LIGHT

Destiny

(REVELATION, CHAPTER 20)

JEHOVAH is just, wise, powerful and loving. His law is perfect and his testimony is sure. His commandments are pure and his judgments are true and righteous. (Ps. 19:7, 9) Jehovah is consistent and his creatures can wholly and confidently rely on his expressed purpose. He fixes his rules for the government of his creatures, and these rules never change, because God is unchangeable (Mal. 3:6), possessing all wisdom: "Known unto God are all his works, from the beginning of the world." (Acts 15:18) That must of necessity mean that Jehovah can withhold from himself knowledge if he so desires, and that he does so. God has not arbitrarily fixed the destiny or inevitable lot of any creature from the beginning of that creature, because to do so would mean that the creature would have no opportunity to freely exercise his own will. To permit him to take a free course enables the creature to demonstrate his loyalty or lack of loyalty to Jehovah God. God did predestinate that he would have a kingdom or royal family composed of creatures, but he did not arbitrarily predestinate the individuals which should go to make up that reigning family. He has made his creatures and endowed them with the power to choose, and each one may choose one of two courses of action and take the consequences. Thus the creature has much to do with fixing his own destiny.

Jehovah made Adam a perfect creature and said to him, in substance: 'All the things of this earth are for your comfort and pleasure and enjoyment if you do good. If you take a wrongful course you shall lose all, for in the day that you sin you shall surely die.' (Gen. 2:17) That statement of Jehovah fixed an unchangeable rule that must of necessity apply to all his intelligent creation. Lucifer was in Eden and, being man's overlord, he was bound to take notice of God's announced law or rule of action. The course that Lucifer pursued shows that he reasoned in this manner: 'If Adam does wrong and God kills Adam, as his law announces, that will prove that God's creation is imperfect and that his name is therefore not worthy to stand supreme above all. If Adam does wrong and God does not kill him, that will make God out a liar and his word cannot be relied upon. In either event I shall be able to show other creatures that Jehovah is not supreme in wisdom and power and worthy to be acknowledged above all, but that I am entitled to be equal to him; therefore I shall draw after me a following and "I will be like the Most High" and shine equally as he shines.' Satan thus put at issue the name and word of Jehovah God.

Being covetous of that which Jehovah rightfully possesses he rebelled against God and became wicked from that very moment. (Isa. 14:13) His final destiny was fixed from that very moment unless he should find some way to retrieve his action and obtain forgiveness. The Scriptures show that he has never attempted to find a way, but, on the contrary, has ever reproached the name of God and denounced him as untruthful. The names that God thereafter

assigned to him, to wit, Dragon, Satan, Serpent, and Devil, testify to his wickedness.

Satan said Jehovah could not put a man on earth who would maintain his integrity with God. Had God killed Satan immediately when he started on his wrongful course of wickedness, the full opportunity to prove the supremacy of Jehovah, his name and his word, and his ability to put a man on earth who could maintain his integrity, would not have been realized. God's wisdom permitted Satan to go to the full in wickedness. His due time must come to fully restrain Satan and all workers of iniquity. Satan has built up a powerful and wonderful organization that has caused all creation to marvel and has led away many who knew not God. We see that at Armageddon the great organization of Satan and his agencies shall be destroyed. But how about Satan himself? He is not destroyed there during the battle. Why does not God kill the Devil at Armageddon? Let the reader now carefully study chapter twenty of Revelation. It discloses, in harmony with God's law originally announced to Adam, what is the destiny of the wicked and what is the destiny of the good. That is the great lesson taught by this chapter. It is another proof of the supremacy of Jehovah, the unchangeableness of his law, and a further vindication of his name and word.

Armageddon will mark the final end of the beastly organization of Satan that has long oppressed mankind and reproached God's name. That "beast", with its "false prophet", is to be hurled into everlasting destruction while still a living and going concern. It appears that when the fight ends Satan still sur-

vives, and John records another part of the great drama as it unfolded.

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled; and after that he must be loosed a little season." — Vss. 1-3.

This statement of the divine record in a general way proves the following things: That Satan has been cast out of heaven and is at the earth, where Armageddon is fought; that the binding of Satan takes place after Armageddon is fought; that merely telling the truth does not bind Satan; that John had a vision of the binding, and therefore that the class represented by John will discern the binding of Satan when it takes place.

Christ Jesus is the angel that comes down from heaven and binds Satan. He is the one possessing the key to the bottomless pit or abyss, and therefore the only one that could put Satan into it. (Rev. 9:1, 2) He is the mighty One who has the keys of death and hell and the key of David, which further identifies him as God's great executive officer. — Rev. 1:18; 3: 7; Isa. 22:22.

It seems quite certain that the "key of the abyss" and the 'key of hell' are one and the same. Jesus was not left in hell, but was brought up out of the abyss (Greek). (Rom. 10: 7, Diag.; Ps. 16:10) The "chain" denotes the means employed by Christ Jesus against Satan to cause his activities to cease. This does not

take place while the battle is on; but, immediately following, the Lord Jesus lays hold of the old enemy and by actual force renders him inactive.

The names given to the enemy that is bound, to wit, Dragon, Serpent, Satan, and Devil, clearly identify him as chief amongst the wicked ones. As Dragon he has been the chief mouthpiece or official spokesman of his wicked organization that has devoured mankind. The Dragon seen in the vision had seven heads, and the complete expression of that wicked organization is found in Satan himself. It is interesting here to now note that the British empire, including America, is the seventh world power, and that it has been in those two countries where the greater amount of witness work has been done which was foreshadowed by the prophets Elijah and Elisha. To the faithful workers of the Lord, foreshadowed by his prophets, he says: "I know thy works, and where thou [Pergamos — Watch Tower] dwellest, even where Satan's seat is." (Rev. 2:13) The same empire is made "the false prophet" or official spokesman of the Devil on earth and operates chiefly where the testimony of Christ is given in the earth.

Satan is called the "old Serpent" because he has at all times been deceiving mankind. (2 Cor. 11: 3) He has bitten and poisoned mankind. (Ps. 58:4; Eccl. 10: 8) He is called the Devil because he has maligned, slandered and reproached God and everyone that has been faithful and true to God. He is the chief of all liars, and. a murderer, and the great oppressor. — John 8: 44; Acts 10: 38.

As Satan, he is the great opposer of light and 'is the prince of darkness'. He hinders God's servants in their work and maintains his own synagogues on the

earth with which he opposes the truth. (Rev. 2:9) He works with power and lying and in signs and wonders. (2 Thess. 2:9) The Lord Jesus Christ, the great executive officer, lets Satan see his "beast" and "false prophet" destroyed; then Satan must realize that the crucial hour has come and that he is nest. Then Christ Jesus lays hold of the old wicked enemy and securely binds him. Of what does the binding of Satan consist?

DEATH

The binding docs not take place 'before his house is destroyed', but afterwards. It is not the message of truth that docs the binding, because Satan has no regard for the truth. "The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly"; and this Jehovah does by and through his chief executive officer, Christ Jesus. This he does at the beginning, and not the end, of the millennial reign of Christ, as indicated by the word shortly in this text. (Rom. 16: 20; John 5: 27) The word "bruise" here means to crush, and denotes that the crushed one would become lifeless. The great weight of authority found in the Scriptures proves that immediately following Armageddon, and before the beginning of the reconstruction reign of Christ, Christ Jesus, the great executive officer, will crush and kill Satan, and that in this manner Satan will be bound. In support of this conclusion the following is offered.

Bear in mind that the vindication of Jehovah God's word and name is of paramount importance. Punishment inflicted at the hand of Jehovah is not for the purpose of venting a malicious spleen. Such a thing, therefore, is impossible with Jehovah. The purpose is to prove to all intelligent creation that Jehovah

God is supreme and that there is none other that can grant to creatures everlasting life. The vindication of Jehovah's name is therefore for the good of mankind and of all creation. God alone can bring lasting benefits to his creatures. If his word is untrue, then his name is not worthy of praise and none could have complete confidence therein. He affords all his creation full opportunity to see that his word is true and that his name is worthy of praise, and this for their good.

God had declared his fixed rule that only those who obey should have everlasting life and that the final end of the wicked is death. Satan's great crime was the first lie, to wit, 'There is no death.' By that lie he has deceived many and brought great reproach upon God's name. What would be the most complete answer to Satan's lie? To forcibly put Satan to death in the presence of witnesses, and this after Satan has seen his own organization destroyed. Therefore Jesus Christ alone falls upon him and kills him and consigns him to the uttermost parts of hell. This he does in the execution of the judgments written against him, to wit: "Thou shalt be brought down to hell [sheol, abyss, or bottomless pit], to the uttermost parts of the pit." (Isa. 14:15, R.V.) The judgment of God has been written that Christ Jesus shall destroy the works of the Devil, which he does destroy at Armageddon. (1 John 3:8) The judgment is also written that he shall destroy Satan himself by death thereafter (Heb. 2:14); that is to say, death is the means by which Jesus brings Satan to nought. "Since then the children are sharers in flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner partook of the same; that through death he might bring to nought him that had

the power of death, that is, the devil." (Heb. 2:14, R.V.) "Seeing therefore the children have received a fellowship of blood and flesh, he also in like manner took partnership in the same, in order that through death he might paralyse him that held the dominion of death, that is, the Adversary." (Heb. 2:14, Roth.) It is by this act of death inflicted upon Satan that the 'seed of the woman shall bruise the head of the serpent'. (Gen. 3:15) The only reasonable construction that can be put upon Hebrews 2:14 is this: that Christ Jesus, who partook of flesh and blood, will, by inflicting the death penalty upon Satan, destroy him. Such is the fixed rule of Jehovah concerning all the wicked.

What good purpose could be served by imprisoning Satan alive and in the state of consciousness during the period of a thousand years? He surely would not think over the matter of his wickedness and repent and reform. Jehovah, of course, knows this. There is nothing in the expressed law of God that provides for the imprisonment in consciousness of his creatures. There is no reason to think that God has a special law for the arch wicked one that is contrary to or inconsistent with the statement of his law concerning the wicked in general. Knowing that the laws of God are unchangeable and apply to all offenders alike, mark then the provision of that law or rule of action applied both to the good and to the wicked: "For they shall all soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb. For evil doers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be; yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth,

and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him; for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore. For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off." (Ps. 37: 2, 9-15, 20, 27, 28, 37, 38) "The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy." (Ps. 145:20) When the Lord expressly states that the wicked shall be cut off, and since Satan is "that wicked one", it would be inconsistent to say that God's law provides that Satan should be put somewhere in a state of consciousness, and held in prison, during the thousand-year reign of Christ.

In symbolic phrase Christ Jesus the great angel uses a chain to bind Satan. A chain is sometimes used as a symbol of death and destruction. Against Satan's organisation it is written: "Make a chain; for the land is full of bloody crimes, and the city is full of violence. Destruction cometh; and they shall seek peace, and there shall be none." (Ezek. 7:23, 25) (See also Psalm 149: 8.) The binding of Satan with a

great chain, therefore, well symbolizes the death of Satan for a time and during the reign of Christ. Jesus was for a time held in death until God released him therefrom. (Acts 2: 24) When Christ puts Satan in death he will be held there as securely as if bound by a great chain, and until God's due time to take other action concerning him.

When Christ puts Satan into the pit he shuts him up and puts a seal over it, as this Revelation record shows. This seal bears Jehovah's stamp of authority. It further says that at the time Satan was cast out of heaven he was not to be killed at that time, but now his slaying and sealing up in his tomb is done by the approval of Jehovah. Satan caused his agents to put a seal on the tomb of Jesus when Jesus was crucified and buried, but that seal was of no avail. Now Satan is to be sealed in his tomb, and no power can break the seal contrary to God's will. One of the purposes of thus putting Satan out of the way is that he might not deceive the nations during the thousand-year reconstruction period. Satan is the chief deceiver and wicked one and must be included with all others who have deceived and who are cut off.

"He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord." (Ps. 101:7, 8) The "deceiver" and "anti-Christ" are cleared out so that reconstruction can go on without hindrance and to the glory of God. At the end of the period of reconstruction Satan is loosed for a short season. At that time mankind will have been restored and will be publicly subjected to a test for their own benefit. There is, however, another reason

for so loosing Satan, and that will be considered under verse seven.

THE FAITHFUL

The Lord now makes clear the fixed destiny of all the faithful ones who endure the test and hold fast their integrity to the end. Job maintained his integrity under severe test, and in this the faithful who do good were foreshadowed. The Lord commends the patience of Job and thereby shows that this is the course that the faithful must take: "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy." (Jas. 5:11) The Lord makes it clear that those who remain true and stedfast in their devotion to him under the most severe pressure from the enemy and who will suffer with Christ Jesus even unto death shall reign with Christ Jesus and be forever free from the enemy. Therefore he caused John to write, and the John class now to see the meaning of, these words, to wit: "And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years." — Vs. 4.

When speaking with his disciples concerning the covenant his Father had made with him for the kingdom, Jesus said: "Ye are they which have continued with me in my temptations. And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me;

that ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Luke 22:28-30) This is further proof that only those who endure the tests as Jesus did and who prove their faithfulness unto death shall reign with him.

These thrones here mentioned have no reference to earthly thrones, but to the throne in heaven. "I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit: ... his throne was fiery flames, and the wheels thereof burning fire." (Dan. 7: 9, R.V.) "And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel." (Matt. 19:28) Those who are thus privileged to sit with the Lord on his throne are overcomers, and to them the promise is made: "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Rev. 3: 21) These sit with Christ for the purpose of judgment: "Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom." — Dan. 7:22.

The statement is: "I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God." This word "souls" has no reference to human bodies, but it refers to the glorious new creatures in heaven in form like to that of Jesus. (1 John 3:2) The very language of this verse shows that not every one that sits upon the throne with Christ Jesus was beheaded; therefore the meaning

could hardly be limited to those who have surrendered their heads to take Christ as their Head at the tune of being spirit-begotten. To be sure, all the new creatures in Christ are under Christ Jesus as the Head of the body; but that is manifestly not the meaning of the text here under consideration.

John was exiled for the same "crime" of being a witness, as he states: "I John . . . was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Rev. 1:9) John the Baptist was beheaded while in prison and because he had been a witness, and he foreshadowed the faithful followers of Christ Jesus. James was killed with the sword. (Acts 12:2) 'Beheading' is a punishment the enemy has delighted to inflict upon those who bear faithful witness to God. (Gen. 40:19) It is therefore quite clear that 'the beheaded ones' here has reference particularly to those who have suffered martyrdom for the cause of Christ.

Furthermore, the faithful remnant seems to be specially mentioned in this verse, for the reason that the verse uses the words: "Which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands." "The beast," to be sure, existed through the Christian era; but "the image of the beast" did not come into existence until the latter part thereof. 'The two-horned beast' (Anglo-American Empire) came into existence in 1600 A. D., and it was the agency, employed by Satan, that "causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no

man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." — Rev. 13:12, 16,17.

In 1917 and 1918 the enemy came against God's faithful people on earth with "axes", as in an attack upon a forest, to cut them down: "A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary; they have defiled by casting down the dwellingplace of thy name to the ground." — Ps. 74:5-7.

It was within that period of time that God's "two witnesses", foreshadowed by John the Baptist and Elijah, were killed or beheaded. This specifically applied to the remnant, or those who go to make up the remnant. There are also those 'souls under the altar that were slain for the Word of God and for the testimony which they held'. (Rev. 6:9) The description of beheading therefore seems to have reference specially to the faithful unto death rather than to those who make a consecration and are brought into Christ as the Head over the church. It is those who are in Christ and are "faithful unto death" that are promised the blessing of joint heirship with Jesus Christ. (Rom. 8:16, 17; 6: 5; 2 Tim. 2:11, 12) These refuse to worship the "beast" or his "image" or to make any compromise either directly or indirectly with Satan's organization, and are therefore free from any marks of the "beast" or the "image" in their foreheads or in their hands. "And they lived [came to life, Roth., margin] and reigned with Christ." Their destiny is fixed with Christ for ever because of their faithful and unswerving devotion to Jehovah.

This would not mean that the 144,000, or even any of them, would have to begin reigning with Christ at the same time he is placed upon his throne in 1914. His term of rulership is a thousand years, and all who reign with him shall reign within that period of time. Other scriptures show that Christ's reign begins before the faithful saints are resurrected and before the remnant is brought forth. (Rev. 12:1-10; Isa. 66: 7, 8) The "thousand years" refers exclusively to the reign of Christ Jesus over mankind. Those that are with him in his kingdom are the called, the chosen, and the faithful unto death. (Rev. 2:10) The point here specially emphasized is the destiny of the faithful followers of Christ Jesus and that that destiny is life everlasting because of faithfulness to God. This is further supported by the following: "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests . . . with him a thousand years." — Vs. 6.

This is one of the beatitudes of Revelation, as heretofore mentioned. These are blessed who have a part in this resurrection. Christ Jesus has the best or chief resurrection and these are resurrected as members of his body. It is therefore properly called the best resurrection or chief resurrection. He is "the firstborn from the dead". (Col. 1:18) This resurrection is limited to Christ and all those of the elect servant, and there is a glory attached to it that no others receive. (Isa. 42:1-8) These are not only blessed, but holy. Holiness is one of the requirements of the elect servant class. That means a complete devotion to God; and their sanctification is made complete by having a part in the first resurrection. (1 Thess. 4:7) To have a part in the first resurrection will make all

such supremely blessed and happy. "For thou hast made him most blessed for ever: thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance." (Ps. 21:6) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation [tests]; for when he is tried [and maintains his integrity with God and is therefore 'approved', R.V.], he shall receive the crown of life." (Jas. 1:12) "On such the second death hath no power." This statement made as it is in connection with the binding of Satan in death, the inference may be properly drawn therefrom that Satan is to die the second time. By way of contrast it shows that these faithful ones shall not die the second time or in the second death. These faithful ones are blessed beyond the danger of the second death. They are granted immortality, which only God has and gives to the Christ. (1 Cor. 15: 53) This class have resisted Satan to the end and stedfastly held their integrity, and there is no further question about their continuing in faithfulness and obedience unto God, and Satan shall not again come to them. Satan, now dead in the abyss, is to be released a little season and then die the second time; but not so with the faithful. God here sets forth side by side the destiny of the wicked and the destiny of the good and faithful.

These faithful overcomers shall be "priests of God and of Christ". Jehovah has made Christ Jesus 'High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek'. (Heb. 7:21) Those who are made members of the glorious body of Christ are to be, and are, the underpriests of Christ; and since the second death can have no power over them, they have an endless or indissoluble life and their days shall not end. (Heb. 7: 3-16) Jesus has myriads of angels that have always been faithful, but

they have not the same relationship to him as the overcomers. These, made members of his body, shall be his favored or confidential servants and with him be the servants of Jehovah God forever. The thousand-year reign is limited to things pertaining to the earth. (Rev. 1:6; 5:10) When the affairs of mankind on earth have been administered, then Christ will continue to serve Jehovah in some other place of favor, because he is God's High Priest forever. The destiny of those who "have done good" is fixed for ever and is endless happiness.

Jehovah purposed from the beginning that such should be the destiny of the faithful servant class, and he puts individuals in this class only after they have proven faithful and have stedfastly maintained their integrity. Anyone should be able to see that this great reward is not given by reason of the fact that any such develop a sweet and beautiful "character". In the first place, no man can bring himself up to perfection. He should do his very best to be pure in word and thought and action; but after he has done all possible for him, then much more is required. His imperfections due to inherited weaknesses God deals with mercifully, but there is no excuse for any halfhearted devotion to Jehovah. What is required of those who shall receive a place in the kingdom is absolute and complete devotion to God as his servants. For this reason the remnant urge upon their brethren the great necessity of faithful devotion to the service of God now in keeping his commandments and in giving the testimony of Jesus Christ.

At this point verses five, seven, eight, nine and ten are purposely passed by until consideration is given to the destiny fixed by Jehovah for the people of

earth in general. We should not expect to find the record written in chronological order. There are instances in which the Lord seems to place some texts in a parenthetical position so that this hides the true understanding thereof until his due time to reveal it. In this chapter Jehovah shows the fate of the wicked and the good who have had an opportunity up to the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ. Mankind in general, however, has had no opportunity of proving to which class they would be consigned, and hence these are brought forth and are judged according to their works.

WORLD'S JUDGMENT

Jehovah has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Christ Jesus, the great Judge. (Acts 17:31) In this period of time Satan will not be permitted to interfere; and this is done for the manifest purpose of giving mankind in general the opportunity to have a full and fair trial. Therefore it is written: "And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them." — Rev. 20:11.

The throne here mentioned is Jehovah's throne and is symbolized by the words "great white throne", the foundation of which is justice and judgment. (Ps. 89:14) Jesus has been granted the privilege of sitting upon this throne, and his associates who are faithful ovcrcomers sit with him there. (Rev. 3:21) Jehovah is the great "Judge of all". (Heb. 12:23; see also Rev. 7:10; 19: 4) Jesus sits with his Father, and it is therefore called "the throne of God and of the Lamb". (Rev. 22:1) Jesus Christ is the chief officer who does the judging, but he does so in the

name of Jehovah. (John 5: 26, 27) From the face of this great white throne of righteousness 'the earth and the heavens fled away, and there was found no place for them'. This proves that the judgment of the world follows immediately after the destruction of Satan's world. The old heaven and earth shall not be transferred to some other place, but must be banished for ever. (Isa. 51: 5, 6) The great tribunal for the trying and judging of mankind in general being established, it is the time in which the Lord brings forth the dead.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God [standing before the throne, R.V.]; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." (Vs. 12) "The dead" here mentioned seem definitely to be limited to those who have not heretofore received a knowledge of the truth. All must be brought to a knowledge of the truth before they have judgment. (1 Tim. 2:3-6) This would include all those who have passed through the great time of trouble and remain alive on earth but who are "dead in trespasses and sins", and would include those billions who have gone into death entirely ignorant of God's purposes. This would include infants, young, old, small and great, sane and insane. All of these must now be brought forth from death for judgment. (John 5: 29, 30) This is the work of the thousand-year reign of reconstruction by Christ. The faithful men mentioned in Hebrews eleven do not seem to be included here, because they get "a better resurrection" and are made "princes in all the earth" and doubtless will be in the earth performing

their assigned duties at the time this judgment of the world in righteousness begins and progresses.

"The books were opened." Evidently these books are not yet written, except as to the general rules defining the destiny of those who do wickedly and those who do good, and which are set down in the Bible and will never be changed. The books of the new government will doubtless state the rules so clearly that they can be understood by all. The books being open, all will understand the terms of the trial and judgment. The Bible is written specifically for the benefit of the church; but the fixed rules thereof are not subject to change, and the world must be informed of these fixed rules. "When thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness." The books must therefore be considered as books of instruction for the information of the people, and will be a full statement of the law and statutes of the new covenant.

"The book of life" is another book, manifestly for the purpose of enrolling the names of those found worthy of the gift of life everlasting. (Vs. 15) This is not a book of instruction. After the people start upon the great "highway" their names will doubtless be enrolled in this book of life. When they will have walked in the right way to the end thereof in full obedience, they will receive life everlasting and their names will not be blotted out. Any proving unfaithful, their names will be blotted out. This book of life would not include any of those who have died wilfully wicked and who sinned wilfully against God's law. There are those who have wilfully brought reproaches upon God and Christ, and concerning whom it is written; "Add iniquity unto their iniquity; and

let them not come into thy righteousness. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous." (Ps. 69:27, 28) God will judge the world in general with these fellows clear out of the way.

The judgment of each individual will be according to his works: "Judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." The people will be made acquainted with what is written in God's books of instruction, and these things will be 'written in the heart and mind' of the teachable and obedient ones. (Jer. 31: 33) That will mean that such will do God's will. "Their works" will not include their works prior to Armageddon and the inauguration of the new covenant, because it is written: "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness; and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." (Heb. 8:12) The ransom sacrifice being applied for the benefit of all mankind in general, each one will start without his past record against him; but he will be required to make a good record. "Their works" will consist of their obedience to the law of God promulgated and enforced by Christ during his reign. (Matt. 12: 33) Sins and iniquities wilfully committed against light, whether before or during the Millennial reign, will not be forgiven. (Matt. 12: 31, 32) "Their works" will be such as they have obediently done and performed. Faithfulness in doing right will be the fruits by which they will be judged. (Matt. 12:33) For the purpose of carrying out this judgment there shall be a resurrection of the dead from the grave, or condition of death. — John 5:29; Acts 17: 31; 1 Cor. 15: 22-24.

By far the greater number of mankind have gone

into death totally ignorant of God and his purposes of redemption and deliverance through Christ Jesus' sacrifice. These must all be awakened out of death and given a knowledge of the truth and thereby given an opportunity to prove themselves according to God's fixed rules. There have doubtless been many also that have been guilty of a measure of wilfulness and have sinned against light. Some have had a little light, while others have had more light. The thousand-year period of judgment is devoted to the instruction, trial and judgment of those who have never had an opportunity to know the truth. Verses eleven and twelve therefore seem to be limited exclusively to such.

"REST OF THE DEAD"

"But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." (Vs. 5) The weight of authority holds that the words above quoted of this verse are spurious: and if so, then they should not be considered. The Vatican manuscript No. 1209 does not contain Revelation at all. Manuscript No. 1160 omits those words. A footnote of the Emphatic Diaglott says: "These words were probably omitted by oversight in Vat. MS. [No. 1160], as they are found in [Alexandrine MS.] [Vatican MS., 700 A.D.] [Codex Ephr mi]." There is a doubt about the authenticity of the text, but it may be considered in connection with other portions of this chapter which are known to be authentic, and fully harmonized therewith. We need not here consider the resurrection of the "great multitude" or "tribulation" class, for the reason that not very much is said anywhere in the Scriptures about that class. Their deliverance into life, which must necessarily be by resurrection, is

specifically set forth in Revelation 7:14-17. That would be sufficient to dispose of them. Nor are we to take into consideration here the faithful prophets of old, because it is expressly stated that these shall be "made perfect" when the church is completed, and they shall have "a better resurrection" than the world in general. — Heb. 11.

The twentieth chapter of Revelation appears to deal specifically with the church, which partakes of "the first resurrection", and with the world in general, the destiny of the faithful ones being that of life on earth, and of those that sin wilfully that of being destroyed and classed as the wicked. That Satan is to be released at the end of the thousand-year judgment of the world in general there cannot be the slightest doubt, because the Scriptures specifically so state. Since the text here says, 'The rest of the dead lived not again until the end of the thousand years,' this can be properly applied to all who have been judged unworthy of life prior to the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ and who have died in wickedness, but who will be brought forth with Satan at the end of the Millennial reign for the purpose of final judgment and execution according to their works. In this connection consideration is here being given to verses seven to ten, inclusive, of the chapter, to wit:

"And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the

beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was east into the lake of fire and brim-stone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."

At the end of the thousand years the reconstruction work will be done and all the obedient ones of humankind will have been restored to perfection of body and mind. All then will be able to maintain their integrity to the glory of God, if they will do so. The time has come for Christ Jesus to turn over the race to Jehovah and for Jehovah to approve or justify them. But all must first prove worthy of the gift of life everlasting. Hence all are put to a test. Now is the appropriate time for Satan to be released and for all to "fall into the hands of the living God" for final settlement of accounts. Satan has made many mummies in an effort to dispute the statement of God that 'the body shall return unto the dust'. Satan has been able to maintain these mummies, but he has never been able to give back life. The Scriptures indicate that God may preserve Satan's body during the thousand years and cause it to be exhibited to spirit creatures that such observers may know he is dead, and then at the end of that period of time awaken Satan out of death and resuscitate his body. Through his prophet Jehovah says: "All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou [Satan] art cast out of thy grave [sepulcher] like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit: as a carcase trodden under feet." (Isa. 14:18, 19) According to verse seven, then, at the end of the

thousand years he is let loose against the "new earth" and given an opportunity to test out the integrity of restored mankind.

What could be the purpose of bringing Satan out of death? Would it mean that God would recreate the Devil? It would not mean that he would recreate the Devil, but that he would bring to life the Devil who had been dead for a thousand years; and that for a purpose. While his brief operation would be a test to restored mankind, and doubtless used for that purpose, yet there seems to be a more potent reason for bringing Satan out of death. He defied Jehovah and said, 'There is no death.' God gives him a thousand years in death, which completely proves to all that Satan is a liar; and now, being awakened, he would know that he is a liar and know further that God had fully and completely justified his Word. This would prove it not only to Satan, but to all of Satan's agencies. Many clergymen have taught Satan's lie, when they should have known better. They have repeatedly reproached God by telling Satan's lie in the face of the plain statement of God's Word to the contrary. They tell the people that there is no death but that all are alive. They have gone further than that. They have persecuted faithful men and women because these give testimony that Satan is a liar and give testimony to the truth concerning God and Christ and God's provision for the life of the human race. The great lie of inherent immortality has been a long-lasting reproach upon the name and Word of Jehovah. The clergymen in particular have taught this devilish doctrine. They have furthermore denied the redemption provided through the blood of Christ Jesus and denied the restoration of man during the

reign of Christ and have taught that God will eternally punish in a state of consciousness all of mankind that do not conform to the rules of the church, and have done this for the purpose of frightening men and women into joining their organizations. There is no excuse for their not knowing that they were teaching falsehoods. What would so completely prove them to be liars and defamers of God's Word and name as to bring them out of death and let them see the goodness of God? also at the same time to bring the Devil out of death and let them see that they have been following him and not the Lord? to let them see completely demonstrated God's word that the punishment of man is death, and not torment; that the blood of Christ Jesus is the means of redemption of all from death, and that the restoration of mankind to life and perfection is the reward to the obedient ones; and that God has done all of this by and through his beloved Son?

There have been millions who have used the "Christian religion", so called, to carry on their selfish operations. They have organized and conducted a system of false religion and given it the name of Christ, thereby reproaching God and Christ and deceiving the people; and this has been done for the express purpose of gratifying a selfish and passionate desire. It would do no good to bring the Devil and these agents back during the judgment of the world, because they would oppose God's work and hinder man in his effort to return to God. To permit them to have a brief span of life at the end of the thousand years and then let them see what God in his goodness has done would afford an opportunity for them to demonstrate, by their own works before all creation, their

own wickedness and unworthiness of life. Even today many insist that the clergymen, who teach falsehoods, are sincere and that therefore God must and does look upon them with approval. If these were never brought out of death some might be thinking that God had not given the clergymen a fair opportunity.

Jehovah will stop all mouths and vindicate his word and name before all and show to all that he is just, wise, loving and all-powerful. Therefore the bringing out of death of wicked men and Satan, the wicked one, and permitting all of these to demonstrate their wickedness before restored man, will be an everlasting vindication of God's name. This conclusion is both reasonable and Scriptural. It is therefore fully in harmony with the statement of the text in verse five that 'the rest of the dead lived not until the thousand years were ended'. At that time all mankind will have had an opportunity to obey and live or to disobey and die as unworthy of life; and even these wicked are again permitted to live for a short space for the reasons above stated. God has permitted verse five to remain in the Bible for these many centuries; and because there has been so much doubt about it, that may be one of the ways he has employed to conceal its true meaning until the due time comes for men to understand it. When the obedient ones see what God has done, then all will say his judgments are just, and they will delight to praise him forever.

Verse eight discloses that during the brief space of time that Satan is released he launches a campaign against God. This is conclusive proof of his total depravity. He goes out to deceive all the nations, and a great multitude join him. By that time the resto-

ration work of mankind is done. Does it seem reasonable that the peoples of the earth, after having a thousand years of knowledge of God's goodness, and after being restored to health and happiness and plenty, and knowing that Satan caused their troubles, many of them would then be deceived and follow Satan? It does not seem reasonable that they would do so. But this scripture says that the number of those that follow Satan "is as the sand of the sea", showing that there will be a tremendous multitude. At that time all national lines will be completely wiped out and restored mankind will be one nation. Then what could it mean that he goes out "to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth"? All the restored ones of mankind will be back to Adam's original state of perfection by the end of the thousand-year reign. It is plainly stated in the Scriptures: "Adam was not deceived." (1 Tim. 2:14) How then could restored men, perfect like Adam, be deceived? It would therefore seem sure that the nations numbering multitudes that follow Satan could not include the restored human race. How then does this great army of Satan appear on the scene? and whence do the multitudes come? The most reasonable answer is that this great horde has been reserved in death during the millennial reign of Christ, and now, at the end of the thousand years, is brought forth from the tomb. This will include Judas and all of the Judas element, the Pharisees, a great crop of hypocrites described by Jesus when he was on earth and who he said were worthy of gehenna; and would include all of their counterpart throughout the age, and especially at this end of the world, where there is a tremendous crop of hypocrites deliberately mis-

representing God, deceiving the people, reproaching God's name, and persecuting faithful men and women who are serving Jehovah. The Lord likens these wicked ones to wild goats, and Jesus declared what should be the end of the goat class.

That all of these will be brought up from the tomb at the end of the thousand years is further supported by the words of verse eight, concerning "Gog and Magog". We have the positive statement that Satan is to be released at the end of the millennial reign of Christ and then to be completely destroyed. That same thing would reasonably apply to all who willingly and knowingly support Satan and who are worthy of everlasting destruction. "The lake of fire and brimstone" is prepared for the Devil and his angels; so said Jesus. (Matt. 25:41) That would include all that have been on Satan's side, both wicked spirit creatures and wicked human creatures. The names "Gog and Magog", before the Millennial age or reign of Christ begins, are applied to all that is anti-God and anti-kingdom. They are against God and against Christ and against his kingdom and against all righteousness. These wicked ones go into death at or before Armageddon, and doubtless there will be a tremendous number of them who will die in Armageddon. And some die during the reign of Christ because of wickedness.

If raised out of death at the end of the reign of Christ they would still be wicked and anti-God and anti-kingdom, and these are the forces that would rally to Satan and prove by their works, which all might see, that they are worthy of everlasting destruction. The restored human race will constitute God's new earth; and if Jehovah brings the "Gog

and Magog" forces out of the tomb at the end of the Millennial reign such would be the ones that would form the great multitude that would gather to battle against the Lord's saints.

Mark the Word does not say that Satan will succeed in deceiving any of the restored human race, but the text does say that he "shall go out to deceive". Therefore the occasion will be one of testing the loyalty of the restored human race. The following prophecy seems clearly to have a second application at the end of the millennial reign of Christ, to wit: "And thou shalt come from thy place out of the uttermost parts of the north, thou, and many peoples with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company and a mighty army; and thou shalt come up against my people Israel, as a cloud to cover the land: it shall come to pass in the latter days, that I will bring thee against my land, that the nations may know me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, 0 Gog, before their eyes." (Ezek. 38:15, 16, R.V.) "And thou, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God: Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal: and I will turn thee about, and will lead thee on, and will cause thee to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel." — Ezek. 39:1, 2, R.V.

That many have died in their wickedness, and that these will be brought forth from the grave at the end of the millennial reign of Christ and be subjected to final execution by Jehovah, the following scriptures are submitted in proof, to wit: When Jesus was on the earth not only did the Jewish clergy oppose him and reproach Jehovah's name, but they sinned against

light. They had every reason to believe from the time of the birth of Jesus until his death that he was the long-promised Messiah. They wanted to hold to their own selfish powers and to work the people for their own selfish interests, and therefore they used their religious positions as teachers as a club to carry on their selfish work. Jesus denounced them as vile hypocrites. He plainly told them that their father the Devil was a murderer and that they would continue to do the will of Satan. (John 8:42-44) Then he said to them: "You also will fill up the measure of your fathers. Serpents, progeny of vipers! how can you escape the judgment of the gehenna." — Matt. 23: 32, 33, Diag.

Such are "vessels of wrath fitted to destruction", and their judgment was written aforetime according to the fixed rules of Jehovah. Those all died in their sins. Jesus also said to them before they died that the time would come when they would see Abraham and all the prophets in the kingdom and they themselves cast out. (Luke 13: 28) That would be impossible unless the Lord would bring these Pharisees and other hypocrites out of the grave after Abraham and all the prophets have been restored to life and in the kingdom.

It is furthermore written: "The Lord knoweth how ... to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." (2 Pet. 2:9) The Pharisees are duplicated on a far greater scale in the present time. There are hundreds of thousands of men who pose before the people as ministers of God and of Christ who not only reproach the name of God and Christ Jesus by teaching Satan's falsehoods, but who ally themselves with the Devil and his organization, and

form a part of it and lead the persecution against God's faithful witnesses. They call themselves shepherds of the flock and are the most gigantic hypocrites that have ever encumbered the earth. The prophet of God makes it certain that these hypocrites will be killed at Armageddon. — Jer. 25: 33-36.

Many people of the earth have been led to believe that these men are honest, because of their suavity of speech and great hypocritical, sanctimonious manner, and the crocodile tears that they shed. Many of these men have come in contact with present truth disclosing the presence of the Lord and his kingdom and have selfishly used the literature that the Lord has provided, claiming the authorship of certain truths, and have mixed these with their false doctrines to deceive the people, and have deceived many. That they will die in Armageddon if certain. If they were never brought out of the tomb again many might think that God had not given them a full chance. If brought out of death at the end of Christ's reign they will demonstrate that they belong to Satan and are unworthy of life, and, joining Satan's host, they will be consigned to everlasting death; and then all will see that Jehovah is just and true and his judgments right, and his word and name will be for ever justified.

By his prophet Jehovah says: "And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. And they shall be gathered together as prisoners are gathered in the pit, and shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited." (Isa. 24:21, 22) We are now "in that day", and the "host of the high

ones [selfish, exalted, arrogant]" is made up of the hypocritical clergy and the 'principal ones of their flock' that use religion to deceive, defraud and oppress the people. At Armageddon these, according to this prophecy, will be gathered into the pit and shut up and after many days visited. The visitation of God is doubtless for the purpose of bringing them out of the pit of death for final judgment and execution.

To be sure, God knows that these will never become obedient to him, but he will demonstrate his great mercy, fairness and justice and further vindicate his name by bringing them out of death and giving them an opportunity to prove before all creation where they stand. In harmony with this the prophet further says: "Let favour be shewed to the wicked, yet will he not learn righteousness; in the land of uprightness will he deal unjustly, and will not behold the majesty of the Lord. Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them." (Isa. 26:10, 11) "The land of uprightness," without a doubt, is the restored race of obedient men at the end of the reign of Christ. It is the "new earth".

These hypocrites and wicked ones the Lord through his prophet calls "dogs". (Isa. 56:11; Phil. 3:2; Rev. 22:15) These are anti-God and anti-kingdom of God.

The end of the millennial reign of Christ is called the "evening". At the evening the Lord God visits these wicked and brings them out of the tomb. Concerning them it is written: "They return at evening [close of the Millennial age]: they make a noise like

a dog [barking viciously in the Devil's hordes], and go round about the city [God's holy city, his restored people making up his organization on earth]. Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips; for who, say they, doth hear? . . . And at evening [close of the Millennial age] let them return, and let them make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city [God's organization]. Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied." (Ps. 59:6-15) This is a picture of the wickedness of those who make up the hordes of Satan during the "little season".

Satan cannot deceive the restored men, but he can deceive all these hypocrites brought out of death, because they want to be deceived. There must be a great multitude of such wicked ones now in the land called "Christendom" and who will go into death at Armageddon or before. When awakened they rally to Satan and he can make them believe his old lie that there is no death, because he is alive and they are alive also. They will doubtless still hold to their old inherent immortality doctrine or that of evolution. The moving of the vast horde against the restored people would in Satan's estimation be imposing enough to turn many away from God. Thus he will expect to get many followers, even as he expected to turn Job against Jehovah. As God permitted Job to be put to the test by Satan, so then he will permit all mankind to be subjected to the test. Satan will reason that he can strike terror into the hearts of all and that many of these would desert God's organization, as he expected to make Job do. (Job 2:4) Hence he gathers his great force against restored mankind and brings them up to do battle.

Verse nine shows that the wicked hordes 'compass the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city'. The "saints" then could be none other than the purified and restored men of earth who are wholly devoted to God and who maintain their integrity, which is now to be tested to the limit. They are now properly said to be in the camp or in the tent condition, because they must first prove their loyalty under the final test before being given a permanent place in God's great organization.

The Devil's horde, described as "Gog and Magog", is or will be on the earth; and hence these encompass the beloved city, which is God's earthly organization and in which the "princes in all the earth" represent God and into which all of his restored ones will be brought. Concerning these faithful princes it was written: 'God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city. For they looked for a city which hath sure foundations, and whose builder is Jehovah.' (Heb. 11:16, 10) Those who do stand firmly on God's side and with the princes on the earth will constitute God's holy city and will be the object of Satan's assault. What then shall be the result?

It also seems certain that all the wicked angels who have been operating with Satan will likewise be brought out of death at the same time that Satan is and will be present, and will join him; and that they also will be a part of the great horde. These, together with a mighty number of wicked in the earth, will constitute a tremendous force. The scene is not pictured as a two-sided battle, such as Armageddon. God's restored people are pictured as in a tent or camp, and are called saints; and it appears that they

do not take up arms against the approaching enemy, but confidently rely upon Jehovah God for protection and thus show their absolute faith and confidence in him. Jesus Christ, having restored obedient mankind, at that time will have turned over all to Jehovah for final judgment, yet Jesus, as the great executive officer, acts for Jehovah. It is written: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. For our God is a consuming fire." — Heb. 10:31; 12:29.

It is the restored people that constitute the camp, as described in Psalm 59. When the "dogs" return and go about to bark against God's saints or restored people, instead of fighting with carnal weapons against the enemy they rely upon Jehovah and pray thus: "Consume them in wrath, consume them, that they may not be; and let them know that God ruleth in Jacob unto the ends of the earth." (Ps. 59:13) While a prayer is not necessary for God to take action, yet seemingly then the Lord respects the prayer of his people. He proceeds to execute judgment upon the wicked horde, and the execution is in this manner: "And fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them." — Vs. 9.

Satan is then finally dispatched by Jehovah, and verse ten pictures him as cast "into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are". For a thousand years "the beast and the false prophet", the products of Satan, have been in "the lake of fire and brimstone", which marks their complete destruction; and now Satan is confined to the same place. As stated in Revelation 14:10 and the comments thereunder, all imprisonment is torment as long as it lasts; and since "the beast and the false prophet" and Satan shall never be released from the

imprisonment of destruction, that condition is symbolically described as 'torment day and night for ever and ever'.

In ancient times when persons were in jail, and therefore in torment, under certain conditions they might be released; and that, of course, would end their torment. There is nothing that could ever release Satan or "the beast and the false prophet". This "lake of fire and brimstone" denotes destruction from which there is no recovery. There is no reason to say that the "second death", as that term is applied to intelligent creatures, means anything other than is stated: 'dying twice, or the second time.' This would be literally true with reference to Satan and with reference to all wilfully wicked, including men and angels. They are all dead during the reign of righteousness, and this is supported by the fact that the Lord will judge the world in righteousness. Brought up out of death for a little season, the Devil and his followers are finally dispatched. The lake of fire and brimstone is for the Devil and his angels, and means the everlasting destruction of all the wicked. — Matt. 25:41.

The "sea" is now given consideration. "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them; and they were judged every man according to their works." (Vs. 13) It was out of the "sea", to wit, the ungodly peoples of earth, that Satan brought forth his great commercial and military organization which God described as the 'sea beast'. (Rev. 13:1) The angry waves of the sea therefore well symbolize the selfish and cruel commercial power and influence that cause many to "drown". There have been many who

were brought to a knowledge of the truth, or at least to some measure thereof, and who covenanted to do God's will and who were then drawn away in temptation and have been swallowed up in this sea of commercial greed. It could not be properly said that all who trade in the sea are of this class; but those who have once been enlightened in the truth and are then drawn away by their own passionate desire for wealth and power and who forsake the Lord and join Satan's organization, fix their own destiny in perdition, or everlasting death. Paul wrote of these: "But they that will be rich, fall into temptation, and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." (1 Tim. 6:9) The 'dead in the sea' could not symbolically refer to any that died because of Adamic sin. All of these are considered under verse twelve; therefore verse thirteen must refer to a different class. Jude tells of those once enlightened by the truth and who are likened unto the waves of the sea: "Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever." (Jude 13) Surely those who have turned away from God because of their greed for gold must come to account unto God; and these, having died as wicked persons, are said to be "in the sea", dead. Therefore "the sea gave up the dead" for final accounting at the end of the reign of Christ, and doubtless these also will join the hosts of Satan and meet the same fate.

"Death and hell," as used in this verse thirteen, would apply to those who do not go into actual death before the beginning of the millennial reign of Christ but who are among those who start over the great

"highway" and who refuse to obey and are put to death. These too, it would seem, are brought out of death and gather themselves unto Satan's wicked horde that is destroyed. Their "works", or course of action, will call forth upon, them the destiny which God's law provides for all the wicked. The general resurrection of the dead is clearly covered in verse twelve, while verse thirteen specifically applies to those who go into death and the grave after the beginning of the resurrection and restoration of mankind. Being awakened then and given a final judgment, these die also the second death.

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Vs. 14) The "sea" will for ever disappear, and all wickedness and ungodliness will be destroyed. The judgment of God by means of death and hell will then have been fully executed and there will be no further use for such expressions of God's wrath. Death and hell are then destroyed, or for ever abolished; and this is done by Jehovah through his great executive officer, "our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death." (2 Tim. 1:10) Therefore "the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death". (1 Cor. 15:25-28) The "second death" is therefore defined as the means of complete destruction from which there is no recovery. But this does not at all militate against the conclusion that many go into death as wicked and against whom the judgment is written as final and who are brought out of death that they may have an opportunity to demonstrate their wickedness by joining Satan's forces, and that they merit their lasting destruction. The word of God and his holy name, being of greatest importance, will then stand before all

creation as completely and everlastingly vindicated, that he is the One worthy to be praised.

"And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire," (Vs. 15) The "book of life" bears record of those who have met the requirements, stood the test, and thereby proven that they come within the rule, to wit: "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever." (Ps. 37:29) All who have taken a contrary course will have their names stricken out of the "book of life", and their destruction is symbolized as a being "cast into the lake of fire" for destruction. Thus Jehovah God permits every one of his creatures to find his eternal destiny by his own works. Jehovah's judgments are righteous and true, and all creation will see it: "The righteous shall see it, and rejoice; and all iniquity shall stop her mouth. Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the Lord." (Ps. 107:42, 43) "Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence." — Ps. 140:13.