1885 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

y an arrow from Death's quiver; her grief is assuaged, her tears aredried, and life is again possessed of some joys. The light from thisgood angel's presence penetrates the prison-house of Despair, andthe strong bolts melt away; the chains that bound the many victimsbecome as ropes of sand, and the prisoners arise and walk forth.When the shadow of Death darkens our threshold, and benumbs thesenses, and the heart has almost ceased its pulsations, Hopewhispers, "You shall live again," and points to an existenceunfettered by the restraints of the present life, and unaffected by itsevils. Not the Christian alone is blessed by her ministrations, butthe vast millions unlightened by revelation as well.To the former she brings sweet comfort from God's promises,which never have failed those that have trusted in them. To thelatter she points out the many evidences of a Creator's love, for hehath not left himself without witnesses of this. (Acts 14:17.) Soonthese promises will be more than realized in manifestation of the"sons of God" commissioned to "restore all things." Then shallDeath be compelled to release his prisoners, for at the command ofthe Son of man all that are in their graves shall come forth to thejudgment of Jesus and the saints. John 5:28; 1 Cor. 6:2; Psa. 149:9.Then will be accomplished that which so long ago was promised tofaithful Abraham, that in his seed all the families of the earthshould be blessed. (Gen. 22:18.) Then all the ends of the worldshall remember and turn unto the Lord; and all the kindreds of thenations shall worship before him. Psa. 22:27.R781 : page 6====================S. T. T.PERPETUAL APOSTOLIC INSTITUTIONS.Of necessity, the preaching of the gospel must precede all possibleaction for the teaching of those who are thus called out from theworld. Because of this priority some seem to reckon gospelpreaching the supremely important apostolic institution, and thattherefore the chief, if not sole, object of the church's existence is toevangelize the world. We cannot but question this view when weexamine the conduct of the apostles, coupled with the abundant andspecial provision made for the edification of the church."When the Lord ascended on high he gave gifts unto men...for theperfecting of the saints unto the work of the ministry, unto thebuilding up of the body of Christ, till we all attain unto the unity ofthe faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a full-grownman, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, thatwe may be no longer children." Eph. 4:7-16.The teaching of this oracle convinces us of two things:--First thatthe service of those several gifts was for one main object--"the