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1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

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with Christ and members of the Bride class.A great mistake was made in the past when BrotherCalvin declared that the non-elect were to be roasted toall eternity. On the contrary, we find the teaching ofGod's Word to be that the non-elect are to be blessedby the Elect with an opportunity for life on the earthlyplane. God will use the elect class for the purpose ofblessing the world of mankind. God has a loving, sympatheticPlan for all of His creatures, which will berevealed to them in His own due time.R5084 page 261====================MENTAL SUGGESTION A MEANS OF TEMPTATION"Get thee hence, Satan; for it is written, Thou shalt worshipthe Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve."--Matt. 410.SHORTLY after our Lord's baptism, He wasled of His own spirit, illuminated by theHoly Spirit received at baptism, to go apartto the wilderness of Judea for a season ofquiet study. It was at the close of thisperiod of Bible study and prayer, when ourLord was weak from His forty-day fast,that the Adversary assaulted Him withsubtle temptations.We are not told how Jesus recognizedSatan, but we are inclined to think that the Adversary wasnot visible to our Lord's natural sight, but to His mentalvision--His eyes of understanding; for Satan, like theother fallen angels, has been under restraint of darknessuntil the Judgment of the Great Day. It is our thoughtthat Satan was permitted to bring mental suggestions beforeour Lord's mind. Evidently our Lord recognized thesource of these presentations as evil, in whatever way theycame to Him.The popular conception of Satan as a monstrosity withhoofs, horns, etc., is a superstition belonging to the DarkAges. Really in his own personality he is a very gloriousbeing, who has not been impaired by the six thousandyears of alienation from God, although his countenancemay have lost some of its Godlikeness.SPIRITUAL POWER NOT TO BE USED SELFISHLYIn approaching our Lord, Satan did not attempt to lieoutright, nor to distort facts, but rather to put a false coloron them. He may have approached Jesus as a friend,who had known Him in His pre-existent state and whowas deeply interested in His welfare. Satan's intrusionwas, first of all, to give our Lord some kindly advice, bysuggesting that since Jesus had been fasting for a longtime, He was doing Himself injury; and that if He really

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