The Watchtower Society and John and Morton Edgar - A2Z.org

The Horizontal Passage to the Queen's ChamberYou know how Brother Russell points out that this horizontal passage leads to the Queen's Chamberthe post - millennial condition of perfect life, and how it is divided into two parts, a long portion, six-seventhsof the whole and a short portion only one-seventh, and how he says that the first six-sevenths represents thefirst six thousand years and the last seventh the last thousand years. Now, taking that into consideration,let us study this passage a little, not with regard to the time features but the symbolism. The first then is this:This portion of the passage represents the first six thousand years. It is only four feet from floor to ceiling, and itis pitch dark, and it is rough under foot. In this way it represents the world under the yoke of sin and death,stumbling in the dark; but there is this difference between that passage and the other descending passage whichrepresents the same thing, namely the course. of this present evil world: That this passage is horizontal, whereasthe other passage is inclined downward. Why the difference? The difference is simply the standpoint. Thestandpoint here with regard to the descending passage is looking to the ultimate end of this present evil world,destruction. The standpoint with regard to this horizontal passage is looking to the ultimate end of this, namely,to the restitution blessings. And it is looking at the thing from the standpoint that the lamb was slain from thefoundation of the world, the well here representing the ransom being at the beginning of this passage. In otherwords, we find represented in this passage the fact that mankind was subjected to vanity or frailty by God, inhope. Here is mankind laboring under the yoke of sin and death, not knowing where they stumble; they arewalking in darkness, and are not aware that a point six-sevenths of the length of the entire distance there is adrop of 21 inches. If any of you have ever gone along a narrow dark passage, not knowing there was a step of21 inches at the end, and you came to that step and fell over it, you can realize in some measure the condition ofmankind when they will find all their earthly hopes and aspirations wrecked by the great time of trouble that iscoming on this world. There will be a great fall, dear friends. There will be many little aches and bruises, and agreat deal of groaning at that time. But afterwards, when men pick themselves up to their feet, as they will do,they will find to their joy that they can stand erect, because this portion of the passage from the floor to theceiling is from 5 ft. 6 1/2 in. to 5 ft., 8 1/2 in. in height. In other words, it is the height of an average man. Theburden has fallen from their shoulders and they are able to stand upright, and then they shall progress alongtowards the Queen's Chamber, the post - millennial condition. But, dear friends, if at that time any one begins tothink highly of himself, begins to get a little heady, begins to think that he is a six-footer, he will bump his headagainst the roof, the iron rule of Christ. On the other hand, if he thinks lowly of himself, thinks he is only a five- footer, he will be encouraged to a more sober appreciation of his abilities, because in that time we know thatthe proud shall be abased and the humble shall be exalted. And so all those who are obedient will at the end ofthat time be ushered into the post - millennial condition of glory. I have already shown how the length of thispassage represents also the period from the work of Wycliffe in pointing men to the Ransom up to the Post -millennial ages of perfection.The Grand GalleryWe see that the entrance to this Grand Gallery is by the well for the world in general, and by the first ascendingpassage for the Israelites. Those of the Israelites who accepted Christ's invitation passed from Moses intoChrist; but in any case all would be required to recognize the well, the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, beforethey can go up the balance of this passage.Now, on going up this passage, we find that, while it is very lofty, as we have said, it is also extremely narrow.Those who are partakers of the high calling are walking up a-very narrow way to life. From side to side it is lessthan seven feet broad; but even that is contracted. We find on each side of this Grand Gallery on the floor, aledge 23 inches high and 20 inches broad, called the "ramp." It is so contracted this way that the distancebetween the ramps along which we are walking up this passage is only three and one-half feet-only room