouble, Cod’s i mlj^i nit ion upon th< evil system*. to he followed by a new griicr of thing? whflwin thvcllcth righkuur-ncis.—3 Peter <: 13.
The Fuctjru Earth
Of tbifi time Vclun'" I. “Th?- Oivipo Plsttr of the Ages/ Studies nt tup Si'eui’Tfki*. p.iyfi It1! £nd 193, speaks f
“Close your eyes for :■ niomtiit to the nfjn-j; of ntlso-y □ nd Vt«; den ri1 dis 11nn Uftd sOrrOu' th nt yet pH-'i .it I Oil HlxXHJtlt Of Fill, U!.JJ piriuro t"'fori' yntir n:enl::l ' I.dull til* of th? in'rfitt uirth. Xoi a smh* of tnj,n> u.< (■□tiui-'Oj tin} petieo of :l perfect sacfery; out h bitter iboji|M not un tin-kind t>"'A it n-eni; luTP. fli hln; up fn<gj <'u<ry Ltort. meets a kintlnii iipponse in evrry ntht-r beort. unit benevolence tnui k- I'very net. Tti.-i*- fdekiu>^ ?JiirM be r.i niine: nut nn ache nut a ;ui!n, nor nny uvidi^cu nf dei .iiy run evki Hie fe.si ei .'ni<'b tilings. Think of nil the ptemie.- of iuht tntilva ht'Mlb i>t)ij beauty pf J ....... fonn qju] fmijr.' ilmt jun
Lii'ti-r-i'n, end knoa 11:.।r [~-rfoet hntnnnliy vrill l^'Of :■/Lit tnrpir'^nti? UjveEne^f. Tim Iiiirnnl purity .n d n..i;t;ii .ind moi'; 11 L.iTfi'cllrui will Slum [1 unit dorify '-verj f.lijini IV i/dmiLLT Sucii will earih’s inrii'ir bt*; tnul v * eptm; l-nmiifl or.f' win hnre their ti ..re nil wttn'd nwuy, ulnn thus they renlit.e i be tcjurrwlluu wvrli cw.njpteLfr"
Who Made the Devil ?
"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor (inri power; for Li'-u hast created till things, and fur iky pteciAure they are and teen created."—Eevelatiott 4:11.
SIXCE r>. i<l in th? Bible that all thing; were created by the Lord cud that oil of his works are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4); and since we know that the devil is the evil cue, we feel sure Hint Genl wen hl not creak such a wicked one. Therefore we ask: Who created the devil?
AU intelligent creatures must be free moral agents with privileges of choorfng good or evil; otherwise the mature would !>■ merely a machine, compelled to do that for which In- was created arid nothing elfc, iJiuce free manQ agency leaves it to the creature to chouse the right or the wrongful retime, it is easy to ba scan how creature may m perfect at the banning and by choodng an evil course become a very wicked one.
Ludfcr Not Always the Devil
Among the wonder fully beautiful creatures created by Jehovah was Luc’for. The word Lucifer means a bright and shining one, the moruiug star. Job record* the fact that Lucifer was present when God laid the foEindation of the earth, and joined in praise unto the gri-at Creator. (Job 33:7) From the description given of him by God's prophet he must imvc been a very wonderful and brmttiful creature, glorious in.his apparel. The Prophet. =nys; "Thon hart hern in Edan the garden of God; every precious stem: wa< thy covering, the MrdfizE, taptt', end the diajnimd, the beryl, the onyr, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, anti the carls
buncle, and gold: the worl::tiu:iship the ’ i' :-1 of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that tii/m vast created. Thou art the anoint',d cherub That eth; and 1 hiivm=ei thee so: thou wast ujh’i.i lIj- holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and dov. :i ■ । -'w midst of the stOMfl of lire. Thou wust perft :t in thy ways from the day that vhou vast created, Lill i-hpity was found in thee?'—Ezekiel 128: 13-1-5.
When Lucifer Became the Devil
Thus we see that Lucifer was created perfect- He is called the anointed cherub, which si leans one iiainiig authority over ethers. This scripture states Unit he was in Eder.’, and this together with other scriptun - indicates that he was made overseer of Adam mid Eve v, L--ri they were created and put into Eden. When God cri-at-d man he gave .Adam dominion over the things of the earth. While Lucifer was very greet mid beautiful Li> did not possess a donuniaii. He had ambition in his Iiaai i to have a flnnnnion, and he rJwnr. to acquire such. To accomplish. this lie d'.-njEi. d uioiii'.T Ev.1 by d'i be rarely lying tu her. In sulnhma' he Luld fe that Jehovah was trying to keep her and her li inland in ignorance. To accomplish. his purpose he operated through the serpent, one of the bca-is in Eden; paid speaking 11 -hi'l'Ii this beast be said to Eve: "Yea, hath Ged said, Yr- shall not eat of every tree of the garden'f And Ev replied: "Qf the fruit of the tree which is in the midst if the garden, God hath said, Yo shall not cat of it, licit be r shall ye touch it, lest yu die.” And to this tin: reply was made: *‘Ye shall not surely die; for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as godsj knowing good and il," --tenesifi 3il-5-
The e\ideut purpose here was to cause Eve to be dWl loyal to God and through her to get control of her hus-
bund; nntl Aduni and Evo having the power to produce children anil populate I he earth, Lucifer intended in this way to get control of the human race and establish a dominion of hrt own. This was an evil course. It was disloyalty on his part to Jehovah; and for this reason he fell from God's favor.
Satan, the Ruler of the Earth
The Prophet describes him and his fall thus: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, ton of the morning 1 how art thou cut down to the ground, winch didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north: 1 will ascend above the heights of the clouds; 1 will be like the most High. Yet thou shrdt he brought down to hell, to the aides of the pit.”—Isaiah 14:18-15.
Jesus raid of Lucifer: “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” (Luke 10:18) He fell from God’s favor. He was degraded and his name was changed; and theTcafter he is known in the Scriptures as the dragon, the old serpent, the devil and Satan.
Why Evil Prospers
Every creature named by Jehovah is named for a purpose, and the name signifies much. The word Satan means oppose?. In Eden he was the opposer of God and bus been ever since, and the oppose? of everything that is righteous. He opposed Jesus when our Lord was on earth, operating through various agencies, and has opposed the followers of Jesus ever since, causing them to be persecuted. When God expelled Adam and Eve from Eden he stated: ‘T will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed:
and it Khali bruise thy head and thou shall. bruisn !ii.-heel." The seed means the offspring; and thereafter Satan and his emissaries or offspring have persecuted all those who have followed righteousness. The teed of the woman hero pictured tho seed emanating from the Abrahfimic covenant, which seed is the Christ (Galor fians 3:16,27, 29) Satan has always opposed this seed, and this explains why true Christians are persecuted.
The name serpent meant deceiver; and one of Satan’s favorite methods at all times has been deceit, practised upon the people. By meant of fraud and deceit he has gotten false doctrines into the minds of the people, blinding them to God's true Word.—2 Corinthians 4: 3, 4.
The word dragon means devourer. Satan has sought to devour everything that is righteous. 11c caused the prophets to be persecuted and killed. He instigated the persecution of Jesus at the hands of the Pharisees; and his attempt is to devour everything that is righteous.
The name devil means slanderer. Satan slandered God in the garden of Eden; and all the malicious, slanderous accusations against the Lord and his followers from then until now have emanated from this evil one, .Jesus speaking of him says that he is a liar and the father of lies.— John 3:44.
False Religions Stain God’s Character
God established with the nation of Israel the true religion, commanding that they should worship him as the true God. Satan the oppeser established with tho heathen nations round about the false religion, causing the people io worship him, images aud demons; and from this source spring all the falsa religions. The Lord established the true Christian religion, and Satan thereafter established the mystery of iniquity, the faithless religion, claiming to worship God and at the same time misrepresenting him and misrepresenting the Lord Jesus
< hri.-i. ‘Jluik Th*? Scriptures prove that God did not create iSfliniL He erented Lucifer, u perfect being, who alter-waul i ■.cjsne Satan i.s-;au=e of hi= own wicked course.
Annuls That Joined Satan
!■'['.mi Admit until the flood God permitted the angels li'‘iiv<i:i to have supervision aver nitw. Satan seduced n a! iy of ii esc angels and caused them to debauch the hiiiiiun ........rid turn them all to wickedness; and so
ti-irible did the wickedness become in the earth that all aside from Noah and his family were steeped in crime mid wrong iking. Every rmsgi’iuGon of their thoughts was cvit iTiitintially, Jehovah brought the great deluge ii I-m ’?.<■ -arii and destroyed ah th>- human race except Kcuh mid hi- family, who found favor in God’s eight [iii<| were carried over in the ark. Th— i evil angels that S.:\i!i Sit'd *,,:lu' vi) God restrained until the judgment .. ■!.•••:• r day. (Jude ; 3 1’cior 2: 4) After the flood lh>- i.ord begun to people the earth again through Noah; ui..I hi due time formed the nation of Israel as Gods cb'.'. L n ptiipK Sutcii opposed at al] times.
Explaining the inachinations of these evil spirits ance th.. (hi>>d, Volume 6, “The Xri.- Creation,"’ Sttdles in the ScaiiTUKEE, page fi£0, says:
“While chaiiM.-d, or imprisoned, Ju Live- sense of buiog un-ub!e loup r iu appear' amongst mtn In tb-biy bodlct tlcy ho'ii t'juiid 111 the depraved rutc Uium? who were wliiing to submit iliem.wlves a5 their asima, or mi'dlunis, and they i.pi riin d LhiuUEii the bodlee of thcad iustvud ot bodice nf tlk'h 0wo. Such 'medlum±>’ w<re human i:hu rnieIs of conbmuui-c.iri"i. ii“iv., eii the demons uml muiiliiii'l."
Impersonators of the Dead
The c evi! angels or evil bpirit- that had been, restrain* ed and were no longer permitted to materialize amonget tr.cn under Satan’s direction establifhcd cenmnunicatimi
with willhig Om.-S of the human race on earth tliri'Ugb the iiuLrumentdity of mediums. The Lotfi jirovided iti his law that the Jew- should keep aloof from thosi who attempted io tori'intina-d’.e with the evil ou-js; imd £rovided in his law that all spiritist mediums dionli!
i put to death. Hut the nation of Israel fell into temptation time mid if me again; and finally Satan wan I । cause of their overthrow. He caused the prophet* of hunel to be put to death, lie Im caused the wars am I famines and trouble mid strife that hare filled the earth from then until now.
Why Does not God Kill the Devil ?
Seeing that Satan is the author of evil and the instigator of wickedness in the earth, why does God permit him to live? Why does not God kill the devil?
Here wo give a brief answer. God purposed I hut every one of hid itiieUigeuL creatures should lutve experience with tho baneful effects nf evil, mid that they might choose between good and evil. He decreed long centuries ago tlrnt Satan thould be put to death, but he has withheld the execution of ibis fentenco until a sufficient number of the human race has bretl brought forth to till the earth; and ihtse are given experience with tin to -lu the results thereof, in order that when being brought to a full knowledge of the truth and with a full opportunity io du right, they will choose righteousness and live. God in his wuduin hus provided this ineain> of teaching the human family that utiibi lion. EelhHhnets, uud Wrongdoing lead io deg radii t ion; and that humble obedience to the Lord and follow -ing after righteousness lead to exultation.
In no other way could God have to thoroughly dem-omtrated this lesson than by permitting Satan to carry on his nefarious work The two characters that are eoutissted in God’s grtui plan are Satan and the Jjord
^8 JTcrid DtJfmj—4VAyF The Remedy
Jesus. Satan meditabd a usurpation of God's authority, v.u- degraded, lost hi* high i-has I.....tile tin-
very person iliaitiju <>f mi!, autL-deiuourtTaii',-' hi nr hut ( AV iit ii totally deprived charutter can go iutu wicked-ness: and be will iu due time be de*lrayed,
S.itan Restrained for One Thousand Years
After । spidering the subject at length. .Stidjes iv Tin. Schli-ii iiBsr, Volume -1. page ill), sayi;
‘S.ilmi t.i Lil II. IrjuuiI—iii-s every detvpl hu mid ulsleadlnji tulluciiev will k> tL-attulm*!- m> that evil tlmU mt lt>r»5*r Miii'i'.u- to ni' h io Ij- modi iinr good mi| *..;=!• undkrihrabte.
irutii i-I.jH do Imurer apj'^nr to tm-n unirtii- nor fulw hCnnS I- to appear true." hNot only will rln? klii£-
di'jn Ik* rPiul>;ht.nJ ibLr'i torn-, and be u power IIjjt met: ent...... resist, Lut it will so euutLuue thcoughtnit ’lie entire
Mili.'ziniai iijje; fur the entire reigu is fur the *]nvLUe pur* jib h-. ■/ T'mnini'li.iug tli“ ei.enili'S of risiit'.’iu^r:—.. "
Sittiin and ©shorts Destroyed - Evil Ended
1'ti- apostle Pau! plainly sayi that Jeans partook of fl. Ji nihl blood ihut through death he might destroy In' ■ lliat hiiili t},.j |i,v>iir of 'lriii.li, lii./. i‘, th'- devil. (Hebrews 2:14) After all the human ftunily hue been (riven a fnil opportunity to kro* good ami evil am! to choose the right course, then the author of evil, the devil, ami ell who choose iy follow him in uh righteous its* will be Kunpldely ami fore ver destroyed. Jn thi- v.t- .. ■ the ni.uiifold wisdom of Jehovah uud hiv loviugkiudij'-ij toward those who lore righteuiL-uees.
Prophecy and. its Fulfilment
THE Bible abounds with proplietie statements. These are called dark sayings, because not under-atandable by man ar the time wjhen written.
Prophecy means the foretelling of events that are expected to happen in the future. When these events do occur and are recorded, we call it fulfilled prophecy or history.
No human mind could clearly discern what the future will bring forth. Hence we must conclude that prophecy proceeds from God and is written for man's instruction, to be understood by him in God's due time. The Apostle states: ‘Tor prophecy came not in old time by the will of th am ; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy spirit.” (2 I’eter 1:21) These men really acted as the mouthpieces or amanuenses of the Lord, to speak or record prophetic sayings.
The fact that prophecy proceeds from Jehovah is proof conclusive that a time must come when that prophecy would have fulfilment, for the reason that the great, all-wise God would do nothing for an idle purpose. That we might be sure of this, Jehovah caused his prophet to write: “So shall my word be that gocth forth emt of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which 1 please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”—Isaiah 55:11.
World Events That Were Prophesied
To illustrate this point we give some ovnifijiji-s of prophecy and their fulfilment. Through his holy prophet God foretold the redemption of man. (Hosea 13:11) He- foretold that this mighty One who would come to earth would be bunt a Jew, (Deutuiuuonr, 18: 15) Hr
sps iifiisi the ] ! ■ -.iIj-'-i- h<> ■.■ ..tt’d be burn. (Micah 5; 2) H-- foretold. ii.;.' lie wutild votes! to hLs awn. people; that th.-Y n-jld not r-> iv<' him, (mt would disspise mid reject hi:i!; cud that In* Mould i.i- a man of *urrown mid uc-qutiiuied with grisd. (Isuiirh 53:1-8) He foretold his friLE.rli:iL‘. eTiiry into Jcrusabmi, offiring him.sclf aj King to the Jews. (Zs-thariah 9:9) He foretold his Letreyjil (Zechariah 11:12), and that he would die, but nut for hit! -elf (Dajiicl 9:20); that there v.ould be no just cisurt- for his death, Lot uatwilhstattdipg he would be tmrtibcred with the truingres&ws, (Lsiiah 63: B, 9) He fore told that he would di» a violent death, aiid jvt not u. boue of his body would be broken.
Every student of ths Bible know- that Jesus fulfilled all ■.! tb-s prophetic statemeutE caused to be written by il:s Lord Jehovah; that Bloses was a type of him; that Ji'.ilis WQ;: born a Jew ; that rn: was born at BethJ$-I'.ciin ut foretold ; that he came to the Jews mid offered himsolf as King, which iulTilmeiit i* upt^ifically recorded in Matthew 21:1-9; that he was rejected and crucified; and that he bi'ciinie maul-- ReJeemfir,
Jews’ National Overthrow Foretold
Through 3E'- , God fore’old the overthrew of the nation of Israel. (Leviticus SG: 16,31.32) Again he foretold Israeli over threw through the ]>ropliets Huckfc! and .!■■ leuiuih. Th1 ptophwus were fulfilled t.xaetly on time, and th- Jews willed from Bules Line,
God fordalii through ih<i prophets the ^tinw o£ the end/' I'arlieuIitTly through Uaniel he said: "But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the ti !:-■■■ of th', cud; nmny shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be iters i ’d/' (Daniel 12:4) This we flow see in rouh'.' of fulfil tuent.
Railroad Trains Foretold by Nahum
It in iiitarestnig to know that many centuriti ego the L-jrd through his j'luphrt Xalium. luretold mid gave a description of a railway train in full operation, drawing th.it that would, take plate at a certain tiw. Till* prophecy baa now been iuliiHei-—See Nahum 2: 3-6.
VuIhii:- 7, “The Fun lied My$renvJ Srtinrs is the S ch tv rr re s, page 93, descriptive® interprets the mu-belie language eitipluyu ■ by Nahum, even tn the pitting of the passenger* in tbs aide* and to the condimiur vnUectiug ticket;.
The airrhip, now generally in us? amongst the naticma and j tuple a of earth, <;..dV prophet foretold many centuries ago. The wirelt-i telegraph, which now is ur'J throughout the earth in prorlflinn'ng nic.-.-Bgea, God’rf propbi't likewise foretold many centum.- ago.—lEaiah oik 8 j Job 3S: bo.
1914t Date Foretold for World Wat
Th'.-re are many eth-r prophetic Uttcrmiees in the Bible. umuy of which ure now in co urn' of fulfilment Tubpuriajit among these is the World War, which was predir ted in Volume 2, "The Time e- at Hand," Sirr-1£$ in the ScaiFnrHEs (written in 1889), to begin in 1914. We quote from pages 53 and 79:
“The Times ef the Gculllr-i' was ajiplicO Ly uur Lohl m that Ini tial ci earth's Luxury between the tvrnuml of tlji-tiltliwl kingdom of God. the klusdom of l-iacl, and tie ([Umdiji.'iiuii uiitl tdiiibJMiiuL-iit er jta fmiltyiH', tiic (rue Idngdvin ol Cod."
“The Bible erldeuee Is clear nuj strong Umi the 4TLi;>.,.i of (he GeutHts1 Is a fterlod of 252i> ;>■..[>, from the ytur U. <'. «wj tv and Including A. 1.'. nil"
Ollier* which may now be ili^cemed by tile atudent <jf the Bib* are: The end of the warid, the secund <xnni:i;; of Ciiritit, the disirern ui the nations, the biilUe ui’ Armageddon, the new world beginning, de. I'hiE. we
may see Lhut God foretold tin hlitciry of the world long ngj; and tin ■ jn-Jul student ui prophecy nuw. iu ibi' light l ' hi.-tury iiml mnb that are daily transpiring, t'lin have n dear vwfoll of the inti.....Jg of the-'.' '.Lings.
The Bible i- the imut wonderful book written. It b the liii.-t hipL- i .•-.-..-■..■J. There is now really t.o e.-.-.n.-.' for nui tfndirs tending the Scriptures. Every home should he supplied with Bfljles and Bible helps. AB the children, from the time they k-gin to rend, should lk‘ encouraged 1" study the Bible; for it holds a plain Lab i ' nt of God's plan of Rilmtwn that ’.'. ill brine Life, heal lb and ha p pine -s to the human race, end there is no other means whereby they can get it. The prophets lurch Id th- time when the Bible would be better understood. We have now come to that time. All parents should therefore inform thenLseke- loueerning the Bible and *T'ijJd jsrform their ibligatii'ii toward their children to piopedy tenth them its great truths. There is nothing that u institutes such u safeguard against tin-many evils of the present day as a knowLdge vf Gadis Word of truth aud hi - means of bk -. ing mankind. The very purpose of the Stuuils is ths Scar trunks. Tun Uaiu' of Gun, and similar literature published by the Intern atnnuj Bible Students Assadiititjii, is io enable th-- p- upk- to iiistnu L them reives concerning God’r Word.
End of the World
FOE Almost nineteen hundred years Christians hate been looking for the coming end ,of the world. 1. ■■ ■' before that time the Jews had expected th*- v-<ld to end; for their prophets had taught iheui thus. Many have been erroneously taught th tit when the world comes to uu end the earth itself and all that is in it will Ue burned up. This belief is due to a lack of know ledge of God’s Word. It would seem unreasonable that .L-ho-vah we aid create a great earth like this, and can.-c it. to be improved, merely io destroy it. If there could be uny doubt in one's mind the Loid has settled that rh row Hi his prophet when he said: "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God bmis'-if that formed the earth, and made it: he hath established it, h* creutr-d it not in vain, he formed it id be inhabited.'' i. Isaiah *15:18) "The earth abideth forever,"—Ecelcsiasu* 1: L
World, not Barth, to End
By the word world as used in the Scriptures i.s meant the order of society, which is sonieLinies called eiviliza tion. it means the order of things visible, a ■ relates io man, his method of government, etc. The Bible speaks of three worlds: (1) The world that was, which being overflowed with water perished i. 2 Peter 3: ti) ; ( 1 i ' ‘ present evil world, which also is to be dcstruycil i/hilii-tians 1:4; 2 Peter 3:7); and (3) the "world !■.■ c ■ u n (Hebrews 3:5) The first world or order began with the creation of man and ended with the deluge or jIixhI. It was administered by angels, as the Scripture Hale, With the ending of the flood began the .-iiemid v : This has indeed been, and is, an evil World, h is the cud of the "present evil world” with ■*• hick the Jews
S4 1 For —TFib JIf The IItn:r dy
were cctji'crced and which Christian’ have been anticipating for mu in- centuries. The “world to tvtne/ “wIeti'ui dwelleth rightecrumtia ” is the order of tilings in vhicli Jlesiiidi the Chrkt reigns in right ecu snees.—-Isaiah 13:17; if Peter 3:13.
Chi i’l left no doubt in the mind of any one that his kingdom titles not vine during the present evil world; for wh i: he tdoad In lure Filate he said: “My kingdom is nut ■!’ this vin ■|." AgUill he spoke of Satan uh the “griner of this world”; and the apostle Paul refen to Satan .!■ the “god of this world/*
Puri) g the evistviice of this il world honest
men liuvc struggled to establish u righteous government on earth mid to bring about man's lung desire; utuneiy, life, liberty and happiness. There has been much good in this world; fer many n:<i im>e striven for righteousness ami truth. Evil has prevailed, however. During this time the proud liave been set up. and might has be-? •■: .de right by man.—Malachi 3: l'i
11 Thy Will be Dane on Earth" - ’'Lord’s Prayer"
'U.- Jews were iuie rested in the cud of the present f. J ■■ : hi !orans-’ lb y ext-.o - klagdor: tli-.-u
to be irtablishEd and the people to FHerve 1 blessing. The :'in-tian.- hitvi looked wr it because Jenn taught th-ini to pmy: '‘Thy kingdam come, thy will bis doin' on earth a* it u done in hn'aren.11 (Matthew tilth) Xaiuraliy. th-m th" true students of the Scripture would h.i watching and waiting far the HJtning end of Ujc evil world mid the maDgnrutioii of the new. Jesus indk-it- d what ild occur td that tune, lie spoke in prophet io huguagc in answer to a question propounded to bon,
Our L'.tJ's disciples approached him ami said: Mu -ti r. tell us what riiall hp the proof of thy preseuii* and of the end of the world?*' (Matthew ri:3) Jesus
answered this question in prophetic language—Um! i.i to say, his answer foretold what would occur when tie world should end; and for this reason his answer is particularly interesting in the light of present-day events. Before noticing his answer let us consider briefly some chronological features of GodV prophelit; statements to show about when it might be pjtpeetod that the world would end.
Clues to Prophetic Dates - Times, Years, etc.
The Jews were God’s typical people: that is to say, he chose that people and organised them into a mition. gave them his law, and used them to foreshadow events to transpire. (Hebrews 10:1; 1 Corinthians 10:11) Because the Jews violated his law. God time and again warned them that he would east them oil and permit the Gentiles to take them captive and establish a world empire; and that their punishment thereafter should be for a period of seven symbolic times, These seven symbolic times and the period of time in years is explained by Volume 8, ‘The Time is at Hand/’ Studies ik tub ScaiPTUBis, page 8’1:
“In the Bible a ‘time’ is used in the sense of a year. . , . Cimwiueoiiy, . . - sgveu ‘times" represent 2530 . . . literal yeans."
'J’he Scriptures plainly show that this decree of Jehovah was enforced against Israel in the year GOG B. C., and that there Nebuchadnezzar became universal geciije ruler. Counting 2,520 years thereafter would bring us to 1P14 A. D.; $nd calculating exactly, according to Bible chronology, the gentile times would end August 1, If) 14. That date, then, would mark the end of the world, when events should begin to occur, thus indicating its end. Jesus foretold what would happen then by r-aying that the nations would become angry and God's wrath would come.—llevelation 11:15-18.
Cfl TTarfd ZKjIwj—TTAy? 77ir Ufmedy
August I, 1914 - Events Since ?
Mow mark llv fuiiiliuent of the answer of Jesus to tLi> question: 'Huw may we know when we have conns io tin; end of th'.' world?* ''Nation shall rise ugttiuet nation, and kingdom against kingdom." The World War Lc-gan exactly on August 1, 1914. Um end of the gentile rimes, which marks the end of the old order, Jtfiis said in this connection'. “And there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers jiljiu-.-r. AJ] these arc thfc beginning of sorrows," By this we undt-r-mi d that ths events just described would ninth the beginning of the sarrov.s upon the peoples of earth, which would culminate in greater trouble later. Otherwise stated, August 1, 1914. marked the beginning of the Dii'i'F proceedings; and the Lord is pro-c-.'idirig in his own majestic way in destroying the evil th logs of this world tu make way for the c?tab I irhin ent of hi.' kingdom of righteousness.
Events Happening Because Prophesied
The World Wtir was followed by famines in many parts of Europe, Asin, and Africa. It was fallowed by the great pestilence of the inlluetizu, which killed more people in one J cur than the war did in four. Thera hove been more natural earthquakes in the earth in ths last four years Umi in any previous period of earth's history. And since earthquakes symbolically represent revolutions, them* Likewise have marked this p-±ricd, many nations having I" "ii overthrown by ro volution,
Tii1.’ Lord foretold through his Ward that God's favor would return to tbo Jews at the end of the world, and that they would be icgutU-rod tn Palestine; fl’id this rtoph'-icj' we now sec in course of fultiimcjit.
Furthcnnore, th>* Lard chavn-d that there would be a great falling away from the faith in Christ Jesus, and
that s-o mailed Ciiriblinnn would be turning to thingn other than the Word of God. And thus wo esc this in fulfilment, us well a- .......y other things that the Master
mentioned in this wonderful prophecy, which space will not permit us here to dheuss at length. The Lord foretold general troubles, labor troubles, tdrikee, lockout;, profiteering, Bdtehevirtn, ami anarchy, as further evi* dm co, of the passing away of the old order, preparing for the new. Them general signs which arc apparent on rrory hand are siiMaidsated by their occurrence in tlir .Vue predicted. Volume S. Stcdie^ in the Schif-ruKF_«. “ItiE Time nt Eond," deal- in Bible chronology and makes today'.' events doubly significant became of their occurrence in tin' year predicted. Lt is further substantiated in the n :« S1S- lire merits of the Grcar Pyramid of Gizeh in Egypt This is dealt with fully in Volume 3, "Thy Kingdom Come," Siu uses in the Scainoze.
Immortality
WHAT i- iiit'iiiit by immortality r Does every pcr-kuj an immortal will ?
The btil le-’dcegrnpbcTS define immortality thus: 'I'hii quality or stale oE being ttumortul or ('-tempt from di-iiili and annihilation; an unending extataure. To be immortal mffln= that one canno: die, but mu.-t live forever. It menus that -nth an one 1 .;- .l uevEr-pndtag e.videnc’. If etiuy perron ha- an immortal -■<nl. it would mean. then, that the soul is ce Ageless, perpetad, cxmliutul, taiperithable, incorruptible, deathta.-’. awl not subject to death. Th!' Suriptiirea agree with this definition of i i mortality.—Re vetat ion 2 Q :d; 1 Cor in Lhian.“ 15:5-1,55,
From cur youth we have been taught by our religious tcacher? tlmt every num pw-ejses jin immortal wul. Ih this true or not? The Bible is the only true source of k’l-nvJcrjge upon this question. The thcorie- of men are of no siitae ttaiiess they are ba:. ■ upon compclent evidence coming from a truthful wurce. The Bible is (tad's Word of truth, (John 17: 17) Any question that in arswi'ji'd uiitrL. . to the Bih!< cannot L? a true misvror, it matters mil who gives it. The Scrijdutes state: “T« the law and to the testimony: if they rqienk t.n: according io this ord it h becaw'' there is no light (truth] ir: them." (Isaiah S: 20) Again, we read: 'JLr‘-t (tail be true, but e\iiy muu .i liar." (Romans 3:1) livery huiicst t er sou dr-ires (In- truth. TheH? questions, them we diDiild answer a .cording to the truth, according to God's Ward.
What is the Soul ?
Before we can determine whether or not man pteweses an imiti'irtal Riul we tutisv first detarmina what h the 3& foul, The clergy say that the soul of man ;■■ +:u- ii< . ii.i-pari of him which cannt't die. They cite no Srrndurul proof of this, however. The Scripture de lines a soul as a being, a breathing creature. "The Lord Gor funi-'d man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nosrrik the breath of life; and man became a Jiving soul.:J—Geneeis 3:7.
It must be conceded that the dust of the ground out of which God formed man was without life or consciousness. The breath which he breathed into his nostrils was not conscious. But when Jehovah made the body out of the dements of the earth mid then united with it the breath which living creature- breathe, thiz start'd animation. That pur to work the machinery, and the result was a living, sentient, moving being, a soul. The words soul and being arc- synonymous terms.
Have you a Soul ? Are you a Soul ?
Every creature that breathes is a soul Mo meatura ™sesse6 a soul. Every animal is a foul. Ent no ohj would contend that an animal dofsc-^cf a =oul. The tfo .] aairt God applied to lower animal- long before ilu erection of man. (See Genesis 1:29,30, margin) Aiiain w? read in God's Word: "Levy e tribute unto the Lord of the men of war which went out to batik: one soul of five hundred, both of the pert on =, and of the : ■:■■■'.■.J. mid of the assos, and of the sheep/' (Ntimbers 31:38) The reason the Scriptqrea designate animals as souls Is that they arc ell breathing creatures. Man i- the highest order of animal.
The proper definition of soul is, then, any cleat uro that breathes and possesses the tense-’ of sight, -iui'U, etc., and uses them. Mun if a soul. Mau does not pcizsess a souL For instance, wo say that q man :i. ■ a cow; but not that man is a cow. Man is a soul. M iu does not pastes a soul.
When creature die, they all go to one place. 'Ilie difference between man ai:d the lower nnrmql^ Is that fur the lower animal? there i? no hereafter; while God hn.s provided by redeuipticni tuid resurrection that man r-balJ live again. Thu Scriptures shite: ‘Thai which befall ctb the sons of men befalleth beauts; even one tiling bcfalfeth them: aa the one db-th, to diuth the other; yeo, they have all one breath: so that a tnan hath no precmi-nence above a I- art; for all is vanity. AU go unto one place; all arc of the dust, and all turn to dust again,” {Kcelesiastcs 3;Ifl, 30) God said to man when in Eden: "'iif the tree (if knowledge of good imd evil, thou th alt not cat of it: for iti the day that thou cutest thereof thou .-halt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) It was the iduu. the soul, the being. to wsom God addressed tl?.?e words. If man hns an immortal ±oul. then God’s words do not mean what ih.-y &jy. But we know that Ged does mean wbut be says.
The Soul that Dies
The dnrgy who have taught that the soul is the spirit-ital tiling which was rot =enleu«d to dentil, and which Canmjt die. are flatly contradicted by the Scripture We read: “The re ml that uiimeth. it shall die.” (Ezekiel 16: 1) 1J\Vkii num la he that Uveth. and shall not ree death? shall !.■■ deliver hi? soul from the hand of the grave?’’ (Pi-alm td>:16) Th-.,-.- re rip Lures prove that the rfjul dies. If it di-.'i, then of fiombc it cannot be immortal. alm: is a reuL Jian was tienfcnccd to death. Han die.-. The soul dice. Therefore man dues not possess un immortal soul.
There i- a didinefion between living forever and jiumorfidity. A creature that ^uiild b--' always obedient lo G<d and in hm mouy with him Uilght be per mi tied to live forever. If a creature is immortal, not even God could put him to death. The Scrip:are5 chow that God
stilit f’-jnrer to destroy the ,-ntiL Jctus: .-aid: “Fear him who is abb- to df-lroy b"t'n hjd! and body” (Sluttliew Ui.it ir= in bay. God [!■■.• .-• .--.• the
pon er tn destroy inmi'f body and hit very rxiiltfinT, *titai he may nmr live again. ‘Hr- tlisproirs the immortal Uy theory.
Tii> rv if rir.it one Mriptiire iu the Bible tlmt dcrinw* man is inherit, Lly immortal. If any one tell- yo'J that the Hilde teadirs that dll men have iiriuit'jtol -nils., .i.4. him to cite one scripture that su stati>. Volume b. Studies in the Schiutvres, p,.L’- "'1. cart:
"Emi mining llu.'sc atjonjjird wi>rks, wlml ilu „■■ lindr Till ■: timt Hi" Hebrvw wonl iir'ft-pfleaJi. which I < p.-iicrally rw'Hed Soni', . . . is Irnjuliited in ihlrty-^T dilTcrvnl w;ij> , . . The Unvk wont p.me/ic |x nt lent Indue), o£ tl," Sew Testu-ineni . . . !s translated 'Sinti' lifij-sds; rum :.; Is olsv trnus-Interl Talii'J' three Umeiii ‘hejirt’ once; mid 'JIG'’ forty eno ttnrw,"
. Satan’s Lie foundation of Deanne
If the Bible, then, teaches that man is mortal and not immortal, from whoni r1 did rhis ilwlririp nf inbrr-1 1 imnioriality originate? 'I'he answer is: Saiun the (teul crigionted it, .net it i,t the fir.-t Ue Over fold; und fmm this "rent lie nil other false doctrines have ^fTirij. I he doctrine origiianting in the following inunnr-ri
Adiitn and Kvr were tn Eden, having l»* ;i i-'iee ion over the tilings <jf Eden. They had the right to lire if tin1’ n’nuiilied tibedicni tn (ioih (Sod said tn Adam! “In the day that thou eatrat [of the tree of knowli'ilge cl good and mil] tholl (halt finely die.” (tTei ■ sis '.’-'i I Satan pra^tiwtl a irftud upon mother Eve. It" imh:-i.l her I.. ■ tl at I;■■■! vra= w'lthhtddvpg from her and
her luuliaxid knowledge that they would gain by eating of ihi- fruit, He said to her: 'Why ito you Uni •■ ■.■ of this fruit?’ And Evo replied: "God liath -aid. Ye shall nut mt of it, neither shill ye touch itf lest ye die." To
inis Satan replied: KYe shall net surely die; far God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes ■.hull be opened, and ye shall be Tn- wiee] ns gods, knowing good and evil;" (Genesis 3:1-5) This was a lie. because a direct contradiction of what Jehovah had fold them. Referring to it Ji-sus said loncentmg Satan: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, beeausa there is no truth hi him. IVben. he speaketh a lie he speaketlr of his own; for he 1= a liar, and the father of h,“—John 8i f-1.
From that day until now Satan has blinded the minds of men by inducing them tn believe that the soul of man is immortal and that man cannot die. St. Paul says of him that hr:, blinds the minds of men lest the truth shine into their lives.—3 Corinthians 4:4.
Who is Immortal ?
Sint® irpnmrtality means th ar which is not subject to death, who then is immortal? The Scriptures answer: ‘’God only hath immortality?’ (I Timothy 6:16) God ifi the EJelf-esisting One, from everlasting. When Jesus was on earth, ha was not immortal; but immortality was granted, to him as a great reward at his resnrrec-ticn. He said: “As the Father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.■' (John 5:26) When ho arose from the dead he -aid: “I tun he that liveth, flud was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore.”-—Revelation 1: 18.
The devil himself is not immortal; for the Scriptures plainly state that in God’s due time he will deaf toy the devil.—Hebrews 2; 14.
Immortality is a great reward offered only to these who arc overcoming, faithful Christ inns, and who par-tjeipate with Christ Jesus in his resurrection; and it will he posts-sad. mily by them. There is a wide distinction between men in general and those who become
the fool step followers of Jesus. All men are mortal; therefore subject to death. The apostle Haul plainly givs; Tn Adam all die.'* (1 Corinthians 15; 22: ’hen the Apostle plainly points out that immorality is n re ward for faithfulness. 11c- encourages the Christian to seek immortality. (Homans 2:7) If a person inherently possessed a thing ha would not be seeking if. The apostle Paul, then, addressing himself to the consecrated Chris Lians who prove their faithfulness unto death mid whose reward is promised to be heavenly, says: “Ite dead shall be raised incorruptible, . . . for this corruptible must put on inearruptioii, find this mortal must put on ■ in mortal‘iy. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorrupt ion, and this mortal shall have put mi immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written. Death is swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:32-54) it must 1-? manifest tn every reasmuiblc mind that if every man possessed inherent immortality, then this statement of St. Haul equid not be true. We know that it is true; for he wrote under inspiration, lie shows that immortality is given as the greatest reward.
These words of St, Paul are addressed not to the world hut only to the consecrated Christians. To such Jesus said: “Be thou faithful unto death and 1 will give thus a crown of life." (Revelation. 2:10) The crown of life means the highest state of life; hence the state of immortality, that which is not subject to death. Again. Jesus said of those who partake in the first resurrection, the chief resurrection, that over such the second death’ shall have no power,—.Revelation 20: fj.
God has always been immortal Jesus and his church arc granted immorality; and no other creatures in the universe wit! ever be immortal.
All Men Mortal
The word pcris/t is defined by Webster mid other lexicographers as follows: To bo destroyed; to pass away: to become nothing, Jesus said; "God so loved the world, Iha- he gave hi,- only begotten Son, that whosoever believe th in him should pot peHIBH, hut have everlasting life?1 (John 3:1G) Plainly the condition here is that everlasting life depends upon faith in the Lord Jesus, and that all others do perish. They could not perish if immortal. Again Jrsus said concerning his coming: “I am come tluit they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) If a soul is immortal, then of necessity it would possess life, and the coming of Jesus and his death and resurrection would not Im necessary to give them life. Hence it is sewn that the theory of inherent immortality is a direct and positive denial of the great ransom sacrifice. Satan desires to blind the people to this great truth; for there is uo other name save that of Jesus whereby men can be saved.
The Resurrection
Nothing is more clearly taught by the Scriptures tliun the resurrection of the dead. If loan is inherently immortal it would mean that he cannot die. And if he is not dead there could be no such thing a? a resurrection. Resurrection means n restanding to life, or a recreation, or a bringing back to life. The scriptures above cited show that all men came under the condemnation of death; and that it is the soul, the being, the creature, that dies. Referring to the dead, Jesus said: •'Harvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all tiuK nre in the graves shall hear his voice [of th? Son of maul, and shall come forth.’1 (John 5:2S,2!>) To this St. Paul adds: “There si tall be u resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust."—Acts £4:10,
JttUB died end rose again from the dead. He so stated hini-df. (Revelation 1: IS) Ilia rtsUMWctuin L- c guarantee thiit all tlv." dead khal! be awakened out of death. If immortal, thiy would bo impossible. because already alive. For inis reason many deny the resumctfcn. To meet their argument St. Paul said: "If there be no resurrection at* the dead, then !■■ Christ not risen; mid if Christ be not risen, then, is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. . . . Then they also which are fallen a "kep in Christ are ; ■■-'-1.■ <:.*’ (I Corinthians 15: 13-16) Mark here that that which perish' - cannot be immortal. Hence tin1 Apo.-tte plainly say* that except for tin" resurrection nil have juri.-hed- Then he proceeds to show that the irsurrection of Jesus is a guarantee that all the dead sli.il I be brought forth from the grave again, "'Hut now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruit.' of tilt ni that slept. For sinca by man came death, by num cnuic atao the rc.-ur rectum of the dead. For a_- in Adam all die, even eo in Christ shall all be made alive.''—1 Corinthian^ 15:20-22.
What is Resurrected ?
In order iurther to fasten ujkui mankind his lie of inherent immortality. Satan induces his rapresentativi ■> to teach a further false dot’ri ne concerning the resurrection—uinnely, that it k the body that in resurrecud; that nil the time from deilh until resurrectiun the soul is alive; that the fjord merrJy briny s up th" 1 ■■.■ily to unite it with the soul. The Lord anticipated this attack of the devil and caused St. Paul to write under inspiration c.-m-c ruing it thus: "But nei:" will say, How are ti e dead raised up? and with what body du they conic? Thau fool, that width thvit bowc-st is not quickened, except it die: and that which thou bo west, thou sowcjrt not tlmt body that shall be, . . . hut God give th it a body ii- it hath pleased him."—1 Corinthians 16: 35-36.
Thus we see Unit the bt:>ly which dies is not the one raised. from the dead. To illustrate: John Janes a !■'■:.!, a being, d creature, a man. When the breath i-token away from him be dies, Therefore John Joner, the toil, the man, ccare? to uxisL In God's due time ■i ■ . ■ r- -urrected. G' 1 had i ou- r to make U body out of the elements of the earth in the first mstnnte. The Btnnc power is still esistitand will lie exercised toward thr rrurrcction of man. So ehm John Jones is brought forth, the Lord creates for him a bjjdy as it pleases the Lord.
Those who go to heaven v. ill of necessity have a spiritual body; fur Jesi.- declitre-d: "A spirit hath not flesh and terne?" And St. Paul -Utes: "Flesh and blood cjnnii! inherit the kingdom of God*" In hi? argument lo moke plain the resurrect ire:, and that the resurrection refers to the per.-:ti, the I. iilfi, the creature, St 1'iiul >r, - cuti'.vrniug the orre v.hu inherits the heavenly king* dom: “It is sown in corruption, it is raised in ineornjp-tiojn" The if here refers bi the person, the being, the creuL'iie, ills sou?. Again Im adds: ‘‘It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual biidy. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.”
Ba.-e-j upon Ue ial-"!i'n:d of inherently immortal souls, there is taught to th',- p- -i le the erroneous doctrine of co—ycioiLs eternal ire; also the false doctrine that the living con cnmmimi'-ute w ilh the dead. Ami theca doulrmes deny the great ransom Meri flop, which is t’it only means for the salvation of the human rave. It j.- easy to be seen, then, Ikui the one who would be particularly busy iu keeping this falsehood before tha people would be, mid ;r. Suiun, Unit old serpent, the devil.
Stu?ri.s ix ties Sciiiti uans. Tile TT^r- or Gou, "WhaL Say the Scripiriti'.' ubfut Hi-11?" and “Cori the Living Talk with the ll.i-lf1’' diKiio* this subject ut lull length.
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