IN THE land of Palestine the environment and conditions are such as to induce solemn meditation. Walking over the hills of Judea in the autumn season you are quickly convinced that here the rarity of the atmosphere and the clearness of the sky are unusual. At night-time the stars appear in such great numbers that they seem to crowd each other for space in the heavens. You are reminded then that astronomers estimate that there are thirty thousand million astral bodies in our universe. Of course the human mind cannot fully grasp or appreciate that statement, but as you gaze into the heaven of bright shiners you conclude that astronomers have not overstated the matter. With admiration, wonder and reverential awe you behold them. Involuntarily you ask, Who made that myriad of marvelous stars that shed their gentle light to cheer the way of the weary traveler?
Knowing that you are a sensible man, endowed with reasoning faculties, you seek a sensible and reasonable answer to your question. You know of the theory of evolution, but at once you discard that theory as unworthy of consideration. It is not reasonable that those stars made themselves nor that they came there by chance. Their very existence bears eloquent testimony that there is a Creator far greater than the stars and by whom they were made and hung in space.
You know that you have an honest and sincere desire for information concerning the wonders that you now behold. Who put that desire into your mind? Who clothed you with power to reason and the faculty to seek information? If there is a great Creator who made those wonderful astral bodies, and who made you, is it not reasonable that he would make it possible for you to obtain a true answer to your honest inquiry? If there is in existence a record giving the true answer concerning the origin of things visible then that record must be consistent with itself and consistent with the great Maker.
All the books written at the dictation of man fail to measure up to the required standard, because they are merely the expressed opinions of an imperfect man. They are not consistent with themselves nor with the Creator, who must possess unlimited wisdom and power. The Bible meets every requirement. It is consistent with itself. It is not contradictory when understood. It is consistent with him who is perfect in wisdom, justice, love and power. It answers your questions, and these answers will be found entirely satisfactory to the reasonable mind. It is the sacred Word of the Creator.
The Bible discloses that the name of the One who exercises supreme power in creation and in all things is God. He also has other names, as is shown by the Bible, all of which have a deep significance concerning his relationship to his creatures. A careful study of the Bible proves that it is absolutely true. As you progress in the examination of the sacred pages you marvel at the wonders there disclosed. You are forced to the conclusion that only the supreme mind of the great Eternal One could have dictated that Book. It not only proves the existence of the great God, and that he is the Author of creation, but discloses a marvelous program which the great Creator is working out in his own
orderly and perfect way and which shall ultimately result to the good of all his creatures and to the glory of the great Creator.
The reverential mind pursues its study with the keenest interest. As his mind broadens and his vision of its great truths increases, instinctively he exclaims: "0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" If you, as an imperfect man, develop a plan and then begin to build, how much more reasonable to expect the mighty Creator of the universe to have all his plan perfected from the beginning. The Bible discloses that God has such a plan, and that in the progressive march of his work each event transpires exactly as he has timed it.
The outworking of the divine plan holds the greatest interest to any one who diligently and honestly seeks knowledge. "A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels." (Proverbs 1:5) "When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things." — Proverbs 2: 10-12.
But how shall I begin to learn wisdom? you ask. The reverence of the Lord God is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 111:10) Those who reverentially and diligently seek to understand the secrets of the Lord will be rewarded. "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant." — Psalm 25:14.
Faith means to obtain a truthful knowledge and then to confidently rely upon that knowledge. Faith in God means to acquire the truth and facts concerning God and then to confidently rely upon that. If you would know the Lord and receive his good pleasure then you
must believe that God, the great Eternal One, exists, and that he is the rewarder of those that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6) You cannot believe without knowledge. That man might obtain knowledge God has endowed him with reasoning faculties, and then he invites man to use those faculties and reason upon the great truths revealed in the Scriptures. (Isaiah 1:18) You will find that reason and the Scriptures are in exact harmony.
Now to the question which you propounded to yourself: Who made the stars? The Word of God answers: "And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also." (Genesis 1:16) Not only did he make them, but, "He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names." (Psalm 147:4) The eternal power and deity are clearly seen and may be understood by the things which God has made. (Romans 1: 20) Observation of these wonders beheld in the sky above induces sober meditation. And now, "Come, let us reason together" upon the things of creation.
Beginning of Creation
There must have been a time when the great God was alone. There must have been a time when he began his creation. Does the Bible disclose what was the beginning of God's creation? It does. The time of the beginning is not revealed; that is to say, no date is disclosed. Whether that time was a million or ten million years ago is not material to man. The fact of the beginning of creation is what man seeks. We may know that the mighty Eternal One who would create all things according to his sovereign will, and who would cause a record thereof to be written, would cause that record to be written truthfully.
The Word of God, the Bible, therefore imports absolute verity. There could be no inducement to have a false record. The men therefore who were used by the great God to write the Bible were directed by his unlimited power and perfect wisdom in making the Bible record true and right. "The works of his hands are verity and judgment: all his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." (Psalm 111: 7, 8) The Word of God is true, and he magnifies it above his name. (Psalm 138:2) The great Eternal One changes not, and what once was true is always true. "Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope." (Psalm 119:116) The Word of God is absolute authority concerning the beginning of creation. That authority is certain, and upon it the student may confidently rely.
The Word of God records the fact that long before the creation of the earth, when there was no sea, when there were no springs and lakes, before there were any mountains or hills, yea, before the sun and the moon and the stars were made, God began his creation; and that beginning was his beloved One, known in the Holy Record as the Logos. The word Logos is one of the names or titles given to the beloved Son of God, and carries with it a deep meaning. When God gives a creature or thing a name, that name bears much significance. Logos means the representative or spokesman for the great Creator. The title is therefore often translated WORD, because he who is the Logos is the express Word of the One whom he represents.
It pleased God to speak through the Logos, that his message might be conveyed to others of his intelligent creation. (Hebrews 1:2) It is therefore appropriate that this mighty and beloved Son be called the Word of God. Concerning him it is written: "In the beginning was the Logos [Word], and the Logos [Word] was with
the God, and the Logos [Word] was a god. This was in the beginning with the God." (John 1:1, 2, Diaglott, interlinear.) This mighty One, the Logos, speaking as the authorized representative of the great Jehovah God concerning the question of the beginning of creation, said:
"The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth; when he established the clouds above; when he strengthened the fountains of the deep; when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment; when he appointed the foundations of the earth." — Prov. 8: 22-29.
This beloved One, the beginning of God's creation, was the delight of the great God; and the Father, the Creator, took his beloved Son into his counsel, and thereafter operated through him in the creation of all things that have been created. "All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made." — John 1: 3.
In God's due time this creature, the Logos, was transferred from heaven to earth and made in the likeness of man. "The Word [Logos] was made flesh, and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) He was then known by his God-given name of Jesus, because the name Jesus means that he is the Savior. (Matthew 1: 21) At the time of the beginning of his earthly ministry he was anointed by God's holy spirit; and from that time forward he was known by the title Christ Jesus, because Christ means
Anointed One. (Matthew 1:16) After he had represented Jehovah faithfully on the earth he was given, in addition to his other titles, the title of "Faithful and True". — Revelation 19:11.
It is again stated in the Bible that the Logos was "the beginning of the creation of God". (Revelation 3:14) After his creation God made the Logos his active agent in the creation of everything that was created. The great God placed his beloved One, the Logos, in a position of confidence and trust. He counseled with him; and all things were created at the direction of the Almighty God, by and through the work of his beloved One, the Logos. Concerning this it is written:
"Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: for by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in the earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist." — Colossians 1:15-17.
As further proof that the Logos was God's true and trusted One, it is written: "God . . . created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 3:9) Not that he was Jesus Christ at the time all things were created, but this mighty One who now holds the title of Jesus Christ, as well as other titles, was the One who created all things. Nothing was ever created by the Almighty God after the creation of the Logos, except by and through his beloved One.
Here then is the authoritative proof that the stars and all things visible and invisible were created by Jehovah God by and through his active Agent, the Logos. In this and in all other work the Logos has been at all times true and faithful in representing the great Jehovah God.
"God is a Spirit." (John 4: 24) God is invisible to man, and always will be. "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting." (1 Timothy 6:16) The word "spirit" is from a root word translated in the English, wind. The wind is invisible to man, and it has power. God is invisible to man, and possesses unqualified power. It is therefore appropriate that we speak of God as The Spirit; because he is, and always will be, invisible to man, and in him resides all power.
God is not a spirit creature, but he is a spirit Being. The Logos is a spirit creature, and was created by the great Spirit Jehovah. From the time of his creation he was with God, in his presence, and ever his delight. It is therefore entirely proper, according to the Scriptures, that we state that the Logos, now also known as Christ Jesus, the great and mighty Son of God, is a spirit being, and the first creature of all of God's creation.
No creature can exist without form or organism. Every spirit being must have a body suited to that being or creature. "There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:44) The natural body is flesh and blood and bones. A spirit body has none of these. (Luke 24:39; 1 Corinthians 15:50) Man cannot describe the appearance of a spirit body, because this knowledge has not been given nor revealed to him. "It doth not yet appear" what a spirit being is like. — 1 John 3: 2.
In symbolical language the stars are used to represent spirit beings. (Numbers 24:17; Job 38: 7; Psalm 148: 3; Isaiah 14:13; Daniel 12: 3; Revelation 2: 28) As the stars which we behold shed forth light reflecting the glory of the great Creator, so the spirit creatures in the realm of the great God are bearers of light in his name and to his glory.
Among the spirits created by Jehovah, through his beloved One the Logos, was Lucifer. His name means "the bearer of light" or morning star. (Isaiah 14:12) It is written concerning him: "Thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire." (Ezekiel 28:14) The term "stones of fire" here seems to symbolically refer to other spirit creatures shedding forth great light. (Hebrews 1:7; Psalm 104:4) A class of creatures created by the great God, by and through the Logos, is described in the Scriptures as cherubim. The great eternal Jehovah is represented as dwelling between the cherubim. (1 Samuel 4:4; 2 Samuel 6:2; Psalm 99: 1) Thus the Scriptures indicate that the cherubim occupy positions of honor and trust near the great Jehovah God.
Seraphim is the name given to other creatures of the spirit realm. They were created by the Logos, acting in the name and under the direction of the great Jehovah God. These creatures are bearers of light reflecting the glory of the great Jehovah. — Isaiah 6: 2-4.
Archangel is the name given to some of God's spirit creatures, which name signifies "first in rank". (1 Thessalonians 4:16) The title or name archangel was also applied at times to the Logos, when he was serving Jehovah in a certain or specific capacity. One of his titles is "Michael", which means "like God". (Jude 9; Daniel 10:13; Revelation 12: 7) It seems quite clear, however, that the title Michael is applied to the messenger of Jehovah clothed with chief authority and sent on some special mission. In proof of this, it is written: "Lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me." The title, however, especially belongs to the great and beloved Son of God. — Daniel 12:1.
Angels are others of God's spirit or heavenly creatures, made by him through his beloved One the Logos. "Who
maketh his angels spirits: his ministers a flaming fire." (Psalm 104:4) Angels mean messengers sent or dispatched as deputies or representatives to perform some specifically assigned duty. In the outworking of the divine plan these messengers or angels have always been employed by Jehovah to carry out his orders. These angels are spirit creatures, and are therefore invisible to man. They have from time to time been granted the power to appear before men in material bodies, and then at the proper and convenient time to disappear or dematerialize. Many instances are recorded in the Bible where angels have appeared in the form of men in order to perform some mission granted to them by Jehovah.
On an occasion Abraham was sitting in the door of his tent, which was then pitched in the plains of Mamre, in the southern part of Palestine. Looking up he saw three men standing before him. The circumstances recorded in connection therewith and subsequent thereto clearly establish the fact that one of these three messengers was the Logos, who appeared in human form to bring a message of great importance to Abraham. — Genesis 18: 2-20.
When Abraham, in obedience to God's command, was offering up his son Isaac, "the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven" (Genesis 22:11), thus proving that angels appeared as messengers for Jehovah to deliver messages for him, and were in the presence of men although invisible at the time, because in spirit bodies. Heaven means that which is high and lofty, and which is invisible to human eyes. Angels are greater and higher than man. The angel was greater and higher than Abraham, and was invisible to Abraham; and the angel there speaking was the messenger of the great God.
These spirit creatures or messengers of God appear otherwise than in human form for the purpose of carrying out orders from Jehovah. An instance of this is found when Moses beheld a bush on fire and yet the bush was not consumed by the fire. He turned aside to observe the phenomenon. "And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses." — Exodus 3: 2-4.
Angels have been used as the invisible guides of men. When God directed Moses to lead the Israelites through the wilderness and on to the land of Canaan, he said: "Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared." — Exodus 23: 20.
These spirit creatures have often been sent by the Lord God as messengers of war, to execute orders against the enemies of his people. When Joshua was about to lead the Israelites into the land of Canaan God sent one of his angels as captain of his own host to direct Joshua.
"And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the Lord's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so." — Joshua 5:13-15.
There are in heaven great multitudes of spirit creatures called angels, "even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them." (Psalm 68:17) The Lord God
sends these as protectors of those who are his. "And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim." — Genesis 32:1,2.
These angels are spoken of as the hosts of Jehovah God. They are also referred to as legions, thus indicating that they are organized into great bodies to carry out Jehovah's purposes. When the Logos, then Jesus, was on earth, and was about to be slaughtered by his enemies, he said to his disciple: "Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?" — Matthew 26:53.
These mighty spirit creatures God has made for his purposes and for his pleasure. That they are beautiful and glorious beyond description of human phrase there can be no doubt. No man can see a spirit creature or being and live. When some of these have appeared in the form of men they were beautiful and glorious. It follows then that in their spirit bodies they are far more beautiful and glorious. Daniel the prophet records such an experience. This is what he says:
"Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz. His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire; and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude." — Daniel 10: 5, 6.
On the morning of the resurrection of Jesus, when some of his faithful followers went to the tomb to give attention to the body, "the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like
lightning, and his raiment white as snow." — Matthew 28:2, 3.
Since these accounts are attempts to describe the beauty and glory of the lesser angels, how much more beautiful and glorious must be the Logos! Concerning the beloved Son of God it is written: "Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips; therefore God hath blessed thee for ever." (Psalm 45: 2) After Jesus had ascended on high Saul of Tarsus had a vision of his reflected glory, and so marvelous was it that Saul was stricken blind. The light from that reflected glory was brighter than the sun at noonday. — Acts 9:3-8.
In the same Sacred Record it is written concerning this mighty and glorious One: "My beloved is white and ruddy; the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most fine gold; his locks are bushy, and black as a raven: his eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set: his cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers, his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh: his hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires: his legs are as pillars of marble set upon sockets of fine gold; his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars: his mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, 0 daughters of Jerusalem." — Canticles 5:10-16.
Long ages ago, before earthly time began, the great Jehovah God had a wonderful and mighty organization consisting of a host of spirit creatures, the beautiful angels among them, archangels, seraphim, cherubim, Lucifer and the mighty Logos, the two latter being designated as "the morning stars". We may be sure that the great Creator would not create these mighty creatures for any idle purpose; therefore we must know that
each one of them was assigned to some duty of importance. They were, when created and so assigned, all holy; because they were completely devoted to Jehovah. These glorious spirit creatures, all in harmony with God, constitute what is called the heavens.
Above and higher than all, of course, was the great Jehovah God; and all of his holy creatures were singing praises and rejoicing before the Eternal One. "Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. ... To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old: lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice." (Psalm 68: 4, 33) All these of the spirit realm obeyed, supported, upheld and looked up to and praised the great God; therefore it is written that Jehovah rides above the heaven of the heavens. All the heavens declared his glory and sang his praises.
Up to the period of time thus far described in God's creation there was no earth and, of course, no man. It seems reasonable that God disclosed to his heavenly creatures his purposes of making a creature called man, who should be king of his home and whose home should be designated the earth. The time came then to lay the foundation of the earth, and that wonderful ceremony of laying the corner stone of the place for a habitation of this creature intended to be created brought great joy to the creatures in heaven. The two mighty "morning stars" sang together a duet, and all the sons of God shouted for joy. — Job 38: 7.
Doubtless at this time there were myriads of stars and planets already created and performing their function and shedding forth the glory of the great Creator, but as yet there was no earth. The dawn of creation of earth was only beginning to break when this marvelous ceremony was held in heaven, at which these
glorious creatures performed to the praise of the great and mighty God.
Up to this time there was nothing in heaven to mar its peace, beauty and happiness. We know this because God had created everything there, and all the works of Jehovah are perfect. (Deuteronomy 32:4) So far as the divine record discloses, nothing up to this time had occurred as an inducement to cause the deflection of any of the spirit beings. As a mighty host, led by the Logos and the other great light-bearer that walked by his side, they proclaimed the praises of him who inhabiteth eternity. They looked forward with joyful anticipation when there should be another realm in which a creature should be brought forth in the image and likeness of the great Jehovah God, endowed with wisdom, justice, love and power, and be made the ruler of the place of his habitation.
