Chapter 10
THE MANDATE
"EDEN, the garden of God." The Lord God planted that garden, and it was perfect. The name "Eden" means a paradise or place of beauty and pleasantness. In it grew everything perfect man could desire. "And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; and the gold of that land is good:
there is bdellium and the onyx stone. And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia. And the name of the third river is Hiddekel: that is it which goeth toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates." — Genesis 2: 9-14.
God made Eden for his creature man. Then God formed the organism of man and breathed into his nostrils, and man became a living, breathing creature, a soul. (Genesis 2: 7) When man opened his eyes he was in Eden and he beheld its marvelous beauty. It was such a glorious scene that he beheld that those angelic sons of God shouted for joy. (Job 38:7) No human creature, aside from Adam and Eve, ever saw that garden of perfection and glory. When man violated God's law he was expelled from Eden and the gates thereof were closed, and never again can Adam see it. None of Adam's offspring have ever seen Eden.
In the brief time Adam and Eve were in Eden they would revel in its grandeur. They would walk amidst the trees by the rivers, inhale the fragrance of the sweet-scented flowers, eat the perfect fruit, and join with the birds in song to the praise of the great Creator. It was at that time and in that place that the Almighty God issued to the perfect pair his mandate, to wit:
"BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY AND FILL THE EARTH."
Only Eden was made a paradise. Other parts of the earth God cursed with thorns and thistles and weeds that sinful man might be required to labor for his food. (Genesis 3:17) That it is Jehovah's purpose to some day have the entire earth a paradise there is not the slightest doubt. That being Jehovah's purpose in the beginning, it must be carried out in his due time. — Ezekiel 36: 35.
The Almighty God created the earth to be inhabited forever by righteous men. He created man a righteous creature for the earth. All of God's creation is perfect and done in righteousness. These statements are fully supported by the infallible Word of God and cannot be successfully called in question. (Isaiah 45:12,18) "His work is perfect." (Deuteronomy 32:4) "For the word of the Lord is right; and all his works are done in truth." (Psalm 33:4) "His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious, and full of compassion. The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure." (Psalm 111:3,4,7) "All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee." — Psalm 145:10.
Adam, the man whom God created, was perfect and righteous when created, and therefore had the right to life, conditioned upon obedience. Likewise Eve was perfect
and righteous when created. To that perfect and righteous pair God gave the commandment: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." The Authorized Version of the Bible uses the word "replenish" (the earth), but the many other translations render that same word "fill". (See Leeser, Douay, Margolis, Rotherham, Strong, and others) Necessarily the mandate could be carried out only by righteous men and righteous women. By reason of disobedience of God's law Adam and Eve became unrighteous before an effort was made to perform the divine mandate. For that reason the mandate failed as to them, but it could not fail as to God. It shall be performed. — Isaiah 46:11.
At the time when the mandate was given to Adam and Eve by Jehovah that perfect pair was under the supervision of an invisible overlord, to wit, Lucifer, who also was then perfect. Lucifer led that human pair into sin and death. Lucifer became Satan, that wicked one who at all times since opposes the Almighty God. It would follow that at the time when the divine mandate is carried out, human creatures who carry it out, even though perfect and righteous, must be under the supervision of a righteous overlord. Almighty God does not deviate one jot or tittle from his purpose, and nothing that is done by wicked men and wicked spirit creatures can prevent the carrying out of his purpose, which
he will do in his own time and good way. With God there is nothing impossible. All persons who have faith in God may with full and complete confidence expect to find that the Scriptures clearly point out how and when Jehovah God's great mandate to fill the earth shall be carried out.
A "mandate" is an authoritative statement, and the divine mandate, above mentioned, is stated with absolute authority from Jehovah, the Almighty God, and must stand.
Adam Disqualified
The divine mandate, so far as it related to Adam and Eve, was canceled because they became unrighteous. Not so, however, with Almighty God. That mandate had been issued and must stand. God had given his word, and that must stand for ever: "For as the rain cometh down, and the snow, from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater; so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." — Isaiah 55:10,11.
After being expelled from Eden Adam and Eve began to multiply, but not in righteousness, and therefore it was impossible
for them to carry out the divine mandate. They were sentenced to death by the judgment of Jehovah; hence they were deprived of any right to life and of the power to transmit that right to their offspring. (Genesis 3:15-19) That judgment and the effect thereof still stand as to all human creatures who have not taken their stand entirely on the side of Jehovah: "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not." — Job 14:1, 2.
All the offspring of Adam were born under condemnation by reason of inherent imperfection. (Romans 5:12) "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." (Psalm 51:5) In order for the divine mandate to be carried out God must make some human creatures righteous and therefore qualified to carry out the mandate.
The Flood Prophetic
Approximately 1600 years after Eden's tragedy the offspring of Adam had grown to a large number, all of which were exceedingly wicked, with but a few exceptions. Only three men within that time God counted righteous because of their faith and obedience. Within that period of time the Devil had put forth his strongest endeavors to debauch and completely degrade hu-
mankind. Even a host of angels, that is, spirit creatures, the Devil had led into wickedness. Some of the spirit creatures materialized in human form and cohabited with women and produced a crop of rebels against God. After Noah had lived 500 years he had a family. (Genesis 5:32) Aside from Noah and his family all human creatures turned to wickedness: "The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth." — Genesis 6:11-13.
Then God brought the great flood of waters, or deluge: "And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven ; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark." — Genesis 7: 23.
Only eight souls were saved from that deluge: "And spared not the old world, but saved Noah, the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly." (2 Peter 2:5) These scriptures fully prove the cancella-
tion of the divine mandate so far as Adam and Eve and their offspring were concerned.
The flood, which destroyed all flesh as stated in the foregoing text, prevented Satan's scheme to corrupt all creatures on the earth. Therefore the saving of Noah and his family from the flood is proof of the supremacy of Jehovah: "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark; thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee." — Genesis 6:17,18.
The result of the flood was the cleansing off the earth everything of humankind that willfully defiled it. God used the flood, the ark, Noah and the members of Noah's family, to make a great prophetic picture, the fulfillment of which takes place in God's due time and is performed chiefly by Christ Jesus.
Learning the meaning of the prophetic picture made by the flood enables one to see the means by which God will carry out his purpose to cleanse the earth of all wickedness and then to fill the earth with a righteous race of human creatures. That the flood was typical and foreshadows what shall come to pass at the end of Satan's uninterrupted rule and with the coming of
Christ Jesus in power and glory, is made certain by the words of Jesus: "And as it was in the days of No'e, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." — Luke 17: 26, 30.
Before the flood of waters fell upon the earth God caused Noah to build an ark, and he commanded Noah to take into that ark all the members of his family, to there be hidden in safety until the flood was passed: "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." (Genesis 6:8) "And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." — Genesis 7:1.
In the last quoted text note that Jehovah said to Noah: "For thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." Because of Noah's faith and obedience God counted him as a righteous man. Noah, therefore, pictured the One who was to come and who is righteous, and also those associated with him in righteousness, they too being made righteous by reason of their faith and obedience unto God. Noah, therefore, pictured Christ Jesus, the righteous One, and also all the members of "the body of Christ", which together compose the royal house or kingdom of God. It is the Kingdom, of which Christ Jesus is the Head, that Jehovah uses to carry out his purpose. That great prophetic drama in which Noah and his family
played a part was made and recorded long ago, and is now made understandable by those who love God and is for their comfort and hope, and enables them to see and to understand what the things that are now coming to pass on the earth really mean. (Romans 15:4) God permits his faithful servants now to be in his light and to see and appreciate his works.
God commanded Noah to take with him into the ark the members of his family, and these, together with Noah, constituted eight persons only who were carried over and were saved from the destructive deluge of waters. Noah builded the ark at the command of Almighty God, and which was a picture of God's organization. The Greater-than-Noah, Christ Jesus, builds the capital organization of Jehovah, and therefore the ark pictured Jehovah's capital organization. Noah and his family remained in the ark during the deluge, and there they were completely hidden in safety and carried over the flood.
Likewise all in Christ Jesus are granted safety during the antitypical deluge, that is, Armageddon. Those who were hidden with Noah in the ark pictured those who shall find refuge and safety under the capital organization of Jehovah. The members of Noah's family, therefore, foreshadowed or pictured the "other sheep" of the Lord, who are gathered unto him and who find protection from the devastation of "the bat-
tle of that great day of God Almighty", called "Armageddon". The great deluge of waters that fell upon the earth as soon as the eight persons were safely in the ark pictured the battle of Armageddon, which shall begin its destructive work when all the "other sheep" of the Lord are gathered under the protection of the Lord's organization. This is strong proof that only those who are in Christ and those who are of the "other sheep" of the Lord, together with the "princes", shall survive Armageddon. All others now on the earth will die at Armageddon. It is the "sheep", that is to say, the obedient ones, that are saved; and it is the "goats", or disobedient ones, that shall suffer destruction. (Matthew 25:31-46) It follows, therefore, that all those who survive Armageddon must be counted righteous in the sight of God. That righteousness comes only from God through Christ Jesus, and comes to those who by reason of their faith and obedience unto God and Christ are made righteous.
The flood having ended, Noah and his family went forth out of the ark at the command of God: "Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth; that they may breed abundant-
ly in the earth, and be fruitful, and multiply upon the earth." "And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him." (Genesis 8:16-18) All the animals in the ark went forth with Noah. "And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar." (Genesis 8:20) Noah then offered animals in sacrifice before the Lord, and that sacrificial offering was pleasing to God. "And the Lord smelled a savour of rest." (Genesis 8:21, margin) That appears clearly to refer to the rest and comfort that will come to the survivors at the end of the battle of Armageddon; and this shows that the sacrifice offered by Noah was a part of the prophetic picture.
Noah and his family were the only human creatures then on the earth, and, all of them having found favor in the sight of God, all were counted righteous by reason of their faithfulness and obedience. This also was a part of the prophetic picture foretelling that immediately following the battle of Armageddon all the survivors will be righteous in the sight of God.
Mandate Restated
After Noah had offered the sacrifice before the Lord, God restated the mandate originally given to Adam and which Adam had failed to perform: "So God blessed
Noah and his sons, and said to them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth." (Genesis 9:1, Rotherham) Since Noah and his family in connection with the ark and the flood were making a prophetic picture, of necessity also the restatement of the mandate to Noah and his sons was a part of that prophetic picture, foretelling God's purpose to carry out his mandate and foretelling the righteous ones that he would use to carry it into operation.
The mandate was first stated to Adam when he was a righteous man. It was restated to Noah and his sons when they were counted righteous and when making the prophetic drama, as above mentioned. That necessarily means that the mandate must be and
will be carried out by the ones whom Noah's sons represented and who must be righteous. Noah pictured Christ Jesus and the members of "his body", who are righteous. The divine mandate must be carried out by those men and women who are under the direction and command of the Greater-than-Noah, namely, Christ the King, and the human creatures who must carry out that mandate must be righteous in God's sight when they do carry it out.
It must be kept in mind that Noah was typical. Noah did not carry out the divine mandate, although he lived on the earth 349 years after he came out of the ark. The Divine Record does not show that Noah brought into the world any children after the flood. His three sons, Shem, Japheth and Ham, were born before the flood, and those three, according to the Scriptures, are the three primary branches of the human race. If Noah had more than these three sons, there would have been more than three primary branches of the human race. Since the Divine Record does not show that he had any other than these three sons, this must mean that they are the only sons he had.
Since Noah in the picture represented the spiritual or heavenly company, or royal house of which Christ Jesus is the Head, and since Noah had no sons after the flood, this shows that the divine mandate to mul-
tiply and fill the earth does not apply to the spiritual class as to performance, but that the mandate must be carried out by human creatures acting under direct supervision of Christ Jesus, the antitypical Noah, and who is "the Everlasting Father" who administers life everlasting to all who live. — Isaiah 9:6; Romans 6:23.
The Bible record of the three sons of Noah, to wit, Shem, Japheth and Ham, sets forth the names of their children and grandchildren, all of which were born after the flood and after the restating of the divine mandate, and this record discloses seventy names or generations from the divine viewpoint. (Genesis 10:1-32) From the record it appears that Nimrod had no children and died childless and in wickedness, and for that reason his name is not included in the seventy. Memory of Nimrod shall cease for ever. "The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot." — Proverbs 10: 7.
Neither Noah nor his three sons could actually carry out the divine mandate; and this also clearly shows that each one of them played his part in the prophetic drama foretelling the carrying out of the mandate by those whom the picture foretold. Why could not Noah and his sons carry out the divine mandate? Because the ransom sacrifice had not then been paid and
they did not have and possess the right to life everlasting. They could receive such only through Christ Jesus, after the paying of the ransom price, and they all died before that time. In the picture they were counted righteous and played the part picturing a class of persons that must be actually righteous before they can carry out the divine mandate to "fill the earth". Adam was a righteous one when the mandate was given, and only righteous men can carry out that mandate in fact. Before the mandate can be carried out according to the expressed will and purpose of Almighty God, the human race must be purchased by the life-blood of Christ Jesus, God's beloved Son, and then life and the right thereto must be administered to men by Christ Jesus in order that they could be qualified to carry out the mandate. It is expressly stated, at Hebrews eleven, that Noah and the other faithful men there named were counted righteous by reason of their faith and obedience, and that all of those died without having received life and must await the completion of the Kingdom before they can come into possession of life and the right thereto. It follows, then, that Noah and his sons, being without the right to life, could not carry out the divine mandate to fill the earth, but that they each played their parts in the prophecy relative to the fulfilling of that divine mandate.
Prophecy Fulfilled
In due time Jehovah sent his beloved Son into the earth to carry out His purpose. Christ Jesus, by his own lifeblood, purchased the human race, and to him is given full power and authority to administer life to all men that believe God's Word, believe on Christ and choose to obey Christ, and that do faithfully obey God and Christ. (Matthew 28:18; John 5:22,26; 17:3) Christ Jesus, being exalted to the highest place, proceeded to build up God's capital organization in harmony with his Father's will, and which organization is the Kingdom, or THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT, of which Christ Jesus is the Head. That capital organization is spiritually made up of Christ and the 144,000 members of "his body" and designated in the Scriptures under the symbol of "little flock" of sheep, which "little flock" share the Kingdom with Christ Jesus, their Head. The faithful men of old who are to be princes in the earth must wait until that capital organisation is completed, and then they shall be granted life everlasting. The "other sheep", called "Jonadabs", and which shall form the "great multitude", are gathered unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and ultimately all of these, together with all in God's organization, must be of one fold. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and unto
my voice will they hearken [Rotherham], and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. " — John 10:16.
All must be in full harmony, and therefore all must be right and entitled, as provided by Jehovah God, to receive life everlasting through Jesus Christ. These "other sheep", that will form the "great multitude", must be gathered unto the Lord and hidden in the antitypical ark, that is to say, under the protection of the Lord's organization, and must there abide in safety until the wrath of God be passed, which wrath is expressed at Armageddon. All the members of the "great multitude" must and do receive a test, and they must prove their integrity before they receive life and the right to life everlasting.
By faith God's servants now see that the antitypical ark, that is, the Lord's capital organization, has been builded up; that Christ Jesus, the Head thereof, is on his throne of authority and has gathered to himself his associates, the members of "his body"; that before him are now gathered all the nations of earth for judgment; and that the Lord is now separating the people by putting his opponents on one side and the obedient ones on the other side, the opponents being designated as "goats" and the obedient ones designated as his "sheep". This is the time of God's "strange work"
being done in the earth, when his name and his kingdom are being declared by his witnesses in accordance with his expressed will. (Exodus 9:16) That "strange work" is about completed, and when it is completed the "other sheep" will have been gathered. What next?
Antitypical Deluge of Fire
God promised that the earth should not again be destroyed by water. (Genesis 9:15) He has plainly warned, however, that the world shall be destroyed by fire, the "fire of his jealousy" or anger. (Zephaniah 3:8; 2 Peter 3:7) Jesus says: "And as it was in the days of No'e, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man." "Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." (Luke 17: 26,30) The demons, under the command of the chief of demons, Satan the Devil, had in Noah's day completely overrun and debauched all the human race aside from Noah and his family. Likewise today the demons, under the influence, power and control of the Devil, now influence and control all the nations of the earth aside from those who have taken their stand firmly on the side of THE THEOCRACY. The small number who have turned away from demonism, and who are turning away, and who have faith in God and his kingdom and take their stand on the side of THE THEOCRACY, have the promise to be hid in the
place of safety. The nations of the earth, both the rulers and the people who fail or refuse to believe in God and Christ, are blind to the truth of God's purposes. They are in complete darkness and are oblivious to what is about to befall the world. (Isaiah 60: 2) A like condition existed in Noah's day, 'until the flood came and destroyed them all.' The nations of the earth today are gathered into the "valley of concision" (Joel 3:14, margin), and shortly the battle of that great day of God Almighty will be fought, and in that battle Christ Jesus shall completely destroy all creatures and things that are opposed to The THEOCRATIC GOVERNMENT. As Jehovah God will then exhibit his supreme power, all creation shall know that he is the Almighty God, "whose name alone is Jehovah." — Psalm 83:18.
Survivors
The survivors of Armageddon will be made righteous. The Lord's "other sheep", who have sought righteousness and meekness as God has commanded, and who are hidden under the Lord's organization, the antitypical ark, will be carried over from the old world that shall suffer destruction and shall find their place in the "new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness". (2 Peter 3:13) Jesus states that his "other sheep", who will form the "great multitude", shall be righteous and that these go into eternal
life, having received from him, as God's Executive, the right to life. — Matthew 25:46.
The "great multitude", then made up of those who are brought over from the present wicked world and who find life in the new world of righteousness, will be righteous in the sight of God. Those who will compose the "great multitude" will constitute the first ones on earth since perfect Adam that will qualify to carry out the divine mandate to fill the earth. Only righteous men and women can carry out that mandate. It follows, therefore, that the Lord's "other sheep", who will, by His grace, form the "great multitude", are to be the ones to fulfill that marvelous mandate, and that they receive their commission of authority to do so from Christ Jesus, the King, the One who ministers life everlasting to human creatures. In the prophetic picture Noah represented Christ Jesus, and his sons pictured the "other sheep" of the Lord. Noah had no children after the flood. That was prophetic. Noah's sons began to bring forth children after the flood. They pictured the "great multitude", and hence that part of the prophecy must be fulfilled by the "great multitude" after Armageddon.
The "other sheep" of the Lord, which form the "great multitude", could not be gathered to the Lord until after Christ Jesus came to the temple in 1918. Nor could his "other sheep" qualify to carry out the
divine mandate until after such have been put to the test and approved and made righteous, and receive the full benefit of the ransom sacrifice; and this could not be fully accomplished until after Armageddon. Therefore from the time of perfect Adam in Eden until the "great multitude" is completely formed, no human creatures have appeared on the earth that could meet the requirements to carry out the divine mandate.
As the earth was clean and entirely free from sin when Jehovah God first issued or stated the mandate to "multiply and fill the earth", even so the earth must be clean and free from wickedness and under the complete control and supervision of the righteous Overlord, Christ, before the divine mandate can be carried out. Under the control of the righteous Overlord the following prophecy must be fulfilled, because such is the purpose of Jehovah, to wit: "Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness; let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together. I the Lord have created it." "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited; I am the Lord, and there is none else." — Isaiah 45:8,18.
Satan corrupted the earth. (Ezekiel 28: 16-18) Satan and his wicked organization must be removed before the earth can be filled with righteous men as the mandate directs. The supervision of the work of filling the earth God has not committed to angels, but he has committed the supervision and control thereof to the Lord Jesus Christ, who has purchased all those who will compose the "great multitude" and whom he gathers unto himself according to the will of Jehovah. (Hebrews 2:5-9) "Light is sown for the righteous." (Psalm 97:11) Christ Jesus, the Redeemer and King, is the One who bears that light to righteous men in the earth. He is the great Morning Star. "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." (Revelation 22:16) The "other sheep" of the Lord, in obedience to God's commandment, now seek righteousness, and they flee to God's organization for protection; and they must flee and take their position on the side of the Lord before Armageddon, and there find refuge, and, doing so, they are now permitted to see and to enjoy the light of God's Word now revealed concerning them.
Time
The "other sheep" of the Lord must prove their faith by their works, and hence
must stand a test of faithfulness and must maintain their integrity toward God, before they receive life and the right to life at the hands of Christ Jesus. In the prophetic picture concerning the cities of refuge, which pictured the Lord's capital organization, the wrongdoer was permitted to flee to and find refuge in that city (organization) and, being there, he must be fully obedient to the rules or regulations of that city or organization. He must remain within the bounds of the city; and if he was found outside of the bounds he was subject to immediate execution; as it is written: "He shall abide in it [the city of refuge] unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with the holy oil. . . . But after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession." — Numbers 35:25-28.
As to the fulfillment of that prophetic picture, the antitypical high priest is the Lord Jesus Christ, and all the members of his body are counted in as of the high priest. (Revelation 1:6; 20: 6; 1 Peter 2: 5-10) All such have been anointed with the holy oil, that is to say, the holy spirit of God, and which anointing of the last members of the priesthood takes place after the coming of Christ Jesus to the temple. "The death of the high priest" means the end of the high priesthood or priestly class on the earth, which takes place when the "strange work"
of the Lord has been completed, that is, when the preaching of "this gospel of the kingdom" is done. The "death of the high priest" is the change of all who form the priestly or the spiritual class from human to spirit, as stated in 1 Corinthians 15:49-52. Until the members of the royal priesthood are complete the "other sheep" find refuge in the antitypical city of refuge, that is, under the organization of Christ Jesus, and must there remain and work in harmony with the Lord's organization. They must remain in that condition until Armageddon has ended. Those "other sheep" are not justified to life until the royal priesthood is fully completed. The "other sheep", having proved their faith and obedience and maintained their integrity toward God prior to and during Armageddon, thereafter receive the full benefit of the ransom sacrifice and are justified and are granted life everlasting with the right to life on earth forever thereafter. Then such are righteous, and they possess the qualifications to carry out the terms of the divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth.
One who has sought the Lord, who has exercised faith in God and in Christ Jesus and has fled to Christ and found refuge under his organization, and who then withdraws himself from that protection by forsaking the Lord, that person suffers everlasting death. Therefore it is after having fled to Christ for refuge that the "other
sheep" are tested as to their faith and obedience; and meeting the terms of that test and maintaining their integrity towards the great THEOCRACY, all such receive life and the right to life. The great and crucial time comes at the battle of Armageddon, and if those "other sheep" have obeyed the Lord's commandment to seek righteousness and meekness they have the promise of being hidden and protected by the Lord through that flood of fire. — Zephaniah 2: 2-4.
As the sons of Noah were carried through the flood in the ark, even so the "other sheep" of the Lord are carried through the fiery flood of Armageddon in the antitypical ark, that is, Christ's organization. They pass over from the world of wickedness to the new world, wherein dwells righteousness. (2 Peter 3:13) For a more detailed consideration see Riches, chapters two and three; and Salvation, chapter seven; also The Watchtower 1938, pages 307-314.
It therefore clearly appears from the Scriptures that the time when the divine mandate begins to be carried out is after Armageddon, when the earth has been cleansed of wickedness. 'As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of man.' (Luke 17:26-30) All these things pertaining to Noah, his sons, and the flood were typical and were recorded for the admonition of those upon whom the end of the world has come. — 1 Corinthians 10:11.
Childbearing
Marriage and childbearing are the means of carrying out the divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth. This mandate was given to righteous man and woman in Eden, and even so the mandate must be carried out by righteous men and women on the earth after Armageddon and who have received righteousness and the right to life from God, by Christ Jesus. (Romans 6: 23; John 17:3) From Eden to Armageddon it was not possible for the divine mandate to be carried out, for the reason that no righteous human creatures appeared on the earth qualified to carry it out. The divine mandate is unto life everlasting to righteous human creatures on the earth. After Armageddon only righteous human creatures will be on the earth. The Devil and all his wicked agents will then be completely disposed of, so that no wicked influence can be exercised over those of the earth. Then the children that are conceived in righteousness and brought forth in righteousness, by righteous parents, will be righteous, and they, being righteous, in due time will be qualified to participate in carrying out the divine mandate. It was God's command that righteous Adam and Eve, without any hindrances or limitations such as set forth in the seventh chapter of First Corinthians and at First Timothy 5:11-14, should bring
forth children. Clearly the men and women of the "great multitude", because of their being righteous and having the right to life, will marry and bring forth children without hindrance. They will occupy and fill the place that no human creature could fill from the time of Eden to the Kingdom.
Should men and women, both of whom are Jonadabs or "other sheep" of the Lord, now marry before Armageddon and bring forth children? They may choose to do so, but the admonition or advice of the Scriptures appears to be against it. Being married before Armageddon and both continuing faithful and surviving Armageddon, their marital relationship shall continue and persist after Armageddon. They receive their right to life everlasting after Armageddon, and after receiving that right to life their children then born would be born in righteousness. Children born before Armageddon of parents who had not received the right to life would not be born with the right to life, but would have the privilege of choosing to serve God and Christ and live if they prove their integrity. Otherwise stated, each one must individually choose and individually be tested.
The prophetic picture seems to set forth the correct rule, to wit: The three sons of Noah and their wives were in the ark and were saved from the flood. They did not have any children, however, until after the
flood. They began to have children two years after the flood. (Genesis 11:10,11) No children were taken into the ark and none were born in the ark, and hence none were brought out of the ark. Only eight persons went in and eight came out of the ark. (1 Peter 3:20; Genesis 8:18) That would appear to indicate it would be proper that those who will form the "great multitude" should wait until after Armageddon to bring children into the world.
It is only a few years from the time the "other sheep" are gathered to the Lord until Armageddon. That entire period is a time of much tribulation, concluding with the greatest tribulation the world will ever have known. Speaking of that very time, Jesus says: "Woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" — Matthew 24:19, 21.
That would seem to mean that those who would have infants during Armageddon would suffer much greater woe because of their care of the same. It is a great responsibility to rear children and care for them now, and it would be far greater difficulty to care for them during the time of the great tribulation upon the earth.
Jonadabs, or "other sheep" of the Lord, who are now married and have children are blessed with the great opportunity and the obligation to teach their children the Word of God and to show them the necessity of
choosing the Lord and taking their stand on the side of THE THEOCRACY and being fully obedient and loyal to the Kingdom. There is but one possible way their children can find protection and blessing, and that is by choosing the Lord and fleeing to the Lord and serving him. Each one must choose for himself.
Satan knows that his time is short, and therefore he is desperately trying to turn all persons, including the children, against God. (Revelation 12:12,17) Therefore Satan influences public officials and others to compel little children to indulge in idolatrous practices by bowing down to some image or thing, such as saluting flags and hailing men, and which is in direct violation of God's commandment. (Exodus 20:1-5) That is why in the last few years rules are made and enforced in the public schools compelling children of the Jonadabs, who are in a covenant to do God's will, to indulge in the idolatrous practice of flag-saluting and hailing men. It is the influence of that subtle foe, the Devil, that has brought about this state of affairs, and now Satan's agents cause great persecution to be brought upon the parents and the children who insist on obeying the commandments of God. This makes the way of both parents and children more difficult, but at the same time it puts a test upon them and affords them the opportunity to prove their faith and obedi-
ence and to maintain their integrity toward God and his King. Both parents and children who are now consecrated to do the will of God should rejoice in their privilege of bearing the reproaches that fall upon them because of their faithfulness to THE THEOCRACY under Christ. If they remain true and faithful to the Lord amidst such great persecution and opposition they may be fully assured that the Lord will shield and protect them and give them his great blessing through Armageddon and take them over into the new world to serve with joy forever. The Lord never forgets or forsakes those who are faithful to him.
Unto Life
The divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth was to life of the creature. That mandate to the "great multitude" is to life of the children they shall bring forth. The parents, then being justified and having the right to life which Adam lost and which Jesus bought for obedient men, will, by the Lord's grace, transmit life and the right to life to their children. There is no Scriptural reason why such child should ever die as a child. If that child, upon coming to the point of knowing good and evil, and hence to the point of individual, personal responsibility, then continues to obey God, it will live. God's law never changes, and it is written: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."
(Ezekiel 18: 4) If a descendant of the "great multitude", after reaching personal responsibility, willfully sins, then he would suffer the penalty, not as a child, but as a grownup. Righteous parents will bring up their infants in righteousness, and these will receive the blessings of the Lord. Such children will not inherit the result of Adam's sin. There would be no reason to conclude that the child would die as a child. But if as a grown-up person it becomes a willful lawbreaker of THE THEOCRACY it will suffer destruction, from which there is no resurrection. — Jeremiah 31: 29,30; Hebrews 6: 4-6.
The promise to those of the "great multitude" is that they shall bring forth children, not for trouble and pain, but to have joy. "There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner, being an hundred years old, shall be accursed. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them." — Isaiah 65: 20, 23. (This prophecy is considered at length in the book Salvation, chapter seven.)
His Organization
The "great multitude" will be of God's universal organization, which is designated under the symbol of "Jerusalem". "Zion"
is the name of God's capital organization, which organization executes and carries out God's purposes. The Lord's "other sheep" do not become a part of the universal organization of the Lord until they receive life and the right thereto, and then they will constitute the "great multitude". Note that Jesus says to them: "And other sheep have I which are not of this fold: those also I must needs bring, and unto my voice will they hearken, and there shall come to be one flock, ONE SHEPHERD." — John 10:16, Rotherham.
Christ Jesus is the Shepherd, and all who receive life from Jehovah by and through Christ Jesus must of necessity come into his flock, that is, be one of his obedient, loyal and faithful servants. All of that flock must be and shall be righteous. No unrighteous creature will be permitted therein. Since God has committed to Christ Jesus all power in heaven and in earth and to bring all creation under Christ Jesus, he is the "one Shepherd", and all of that flock, being obedient to righteousness, as Jesus states, "shall hear my voice," which means all such will be subject to and be obedient to the Lord. Jehovah, the Almighty God, is the GREAT SHEPHERD thereof: "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." — Ephesians 4:6; Psalm 23:1, Am. Rev. Ver.
The "other sheep" of the Lord, which are now being gathered by the Lord and which shall after Armageddon form the "great multitude", shall be of the general flock of the Lord, therefore of the general organization of the Lord, and must be righteous and in full accord with the Lord. The "great multitude" will therefore constitute a part of Jehovah God's organization that shall participate in carrying out Jehovah's purpose, and they shall likewise be under the supervision of Christ Jesus, the King and Shepherd of the flock. Their children will be conceived in purity and brought forth in righteousness. Note the expression by the faithful apostle: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." — 2 Peter 3:13.
The "new heavens" is The Christ, invisible to human eyes, and which rules the world in righteousness. The "new earth" is the organization upon the earth which is representative of the new heavens, and which carries out the commandments given by the new heavens. — Isaiah 65:17-23. (See Salvation, page 333, and Riches, chapter eight.)
"John, dear, permit me to say just here that my heart is filled with joy, and I repeat the words of Mary: 'My soul doth magnify the Lord.' Appropriate to us now are the words of the Psalm: 'My heart shall
rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me.' (Psalm 13:5,6) Now I can appreciate the vision had by the apostle of Christ Jesus when he heard the joyful shout of the 'great multitude': 'Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.'"
"I join with you, Eunice dear, in that song now. The purpose of Jehovah in building his marvelous organization continues to clarify in our minds. But let us in our next study ascertain, if possible, why the Lord has shown us such great favor in revealing to us these marvelous truths now."
