WHEN a great earthquake, a disastrous storm, or a mighty tidal wave, sweeps a community and destroys houses and people by the thousands, and leaves other thousands homeless, much woe and distress follow; and great effort is required to relieve the suffering. The battle of Armageddon in the "great and terrible day of the Lord" will mark the complete collapse of Satan's organization. What an earthquake or terrific storm or tidal wave is to a community that trouble will be to the whole world, only much worse. In the wake thereof there will be great woe and distress and the people will cry for relief.

It may be truly said that the history of the world has been written in human blood. But the worst is not yet. The long and terrible siege of Titus against Jerusalem brought to the Jews indescribable suffering, and the final assault upon the city by the Romans completely destroyed it. The destruction of Jerusalem was in fulfilment of divine prophecy, and foreshadowed what will befall the organizations of the world in the great battle of God Almighty.

The trouble that came upon Jerusalem was an expression of God's indignation against the people, who had repudiated him and followed after the Devil. The clergy of that day, posing as representatives of God and hypocritically claiming to be the interpreters of

his law, were responsible for the terrible calamity that fell upon the city. The overthrow of Christendom (so-called), chiefly necessitated by the hypocrisy of the religionists who have turned the minds of the people away from God, will be more terrible than that which befell Jerusalem in 70-73 A. D. God has promised to make a complete end of the evil systems in the final trouble that shall befall Satan's organization.

We may call to mind all the disasters that have befallen the human race during its existence, all the wars, all the earthquakes, cyclones and other calamities; and then know that none of these will equal in woe that which shall befall the world during the great battle of Armageddon. That this conclusion is correct is proven by the words of Jesus that upon the earth there should be tribulation such as was not since the world began; no, and never should be again. But this great time of trouble will result ultimately in great blessing to the people, God has so ordained it.

After God's righteous indignation has been completely expressed against Satan's organization, the great stormy wind that will tear the mountains and rend the rocks will cease to blow; the quaking that shook the earth from center to circumference will quake no more; the heaven-enkindled fires, having quickly spent their fury, will cease to burn, and silence and rest will once more come to the earth. But the survivors of the people will be disheartened, discouraged and faint. In their distress and extremity they will call upon the Lord.

Then will come from heaven the still, small voice; and the message long ago spoken by the prophet of God will gently speak words of encouragement to all the peoples of good will on earth, saying: "0 worship the

Lord in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Say among the nations that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously. Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth."  — Psalm 96:9-13.

All divine prophecy has its fulfilment in due time, and can be understood only when fulfilled or in course of fulfilment. The foregoing prophecy has now begun to be fulfilled, in that those who are watching the development of God's plan see that the Lord has taken his power and begun his reign; therefore they know that shortly shall follow the complete fulfilment of the prophecy. Then will come a period of reconstruction and the blessings of mankind, according to the promises God has made.

The positive and unequivocal promise here made by the prophet is: "The world shall be established that it shall not be moved." The "world" here means an organization for the benefit of man. World in Scriptural usage, means the peoples of earth, organized into forms of government, under the supervision and control of an invisible overlord. It consists of both heaven and earth. Heaven means the invisible, while earth refers to the visible part of the world. For centuries the invisible part of the world has been Satan and his unholy angels, while the visible part has consisted of organized forms of government on earth, influenced and controlled by

Satan. Looking down to the time when Satan's world shall perish, God through his prophet says: "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create." (Isaiah 65:17,18) This prophecy must have its fulfilment.

In harmony with these words of the holy prophet, St. Peter in prophetic phrase describes the passing of the old heavens and earth. He says: "Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." (2 Peter 3:12) Be it noted that these pass away in the day of God; that is to say, in the time of God's expressed wrath. Then St. Peter adds: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:13) In view of these two divinely provided witnesses we may have full assurance that the new world will be established, and that it will be so completely established that it can never be moved.

For many centuries Satan the enemy, as head, aided and abetted by his wicked angels, has constituted the heavens that have influenced and controlled the nations and peoples of earth. With the coming of Christ Jesus into power in 1914 Satan and his demon hosts have been cast out of heaven and onto the earth. (Psalm 110:5; Revelation 13:9) The new heaven therefore is now an established fact. Christ is in control thereof. None of the people appreciate this fact except those who diligently seek to know God's Word and to serve him.

The next great manifestation of the Lord's power

will be the destruction of the beast and the false prophet, the visible or earthly part of the Devil's organization. With the beast and the false prophet destroyed, and Satan bound, the whole earth (visible evil systems) will pass away. Then there will be no more restless elements of humanity, symbolically described as the "sea". Then shall follow the establishment of the new earth. With its establishment the world will be established, as foretold by the prophet (Psalm 96:10), because both heaven and earth will then be under the control of the righteous King, the Prince of Peace and Lord of lords.

St. John had a vision of the new world, and wrote: "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." — Revelation 21:1,2.

The new heaven is the government of Messiah, the new nation born and in power. It is the holy city, the new Jerusalem. It is the government of peace, with the Prince of Peace as its head and ruler in charge; the government of Messiah, which takes the place of that which has been long invisibly ruling the world. The new heaven, or invisible part of the new government, is beautiful and glorious; and is described by St. John in symbolic phrase as being like unto a bride adorned for her husband. That is the time when a woman tries to appear at her best, and does so appear. This does not mean that the holy city, the new Jerusalem, has a husband. On the contrary the new Jerusalem is a new government, composed of Christ Jesus and the glorified members of his body. The words "as a bride adorned

for her husband" are merely words descriptive of the beauty and glory of the new government, the new nation born.

Since Satan the enemy, and his angels, who compose the old heaven, are invisible, does that signify that the new heaven will also be invisible? Yes; the new heaven will be invisible. The chief one making up that new heaven is Christ Jesus. We have his own words as to whether or not he will ever again be seen by the peoples of earth, when he says: "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more." (John 14:19) Christ Jesus is the express image of Jehovah, and no human eye can see God. (Hebrews 1: 3; 1 Tim. 6:16) Satan, a spirit being, has also been invisible to man and has exercised power and control over man. Even so the Lord Jesus the King of glory, though invisible to man, shall exercise power and control over men of the earth.

Since the time of Eden until the complete destruction of his organization Satan has had visible representatives on the earth. Does this suggest that the Prince of Peace, the great Messiah, will have visible representatives on earth? He will, and the Scriptures definitely so state.

Since God has promised that he will create a new heaven and a new earth, and since the Apostle Peter says that in this new heaven and new earth will dwell righteousness, we may be sure that the new visible organization of the Messianic government will be righteous; that is to say, the visible representatives of the righteous King on earth will be in harmony with and obedient to his command.

But after the destruction of Satan's organization, and after the binding of Satan, some men will survive; and

of these there will be some more ambitious than others. Will not these ambitious and stronger ones push themselves forward and get into the government and control it and again bring about a condition of unrighteousness? They will not, because they will not be permitted to do so. (Daniel 2:44) The righteous King will permit no one to represent him who indulges in unrighteousness. In order for man to be given an opportunity to be fully restored to perfection the Lord will establish a righteous form of government on the earth. The promise is: "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment." (Isaiah 32:1) This will preclude the ambitious and stronger ones from exercising their political propensities, and seizing the government or any part of it.

But all men are descendants of Adam; and since all of these are imperfect, where can there be found any to rule in justice and in righteousness as the representatives of the King?

NEW EARTH

Long ago God prepared certain men who under adverse conditions proved their loyalty and faithfulness to God; and then they died. These men received God's approval. They will be resurrected from the grave. They will be brought forth as perfect men, wholly devoted to the Lord, and will be the visible representatives of the Lord's righteous kingdom on the earth. They will constitute the nucleus of the new earth. The scriptures hereinafter submitted conclusively prove these assertions.

It is a fixed rule of the divine plan that God grants (everlasting life to no creature until that one is first

fully tested and, under the test, proves his loyalty and faithfulness. God gave Adam life; but he then put him to the test before he would grant him everlasting life. Under the test Adam fell. His failure was because he gave his allegiance to the enemy of God. He was both a disloyal and an unfaithful man.

The next perfect man on earth was Jesus. Before the heavenly Father granted Jesus the great and high reward of eternal life on the divine plane he first put him to the most severe tests; and all these tests Jesus met successfully, and thereby proved his loyalty and his faithfulness unto God. — Luke 4:1-14; Philippians 2: 5-11; Hebrews 5:8,9.

At once the absurdity of the doctrine of inherent immortality of all men appears. Satan is the author of this false doctrine; and Satan's representatives, the clergy, have proclaimed this false doctrine amongst men for centuries past.

Before the ransom sacrifice was provided by the death of the perfect man Jesus, it was impossible for any man to be granted everlasting life. This is true for the reason that all men are descendants from Adam and have inherited the result of his wrong-doing. (Romans 5: 12) It is the rule of God that "as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive". (1 Corinthians 15:22) The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ must first take place before any man could be granted life everlasting. This, however, did not prevent imperfect men from proving their loyalty and faithfulness to God to the extent of their ability. By so doing they could have God's approval.

Since, however, there is no other name under heaven

whereby salvation to life can come, except through the merit of Christ Jesus, it follows that life could not be granted until the coming of Christ Jesus and the giving of the ransom. He "gave himself [his life] a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2: 5, 6) It follows that no matter how faithful a man might have proved prior to the giving of the ransom, he could not be granted everlasting life until the ransom is presented as a sin-offering before the mercy seat of Jehovah God. Therefore the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus brought life and immortality to light. (2 Timothy 1:10) All must have one opportunity for life. The opportunity for immortality is for those only who seek it according, to God's appointed way; to wit, by being made conformable to the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. — Romans 2: 6, 7; Philippians 3:13-15.

It now must be apparent to the student of the Scriptures that all that man can do towards saving himself is to have faith and, under the test, to prove his loyalty and faithfulness to God. For this reason it is written: "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11: 6.

Between Abel and the cross there were a few men on the earth who believed God and who diligently tried to please him and did please him. Concerning these men it is written: "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things, declare plainly

that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned: but now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." — Heb. 11: 13-16.

The word here rendered "country" means fatherland; that is to say, their native town or city or place of abode, or their land of nativity. The native condition of man was perfection in Eden; and since it is God's plan that this condition shall be restored, but that this restoration can come only through his heavenly kingdom; and since these faithful men desired such a thing, they therefore desired the heavenly kingdom or government to be reestablished on earth. God, in the performance of his plan, will therefore provide a city; to wit, an organization, a government, in which these men shall have a part. But who are these men?

Under inspiration of the holy spirit the apostle wrote of and concerning them. (Hebrews eleventh chapter) First he mentions Abel, who proved his faith in God. Then he tells of Enoch, who walked with God; meaning that he had faith in God and was obedient to him; and he says that God took Enoch away that he should not see death. Then he mentions Noah, who lived in a time of great wickedness, and who manifested his faith, loyalty and devotion to God by proclaiming the truth amidst a wicked and perverse generation. Then comes Abraham, who was called to go out into a place which he knew nothing about; and because of his faith he went. He sojourned in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob. The apostle also mentions Abraham's wife, Sarah, who manifested her faith in

God's promises. Then he tells of the great test that came upon Abraham when God called upon him to offer up his son Isaac. Believing that God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead Abraham obeyed, and this proves Abraham's faith in the resurrection.

Then St. Paul mentions Isaac as one of the faithful. Next he tells of the faith of Jacob who, because of his confidence in God, prophesied and blessed his sons upon his death-bed. He describes the faith of Joseph, and how the Lord directed him in Egypt. He then tells of Moses who, although reared in the home of a king, when he came to the years of maturity refused to be called the son of the king's daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with his own people because of his faith in God. The apostle adds concerning him: "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." (Hebrews 11:26) And thus is proven the faith of Moses in the coming kingdom and in the great King. Then the apostle mentions the faith of Rahab the harlot; and he also tells of Gideon, of Barak, of Samson, and of Jephthae.

After mentioning David, and Samuel, and the faithful prophets, the apostle then grows eloquent, and his words ring with joy and confidence in God when he adds: "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: and

others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment: they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise." — Hebrews 11: 33-39.

The apostle here says, "The world was not worthy" of these men; meaning the world of which Satan the Devil is the invisible ruler. By their faithful devotion to God and to his promises these worthy ones testified that they were completely out of harmony with the Devil and in complete harmony with God. They had true hearts, and did their best to do right; and because of their faithfulness they received a good report. But they could not then receive the promise. Keep in mind that the promise was the blessing of everlasting life, and the apostle plainly says that life is a gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23) It reasonably follows then that they could not get life prior to the giving of the ransom sacrifice.

Then adds the apostle: "God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." It is manifest that the class here mentioned as getting the "better thing" are those who will be associated with Christ on the spirit plane, because St. Paul includes himself as one of them. He says that these faithful men of old without us should not be made perfect. The word here rendered "perfect" means complete, finished, accomplished purpose. By this then it

is to be understood that these men, having received a good report because of their faithfulness, must wait in the tomb until the members of the body of Christ are selected and proven. The promise concerning them could not be completed until the Lord has selected the entire church. That is to say, God's purpose and provision for them cannot be consummated or finished until full and complete provision is made for the invisible part of the kingdom.

In the atonement day sacrifice, which God caused the Jews to practise and which is described in the sixteenth Chapter of Leviticus, it is shown that the ransom sacrifice is presented as a sin-offering on behalf of all, aside from the church, after the selection of the members of the body of Christ.

When the members of the body of Christ are completed what then is to be expected for these men who died in faith before the great ransom sacrifice was given? St. Paul plainly says: "Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16) A city being a symbol of a government, this text is positive proof that God has prepared for these very men in the earthly phase of Ma government of righteousness.

Every one of the faithful ones mentioned in this eleventh chapter of Hebrews died before the coming of Christ Jesus, except John the Baptist; and he died before the crucifixion of our Lord. None of those who had died has gone to heaven. The clergy have misrepresented to the people that these faithful men were changed from human to spirit beings. Jesus is the best witness concerning that. In discussing the resurrection he said: "No man hath ascended up to heaven." (John 3:13) At

the time he uttered these words faithful Abel had been dead for nearly four thousand years; and all the others in this list, except John, had been dead for centuries. The Apostle Peter, speaking under inspiration, specifically mentions David; and of him he says: "For David is not ascended into the heavens." — Acts 2: 34.

Furthermore the Lord Jesus, to show specifically that John the Baptist is not in heaven, and to remove all doubt that might be in any man's mind on that point, said: "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding, he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." (Matthew 11: 11) Unequivocally he here states that there has not been a greater man than John the Baptist, and yet he says that the very least in the kingdom of heaven will be greater than John; thus by inference he definitely settles the fact that John the Baptist, who died prior to the crucifixion, could not be in the invisible part of the kingdom. But since the Apostle Paul has so positively stated that God has provided for John and all other ancient worthies a part in the new government or kingdom, where could they be?

It seems quite clear that these are the princes mentioned in Isaiah 32:1. Those mentioned by the apostle in Hebrews, eleventh chapter, have always been recognized as faithful men amongst the Jews; they were even recognized in David's day as fathers in Israel. The prophet, after discussing the selection of the church, says: "Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth." (Psalm 45:16) Therefore the conclusion must be reached that these will get their life through Christ,

which is the only way they can obtain it; hence that they will be called the children of Christ, and that he will make them princes in all the earth.

The proof therefore seems quite conclusive that these faithful men, who obtained a good report because of their loyalty and faithfulness to God, will receive the promised blessings of life everlasting through Christ, and that the time for receiving these blessings will be when the members of the body of Christ are complete. When they shall receive life the promise concerning them is then complete, therefore they are then completed. Prior to the death of these men they had proved their loyalty and faithfulness, allegiance and devotion to God. He approved them; he waits until he has selected the royal family of heaven, the invisible part of the kingdom, and then the promise is that these men shall be made the visible representatives of the Christ on earth during his reign.

CORROBORATIVE PROOF

Let each one settle it in his mind for all time that God is true. When he makes a promise it is absolutely certain that that promise will be fulfilled. He has never failed in one of his promises, and all of them are good. The psalmist says concerning Jehovah: "Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever." (Psalm 119:160) "The testimony of the Lord is sure." (Psalm 19: 7) "For all the promises of God in him are yea [sure], and in him Amen [trustworthy, sure, verity], unto the glory of God by us." (2 Corinthians 1: 20) Jesus says concerning the Word of God: "Thy word is truth." (John 17:17) And again he said: "He that sent me

is true." (John 7: 28) "It is impossible for God to lie." (Hebrews 6:18) God changes not. (Malachi 3:6) "I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it." (Isaiah 46: 11) "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: 11.

Faith means to know God's promises and then to rely upon them. He who has faith in God must know that God will fulfil every one of his promises. Having this settled then, note some of the promises of God to these faithful men of old, above mentioned.

To Abraham God promised that he would make of him a great nation. "And in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 12:2,3) Again God promised Abraham to give him all the land that he saw. "And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot. was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. Arise, walk through the land, in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee." — Genesis 13:14-17.

In another form he made this same promise: "And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."  — Genesis 17:8.

When Abraham was one hundred and seventy-five years old he died, without having possessed any of the land which God promised to give him. Long thereafter Stephen testified concerning Abraham, as it is recorded in the Scriptures: "Then came he out of the land of the Chaldeans, and dwelt in Charran; and from thence, when his father was dead, he removed him into this land, wherein ye now dwell. And he gave him none inheritance in it, no not so much as to set his foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child." — Acts 7:4,5.

Long ago were these promises made. They have not yet been fulfilled. They must be fulfilled in God's due time; and the Apostle Paul, under inspiration, writes that God's due time is after Christ has taken unto himself his power and begun his reign.

Afterwards, when Jacob had left his father Isaac's home to journey into another land, he slept on a hill in Palestine. "And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven; and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it." (Genesis 28:12) There must be some significance in this vision of the angels ascending and descending on a ladder between heaven and earth, which the Lord permitted him to see. It must represent communication between heaven and earth. It is reasonable therefore to conclude that the Lord intended here to suggest that sometime he would establish communication between the invisible and the visible parts of his kingdom.

At the same time he made this promise to Jacob: "And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am

the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; and thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth; and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed." (Genesis 28:13,14) Afterwards Jacob journeyed into Egypt and lived and died there. He had not yet possessed this land.

THEIR RESURRECTION

These promises made to Abraham and to Jacob, and to their seed after them who died, could not be fulfilled unless God has made provision for their resurrection. The Scriptures show that God did hold out to them the hope of a resurrection, and that Abraham, Jacob and the prophets of old believed in the resurrection. Testifying concerning the hope and the resurrection Job said: "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: and though, after my skin, worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." (Job 19:25,26) Again in Job, looking to the time of the restoration of man, faith in the resurrection is expressed. We read: "If there be a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his uprightness; then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him, from going down to the pit; I have found a ransom. His flesh shall be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth." — Job 33: 23-25.

Moses was one of the prophets of God, and one whom the Apostle Paul says will be rewarded with a place in the earthly phase of the kingdom; and Moses wrote

concerning the resurrection: "The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken. ... I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him." — Deuteronomy 18:15,18.

Samuel, one of the prophets and one of the approved ones of God, testified his faith in the resurrection when he recorded these words: "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up."  — 1 Samuel 2: 6.

David, another approved one of God, prophesied that God would provide redemption and resurrection for the human race. He had faith therein. (Psalm 91:14; 21:4) Furthermore he said: "For when he dieth he shall carry nothing away: his glory shall not descend after him. But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave for he shall receive me." (Psalm 49: 17-15) It was David who prophesied that the world in the future should be established that it could not be moved. — Psalm 96:10.

Isaiah is one of the approved prophets, and he testified his faith in the resurrection when he wrote: "And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called, The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there: but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and

sorrow and sighing shall flee away." — Isaiah 35: 8-10.

Again God, speaking through Isaiah the prophet, declared that the earth is made for man and that man shall inhabit it; and since he promised the land to Abraham and Jacob and their seed, it is to be expected that they will receive it. — Isaiah 45:12,18.

Jesus testified concerning the resurrection of all the dead, and his testimony of necessity must include Abraham and all the faithful ones mentioned by the Apostle Paul: "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth: they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life: and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection by judgment." — John 5: 28, 29.

These faithful men of old, who for identification are called heroes of faith or ancient worthies, did good and received a good report from Jehovah; therefore they come clearly within the ranks of those mentioned by the Lord Jesus as having a resurrection to life.

We must conclude therefore from these texts that all these faithful men mentioned by the Apostle Paul, who are promised a part in the new government, will have a resurrection which will be better than the resurrection that will be received by men in general. By this is meant that these will come forth from the tomb with life.

The pious Jewish clergy of Jesus' day expected to be a part of the Messianic kingdom. In fact they were so egotistical that they did not think Messiah could set up his kingdom without them; and when Jesus rebuked them and did not select any of them to be his disciples they of course thought that he was not worthy to be considered the representative of Jehovah, much

less the Messiah. He said to them however: "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out." (Luke 13: 28) On another occasion Jesus said: "Many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 8:11) The new government of earth is the kingdom of heaven because the authority proceeds from the throne of God and is administered through the King whom God has set upon his holy throne. (Psalm 2:6) The authority that these earthly princes will execute will proceed from the invisible part of the kingdom. They will be the representatives of tho Lord on earth, consequently they will be in the earthly part of this heavenly kingdom; and many others shall come from various parts of the earth and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and these other faithful men. They will sit at their feet and learn wisdom.

It is reasonable to expect that these faithful men, whom we call ancient worthies, will be brought forth from the tomb as perfect men, possessing perfect bodies and perfect minds. They were tried and tested before they died. Their faithfulness to the Lord is even held forth to the church as a proper example and guide for those to follow who hope to be of the heavenly or invisible part of the kingdom. (Hebrews 12:1-3) They have received a good report from Jehovah because of their faithfulness, therefore they have "done good" within the meaning of the term as used by Christ Jesus, and in the resurrection they will "come forth" to life. (John 5: 28, 29) Being perfect men, and being princes or rulers in the earth, they will be able to wonderfully

encourage the people to strive and prove their faithfulness unto God that they may merit the blessings that he has promised.

When God has selected David and anointed him as king he said concerning him: "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, which shall fulfil all my will." (Acts 13: 22) Why was David a man after God's own heart? Without doubt the reason is found in the fact that David was always loyal and faithful to God. He made mistakes as do other men, but his heart was always right; that is to say, his motive or purpose was correct. He desired to honor God, and did his best to do so. He loved God and proved his love by devoting himself to God's service. David is specifically mentioned by St. Paul as one of the faithful men who received God's approval. It is reasonable to think of him as one who will have some tremendous part in the affairs of earth during the reign of the Messiah. The Lord, speaking concerning Israel and those who shall come under the terms of the new government during the reign of Christ, said: "And I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it." — Ezekiel 34:24.

LAW FOR THE PEOPLE

What law will govern the people during the reign of Messiah? Will they continue to elect legislative bodies, enact and enforce laws? If everybody did that which is right no law would be needed. Laws are not made for those who do good, but to restrain those who do wrong. "Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for

the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine." — 1 Timothy 1: 9,10.

Law is a rule of action commanding that the right be done and prohibiting that which is wrong. If everybody did good and there was no wrong, no law would be required. However, the people will be imperfect during Messiah's reign. The reign of Messiah will be required to bring back mankind to perfection. The imperfect man therefore will need laws or rules of action to direct him. But imperfect man will not make the laws for this new government, as has been the custom in times past. The new government will be a pure theocracy. It will be God's government, conducted in his appointed way, to wit, by and through his beloved Son Christ Jesus.

"And he shall rule them with a rod of iron." (Revelation 2:27) A rod-of-iron rule means a positive, emphatic enforcement of the law. The unruly will be compelled to obey. The Lord will compel no one to accept the ransom sacrifice and live, but he will not permit any one to do harm in all his holy kingdom. (Isaiah 11: 9) Those who attempt to do wrong will be swiftly dealt with in the Lord's appointed way. But how could men know what is the right thing to do, since they will still be imperfect?

God will make a covenant for the benefit of man. This is called the new covenant. At Mount Sinai God made a covenant with Israel, and that covenant pointed out what the people must do in order to live. Moses

was the mediator of that covenant. The Jews could not keep that covenant, however, because they were imperfect and because their mediator was imperfect. The Mediator of the new covenant will be Christ, of whom Moses was a type. The Mediator of the new covenant, being perfect, possesses the power to do for man what man cannot do for himself. The people will be required to do the best they can to advance toward righteousness; and Christ, the Mediator of the new covenant, will make up for them what they cannot do. Their good deeds will be rewarded with progress. Their evil deeds will receive instant punishment. Concerning the new covenant that God purposes to make for the guidance of the peoples of earth during the reign of Messiah, St. Paul quotes (from Jeremiah 31: 31-34):

"For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." — Hebrews 8: 8-12.

The first law covenant was typical of the new cov-

enant. That old covenant served to teach the Jews, and all men, that no man can obtain life without the aid of Christ. It also served to lead to Christ such of the Jews as obeyed it to the best of their ability, and who desired to accept him as a King. A few accepted him; the others rejected him.

That old covenant sets forth in detail the statutes by which the people were to be governed in order to go in the right way. The fundamental law of God, as a basis for the statutes of the covenant, is set forth in Deuteronomy 5:1-21. The statutes and judgments are set forth in detail in Deuteronomy chapters twelve to twenty-eight inclusive. It is reasonable to expect that in the new covenant which God will make with Israel, and through them with and for the benefit of all the other nations of the earth, he will set forth the laws or rules of action by which the people shall be governed.

At the present time we find many men who are endeavoring to discover a properly balanced food. There are many food experts now, and it is commendable that they are trying to find proper diet. It shows that the minds of such investigators are turned in the right direction. Without doubt in due time the Lord will show the people what is a properly balanced diet for humanity, how they should eat and what they should eat. In the fourteenth chapter of Deuteronomy God gave to the Jews under the old law covenant detailed instructions concerning the preparation of food for their sustenance. He surely will do as much, and more, during the reign of the perfect Mediator Christ, the King of glory.

The Apostle Paul says: "Now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned." (1 Timothy 1:5)

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13:10) Now with reference to what the Lord says about the new covenant, we note that these are his words: "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people." — Hebrews 8:10.

The heart is the seat of affection. The heart likewise symbolically represents man's motive. When the law of God, which is righteous, resides in the heart of man, his course of action will be right. This being true, , then love, which is the perfect expression of unselfishness, will be the complete fulfilment of the law. Selfishness has always governed the people during Satan's regime. The work of Christ will be to establish love in the hearts of the people.

The Jews were God's chosen people. He used them to teach lessons to all mankind. They were imperfect like other men. The Devil overreached them and turned them away from God; hence they were cast away from God's favor. The Jews have suffered long, but now their warfare is ended. (Isaiah 40:1,2) As they return in faith to God he will have mercy upon them. St. Paul himself was once a Jew, but learning that Jesus is Christ the Messiah he fully devoted himself to the Lord and was transferred from the covenant of Moses into Christ. He was then made the special ambassador to the Gentiles.

God's favor came to the Gentiles when Cornelius received the gospel, and when God opened the way to permit Gentiles to consecrate themselves unto him with

a view to being of the heavenly kingdom class. The Gentiles then, seeing that the Jews had been cast away, became heady and were in great danger of not receiving their favor from God. St. Paul, addressing a message to them, said:

"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all." — Romans 11: 25-32.

St. Paul's argument is that the Jews had been cast away and that this afforded an opportunity for the Gentiles to be among the elect; and that when this election is over, the Jews shall believe on the Lord God and he will make with them a new covenant. Then the apostle says in substance that if the casting away of the Jews furnished this opportunity for the Gentiles to be reconciled to God, through Christ Jesus, then the receiving of the Jews back into God's favor will be life from the dead for the world. That will mean that under the terms of the new covenant all who obey will be com-

pletely delivered from the enemy death. "Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? . . . For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" — Rom. 11: 12,15.

With the Devil's organization destroyed, the Devil himself bound, the faithful worthies of old resurrected as perfect men, and made princes in the earth, and receiving their instructions from the invisible King of glory, then and there the great and wonderful new nation, the kingdom of righteousness, the royal priesthood, will be performing fully the function of government both in heaven and in earth, looking to the full and complete deliverance of mankind from their difficulties and imperfections and the bringing of all back into complete harmony with God. With the new heavens and the new earth in full operation, then will fully come to pass the words of the prophet, that the world is established firmly for ever and can never be moved. This new world will be administered in righteousness, and will result in bringing righteousness to the people, granting unto the righteous ones a realization of their heart's sincere desire.