1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org 1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org
prophecies which he himself had uttered. But the Spirit gavehim no understanding of it: finally in pity God sent an angel,gave him all the understanding possible (but evidently notsatisfactory) and finished by telling him that the thing wasclosed up and sealed for a time, but would be understood whendue. See Dan. 12:9.For the same reason that prophets though beloved could notunderstand, the angels also beloved could not understand, viz:God had not revealed his plan, hence it is written, "Eye hath notseen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man(nor angel; we might add, on the strength of Peter's statement)the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ButGod hath revealed them unto us (the church) by His Spirit;...Now we have received...the Spirit of God, that we might know,the things freely given to us of God." 1 Cor. 2:9,13.Peter evidently refers to Daniel's interest above referred to,when he says: (1:10.) "Of which salvation (our high calling) theprophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesiedof the GRACE THAT SHOULD COME UNTO YOU:searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christwhich was (speaking) in them did signify, when it testifiedbeforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that shouldfollow. Unto whom it was revealed (by the angel, no revelationswere made to them by the Spirit) that not unto themselves, butunto us they did minister, the things which are now reportedunto you, by them which have preached the gospel (good news)unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, [to beyour guide in understanding the preaching] which things theangels desire to look into." Now we ask, could Peter expressmore pointedly than he here does the view which we areadvocating. They prophesied of the grace (favor--high calling)which is come unto you--the gospel church. Now notice anotherpoint made strong by Peter's expression; the prophets testifiedbeforehand the sufferings of Christ. To all who see how thechurch or "body" of Christ has fellowship with the "head" bothin sufferings and glory, this statement is full of meaning. Ourhope is to be accounted worthy to suffer with him, that we maybe also glorified together; (Rom. 8:17.) but the Prophets spokeof the sufferings as all future; they spoke of them "beforehand,"so we may be sure that no matter how much the prophets mayhave suffered as witnesses for God, their sufferings were notlike those of the gospel church reckoned a part of the sufferingsof the Christ.Now again, to his body the church, Jesus is called the "Head,""Leader," "Captain of our Salvation," and how proper it is that aleader should precede the followers. How could Abraham andthe Prophets walk in His footsteps as he hath set us anEXAMPLE? (1 Pet. 2:21). If Abraham and the Prophets becounted as a part of the Christ, then Jesus was their follower; if
their sufferings be a part of the afflictions of Christ, then Jesuswas merely filling up their afflictions. But not so--the Headsuffered first and then the body follows-- "considers him" andhis example. This is our privilege to "Fill up that which isBEHIND of the afflictions of Christ." (Col. 1:24).But we have already shown that one reason why we are calledthe Christ, is that we are like our Leader, anointed of the Spiritor power of God. The Father gave it without measure to Jesusthe head; and Jesus when glorified gave of the same to his body,the church at Pentecost, as Peter explains: "He being by the righthand of God exalted, hath shed forth this." (Acts 2:33.) TheSpirit in this sense as a witness of our sonship (on the spiritualplane), as a guide into all truth (as it becomes "meat in dueseason") came to the church first at Pentecost, as we read thatThe Holy Ghost was not yetR218 : page 2given because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7:39.) Jesusmust first make his sacrifice and be accepted of the Father,before any could be received as spiritual, new creatures andrecognized by the Spirit's adoption as such. Jesus' words bearthe same import; He said: "It is expedient for you that I go away,for if I go not away the comforter will not come unto you; but ifI depart I will send him unto you"--"even the Spirit of truth."(John 15:7, 15:26). Hence it is evident that the Spirit in thissense of enlightening and anointing is given only to the body ofChrist (anointed).But some one enquires, Is it ever stated that the church isanointed? Yes, we read (1 John 2:27): "The anointing which youreceived from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you [Ye are not dependent upon humanwisdom and science.] but the same anointing teaches youconcerning all things." [Diaglott]. Again let Paul tell us of ouranointing (2 Cor. 1:21) "Now he which establisheth us with youin Christ, and hath anointed us in God; who also hath sealed us,and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts."We conclude then, that whatever God may have in his plan, asthe reward of Abraham, the Prophets, and all ancient worthies, itis not the same thing which is promised to the Christ, whichbegan with the head and will end with the last member--in thisage. Thus we see that while there was good news to Abraham,and is to be everlasting good news in future ages, yet our Fatherhath bestowed "the exceeding riches of his grace, in his lovingkindness toward us in Christ Jesus."====================R218 : page 2
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- Page 113 and 114: R202 : page 7AN OPEN LETTER.Dear Br
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- Page 121 and 122: soul (being existence.") Matt. 16:2
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- Page 127 and 128: Paul's statement, that "The saints
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- Page 147 and 148: God leadeth to repentance," and now
- Page 149 and 150: against the views of all the learne
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- Page 157 and 158: IN NEWARK, N.J.The friends in Newar
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- Page 169 and 170: under him, we may see how Abraham m
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- Page 173 and 174: foreknow, he also did predestinate
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- Page 183 and 184: twelve disciples; their sacrifices,
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- Page 201 and 202: consecrated ones--the jewels which
- Page 203 and 204: A bed is a place in which to rest;
- Page 205 and 206: was literally fulfilled; they fled
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- Page 209 and 210: God knows--not I--why, when I'd fai
- Page 211 and 212: THE CREDIBILITY OF THE SCRIPTURES.E
prophecies which he himself had uttered. But the Spirit gavehim no understanding of it: finally in pity God sent an angel,gave him all the understanding possible (but evidently notsatisfactory) and finished by telling him that the thing wasclosed up and sealed for a time, but would be understood whendue. See Dan. 12:9.For the same reason that prophets though beloved could notunderstand, the angels also beloved could not understand, viz:God had not revealed his plan, hence it is written, "Eye hath notseen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man(nor angel; we might add, on the strength of Peter's statement)the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. ButGod hath revealed them unto us (the church) by His Spirit;...Now we have received...the Spirit of God, that we might know,the things freely given to us of God." 1 Cor. 2:9,13.Peter evidently refers to Daniel's interest above referred to,when he says: (1:10.) "Of which salvation (our high calling) theprophets have enquired and searched diligently who prophesiedof the GRACE THAT SHOULD COME UNTO YOU:searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christwhich was (speaking) in them did signify, when it testifiedbeforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that shouldfollow. Unto whom it was revealed (by the angel, no revelationswere made to them by the Spirit) that not unto themselves, butunto us they did minister, the things which are now reportedunto you, by them which have preached the gospel (good news)unto you, with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, [to beyour guide in understanding the preaching] which things theangels desire to look into." Now we ask, could Peter expressmore pointedly than he here does the view which we areadvocating. They prophesied of the grace (favor--high calling)which is come unto you--the gospel church. Now notice anotherpoint made strong by Peter's expression; the prophets testifiedbeforehand the sufferings of Christ. To all who see how thechurch or "body" of Christ has fellowship with the "head" bothin sufferings and glory, this statement is full of meaning. Ourhope is to be accounted worthy to suffer with him, that we maybe also glorified together; (Rom. 8:17.) but the Prophets spokeof the sufferings as all future; they spoke of them "beforehand,"so we may be sure that no matter how much the prophets mayhave suffered as witnesses for God, their sufferings were notlike those of the gospel church reckoned a part of the sufferingsof the Christ.Now again, to his body the church, Jesus is called the "Head,""Leader," "Captain of our Salvation," and how proper it is that aleader should precede the followers. How could Abraham andthe Prophets walk in His footsteps as he hath set us anEXAMPLE? (1 Pet. 2:21). If Abraham and the Prophets becounted as a part of the Christ, then Jesus was their follower; if
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