Publication date
2/15/13
Volume
34
Number
4
The WatchTower
A General View of The Messianic Kingdom
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1913/4/1913-4-1.html
 
 
 
 
SOME 
INTERESTING 
LETTERS 
Dear 
Brother 
Russell:- 
I 
am 
writing 
you 
a 
few 
lines 
to 
tell 
you 
I 
am 
one 
happy 
man 
nOw. 
My 
wife 
bought 
the 
first 
three 
volumes 
of 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTURES 
and 
read 
them 
and 
proved 
them 
to 
be 
Bible 
truth. 
She 
wanted 
to 
read 
them 
to 
me, 
but 
I 
would 
not 
listen 
to 
it. 
I 
had 
been 
converted, 
but 
had 
lost 
all 
faith 
in 
so-called 
preach. 
ers, 
that 
claimed 
to 
be 
called 
of 
God, 
and 
I 
believed 
you 
to 
be 
a 
false 
prophet. 
The 
light 
had 
almost 
gone 
out 
of 
my 
heart, 
and 
I 
told 
my 
wife 
I 
did 
not 
want 
your 
stuff 
in 
m) 
house. 
As 
the 
time 
went 
on 
I 
was 
like 
a 
mad 
man. 
At 
last 
I 
went 
,,:th 
my 
wife 
to 
the 
class, 
still 
believing 
they 
were 
deceived 
and 
deceiving 
us; 
but 
they 
told 
me 
you 
were 
just 
pointing 
out 
the 
Bible 
truths 
to 
us. 
I 
had 
persecuted 
them, 
but 
God 
soon 
melted 
my 
hard 
heart 
and 
I 
repented 
of 
my 
past 
sins 
and 
made 
it 
right 
with 
my 
brethren. 
Now 
we 
are 
dwelling 
together 
in 
unity 
and 
love. 
I 
feel 
I 
have 
also 
persecuted 
you, 
for 
which 
I 
am 
very 
sorry 
and 
ask 
your 
pardon. 
When" 
one 
member 
suffers 
all 
suffer 
with 
it"; 
and, 
"Inasmuch 
as 
ye 
have 
done 
it 
unto 
one 
of 
these, 
ye 
have 
done 
it 
unto 
me," 
says 
our 
Lord. 
So 
this 
has 
troubled 
me, 
and 
I 
want 
to 
stand 
clear 
before 
God. 
I 
may 
never 
see 
you 
in 
the 
flesh, 
but 
expect 
to 
meet 
you 
when 
we 
pass 
beyond 
the 
veil. 
Will 
close, 
waiting 
at 
the 
bar 
for 
pardon. 
May 
God's 
Love 
and 
blessing 
be 
with 
you 
now 
and 
forever. 
Ever 
your 
brother 
and 
co-laborer 
in 
the 
harvest 
work, 
JOHN 
WELCH.-Mich. 
Dear 
Pastor 
Russell:- 
I 
cannot 
hope 
to 
express 
much 
of 
my 
gratitude 
to 
the 
Lord 
or 
much 
of 
my 
regard 
for 
you, 
as 
the 
channel 
through 
which 
he 
has 
so 
wonderfully 
blessed 
me, 
with 
light 
and 
knowl· 
edge 
and 
peace 
such 
as 
I 
never 
thought 
to 
possess. 
For 
ten 
years 
an 
officer 
in 
the 
Salvation 
Army, 
engaged 
in 
"rescue" 
work, 
my 
heart 
has 
been 
terribly 
burdened, 
not 
only 
with 
my 
own 
inability 
to 
live 
up 
to 
the 
divine 
standard. 
but 
also 
with 
the 
apparently 
hopeless 
condition 
of 
others 
less 
favored 
than 
myself. 
Dissatisfied 
for 
a 
long 
time, 
and 
having 
lost 
almost 
all 
faith 
in 
God 
and 
in 
the 
Bible, 
I 
did 
not 
know 
what 
to 
do 
or 
what 
to 
believe. 
In 
my 
extremity 
I 
continued 
to 
pray 
like 
this: 
"0 
God 
(if 
there 
is 
any 
God) 
help 
me! 
Help 
me 
now! 
Send 
me 
a 
little 
light 
(if 
there 
is 
any 
light). 
Let 
me 
know 
what 
is 
the 
truth-the 
truth 
(if 
anything 
is 
true)." 
And 
in 
his 
infinite 
love, 
he 
answered 
that 
prayer, 
by 
sending 
me 
tho 
S'rUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTURES. 
Since 
that 
time 
the 
language 
of 
my 
heart 
is 
expressed 
exactly 
in 
the 
words 
of 
the 
hymn, 
be­ 
ginning-I 
I 
My 
life 
flows 
on, 
in 
endless 
song." 
I 
made 
the 
vow 
my 
own 
some 
months 
ago. 
How 
glad 
I 
am 
of 
anything 
that 
helps 
me 
to 
carry 
out 
my 
consecration 
vows. 
Your 
sister 
by 
his 
grace, 
M. 
STROUD. 
Dear 
Brother 
Russell:- 
We 
think 
it 
proper 
to 
write 
you, 
to 
tell 
you 
we 
have 
taken 
the 
vow, 
and 
to 
tell 
you 
of 
the 
many 
blessings 
we 
cnjoy 
as 
a 
result 
of 
your 
labors 
as 
the 
Lord's 
honored 
servant. 
Three 
years 
ago, 
by 
the 
Lord's 
arrangement, 
we 
com­ 
menced 
reading 
Vol. 
I, 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIPTURES, 
finding 
it 
gave 
us 
a 
view 
of 
God's 
charactcr 
and 
Plan 
that 
cnabled 
us 
to 
"comprchend 
with 
all 
saints 
the 
hl'ight 
and 
depth 
and 
length 
and 
breadth 
of 
the 
love 
of 
GOll." 
W 
c 
werc 
attractcd 
and 
drawn 
onward 
to 
fcast 
marc 
and 
more 
on 
the 
truth. 
Before 
then 
we 
were 
Socialists, 
full 
of 
discontcnt. 
How 
thankful 
we 
are 
that 
we 
were 
unable 
to 
buy 
the 
books 
that 
we 
then 
so 
much 
desired, 
for 
these 
very 
writings 
would 
110 
doubt 
have 
only 
ensnared 
us 
more, 
by 
leading 
into 
evolution, 
higher 
criticism, 
etc. 
We 
pray 
the 
Lord's 
continued 
blessing 
upon 
you 
and 
all 
the 
dear 
friends, 
having 
much 
comfort 
because 
of 
our 
share 
of 
interest 
in 
the 
prayers 
of 
all 
the 
Lord's 
people. 
Yours, 
FRED 
AND 
LIZZIEl 
MYERs.-Okla. 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
VOL. 
XXXIV 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
FEBRUARY 
15, 
1913 
A 
GENERAL 
VIEW 
OF 
THE 
MESSIANIC 
KINGDOM 
No.4 
"And 
I 
John 
saw 
the 
holy 
city, 
New 
Jerusalem, 
coming 
down 
from 
God 
out 
of 
heaven."-Rev. 
21:2. 
Through 
the 
Prophet 
Daniel 
and 
others, 
the 
divine 
promise 
The 
Lord 
and 
the 
glorified 
church 
will 
all 
he 
spirit 
beings: 
was 
given 
to 
Israel 
that 
at 
some 
future 
time 
the 
God 
of 
fully 
able 
to 
administer 
the 
world's 
affairs 
and 
yet 
be 
un- 
heayen 
would 
set 
up 
a 
kingdom 
on 
the 
earth; 
that 
this 
kingdom 
seen 
by 
mankind. 
They 
will 
he 
man 
ifest 
in 
the 
rf1wayds, 
would 
be 
world-wide-" 
under 
the 
whole 
heaven"; 
and 
that 
it 
punishments 
and 
judgments 
of 
that 
day. 
The 
difference 
would 
last 
forever. 
(Dan. 
2 
:44; 
7 
:27; 
Isa. 
2: 
2-4; 
etc.) 
between 
the 
king 
and 
the 
kingdom 
is, 
that 
the 
king 
is 
the 
This 
Messianic 
kingdom 
is 
to 
be 
established 
to 
meet 
the 
person 
who 
has 
authority; 
hut 
the 
kingdom 
includes 
both 
f1xigencies 
of 
the 
ease 
of 
fallen 
humanity 
and 
to 
bring 
man- 
his 
dominion 
and 
his 
associates. 
In 
this 
case 
the 
latter 
are 
kind 
back 
into 
harmony 
with 
the 
divine 
arrangement. 
This 
the 
church, 
who 
will 
sit 
with 
him 
in 
his 
throne. 
kingdom 
will 
intervene 
between 
the 
divine 
government 
and 
The 
church 
will 
always 
be 
in 
the 
heavenly 
condition. 
mankind, 
because 
the 
fallen 
race 
of 
Adam 
in 
its 
weak 
condi- 
Nothing 
in 
the 
Scriptures 
indicates 
that 
she 
will 
he 
restricted 
tion 
is 
unable 
to 
meet 
the 
requirements 
of 
the 
divine 
law. 
to 
one 
place 
rather 
than 
to 
anothl~r. 
The 
intimation 
is 
that 
The 
great 
Emperor 
of 
the 
universe, 
Jehovah, 
has 
given 
the 
after 
the 
church 
has 
expe.rienced 
h~r 
change, 
she 
~i1l 
be 
absent 
Messianic 
kingdom 
to 
our 
Lord 
Jesus, 
who 
was 
the 
first 
rep- 
from 
the 
earth 
for 
a 
wlnle 
and. 
WIll 
be 
brou.ght 
lI1to 
the 
pre.s· 
resentative 
of 
that 
kinO'dom. 
While 
on 
earth 
our 
Lord 
was 
ence 
of 
Jrhovah, 
the 
great 
Kmg'. 
She 
wtll 
be 
arrayed 
lI1 
treated 
with 
violence 
~nd 
ignominy. 
All 
d~wn 
the 
Gospel 
g'lorious 
clothing 
of 
wronght 
gold-" 
in 
raiment 
of 
needle- 
age, 
his 
disciples 
have 
been 
used 
in 
a 
similar 
manner. 
Yet 
work." 
(Psa. 
45: 
13-15) 
These 
statements 
are 
figurative 
the 
kingdom 
which 
they 
represent 
will 
surely 
be 
established. 
expressions 
indicative 
of 
the 
beautiful 
character 
wyought 
out 
Already 
the 
Father 
has 
appointed 
our 
Lord 
as 
king 
(Psa. 
in 
all 
who 
become 
actual 
members 
of 
the 
body 
of 
Christ. 
2:6), 
and 
will 
soon 
deliver 
to 
him 
the 
power 
and 
glory 
of 
his 
THE 
SEAT 
OF 
DIVINE 
GOVERNMENT 
office. 
Whether 
the 
new 
creation 
are 
afar 
off 
or 
on 
the 
earth, 
The 
object 
and 
purpose 
of 
this 
kingdom 
is 
clearly 
set 
they 
will 
ever 
be 
of 
the 
spirit 
nature. 
Their 
particular 
place 
forth 
in 
the 
Scriptures. 
When 
it 
shall 
have 
been 
established, 
is 
on 
the 
divine 
plane. 
The 
various 
on18rs 
of 
spirit 
have 
some 
of 
its 
subjects 
will 
be 
asleep 
in 
death 
and 
others 
will 
be 
each 
its 
own 
sphere, 
but 
the 
church 
of 
Christ 
has 
no 
place 
awake. 
At 
that 
time 
none 
of 
the 
fallen 
race 
will 
be 
recog- 
among 
them. 
She 
is 
invited 
to 
occupy 
a 
position 
next 
to 
nized 
of 
God 
as 
having 
any 
life 
whatever. 
The 
control 
of 
her 
Lord, 
who 
is 
on 
the 
right 
hand 
of 
the 
Mnjesty 
on 
high 
the 
whole 
world 
will 
be 
in 
the 
hands 
of 
our 
Lord, 
as 
the 
One 
(Heb. 
1 
:3)-higher 
than 
all 
other 
planes 
of 
spirit 
being. 
who 
purchased 
it 
with 
his 
own 
precious 
hlood, 
and 
who 
is 
At 
the 
time 
of 
the 
fiyst 
advcnt, 
this 
place 
had 
not 
been 
competent 
to 
bless 
it, 
according 
to 
the 
promise 
made 
four 
prepared 
for 
the 
church, 
although 
the 
Father 
evidently 
had 
thousand 
years 
ago 
to 
Abraham, 
that 
in 
him 
and 
in 
his 
seed 
it 
in 
mind. 
Our 
Lord 
ascennen 
on 
high 
in 
onler 
to 
prepare 
~hall 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
be 
blessed.-Gen 
12:3; 
that 
place. 
(John 
14:2,3) 
This 
he 
dirl 
by 
making 
an 
22: 
18; 
Gal. 
3: 
8, 
16, 
29. 
imputation 
of 
his 
merit 
on 
behalf 
of 
the 
church, 
thereby 
per- 
The 
kingdom 
of 
heaYen, 
as 
foretold 
by 
our 
Lord, 
will 
mitting 
them 
to 
become 
participators 
with 
him 
in 
the 
suffer- 
come 
about 
without 
manifestation-outward 
show. 
(Luke 
ings 
of 
the 
present 
age, 
that 
they 
may 
also 
become 
sharers 
17:20, 
margin) 
But 
with 
all 
these 
suggestions, 
let 
us 
not 
with 
him 
in 
the 
glories 
to 
follow. 
Thus 
he 
has 
prepared 
the 
suppose 
that 
the 
kingdom 
is 
to 
be 
an 
earthly 
government. 
way 
for 
thi) 
church 
to 
entcr 
the 
highest 
of 
all 
planes. 
On 
the 
contrary, 
the 
Scriptures 
instruct 
us 
that 
those 
who 
We 
are 
not 
suffidently 
informed 
respecting 
the 
spirit 
can- 
inherit 
it 
must 
become 
spirit 
heings 
before 
thry 
can 
enter 
dition 
to 
know 
just 
how 
possible 
it 
will 
be 
for 
the 
Lord 
into 
it. 
(1 
Cor. 
15:50-.52) 
The 
living 
members 
will 
all 
be 
and 
the 
church 
to 
remain 
in 
the 
Father's 
pyesence 
and 
at 
changed 
in 
a 
moment, 
in 
the 
twinkling 
of 
an 
eye, 
and 
the 
dead 
the 
same 
time 
maintain 
the 
government 
of 
the 
earth. 
While 
members 
must 
be 
raised 
to 
receive 
their 
change 
before 
they 
this 
may 
he 
possible, 
yet 
perhaps 
it 
may 
not 
be 
a 
wise 
ar- 
can 
he 
forever 
with 
the 
Lord. 
rangement. 
Perhaps 
it 
will 
be 
necessary 
for 
them 
to 
be 
absent 
VI-29 
[5181] 
SOME INTERESTING LETTERS Dear Brother Russell :— I am writing you a few lines to tell you I am one happy man now. My wife bought the first three volumes of STUDIES IN THE ScRIPTURES and read them and proved them to be Bible truth. She wanted to read them to me, but I would not listen to it. I had been converted, but had lost all faith in so-called preachers, that claimed to be called of God, and I believed you to be a false prophet. The light had almost gone out of my heart, and I told my wife I did not want your stuff in my house. As the time went on I was like a mad man. At last I went with my wife to the class, still believing they were deceived and deceiving us; but they told me you were just pointing out the Bible truths to us. I had persecuted them, but God soon melted my hard heart and I repented of my past sins and made it right with my brethren. Now we are dwelling together in unity and love. I feel I have also persecuted you, for which I am very sorry and ask your pardon. When ‘‘one member suffers all suffer with it’’; and, ‘‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of these, ye have done it unto me,’’ says our Lord. So this has troubled me, and I want to stand clear before God. I may never see you in the flesh, but expect to meet you when we pass beyond the veil. Will close, waiting at the bar for pardon, Love and blessing be with you now and forever. Ever your brother and co-laborer in the harvest work, JOHN WELCH.—Mich, May God’s Dear Pastor Russell :— I cannot hope to express much of my gratitude to the Lord or much of my regard for you, as the channel through which he has so wonderfully blessed me, with light and knowledge and peace such as I never thought to possess. For ten years an officer in the Salvation Army, engaged in ‘‘rescue’’ work, my heart has been terribly burdened, not Vout. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., FEBRUARY 15, 1913 only with my own inability to live up to the divine standard. but also with the apparently hopeless condition of others less favored than myself. Dissatisfied for a long time, and having lost almost all faith in God and in the Bible, I did not know what to do or what to believe. In my extremity I continued to pray like this: ‘“‘O God (if there is any God) help me! Help me now! Send me a little light (if there is any light). Let me know what is the truth—the truth (if anything is true).’’ And in his uifinite love, he answered that prayer, by sending me tho STUDIES IN THE SoRIPTURES. Since that time the language of my heart is expressed exactly in the words of the hymn, beginning—'‘ My life flows on, in endless song.’’ I made the vow my own some months ago. How glad I am of anything that helps me to carry out my consecration vows, Your sister by his grace, M. Stroup. Dear Brother Russell:— We think it proper to write you, to tell you we have taken the vow, and to tell you of the many blessings we enjoy as a result of your labors as the Lord’s honored servant. Three years ago, by the Lord’s arrangement, we commenced reading Vol. I, Srupizs IN THE ScriprureEs, finding it gave us a view of God’s character and Plan that enabled us to ‘comprehend with all saints the height and depth and length and breadth of the love of God.’’ We were attracted and drawn onward to feast more and more on the truth. Before then we were Socialists, full of discontent. How thankful we are that we were unable to buy the books that we then so much desired, for these very writings would no doubt have only ensnared us more, by leading into evolution, higher criticism, etc. We pray the Lord’s continued blessing upon you and all the dear friends, having much comfort because of our share of interest in the prayers of all the Lord’s people. Yours, Frep aNp Lizzip MyErs.—Okla. No. 4 A GENERAL VIEW OF THE MESSIANIC KINGDOM | ‘And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven.’’-—Rev. 21:2. Through the Prophet Daniel and others, the divine promise was given to Israel that at some future time the God of heaven would set up a kingdom on the earth; that this kingdom would be world-wide—‘ ‘under the whole heaven??; and that it would last forever. (Dan. 2:44; 7:27; Isa. 2:2-4; ete.) This Messianic kingdom is to be established to meet the exigencies of the case of fallen humanity and to bring mankmd back into harmony with the divine arrangement. This kingdom will intervene between the divine government and mankind, because the fallen race of Adam in its weak condition is unable to meet the requirements of the divine law. The great Emperor of the universe, Jehovah, has given the Messianic kingdom to our Lord Jesus, who was the first representative of that kingdom. While on earth, our Lord was treated with violence and ignominy. All down the Gospel age, his disciples have been used in a similar manner. Yet the kingdom which they represent will surely be established. Already the Father has appointed our Lord as king (Psa. 2:6), and will soon deliver to him the power and glory of his office. The object and purpose of this kingdom is clearly set forth in the Seriptures. When it shall have been established, some of its subjects will be asleep in death and others will be awake. At that time none of the fallen race will be reeognized of God as having any life whatever. The control of the whole world will be in the hands of our Lord, as the One who purchased it with his own precious blood, and who is competent to bless it, according to the promise made four thousand years ago to Abraham, that in him and in his seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed—Gen 12:3; 22:18; Gal. 3:8, 16, 29. The kingdom of heaven, as foretold by our Lord, will come about without manifestation—outward show. (Luke 17:20, margin) But with all these suggestions, let us not suppose that the kingdom is to be an earthly government. On the contrary, the Scriptures instruct us that those who inherit it must become spirit beings before they ean enter into it. (1 Cor. 15:50-52) The living members will all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and the dead members must be raised to receive their change before they ean be forever with the Lord. VI—29 [5181] The Lord and the glorified church will all be spirit beings, fully able to administer the world’s affairs and yet be unseen by mankind. They will be manifest in the rewards, punishments and judgments of that day. The difference between the king and the kingdom is, that the king is the person who has authority; but the kingdom includes both his dominion and his associates. In this case the latter are the church, who will sit with him in his throne. The chureh will always be in the heavenly condition. Nothing in the Scriptures indicates that she will be restricted to one place rather than to another. The intimation is that after the church has experienced her change, she will be absent from the earth for a while and will be brought into the presence of Jehovah, the great King. She will be arrayed in glorious clothing of wrought gold—‘‘in raiment of needlework.’’? (Psa. 45:13-15) These statements are figurative expressions indicative of the beautiful character wrought out in all who become actual members of the body of Christ. THE SEAT OF DIVINE GOVERNMENT Whether the new creation are afar off or on the earth, they will ever be of the spirit nature. Their particular place is on the divine plane. The various orders of spirit have each its own sphere, but the church of Christ has no place among them. She is invited to oceupy a position next to her Lord, who is on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3)—higher than all other planes of spirit being. At the time of the first advent, this place had not been prepared for the church, although the Father evidently had it in mind. Our Lord ascended on high in order to prepare that place. (John 14:2, 3) This he did by making an imputation of his merit on behalf of the church, thereby permitting them to become participators with him in the sufferings of the present age, that they may also become sharers with him in the glories to follow. Thus he has prepared the way for the church to enter the highest of all planes. We are not sufficiently informed respecting the spirit condition to know just how possible it will be for the Lord and the chureh to remain in the Father’s presence and at the same time maintain the government of the earth. While this may he possible, yet perhaps it may not be a wise arrangement, VPerhaps it will be necessary for them to be absent (47-51)

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