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Chosen no: R-534 a, from: 1883 Year. |
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Question Column.
Ques. A Brother
writes to heartily endorse our expressions in last issue relative to the Inter.
S.S. Lessons, etc., and asks, Can we not have a lesson leaf for children which
would rightly present the Scripture teachings to them?
Ans. In our
opinion Sunday-schools and all kinds of schools are good and useful in
proportion as they teach anything valuable or useful. Let children be taught
morality of every sort, and instructed in the first principles of the Gospel,
and all they can understand concerning God's character, and of the harmony
between God's two revelations-- the book of nature and the book of revelation.
Thus they will be prepared for useful and honest lives as men and women --loyal
and obedient to their Creator and Redeemer.
But we who are in training for the high calling
cannot turn aside from the special work of this age--the work of
preparing "the Bride, the Lamb's wife." The Bride is to make herself
ready; and just at the present moment, when the last touches of adornment are
being put on preparatory to the wedding, every member's service is required in
this all-important, present work. Soon our exalted position of heavenly power
with the Lord, will enable us to render substantial aid to all work, for the
blessing and elevating of humanity. The very work for which we are now in
preparation is the restoring and blessing of all the families of the earth.
To all saints who have a talent for teaching and
explaining, and who see the truth clearly, we suggest that you "cast your
net on the other side of the ship" and become fishers of men and women
rather than of children; and fish for one class only, viz.: the consecrated in
Christ Jesus, and to these do as did Aquilla and Priscilla to Apollos --show
unto them "the way of God more perfectly." (Acts
18:26-28.) It is the eleventh hour, but go ye also into the vineyard,
and whatsoever is right shall be your reward. It is too late now to expect fruit
for this vintage from new slips, but you may be of service to the older
fruit-bearing branches by tearing off some of the old withered leaves, and thus
letting in the sunlight of grace and truth with power to ripen their fruit.
Ques. Is it
possible for a parent to cast all care on Jesus and not be worried about the
future condition of grown children, who, though members of the nominal church
and free from gross sins, yet manifest much love for the world and have no
appetite for spiritual things?
Ans. We think
that a proper appreciation of the Lord's character and plans, while it would
not lead to carelessness in using every opportunity to reach him that hath an
ear to hear, yet would be free entirely from worry. Under all circumstances
let us give thanks.
In the first place, probably your sons and
daughters, like thousands of others, are not new creatures in
Christ--old things have not passed away and all things have not become new to
them; hence they would not be heirs of spiritual, heavenly things. For
this reason God does not reveal to them things which they cannot have. No such human eye hath seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath in reservation for those that love him [the
consecrated "new creatures"]. But God hath revealed these things to the new creatures by his Spirit. (1
Cor. 2:9-10.)
Being of the earth earthy, they shall in due
time be blessed by being restored to the perfection of the earthly
condition, and to a perfect enjoyment of earthly blessings, because redeemed by the precious blood. In their resurrection (or perfecting) they shall come
fully to the image of the first man, "very good"; but those who,
through consecration, have changed their nature, will be no longer men, but
"new creatures"-- spiritual beings--and shall bear the image of the
Head of the heavenly house when perfected. As was the earthly one, Adam,
such like will they be also that are earthly: and as is the heavenly one,
Jesus, such like will they be also that are heavenly.
The difficulty is, that the church, having
misconstrued the Gospel's present mission to witness to the
world, and to develop a "little flock," came to the conclusion that
she must NOW convert the world, hence she has bent her energies
in that direction, and almost ignored the deeper work upon the "little
flock." The work of converting the world being slow, she naturally
concluded that she must not be too particular as to whom she received,
else she would seem to make no progress. Accordingly she lowered her standard.
Therefore many persons have been told that they are Christians, and invited to
join church, who never were converted, and know nothing about entire
consecration. Such are not new creatures, and, consequently, cannot
sympathize with the rules of self-sacrifice laid down in Scripture for
the little flock. As such constitute, probably, three fourths of the membership
of the nominal church, it is not surprising that spirituality and spiritual
truths are at such a discount in it.
Again, we say, rejoice--rejoice that you may
overcome and be of that spiritual seed which shall bless and
restore the nations. Rejoice that your children are moral, and do all that you
can to supply them a basis for morality in the expression and illustration of
God's character in your words and conduct. Rejoice as you think of the
blessings to come upon them and all mankind when the kingdom is the Lord's and
he is the governor among the nations. Rejoice evermore, and in everything give
thanks: "For he is good--His mercy endureth forever." "Blessed
is the man that trusteth in him."
Ques. Please let
us know your opinion of the very distinct physical features of the present day,
such as cyclones, sun spots, etc. I know your position concerning political and
religious changes as fulfilling the scriptural statements of the shaking of the
heavens, earthquakes, etc., but not concerning these physical phenomena? Ans. We understand that great physical as well as political and religious
revolutions are now in progress. Just what these are, may not be very clearly
seen, but these are as certain to bring a blessing to earth as the others,
though, like them, the change may be attended with distress and
temporary confusion.
It seems certain that to make the earth into a
paradise like Eden,
such as the prophecies picture, and a fit place for the restored race, some
great changes of climate, etc., must occur. Looking back, we find that some
important changes of climate, etc., took place at the time of the Deluge; a
change which at once affected the longevity of humanity, for before that life
averaged 500 to 1,000 years, but immediately afterward it was shortened. (See Gen. 6:3; 9:29; 11:32.)
Furthermore, we learn that until the flood, there had been no rain on the
earth, it being watered by a mist instead. (Gen. 2:5,6.)
These changes occurred at the end of the first world or dispensation--at
the beginning of "The present evil world," or dispensation--and we
think that a proper time to expect another change to a better
condition would be at the close of the present evil dispensation, at the
threshold of "The world [dispensation] to come," wherein dwelleth righteousness. That these changes will be sudden we do not believe, but think that the
all-wise Director of the work has so planned that physical and higher changes
run parallel and keep pace with each other.
As we find the forty years, from 1874 to 1914,
A.D., prophetically marked out as the time for the change of earth's
administration, it would seem not unreasonable to suppose that the proper
physical changes might occur during the same period. "Not that we expect
all changes to be completed in the specified forty years, but that by that time
the new systems and arrangements will be thoroughly introduced, which will be
gradually improving, and will reach absolute perfection at the same time that
mankind in general will reach absolute perfection by restitution. Thus the
perfect earth and its perfect Lord (man) will both be prepared to enter upon
the ceaseless ages of perfection into which shall never enter sin, death, pain
or sorrow.
So, then, to us let the physical contortions and
quakings and tempests and angry waves, speak of the better condition coming,
just as the social revolutions speak of a more blessed time coming to the
groaning creation who shall be delivered into the liberty of sons of God. (Rom. 8:21.)
Whirlwinds or cyclones are disturbances
occurring in the air or heavens-- caused by disorders therein, and which
exercise a baneful influence upon the earth. These physical disorders
illustrate the origin of much of the world's trouble; it will be caused by
disorders in the symbolic heavens or church normal. Notice how this trouble and
whirlwind are symbolically mentioned by Jeremiah
25:29-36. Notice how the chief distress is specified as coming upon the
nations [governments] and upon the shepherds and principal of the
flock--nominal.
Ques. Why was the
brazen serpent used as a type of Christ?
Ans. Undoubtedly
to teach and develop faith. But we presume you to mean, Why was the serpent
used as a symbol of Jesus? We answer, that the serpent represents sin,
evil--the curse and brass (copper) represents the human nature. (See Tabernacle
Tract.) This was a fitting type of Jesus, because as a man he was made sin (i.e., reckoned and treated as the personification of all the
evil and sin of the race, as their representative or substitute) for us (He)
who knew no sin.
W.T. R-534a : page 8 -1883r