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1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

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obliquity of the sin be f<strong>org</strong>iven, the sin must receive punishment.This principle, we think, holds with the angels.Even though they should be restored to Divine favor, itwould not be until there was some kind of correction toshow that sin is wrong and unprofitable.Neither are we informed as to whether or not any ofthese angels have repented since their sentence and delivery"into chains of darkness." But we should not be surprisedif it were true that some of them have repented.Our thought is that this repentance would notchange their sentence, but that they would remain inDivine disfavor until their allotted period of punishmenthad ended; and then they would be tested and tried.Supposing this to be so, we think that none of these well-disposedangels would be inclined to violate the Divinecommand on the subject of materialization. Our understandingis that there are some good angels and some evilangels; that any who would communicate with mankindare not good angels--that those who are in harmonywith God would not allow themselves to communicatewith mankind; and that during these thousands of yearssince their condemnation the fallen angels have dividedinto two classes, one being sympathetic with Satan, andthe other having reformed; that probably the latterhave suffered from the others; that they would havethe opprobrium and opposition of the evil ones; and thatthey would rather suffer for righteousness than indulgein retort and give evil for evil. From this standpointwe might suppose that they have been suffering all thesethousands of years since they took their stand for theright. This, however, is merely speculation, and shouldnot be held to dogmatically.====================R5020 : page 147"VAIN REPETITION" IN PRAYERQUESTION.--In Matt. 6:7, our Lord tells us,"When ye pray, use not vain repetitions, asthe heathen do; for they think that theyshall be heard for their much speaking."The Apostle Paul, writing to the Church(Col. 4:2), exhorts that they "continue inprayer"; again we read of the widow whowas heard for her importunity. (Luke 18:2-5.)Is this a suggestion that we shouldimportune? How could we importune withoutrepetition?Answer.--We are to recognize a distinct difference betweenthe "vain repetitions" of the heathen, which ourLord condemned, and the "continuing instant in prayer,""in everything giving thanks," in "praying and not fainting,"acts which our Lord and the Apostles enjoined.(Rom. 12:12; Luke 18:1, etc.) This difference the Lord

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