AS HEREIN used, "the nation born" means that the constituted authority possessing the right to rule has begun to function; that is to say, has begun to reign.
In the history of men kingdoms are commonly spoken of as nations. The duly constituted authority that rules an organized people is called a kingdom, a nation, or a government. These terms may be used interchangeably. Government and empire mean the same thing. If there is a shade of difference it is that empire is more comprehensive. It would be proper to say that a kingdom or nation may begin on a small scale; but that when it is extended so as to embrace many peoples, and exercises absolute and supreme power and sway, it may then be properly termed an empire.
The Scriptures refer to THE Christ as "a holy nation". (1 Peter 2:9) To be born means to be brought forth or to begin to function. It is here used in a figurative or descriptive sense, and as applied to a nation it means that that nation has begun to exercise authority. It is a woman that gives birth. "She was delivered of a man child." (Isaiah 66: 7) Zion, God's organization which gives birth to the man child, is symbolically called a woman.
In a government or power the right to govern rests upon some duly constituted authority. It is written
of the Messiah: "The government shall be upon his shoulder." (Isaiah 9:6) "The kingdom [government] is the Lord's; and he is the governor among the nations." (Psalm 22:28) When Jesus was on earth he spoke of himself as "the kingdom", because he was appointed to rulership. (Matthew 10:7) The prophet, referring to the kingdom and showing that it is separate and distinct from the individuals composing it, said: "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Daniel 7: 27) The ones exercising the kingdom, as the Scriptures show, are Jesus and those whom he associates with himself as members of his body.
At the time of the overturning of his typical kingdom, the nation of Israel, God indicated that a definite time was fixed when he whose right it is shall come and shall rule, and at which time he will take his power and begin his reign. (Ezekiel 21:27) The one who comes with right to rule, and who in God's due time begins his reign, is the Messiah. (Genesis 49:10) It follows then that when he who has the right to rule takes his power and begins his reign, the world, under the supervision of Satan the enemy, would end. Basing their conclusions upon numerous prophecies God had given them, the devout Jews understood and believed that with the coming of the Messiah the world would end, and that Messiah's kingdom would function and would bless them with the blessings which they desired. The eleven disciples of Jesus who were faithful to the end believed him to be the Messiah. Peter had expressly so
stated and had received the commendation of Jesus for the statement, and doubtless the other disciples heard and believed the same thing. — Matthew 16:16.
These disciples believing and expecting that the world under Prince Satan would end and that then the Messiah's kingdom would succeed to authority, they approached the Master privately and propounded to him this question: "Tell us, ... what shall be the sign [proof] of thy coming and of the end of the world?" — Matthew 24:3.
What world was meant in this question propounded? World means mankind, organized into forms of government, under the supervision of an invisible overlord. Symbolically it is spoken of in the Scriptures as heaven and earth. (2 Peter 3:7) Heaven means the invisible part of the world, functioning, operating and directing both the invisible and the visible. Earth symbolically represents that part of the organization that is visible to human eyes. At the time the disciples propounded this question Satan was god, prince and ruler of the world. — 2 Corinthians 4: 3,4; John 14:30.
Jesus plainly stated: "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) Of necessity his kingdom or nation or government could not be of the world there mentioned, for the reason that Satan was in control; and it was not God's due time for Jesus to take control. The disciples understood that Satan's world must end and that the Messiah's world, at some future time, must begin; and for this reason they propounded to Jesus the question.
The answer given to the question propounded by the disciples was put in prophetic phrase. The answer could not be fully understood or appreciated until the
time for its fulfilment, and then the physical facts would enable those who saw and discerned them to understand the prophecy. Having come to the time for the fulfilment of the answer prophetically given by Jesus those who are watching and comparing the physical facts with the prophecy see and understand the same.
Jesus, in answering the question, first cautioned the disciples not to permit any one to deceive them. He said to them in substance: There will be wars and rumors of wars before the end comes. Do not be disturbed about these, because the end is not yet. Then he stated to them the first evidences or proof that the end of the evil world had been reached. He said: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows." — Matthew 24: 7, 8.
And now let us examine the physical facts and see how well they fit the prophetic words of Jesus. He said that the beginning of sorrows, that is to say, the death pains of the old world, would be marked by nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. He meant of course a great war, for the reason that he was just speaking of wars. Prior to 1914 all the wars that had ever been fought were army against army and clan against clan. Never before in the history of man was there a war like the one from 1914 to 1918. Every part of the combatant nations was called into action. Men were sent to the front, and women also; while the men and women who remained at home were obligated, under command of their government, to supply the sinews of war.
Everything of the nation was commandeered for
war purposes. Even the babes had to perform their part in the conflict, because their food was officially curtailed in order that there might be a conservation of food for the armies at the front. The quantity of flour, meal, sugar and other necessities were rationed to the people at home, to the end that the war might be won. It was nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, involving practically all the nations of Christendom; and there was never another war like it. Then followed great famines in Russia, in Austria, in Germany and in various parts of the Orient. More people by far died from famine than were killed in the war. Quickly came a pestilence known as the Spanish flu; and as this moved from the frozen to the torrid zones it swept before it the people in great multitudes. More people died from this pestilence in one year than were killed in battle during the four years of the war.
Call to mind also that since 1914 there have been more disastrous earthquakes than in any time of the world's history. These are physical facts which any man except a preacher can understand. The clergy have literally closed their eyes to all this array of evidence. The Lord made it so plain that "wayfaring men, though fools", can understand. But some of them will not understand. — Psalm 82: 5; Daniel 12:10.
Then said Jesus: "Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." (Matthew 24: 9) During this World War there was a small company of Christians who were putting forth their best efforts to tell the people that the World War was a proof of the end of the world and of the coming of Messiah's kingdom. These of course must be classed in as disciples of
Christ because they testified to what he said; and for this reason this little company of Christians was hated and persecuted in every nation where its members happened to reside. Hereinbefore reference was made to The Golden Age Magazine, number twenty-seven, as containing an extensive account of this persecution, which reached a climax in 1918, just before the World War ended.
"And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another." (Matthew 24:10) This scripture was literally fulfilled from 1914 to 1918 by the fact that some who professed to be followers of Christ Jesus betrayed into the hands of the governing factors those who were trying to faithfully represent the Lord.
On November 11th, 1918, with the signing of the armistice, the war suddenly came to an end. No one could give a good reason why it there ended, because no side had won a victory. The real reason why the fighting there ceased is clearly indicated by the Scriptures. The Lord desired that the World War, the famine, the pestilence, the earthquakes, persecution of Christians, etc., should serve as a testimony to those who should come to know that Christ is present, that his kingdom is at hand, and that the old world had reached its end. But this testimony could not be freely declared unto the nations and peoples while the war was in progress and while many of the Lord's witnesses were languishing in prison.
The Lord caused the war to come suddenly to an end in order that his declaration contained in Matthew 24:14 might be fulfilled, to wit: "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a
witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come." Beginning in 1918 and up to this time (1926) this little company of Christians have proclaimed the good news of the presence of the Lord, of the end of the world, and of the beginning of Messiah's kingdom, in all the nations where the name of Christ is named; and without doubt this witness has been given in fulfilment of the prophetic words of the Master, as another proof of the time in which man is now on the earth.
Other further testimony was given by Jesus, corroborating what he had previously said and further showing that the world has ended and that his kingdom has come. "And Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." (Luke 21:24) Jerusalem here undoubtedly refers to the Jewish people, because the text distinguishes them from the Gentiles. For nearly two thousand years the desire of the Jews has been that they might return to Palestine. It was about the time of the end of the war that the British Empire, having then assumed a protectorate over the land of Palestine, spoke through her representative Mr. Balfour and declared it to be the purpose and policy of the British Empire that the Jews should return to their homeland and there establish themselves. It is true that there had been previous preparations toward this end, but this was the first time that any authoritative action had been taken to reestablish the Jews in their homeland.
Accordingly in the spring of 1918 Dr. Chaim Weizmann, at the head of a Jewish organization, opened offices at Jerusalem and began the formation of a Jewish polity. Since then there has been a gradual and healthy increase of the population of Jews in Palestine;
and clearly in fulfilment of prophecy they have acquired title to lands, have builded houses, colonies, factories, installed irrigation plants, dedicated their great university in the city of Jerusalem, and have done many other things looking to a rebuilding of Palestine for the Jews and by the Jews. This is so clear that no one can doubt that it is in fulfilment of the prophecies of Jesus and of the other holy prophets.
Furthermore, Jesus said concerning the end of the world: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." (Luke 21: 25, 26) Sun is a symbol of the light of the divine plan. The moon is a symbolic expression used to represent the divine law; whereas stars symbolically represent ecclesiastical leaders. Since 1918 the clergy in the various denominations have practically repudiated God's plan for the establishment of his kingdom. They have repudiated and refused to walk according to the divine law; therefore these, symbolically represented as stars, have fallen.
Although several years have elapsed since the World War ceased, yet it is fully appreciated by all the people that "upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity" continues. Nations, in this scripture, clearly refer to the organized governments of the earth; and all of these governments are now in perplexity and distress, not knowing what to do. They are in fear and trepidation of losing their power. Continuing, the Lord said: "The sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts
failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth." (Luke 21: 25, 26) The "sea" represents the restless element of humanity; and these are dashing against each other and against the governments, and are roaring. The common people even fear for what things they see coming upon the earth. All these things further testify that the world reached its end and began to pass away in 1914; and that there, in the time of the Lord's presence, the birth of The Nation occurred.
The Prophet Daniel described the kingdoms of this world, or world powers, from the time of Nebuchadnezzar to the time of the end. He then stated, in substance, that while these world powers or kingdoms are still in existence the kingdom of God shall be set up. "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." (Daniel 2:44) This kingdom of God is described in prophetic phrase as "the stone cut out without hands" which exercises its power against all other world powers. (Daniel 2: 34,45) This stone is the new nation born. The Scriptures therefore definitely show that at the end of Satan's world, when the nations and kingdoms would begin to war, the Lord would be present and that the new and righteous kingdom of God would then be born.
ZION THE MOTHER
Jehovah God is the Father or Life-giver of the empire or kingdom, because he begets and gives life to each one of those who are to make up the reigning house.
Zion "the city of God" is his organization, which is also described under the name of Jerusalem, and is the mother of the new government as well as of the individuals who make up the government. It is written: "But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all." — Galatians 4: 26.
The prophet of God, in figurative phrase, describes the Messianic government, nation or kingdom as a man child born from Zion, figuratively represented by a woman; and says that this birth takes place before her labor pains; or, otherwise stated, without labor pains she brought forth. "Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child. Who hath heard such a thing? who hath seen such things? Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day? or shall a nation be born at once? for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children." — Isaiah 66: 7, 8.
The kingdom or nation was not born with a great blare of trumpets and the rolling of drums and the firing of cannon. Jesus had said: "The kingdom of God cometh not with observation." (Luke 17: 20) "The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night." (2 Peter 3:10) Zion gave birth to the kingdom or nation quietly, unostentatiously, and without pain. The government in America, the United States, was born in tribulation or great pain, because those who composed the governing factors were put to much trouble and distress in the bringing forth of this nation. But the government of Messiah, the kingdom, the new nation, was born without pain. When the due time came God set his beloved Son upon his holy throne. — Psalm 2: 6.
Then the prophet propounded the question: "Who
hath heard such a thing? . . . Shall a nation be born at once?" The man child represents the nation or government that is born. At the time of the birth of the government who was Governor? The Lord Jesus Christ, in whom resides all power and authority in heaven and in earth. Probably those saints who had died prior to the birth of the nation had already participated in the chief resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:16) and were then a part of the kingdom; but surely the faithful followers of Christ then on the earth in the flesh could not be classed as a part of the man child or kingdom, until the Lord came to his temple and examined them and approved them. Therefore, "as soon as Zion travailed she brought forth her children." She brought forth her other children, those who were granted the privilege of becoming a part of the kingdom or nation or government. Zion gave birth both to the government and to those creatures who form that government. Christ Jesus is the Head of the new creation, and he is the Head over the church which is his body. — Colossians 1:18.
Christ Jesus the divine was born three days after his crucifixion. The other members of his body are born when they participate in the first resurrection. (Revelation 20:6) The natural order of birth of a child is first the head and afterwards the body. Even so with those who make up the body of Christ and who are the ones participating in the holy government or nation. The government or nation was born when the Lord Jesus took his power and began his reign; and since that time other children of Zion are being born into the kingdom.
We must make a distinction between the government
and those individual members who go to make up the government or nation. The year 1914 A. D. is definitely fixed by the Scriptures as the time for the birth of the nation. In that year the nations forming the Devil's empire became angry and engaged in a World War. The Revelator fixes that date as the time when God Almighty, through his beloved Son, would take his power and reign; or otherwise stated, the time for the birth of the nation or government. — Rev. 11: 17,18.
A symbolic description of the birth of the nation is given in Revelation, twelfth chapter. The woman there mentioned clearly is Zion, the same woman mentioned in Isaiah 66: 7. The sun is a symbol of the light of the divine plan, while the moon represents God's law. Around Zion, God's organization as symbolized by the woman, shines the light of the divine plan; and thus she is enveloped with the sun. "The moon under her feet" symbolically represents that the course of action of the woman, Zion, is always in harmony with the divine will as represented by God's law. The Head, the chief comer stone of Zion, is Christ Jesus; and upon that Head is the crown, representing complete and absolute authority. The twelve stars in the crown correspond to the twelve apostles of the Lamb. — Revelation 21:14.
On the earth are some of the faithful followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. These have had a mental vision of his kingdom; they were anticipating that it would be born in 1914 and were in great expectation and anxiety until the birth. Therefore they are represented by Zion in pain, desiring the delivery of the man child, which is the kingdom. The man child, to wit, the new government or nation, was ordained by the Lord from
the foundation of the world; but now it was about to begin to function, and those who were waiting and praying for its birth were in anxious expectancy for the birth. Thus the matter appeared to them.
"And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." (Revelation 12:5) The man child here is the same man child mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah; to wit, the nation or government which is to rule all the nations of the earth. It is the same kingdom described by Daniel, in chapter two, verse forty-four. This man child or new government is symbolically represented as being caught up to God and to his throne, because it constitutes God's kingdom, now beginning to function by virtue of his will and authority.
WAR WITH THE ENEMY
Watching the preparation of the empire and observing that the day was approaching for the birth of the nation, symbolically represented by the man child, Satan the enemy was on the alert, with the avowed purpose of destroying this new nation or government if possible. In the Revelation picture he appears under the name and title of Dragon. He is there represented as a "red dragon". The word "red" here used means fiery red, and particularly pictures Satan's devilish, wicked and gory organization, murderously bent upon the destruction of the new government. In this the Dragon was thwarted, because God prevented him.
The new government or nation there began to function; and the first work thereof necessarily was the expelling of Satan from heaven. "And there was war in
heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." — Revelation 12: 7-9.
In this great fight Michael, who is Christ Jesus, together with his angels, fought against the Devil and his angels; and the result was that Satan the enemy was expelled from heaven and was cast down to the earth. This is in harmony with St. Peter's words: "The heavens shall pass away with a great noise, . . . the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved." (2 Peter 3: 10,12) The heavens here mentioned clearly mean the Devil and his angels, the invisible rulers. — Eph. 6:12.
Satan the Devil now finds himself, together with his evil associates, expelled from heaven and cast out into the earth. "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." (Revelation 12:12) The inhabiters here mentioned clearly mean the ruling factors of the nations of the earth. They are in for much trouble. The sea represents the restless elements of human society, and they are in for much trouble. The Devil has great wrath against Zion and against her children, and will gather together the inhabiters and the mass of mankind in a great and final trouble.
Now let the reader turn to the first paragraph of this book and there again read the questions that are propounded, and now let him understand the answer to those questions. The Devil and all of his wicked
assistants are concentrating their powers and forces in the earth, implanting in the minds of the rulers, as well as in the minds of the people, devilish, wicked thoughts. The profiteers selfishly reach out for themselves, against the common interests of mankind. The politicians selfishly seek their own purposes; the preachers look after their own selfish interests; and the people are oppressed on every side and afflicted. The cause of all this distress and suffering is that the Devil's empire has come to its end; he knows that his time is short and he is therefore desperately seeking to rally his forces for a great and final conflict. The peoples of earth are in great fear and trepidation, groaning in pain and desiring to be delivered; they are waiting "for the manifestation of the sons of God", meaning that they are waiting for the manifestation in their behalf of the powers of the new government. They wait, they know not for what; but they all desire deliverance. Let the people now take courage and have hope, because the time of deliverance is at hand.
CORROBORATIVE PROOF
When Jesus arose from the dead he declared that all power in heaven and earth was given unto him. (Matthew 28:18) That was more than eighteen hundred years ago. It was not the will of God that he should at that time begin to exercise his supreme power. Jehovah God then said to him: "Sit thou at my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110:1; Hebrews 1:13; Acts 2: 34,35; Matthew 22: 44) After Jesus had appeared in heaven and there presented his sacrifice as a sin-offering, he remained inactive against the Devil's institution until God's due
time. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." — Hebrews 10:12,13.
The time must come when God would subdue the enemy, Satan the Devil, and his institution. We read: "The Lord [Jehovah] shall send the rod [sceptre of authority and power rightfully reposed in his beloved Son] of thy strength out of Zion [God's organization, saying,] rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." (Psalm 110: 2) This is the same time mentioned by the prophet: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." — Psalm 2:6.
The new government is now born. Jesus Christ, the King, now stands up and assumes his power and authority and begins his reign, even while the enemy still exercises power; but the enemy's right to that power has expired, his world having ended. Necessarily this would mark the beginning of the battle in heaven; the King of glory and his angels on one side, and Satan the old Dragon, the disloyal son of God, and his angels, on the other side.
It is really the fight of God Almighty against the Devil. The fight on God's side is led by his beloved Son, and in this fight he subdues the enemy. The psalmist thus describes the Lord Jesus Christ moving into action: "Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things." — Psalm 45: 3, 4.
This marks the time of the birth of the nation or government, God's prophet puts it thus: "In the
beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning [the woman, Zion]: thou hast the dew of thy youth." (Psalm 110:3) The new nation, the government, pictured by the man child now born, is in the vigor of youth and strength and now goes forth to rule; it is the beginning of God's kingdom in action.
REJECTED STONE BECOMES THE HEAD
It seems quite evident that the Prophet Daniel, is speaking of "the stone cut out without hands", refers to the birth of the nation or government. By the time of the end of the World War in 1918 the church denominations, particularly the clergy and the leaders and principal of their flock who pretended to believe and follow Christ Jesus, were provided with abundant proof from the Bible and from fulfilled prophecy that the Lord was present, that the world had ended, that the time for the beginning of God's kingdom had come. In fact, shortly after the captivity of Jerusalem by the allied armies, ten distinguished clergymen met in the city of London and issued the following manifesto, declaring,
First. — That the present crisis points toward the close of the times of the Gentiles.
Second. — That the revelation of the Lord may be expected at any moment, when he will be manifested as evidently as to his disciples on the evening of his resurrection.
Third. — That the completed church will be translated, to be "forever with the Lord".
Fourth. — That Israel will be restored to its own land in unbelief, and be afterward converted by the appearance of Christ on its behalf.
Fifth. — That all human schemes of reconstruction must
be subsidiary to the second coming of our Lord, because all nations will be subject to his rule.
Sixth. — That under the reign of Christ there will be a further great effusion of the Holy Spirit on all flesh.
Seventh. — That the truths embodied in this statement are of the utmost practical value in determining Christian character and action with reference to the pressing problems of the hour.
This remarkable statement was signed by A. C. Dixon and F. B. Meyer, Baptists; George Campbell Morgan and Alfred Byrd, Congregationalists; William Fuller Gouch, Presbyterian; H. Webb Peploe, J. Stuart Holden, Episcopalians; Dinsdale T. Young, Methodist.
These are well-known names, and are among the world's greatest preachers. That these eminent men, of different denominations, should feel called upon to issue such a statement is of itself exceedingly significant. This manifesto was sent to the clergy throughout the world and was by them rejected.
But the most remarkable part of the affair is that the very men who signed the manifesto subsequently repudiated it and rejected the evidence which proves that we are at the end of the world and in the day of the Lord's second presence.
The psalmist, the prophet of God, referred to this same time and event, to wit, the birth of the nation and the rejection of the chief corner stone by the pretended builders, when he wrote: "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." — Psalm 118: 22-24.
The clergy, instead of heeding the truth and pro-
claiming it to the people, and advising them that the time had come for the reign of Christ, repudiated Christ and his kingdom, rejected him who is the chief corner stone of Zion and openly and boldly supported and advocated the Devil's substitute for Christ's kingdom, to wit, the League of Nations, and proclaimed that League of Nations as the political manifestation of God's kingdom on earth. Otherwise stated, they ignore God's plan and manner of establishing his kingdom and willingly ally themselves with the Devil, supporting his "image of the beast".
The Jewish clergy in their time rejected Christ, the chief corner stone. Now the clergy of modern times do the same thing. They, together with the principal of their flock, being disobedient to the Word of God, stumble and fall upon the stone or new government now born. Mark how well the prophetic words of St. Peter fit the present situation: "Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed." (1 Peter 2:7,8; Psalm 118: 22; Isaiah 8:14) Thus the kingdom of God was taken away from those who pretended to represent the Lord, and the words of Jesus were fulfilled. (Matthew 21: 32, 44) Those who rejected it fell upon the stone and were broken.
The nation of righteousness is born. God's kingdom has begun to function. The Lord is in his holy temple. Let all the nations and peoples of earth take note! (Psalm 11:4-7; Habakkuk 2:20) "The Lord hath a
controversy with the nations" who have given themselves over to the Devil. (Jeremiah 25: 31) "The great and terrible day of the Lord" approaches. — Joel 2: 31.
