The Bright and Morning Star

Isa 52:1 Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.

Isa 52:2 Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion.

Isa 52:3 For thus saith the LORD, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.

God calls on the house of Jacob, which has labored and slaved in Babylon, that they shall rise and take possession of their predetermined position.

The fact that he calls them Zion and Jerusalem implies first of all that they originate from what was called Zion and Jerusalem during the old covenant, and further, that God is to create out of this scattered and enslaved people the new covenant Zion and Jerusalem. Just as the patriarchs were led out from the Egyptian bondage to the material Zion and Jerusalem, so are these led forward on a road where they through the Word and the Spirit are developed into a living and divine Zion and Jerusalem.

He who fails to understand the dual plan of God--that all of God's works appear in prefigures and realities, also that the real developments of this plan are personal, living, movable, and capable of development--finds it difficult to grasp that a Zion and a Jerusalem can be created out of a people. To such a person the developing-power of faith is a mystery; nevertheless, many of these claim to have faith.

Peter makes a presentation of the building of faith when be says:

"To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by JesusChrist. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."-1 Pet. 2: 4-6.

Christ is the corner stone of the kingdom, and when he develops his kingly power, the spiritual Zion and Jerusalem make their appearance, built by, and through the efforts of, the children of faith in connection with their preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. The first congregation of people in the wilderness make up Zion, with which the living temple is connected, and in the degree faith is subject to trial, the holy city, the new Jerusalem, is developed.

When we read of the patriarchs on their way out of Egypt, or of the house of Judah freed from its seventy year captivity in Babylon, we find that these two associated objectives--Zion and Jerusalem--lay ahead of them; and they themselves later constructed them. They were actuated by the system of the law, which Paul calls "the ministration of death and condemnation," when he compares it with the ministration of the Spirit. (2 Cor. 3: 6-11.) The development of faith goes farther than that of the law, for faith is limitless, whereas the law is bound by the dead letter.

2Co 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2Co 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

2Co 3:8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?

2Co 3:9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

2Co 3:10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

2Co 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

The preaching of faith produces both Zion and Jerusalem as spiritual structures of faith. For this reason it is written:

"0 Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; 0 Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God !" Isa. 40:9.

The Zion groups, which here and there in their assembled condition, make up the suburb, we may call it, of Jerusalem, and the Jerusalem groups, who through the power of the Word and of faith and hope step forth as a refinement of the others, preach into existence the conditions which cause the development of these Messianic objects.

Christ says,

"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.

Just as Babylon has been preached into existence by the representatives of the Baalish faith, who have gone ahead with the building of dead temples, around which the cities have then risen, so will the gospel of the Messianic kingdom be proclaimed by representatives of the living temple; and around this temple first Zion and then the holy city, the new Jerusalem, will be formed.

A glimpse at the foreshadowing tabernacle in the camp of Israel shows that it consisted of two parts, the holy and the most holy. The 11th chapter of Revelation proves that the first section is developed under the guidance of the two witnesses of Jesus, referred to in that chapter. They have power to close heaven so that no rain will fall during the days of their prophecy, which condition occasions the appearance of the Zion gatherings. The 2nd verse of this chapter shows that during the forty-two months these two witnesses operate, the holy city is trampled under foot by the violators, the Baalish temple representatives.

In the prefiguring tabernacle the curtain, or veil, which shielded the cherubim, was the partition between the two sections. When Christ died, this veil was rent in two parts. This prefigured what is to occur in the living sanctuary when the two temple witnesses of Jesus are murdered. This act evolves according to the dual plan of God--prefigures and realities.

These two temple witnesses, (the cherubim of the living sanctuary), make up in their natural and mortal condition the veil of the most holy, and when they are conquered by their opposers and killed, this mortal veil is taken away, the way to the most holy being then open. The sealed company, the 144,000, go through this broken veil and make up the most holy section. Their being sealed makes them sanctified unto God and to the Lamb to such a marked degree that they constitute the first fruits of the multitudes belonging to the first resurrection. Instead of dying and being resurrected they are translated, as Paul says,

"in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump."-1 Cor. 15: 52-54.

From the time the two witnesses of Jesus are murdered, the preaching of the gospel concerning the appearance of the holy city resounds. Then is the time for the fulfillment of the following prophecy:

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, 0 Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The Lord hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger,shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast labored: but they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the Lord; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the Lord: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken."--Isa. 62: 6-12.

When the Word of God concerning the temple and the holy city is fulfilled, the first resurrection is at hand, and after this the meeting with the Lord in the air takes place. The resurrected, being born of the Spirit, resemble the wind, as the Lord says in John 3: 8, and are consequently rendered independent of the law of gravity. They are able to move about in the air and elevate themselves above all the bounds of nature. When they are thus assembled from all parts of the earth, they need neither ships, trains, nor other means of transportation. They go the air way to meet the Lord, and in this meeting the living eternal city is compiled and decorated.

"The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit." Joh 3:8

"In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1Co 15:52

" For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. " 1Th 4:14 -18

John saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem; come down from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Where did John stand when he saw this city descend? On a high mountain he says. Which mountain? The mount of transfiguration, naturally. All prophecy is clearly revealed to light on this mountain. The people of God are brought there through the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. The Baalistic representatives also have a mountain finally to climb, namely, mount Carmel. They will be compelled to do this because they have discarded and disdained the sacrificing cross of Christ, appointed to develop the life of faith; they have instead chosen the way of Baalim.

Christ's road sign for the proclaimers of his doctrine is found in Luke 12: 22-32. Those who will not adapt themselves to this road of faith, but still appear as proclaimers of the gospel, he designates as "the nations of the world," or the Gentiles. They operate outside of the covenant he opened for the children of faith. They preach another gospel, believe in another Jesus, and have another spirit, as Paul says in 2 Cor. 11:4. They preach and follow Baal in the name of Jesus Christ; therefore they depend on dead temples for the performance of their worship.

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luk 12:22 - 32

The gospel of Christ instills faith in an individual, and faith comprehends the promises of God. He who starts out as a pro-claimer of the gospel and a leader of true believers must in the first place put a great deal of confidence in what God has promised. He receives the promises as a guaranty for his sustenance as a servant of God. He who fails to do this but who nevertheless calls himself a believer and a gospel preacher is a hypocrite of the worst denomination, whose position is designated in Jude, verses 11-13.

"Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. Jud 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." Jud 1:11-13

Christ represented faith, and actuated by this faith He chose his government representatives, the twelve apostles, sending them forth to proclaim the gospel of the kingdom. When he sent them he gave them the following commission:

"Go your ways: behold', I send you forth as lambs among wolves. Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall return to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house." -Luke 10: 3-7.

Think what a difference between such proclaimers of the Word of God and those who preach for a regular salary! Neither do the latter preach the gospel of the kingdom; the gospel they preach furthers and enlarges Babylon, the glorious creation of the sun gods, to the honor of the Gentiles. The result of such preaching cannot therefore be the same as that of the preaching conducted by the apostles. The apostles caused the believers to be of one heart and of one soul, and they had everything in common. No property baron and no slaves under such property were to be found--all stood before heaven as children to the Father whom Christ had taught them to love and place confidence in.

Let us compare with this the result of the preaching of Baalism and see what we find. What do those assembled as a result of such preaching have in common? The answer will be: dead temples built by the hands of man in which God does not dwell (Acts 7: 48; 17: 24), and high salaried ministers or priests who preach Baalism in the name of Jesus Christ. What will the end of all this be ? A destruction similar to that of Jerusalem, also the accompanying fate that overtook the leaders of the people when their hour of doom sounded. Their end will be horrible.

"Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?" Act 7:48 -49 : Act 17:24 "God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; "

Here we may ask: Does not faith in Christ have the same power now as when He sent out his apostles? The writer of this, having had fifty-five years of experience as a missionary, testifies that faith in God and his promises is as powerful now as it was then. He is a Father above anything that may be called father and he keeps his promises in force upon those who fear him and are actuated by the Spirit emanating from this God.

Christ said,

"Seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all those things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you." He then adds, "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."--Luke 12:29-32.

Which kingdom does he mean the Father will give them? The same which they in their faith in the promises have longed finally to inherit with Christ, namely, the kingdom prepared for the children of faith before the foundation of the world--the same that Adam lost by listening and obeying the voice that gave false interpretations.

Those who believe in and proclaim a kingdom which it is supposed exists above the clouds have neither part nor parcel in the kingdom Christ testifies of. If Baal is able to fulfill the contents of his gospel concerning the kingdom of the sun in the celestial regions, then they have a chance of partaking of that kingdom.

Christ gives another magnificent promise to his little flock concerning the kingdom. He says:

"But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star."

Rev. 2:25-28

The morning star leads this flock of faithful beings, 1. first to the door of the kingdom, which is opened with the key of David, and 2. then on to the development of Jerusalem. If we follow them on their way toward the kingdom the Lord has promised his little flock, we find them, according to the prophet Zechariah, in the wilderness, an unprotected place. The testimony says:

"I lifted up mine eyes again, and looked, and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I, Whither goest thou? And he said unto me, To measure Jerusalem, to see what is the breadth thereof, and what is the length thereof. And, behold, the angel that talked with me went forth, and another angel went out to meet him, and said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein: for I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her. Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of heaven, saith the Lord. Deliver thyself, 0 Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye. For, behold, I will shake mine hand upon them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me. Sing and rejoice, 0 daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord."--Zech. 2: 1-10.

There we see the company of the faithful on their way toward the goal God has placed before them through his Son. The question then arises: How can they exist? We have often heard this question raised by those who defend wage-taking ministers and are of the opinion such preachers are entitled to an established salary. At that time, not only one or a few will be cut off from the common and general source of supplies and nourishment, but thousands who depend on their daily bread, as the case now is, will find themselves in this predicament. How are they to receive their sustenance?

An answer to this may be found in Isa. 49:7-13:

"Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; that thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that are in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures shall be in all high places. They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. Sing, 0 heavens; and be joyful, 0 earth; and break forth into singing, 0 mountains: for the Lord hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted." Isa. 49:7-13

Someone will ask: Will the nations, led by the church corporations, permit such a movement to flourish unrestricted? Of course not! They will classify that movement in the same category as the "reds," for in the spiritual darkness enveloping the whole world system they can no more see God's hand in that movement than Pharaoh and the leaders in Egypt were able to see Jehovah's hand in the movement Moses led. What will happen to the onward march of the faithful company if they rise up against it?

In answering this we again call attention to the special promises given the people whom the matter concerns:

"And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star." Revelation 2: 26-28

Again, what is this morning star! DUALITY

Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2: 1-11 (SEE EAST VERSES AT END)

We have a certain understanding of what the star of Bethlehem was and its purpose. Like the works of the old covenant it belonged to the material system, but nevertheless promoted faith, so that wise men from the East betook themselves upon a journey to find the new-born King of the Jews. In the new covenant the various objects of faith appear directly through the Word of God. The Word, together with the Spirit, produces faith and places the believer on the road toward the kingdom God has promised, to establish through the Son. The faithful company take hold of and follow the promises, and these lead, step by step, onward to the door of the kingdom. They journey the road of faith all the way to the boundary of the kingdom and thence through the open door, the Jerusalem-road of development; and finally they meet the Lord in the air in order afterwards to reign with him during the millennium, when judgment will be carried' out.

The morning star consists of the Word of prophecy, concentrated in such a manner that the various testimonies make up a united body of light which illuminates and leads the children of faith toward the return of Christ and the kingdom he is to set up.

As the Fulfiller of the Word, Christ is encompassed by this light-power; therefore he says of it as follows:

"I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star." (Rev. 22: 16.)

When the 11th chapter of Isaiah is fulfilled, and God extends his hand the second time in order to gather his administrative people, the people who belong to the kingdom, then the morning star will shine and guide the believing company to the objects of their faith, Zion, Jerusalem, and the Messianic kingdom. Faith in the promises in connection with significant world events, starts the company on its journey as was the case with the prefiguring Israel under the leadership of Moses and Joshua.

The League of Nations and the World Court belonging to it cause the formation of the spiritual Egypt. The whole assembly of corporations is united as a whole with the purpose of opposing and hindering this singular movement of the people. Unrest among the people within the national boundaries causes the leaders to fear as was the case in Egypt when God extended his hand the first time to bring the oppressed people freedom.

The church corporations experience a peculiar upheaval, while the honest individuals within them awaken and assume a position in favor of faith and its works. Those who have pressed forward nearest to the prophetic declarations, but who stand there controlled by false interpretations, become the most bitter enemies of the prophetic movement which Christ as the Fulfiller of prophecy then brings about. To this class belong those who are led by Bel's Ischa--Jezebel. Whereas those who conquer her doctrinal system are developed as parts of the Philadelphian congregation, the others who still adhere to and are actuated by her religious theories are developed into "the synagogue of Satan." To the believers developing into the Philadelphian branch, or the temple movement of brethren, Christ says,

"Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews [observers of the law;, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee."--Rev. 3: 9.

From this we understand that those who are developed into the synagogue of Satan will become notorious as bitter enemies of the movement of Christ. This movement will demolish their religious system and expose it as founded on pure falsehood. Satan means adversary, and it is because of their opposition to the true prophetic movement that they are exposed as belonging to the synagogue of Satan.

Look out, my friend, and permit the rays of the morning star to guide you along the prophetic road to the Messianic kingdom!

by C. and J. LEE

EAST:

Mat 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.