1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

of the Prince of Darkness, who will then"be bound for a thousand years that hemay deceive the nations no more until the thousand yearsare finished." Of the heavenly Father we read, "God islight, and in Him is no darkness at all."Of Jesus we read, "I am the light of the world." Ofthe Church in her present condition we read, "Let yourlight so shine before men that they may see your goodworks and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." "Hidenot your light under a bushel, but set it on a candlestickthat it may give light unto all that are in the house."Nevertheless, "The darkness hateth the light, neithercometh to the light," and "the whole world lieth in theWicked One"--in darkness. Notwithstanding the faithfulnessof Jesus and the few light-bearers enlightenedwith the Holy Spirit of which they are begotten, still"darkness covers the earth and gross darkness theheathen."This same thought pervades the Scriptures from firstto last, namely, that for six thousand years, from the timeR4988 : page 86of the entrance of sin to the second coming of Jesus, theworld will be subject to a reign of sin and death--it willbe under a pall of darkness, ignorance, superstition, sin,etc. The only ones who will see the path of righteousnessdistinctly will be those guided by the "lantern"--God'sWord. They are represented as saying, "Thy Word isa lamp to my feet and a lantern to my footsteps." St.Peter, writing to the Church from the same standpoint,declares, "We (the Church) have a more sure Word ofprophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, asunto a light that shineth in a dark place until the daydawn."--Psa. 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19.The Prince of Darkness has been in command forcenturies. The only lights of the past were the nobleProphets of the Jewish line whose lights affected few intheir own nation, and were not discernible at all amongstthe heathen world. John the Baptist, we are told, wasa burning and shining light, and Jesus was a still morebrilliant light, and His faithful few during the pasteighteen centuries have shined forth, reflecting theirMaster's light. But all of these have had comparativelylittle influence in the world. It still lies in the WickedOne--in darkness, seeing not, neither understanding Divinethings; it is still "waiting for the manifestation ofthe sons of God."A BETTER DAY COMINGOur text tells of a better day sure to come. It is notsure to come because of the operation of the evolutionarylaw, for the natural law would seem to contradict sucha thought. Darkness leads on to darkness more intense,and while light begets light, darkness begets darkness, and