1881 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

other Scripture. We have been held entranced hour after hour aswe have compared Scripture with Scripture and found beautifulharmony with this view all through the word, and thank the Lordfor it.We would not be understood as saying that the word, body andhouse, are never applied to our physical bodies, for it notunfrequently is, and we think it is so used in the 10th verse ofthis chapter, though we do not feel over-positive about it lest itmight refer to the different organizations, that shall finally be"gathered together in one," for we hope that the Methodist body,the Baptist body and the Presbyterian body (all of which arecalled bodies by their own authorities) will form, if not the bodyof Christ, yet the "household of God;" and we know that "wemust all (all these different bodies) stand before the judgmentseat of Christ (when and where?); that every one may "give anaccount of the things done in his body"--no, "that every one mayreceive the things done in his body." [His, is in italics in ourBibles.]Perhaps some one is ready to ask, "How do you harmonize itwith the 8th verse?" We would say, that the apostle (Col. 3:3),though speaking of our death to sin, tells us where our life is(whether our physical bodies are dead or alive, makes nodifference,) from the time of begetting onward, our "life is hidwith Christ in God" until "He, who is our Life, shall appear,"then the earnest expectation of the creature [who is the creaturebut the one who has no spiritual life, the outside world],"waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God" will berealized and the "sons of God" will be recognized. Till then weshall not be able to find out what God has hidden.Then, when we are born again,"BORN BY A NEW CELESTIAL BIRTH,"we shall have life in ourselves and together constitute the"building of God," the "house not made with hands." Dearbrethren, how near and dear the relation we sustain to eachother--"Builded together for the habitation of God." J. C. S.====================R180 : page 4"HOW LONG, O LORD?"This is a question doubtless that many ask themselves, viz:"How soon will our change come?" This change many of ushave looked forward to for years, and we yet with muchpleasure, think of the time when we shall be gathered unto Jesusand see Him as he is. In the article concerning our change, inDecember paper, we expressed the opinion that it was nearerthan many supposed, and while we would not attempt to prove