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1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

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and helpful of all our Lord's utterances. The RichMan of the parable represents the Jewish nation, highlyfavored of God. The bountiful table represents the richpromises of the Law and the Prophets, which were theirsalone up to the time that they nationally died to thosefavors. The Rich Man's purple clothing represents royalty--the fact that they were God's typical kingdom.David and Saul sat upon the throne of the kingdomof the Lord, and when the kingdom was removed in thedays of Zedekiah the declaration was made that it wouldafterward be restored, with Messiah as King. The "finelinen" of the Rich Man represented the justification whichGod had granted to the Jewish nation alone thus far. Itwas a typical justification, accomplished through the LawCovenant and its sacrifices for Sin Atonement administeredby a typical priest year by year.A harvesting of the Jewish people began with ourLord's ministry and lasted for forty years. It ended inthe year A.D. 70, when the Rich Man, as a nation, diedat the hands of Titus and the Roman army. Nationally,the Rich Man is buried, and will be non-existent until thedue time, when the Lord's blessing will return to theJewish people, as explained by St. Paul in Romans 11:25-35.But although nationally dead, the Jewish people havebeen very much alive ever since, and have been ostracisedand persecuted and tormented with fiery trials.Although the nation of the Jews contains representativesof all the tribes, it is specially represented in Judahand Benjamin; and hence these two tribes constitute theone Rich Man. The other ten tribes, "scattered abroad,"would proportionately represent the "five brethren" mentionedin the parable. This thought is confirmed by thestatement, "They have Moses and the Prophets, let themhear them." None but the twelve tribes of Israel hadMoses and the Prophets.LAZARUS IN ABRAHAM'S BOSOMLazarus, the poor outcast, who was longing for a shareof the Rich Man's favor and privileges, represented acertain class of Gentiles, such as the Centurian, whoseservant Jesus healed, and who had such faith in Jesus thathe said, "I am not worthy that thou shouldest come intomy house, but speak the word and my servant shall behealed." Jesus declared that He had not found suchfaith as that amongst the Israelites. Another of theseGentile outcasts was the Centurian Cornelius, the firstGentile received into the Gospel privileges. Of him it iswritten that he reverenced God, prayed always, and gavemuch alms to the poor.Of the same Lazarus class was the Syro-Phenicianwoman, who besought Jesus that he would heal her daughter.Because she was a Gentile Jesus answered, "It isnot proper that I should take the children's bread andgive it to dogs"--the Gentiles--"dogs" being a familiarname for all outside the pale of Judaism. The woman at

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