WHY is there so much distress and perplexity in the world? Why are the nations so desperately preparing for war? Why is there so much Selfishness among men? Why do men manipulate the prices of the food and raiment of the people and profiteer therein? Why do the politicians and the clergy deceive and mislead the people and lend their support to the selfish interests? Why are the people so much oppressed? Why are the people afflicted with famine, pestilence and disease? Why are they the victims of sickness, sorrow, suffering and death? Why is man in bondage to so many evil things? Who is responsible for all this unhappy condition? May we hope that the people will ever be delivered from this sad state and enter into the joys of peace, prosperity, health, life, liberty and happiness? Why am I? From whence did I come and what can I do to help my fellowman?
These and many like questions crowded into the mind of the young man who desired to better the conditions for himself and his fellowman. He set out to find, if possible, the satisfactory answers to his questions, He visited and made inquiry of philosophers, doctors, Clergymen, savants and other professedly wise men. The answer of each one, based upon human opinion, was entirely unsatisfactory.
What value is to be found in the unsupported opinion of imperfect men? Are not all of these men a part of the great multitude that travel the same unpleasant road? There must be some evidence that will speak with authority upon which a reasonable mind can rely, Thus soliloquized the youthful inquirer. Then he came upon a man of mature years. His head was clothed with silver locks. He had a kind face, and pleasant speech. When the questions were propounded to him this man did not venture his own opinion. In substance he replied:
"You are right in concluding that the unsupported opinion of man is of little or no value. There is one Eternal God, from whom proceeds everything that is good. There is a great evil one who is the enemy of God and the oppressor of man. That enemy has long had the power of death. The righteous God has not interfered with this wicked one in carrying on his evil work but has used what has transpired for the testing of his creatures. Wickedness will not always prevail. In due time the evil one and his evil influence will be destroyed. Deliverance of the people is certain.
"These great truths of which I speak are set forth in that wonderful book we call the Bible. It does not contain the opinions of imperfect men; it is the Word of Almighty God, the Maker of heaven and earth. It was written by holy men of old as their minds were directed by the power of the great Jehovah. I mean that is was written under divine inspiration. It discloses the origin of man, why man has suffered and how and when mankind will be delivered from all enemies and from all oppression. These great truths are so stated in the Bible that for many centuries they have been a secret
and could not be understood until God's due time. It is now due time to understand them.
"We are now well on in the twentieth century. There is a great increase in knowledge and much running to and fro in the earth; and God said that these things would mark the time when his Book, containing his secret, could be understood. Of course the All-Wise One would have a plan from the beginning which must work out according to his own will. The time is come for man to understand how this divine plan has been operating. I bid you to carefully examine God's great treasure-house of knowledge. Therein you will find the full and satisfactory answer to all the questions you have propounded."
Thus advised the searcher for truth sought and obtained the book, the Bible, and read therein: "The reverence of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10); and, "The secret of the Lord is with them that reverence him, and to them will he show his plan." (Psalm 25:14) With reverential mind and honest purpose the answers to the foregoing questions were sought in that great treasure-house of knowledge, and what follows in these pages is what was therein disclosed.
THE CREATOR
Jehovah is the name of the great Creator. That name signifies Self-Existing, Eternal, the Immortal One. "Thou, whose name alone is Jehovah." (Psalm 83:18) Immortal means that which is not subject to death but possesses life inherent. It is written concerning the great Jehovah God: "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) He first revealed his name to Moses. (Exodus 6:3) He is the great Creator of heaven and earth. (Isaiah 40: 28; 42: 5) Every good and perfect gift proceedeth from him. (James 1:17) He is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11: 6) He is from everlasting to everlasting. (Psalms 90: 2; 93: 2) "In the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength." — Isa. 26:4.
THE LOGOS
Of necessity there must have been a time when Jehovah God was alone. That time was before the beginning of the creation of beings or things. His Word discloses the beginning of creation. The mind of St. John was moved upon by the invisible power of God, and under inspiration he wrote: "Originally was the Logos, and the Logos was with God; and the Logos was a God. The same was originally with God. All things through him came into existence; in him was life, and the life was the light of men." — John 1:1-4.
The term Logos is one of the titles applied to the first or beginning of God's creation. (Revelation 3:14) Concerning him 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 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.
By these scriptures we are advised that the Logos was the only direct creation of Jehovah God, and that there-
after the Logos was Jehovah's active agent in the creation of everything that came into existence.
Solomon makes record concerning the Logos and represents him speaking of himself in these words: "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 heaven, 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: then was I by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him." — Prov. 8: 23-30.
It seems to be clearly settled by the Scriptures that the Logos (which means one who speaks for another) vas the honored messenger of Jehovah God from time to time. He was sent on missions as the special ambassador of Jehovah. (Exodus 3:2,15; Genesis 18:1; Exodus 23: 20; Joshua 5:14) Being the beginning of God's creation and his special messenger, as his name implies, the Logos of necessity would occupy a confidential relationship to Jehovah. It would therefore be reasonable that Jehovah would speak with him and consult with him about creation.
The Scriptures do not indicate the order of the creation of those angels that belong to the invisible realm
of God; but it is disclosed that such include cherubim, seraphim, angels and others, all of whom are designated "sons of God".
Cherubim are spirit beings who evidently occupy a position of importance in the execution of the purposes of God. — Genesis 3:24; Ezekiel 10:13-15.
Seraphim, the Scriptures indicate, also are heavenly beings serving in positions of importance relative to the execution of the divine plan. — Isaiah 6: 2-6.
Angels are messengers or ambassadors who are entrusted with the transmission of messages and execution of orders from the courts of heaven. — Genesis 19: 1,15; 28:12; Psalm 91:11.
All the creatures of God, who therefore receive their life from him, are properly designated his sons, In the course of events concerning his realm these sons, at stated times, present themselves before Jehovah. — Job 1:6; 2:1.
LUCIFER
Amongst the mighty creatures of Jehovah God is the one first called Lucifer. His name means Light-bearer or "Morning Star". God's prophet speaks of him as the "Son of the Morning". It would be difficult to find words more descriptive of beauty. He belonged to the heavenly realm and was therefore in the holy kingdom of God, and the description of him shows that he was shining forth amongst the others of that glorious place. This description indicates that he was more showy than the other creatures of heaven. Of him it is written that "every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle,
and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee." — Ezekiel 28:13-15.
When we gaze into the great space above us at night we behold innumerable stars, even with the naked eye; but with a powerful lens myriads of these balls of fire can be seen reflecting the glory of the great Creator. Without doubt this mighty one Lucifer, all glorious and beautiful in his apparel, was privileged to walk up and down amidst these stars or planets and feast upon the marvels of the creation of the Eternal One.
The Logos, the active agent of Jehovah God in the creation of all things, of course, created Lucifer. These two, Lucifer and the Logos, are designated in the Scriptures as "the Morning Stars". The Logos was always the delight of the great Eternal One because of his faithfulness. Since the Scriptures declare that all the creation of God is perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4) the presumption must be indulged that all these creatures in heaven were beautiful and glorious, dwelling together in peace and in harmony, and all giving glory and praise to Jehovah God.
In the course of time it pleased the Almighty Eternal One to prepare a place for the habitation of man, whom he then purposed to create. The record is: "In the beginning God created the heaven and earth," and he "made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddling band for it". In heaven these crea-
tures no doubt were informed that the planet earth was being prepared as a place for the habitation of the creature man whom God would create in his own image, and this knowledge must have greatly delighted God's heavenly creatures. It is recorded that when God laid the foundation of the earth for man's habitation the Morning Stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy. — Job 38: 4-9.
The Scriptures clearly teach that there were two mighty creatures designated "Morning Stars", to wit, The Logos and Lucifer. There must have been a great convocation of the glorious creatures of heaven at the beginning of the creation of earth, and it was at this convocation that the creatures were advised by the Creator of his intention and purpose to prepare a habitation for man and to create man; and there these two mighty ones, "the Morning Stars," sang together a song of praise to the Eternal One, and every one of the sons of God was so thrilled by the song that they shouted together for joy. So far as men know there is no other planet that is inhabited. The creation of the earth for man would be of most profound interest to the creatures of the heavenly realm.
CREATION OF MAN
The earth was created; and upon it were placed the plants and the herbs, the beast and the fowl, the fruits and the flowers. But there was no man to till the ground nor to enjoy the produce thereof. God must have spoken to some one of his intention to create man, and it is reasonable that the Logos would have been the one to whom he spoke. It is recorded: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and
let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." — Genesis 1:26-28.
It seems quite clear that the image and likeness here do not mean form or organism. The four divine primary attributes possessed by Jehovah for ever are wisdom, justice, love and power. The perfect man, the intelligent creature, must have been endowed with these attributes; and as God has dominion over the universe so man was given dominion over the creatures of the earth and was clothed with power to produce his species, fill the earth therewith and subdue the planet.
God did not create man and then give him an immortal soul, as many have been induced to believe. The words soul, creature and man mean the same thing. Every man is a soul, but no man can possess a soul. The statement or method of creation is plainly set forth in the Scriptures: "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." — Genesis 2:7.
Then God caused all the beasts and the fowl to pass before Adam, and he gave each one its name. Each beast and each fowl found its mate or kind. "But for Adam there was not found an help meet for him."
"And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." (Genesis 2:18-20) Then the woman was made and brought unto the man.
That part of the earth where man first saw the light must have been surpassingly beautiful. Eden means a paradise. It was on the eastern side of Eden that God planted a garden and there he put man, whom he had formed, to dress and to keep it. This was the home of Adam and his wife.
Taking as a basis this brief record, which we know is true because made under divine supervision, we may draw upon the imagination for a moment. In heaven there was a great and happy multitude of angels, strong, vigorous, and beautiful. There were the cherubim and seraphim holding responsible positions of trust and confidence. There was Lucifer, the bright shining one, who surpassed the others in show and beauty. And there was the Logos, the great and mighty right arm of Jehovah God, by whom all things were created that were made. All of these creatures were the delight of the Mighty Creator and especially was that true of the Logos. Up to that time all were loyal and true to God.
On the earth now was the perfect man, strong, vigorous and handsome; with eyes so keen that they knew no dimness, and with the agility and swiftness of the hind. And with him was his wife, possessing grace and surpassing beauty such as no man now on this earth has ever beheld, for she was perfect. Without doubt there was some means of communication established between those of heaven and the perfect creatures of earth.
The man and the woman were endowed with power and
authority to bring forth children and to fill the earth with their descendants, and the heavenly creatures must have observed this with the keenest interest and joy. There is no evidence that any of the heavenly creatures were endowed with power to produce any offspring. The propagation of the race on earth then was new and novel, and all the heavenly hosts must have waited and watched with deepest concern for the time to coma when man would fill the earth with a joyful race of people, all of whom would worship and praise the great Jehovah God. Happiness reigned in heaven and happiness reigned on earth. The environment was beautiful, pleasing to the eye, a joy to the heart, and all to the praise of the Eternal God, the Creator.
