1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

prosperity. Herod, the Edomite, had built them a templethe grandeur of which outshone that of Solomon. Thepeople were feeling so satisfied with their attainmentsthat they had ceased to specially long for and pray forthe coming of the Messiah, the long-promised King of theline of David. They were disturbed lest any changeshould be for the worse--lest it should mean internalstrife as between Herod and another and lest it shouldmean strife with the Roman Empire, which at the timewas treating the Jews quite generously.A very similar condition of things may be expected inconjunction with the second advent of Christ. The powersthat be today are styled Christ's Kingdom, "Christendom,"but they are really "kingdoms of this world." Anyannouncement today that Messiah's Kingdom is nigh--that He will soon take unto Himself His great power andreign (Rev. 11:17)--meets with resentment. If in surprisewe ask why this indifference respecting the fulfilment ofour prayer, "Thy Kingdom come," the answer is, "Letwell enough alone; do not agitate that subject; it maybring in strife and contention, because many are prosperingso well under the reign of the 'Prince of this world'that they could not look upon a change as likely to bringany improvement in their condition--indeed some of themhave reason to fear that Messiah's Kingdom would seriouslydisturb their entrenched privileges and monopolisticcontrol of the wonderful blessings of our day."PRIESTLY INDIFFERENCE ON THE SUBJECTAlthough King Herod called the priests and teachersof his day to inquire particularly respecting the propheciesof Messiah's birth, and although they answered him correctly,nevertheless, the records show no joy, no enthusiasm,on the part of the religious teachers in respect to theprophetic fulfilment which they had professed to trust inand to long for. They were indifferent; none of themfollowed to Bethlehem to find the new born King of theJews. They had become Higher Critics and no longerbelieved the prophecies; they had less faith in them thanhad Herod.And do we not find an antitype in this day? Are notthe chief priests and religious leaders generally so out ofharmony with the Divine promises and so faithless asrespects the glorious Messianic Kingdom of which theBible tells, that they are ashamed to identify themselves inany degree with those who seek the Lord and wait for HisKingdom? Alas! even the Mohammedans and Brahminsof the East are waiting for Messiah and the Golden Ageand disposed to seek the evidences--but amongst the mostprominent ministers of "Christendom" there is apparentunbelief, Higher Criticism, Evolution and general oppositionto Messiah and His Kingdom. Let the civil governmentfight down if it chooses everything associated withR4956 : page 30