The Standard For The People (1926)

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THE STANDARD FOR THE PEOPLE

Peace

Prosperity

Life

Liberty

Health

Happiness

MAN'S HEART DESIRE THE STANDARD FOR THE PEOPLE

A heart-cheering message from the Bible for all peoples of good will.

Written by

J. F. RUTHERFORD

President of the

International Bible Students Association

Also the author of

"The Harp of God"

"Comfort for the Jews"

"Millions Now Living Will Never Die!"

"A Desirable Government"

"World Distress—Why?"

"Comfort for the People"

etc., etc.

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

Published by

INTERNATIONAL BIBLE STUDENTS ASSOCIATION

BROOKLYN, N. Y., U. S. A.

Copyrighted 1926 The Standard for the People

MILLIONS of people on earth honestly and sincerely desire to rally to that standard which will guarantee to them security from harm and bring to them lasting blessings. They are greatly perplexed because not knowing to which standard they should rally. My purpose is to direct the attention of the people to the divine standard. Knowing and following the truth will lead the people into freedom. I am convinced that the time has come for the people to understand the truth.

There is a common enemy who has for centuries blinded the people to the truth. The evidence at hand proves conclusively that the enemy shall soon be shorn of his power and shall not be permitted to further deceive mankind.

The great Creator made of one blood all the peoples that dwell upon the earth. The real interest of one is the interest of all. When the people come to know this and then learn to walk in the right way, there will be no more wars; and no longer will right be determined by might. The earth then will be a fit place upon which to live. The great God made the earth for man to dwell upon in happiness. The time must come when man will enjoy the full possession of these divine provisions. The fact that there is a way provided for man to receive that which he desires would do him no good, however, unless he knew about it. For this reason the first essential is knowledge.

All the peoples on earth may be divided into two general classes, to wit: the rulers and the ruled. The masses compose the latter class. Those composing the ruling class are properly divided into three parts, to wit: commercial, political, and religious. The personnel of the ruling class changes from time to time by some of the ruled being transferred to the position of rulers. There is seldom a change, however, in the disposition of those who rule. When one is transferred from the ruled to the ruling class it is easy for his disposition to undergo a change. Selfishness and self-interest is the real cause for this change. But this selfishness is induced largely by the influence of the common enemy hereinafter mentioned.

There is frequently a clash between the rulers and the ruled. Under right conditions this should not be so. Their interest should be mutual and identical. The masses of the people desire peace, prosperity, health, liberty, life and happiness. For centuries man has actually experienced war, poverty, sickness, restraint, sorrow and death. During all the centuries there has been a constant effort on the part of the people to overcome these difficulties to the end that they might have and enjoy their heart's desire.

A standard is that which marks a rallying place and directs the course of action the people should take. It serves as a guide to lead the people in the way they may go. The ruling class possess the desire to keep the people in subjection and under control. To accomplish the desired purpose there is held before the people certain standards or guides, and the people are called upon to rally to these; and it is represented to them that by so doing their best interests will be conserved and that ultimately they will reach their heart's desire. These standards have been different at different times.

The standard of the commercial element bears this inscription: "Give us greater wealth and power, and we will improve conditions and make the earth a fit place to live on. We provide all the great labor-saving devices, the means of rapid transit, and means of education; and therefore we should guide the people.”

The political element inscribes upon its standard this: “We possess superior qualifications for ruling. We organize and maintain governments. We enact and enforce wholesome laws. We safeguard the liberties and property and life of the people, and the people should follow our guidance and patriotically support us.”

The religious element, for which the clergy act as spokesmen, upon its standard inscribes: “We interpret the divine will. Your life, liberty and eternal happiness depend upon your following the course that our standard points out. We will do your thinking for you concerning all spiritual matters. Hear nothing but what is orthodox, because that is what we teach. Commit your souls unto our keeping.”

The wily superlord of the evil world saw the advantage in uniting these three elements into one to compose the ruling class. In the name and under the guise of democracy the commercial, political and ecclesiastical elements join interests and hold up to the people their joint standard, which says: “The present systems of government are of divine ordering, and all the people should conform thereto. We must have greater revenues from taxes that we may prepare for war and thereby insure peace. We must centralize all power in the government to insure our strength against our enemies. We must have an orthodox religion; and the commercial, political and ecclesiastical elements must stand together. The church must have within her portals the ultra-rich and the mighty politicians to lend power and dignity thereto, All the people must patriotically support us in peace and in war, that we may maintain our present institutions and safeguard the interests and welfare of the people. Our standard points the way to peace, prosperity, life, liberty and happiness."

But the common people know from experience that these claims are not true. They see the rich becoming daily more avaricious, heaping up for themselves greater riches, and crushing out all competition that they may pursue their selfish course without interruption. They see that intrigue, duplicity and trickery are freely resorted to by the politicians. They know that the conflict in doctrines of the various denominational systems cannot be in harmony with the truth. They are not in harmony with each other nor with the well understood rules of righteousness. They see that these ecclesiastical systems, and particularly their leaders, are marked by arrogance, self-sufficiency, impiety and ungodliness. The masses of mankind have lost faith in the standards held up to them by the rulers. They know that the claims made by these standards are false, and by experience have learned that these can never lead to lasting peace, prosperity, health, strength, liberty, life and happiness.

The Desire of All People

Among the people are many men and women of good will possessing an honest and sincere desire not only to see their own condition improved, but to see the people generally receiving benefits. Some of these are philanthropists who spend much money to build libraries and stock them with books that are never read, even though they are readable. They lift up a standard of higher education and invite the people to rally to that and say: "This will save you."

Others of like honest intent organize cooperative societies to carry on their work, holding up before the people a standard that claims that cooperation one with another will bring the desired relief; and they call upon the people to rally to that standard. Few respond. Results are negligible.

Others of equal integrity and good intent organize societies advancing a land finance scheme and single-tax proposition desiring to measure the value of all things by service or labor rendered; and these hold forth a standard for the people to follow, and earnestly yet vainly call upon them to follow.

Only a few think seriously of these various standards. All realize that the entire social, financial, political and ecclesiastical system or systems have completely failed to bring satisfaction to the people. Doubt and fear have taken hold upon all mankind. They are in perplexity and distress. They see threatening another great war far more terrible and destructive than any war ever known. Desiring peace and hating war, they are compelled to contribute their money to prepare the most devilish and deadly instruments of destruction. They continue to suffer under the oppressive weight of wicked profiteers, high taxes, faithless politicians, and false religious leaders. If these standards lifted up have, at some time in the past, given hope to some then the hopes of these are now dashed to the earth. The peoples and nations of the earth have reached their extremity. They are not only ready for but desire a change for something better. It is God's opportunity. The due time has come.

False and True

There must be a reason why all the schemes of men have failed. If any of these various schemes or standards had the approval of the all-wise, just and all-powerful and loving God surely such would have succeeded in bringing relief to the people. Why have the standards held forth by the commercial, the political and religious leaders, separately or combined, failed? The answer is: Because all have been contrary to the plan of Jehovah. The authors of these schemes or standards have had their mind turned away from the true God, and the enemy has led them away into paths of darkness. All these standards, which have been held up before the people, have ignored God's way. They are the result of imperfect human reasoning and a complete failure to take into consideration the plain instructions given in the Word of God.

Call to mind the fact that only one people were ever organized into a government by Jehovah, which people was Israel. That government was not an arbitrary one; but God made with that people a covenant or contract for the purpose of enabling them to prove to themselves that man cannot realize his heart's sincere desire without the aid of the great Jehovah God. The Israelites failed. Why did they fail? Because they forgot God and violated their own covenant and were led away by the great enemy. The first commandment given to them was: "Thou shalt have no other God before me." That commandment was given for the sole benefit of the Israelites. Jehovah God was their true and only friend and for this reason he commanded them to obey him. They turned to other gods and lost all. This of itself should prove that no people can succeed or realize an honest and sincere desire unless they follow God's appointed way. The standard of God is the only one for the people. But who is God?

The True God

The English word “god” translates the Hebrew word Elohim, which means mighty one. It is sometimes applied to magistrates or mighty rulers, and it is also applied to the Supreme Being. The great Eternal One, the Creator of heaven and earth, has different names.

When Moses was sent by the Lord to deliver the Israelites from Egypt Moses inquired what he should say to them: “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14) Not that he was or will be, but that he is now, ever was, and ever will be, without beginning and without ending, from everlasting to everlasting.—Psa. 90:2.

When God made a covenant with Abraham he appeared unto Abraham under the name of Almighty God (Genesis 17:1), meaning thereby that in him resides all power, that he is omnipotent and irresistible. His will is his law. He but wills a thing, and his power carries it into action. When Abraham was ministered unto by the great priest, Melchizedek, God was then made known to him under the name of “the most high God”. This conveys the thought that he is the great Creator of heaven and earth, and indicates his relationship to the entire divine program. He is the one above all and besides whom there is none other.—Isaiah 42:5; 40:12, 23.

When Pharaoh, the mighty ruler of Egypt, refused to let the Israelites leave that land at Moses' request, God spoke unto Moses and said: “And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty; but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.” (Exodus 6:3) This is the first time he appeared under the name Jehovah, which signifies Self-existing One, Eternal One and the One Eternal, whose name alone is Jehovah and who is higher than all and above all. (Psalm 83:18) “Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting.”—1 Timothy 6:16.

Jehovah, the Almighty God, is the Creator of heaven and earth. (Isaiah 42:5) The Bible is his Word of Truth, written at his dictation and written by holy men as their minds were moved upon and directed by the power of the Almighty God. (2 Peter 1:21; 2 Samuel 23:2; 2 Timothy 3:16) His Word is a statement of the truth. (John 17:17) [For a more complete discussion of this subject see the Harp of God, pages 15-20.]

The earth is a wonderful planet. The diversified creation that appears upon it bespeaks the wisdom and power of the great Creator. It is the place where man has had his experiences. The Almighty God created it. Why did he create it? His Word answers: “I have made the earth, and created man upon it; I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded . . . For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it, he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited; I am the Lord, and there is none else.” (Isaiah 45:12, 18) “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh; but the earth abideth for ever.”—Ecclesiastes 1:4.

Man Created

Man did not come into existence by his own efforts; nor is he the result of the process of evolution. as some self-constituted wise men think. Seeing that the Lord has declared that he created the earth for man to live upon, then it is reasonable that God would create man to live thereon. The record of his creation is plainly stated in the Scriptures: "The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives; and man became a living soul. And the Lord God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. . . And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."—Genesis 2: 7, 8, 15-17.

God made woman as a helpmate and companion for man. (Genesis 2: 18) "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."—Genesis 1: 27, 28.

These great fundamental truths, thus stated by Jehovah God, prove beyond a doubt that he intended man to live on earth for ever. But before he would grant to man the privilege of everlasting life, he put man to a test to see whether or not man possessed the stamina to resist evil and follow good. He placed man and woman in Eden, a perfectly beautiful place, containing the food necessary for their sustenance and pleasure. Here the two were dwelling together in peace, prosperity, health, strength, life, liberty and happiness.

The False God

Lucifer was a creature of great beauty and power. God placed him in Eden as overseer or overlord of man. “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so. . . . Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God.” (Ezekiel 28:14, 13) Furthermore the Lord says concerning Lucifer: “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” (Ezekiel 28:15) While man was perfect in his organism his experience, of course, was limited. He must meet an experience that would determine whether or not he would be obedient to the law of God. To disobey that law would be evil. To obey would be righteous. It was the solemn and sacred duty of Lucifer to safeguard the interests of man and instruct him to be obedient to the great Eternal God. Lucifer occupied a fiduciary relationship toward God and toward man, and was duty-bound to be loyal and true to Jehovah. But iniquity was found in him and he fell.

Man was created with a desire to worship his superior. Of course he would worship Jehovah God, because he knew that God was his Creator and Benefactor. Lucifer became ambitious to have the worship of man which Jehovah would naturally receive. Lucifer saw that the perfect man was endowed with power to produce a race of people. He had a vision of a future day when the earth would be filled with great multitudes of people who must worship some one. He had an ambitious desire to have that worship. He set about to obtain it. In order to carry out his scheme he was willing to become, and did become, a traitor to God. He knew the law of God provided death as a penalty for its violation. God made this law to test man before he would grant to man everlasting existence. To Lucifer had been granted the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14) By that it is to be understood that it would become his duty to put man to death for a violation of God’s law. Knowing this, Lucifer reasoned that he would induce man to violate God’s law and would then refuse to put him to death, and thereby prove to man that God’s law was merely a threat and that God was giving him this law to keep him in ignorance and to deprive him of the privileges to which he was justly entitled.

Lucifer reasoned that he would thus be enabled to induce man to believe that God is a liar and had lied to him when he said: “In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” Lucifer further reasoned that he then would appear in the eyes of man as his friend and benefactor and entitled to his worship and that he would thus alienate man’s affection from God and that he, Lucifer, would have it himself. Thus was iniquity found in him.

The prophet records in the Bible concerning Lucifer: “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the most High.”—Isaiah 14:12-14.

Lucifer carried into action his nefarious scheme. To do this he employed the services of the serpent, a visible animal in Eden, and in his wily, fraudulent and deceptive way approached the woman Eve and said: "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." To this Lucifer replied: "Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3: 1-5) The woman partook of the fruit in violation of the law. Her husband Adam joined her in the transgression. (1 Timothy 2: 14) Thus the mighty one Lucifer, the false god, deceived and misled the woman and caused both the man and the woman to violate God's law.

The Great Loss

In keeping with his righteous law God sentenced man to death for his disobedience. By this judgment man was deprived of the right to live, and God caused him to gradually suffer the penalty, and at the end of a certain period he was dead. Therefore Adam's life and right to live were gone. All the children begotten by Adam were born between the time this judgment was entered and the time of its complete enforcement. It was the imperfect Adam who became the father of the human family, and for this reason all the race has been born imperfect and without the right to life. This is very reasonable and is the Scriptural conclusion. (Psalm 51: 5; Romans 5 : 12) From then till now mankind has been in sorrow and suffering, and has been vainly seeking peace, prosperity, life, liberty and happiness. These things man lost by a violation of God’s law.

Because of the wickedness of Lucifer God changed his name; and from that time forward he has been known as the Dragon, Satan, Serpent, the Devil. All of these names have much significance. Lucifer means lightbearer. He was a creature of great beauty and the bearer of light. (Ezekiel 28:17) Satan means adversary or opposer; and from the time of Eden till now Satan has opposed everything that is righteous. Dragon means devourer; and during all that period of time he has sought to destroy everyone who tried to be righteous. Serpent means deceiver; and from the time of Eden until this day the evil one has tried to deceive mankind and to turn the mind of man away from the true and righteous God. Devil means slanderer; and throughout all the centuries the Devil has slandered God and caused his emissaries, posing as God’s representatives, to slander him, and he and they have slandered all who have honestly tried to serve God. This explains why so much evil has been spoken against those who have humbly tried to serve and represent the Lord.

Understanding these facts we can see why Jehovah is called the only true God and why the Devil is the false or unrighteous god. The true and righteous God could have destroyed Satan the Devil at any time, but that was not his plan. He granted Satan the supervision over man in the beginning to test Adam. He did not take that supervision away when he sentenced Adam to death. It was God’s purpose that all the human family should have an experience with the baneful effects of evil, and he has permitted in that he has not hindered Satan from pursuing his wicked course, and this has served as a test to mankind.

World, as used in the Scriptures, means an organization of the people into forms of government under the supervision of an overlord. The nation of Israel was the only people with whom God made a covenant, and who were organized into a government; and Jehovah God was therefore their overlord. All other nations have been under the influence of the false god or the Devil. In due time Israel fell under the wicked influence of Satan the Devil, and then Satan became the invisible ruler or god of the entire world. He has used all manner of schemes to keep the people under his influence and to turn their minds away from the true and loving God and to blind them to the truth of God’s plan for their salvation and blessing. Concerning this it is written: “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”—2 Corinthians 4:3, 4.

Why World Standards Wrong

The standards lifted up before the people by the commercial, political, and ecclesiastical elements have been and are wrong; because Satan the Devil has overreached this ruling class, corrupted their standards, and caused them to ignore therein the true and loving God and to utterly disregard his plan. These standards may be truly and properly called the standards of Satan the deceiver because they are deceptive and bring not what they claim to bring.

Israel fell because that nation ignored the true and living God. We have today what is called Christendom, meaning those nations of the earth that claim to be Christian but in fact are not. Instead of being Christian the dominating or governing factors are under the supervision of the god of this world. They have fallen because while claiming to follow the Lord God they have yielded to the influences of the false god Satan, have ignored the truth, and followed in the way of unrighteousness. Their plan or scheme put forth by men with the avowed purpose of benefiting the human race has minimized the importance of Jehovah. Governments and organizations manifest that they are ashamed of the name of Jehovah God. If his name is mentioned it is in a half-apologetic way. Neither the commercial nor the political nor ecclesiastical elements are willing to take an unequivocal stand for God and for his Word of Truth. At the present time the majority of the clergymen who claim to be the religious directors of the people deny God, and deny his Word, and substitute their own wisdom therefor.

Satan has not the power to give life to the human race. He never possessed such a power. Doubtless if he had possessed that power, he would have given the race eternal life and kept them under his control, that his dominion might continue for ever. Jehovah God is the only source of life. (John 17:3) He created man and gave him life. God took away that life and right thereto because of a violation of his law. He alone can give man life. Then why waste time with other schemes? Why look to other standards? Why listen to the philosophy of world-wise men? Their wisdom is foolishness in the sight of God. It is foolishness to every one who understands and loves God.—1 Cor. 1:20.

Plan of Redemption

If God took away man's right to live because man had violated God's just law, then how could God thereafter grant life to man and be consistent? This is a pertinent question which has puzzled many men, and the Devil has succeeded in using the preachers to blind most men to the true answer.

God could not consistently reverse his judgment nor set it aside and let man go free. Justice and judgment are the habitation of Jehovah's throne. (Psa. 89:14) God having declared his judgment against Adam, Adam must die. God could, however, consistently make a provision that another perfect man equal to Adam could voluntarily go into death in Adam's place and stead and Adam thereby be released. Adam alone was sentenced to death because he alone was on trial. All of Adam's children, now composing the entire human family, were born without a right to live because born imperfect. For this reason it is stated: "In Adam all die." — 1 Corinthians 15:22.

It was the plan of Jehovah God that redemption for Adam and his offspring be provided to the intent that all mankind shall have one fair opportunity for life. When this opportunity is given, then everyone who avails himself thereof and obeys God's righteous law shall be granted life everlasting in a state of happiness. God promised that he would redeem man from death and purchase him from the power of the grave. (Hosea 13:14) His law provided that this could be done by a perfect life being given for a perfect life. (Exodus 21:23) In all the earth there was no one who could meet this requirement of the law, because all were the offspring of Adam. (Psalm 49:7) But the power of the Almighty God was not limited. In heaven was the Logos, the beginning of God's creation, always in harharmony with Jehovah and always obedient to his will. —John 1:1-4.

In God's due time the Logos was transferred from heaven to earth. “He was made flesh and dwelt amongst men.” (John 1:14) When he stood upon this earth at the age of thirty years he was perfect in his organism, perfect in every manner. God proposed that he should be granted the greatest place in the universe, next to Jehovah himself, if he met the test now that was before him. And what was that test? Full and complete obedience unto the law of God under the most adverse circumstances.—Hebrews 5:8, 9.

Why had he come to earth and why was he made a man? The scripture answers: “To give his life a ransom, the purchase price for man. (Matthew 20:28) He came that the people might have life and have it more abundantly. (John 10:10) To accomplish this purpose it was necessary for the perfect man Jesus to voluntarily die as a sinner; that is to say, in the place of the sinner in order that he might take the place of the sinner who was in death. Concerning this, Jesus said: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.” —John 10:17, 18.

Jesus had the right to live as a man. When he died voluntarily, he surrendered his life as a man that the human race might benefit therefrom. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."—John 3: 16, 17.

Jesus met the test under the most adverse circumstances: "He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."—Philippians 2: 8-11.

For whom did Jesus die? And the apostle answers: He tasted death "for every man". (Hebrews 2:9) He gave his life "a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."—1 Timothy 2:6.

He arose from the dead the divine Christ Jesus and ascended into heaven. He presented the great ransom price in heaven itself.—Hebrews 9:24.

Do not the clergy teach that Jesus is the Redeemer of man, and is not that a part of their standard that they hold up to the people? Some of them teach that he died for man, while some of them deny this entirely, but all of them nullify the great truth of the ransom by many other erroneous doctrines which they have included in their standard and which serve as stumbling stones over which the people have stumbled. There is a great conflict between Catholics and Protestants. No one can harmonize their teachings with each other or with themselves. There is such a jargon and confusion amongst the various denominations and such a misrepresentation of the divine program that none can understand the philosophy thereof. These stumbling stones have been put there by the enemy Satan the Devil to blind the minds of the people and turn them away from God.

Stones Removed

The Lord speaking to mankind says: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18) We must therefore know that God's plan is reasonable, but that anything that is unreasonable cannot be in harmony with his plan.

One of the great stumbling stones, one which is maintained by the clergy, is that all men have immortal souls and that there is in fact no death. Sensible men have reasoned: If a man's soul is immortal and he cannot die, then how could the death of Jesus constitute a ransom price? How could Jesus be the Redeemer of an immortal soul; that is to say, a soul not subject to death? Thereby the clergy nullify the ransom price.

The immortality of the soul is the first lie that the Devil ever told. Jesus says so. God had said: Man shall die. The Devil said: "Ye shall not surely die." The clergy say the same thing. Jesus said that the Devil is a liar. (John 8:44) In what class do the clergy put themselves?

The scripture reads that God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of lives, and man became a living soul. (Genesis 2:7) Man is the soul. He does not possess a soul. Man dies. A soul dies.

A distinguished clergyman in the city of New York a short time ago over the radio said: "I would like to know of some scripture that says that the soul dies." This is proof of the ignorance of the clergy. The scripture reads: "The soul that sinneth it shall die." — Ezekiel 18:4; Psalm 89:48.

The clergy teach in their standards that when a man dies he merely has a change; and that if he is good he goes to one place and if bad to another. They say that some are in purgatory, where they may be prayed out for a consideration, while others are in hell, which is represented to be a place of conscious torment, eternal in duration. The reasonable mind says, If the dead are in eternal torment they can never come out, because if they could come out that would prove that they are not there eternally; and if the dead are there conscious and being tormented, how could the redemptive price of Jesus do them any good? This stumbling stone also nullifies the ransom.

“The living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. . . . Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” (Ecclesiastes 9: 5, 10) “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence.” — Psalm 115: 17.

Hell, as used in the Bible, means grave, the tomb, and not a place of conscious torment. Eternal torment is another stumbling stone which was placed by the Devil, and which has held before the people the thought that God is a fiend who will torture creatures for ever without any reason. This has had a tendency to turn the minds of the people away from the just and true God.

The clergy also teach the doctrine of the trinity; that is to say, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, one in person, equal in power. The reasonable mind says: If the Lord Jesus was God himself, how could a God be accepted as a ransom or exact corresponding price for a man? Again the unholy doctrine nullifies the plan of redemption. This has been another stumbling stone that has turned reasonable people away from the Scriptures.

Jehovah is the only true God, besides whom there is none; and his glory he will divide with no other. (Isaiah 42:5, 8) The Lord Jesus is the Son of the living God. He said: "My Father is greater than I." (John 14:28) And again he said: "I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me." (John 5:30) He prayed to God on the night before his crucifixion. (John 17:1) Would any reasonable person think that he was practising a fraud on others by praying to himself? The term holy ghost is not a proper translation in the Bible. The word translated "ghost" should be translated spirit. The holy spirit means the invisible power of God. The doctrine of the trinity is another false doctrine that belongs to the standard of this evil world.

Many of the modern clergy teach and include in their standard the doctrine of evolution; that is to say, that man emanated from protoplasm and is a creature of evolution. This of course denies the creation of man, denies his need of a redeemer, and denies the value of the redemptive price.

The clergy teach that the kingdoms of this world, of which they are a part, constitute the kingdom of God, and that these kingdoms are operating by divine right; and they call upon the people to support them. This is another stumbling stone. Jesus declared: "My kingdom is not of this world"; and he taught the people to prepare for the coming of his kingdom. He promised to return and set up his kingdom.

Plan of Reconstruction

Even though all concede that Jesus died as the Redeemer of man, and that he arose from the dead, the question remains: How is man to benefit thereby? The answer of the clergy, which they make a part of their standard, is that if a man believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and then joins their church and follows their teachings, when he dies he can be saved.

The Catholics say that if a man is fairly good he will go to purgatory, where he remains for an indefinite time and is prayed out, and then he may go to heaven. The Protestants say that if he is a good member of their church until he dies, he will go straight to heaven. Both Catholics and Protestants say that if the man is bad, and does not belong to the church at all, he must go to eternal torment.

But what about the millions of heathen who never heard of the Catholic church or the Protestant church? What about the millions who died before either of these systems was ever organized? Furthermore, the reasonable mind asks: Catholic and Protestant systems, in their standards, claim that all men who are saved at all are saved in heaven and that all the others go to hell. What about the earth? The plain statement of God's Word is that God made the earth to be inhabited by man. Is it the intention of God that the earth is to be for ever merely a breeding place for the human race, a place of temporary abode; and that then they must pass on to some other realm?

Only the Scriptures can give a satisfactory answer to these questions. The people are thoroughly familiar with, and completely disgusted with, the inconsistent statements that the clergy have inserted in their standards in answer to these questions. The basic promise for the redemption and recovery of the men and nations of the earth is that which God made to Abraham, in which he said: "In thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:3) Later God said: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 22:18-22) This divine promise being true, and it is true, it follows that the "seed", being the medium of blessing, must first be developed and manifested before the blessing of the people could come. What is the "seed according to the promise"? The Scriptures answer: "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ."---Galatians 3:16.

Christ Jesus is the Head of the Christ, the church being the body. (Colossians 1:18) Every true and faithful one baptized into Christ becomes a part of this "seed according to the promise".---Galatians 3:27, 29.

The word "church" means called-out class. It does not mean the Catholic system nor the Protestant system nor any other system of religion. It has reference to the body of Christ, made up of men and women who have unreservedly consecrated themselves to do God's will and who continue to do so even unto death. These are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, their Head and Redeemer. (1 Peter 2:21) Jesus did not ally himself with the preachers and politicians of this world, nor with the clergy who claimed to represent the Lord but who in truth and in fact represented the Devil. The true followers of Jesus cannot now have a part with such an unholy alliance.

The clergy of our time say that we must be a part of the world, that we must have the preachers and politicians in our churches, and that we must participate in politics and advocate war in time of war and to help run the affairs of this world. The Lord's Word says to them: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) They are called adulterers, not because they are unchaste with the opposite sex, but because there is an illicit relationship between those who profess to be followers of Christ and those who are the avowed representatives of the Devil, the false god.

The true Christian who will be a part of the seed according to the promise is the one who faithfully represents the Lord and stands for him. To these certain specific promises are made, amongst which is the following: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) That does not say to be faithful unto war or some other wicked scheme, but it says to be faithful unto the Lord to the end. The reward is given to such in the resurrection; because, say the Scriptures, “they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6) These, together with their Head, Christ Jesus, constitute the royal family or kingdom class. To such Jesus said: “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) To such the Lord says: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”—Revelation 3:21.

It is this true and faithful class constituting the seed of Abraham that participate in the first resurrection and find their eternal abiding place in heaven. It is only a small number.—Luke 12:32.

But what is to become of all other peoples of earth, the heathen and the ignorant and the mass of those who have been turned away from God because of the misrepresentation made by the false standards?

Judgment

God has appointed a day or time in which all of these shall have an opportunity for life; because, says the apostle, "this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the [accurate] knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2 : 3, 4) The death of Jesus provided the salvation, and now each one must be brought to a knowledge of the truth. The day of this judgment is the Millennial reign of Christ, in which all shall have an opportunity to live. (Acts 17 : 31) What shall be the reward or blessing of those who obey and who receive a favorable judgment? The answer is: Restoration to that condition of human perfection which Adam had in Eden before he violated God's law and lost it all. All the prophets from Samuel to Malachi have testified concerning this period of restoration of the human family. (Acts 3 : 24) Restoration means to restore that which was lost. Adam, as we have seen, enjoyed peace, prosperity, health, life, liberty and happiness. All of these he lost; all of these Jesus bought; all of these the Lord Jesus Christ will restore to the obedient ones.

It is conceded by all reasonable people that the nations and peoples of the earth are in an unsatisfactory condition. Even the ruling classes are uneasy, in perplexity and distress. All have a longing for a change to a better condition. It must be conceded, after all of these centuries of effort, that man cannot accomplish these things for himself. Man has not been able to build a satisfactory government. Who then has the power and who can do it? The answer is: Jehovah God. He gave life to man, he took life away, and he has made provision for the redemption of man and restoration to life. These blessings he will grant to man by and through the kingdom of his beloved Son, Christ Jesus.

Does that mean that in the outworking of the divine plan God will give life everlasting to all men regardless of whether they want it or not? God never forces his favors on any one. It is written: "(... For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace, and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."—Romans 5:17-19.

"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) The apostle here answers the question. He emphasizes the fact that life is a gift from God. A gift is the result of a contract. There must be a giver and a receiver. The one must be willing to give; the other must be willing to receive. There must be a meeting of the minds. It is impossible to give to a man who refuses to receive the gift. Likewise it is impossible to give to one who knows nothing about the offer. These scriptures definitely settle the fact that the Lord Jehovah will offer life everlasting to mankind through Jesus Christ and that all those who accept the offer on the terms made, and render obedience, shall receive it.

The first thing essential to a gift is knowledge. After the complete establishment of the kingdom of God the people must be brought to a knowledge of the truth before their responsibility to accept or reject the truth arises. It will not do to say that men throughout the age have had an opportunity to receive the truth when the truth has not been told to them. False doctrines promulgated in the name of the Lord do not constitute the truth, nor do such doctrines place responsibility upon men. The apostle in 1 Timothy 2:3, 4, says: "God, . . . who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the [accurate] knowledge of the truth." The death of Jesus Christ provides the salvation, and knowledge is now the next step.

Why should knowledge be given and a knowledge of what? The apostle answers: "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (1 Timothy 2:5, 6) His argument here is that there is one Jehovah God, the clergy teaching that there are three. He says there is one Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave his life a ransom for all; and that this fact must be testified in God's due time to all, that all may have the opportunity to either accept or reject the offer.

Why have not the people been receiving the truth throughout the entire Gospel Age? For two separate and distinct reasons: (1) Because the Devil has blinded their minds lest the truth should shine unto them and they would believe (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4); and (2) because it was not God's due time to let the truth generally be known. God does everything timely and in order.

The clergy have been telling us for a long time that God has been trying to convert the world, and that their business is to convert the world and bring people into the church. This is also an erroneous statement. God does not try to do anything. He does things, according to his will. Surely we should attribute to the great Jehovah more wisdom and ability than to believe for a moment that he would commit to imperfect men the tremendous job of converting the world and bringing them to him. Why then have men been trying to preach the gospel? Jehovah has had the gospel preached that those who had the ear to hear might hear, that he might take out from the world a people for his name, to wit: those who would be the followers of Christ Jesus and who would prove faithful and be associated with him in his kingdom.—Acts 15:14-17.

God has not forced any one to accept his message of truth. On the other hand the Scriptures declare: “Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matthew 13:9, 43) Comparatively few have desired to hear; and these have had to war against the influence of the adversary and to walk in the light of the truth. The faithful Christians who thus continue faithful unto death, and who participate in the first resurrection, are thereby changed from human to spirit beings. They are made members of the royal family of heaven. They constitute, together with Christ Jesus, the “seed of promise”, according to the promise which God made to Abraham. (Galatians 3:16, 27, 29) It is written: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”—2 Peter 3:13.

What is this new heavens and new earth here spoken of? It is the kingdom of God mentioned in symbolic phrase; heavens referring to the invisible part, and earth referring to the visible part of God’s kingdom.

What will be God’s method, according to his Word, of bringing the knowledge of the truth to the people in order that they may accept or reject it as a gift? The Scriptures answer that by the establishment of his kingdom of righteousness, to wit, the new heavens and new earth above mentioned—that by and through this he will bring a knowledge of the truth to mankind in general.

The clergy have taught that the present kingdoms of earth constitute the kingdom of God; and they join in a proclamation stating that the League of Nations is the political expression of God's kingdom. Is that true or not? It is not only untrue, but grossly false. The League of Nations is what is designated in the scriptures as the "Image of the Beast" (Revelation 13:14, 15), which is another product of the Devil by which he attempts to rule the nations and peoples of the earth and keep them in subjection to himself, and to turn away their minds from the true and living God and from his kingdom.

When Jesus stood before Pilate he declared: "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) By this he meant to be understood as saying, Satan the Devil is the god of this present world. He is the invisible ruler and he is evil. He rules in the earth by his visible representatives and they are evil. Jesus taught his disciples to pray to God and to say: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as in heaven." (Matt. 6:10) This of itself shows that his kingdom is not of the evil world nor during the time of the evil world. In fact, the kingdom of righteousness and the kingdom of unrighteousness could not exist at one and the same time and both be in control of the people of the earth.

When Jesus was on earth, the burden of his message was concerning the kingdom. Just before his crucifixion he told his disciples that he was going away and would prepare a place for them and that he would come again and receive them unto himself. (John 14:2, 3) All the prophets had taught concerning the coming of God's kingdom. The Jews looked forward to that time. The disciples of Jesus understood that the evil world must end before his kingdom would be put into operation. For this reason they asked him the question: "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy presence, and of the end of the world?"—Matthew 24:3.

The answer of Jesus may be summed up briefly in these words: That when the time came for the ending and passing away of the evil world a great world war would occur in which nation would rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom; that famines and revolutions would follow; and that these things would mark the beginning of the sorrows upon the people; that during that period God’s favor would begin to be expressed to the Jews in returning them to Palestine; that then the nations would be in distress and perplexity; and that then would follow the preparation for another great and terrible time of trouble such as the world has never known.—Matthew 24:7-22.

These prophetic utterances began to have a fulfilment in 1914 and are still in course of fulfilment. The Scriptures show that in 1914 Jesus, at the command of Jehovah, began to exercise his power to oust Satan as the invisible ruler, for the reason that the time had come. (Psalm 110:1-6) The Scriptures show that the Lord Jesus Christ, as Jehovah's executive officer, first expelled Satan from heaven, his place of invisible rule. This has already taken place. The next is the destruction of his empire in earth; and we are rapidly approaching that and in this conflict the Lord Jesus Christ will be victorious, as it is written: "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful." (Revelation 17:14) The beast here represents the Devil's earthly organization; the Lamb is a symbolic name for the Lord Jesus Christ; and they that are with him in the victory are the faithful overcomers.

What is God's method of operation through which he will bring the blessings to the people? The answer is: Through his kingdom, of which Christ Jesus is the king and head, who will establish the new heavens [invisible ruling power] and the new earth [visible ruling power]. Are there any scriptures to the effect that the Lord God will establish a kingdom? The Scriptures show that in the days of the ruling kings of earth the God of heaven will establish his kingdom. It is written: "In the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."—Daniel 2:44.

Be it noted that this kingdom of God will not be left to profiteers and politicians nor to preachers, nor to anyone else. The Lord himself will be the ruler. This kingdom will mark the fulfilment of the prayer which Jesus taught his disciples to pray for the doing of the will of God on earth.

Are there other scriptures warranting the conclusion that God intends to establish by and through Christ a kingdom of righteousness on earth different from what we now see? God's prophet Isaiah wrote long ago concerning that kingdom: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, the everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."—Isaiah 9:6, 7.

These things being true, then the clergy have not been giving the people the truth concerning God's standard? They have not. Everyone who is acquainted with the teachings of the clergy may compare their teachings with the divine standard and be able to answer the question for himself and that satisfactorily.

God's Standard

The term "the standard for the people" refers to the only and true standard. Such a standard could not originate with man, because man is imperfect. It must be the standard of the Lord. The time must come when this standard is lifted up for the people in order that some might know the truth. When should we expect it to be lifted up? The answer is: At the end of the world, with the passing away of Satan's empire, at the time when the nations and peoples are preparing for the great and terrible conflict, which everyone sees about us now. Long ago the prophet of Jehovah wrote, concerning this time: "Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people." (Isaiah 62:10) What then is the standard that the Lord commands shall be lifted up?

(1) That Jehovah is the only true and living God, beside whom there is none. He is the Creator of heaven and earth. He gave life to man and took away life. He will provide the way for man to get life. He made the earth for man's habitation. Every act of his is prompted by unselfishness. He is the embodiment of love. He is the true and lasting friend of man. The people must learn that Jehovah is God and obey him.

(2) That Jesus is the beloved Son of God; that by his death and resurrection he provided the great redemptive price for man; that to him is committed all power in heaven and in earth as the active agent of Jehovah; that he is the King of kings and Lord of lords; that the time has now come for him to begin his reign; and that the first work of his reign is to oust Satan, to destroy the evil systems and restrain Satan that he may deceive the nations no more (Revelation 20:1-3), and then to destroy all the works of Satan.—1 John 3:8.

(3) That the kingdom of heaven, God’s kingdom, is here; that Christ Jesus, the great King, has begun his reign and now the time has come when the stumbling stones of error shall be cast out, the way made clear for the people, and the people given the truth in order that they might know the way that leads to life and happiness.

As the people come to realize that the standards long held before them by men are standards of unrighteousness they must forsake such. Seeing the standard of God, to it they can rally and find there the way that leads to a full realization of their heart’s desire.

The psalmist declares: “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14) The margin of this text reads: “And his covenant to make them know it.” The reverence of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1:7) The people must begin to know the truth concerning God’s plan. Hence it is essential for every one to apply his mind to an understanding of the truth recorded in the Scriptures, which set forth God’s way and the means of bringing blessings to all families of the earth according to his promise.

Highway of Holiness

Jehovah through his prophet commands that the highway be cast up. This is symbolic phrase. A highway is a plain way to travel, and here the expression means that the way of the people to return to God must be made plain. The only means by which this can be done is to give them a knowledge of God and his gracious arrangement made for their benefit. This must be done at the beginning of the reign of Christ. During his reign and during the time of the judgment of the world it is written: "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, 'The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein."—Isaiah 35: 8.

This is called the highway of holiness because it is the Lord's way; and with him all things are holy. It pictures the way from the beginning of the reign of Christ the Messiah until the end thereof. No unclean one shall pass the entire length of that way, but it shall be for the cleansing of those who attempt to pass. That is to say, the unclean shall start over it and, being obedient to the rules of God's righteous kingdom, they will be cleaned up and made right before they reach the end; but refusing to do this they will not be permitted to pass to the end. This we see so clearly marked out in the Word of God that a wayfaring man, though he belong to the ruling class of the evil world, ought to be able to see that way in due time.

What God Requires

Before God, through Christ, will begin the work of restoring the human race Satan's empire must completely pass away. God, through Christ, will destroy Satan and his wicked works. (Psalm 110:5, 6) All the nations are now preparing for a terrible war. All the ruling factors in particular see it approaching. It will be that great battle described in the Bible as the battle of Armageddon, the battle of God Almighty against Satan and his forces, in which Satan will be completely defeated. It will be a time of trouble such as the world has never before known. Jesus declared that it will be the end of all trouble on earth.—Matthew 24: 21, 22.

God has remained silent and permitted Satan and his emissaries to come to a fulness in wickedness; and now, as the prophet says: "The Lord hath a controversy with the nations; . . . he will give them that are wicked to the sword." (Jeremiah 25: 31) Then the prophet proceeds to give a description of that terrible conflict in these words: "Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground."—Jeremiah 25: 32, 33.

At the present time, and for a long time past, the clergy have posed before the people as their shepherds to lead them and teach them; and the principal of their flocks are the profiteers and politicians. Concerning them in this time of trouble the Lord says: "Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard; for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture."—Jeremiah 25: 34-36.

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