1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

masses of men discerned only the simple lesson thathonesty, righteousness, was the best present policy.But when Christ came, He "brought life [everlasting]and immortality [clearly] to light through the Gospel."(2 Tim. 1:10.) Since then, proportionately as men havecome directly or indirectly in contact with that Gospel,their responsibility has been increased, whether they acceptedor rejected, opposed or ignored it. As it is written,"This is the condemnation, that light is come into theworld and men loved darkness rather than light, becausetheir deeds were evil."--John 3:19.The Divine arrangement regarding retribution seemsgenerally to be that of sequence, so that under it rewardsand punishments follow naturally, as the results of obedienceor disobedience to law. Yet in the cases both of rewardsand of penalties God sometimes steps beyond thisorder; as for instance, when He exalts the Church withChrist, their Head, to the Divine nature, Kingdom andglory; and when He brings upon Satan and his followersswift destruction at the end of the Millennial Age. Hisextraordinary methods have also been occasionally manifestedin the past; viz., in the destruction of the worldby the flood, in the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah,in the confusion of tongues at Babel, and other instancesof minor note. But these are special and exceptional exhibitionsboth of His wrath and of His grace.A just estimate of the Lord's dealings in the futurejudgment of the repentant of the world may be approximatedby a careful observance of His dealings with Hisjustified and consecrated children now. Though justified,we are not liberated from all the consequences of ourpast ignorance or waywardness. If in youthful ignoranceand waywardness bad habits were contracted which haveimpaired health and weakened moral and physical powers,we have all the difficulties to struggle against now, thoughwe realize the Divine forgiveness and assistance.This is our judgment day; and the judgment of the worldwill proceed upon the same general principles. They willfirst be brought to a knowledge of the Truth, and will thenbe judged according to their use or abuse of that knowledgeafter they receive it, as worthy or unworthy of life.The good and bad actions of their first life, previous totheir knowledge of the Truth, will enter into this judgmentonly in the natural order of the retributive character ofmoral Law.====================R5138 : page 370LOVE NOT THE WORLD"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.If any man love the world, the love of the Father is notin him."--1 John 2:15.