THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC ASPECT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD

"For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind."—See Isa. 65:17-25.

Isa 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

Isa 65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

Isa 65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

Isa 65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.

Isa 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

Isa 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Isa 65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

Isa 65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isa 65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent's meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

This subject demands satisfactory answers to eight different questions. These answers will give us a Scriptural understanding concerning just what we have prospects of receiving through Christ as an inheritance, an inheritance appropriate for immortal, or in­corruptible, beings.

1. The Messianic Period. The millennial kingdom. This crea­tion begins with the resurrection and the revelation of Christ in the sky. But this does not imply that the future appearance and the future complete power of the kingdom will assume shape in the twinkle of an eye, nor that the inhabitants of the kingdom are to be placed in a stereotyped and inactive condition.

If it has required six thousand years for this present cor­ruptible kingdom to reach its age of jubilee, it will also require time to establish the kingdom of incorruptibility. This is referred to in the 20th verse of this chapter, which describes the conditions that will exist among the remnant of the aliens during the mil­lennium, who become subject to the gospel of the kingdom of God during the time of restitution., after the broom of destruction has swept away the fortifications of the so-called Christians. Because of the change taking place when Christ becomes enthroned, these people, now generally known as heathens, and constituting four-fifths of the population of the earth, will be placed in a condition corresponding to that of the people during the time between Adam and Noah.

The millennium is the period of introduction to the kingdom of God. Christ will then establish his government over all people, and if the blessing will be incapable of transforming and develop­ing life and all good things, "the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed." Newly born babies will not die then as now, but will be developed under the blessing in order to fill the place of a citizen. At the end of the millennium they will meet the judgment and the second resurrection. This will be a repeti­tion of the work Christ is to complete in connection with his second coming. The power and rule that will gradually subdue every­thing and everybody under his scepter will emanate from the throne of Christ. The passages found in Isa. 66:19-24 and Zech. 14 :16-19 and in other places testify of this. The tribe that neglects to have itself represented at the festivals at Jerusalem will not receive rain.

Isa 66:19 And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

Isa 66:20 And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.

Isa 66:21 And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.

Isa 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

Isa 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.

Isa 66:24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.

Zec 14:16 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Zec 14:17 And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.

Zec 14:18 And if the family of Egypt go not up, and come not, that have no rain; there shall be the plague, wherewith the LORD will smite the heathen that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

Zec 14:19 This shall be the punishment of Egypt, and the punishment of all nations that come not up to keep the feast of tabernacles.

2. The Citizens of the New Kingdom. Unless a person enter the kingdom through the resurrection, or experience the act of transfiguration, he cannot be designated a citizen of the kingdom. Before this takes place all believers are as it were enclosed in their spiritual mother, the promises, as Isaac before birth was concealed within his mother's womb—"hid with Christ in God." (Col. 3:3.) "But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain, that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; being the children of the resurrection."—Luke 20:34-36.

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

By fulfilling his promises the incorruptible Father gives his children birth into the kingdom—all who have been, previously developed by the power of the Word of God during their bring­ing-up time in the present kingdom of heaven. (See Mat. 8:11, 12; 11:12.) And then he will place his paternal stamp of ap­proval on each individual, so that they will resemble Christ, the first-born of all the brethren. The appearance of such a new-born individual is described in Luke 24:36-43. Christ's body was the same, and not a limb was lacking. But he was elevated above natural things, under which he had been developed as a human being, and lived on a higher pLi ne. Christ was fully recognizable; he spoke, ate fish and honey, and was wholly natural in his asso­ciation with the disciples.

Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.

Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

Luk 24:36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Luk 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

Luk 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

Luk 24:41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

Luk 24:42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

Luk 24:43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

When God gives birth to his children, they come forth in pairs as in the beginning. Adam and. Eve, animals, birds, fishes, grass, and the flowers of the field—all reflect the dual creation of God. When Christ holds his bride, the new Jerusalem, to his heart, the whole creation will be brought together, according to the manner of its development. No one will take a wife, for both are born for one another, having an equal measure of power and experience; therefore the presence of one completes the happiness of the other. If it be a question of holding office, both will personify that office in its whole capacity. If the man be an undeveloped subject, his mate will correspond to him in all things. As far as this fact is concerned they will always continue to be the same, ,though growing and developing together in wisdom and innocence for time everlasting. Adam and Eve had no children in Paradise; the corruptible law of reproduction will therefore cease to exist with the corruptible people of the kingdom of death.

3. The Garments. Of the myriads of all living things, man alone is naked. However, in memory of his original high and elevated position as the crown of life, he has been permitted to retain the covering of his head during his journey through the world of apostasy. Only when he had eaten of the fruit of the forbidden tree did he perceive that he was naked. This shows that his clothing was of such delicate and sensitive material, that it disappeared in the first breeze of disobedience. From that moment he has been compelled to borrow clothes from the lower creation. Thereby God desired to have him obey, and feel ashamed, in order to get him to be converted to him and to listen to his perpetuating Word. Many now pride themselves in the shame of their naked­ness, stimulating their haughty thoughts and their desires for luxury.

The corruptible varicolored robes of citizenship in this present world are a foreshadow of the incorruptible. The former consist of dead material; the citizens of the new kingdom, on the other hand, will be clothed with their own incorruptible deeds. There­fore the person who boasts of "faith without deeds" will conse­quently find no room in the kingdom of God, because "faith with­out deeds is dead." Jesus warned against indifference toward the question of clothes in the kingdom of God. He said, "Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame."—Rev. 16 :15.

Not only will the citizenry of the kingdom be clothed with their manifestations of faith; innocence will also constitute a covering, which, when the Father acknowledges his child, will cover the being just as the decorative coverings of animals and birds cover them. This especially concerns the small undeveloped children of the righteous. The citizens of the kingdom will differ from the officials just as they do here, though in the kingdom to come the difference will consist in experience. Experience has enabled them to obtain honor and distinction, all of which will be reflected by the decorative costumes of these officials.

4. The Robes of Office. On different occasions God has shown his servants the garments of the new kingdom. On the mount of transfiguration the clothes of the Master were "white as the light." (Mat. 17:2.) But when John saw him, Christ was so glorious that John "fell at his feet as dead." (Rev. 1 :17.) The personal being of the Lord was unchanged, however, for John says his appearance was "like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle." (Rev. 1:13.) In former days heirs to thrones wore golden belts to show their of­ficial and social position.

Mat 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

Mat 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

Rev 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;

Rev 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.

Rev 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;

Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Rev 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Christ is anointed to be the High Priest and the Messiah, heir apparent to the throne of David; therefore he is clothed as an aspirant to the throne—the Restorer who fulfilled the develop­ment of the Word of God. Even the queen is a part of this body.

To all appearances he was fully clothed when he rose from the dead; otherwise his witnesses, in their surprise, would have mentioned the opposite. At his crucifixion the soldiers parted his garments among them and cast lots upon his vesture; therefore he did not have these garments on him. And the linen clothes which his body was wrapped in remained in the grave when he was resur­rected. He was clothed, for when Mary saw him she believed he was a gardener. He was not then enveloped with a glory like that on the mount of transfiguration, or when he revealed himself to Paul and John a few years later. This shows us that God is able to clothe his children as he desires, in different garments, and that glory, as denoted by the festal garments, is given according to the requirements of the occasion, the office, and the power to be displayed.

When Jesus was taken away from his disciples, and heaven enveloped him, "two men stood by them in white apparel" and said to them that the Lord would return again in a similar manner as he had left them. This shows that clothes play quite an important part in the kingdom of God. These clothes are never mentioned as being red. In spite of this, however, Mrs. White, former proph­etess of the Seventh Day Adventists, had seen "red trimmings" on the clothes worn in the heaven she looked into. She had also seen, she said, that children wore "down" and "wings." The saved of General Booth also have red on their heavenly clothes, they say. How terrible!

John describes the Prince of the kings of the earth as he saw him on the day of the Lord as follows: "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; and his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters."—Rev. 1:14, 15.

In this appearance he personifies his congregational body, cleansed in the furnace of persecution and united in suffering; therefore he commands his servants, "Write . . • I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death." (Rev. 1: 18, 19.) His official robe signifies the office which he and his bride are to become vested with. In Dan. 10:5, 6, an official having a still more glorious appearance than the bride is described: "Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz: his body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of light­ning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude [many voices in one]." The robes of office signify the power to rule and judge. The clothes resemble "fine linen, clean and white," but consist of "the righteousness of saints."—Rev. 19 :8.

If a person does not personify truth and serve righteousness with his whole ability, he neglects to manufacture the material of which his clothes are made, and when God is to clothe the bride of Christ and her bridesmaids with the Word they have come in contact with, there will be nothing for those who have been in­active in the promulgation of the good.

What an awakening for those who have prepared themselves for this event. The song of jubilee is sung by all who take part in the marriage supper of the Lamb, and they rejoice because "the Lord omnipotent reigneth," and because "the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." (Rev. 19:6-8.) The Father clothes the bride with the garment she herself has made during her journey of faith, in which the blood of the Master has been mixed with her own in, the death struggle. The Bride­groom gave his life for his bride, and the bride risks her life to gain his full confidence, to defend his name, and to keep his memory unspotted. The Antichristians expect that Christ will come and clothe his bride. But the bride that has no regard for her own modesty, or for the Bridegroom, so as to clothe herself for the marriage, is not worthy of a mortal bridegroom, much less the King of heaven and earth.

5. The Economic System and the Architecture of the King­dom of God. "They shall build houses and live in them." What manner of houses? Will they be made of brick, stone, or wood? No! When God created man he commanded him to rule over the earth. Had Adam gained the full development of this ruling-power he would have been able to command the bush or the tree, "Grow in this or that manner !" and the bush or tree would have obeyed his command. In this manner he would have been able to build himself a living house of foliage. Instead, however, he lost the kingdom and the power to rule over it.

When the Israelites journeyed out of Egypt they were told to celebrate "the feast of tabernacles." No one outside of Israelitic lineage was permitted to take part in this. Israel was to live seven days in tabernacles of leaves, made from branches broken from trees rich in foliage; and these tabernacles were to be erected near, or on the roofs of, their houses. Why were these tabernacles built? In order to remind them of the kingdom of immortality, from which they were separated because of the fall, but which was offered to them through faith in the promises given to the fathers.—

Lev. 23:33-44

Lev 23:33 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

Lev 23:34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.

Lev 23:35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

Lev 23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.

Lev 23:37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:

Lev 23:38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD.

Lev 23:39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath.

Lev 23:40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

Lev 23:41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.

Lev 23:42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:

Lev 23:43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Lev 23:44 And Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the LORD.

and

Neh. 8:14-18.

Neh 8:14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month:

Neh 8:15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.

Neh 8:16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

Neh 8:17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

Neh 8:18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.

The children of the resurrection will not need to build houses of broken-off branches, since they are to receive in Christ what they lost in Adam, and will be able with the power of faith to command a myrtle tree or a cypress tree to grow in such a manner that they will get a house after their own taste. Immortal chil­dren will live in their Almighty Father's "inheritance incorrupt­ible and undefiled," where their very houses will he freed from the power of death. The tapestries will consist of the most beautiful flowers—not of dead imitations. Wonderful fragrant homes!

6. The Cares of Life Are Removed. Adam knew of no cares of life until he lost his home in Paradise. But from that day to this, these cares have been the scourge of mankind. The power and position of man in the first Paradise was only a prefigure of his real future happiness. The Creator said, "Have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that creepeth upon the earth." The following words were a guarantee for the sustenance of both man, and beast: "And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat." (Gen. 1: 29, 30.) And the future is pointed out by Jehovah through his prophets as fol­lows: "They shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat…"—Compare Isa. 65 :21, 22 and Amos 9 :14.

Isa 65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

Isa 65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

Amo 9:14 And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

It was originally intended that man should eat the fruit of the trees; and the herbs of the earth were for the beasts. Because of the fact that sin has come in between, our Creator and us, we have not only lost our homes, and our natural food, but we have been compelled to eat the food of beasts, and eat the beasts themselves, also birds, and fishes, and to clothe ourselves with their covering. How abased we have become! Man, the crown of the whole glorious creation, has fallen to a plane below that of the animal and natural kingdom, and is dependent on trees, animals, and worms for clothes!

When Christ opens the peaceful home of Paradise for an ex­perienced and restored family, that family will again eat of "every tree of the garden," and of "the tree of life," which bears twelve manner of fruits every year. In addition thereto they will receive their inheritance, on which they may plant and build according to desire. And the tree of life, standing on both sides of the river of life, will not only produce food, but the leaves of this tree will substitute the present scientific medical corps and their unpleasant medicines. If we compare Gen. 1:29, 30; 2:8-10, 15, 16 and Zech. 3 :10 with Rev. 21:1-5; 22 :1, 2, we shall find that the people of the new creation will begin their everlasting development where Adam ceased when he severed himself from the power of heaven. Imagine a home of peace and happiness, where you may eat at the table of the Almighty without cares or hardships! May we be accounted worthy of receiving childhood with such a great, rich, and good Father!

Gen 1:29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

Gen 1:30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Gen 2:10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads.

Gen 2:15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Gen 2:16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

Zec 3:10 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Rev 21:3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev 22:2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

7. The Illuminary System of the Kingdom of God. Jerusalem will be the capital city of the kingdom of God. God speaks to this city, saying, "The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. The sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended."—

Isa. 60:19, 20.

Again he says, "And the city had no need of the sun,, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." (Rev. 21:23.) This coincides with Rev. 22:3-5, but the sun will nevertheless shine over the whole face of the earth as it now does, for God says, "Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven, days, in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound."—Isa. 30 :26.

There will be a great difference between the inhabitants of the capital city and the inhabitants of the kingdom in general. The former are fully developed in wisdom and experience, having spent their lives for the sake of the Word of God, like Abraham and the Master; but the latter have failed to understand it, and they have not suffered or sacrificed for the Word as the former have done.

All these first mentioned nobles are put together by God in the form of a city. This was the city Abraham waited for, be­cause God commenced the preparation of the first parts of the city in, and through the efforts of, Abraham. When the city is ready it will consist of the promises clothed in flesh. Every indi­vidual will then have fulfilled in his flesh the requirements of the conditions; he or she will have suffered for the truth, and will have been the servant of God and his Word. They will have endured all the persecutions the ungodly have been able to inflict on them during the time they have lived. The city is therefore the mother of the children of God, of which Christ says, "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father."—Mat. 13 :43.

Imagine when each of 144,000 such beings is put in his place, and the King, also God himself—the Creator of light, who sur­passes these in glory as the sun surpasses the moon and the moon our electric lights—shines on the city with their glory! What a powerful light! The sun will be superfluous in this city; it will be eclipsed by the beams of light from the Lifegiver and the glorious light emanating from his Father.

8. The Social Activity of the Kingdom. The Prince of Peace will ascend his throne. The governmental scepter of peace will extend over the whole earth. "Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire." All of this will be exterminated by Truth and his queen Righteousness. The result of their rule will be most noticeable among the animals, which, under the present governmental system, treat each other as man treats both them and his fellow men. The prophet describes the condition in the coming world, saying, "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the suckling child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice's den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Locockatricerd, as the waters cover the sea."—Isa. 11:6-9.

Cockatrice

The beasts, birds, and fishes living over the great destruction will be brought into the new kingdom together with the new-born human family, where they will be united into a complete whole by the regenerating power of love. The Son of man and his bride will assume their position as determined by God, being in. that position the uniting link between the Creator and the creation below man. This Michael-man will then be like God, and will rule over the earth by means of God's power of life and happiness. Birds, fishes, and animals will obey his voice and seek his favor. They will be wild no longer, because when love and peace prevail among the people who rule over them, they will have nothing to fear. No one will look for their fine coverings nor eat of their flesh any more.

The eternal League of Nations, consisting of twelve nations, will then be visible. As we have before mentioned, the creation of God is dual in every detail. It is only the first part, or the mold—from which the real and everlasting Logos-creation will come—that we now see and are, as yet, a part of. We must notice that the material out of which God organized this world existed before time existed, also that time began with the organization of the different parts, of which everything came forth in pairs, be­ginning with the creating elements, light and life. The Organizer commanded and the words assumed form:

"In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters [organizing the different parts]. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day. And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."—Gen. 1:1-6.

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

Gen 1:4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Gen 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

Gen 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

If we turn to John 1:1-14, we shall see how the Logos-creation begins, remembering that "waters" symbolize "peoples, and multi­tudes, and nations, and tongues." (Rev. 17:15.) The key to, a per­fect understanding of how God, Architect of the immortal kingdom, still works is discernible in the beginning of the first and second creations. God spoke, and there was light. He spoke again, and the virgin conceived, the result being that the Word of God and the seed of the woman were united in a new Adam. In other words, Logos, the perfect seed of the Almighty, became the Son of man, the Mediator who bridges the chasm, or deep, between the immortal Fountain of life and dying man. This chasm has been widened by the creative word-power of Satan, the god of this world. He has caused the erection of costly dead temples and great crime-producing cities in order to perpetuate his kingdom of death. He it is that owns the works of man, whereby the toiling masses are made so poor that their only outlook is despair under taxation and violence.—See Mat. 4:3-9; 2 Cor. 4:4; and Rev. 12:9.

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Joh 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Joh 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Joh 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Through the everlasting gospel, Logos will come with such power that all the tribes of the house of Jacob, mentioned in Rev. 7: 3-8, will be gathered unto the throne of God; and heaven will open over them. Christ will bring the angels from heaven in order to assist in this great covenant movement; and as the Spirit of God separated the natural waters below from the natural waters above, so will the influence of the creating Logos separate the wicked people from the good people. The eternal League of twelve Nations will then be formed, the members of which will be developed into rulers, or the city of Jerusalem, under Christ as the King of kings. This league throws a shadow before it, as it were; conse­quently we now witness the formation of the "league of intriguing diplomats," invented by the pope, the great autocrat who rules over the dominion of wealth and greed.

Rev 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

Rev 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

Rev 7:3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

Rev 7:4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

Rev 7:5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

Rev 7:6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

Rev 7:7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

Rev 7:8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.

The leaders of this everlasting League of Nations, bearing the names of the twelve sons of Jacob, develop into the very throne of Christ. These 141,000 leaders of Jacob's millions take such an active part in the proclamation of the gospel of the coming kingdom of God, that they become the very temple-throne, through which Christ takes over the kingdom, as it is stated in Dan. 7 :9-27. The prophetic Word becomes flesh in them. And as the Word of God and the testimony of Christ enlightens the people, the regen­erating movement gathers the house of Jacob under the banner of Christ. This league movement is described in Rev. 19:11-16. A foreshadow of this is seen in a movement of white-robed Protestants to-day. During this harvest work the three and one-half years of drought will compel the world to hear and feel the Word of God's judgment. The Word of God will battle against the kingdom of Satan, which kingdom is founded on false­hood and death. And from reports relative to the supply of water in lakes and rivers, we are constantly reminded of the fact that the great famine mentioned in Luke 15:14 is very near at hand.

Dan 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Dan 7:11 I beheld then because of the voice of the great words which the horn spake: I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame.

Dan 7:12 As concerning the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and time.

Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

Dan 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

Dan 7:15 I Daniel was grieved in my spirit in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.

Dan 7:16 I came near unto one of them that stood by, and asked him the truth of all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

Dan 7:17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.

Dan 7:18 But the saints of the most High shall take the kingdom, and possess the kingdom for ever, even for ever and ever.

Dan 7:19 Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet;

Dan 7:20 And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.

Dan 7:21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;

Dan 7:22 Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.

Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

Dan 7:24 And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.

Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Dan 7:26 But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end.

Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Dan 7:28 Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Luk 15:14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

Led by "the King, of kings and the Lord of Lords," the servants of light and life will illuminate the world so that all the good people will be gathered unto the truth. Therefore it is written of these workers, "Thou [Lord] art worthy… for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed it to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."—Rev. 5:9, 10. Here then we have the New Jerusalem emerging from the promises as the living city of the new and perfect creation of Almighty God.

Rev 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

Rev 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Their King is a perfect king, for life gives life, liberty, and free untaxed land to his citizens. In this incorruptible kingdom there will be no dead cities to empty their deadly refuse into beau­tiful lakes and rivers, to pollute the homes of fishes, or thus to breed disease and death over the whole creation of God. The Logos-river, of water pure as crystal, will flow from Jerusalem. Its fountain will spring forth in the center of the city. It will trans­form all the marshes and seas, giving eternal life to the trees along its shores so that they will bear fruit the year around, thus setting the table of life for the happy, redeemed family of Abraham.

The rulers, that is, the New Jerusalem, will then have power to make themselves visible or invisible at pleasure when, for in­stance, they pay visits during the millennium to the natural people living outside of Jerusalem. They will be able to go through the air or walk on water as they desire. Being a part of the Logos of God they will control the elements at will. This will be the result of obedience to the Word, of God, for which, they have risked their lives. This is just what Christ, at the instance of God, delights to give his senate and Logos-bride, the New Jeru­salem, upon whom he will write the names that gave them victory over the world, the beast, and its image, or, in other words, over the cohesion of falsehood, greed, envy, hatred, and violence, all of which are centered in dead property and are under the leader­ship of the voice of Anti-Logos in the tree of knowledge. Compare the dreadful conditions of the people of to-day with what God de­sires that we should become. He will surely do this:

"In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord."—Zeph. 3:16-20.

The Appearance of a Real Immortal Soul.

When Jesus became perfect, so that even the prophecy regard­ing his death had become amalgamated with his mortal person, the Father awakened the image of his Logos from death and gave him birth to a higher plane. Jesus came to the disciples as they were gathered behind closed doors, but in their overwhelming surprise they thought they were gazing upon "a spirit"—a ghost. Then he said to them, "Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is my­self: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath, not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Still they did not dare to believe their eyes. The immortal Christ then. said, "Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them." (Luke 24:37-43.) Thomas was not present then, and when told of the incident, would not believe that Jesus had received life again. He has many brothers in this. But he saw, and had to eat his own words of unbelief when Jesus on another occasion entered among them and said to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing."—John 20:25-29.

When we consider how literally the Word of God assumed shape in the person of Jesus (Luke 24:46), we understand that every­thing spoken by God to Adam will appear equally perfect when his plan has been carried into effect with respect to those he has prepared during the time of this world, those who are to "have do­minion" over the earth, the beasts, the birds, the fishes, the trees, and flowers; for then we shall be born into the kingdom of God, and be like our Father, to the honor and praise of his name.

God will clothe his whole creation with the most fitting gar­ment. One has only to look at the many varicolored things, and the millions of different fragrant flowers, in order to imagine his exquisite and surpassing good taste. The harmony revealed in these beautiful and well blended colors gives an idea of the elegant and magnificent appearance of the new united family, of its build­ing efficiency, and of its governmental system, though inade­quately so, for "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."-

1 Cor. 2:9.

Only the outer contours are seen through the telescope of faith, but nevertheless a religious person will become enraptured at the bare thought of this peaceful home. We feel deeply consoled when we look into this kingdom, where love will unite everything into one. The government will enjoy the full confidence of all, and no falsehood, sickness, poverty, homelessness, death, and infidelity will be found any more. Beautiful home! Every soul is immortal —every family rejoices—all triumph! So wonderful is the view and so invigorating the breeze that comes from the approaching kingdom to those who believe the promises that we can easily risk all temporal things, suffer everything, and defy all opposition in order to gain entrance there through the resurrection. "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a wit­ness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."—Mat. 24:14.

May the Father of Israel send laborers for his harvest, that this gospel of salvation of the kingdom of God may resound from pole to pole! With inexpressible joy, wonder, and, longing, we greet the new world welcome from the bottom of our hearts!

THE END.