Children (1941)
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CHILDREN
Their
training
AND THEIR HOPE
"Come, ye
children, hearken unto me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord" - Psalm
34:11
"The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day the
father to the children shall make known thy truth." - Isaiah 38:19.
By
J. F. RUTHERFORD
AUTHOR OF
SALVATION RELIGION
PROPHECY CREATION ENEMIES GOVERNMENT and other books
3,000,000 Edition
PUBLISHERS
WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC. International Bible Students
Association
Brooklyn, N. Y., U.
S. A.
ALSO
London Cape Town
Toronto Strathfleld Berne Copenhagen and in other
countries
Copyright, 1941
by J. F. Rutherford
Made in the United
States of America
DEDICATED
TO THE CREATOR,
"The
heaven, even the heavens, are THE LORD’S: BUT THE EARTH HATH HE
GIVEN
TO THE CHILDREN OF MEN.
"But we will bless the Lord from
THIS TIME FORTH
AND FOR EVERMORE.
Praise the Lord.” - Psalm 115: 16, 18
CHAPTER 1
CHILDREN
“Train
up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from
it.” — Proverbs 22:6
THE Aldens and Rogers were neighbors, both descendants of the
early settlers of New England. Their forebears had
fled from religious persecution that persisted in England and the Continent,
and found a place on the American Continent where they might exercise freedom
of conscience, freedom of speech, and freedom to worship Almighty God according to the dictates
of their own conscience.
Joseph
Alden was educated for the law, at which he practiced for a time. Having a
strong yearning for the freedom of the wide-open country, he emigrated west,
where he became a large landowner. He farmed, and his herds and flocks were
numerous. His wife was mentally brilliant, physically strong, and a real
helpmate. They builded a home in the West and left the latchstring on the
outside, and that home became a place of rest and genuine hospitality. Their
eldest son they named John, probably having in mind
the meaning of his name.
David
Rogers, with his young wife Lois, had located in the
neighborhood of the Aldens. Rogers had acquired a tract of land in that
vicinity and decided to leave his business in the East and become a farmer in
the West, where his children might be reared to a better advantage. His wife
Lois was a teacher and was well equipped to train their children. Among their
five children was a daughter named Eunice, next to the
youngest. Of the five children there were three boys and two girls. It was a
well-trained and happy family.
The
Alden and Rogers families not only were neighbors but became fast friends.
Their children played together and attended school together, and visited
frequently at each other’s homes. Both families were Christians, as that term
is generally understood, but they were not bound by any denominational
churchties. The elders of the family had observed so much formalism and
hypocrisy in the church denominations that they were glad to rear their
children free from such influence. They believed in God and Christ Jesus, and
they had a sincere desire to bring up their children “in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord”.— Ephesians 6:4.
That
obligation they attempted to shoulder and bear faithfully. The parents
instructed their children in their respective homes, and at stated times the
two families met together and with their children participated in a study of
the Bible and endeavored to instill in the young minds the fear of God and a
devotion to Him. They frequently, together, joined in the prayer which Jesus
had taught his disciples: ‘Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as in
heaven.’ (Matthew 6:10) The children of the two families were examples for good
to other children who attended the day schools.
John
Alden had reached the age of sixteen years. Eunice Rogers was fourteen years of
age. Both had completed the study course in the country public
school. They must receive further education. John was sent away to college.
Eunice entered a seminary for young ladies. A four-year course of study had
been planned for each one of them. Meeting together on a Sunday afternoon just
preceding their departure for their respective places of education John said to
Eunice: “We shall see little of each other for the next four years, but we
shall not forget each other. I shall endeavor to make good use of the time to
improve my mind as well as my body, and I know that you will do likewise. I
shall look forward to seeing you at vacation times”; to all of which Eunice
agreed.
Four Years Later
It
was a Sunday afternoon at the Alden home. The family had met, according to
their custom, for the weekly Bible study together. It was vacation time and the
children were at home. In fact it was a day of reunion of the two families and
a time of happiness unrestrained. The elders and the children exhibited the
same dignity and solemnity which always marked that home, yet their faces were
beaming with joy and the speech was pleasing. On this occasion Joseph Alden presided at the study, in which all present participated.
Four
years had brought a change in all of them. The parents had grown older, and the
children likewise had changed in appearance. There was young John Alden, strong
and vigorous, a young man, six feet in height, and with a muscular
rhythm peculiar to athletes; a young man clear of vision, and keen of mind,
and with an open and honest countenance. He was redheaded; which he had
inherited from his mother. He was very respectful and honored his father and
mother, and in this he had not changed from the time of his early youth.
Eunice
Rogers was now eighteen and had developed into womanhood of rare beauty. Not
only was she beautiful in form, but she was beautiful in her deportment and
speech, with dark-brown hair and eyes to match. Clothed in plain and tasteful
garments, she was graceful in her every movement, and a delight to those that
associated with her. She sat beside her mother during the study. John’s eyes
frequently turned toward her. Who could condemn him for doing so?
The
family study being concluded, John and Eunice went for a long stroll over the
wide acres. The time was that beautiful season of the year when the fields were
green and the flowers blooming. The air was filled with sweet perfume from the
numerous wild roses. The sun shone brightly and the songbirds sung to the glory
of the Creator, and apparently they were serenading the young man and the girl
who walked by his side. Being just fresh from school, they talked about the
commencement exercises and of the diplomas that had been given to the
graduates; and that opened the way for discussion of their future activities.
Said
John: “True, I am graduated now, but that means but little unless I continue to
make progress. The ceremony called ‘commencement’ is really indicative of the
beginning of one’s course in life. If one becomes negligent and indifferent he
makes no progress and amounts to nothing. If he employs his time and his
faculties in the right way he may meet with success and with many attending
blessings. Our experience at school is really a means of learning how to study,
and from the time of graduation onward one must continue to apply himself
diligently to the course he elects to pursue during the remainder
of his life. You have asked me, Eunice, what I shall do, what profession I
expect to follow, or in what business I shall engage. That matter I will
discuss with my father and then decide. The cities have no real attraction for
me. What is generally called ‘society’ appears to me to be entirely empty and
means nothing. As to politics, that has become so involved that an honest man
must shun it. The fact is, I love these broad fields and the things they
contain. The great Creator put them here. They are the handiwork of the Almighty,
as our lesson this morning told us. Here we breathe the pure air, eat pure
food, indulge in purity of speech, and our friends are sincere. Both of us have
grown up in this environment, and I should be loath to leave it. What think
you, my childhood companion?”
“Why
limit the companionship to childhood?” said Eunice. “True, we have seen little
of each other during the past four years, but I dare say that those four years
have been well spent, and now we are again together in the land we love,
together at least for a time. You mention your father, John, in such terms of
high esteem and your mother with gracious words. That pleases me. They are both
noble characters. Many times during my studies of American and English history
my mind reverted to the sturdy and faithful men and women who braved the storms
of the seas, settled on the cold and bleak shores of New England, and there
began the laying of the foundation of a great nation. You know that both my
ancestors and yours were among those dear souls. They had respect for law and
order, feared and served Almighty God, and loved righteousness. Our parents
have inherited these good qualities and have tried to instill them in us. I see
them in you, John. May I suggest that you consider well and sincerely before
entering the turmoil of the cities. There are many good things to be
accomplished in this part of the earth, and you possess the qualifications to
accomplish them.
“Is
there anything in a name? I think so, if we go to the right source for our
information and learning. May I be permitted to suggest, John, that when your
parents gave you the name ‘John’ they must have done so with reverential hearts
and with a hope that you would have everything the name implies. As you know,
John, your name means ‘Jehovah hath been gracious’. Surely the almighty
Creator, Jehovah, has been very gracious to you. He has given you a kind, firm
and loving father and a devoted mother, and they have reared you properly. He
has given you a strong body and a clear mind. He has given you an appreciation
of His creation, and this I observe you now appreciate. Otherwise you would not
speak as you do of the beauties of this land.”
“Eunice,
you speak with words of grace. Such become you. I perceive that the silly
twaddle so manifest by many girls and boys has not turned your head. You have
not departed from your early training. And now permit me to say that your name
befits you. Your name ‘Eunice’ means ‘Blessed with victory’. For four years you
have been closely associated with those who are given over to the lighter
things of life. We both can well bear testimony to the fact that the schools for
both men and women instill into the mind of the pupil the theory of evolution
of the human race, substituting that tradition proclaimed by such men as Darwin
for the sure Word of Almighty God. You have withstood that seductive influence
and have disregarded the sneers and reproaches that have fallen upon you and to
which all persons who manifest their belief in the inspired Scriptures are
subjected. I noted at the study this morning that you still firmly hold to the
early teachings we have received from our parents in our homes. You have
withstood the influence of the modern educators, who would turn young men and
young women away from the early instruction of their parents. Truly, then, you
have been and are ‘Blessed with victory’.
“I
am reminded of even a better and more appropriate meaning of the name Eunice,
which it is your good fortune to bear. You will readily recognize the source of
my information. What you have said, and what I know of you, well proves that
the meaning of the name fits you. You have told me that you were required to
attend religious service while at the seminary; that the congregational
meetings, and the Sunday morning service in particular, were a dress parade
having the earmarks of a social gathering; that the minister seldom mentioned
the Bible and never made any attempt to explain it, but talked chiefly of
evolution, politics and social problems, quoting liberally from books of
worldly writers, and that the entire tendency was to discredit the Bible. Well
do I understand and appreciate what you have told me. A like condition exists
at all colleges, I believe. Such were the conditions at the college where I
have been attending for the past four years. Almost all of the professors,
including the ecclesiastical instructors, are higher critics and rely on
science and the wisdom of men to lead them to higher things, but I observe that
they do not reach great heights.”
“Yes,
John, often have I propounded to myself the question: Why should a man call
himself a minister or a doctor of divinity, claiming to be a servant of God,
and never attempting even to instruct the people as to the meaning of the
Scriptures ? Probably it is because he does not understand the Scriptures
himself; but he should not pretend to teach them. The minister at the seminary
appeared to be quite popular with almost all who attended his church meetings,
and the attendants of his social gatherings spoke many flattering words about
him and to him; but I must say that often I have felt so out of place at those
so-called ‘church services and social gatherings’ that I have wanted to run
away that I might be alone and meditate upon what our parents have taught us in
our homes. From what I have learned it appears that the seminaries and colleges
have practically forgotten God, and this includes the ministers and theological
teachers. As a result of such teaching almost all of the students have become
agnostics or infidels.”
“In
all those religious services you found no satisfaction, I am sure, Eunice. Your
mind has constantly been turned to what you learned at home concerning God, and
to that you have held firmly. Now, Eunice, I mention the deeper and better
meaning of your name. There was a young man who sat at the feet of the apostle
Paul and learned of him concerning God and Christ Jesus. Paul was very fond of
this young man and frequently addressed him in loving terms. The mother of that
young man was named Eunice, and Paul referred to her as a woman of ‘unfeigned
faith’. You are just like that. Your faith is real and genuine, and you have
firmly held to that faith in spite of all the contrary influence that has been
about you. I am glad that my childhood companion has not forgotten her early
training, and that she has not departed from the instruction received in her
early youth.”
To
that complimentary speech Eunice did not reply. The two walked on together and
for some time were silent, evidently meditating upon serious matters. Then,
speaking, Eunice said: “John, see yonder great oak tree, under the boughs of
which we so often played together when we were quite young. That spot is dear
to my heart and I am sure it is likewise dear to you. There is a convenient log
there where we have often played together. Let us sit there now and talk over
matters. There is in my mind a weighty matter that only you can remove. Let us
sit here awhile and renew our acquaintance with this lovely scenery, while I
tell you what I have in mind. We have been apart from each other for nearly
four years, and in that four years there has been a constant prayer in my heart
concerning both of us, and which is represented in the word ‘Mizpah’, the
meaning of which we learned when young, and which now we well know: ‘The Lord
watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. ’ — Genesis 31:
49. ”
Seated
under the spreading boughs of that great oak they engaged in a long
conversation. Necessarily it was a private talk and too sacred, no doubt, to be
repeated, even if the full text thereof were known. When they arose to resume
their walk their faces were serious, but radiant. A solemn covenant had been
made between them.
As
they walked John interrupted the silent meditations. The birds were filling the
air with song, and all nature seemed to be rejoicing. “Eunice, this place seems
more beautiful to me on this June day than ever before. I am delighted to be
here. Father has suggested that I take some time to recuperate before
definitely deciding my future course. Together we have considered several
things which I might do. Father thinks it might be well for me to take a
post-graduate course and then a course at law. But he often concludes his
remarks with something like this: ‘I would like that you might be here with me
and take charge of these fields and flocks. Some day it must be you to whom I would
wish to leave this land. Decide not in haste, my son. You may even wait until
the autumn season before making your decision.’
“And
now, Eunice, seeing that I shall have many days with no pressing duties to meet
I have in mind that which I would like to propose to you. During the past four
years our attention has been given chiefly to our duties at school. That done,
we now have other important things to consider. I would like to devote some of
the time during the months that immediately follow to our studies together. I
have come into possession of a number of books, all published by the same
publishing society, which claim to be of great aid in the study of the Bible.
We have both studied the Bible some, but there is much for us to learn. I know
that the fundamental law of the nation is based upon the law of Almighty God,
as set forth in the Bible. The early writers in the law referred to God’s law
as supreme, and I am sure that is right. The Bible contains the statement of
God’s law, a record of the prophecies and of the teachings of Jesus and his
faithful apostles. In our home study, which I have so much missed during our
stay at school, we learned much, and I would like to continue our studies. We
are now better equipped to make a personal examination and study, and that with
profit to ourselves. We might take the books that I mentioned, which will be an
aid to us, at least to locate in the Bible the texts relating to the subject
matter under consideration, and with these books together with the Bible we can
learn much more. Suppose we spend an hour or more each day in this study, and I
feel sure this will be profitable for both of us. You would be pleased to join
me in such a study of the Bible.”
“John,
since I am to be the mother of your children, what could be of so great
importance to us as a knowledge of the Bible and how children should be reared?
I shall be more than delighted to join you in that study. We should be able to
learn from the Word of God our duties as parents and our obligation toward our
children. Well do I remember the proverb, which I have heard so often repeated
by our parents: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old,
he will not depart from it.’ (Proverbs 22: 6) Another scripture text I recall,
which is addressed to parents concerning their children: ‘Bring them up in the
nurture and admonition of the Lord.’ (Ephesians 6:4) Surely we must gain this
proper information before we shall know how to teach our children.”
The
two agreed to immediately begin the study of the Bible and to set down in their
notebooks the many truths that they learned. What appears in the chapters that
follow are in substance the truths that they learned.
CHAPTER 2
THE BIBLE
"Sanctify
them through thy truth: thy word is truth." - John 17:17
IN
KEEPING with their agreement the two met and began their study of the Bible.
Before beginning John remarked: “We begin this study with open mind, without
prejudice and with a sincere desire to learn. I feel that we shall be rewarded
for our efforts. There have been on my mind this morning the words written by
the apostle of Christ Jesus: ‘But we all, with open face beholding as in a
glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to
glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord.’ (2 Corinthians 3:18) As we look into
the Bible we there see reflected the glory of the Lord, because his Word tells of
his glory; and thus filling our minds with the precious truths contained in the
Bible, we may expect to grow into his likeness, even as the apostle said. And
now we shall proceed with our study and set down in our notes what we learn.”
Citations and quotations herein are from The
Bible.
The
Lord Jesus had finished his earthly ministry as a man and, addressing his
prayer to his Father, Jehovah God, in behalf of his faithful followers, he
said: “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.” (John 17:17)
Persons who are sincere and honest desire the truth. Where will the truth be
found? In the Bible, as such is the Word of God, which is the truth. Almighty
God, Jehovah, inspired holy men of old to write down in the Bible the truths
revealed by him for man’s benefit: “For not at any time was prophecy brought by
the will of man, but men from God spoke, being moved by holy spirit.” (2 Peter
1:21, Diaglott) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in
righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all
good works.” — 2 Timothy 3:16,17.
The
person who desires the approval of God must be guided aright. The Bible, which
contains the Word of God, is true and is the correct guide: “Thy word is a lamp
unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105) The Bible guides
sincere persons to desire and to pray for the most important things that may
result to their welfare. God has put such prayers into the mouth of his sincere
servants, and one of these prayers is this: “Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me
thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my
salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies
and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. Remember not the sins
of my youth, nor my transgressions; according to thy mercy remember thou me,
for thy goodness’ sake, O Lord.”—Psalm 25:4-7.
The
sure and unfailing promises of God to such sincere seekers for truth are
certain, and God will fulfill those promises; as it is written: “Good and
upright is the Lord; therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will
he guide in judgment, and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the
Lord are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.”
(Psalm 25:8-10) “For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done
in truth.” (Psalm 33:4) “For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting; and
his truth endureth to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5) “For thy mercy is great
above the heavens; and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.” (Psalm 108:4) “Thy
righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” —
Psalm 119:142.
He
who would be wise in things that are right seeks pure knowledge, such as is
contained in the Bible: “Wise men lay up knowledge; but the mouth of the
foolish is near destruction.” (Proverbs 10:14) “Whoso loveth instruction loveth
knowledge; but he that hateth reproof is brutish.” (Proverbs 12:1) “The heart
of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.” —
Proverbs 18:15.
The
person who is wise and pursues a wise and prudent course desires to live
forever and enjoy all the blessings which God has provided for those who love
him. There is but one way to life, and that way is to receive a knowledge of
God and Christ Jesus and then obey the commandments of the Lord and continue to
follow in the right way: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee
the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3) The
person that would please God and live must know that Jehovah is the Almighty
God and that Christ Jesus is his great Executive Officer, and he must fear to
displease God. Such a person begins to acquire the right kind of knowledge.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; but fools despise wisdom
and instruction.”—Proverbs 1:7.
One
is foolish to rely upon his own understanding and to ignore the Word of God:
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own
understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes; fear the Lord, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs
3:5-7) To follow the traditions of men, which are contrary to the Word of God,
is to pursue a course of evil.
Authenticity
What
is the proof that the Bible contains the authentic record of God’s Word? The
evidence, which furnishes the conclusive proof, is both circumstantial and
direct, and the two kinds of evidence fully corroborate each other. Here the
evidence circumstantial and that which is direct will be considered together,
and will be found to fully establish the authenticity of the Bible as God’s
Word.
“The
Bible” is the name given to what is written in the sixty-six books bound
together and forming one book. It has in reality only one Author, who is God,
and its one great purpose is to furnish a guide to man who desires to walk in
the way of righteousness and live and to honor his Maker. The “canon” of the
Scriptures is the collection or catalogue of the books or writings into one
volume, The Book, which sacred
writings God has provided; and which is called “The Holy Bible”. Such contains
the true rule and guide for faithful men. Other writings for which claim has
been made as to their genuineness, but which are spurious, are called “the
Apocrypha”.
The
word “canon”, from the classic Greek, means “a straight rod or rule”. It is a
measuring rod. As to the Bible, it means the rule of truth. Concerning this
sacred rule the inspired apostle wrote: “And as many as walk according to this
rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.” (Galatians
6:16; see also 2 Corinthians 10:13-16) Without any doubt the spirit of Almighty
God directed faithful men to arrange the canon of the Scriptures according to
his will. That much could not be said of any other book in existence. All the
evidence, when considered together, proves beyond all doubt that the Author of
the Holy Scriptures set out in the Bible is Almighty God, whose name is
Jehovah, and which name means his purpose toward his creatures.
Moses,
as a servant and an amanuensis of God, wrote the five books that appear first
in order in the Bible. Moses was selected by Jehovah God as his servant to lead
the Israelites out of Egypt. At Mount Sinai God took Moses up into the mountain
and there dictated to him the fundamental law, which law was written on stone,
and which has been translated and recorded in the Bible.
The
Scriptures disclose that God invites man to reason with him (Isaiah 1:18) ; and
the fact that the Creator endowed man with faculties of reason shows that it is
proper that man reach a conclusion by process of reasoning in harmony with
facts and authority which cannot be disputed. Moses was a learned man, “learned
in all the wisdom of the Egyptians.” (Acts 7:22) Moses records the fact that
God spoke to him and directed him to go into Egypt, saying: “Thus shalt thou
say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” (Exodus 3:14) “I
AM” means the Everlasting One, not the One who was, nor the One who will be,
but the One who is. The great I AM
made known to Moses his name Jehovah, and this was the first time his name was
thus revealed.—Exodus 6: 2, 3.
The
general history of the human kind could well have been known to Moses even
before God revealed His great truth to Moses and before Moses was selected to
go to Egypt, because of the following circumstances and facts, to wit: Adam was
the original man, from whom the race sprang. Adam lived 930 years, and lived
300 years of that time after the birth of Enoch, a man whom God approved. Enoch
was the father of Methuselah, who lived 969 years. Noah was the third
generation from Enoch. He was a grandson of Methuselah and must have received
much information from his grandfather. (Genesis 5:3-32) Noah was 600 years old
when the flood came. (Genesis 7:6) Being devoted to Almighty God, he would
certainly gather all the information he could from his forefathers, and hence
would have a very accurate account of the race from Adam to Noah’s day. That
information he would transmit to his sons.
Noah
and his sons came out of the ark together, and Noah lived 350 years thereafter.
(Genesis 9:28,29) His son Shem lived 502 years after the flood. (Genesis
11:10,11) Two years after Noah’s death Abraham was born, and therefore Shem and
Abraham were on the earth together for a period of 150 years. It is reasonable
that Abraham would learn from Shem the facts concerning the human race which
Shem had received from his forefathers. Abraham bore the title of ‘father of
the faithful’; and since knowledge is necessary to faith, Abraham must have had
as the basis of faith the necessary knowledge from the creation of man until
his day.
Isaac
was the beloved son of Abraham and would no doubt receive faithful instruction
from his faithful father. The favorite son of Isaac was Jacob. (Genesis
28:5-14) Jacob had twelve sons, and he bestowed his greatest affection upon
Joseph, evidently by the Lord’s direction. Joseph was a man of great importance
in Egypt and would be widely known by almost all of the people of Egypt, and
particularly by the Israelites who resided there. Only a few years after the
death of Joseph Moses was born. When Moses became a man he devoted himself
entirely to the Almighty God. It is only reasonable that Moses was thoroughly
familiar with the history of his forefathers from the time of Adam to his own
time, when God called him to be the deliverer of the Israelites. From the human
viewpoint, as shown by the facts and circumstances, Moses was amply qualified
to write the history of mankind from the beginning until his own day.
Intelligent men have a natural tendency to keep a record of facts and events,
and it is but reasonable that Moses had a fund of information duly set down to
be passed on to other generations. So much from the human viewpoint.
None
of the testimony mentioned here will be accepted by evolutionists or higher
critics who have no faith in God. “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no
God.” (Psalm 14:1) A person does not need to say in words, “There is no God”;
but by his own conduct or course of action he discloses his secret thoughts.
All visible creation testifies to the indisputable fact that there is a Supreme
One who is the Creator, the Almighty God.
The
miraculous birth of Jesus, his teachings, his crucifixion and his resurrection
out of death are supported by a multitude of witnesses, all of which establish
the fact that Jesus was not an ordinary man, but the Son of Almighty God. A
host of heavenly angels bore testimony at the time of the birth of the babe
Jesus that he is “Christ the Lord”. — Luke 2:9-14.
The
circumstantial evidence of the miraculous birth of Jesus, and the direct
testimony delivered by the man Christ Jesus during the three and more years of
his ministry, establishes the authenticity of the Holy Scriptures, or Bible, as
the Word of Almighty God. After his resurrection by the power of Almighty God,
Christ Jesus appeared to his faithful disciples, at which time he confirmed the
words which he had spoken to them before his death. At the same time he
testified as to the authenticity of what is written in the law and in the prophecies
and in the songs which we call “Psalms”. It was then he said: “These are the
words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be
fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in
the psalms, concerning me.” — Luke 24:44.
After
his ascension into heaven the Lord gave to John, his faithful servant, a
revelation of the things that must come to pass: “The Revelation of Jesus
Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must
shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his
servant John.” — Revelation 1:1.
Jesus
Christ is “The Faithful and True Witness”. (Revelation 1:5; 3:14) The testimony
of Christ Jesus, therefore, imports absolute verity. Jehovah, the Almighty God,
sent his Beloved, Jesus, to the earth to tell the truth, and he told the truth.
When standing before the Roman governor, charged with treason, Jesus testified,
to wit: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that
I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my
voice.”—John 18:37.
The
testimony of Jesus when he was a man on earth is further proof that the
Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Bible, were written by Moses at the
dictation of Almighty God. (Malachi 4:4; Matthew 8:4; Mark 1:44; 7:10; 12:26;
Luke 5:14; John 3:14; 7:19,22,23) After his resurrection out of death, and when
Jesus appeared unto his faithful disciples, his testimony to them fully
confirmed what he had told them when he was with his disciples: “And beginning
at Moses, and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures
the things concerning himself.’’-Luke 24:27.
Not
only was Moses the servant of Jehovah and used by Jehovah to write the five
books first appearing in the Bible, but he was a prophet of Almighty God and
foreshadowed Christ Jesus, the great Prophet. The testimony of Jesus confirms
this statement when we note that he said: “Moses . . . wrote of me.” The
religious leaders amongst the Jews were opposed to Jesus and, addressing them,
he said: “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that
accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would
have believed me: for he wrote of me.”—John 5:45,46.
Not
only did he say that Moses had written a portion of the Bible and had written
of Christ Jesus, but furthermore he testified: “Search the scriptures; for in
them ye think ye have eternal life; and they are they which testify of
me.”—John 5:39.
Moses
was a type of Christ Jesus, the great Prophet; which the evidence completely
establishes. Addressing his words to the Israelites, the covenant people of
God, Moses uttered this prophecy: “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a
Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye
shall hearken.” (Deuteronomy 18:15) That prophecy is fulfilled in Christ Jesus:
“For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise
up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things,
whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul,
which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the
people.”—Acts 3:22,23.
Christ
Jesus is that great Prophet, who speaks with full authority conferred upon him
by his Father, the Almighty God, Jehovah. Repeatedly the testimony given by
Jesus shows that his Father, the Almighty God, sent Jesus to the earth and that
the testimony of Jesus is in exact accord with the will of his Father. (John 6:
38,39) To his learned critics Jesus said: “My doctrine is not mine, but his
that sent me.” (John 7:16) Jesus always testified to the truth as he was
directed by Jehovah.—John 8:28, 29,42.
The
holy spirit, which is the invisible power of Almighty God, moved upon faithful
men of old to write what is set forth in the prophecies and which is there
written according to the will of Almighty God. This is a guarantee that the
prophecies are true. The testimony of Jesus confirms the authenticity of the
prophecies. Both the acts and the words of Jesus refer specifically to the
prophets; which proves that the prophecies written in times of old, as set out
in the Bible, are true. Note some of the things which Jesus did in confirming
the words of the prophets recorded in ancient times. (Matthew 4:13-16) Early in
his earthly ministry he read from the prophecy of Isaiah 61:1,2, to wit: “The
spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach
good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to
proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that
are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of
vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” (Isaiah 61:1,2) “The spirit
of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the
captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” “And he began to say unto
them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:18,19,21)
Thus he proved the authenticity of Isaiah’s prophecy.
Jesus
in fulfillment of a certain portion of Isaiah’s prophecy healed the sick: “that
it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself
took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” (Matthew 8:17) Thus he directly
applies this prophecy to himself. He repeated the words of the prophet Malachi
and applied the same to himself: “For this is he of whom it is written, Behold,
I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. ’
’ (Malachi 3:1; Matthew 11:10) He repeated the prophecy written at Isaiah
42:1-3 and applied the same to himself. (Matthew 12:17-21) From the prophecy of
Jonah Jesus quoted, fully testifying to the authenticity of that prophecy.
(Matthew 12: 39-41) He referred to the prophecy concerning Solomon and the
queen of the south and then said: “Behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”
(Matthew 12:42) Jesus spoke in parables, “that it might be fulfilled which was
spoken by the prophet,” at Psalm 78:2: “I will open my mouth in a parable; I
will utter dark sayings of old.”— Matthew 13:31-35.
At
Matthew 21:4,5 Jesus quoted with approval other prophecies: Zechariah 9: 9 and
Isaiah 62:11. Jesus cited with approval the prophecy of Daniel 9:27 and Daniel
11:31. (See Matthew 24:15.) At the same time he spoke of the conditions in the
earth that prevailed in the day of Noah, and told his hearers that a similar
state of affairs would again obtain upon earth in “the last days”, thus proving
the authenticity of the prophecy of Noah and prophesying of “the time of the
end”. (Matthew 24:37-39; see also Matthew 27: 9-35) Jesus testified as to the authenticity
of the law and of all the holy prophets (Matthew 11:13), and stated that upon
these the two great commandments of God are based. (Matthew 22:36- 40) Having
testified to the authenticity of the law and of the prophets, which are set
forth in the Holy Scriptures, and having stated that he received these truths
from the Almighty God, his Father, Jesus summed up the matter in these
authoritative words: “Thy word is truth.” — John 17:17.
For
more than three years the twelve apostles of Jesus were personally taught by
him. God gave him those apostles, and all except one of them remained faithful.
(John 17: 6-10) The testimony is abundant that at Pentecost the faithful
apostles received the outpouring of the holy spirit of God in fulfillment of
the prophecy uttered by Joel. (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:1-21) Inspired and moved by
the holy spirit of God, Peter, the apostle, then and there testified that the
Lord God had raised Jesus out of death, and then added: “God hath made that
same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ”; and at the same time
cited the prophecy foretelling that great and marvelous act of God. (Acts 2:
31-36) Later the apostle Peter wrote concerning the prophets: “Knowing this
first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For
the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the holy spirit.”—2 Peter 1: 20,21; see also 2 Samuel 23:
2.
Paul
the apostle, who was made a special ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ and who
was anointed and filled with the holy spirit, under inspiration of the holy
spirit testified concerning the authenticity of the Scriptures in these words:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of
God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”—2 Timothy
3:16,17.
Prophecy
The
prophecies recorded in the Holy Scriptures are the most conclusive
circumstantial evidence of the authenticity of the Scriptures set forth in the
Bible, as humankind could not foretell with accuracy events coming to pass in
the long-distant future. All true prophecy proceeds from the Almighty God,
Jehovah. He is perfect in wisdom and knows the end from the beginning: “Known
unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18) It
was the great Jehovah, the Eternal One, who caused these prophecies to be
written according to his will.
The
true prophet of God is one who speaks as he is directed by the power of Jehovah
to speak. He does not utter man’s message, but utters God’s message. Christ
Jesus is the great Prophet of Jehovah, who speaks with authority from his
Father. True prophecy is recorded authoritative words declaring things that
must come to pass in future days. It appears that at the time of uttering the
prophecies the men who uttered or recorded them did not understand the meaning
thereof. But in his own due time God makes known to righteous men the meaning
of such prophecies. This is proved by the words of Jesus addressed to his
disciples. He had told them what the future years would bring forth,
particularly with reference to the end of the world. He instructed them
concerning the holy spirit, which God would send after Jesus ascended into
heaven, and which he did send upon his faithful servants at Pentecost. During
his last days on earth with his disciples Jesus said to them: ‘‘And now I have
told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might
believe. ’ ’—John 14: 29.
That
which stands out most prominently in the Bible is its teaching concerning the
kingdom of God, and because of its paramount importance Jesus instructed his
followers that they should always pray for the coming of that kingdom. (Matthew
6: 9,10) It is God’s kingdom, and necessarily all prophecy concerning that
kingdom must proceed from the Almighty God. Christ Jesus is the duly appointed
and anointed King of the kingdom of God. All the prophets of God foretell the
coming of that kingdom and the King, and point forward to that day as one of
greatest importance.
When
man was in Eden Jehovah God uttered the first prophecy. (Genesis 3:14-17)
Thereafter he used men who had wholly devoted themselves to God’s service to
utter prophecy and write it down at his dictation. Under inspiration of the
holy spirit God caused Peter to utter the words of prophecy concerning the
great King, Christ Jesus, and then to say: “Yea, and all the prophets from
Samuel, and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise
foretold of these days.” (Acts 3:24) — Acts 3:20-26.
Over
a period of practically four thousand years men of old who were devoted to God
and who prophesied according to God’s will foretold the coining of Christ Jesus
the Messiah. Not only did they foretell his coming, but they recorded the
minute details of the place where he would be born, his ministry, his
temptation, his persecution, his suffering, his ignominious death, and his
resurrection and exaltation. Such wisdom could proceed only from the Almighty
God. The fact that those prophecies were fulfilled exactly as foretold proves
the authenticity of the same beyond any question of doubt. (For further
discussion of the prophecies see the book Prophecy.}
Prophecy
of God cannot be understood by men who have no faith in God and in Christ. Such
men are blind to the truth. A man who has no faith in God and does not believe
God’s Word cannot understand the Bible. Such men rely upon their own learning
and walk on in the dark. Such men class themselves as higher critics and as
evolutionists and base their arguments upon the “science” of evolution.
Concerning them God says: ‘They are fools.’ (Psalm 14:1) In these latter days
the colleges teach evolution concerning man, his creation, and his development,
and ignore entirely the Word of God. They are wise in their own conceits, and
concerning such the Lord in his Word says: “He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness; and the counsel of the f roward is carried headlong. They meet with
darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.” (Job
5:13,14) “The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken; lo, they have
rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?”—Jeremiah 8:9.
“These
scriptures, written long ago, certainly and accurately describe the conditions
that exist in the colleges today,” said John to Eunice. “There is scarcely a
professor in the college where I attended that has any faith whatsoever in God
and the Bible. They teach all the young men and young women to ignore God and
the Bible. Recently I noticed in the Literary Digest that a poll had been taken
of the preachers in the United States and a large majority of them are
evolutionists, deny the inspiration of the Scriptures, and yet claim to be
ministers of the gospel.”
“Certainly,
John,” said Eunice. “This proves how wonderfully we have been favored by the
Lord in giving us parents who have taught us from our youth up to have
confidence in God and in the Bible, which is His Word. Without faith it is
impossible to please God, as it is written in the Scriptures.”
“That
is true, Eunice, and you are a woman of true and genuine faith. Seeing that the
professors and other teachers in the schools have ignored the Bible and teach
that man is a creature of evolution, I suggest that in our next study we give
consideration to the Bible teaching concerning the origin of man and the course
that men have taken, and learn just why the present miserable conditions exist
amongst the peoples and nations of the earth.”
“Let
us do so, John; but may I add one more suggestion before we leave the subject
of the Bible as being God’s Word. The Bible has withstood the assaults of its
enemies for many centuries. This we have learned from profane history. All
possible means have been used to destroy the Bible, and all these have failed.
And is not that strong circumstantial evidence that God has preserved and kept
the Bible for the benefit of the man who desires to know the right way?
Certainly the Bible contains the Word of Almighty God, which will endure
forever. It is man’s only true and safe guide, and he who is wise diligently
searches its pages to get an understanding thereof; as the Scriptures
themselves point out:
“
‘My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so
that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to
understanding; then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the
knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge
and understanding. He lay- eth up sound wisdom for the righteous; he is a
buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and pre-
serveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and
judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. When wisdom entereth into thine
heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee,
understanding shall keep thee; to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from
the man that speaketh froward things.’ (Proverbs 2:1,2,5-12) ‘Happy is the man
that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.’ (Proverbs 3:13) ”
“Eunice,
let me read you this news account which tells of that old religious
organization recently destroying 110,000 Bibles, which the British Bible
Society had sent to Spain for distribution amongst the people. No doubt those
Bibles were destroyed to prevent the people from reading them and learning that
religion is a snare, as God has said at Deuteronomy 7:16. When sincere people
learn the truth contained in the Bible, religious dictators will no longer be
able to hold them within their confines. This news account reads:
“
‘One hundred and ten thousand copies of the Bible, including Testaments, which
the British and Foreign Bible Society sent to Spain recently for distribution,
were destroyed. Spain, as everybody knows, has had an unenviable reputation for
Bible destruction in years gone by, but this wholesale pulping of a hundred
thousand copies is perhaps the most glaring example of open hostility to the Book that history records. And it
occurred in 1940! It is exceedingly interesting to note, moreover, that this
report, cabled from London, appeared in the early morning edition of the New
York Times of October 6, but was deleted from the second and following
editions. Who ordered that it be cut out? What invisible censorship tried to
prevent this highly significant item of news from reaching the people of this
Protestant country? Can anybody guess?’ —Signs of the Times, January 21, 1941.
“That
we may give heed to God’s Word and that we may keep some important texts in
mind it seems to be well to here set them down. This will enable us to
appreciate the truth that God’s Word alone is our safe guide: Psalm 119:160;
Proverbs 13:13,14; John 6:63,68; Psalm 119:9-11; Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 91:4;
Deuteronomy 4:2; Proverbs 30: 5, 6; Revelation 22:18,19; Romans 3: 3, 4; Mark
7: 5-13; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 55:10,11; Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21: 33;
2 Timothy 2:15; John 8: 31, 32; Romans 10:17. In frequently reading these texts
we are sure to get a real blessing.”
CHAPTER 3
THE CREATURE
"I
will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvellous are thy
works, and that my soul knoweth right well" - Psalm 139:14
"IF
WE are diligent I and faithful in our studies of the Bible we shall be pursuing
the right course and therefore a wise course. We are learning how to study, and
we love to acquire knowledge of that which is good. We have the Bible, which is
our perfect guide, and our faith in its Author is strong. We have helps to
study the Bible, which have been graciously provided by the Lord. I am glad,
Eunice, that you are a woman of genuine faith. I am grateful to the Lord that I
have retained the faith that my parents have instilled in me while in my
childhood. By the Lord’s grace, we shall hold fast this faith and not depart
from it.
“It
is written in the Bible: ‘Without faith it is impossible to please [God].’
(Hebrews 11: 6) We desire to please God and to have His approval. The words of
the text at Psalm 139:14, above set down, were uttered by a man of faith. He
was one of the inspired prophets of Almighty God who spoke as he was moved by
the spirit of God, and this was his testimony: ‘The spirit of the Lord spake by
me, and his word was in my tongue.’ (2 Samuel 23:2) In the Psalm he said man is
‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. That means that perfect man was a creature by
a superior power. If those bipeds that pose as professors and that are teachers
of evolution are correct, then man was evolved from a very small and
insignificant thing. That theory is flatly contradicted by the Word of Almighty
God. No wonder God says that he will make the expressed ‘wisdom’ of such men
‘foolishness’. From the information that we have we well know that the prophet
of God uttered the truth, that man is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. Our
studies in school of physiology and our observation fully convince us of that
fact. Man being a creature, therefore there must be a Creator.”
Who
made the man? The Bible answers: “So God created man in his own image, in the
image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27) How
did God create man? By his unlimited power, which is invisible to man, and
hence by His holy spirit: “Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created; and
thou renewest the face of the earth.”—Psalm 104:30.
He
created the man out of the elements of the earth: “And the Lord God formed man
of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;
and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7) He created the man first, and then
the woman. —Genesis 2:18, 21, 22.
The
attributes of the Almighty God Jehovah may well be named as these: Wisdom (which is fully proved by the
following texts: Proverbs 3:13,19; Proverbs 2:6,7; Exodus 31: 3; Job 12: 9-13;
Psalm 104: 24; Psalm 136:5); Justice
(Psalm 89:14); Power (Psalm 62:11;
29:4); and Love (1 John 4:8).
These attributes of God have no limitation. Man was created with a limited
degree of wisdom, justice, power and love; hence God created man in his own
image and likeness. God has dominion over everything in the universe. God gave
man dominion over the lower animals of the earth, but not over his fellow man.
(Genesis 1:28) Man is accountable to God for his action.
The
religious professors say that man was created with an immortal soul, which is
separate and distinct from his organism or body, and that the soul never dies.
That doctrine is also entirely false and is completely contradicted by the Word
of God. Just here I am reminded of the words written in the Bible: “Let God be
true, though every man be false.” (Romans 3:4, Dia- glott) When the words of
man contradict the Word of Almighty God we know that the man is false, because
God is true and all his works are done in truth.
A
specific duty was assigned to man, and he was required by the Lord to be
completely obedient to the commandment given. God planted a garden, which he
named “Eden”, and assigned the man to the duty of caring for that garden. God
gave to man the privilege of eating the fruit that grew in that garden, with
some exceptions, and which exceptions no doubt were for the purpose of testing
man’s obedience. “And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of
the garden thou mayest freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and
evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou
shalt .surely die.”—Genesis 2:16,17.
The
man was disobedient, and God’s law must be enforced, and therefore man suffered
the penalty. Some persons foolishly charge God with cruelty because he enforced
his law by condemning man to death for the offense of “eating an apple”. The
wrongdoing was not in the apple, but the wrong doing was in the act of
disobeying God’s commandment, by eating that which God forbade him to eat. Man
therefore with full knowledge sinned, and was justly sentenced to death.
If
the religious professors who teach the inherent-immortality soul doctrine are
correct their conclusion means that man could not have died, because
immortality means that which is not subject to death. It cannot be said that
only the body dies and that the soul lives on. It is plainly written in God’s
Word: ‘The soul that sinneth, it shall surely die.’ (Ezekiel 18:4) “What man is
he that liveth, and shall not see death ? shall he deliver his soul from the
hand of the grave? Selah.”—Psalm 89:48.
What
is the distinction between soul and man? There is no difference. Every creature
is a soul, and hence a soul is a living, breathing, moving creature. God formed
the body and then ‘breathed into the nostrils the breath of lives, and man
became a living soul’. (Genesis 2:7, Hebrew) The body of flesh and the breath,
and the blood that courses through the arteries and veins, all together
constitute a living creature called “a soul”. “The life ... is in the blood.”
(Leviticus 17:11) The breath puts in action the lungs and the heart, and the
blood is propelled throughout the body and life is sustained; and when man’s
breath goes out, his heart ceases to act and the man is dead. It is the soul
that is dead. (Ezekiel 18:4, 20) The doctrine of the “immortality of all souls”
was invented and taught for the very purpose of deceiving men and reproaching
Almighty God, and this was where lying began. The Devil is the author of that
lie and the other doctrines springing out of it.
Beginning of Wickedness
A
creature once enlightened and who then opposes Almighty God is wicked. God,
“whose name alone is Jehovah,” is The Creator, The Being, the One who is
supreme. He is the only being. All
intelligent things that exist are creatures. Men frequently use the phrase
relative to men and say: ‘This is a human being.’ But that is entirely out of
harmony with the truth. Jehovah God is The Being, the Eternal One, and there is
none other. He first created The Logos, his Beloved One, and thereafter used
The Logos as his active agent in the creation of all things that are created:
‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was
a god. This was in the beginning with the God. Through it everything was done;
and without it not even one thing was done, which has been done.’ (John 1:1-3,
Diaglott, interlinear reading) (John 1:18; Revelation 3:14) The Logos, or Word,
is Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 8:22-31) Aside from Almighty God there are no
beings, but all are creatures, therefore all are souls. The word “god” means
Mighty One. There are many mighty ones called “gods”, but there is only one
Almighty God, “whose name alone is Jehovah,” and who is the Most High: “For
thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.” (Psalm 86:10)
“One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
(Ephesians 4:6) Jehovah is the Self - existing One: “From everlasting to
everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalm 90:2) Christ Jesus is a mighty one and
therefore a god. Jehovah is The Almighty One and hence greater than Jesus: “For
there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”
(1 Timothy 2:5) Note the scriptures, which we here set down, and which speak of
other creatures as “gods”: “I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are
children of the Most High.”—Psalm 82: 6; John 10:34-36.
Jesus
said of his Father, the Almighty God: “My Father is greater than I.” (John 14:
28) Jesus speaks of Jehovah as his Father because the Almighty God is the
Lifegiver to the Son. Jesus furthermore says: “I and my Father are one.” (John
10: 30) Manifestly his words mean that he and his Father are in complete unity
or harmony, always acting together, and there are many scriptures that show
this, particularly the declaration of Jesus himself as set forth in Psalm 40:8.
Among
spirit creatures of old there was one named Lucifer, a mighty one and hence a
god. The name Lucifer means “shining one, or bright star”. The Logos, who is
the Lord Jesus Christ, is called “The Bright and Morning Star”. (Revelation
22:16) Other spirit creatures are called “stars” and are mighty ones. (Judges
5:20; Psalm 148:3) Lucifer was entrusted with the obligation and charged with
the duty of overseeing the creation of the earth. He rebelled against the
Almighty God, and did so willingly and deliberately, and therefore became
wicked, and from thenceforth he is known in the Scriptures by the four names to
wit: Satan, which means the opposer of Almighty God; Serpent, meaning deceiver;
Devil, meaning slanderer; and Dragon, meaning devourer. (Revelation 20:1-3;
12:9) All opposition or rebellion against Almighty God is sin, and an
enlightened creature who willfully sins is wicked. Lucifer’s wickedness was
made manifest in the following manner:
The
Almighty God created man and created the earth for man. (Isaiah 45:12,18) The
man Adam, being perfect, was the highest of earth’s creation, and when God laid
the foundation of the earth as the place of man’s habitation there was great
joy amongst the spirit creatures of heaven; as it is written: “Where wast thou
when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for
joy?”—Job 38:4,7.
Lucifer
was there and beheld the great praise given to the Almighty God by His numerous
creatures. Covetousness found a place in the heart of Lucifer; he desired to
have the praise that was bestowed upon the Most High. (Jeremiah 51:13) He set
about to oppose Almighty God and to entrap man and bring about his destruction,
and for this purpose he used the serpent. Adam and Eve were in Eden and had
received God’s specific commandment to refrain from disobedience, being
informed by the Most High that the eating of a certain fruit would constitute
an act of disobedience, punishable with death. (Genesis 2:17) Lucifer
approached Eve and inquired why she did not eat of the fruit that was
forbidden. Eve replied: “God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall
ye touch it, lest ye die.” Speaking through the serpent that he might deceive
Eve, Lucifer replied to her: “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 had a desire to “be as gods”, that is, to be as wise as spirit creatures,
who possess knowledge superior to that of the human creature. Yielding to that
desire, she violated the law of Almighty God, and then Adam joined her in the
transgression or sin. That was the beginning of wickedness and also the
…