Data publicării
15.08.1909
Volumul
30
Numărul
16
Turnul de veghe
The Seed of Abraham and Its Work
Revistele originale Turnul de veghe în limba engleză
../literature/watchtower/1909/16/1909-16-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXX 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
AUGUST 
15, 
1909 
THE 
SEED 
OF 
ABRAHAM 
AND 
ITS 
WORK 
No. 
16 
Abraham 
no 
doubt 
expected 
that 
Isaac, 
the 
son 
of 
promise, 
would 
be 
"the 
seed," 
or 
the 
offspring, 
through 
whom 
the 
bless­ 
ings 
would 
come; 
but 
when 
Isaac 
was 
grown 
and 
nothing 
won­ 
derful 
was 
accomplished 
through 
him, 
God 
confirmed 
to 
him, 
and 
subsequently 
to 
Jacob, 
his 
son, 
the 
same 
Abrahamic 
prom­ 
ise, 
assuring 
them 
that 
"the 
seed" 
was 
still 
future, 
and 
implied 
that 
the 
promise 
meant 
a 
nation 
instead 
of 
an 
individual-a 
nation 
of 
Abraham's 
seed, 
Abraham's 
children. 
And 
this 
fea­ 
ture 
of 
the 
divine 
arrangement 
was 
made 
manifest 
at 
Jacob's 
death, 
when 
the 
blessing 
was 
passed 
on 
from 
him, 
not 
to 
only 
one 
of 
his 
children, 
but 
to 
all 
of 
them 
collectively. 
There 
he 
pronounced 
them 
a 
nation 
of 
twelve 
tribes, 
and 
indicated 
that 
to 
them 
as 
a 
whole 
descended 
this 
Abrahamic 
promise-that 
they, 
as 
the 
seed 
of 
Abraham, 
inherited 
the 
promise, 
"In 
thy 
seed 
shall 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
be 
blessed." 
This 
promise 
held 
that 
nation 
together 
for 
all 
the 
centuries 
down 
to 
Christ-yea, 
it 
still 
holds 
them 
together 
as 
a 
peculiar 
people, 
separate 
from 
all 
the 
other 
nations 
of 
the 
world. 
St. 
Paul 
and 
the 
other 
Apostles 
refer 
to 
this 
repeatedly. 
St. 
Paul 
says, 
Our 
twelve 
tribes 
instantly 
(incessantly) 
serving 
God, 
hope 
to 
come 
to 
the 
fulfilment 
of 
this 
Abrahamic 
promise-the 
blessing 
of 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
through 
them.-Acts 
26:7. 
THE 
LAW 
OOVENANT 
WAS 
ADDED 
As 
St. 
Paul 
points 
out, 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
was 
added 
to 
the 
Abrahamic 
Covenant 
so 
far 
as 
the 
nation 
of 
Israel 
was 
con· 
cerned-to 
continue 
until 
the 
promised 
seed 
should 
come. 
He 
is 
particular 
to 
add 
that 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
itself 
did 
not 
disannul 
or 
make 
invalid 
the 
original 
covenant, 
which 
was 
of 
Grace 
and 
not 
of 
Law. 
(Gal. 
3: 
17) 
He 
was 
particular 
also 
that 
we 
should 
see 
that 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
"made 
nothing 
perfect"-it 
accomplished 
no 
real 
reformation 
or 
restitution. 
It 
did, 
how­ 
ever, 
set 
forth 
in 
types 
and 
allegories 
some 
wonderful 
lessons 
illustrative 
of 
great 
divine 
principles 
of 
truth 
and 
righteous­ 
ness-lessons 
which 
were 
beneficial 
to 
the 
Jewish 
nation, 
nat· 
ural 
Israel, 
and 
also 
to 
the 
Gospel 
church, 
which 
constitutes 
e.piritual 
Israel. 
During 
the 
period 
from 
the 
death 
of 
Jacob 
to 
Christ, 
while 
the 
law 
made 
nothing 
perfect, 
a 
few 
of 
that 
nation, 
exercising 
faith 
above 
and 
beyond 
the 
Law 
Covenant, 
were 
blessed 
by 
the 
underlying 
Abrahamic 
Covenant. 
These 
the 
Apostle 
enumerates 
in 
Hebrews 
11. 
They 
had 
testimony. 
that 
they 
died 
in 
faith, 
and 
that 
thus 
"they 
pleased 
God," 
although 
they 
did 
not 
by 
obe­ 
dience 
to 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
secure 
the 
blessing 
which 
it 
pro­ 
posed. 
Those 
faithful 
ones 
will 
get 
through 
Christ 
what 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
could 
not 
give 
them, 
for, 
because 
of 
inherited 
weaknesses, 
they 
were 
unable 
to 
fulfil 
the 
requirements 
of 
the 
Law 
Covenant. 
Divine 
foreknowledge 
is 
one 
of 
the 
great 
lessons 
which 
God 
will 
impress. 
God 
would 
have 
us 
know 
that 
every 
feature 
of 
his 
plan 
was 
premeditated, 
forearranged 
from 
before 
the 
founda· 
tion 
of 
the 
world. 
He 
would 
have 
us 
recognize 
the 
fact 
that 
he 
is 
working 
all 
things 
according 
to 
the 
counsel 
of 
his 
own 
will, 
according 
te 
fixed 
rules, 
and 
pri!lciples 
.which 
are 
unchang~~le. 
This 
lesson 
is 
one 
of 
the 
prmclpal 
objects 
served 
by 
II: 
dIVIne 
revelation; 
a 
secondary 
object 
is 
the 
blessing 
of 
a 
certam 
class 
in 
sympathetic 
accord 
with 
God 
by 
giving 
them 
in 
advance 
such 
information 
respecting 
divine 
purposes 
as 
,would 
enable 
them 
to 
rejoice 
thereIn 
and 
to 
co-operate 
therewIth. 
THE 
SOROLL 
IN 
THE 
DIVINE 
HAND 
A 
beautiful 
word-picture 
of 
this 
divine 
foreknowledge 
!,-nd 
prearrangement 
is 
given 
us 
in 
the 
fifth 
chapter 
of 
RevelatIon. 
There 
Jehovah, 
the 
Emperor 
of 
the 
Universe, 
is 
pictu~ed 
upon 
the 
throne, 
and 
in 
his 
hand 
a 
written 
scroll, 
sealed 
WIth 
seven 
seals. 
That 
sealed 
scroll 
represents 
the 
divine 
plan 
which 
God 
purposed 
in 
himself 
from 
before 
the 
foundation 
of 
the 
world, 
but 
which 
he 
had 
revealed 
to 
no 
one, 
no, 
not 
to 
the 
angels, 
neither 
to 
the 
Son. 
(Matt. 
24: 
36) 
In 
a 
word, 
all 
that 
has 
oc· 
curred 
since 
creation-the 
permission 
of 
sin, 
the 
fall, 
the 
Cove­ 
nant 
with 
Abraham, 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
with 
Israel, 
the 
coming 
of 
Jesus, 
the 
Pentecostal 
blessing, 
the 
gathering 
of 
members 
of 
the 
church-all 
these 
things 
were 
foreknown 
to 
the 
Father 
and 
provided 
for. 
Additionally, 
that 
scroll 
contains 
a 
record 
of 
all 
that 
is 
happening 
now, 
and 
all 
that 
will 
occur 
throu~hout 
the 
Millennial 
age, 
down 
to 
its 
very 
close-down 
to 
the 
tIme 
when 
every 
creature 
in 
heaven 
and 
in 
earth 
and 
under 
the 
earth 
shall 
ascribe 
praise, 
honor, 
glory 
and 
dominion 
to 
him 
that 
sitteth 
upon 
the 
throne 
and 
to 
the 
Lamb 
forever.-Rev. 
5: 
13. 
In 
the 
picture 
John 
notes 
a 
proclamation 
made 
throughout 
heaven 
and 
earth, 
inquiring 
for 
anyone 
worthy 
of 
the 
great 
honor 
of 
having 
this 
scroll 
of 
the 
Divi~e 
purpose 
co~mitted 
t.o 
his 
care-to 
be 
opened, 
to 
be 
executed 
In 
harmony 
WIth. 
the 
dI­ 
vine 
purpose. 
He 
looked 
to 
see 
who 
the 
worthy 
one 
mIght 
be, 
but 
none 
was 
found 
worthy. 
Then 
he 
wept. 
It 
seemed 
to 
John 
too 
bad 
that 
God 
should 
have 
some 
great, 
wonderful 
purposes 
which 
might 
come 
to 
naught 
because 
no 
one 
was 
worthy 
to 
be 
the 
divine 
executor 
in 
respect 
to 
the 
plan. 
But 
his 
tears 
were 
checked 
by 
the 
angel, 
who 
said, 
"Weep 
not: 
Behold 
the 
Lion 
of 
the 
tribe 
of 
Judah, 
the 
Root 
of 
DaVId, 
hath 
prevailed 
to 
open 
the 
book, 
and 
to 
loose 
the 
seven 
seals 
thereof.' 
And 
John 
said, 
"And 
I 
beheld, 
and, 
10, 
in 
the 
midst 
of 
the 
throne. 
. 
. 
stood 
a 
Lamb 
as 
it 
had 
been 
slain." 
And 
to 
the 
Lamb 
was 
given 
the 
scroll. 
Then 
all 
the 
angels 
of 
God 
worshipped 
the 
Lamb, 
say­ 
ing, 
Thou 
are 
worthy 
to 
receive 
glory, 
and 
honor, 
and 
dominion, 
and 
might, 
and 
power, 
etc. 
Applying 
the 
picture, 
we 
see 
the 
signification. 
Until 
our 
Lord 
was 
slain, 
until 
he 
had 
given 
his 
life 
as 
man's 
redemption 
price, 
there 
was 
no 
being 
in 
all 
the 
universe 
worthy 
to 
be 
the 
THE 
PROMISED 
SEED 
executor 
of 
the 
divine 
purposes. 
By 
our 
Lord's 
loving 
obedi- 
Let 
us 
keep 
in 
mind 
that 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
was 
added 
to 
the 
ence 
to 
the 
Father's 
will-even 
unto 
death, 
even 
the 
death 
of 
Abrahamic 
Covenant 
because 
of 
transgression-to 
show 
to 
the 
the 
cross-he 
proved 
himself 
loyal 
to 
the 
last 
degree. 
Him 
the 
Israelites 
and 
to 
all 
the 
impossibility 
of 
an 
imperfect 
man's 
Father 
raised 
from 
the 
dead, 
and 
when 
he 
had 
ascended 
up 
on 
keeping 
the 
divine 
law, 
and 
also 
to 
manifest 
in 
due 
time 
our 
high 
the 
proclamll;tion 
went 
forth, 
Let 
all 
the 
a.ngels 
of 
G~d 
Lord 
Jesus, 
who, 
born 
under 
the 
Law 
Covenant, 
kept 
its 
provi­ 
worship 
hIm. 
He 
IS 
the 
Lamb 
of 
God 
who 
was 
slam, 
and 
by 
hIS 
sions 
faithfully. 
By 
so 
doing, 
says 
the 
Apostle, 
Christ 
"magni. 
death 
redeemed 
a 
condemned 
world 
of 
mankind, 
and 
merited 
fied 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
and 
made 
it 
honorable." 
Previously 
it 
the 
Father's 
confidence 
that 
to 
him 
might 
be 
entrusted 
every 
might 
have 
been 
claimed 
that 
the 
divine 
law 
was 
too 
rigorous 
feature 
of 
the 
divine 
program. 
"He 
is 
worthy." 
From 
that 
and 
that 
nobody 
could 
possibly 
keep 
it; 
that 
it 
would 
be 
im­ 
time 
on, 
every 
feature 
of 
the 
program 
would 
be 
under 
his 
super- 
possible 
for 
a 
man 
to 
love 
God 
with 
all 
his 
heart. 
all 
his 
mind. 
vision 
and 
he 
would 
open 
the 
seals 
and 
see 
to 
the 
execution 
of 
all 
his 
being, 
all 
his 
strength, 
and 
his 
neighbor 
as 
himself. 
But 
every 
feature 
of 
God's 
gracious 
purposes. 
He 
had 
promised 
his 
when 
Jesus 
did 
this, 
and 
did 
more 
in 
sacrificing 
himself, 
the 
just 
church 
that 
whatsoever 
things 
the 
Father 
would 
reveal 
to 
him, 
for 
the 
uniust, 
it 
demonstrated 
the 
fact 
that 
God 
had 
not 
given 
he, 
in 
tum, 
through 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
and 
by 
his 
providences, 
an 
impossible 
law; 
it 
demonstrated 
that 
the 
fault 
lay 
with 
man­ 
would 
reveal 
to 
his 
faithfUl 
ones, 
to 
those 
walking 
in 
his 
foot· 
kind; 
that 
they 
had 
lost 
the 
original 
perfection 
with 
which 
the 
steps 
of 
full 
consecration. 
Creator 
had 
endowed 
them. 
THE 
GOSPEL 
BEFOREHAND 
We 
read 
that 
our 
Lord 
was 
born 
under 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
St. 
Paul 
sh 
eaks 
of 
the 
Gospel's 
having 
been 
preached 
before- 
"that 
he 
might 
redeem 
those 
who 
were 
under 
the 
Law" 
Cove- 
r 
nant. 
So 
far 
as 
other 
peoples 
were 
concerned, 
he 
might 
have 
hand 
to 
Abril. 
am, 
saying, 
"In 
thy 
Seed 
shall 
all 
the 
fami 
Ies 
of 
been 
of 
any 
other 
nation 
and 
redeemed 
Adam 
and 
the 
remainder 
the 
earth 
be 
blessed." 
Here 
was 
a 
vague 
statement 
of 
the 
di- 
of 
the 
world, 
but 
in 
order 
to 
preserve 
equitably 
to 
Israel 
the 
vine 
purpose, 
relating 
to 
the 
blessing 
itself 
as 
an 
acorn 
would 
special 
blessing 
of 
God's 
Covenant 
with 
Abraham 
it 
was 
neces­ 
be 
related 
to 
an 
oak 
tree. 
Similarly, 
seed-thoughts 
respecting 
coming 
blessings 
had 
previously 
been 
given, 
though 
with 
much 
sary 
that 
Christ 
should 
be 
of 
that 
nation, 
"born 
under 
the 
law, 
less 
definiteness. 
Directly 
after 
the 
fall 
God 
had 
declared 
that 
that 
he 
might 
redeem 
those 
who 
were 
under 
the 
law." 
That 
na­ 
the 
Seed 
of 
the 
woman 
should 
yet 
bruise 
the 
Serpent's 
head. 
In 
tion 
had 
been 
separated 
from 
the 
other 
nations 
of 
the 
world 
other 
words, 
he 
foretold 
that 
evil 
should 
not 
always 
triumph. 
for 
the 
very 
purpose 
of 
giving 
the 
illustrations 
already 
referred 
Again, 
through 
the 
Prophet 
Enoch 
a 
seed-thought 
had 
been 
to, 
and 
God 
would 
see 
to 
it 
that 
they 
should 
not 
be 
disadvan­ 
given 
in 
his 
prophecy, 
"Behold, 
the 
Lord 
cometh 
with 
his 
holy 
taged 
by 
reason 
of 
his 
having 
used 
them 
thus. 
The 
blessed 
op­ 
myriads. 
to 
execute 
judgment." 
But 
to 
Abraham 
the 
message 
portnnities 
offered 
them 
under 
the 
Law 
Covenant 
through 
the 
was 
so 
much 
more 
explicit 
as 
to 
make 
it 
worthy 
to 
be 
termed 
typical 
sacrifices, 
etc., 
lifted 
them 
above 
the 
other 
nations 
and 
a 
part 
of 
the 
Gospel, 
a 
part 
of 
the 
good 
tidings 
now 
more 
fully 
gave 
them, 
as 
it 
were, 
a 
second 
trial 
for 
eternal 
life. 
In 
com· 
made 
known 
unto 
us 
who 
are 
in 
Christ 
Jesus. 
mon 
with 
the 
remainder 
of 
mankind 
all 
children 
of 
Adam 
they 
[ 
44 
51 
] 
(243-244) 
Vou. XXX BROOKLYN, N. Y., AUGUST 15, 1909 No. 16 THE SEED OF ABRAHAM AND ITS WORK Divine foreknowledge is one of the great lessons which God will impress. God would have us know that every feature of his plan was premeditated, forearranged from before the foundation of the world. He would have us recognize the fact that he is working all things according to the counsel of his own will, according te fixed rules, and princi les which are unchangeable. This lesson is one of the principal objects served by a divine revelation; a secondary object is the blessing of a certain class in sympathetic accord with God by giving them in advance such information respecting divine purposes as would enable them to rejoice therein and to co-operate therewith. THE SOROLL IN THE DIVINE HAND A beautiful word-picture of this divine foreknowledge and prearrangement is given us in the fifth chapter of Revelation. There Jehovah, the Emperor of the Universe, is pictured upon the throne, and in his hand a written scroll, sealed with seven seals, That sealed scroll represents the divine plan which God purposed in himself from before the foundation of the world, but which he had revealed to no one, no, not to the angels, neither to the Son. (Matt. 24:36) In a word, all that has occurred since creation—the permission of sin, the fall, the Covenant with Abraham, the Law Covenant with Israel, the coming of Jesus, the Pentecostal blessing, the gathering of members of the church—all these things were foreknown to the Father and provided for. Additionally, that scroll contains a record of all that is happening now, and all that will occur throughout the Millennial age, down to its very close—down to the time when every creature in heaven and in earth and under the earth shall ascribe praise, honor, glory and dominion to him that sitteth upon the throne and to the Lamb forever.—Rev. 5:13. In the picture John notes a proclamation made throughout heaven and earth, inquiring for anyone worthy of the great honor of having this scroll of the Divine purpose committed to his care—to be opened, to be executed in harmony with the divine purpose. He looked to see who the worthy one might be, but none was found worthy. Then he wept. It seemed to John too bad that God should have some great, wonderful purposes which might come to naught because no one was worthy to be the divine executor in respect to the plan. But his tears were checked by the angel, who said, “Weep not: Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” And John said, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne. stood a Lamb as it had been slain.” And to the Lamb was given the scroll. Then ali the angels of God worshipped the Lamb, saying, Thou are worthy to receive glory, and honor, and dominion, and might, and power, etc. Applying the picture, we see the signification. Until our Lord was slain, until he had given his life as man’s redemption price, there was no being in all the universe worthy to be the executor of the divine purposes. By our Lord’s loving obedience to the Father’s will—even unto death, even the death of the cross—he proved himself loyal to the last degree. Him the Father raised from the dead, and when he had ascended up on high the proclamation went forth, Let all the angels of God worship him. He is the Lamb of God who was slain, and by his death redeemed a condemned world of mankind, and merited the Father’s confidence that to him might be entrusted every feature of the divine program. “He is worthy.” From that time on, every feature of the program would be under his supervision and he would open the seals and see to the execution of every feature of God’s gracious purposes. He had promised his church that whatsoever things the Father would reveal to him, he, in turn, through the holy Spirit and by his providences, would reveal to his faithful ones, to those walking in his footsteps of full consecration. THE GOSPEL BEFOREHAND St. Paul speaks of the Gospel’s having been preached beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In thy Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” Here was a vague statement of the divine purpose, relating to the blessing itself as an acorn would be related to an oak tree. Similarly, seed-thoughts respecting coming blessings had previously been given, though with much less definiteness. Directly after the fall God had declared that the Seed of the woman should yet bruise the Serpent’s head. In other words, he foretold that evil should not always triumph. Again, through the Prophet Enoch a seed-thought had been given in his prophecy, “Behold, the Lord cometh with his holy myriads, to execute judgment.” But to Abraham the message was sO much more explicit as to make it worthy to be termed a part of the Gospel, a part of the good tidings now more fully made known unto us who are in Christ Jesus, (4451) Abraham no doubt expected that Isaac, the son of promise, would be “the seed,” or the offspring, through whom the blessings would come; but when Isaac was grown and nothing wonderful was accomplished through him, God confirmed to him, and subsequently to Jacob, his son, the same Abrahamic promise, assuring them that “the seed” was still future, and implied that the promise meant a nation instead of an individual—a nation of Abraham’s seed, Abraham’s children. And this feature of the divine arrangement was made manifest at Jacob’s death, when the blessing was passed on from him, not to only one of his children, but to all of them collectively. There he pronounced them a nation of twelve tribes, and indicated that to them as a whole descended this Abrahamic promise—that they, as the seed of Abraham, inherited the promise, “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” This promise held that nation together for all the centuries down to Christ—yea, it still holds them together as a peculiar people, separate from all the other nations of the world. St. Paul and the other Apostles refer to this repeatedly. St. Paul says, Our twelve tribes instantly (incessantly) serving God, hope to come to the fulfilment of this Abrahamie promise—the pleesing of all the families of the earth through them.—Acts 26:7. THE LAW COVENANT WAS ADDED As St. Paul points out, the Law Covenant was added to the Abrahamic Covenant so far as the nation of Israel was coneerned—to continue until the promised seed should come. He is particular to add that the Law Covenant itself did not disannul or make invalid the original covenant, which was of Grace and not of Law. (Gal. 3:17) He was particular also that we should see that the Law Covenant “made nothing perfect”—it accomplished no real reformation or restitution. It did, however, set forth in types and allegories some wonderful lessons illustrative of great divine principles of truth and righteousness—lessons which were beneficial to the Jewish nation, natural Israel, and also to the Gospel church, which constitutes spiritual Israel. During the period from the death of Jacob to Christ, while the law made nothing perfect, a few of that nation, exercising faith above and beyond the Law Covenant, were blessed by the underlying Abrahamic Covenant. These the Apostle enumerates in Hebrews 11. They had testimony, that they died in faith, and that thus “they pleased God,” although they did not by obedience to the Law Covenant secure the blessing which it proposed. Those faithful ones will get through Christ what the Law Covenant could not give them, for, because of inherited weaknesses, they were unable to fulfil the requirements of the Law Covenant. THE PROMISED SEED Let us keep in mind that the Law Covenant was added to the Abrahamic Covenant because of transgression—to show to the Israelites and to all the impossibility of an imperfect man’s keeping the divine law, and also to manifest in due time our Lord Jesus, who, born under the Law Covenant, kept its provisions faithfully. By so doing, says the Apostle, Christ “magnified the Law Covenant and made it honorable.” Previously it might have been claimed that the divine law was too rigorous and that nobody could possibly keep it; that it would be impossible for a man to love God with all his heart, all his mind, all his being, all his strength, and his neighbor as himself. But when Jesus did this, and did more in sacrificing himself, the just for the unjust, it demonstrated the fact that God had not given an impossible law; it demonstrated that the fault lay with mankind; that they had lost the original perfection with which the Creator had endowed them. We read that our Lord was born under the Law Covenant “that he might redeem those who were under the Law” Covenant. So far as other peoples were concerned, he might have been of any other nation and redeemed Adam and the remainder of the world, but in order to preserve equitably to Israel the special blessing of God’s Covenant with Abraham it was necessary that Christ should be of that nation, “born under the law, that he might redeem those who were under the law.” That nation had been separated from the other nations of the world for the very purpose of giving the illustrations already referred to, and God would see to it that they should not be disadvantaged by reason of his having used them thus, The blessed opportunities offered them under the Law Covenant through the typical sacrifices, etc., lifted them above the other nations and gave them, as it were, a second trial for eternal life. In common with the remainder of mankind as children of Adam they (243-244)

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