Publication date
8/1/49
Volume
70
Number
15
Publication page
232
The WatchTower
The Manifestation of Messiah's Presence
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1949/15/1949-15-8.html
232 
21ie 
WATCHTOWER.. 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y. 
person 
from 
heaven 
to 
earth. 
Not 
when 
he 
has 
all 
the 
necessary 
power 
in 
heaven 
and 
in 
earth 
which 
he 
can 
send 
forth 
for 
the 
carrying 
out 
of 
the 
divine 
purpose. 
By 
merely 
directing 
his 
attention 
downward 
to 
this 
earth 
and 
sending 
forth 
his 
power, 
or 
also 
sending 
down 
the 
angels 
that 
attend 
him, 
he 
can 
be 
present 
at 
the 
earth. 
Let 
us 
here 
remember 
that 
in 
the 
He­ 
brew 
part 
of 
the 
Bible 
the 
expression 
"at 
the 
pres­ 
ence 
of 
the 
Lord" 
literally 
means 
''before 
the 
face 
of 
the 
Lord". 
For 
example, 
Zephaniah 
1: 
7 
says: 
"Hold 
thy 
peace 
at 
the 
presence 
of 
the 
Lord 
Jehovah; 
for 
the 
day 
of 
Jehovah 
is 
at 
hand." 
(Am. 
Stan. 
Ver.) 
(Also 
Jeremiah 
4: 
26; 
etc.) 
The 
apostle 
Peter 
liter­ 
ally 
used 
the 
expression 
when 
he 
said 
to 
the 
Jews 
at 
the 
temple: 
"Repent 
ye 
therefore, 
and 
turn,-unto 
the 
blotting 
out 
of 
your 
sins; 
to 
the 
end 
that 
in 
that 
case 
there 
may 
come 
seasons 
of 
refreshing 
from 
the 
face 
of 
the 
Lord, 
and 
he 
may 
send 
forth 
him 
who 
had 
he 
en 
fore-appointed 
for 
you-Christ 
Jesus." 
(Acts 
3: 
19, 
20, 
Rotherham) 
When 
Peter, 
at 
God's 
com­ 
mand, 
called 
at 
the 
home 
of 
the 
Italian 
centurion 
Cornelius 
and 
preached 
the 
gospel 
to 
the 
non-Jews 
or 
Gentiles 
in 
that 
home 
and 
God's 
holy 
spirit 
de­ 
scended 
upon 
them, 
then, 
so 
James 
said, 
"God 
visited 
the 
Gentiles, 
to 
take 
out 
of 
them 
a 
people 
for 
his 
name." 
(Acts 
15: 
13, 
14, 
Am. 
Stan. 
Ver.) 
But 
God 
personally 
did 
not 
visit 
the 
Gentiles; 
his 
apostolic 
representative 
did 
so 
and 
God 
beamed 
dmvn 
his 
active 
force 
or 
spirit 
UIJon 
such 
Gentiles 
for 
believ­ 
ing. 
So 
with 
Christ's 
descent 
from 
heaven. 
28 
As 
newly 
installed 
King 
in 
1914, 
Christ 
Jesus 
on 
the 
11eavenly 
throne 
asl\:s 
his 
Father 
for 
the 
nations 
as 
his 
inheritance 
and 
the 
uttermost 
parts 
of 
the 
earth 
as 
his 
possession. 
Hence 
he 
turns 
his 
atten­ 
tion 
down 
to 
them 
and 
in 
this 
sense 
he 
descends. 
He 
issues 
a 
"word 
of 
command" 
for 
all 
nations 
on 
earth 
to 
yield 
their 
sovereignty 
over 
to 
him 
and 
for 
all 
peoples 
to 
swear 
allegiance 
to 
llim 
as 
earth's 
right­ 
ful 
King. 
As 
he 
is 
Jehovah's 
royal 
Messenger 
and 
has 
angels 
under 
his 
cnarge, 
he 
speaks 
with 
the 
voice 
of 
the 
Chief 
'Messenger 
or 
"archangel". 
At 
the 
crowning 
of 
a 
new 
king 
the 
trumpet 
was 
sounded; 
as 
it 
is 
said 
of 
Solomon's 
coronation: 
"And 
they 
blew 
the 
trum­ 
pet; 
and 
all 
the 
people 
said, 
Long 
live 
king 
Solomon." 
(1 
Ki. 
1: 
39, 
Am. 
Stan. 
Fer.) 
The 
trumpet 
therefore 
symbolizes 
a 
loud 
public 
proclamation 
concerning 
the 
Kingdom. 
The 
royal 
proclamation 
is 
called 
the 
"trump 
of 
God" 
because 
He 
orders 
and 
causes 
it 
to 
be 
sounded 
and 
he 
also 
uses 
his 
witnesses 
on 
earth 
to 
sound 
the 
proclamation 
boldly 
to 
all 
nations. 
It 
is 
the 
"last 
trump", 
because 
it 
is 
the 
proclamation 
respecting 
the 
Kingdom 
which 
puts 
an 
end 
to 
Satan's 
world 
organization 
and 
vindicates 
Jehovah's 
sover~ 
eignty 
universally.-Rev. 
11: 
15; 
12: 
10. 
28 
It 
is 
under 
such 
circumstances 
that 
the 
"dead 
in 
Christ 
shall 
rise 
first". 
Their 
resurrection 
to 
heaven­ 
ly 
union 
with 
him 
does 
not 
wait 
until 
the 
living 
remnant 
on 
earth 
finish 
their 
Kingdom 
proclamation 
to 
all 
the 
nations 
for 
a 
witness 
before 
the 
end 
of 
Satan's 
world 
comes. 
However, 
"together 
with 
them," 
or 
during 
the 
same 
period 
of 
Christ's 
paro'Usia, 
this 
living 
remnant 
are 
"caught 
away 
in 
clouds 
to 
meet 
the 
Lord 
in 
the 
air". 
Daniel's 
prophecy 
and 
Jesus' 
own 
words 
declared 
he 
as 
the 
"Son 
of 
man" 
would 
come 
with 
clouds. 
(Dan. 
7: 
13, 
14; 
Matt. 
24: 
30; 
26: 
64; 
Rev. 
1: 
7) 
The 
clouds 
denote 
his 
presence, 
invisibly, 
with 
a 
storm 
of 
trouble 
and 
destruction 
for 
the 
nations 
and 
,vith 
showers 
of 
blessing 
for 
his 
de­ 
voted 
remnant 
and 
all 
their 
companions 
of 
good-will. 
so 
It 
is 
from 
this 
doomed 
world 
that 
they 
are 
"caught 
away" 
by 
being 
completely 
separated 
from 
it. 
While 
they 
are 
still 
in 
this 
world, 
they 
are 
no 
part 
of 
it. 
Their 
destiny 
is 
heavenly 
glory; 
that 
of 
the 
world 
is 
destruction 
at 
Armageddon. 
Because 
the 
days 
of 
tribulation 
on 
Satan's 
organization 
were 
shortened 
for 
the 
sake 
of 
this 
remnant 
of 
the 
elect, 
they 
are 
snatched 
from 
destruction 
with 
it. 
For 
this 
reason 
they 
were 
suddenly 
snatched 
from 
the 
enemy's 
power 
and 
delivered 
from 
a 
deathlike 
captive 
condi­ 
tion 
in 
Babylon, 
Satan's 
organization, 
in 
the 
spring 
of 
1919. 
They 
were 
set 
free 
for 
the 
great 
Kingdom 
proclamation, 
the 
greatest 
of 
all 
time. 
Quite 
fittingly 
Jehovah 
speaks 
of 
this 
delivered 
remnant 
as 
a 
"brand 
plucked 
out 
of 
the 
fire". 
(Zech. 
3: 
2) 
Thus, 
as 
Jesus 
predicted, 
these 
are 
the 
ones 
who 
are 
taken 
ir. 
to 
his 
favor 
and 
under 
his 
protection, 
in 
close 
unity 
,vith 
him, 
whereas 
the 
opposers 
of 
the 
Kingdom 
are 
left 
abandoned 
to 
their 
doom. 
The 
revival 
of 
their 
wit­ 
ness 
work 
in 
1919 
was 
likened 
to 
their 
resurrection 
from 
the 
dead, 
after 
which 
they 
were 
invited 
higher 
to 
the 
lofty 
privilege 
of 
proclaiming 
God's 
estab­ 
lished 
kingdom. 
So 
they 
were 
pictured 
as 
ascending 
to 
heaven 
in 
a 
cloud, 
showing 
they 
rise 
up 
to 
that 
exalted 
privilege. 
Thus 
they 
now 
enjoy 
active 
unity 
with 
their 
King. 
at 
Christ 
Jesus 
does 
not 
personally 
come 
into 
im­ 
mediate 
contact 
with 
our 
earth 
as 
he 
did 
at 
his 
first 
advent 
in 
human 
form. 
Descending 
by 
merely 
turn­ 
ing 
his 
attention 
downward 
to 
the 
earth, 
he 
can 
still 
be 
"in 
the 
air". 
In 
his 
day 
Paul 
called 
Satan 
the 
Devil 
the 
"prince 
of 
the 
power 
of 
the 
air, 
the 
spirit 
that 
now 
worketh 
in 
the 
children 
of 
disobedience". 
(Eph. 
2: 
2) 
But 
sm{le 
the 
"war 
in 
heaven" 
has 
forced 
the 
Devil 
and 
his 
demon 
hosts 
down 
from 
up 
there 
to 
this 
earth, 
Christ 
Jesus 
is 
now 
"in 
the 
air" 
and 
has 
its 
power 
as 
an 
immortal 
spirit. 
It 
is 
into 
a 
unity 
with 
him 
in 
that 
exalted 
position 
that 
the 
remnant 
are 
caught 
away 
or 
taken 
along 
now. 
By 
being 
faithful 
29. 
In 
what 
way 
11 
1t 
"together 
with 
them" 
and 
In 
"cloudl" 
that 
the 
remnant 
have 
their 
experience 
now? 
- 
- 
- 
30. 
In 
what 
way. 
then, 
have 
the 
remnant 
been 
"caultht 
away"? 
28. 
So 
how 
ILnd 
with 
what 
aceotnpan1men~.does. 
the 
Lord 
deacen.dt 
_ 
31. 
How 
Is 
1t 
"in 
the 
air" 
that 
they 
meet 
the 
Lord 
to 
oe 
ever 
with 
him? 
232 person from heaven to earth. Not when he has all the necessary power in heaven and in earth which he can send forth for the carrying out of the divine purpose. By merely directing his attention downward to this earth and sending forth his power, or also sending down the angels that attend him, he can be present at the earth. Let us here remember that in the Hebrew part of the Bible the expression “at the presence of the Lord” literally means “before the face of the Lord”. For example, Zephaniah 1:7 says: “Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand.” (Am. Stan. Ver.) (Also Jeremiah 4:26; etc.) The apostle Peter literally used the expression when he said to the Jews at the temple: “Repent ye therefore, and turn,—unto the blotting out of your sins; to the end that in that case there may come seasons of refreshing from the face of the Lord, and he may send forth him who had been fore-appointed for you—Christ Jesus.” (Acts 3:19, 20, Rotherham) When Peter, at God’s command, called at the home of the Italian centurion Cornelius and preached the gospel to the non-Jews or Gentiles in that home and God’s holy spirit descended upon them, then, so James said, “God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” (Acts 15:18,14, Am.Stan.Ver.) But God personally did not visit the Gentiles; his apostolic representative did so and God beamed down his active force or spirit upon such Gentiles for believing. So with Christ’s descent from heaven. 8 As newly installed King in 1914, Christ Jesus on the heavenly throne asks his Father for the nations as his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as his possession. Hence he turns his attention down to them and in this sense he descends. He issues a “word of command” for all nations on earth to yield their sovereignty over to him and for all peoples to swear allegiance to him as earth’s rightful King. As he is Jehovah’s royal Messenger and has angels under his charge, he speaks with the voice of the Chief Messenger or “archangel”. At the crowning of a new king the trumpet was sounded; as it is said of Solomon’s coronation: “And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon.” (1 Ki. 1:39, Am. Stan. Ver.) The trumpet therefore symbolizes a loud public proclamation concerning the Kingdom. The royal proclamation is called the “trump of God” because He orders and causes it to be sounded and he also uses his witnesses on earth to sound the proclamation boldly to all nations. It is the “last trump”, because it is the proclamation respecting the Kingdom which puts an end to Satan’s world organization and vindicates Jehovah’s sover; eignty universally.—Rev. 11:15; 12:10. 28. So how and with what accompaniments.does. the Lord descend? 3 How is it ‘tn’ the air” She WATCHTOWER. Brooxiyy, N.Y. 7° Tt is under such circumstances that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”. Their resurrection to heavenly union with him does not wait until the living remnant on earth finish their Kingdom proclamation to all the nations for a witness before the end of Satan’s world comes. However, “together with them,” or during the same period of Christ’s parousia, this living remnant are “caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air’. Daniel’s prophecy and Jesus’ own words declared he as the “Son of man” would come with clouds. (Dan. 7:18,14; Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Rev. 1:7) The clouds denote his presence, invisibly, with a storm of trouble and destruction for the nations and with showers of blessing for his devoted remnant and all their companions of good-will. Tt is from this doomed world that they are “caught away” by being completely separated from it. While they are still in this world, they are no part of it. Their destiny is heavenly glory; that of the world is destruction at Armageddon. Because the days of tribulation on Satan’s organization were shortened for the sake of this remnant of the elect, they are snatched from destruction with it. For this reason they were suddenly snatched from the enemv’s power and delivered from a deathlike captive condition in Babylon, Satan’s organization, in the spring of 1919. They were set free for the great Kingdom proclamation, the greatest of all time. Quite fittingly Jehovah speaks of this delivered remnant asa “brand plucked out of the fire’. (Zech. 3:2) Thus, as Jesus predicted, these are the ones who are taken into his favor and under his protection, in close unity with him, whereas the opposers of the Kingdom are left abandoned to their doom. The revival of their witness work in 1919 was likened to their resurrection from the dead, after which they were invited higher to the lofty privilege of proclaiming God’s established kingdom. So they were pictured as ascending to heaven in a cloud, showing they rise up to that exalted privilege. Thus they now enjoy active unity with their King. *t Christ Jesus does not personally come into immediate contact with our earth as he did at his first advent in human form. Descending by merely turning his attention downward to the earth, he can still be “in the air”. In his day Paul called Satan the Devil the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”. (Eph. 2:2) But since the “war in heaven” has forced the Devil and his demon hosts down from up there to this earth, Christ Jesus is now “in the air’ and has its power as an immortal spirit. It is into a unity with him in that exalted position that the remnant are caught away or taken along now. By being faithful 29. In what way is it “together with them’ and in “clouds” that the remnant have their experience now? In what way, then, have the remnan ta that they meet the cord to. e@ ever ayith him?

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