SALVATION

CHAPTER VII

PRIVILEGES

JEHOVAH having expressed his purpose to do a thing, he will certainly perform that purpose. "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) Jehovah's purpose in creating the earth is stated in these words: "I have made the earth, and created man upon it; I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded." "For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited; I am the Lord, and there is none else." (Isaiah 45:12,18) God created the earth. (Genesis 1:1) The foregoing text proves that he created it to be inhabited by man for ever. This conclusion is further supported by the command which Jehovah gave to Adam and Eve, to wit: "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [fill] the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis

1:28) The command of Jehovah, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish [(Rotherham) fill] the earth," is herein referred to as "the divine mandate".

Adam joined the Devil in rebellion, and for that reason he became a sinner, and he and Eve could not and did not carry out the divine mandate. God's purpose, however, cannot fail because of man's wrongdoing. Adam was righteous when the divine mandate was given to him, but he became unrighteous by reason of his sin; and no unrighteous man could carry out the divine mandate. All of Adam's children were born sinners, and for that reason none of them can carry out the divine mandate unless first made righteous. (Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5) Today the earth is filled with unrighteousness and wicked persons. The kingdom class cannot carry out that divine mandate of populating the earth, for the reason that the kingdom company - is made up exclusively of spirit creatures. If the millions that have lived and died should be raised out of death and 'restored to human perfection', that would not fulfill the divine mandate, for the reason that the mandate must be carried out by righteous men under the direct command of the Lord. If 'restitution of man' were God's purpose, which it is not, that could be accomplished only by the Lord Jesus Christ, and hence would not constitute a fulfillment of the divine mandate. As the command of God was given, so must it be carried out; but how and by whom? An abstract answer is given, and the proof in support thereof follows:

The "great multitude" will be granted the privilege of carrying out the divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth. The great multitude is formed by the "other sheep" of the Lord, which he brings into his fold and to whom he grants life everlasting on the earth. Those who compose the great multitude are the persons of good will who are now being gathered to the Lord. These are made righteous by the Lord by reason of their faith and obedience; and life everlasting on the earth will be theirs, and they shall be under the immediate command and control of the theocratic government.

FOR INSTRUCTION

The scriptures set out in the Bible were given by inspiration of God and caused to be recorded by his faithful servants, the prophets and the apostles, for the instruction of men of good will in the way of righteousness, to the end that such men of good will may be thoroughly furnished unto all good works. This includes the anointed remnant and their "companions", the great multitude. (2 Timothy 3:16,17) Recorded in the Bible are many prophetic pictures produced by the command of Jehovah God and couched in language that could not be understood by men until the end of Satan's world, where we now are. (1 Corinthians 10:11) The time has now come when God makes known and understandable those prophetic pictures for the aid, comfort and hope of the persons who are devoted to him and to his kingdom. (Romans 15:4) Among those prophetic pictures is the one pertaining to the flood, or great deluge, the facts leading up

to that flood, and the connection of Noah and his family therewith; and which directly concerns the carrying out of the divine mandate to fill the earth.

Many of the angels associated with Lucifer joined him in the rebellion, and they, together with the Devil, have since indulged in great wickedness. The Devil knew that God had commanded Adam to multiply and fill the earth, and he set about to defeat God's purpose. Prior to Noah's day and during his time angels materialized in human form. Some angels that had not joined in Satan's rebellion but that yielded to his seductive influence were overreached and induced to marry or take wives of the daughters of men, which resulted in a race of giants being born on the earth. Evidently it was the purpose of Satan and his wicked associates to mock God and to fill the earth with a race superior to ordinary men and all of whom should be against God. The result was that in Noah's time the Devil and those wicked angels debauched "the sons [angelic ones, materialized] of God", who married the daughters of men and raised a race of people on earth known as Gibborim, all of which were extremely wicked; and therefore it is written that "the earth was filled with violence". (Genesis 6:11) "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." "And the Lord said, I will destroy man, whom I have created, from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord." "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them: and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood: rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch."  — Genesis 6:5,7,8,13,14.

THE PROPHETIC PICTURE

Jehovah God, having purposed to destroy the earth, commanded Noah to build an ark, into which he was to take his family and certain animals. The ark was a type of God's organization under Christ Jesus. The name of Noah's father was "Lamech", which means "powerful"; and Lamech played the part representing or picturing Jehovah God, while Noah represented Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God. When Lamech witnessed the birth of his son, "he called his name Noah, saying, This [son] shall corn-fort us concerning our work and toil of our hands." (Genesis 5:28,29) The name of Noah means "Rest; comfort". The record concerning Noah is that following the deluge he offered a sacrifice unto God: "And the Lord smelled a sweet savour [savour of rest], and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake." (Genesis 8:21) The prophecy uttered by Lamech was nearly 600 years before the flood. "All the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven [777] years." (Genesis 5:30,31) The number seven is symbolic of fullness of the things heavenly, or completeness in heaven; and

three sevens appearing point to the fact of the everlasting years of Jehovah. "From everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." — Psalm 90: 2.

Because of this faith and obedience unto God Noah was counted a righteous man. He warned the people then on the earth of the impending disaster of the flood. He was "a preacher of righteousness" and continuously bore testimony to the name of Jehovah God. (2 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 11:7) After Noah was 500 years old his three sons were born. (Genesis 5:32; 6:9,10) In the prophetic drama relating to the flood those three sons played the part picturing the Lord's "other sheep", who compose the great multitude; whereas Noah pictured Christ Jesus, who is "the Everlasting Father", who ministers life to all who get life. (Isaiah 9: 6) Noah's sons were born a short time before the flood; and likewise the "other sheep" of the Lord that form the great multitude are brought forth a short time before Armageddon, which is the antitype of the flood. Noah's sons were born a short time before the end of the wicked "world that then was", and now the "other sheep" are brought forth at the end of the present wicked world. As Noah was old when his sons were born, even so a long time elapsed from the birth of the man-child Jesus until he brings forth his "other sheep". The facts that have come to pass now clearly disclose that the flood and everything in connection therewith constituted or pictured what God's purpose is concerning the wicked world that now is, and which he will destroy at Armageddon.

In obedience to God's commandment Noah builded the ark, which was God's provision for the protection and salvation of Noah and his family from the devastation of the flood: "And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven: and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark; thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives, with thee. And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female." "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation." — Genesis 6:17-19, 22; 7:1.

The scheme of Satan was to corrupt all creation on the earth and thereby bring about the destruction of all men, and this he tried in his effort to carry out his wicked challenge. The Devil failed! The flood resulted in the destruction of all flesh on the earth, save Noah and his family, the salvation of whom was a defeat of Satan's scheme and was in vindication of Jehovah's name. It therefore clearly appears that the primary purpose of the flood was to vindicate the name of Jehovah and his word. Furthermore, the purpose was to clear the earth of the wicked and to preserve only the righteous ones, to wit, Noah and his family, whom God counted righteous by reason of their faith and obedience. That was a picture of the result of Armageddon,

which great battle shall clear away from the earth all the wicked and preserve alive only the righteous ones, whom God counts righteous by reason of their faith and obedience, and which righteous ones will also be a vindication of Jehovah's name.

God declares that his purpose in providing the ark was to keep alive the righteous ones. (Genesis 6:18; 7: 3) Noah and the members of his family were counted righteous in God's sight because of their faith and obedience. The flood having ended, the occupants of the ark went out. "And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him. And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And the Lord smelled a sweet savour."  — Genesis 8:15,16,18, 20, 21.

At that time Noah and his sons and their wives, eight persons in all, were the only human creatures alive, and all of them were counted righteous in the sight of Jehovah. It is certain that God would commission no creatures to fill the earth who are not counted righteous by him. Immediately following the flood God restated the commandment to righteous Noah and his family to "be fruitful and multiply and replenish [fill] the earth". At this point Noah pictured Christ Jesus, "the Everlasting Father," who ministers life according to the will of Almighty God (Isaiah 9:6; Romans 6:23), and also the members of the body of Christ, who will be asso-

ciated with Christ Jesus in the work of regeneration. (Luke 22:28-30; Matthew 19:28) While the filling of the earth must be done under the direction of Christ Jesus, it is certain that human creatures must be employed to bring forth human children, and therefore the sons of Noah and their wives pictured the Lord's "other sheep", that form the great multitude. Immediately upon leaving the ark Noah and his sons received from Jehovah this commandment: "And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." (Genesis 9:1) This is conclusive proof that the sons of Noah pictured the earthly creatures that shall have the privilege of fulfilling the divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth. That the flood and attending circumstances and Noah and his family were typical, constituting a prophetic picture, is further made sure by the words of Jesus, to wit: "And as it was in the days of No´e, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that No´e entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." — Luke 17: 26, 27, 30.

The Lord Jesus will be revealed to all flesh on the earth in and by the expression of Jehovah's wrath at Armageddon, which is very near and concerning which it is written: "And to you who are troubled, rest with us; when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not

the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power." — 2 Thessalonians 1: 7-9.

As the end of the flood did not show the end of the picture or prophetic drama, so likewise the end of Armageddon does not complete the fulfillment of that prophetic picture, but things as shown in the prophecy are to be fulfilled following Armageddon. As the divine mandate was given immediately following the flood, this is proof that the beginning of the fulfillment of the divine mandate will immediately follow the battle of Armageddon. The divine mandate was first given to Adam and thereafter restated to Noah and his sons, and at no other place in the Scriptures is the same stated; and in both instances, when stated, it was given to men righteous in the sight of God. After the battle of Armageddon has ended those of the great multitude will be the only human creatures on the earth, aside from some of the remnant of Christ's body and the "princes" of the earth. Will the remnant, that is, the members of the body of Christ, bring forth children in fulfillment of the divine mandate? What Noah did may enable us to arrive at the proper conclusion, as Noah represented The Christ; and what his sons did is also proper for consideration in ascertaining the correct answer to this question.

Noah lived 349 years after coming out of the ark. The record does not show that Noah brought forth or begot children after the flood. Had he raised sons following the flood, that would mean that the human race would have

more than three primary branches, to wit, Shemitic, Japhetic and Hamitic. The Bible record shows only these three branches of the human race. (Genesis 10:1-32) Concerning all the patriarchs from Adam to Noah's father, Lamech, the Bible record is that, after each had begotten the next in line of descent, 'he begot sons and daughters.' (Genesis 5:3-30) The Bible record concerning Noah and his sons is: "And Noah was five hundred years old; and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth." (Genesis 5: 32) There is no Bible record that Noah had other sons than those three sons above named, either before or after the flood and after the giving of the divine mandate to "fill the earth". As to Noah's three sons, the names of their children and grandchildren, born after the flood and after the restating the divine mandate, are set forth in the record to the number of seventy persons. (Genesis 10:1-32) There is a complete absence of anything in the record of any children's being born to these three sons before the flood, and a complete absence in the record that Noah had any children after the flood. For this reason it appears that the divine mandate to "multiply and fill the earth" does not apply to the spirit-begotten ones, that is, to the remnant, but that such as were pictured by Noah, the faithful ones who inherit the kingdom with Christ Jesus, are included in and associated with Christ Jesus, "the Everlasting Father," who administers life to all who receive life after Armageddon, including those who shall be raised from the dead.

Seeing that the divine mandate was given only to righteous men or those counted righteous by

the Lord, and that the great multitude who survive the battle of Armageddon will be the only ones of the human race to abide on the earth, and that those of the great multitude will be counted righteous by the Lord by reason of their faith and obedience, is it not reasonable and Scriptural to conclude that the members of the great multitude will carry out the divine mandate according to the will of Jehovah God under the immediate command and direction of Christ? The question then arises, Since the Lord is now gathering his "other sheep", who will form the great multitude, should those begin now to marry and bring forth children in fulfillment of the divine mandate? No, is the answer; which the Scriptures fully support. The sons of Noah and their wives had no children during the flood. There is no evidence that any children were taken into the ark. Only eight persons came forth from the ark, and that is conclusive proof that no children were born to Noah's sons either before the flood or during the flood. (Genesis 7:13; 8:16) In the prophetic picture it is shown that no children were born to Noah's sons and their wives until after the flood, and the first one mentioned was born two years after the flood. (Genesis 11:10) The apostle Peter, under inspiration of the holy spirit, corroborates this when he says: "The ark . . . wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water." The conclusion, therefore, seems inevitable that the beginning of the fulfillment of the divine mandate is after Armageddon. In support of this conclusion the words of Jesus relating to Armageddon are here set forth, to wit: "And woe unto them

that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!" (Matthew 24:19) Jesus warned those who would be saved from the destructive results of Armageddon to flee to the kingdom now, because it will be too late to flee after Armageddon begins; and he also warns that they should not be burdened unnecessarily when so fleeing. — Matthew 24:16-21.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the great Executive Officer of Jehovah God, and whatsoever is done in the kingdom must be done by him or under his immediate direction. The reasons therefor are set forth fully in the Scriptures. The perfect man Adam lost everything. Jesus became the owner of every thing that Adam lost. Christ Jesus is the "heir of all things". (Hebrews 1:2; Romans 8:17) He is "the author of eternal salvation" and the minister of life. (Hebrews 5:9; Romans 6:23) The carrying out of the divine mandate must be done under the immediate direction of Christ Jesus. His "other sheep", the great multitude, are to be used according to the will of his Father. The divine mandate must be carried out on earth by human agents who are in full harmony with Christ Jesus. The great multitude will be the only ones on earth at the conclusion of Armageddon who could do this. That Christ Jesus will do the regenerating of mankind by and through his earthly agents is made certain by his words: "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." — Matthew 19: 28.

The great multitude, as shown by the Scriptures, serve "before the throne of God" (Revelation 9:15); which means they serve under the direct command of the Lord Jesus Christ. The prophetic picture clearly shows that Noah's family, his sons and their wives, refer to the great multitude; and since the command was given to those in the type to multiply and fill the earth, it follows that the great multitude, under the direction of Christ, will be used for that purpose. The members of the body of Christ are the agents of Jehovah to carry out the purpose of Jehovah as he delegates to them certain things to do. The great multitude are the "companions" of the body of Christ and agents of The Christ to carry out the work assigned to them. The prophetic picture, supported by other Scriptures, shows that the great multitude will be used by the Lord to carry into operation the divine mandate to multiply and fill the earth. Such will be the great privilege which the Lord extends to those who are of his "other sheep".

NEW EARTH

Since the rebellion in Eden the earth has been under the curse. (Genesis 3:17) Satan has ruled the earth in wickedness, and unrighteous men have been his active agents in that rule. But it will not for ever be so, for the reason that God has given his Word that the wicked shall be wiped out, that to be followed by the "new earth". God gave his emphatic word of promise to create new heavens and a new earth: "For behold me! creating new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be mentioned,

neither shall they come up on the heart." (Isaiah 65:17, Rotherham) The apostle Peter believed and faithfully served God and Christ. He was the inspired witness of the Lord, and under inspiration of the spirit of God and with positive authority he wrote: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." — 2 Peter 3:13.

The "heavens" mean the ruling power invisible to human eyes. Satan has long been the invisible ruler of this world. (2 Corinthians 4:4) The new heavens consist of The Christ, Head and body, served by the holy angels of heaven. The wicked earth has been ruled by unrighteous men. The "new earth" will consist of righteous men who, in the years past, proved their integrity to God and who shall be resurrected as perfect men and made princes in the earth and rule in righteousness. (Psalm 45:16; Isaiah 32:1) Associated with those princes will be the great multitude. Every creature that gets everlasting life on the earth must become righteous, and the righteous will never die. (Matthew 25:46) The new heavens and new earth together constitute the righteous world, which the inspired writer of the Scripture says is "the world to come", the "world without end". (Hebrews 2: 5; 6: 5; Ephesians 3:21) In fulfillment of his promise God has created a new heavens consisting of Christ, as aforesaid, and has enthroned Christ to rule; and the Scriptures show that following the battle of Armageddon Christ will proceed to put in operation the new earth. It is then that the great multitude will begin to fulfill the prophetic

divine mandate and to multiply and fill the earth with righteous children. God will fill the earth only with righteous creatures, and hence he will use righteous agencies. Aside from the great multitude there appears to be no other human agencies for that purpose. Manifestly the "other sheep" of the Lord, which form the great multitude, are brought into existence for the use of the Lord. All the Scriptural evidence and extraneous facts point to the great multitude as the earthly agency to carry out the divine mandate to fill the earth.

As the flood, which was typical, cleared the earth of the wicked and left surviving only eight persons, so the battle of the great day of God Almighty will clear the earth of the wicked and there will be comparatively few who survive. "And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground." (Jeremiah 25:33) Armageddon will clear the earth of unrighteousness, and thereafter those who live must be on the side of God and Christ his King. The Scriptures appear to clearly show that the survivors of Armageddon will be those Jonadabs who henceforth 'seek righteousness and meekness' and who form the great multitude. (Revelation 7:9-15) Together with the faithful prophets and servants of God, who maintained their integrity toward God before the first coming of Christ Jesus, these shall live for ever on the earth. The entire number will doubtless be but a few millions, a small number compared to the mass of humanity now on

earth. But there is no need to be appalled by the great world-wide destruction of Armageddon. It is certain that the day of Jehovah's wrath will conclude with the victorious war of Christ against Satan and then there will be found on earth a far greater number of persons than those who survived the deluge of Noah's day. But the fact that a great multitude of persons do maintain their integrity toward God and are carried over Armageddon conclusively disproves and nullifies Satan's wicked challenge and will be a vindication of Jehovah's name and his word. The power of God is unlimited, and there is nothing that can hinder him in carrying out his mandate to "fill the earth". When stripped of wickedness, the earth will be in a condition for the execution of that divine mandate in harmony with the will of Almighty God. Only eight persons survived the flood; and now, after centuries, brief indeed so far as God is concerned, the earth is filled with creatures the most of whom have turned to violence and wickedness. If a few millions survive Armageddon and are wholly devoted to God and his King, Christ Jesus, what may those few millions do under the direction of Christ Jesus toward 'filling the earth' within a few short centuries? As to how long will be required to fill the earth, it is not revealed, but it seems certain that the entire thousand years will not be required to carry out the divine mandate.

CONCEIVED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

After Armageddon all degenerate and wicked ones will be dead, and neither they nor the Devil

can debauch or influence the children born to those of the great multitude. The kingdom of the Lord, then in operation, will mean everlasting life to all obedient ones. Hence the children of the great multitude will be conceived in righteousness and unto life. Christ Jesus will accomplish what Lucifer failed to do, and righteous men and women will perform the functions which sinful man could not perform, and in righteousness God's commandment to multiply and fill the earth will be accomplished. That will be a vindication of Jehovah's word and name. It was God's will that perfect Adam and Eve should multiply, and therefore it must be in harmony with the will of God that those men and women whom the Lord counts righteous and who will form the great multitude shall marry and bring forth children. The counsel as set forth at 1 Corinthians 7 did not apply to perfect Adam, and will not apply to those of the great multitude, who will fulfill the mandate which Adam did not fulfill, by reason of his disobedience. Neither would the counsel of 1 Timothy 5:11,14 apply to the great multitude.

BABES WILL NOT DIE

The regeneration of the human race will be a time of delight and joy. It will be a time of complete peace and great rejoicing. It will be a real joy to the parents to rear their children and to teach them righteousness under righteous conditions. Parents are anxious to have their children to live. The babes born to those of the great multitude will not die as babes. If they should die as babes there would be no purpose in their

birth, because it is God's time to fill the earth with righteous, living creatures. Because the father of the human race (that is, Adam) sinned, all babes have been born in sin, inheriting the imperfection and condemnation, and therefore many have died because of the iniquity of Adam. (Romans 5:12) Jesus has bought the human race; and those of the great multitude having received the full benefit of the ransom sacrifice and being commissioned by the Lord to fill the earth, their children will not inherit the death resulting to the human race by reason of Adam's sin. The children of the great multitude will be conceived in righteousness and born to live, if they obey the Lord. Those who die thereafter will die because of their own individual wrongdoing; as it is written: "Every one shall die for his own iniquity," and not because of inherited sin. (Jeremiah 31: 29, 30; Ezekiel 18:17) It follows that the infants, not being sufficiently responsible until they grow up, would not die as infants, but that the Lord will give each one an intelligent, full and fair opportunity to prove his or her devotion to God and righteousness.

Concerning the great multitude it is written: "For the Lamb [Christ Jesus], which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:17) If the babies of the great multitude should die as babes in arms, surely their parents would shed tears of bitterness. But there will be no tears of bitterness shed. The kingdom of heaven is symbolically called "the holy city, [the] new Jerusalem", which

rules the world in righteousness and which is the dwellingplace of God by and through which he ministers blessings to the people, and concerning which it is written: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4) The reason why sorrow, crying and suffering will cease plainly appears from the scriptures that follow.

"Jerusalem" is the name applied to Jehovah's universal organization, while "Zion" is the name of the capital organization exercising the will of God over all. "Jerusalem," therefore, includes the Lord's "other sheep" when they are all gathered into the fold of the Lord. (John 10:16) Already the "new heavens" are in operation. Note now the prophetic words of Jehovah: "For behold me! creating new heavens and a new earth, and the former shall not be mentioned, neither shall they come up on the heart. But joy ye and exult perpetually in what I am about to create, for, behold me! creating Jerusalem an exultation, and her people a joy; therefore will I exult in Jerusalem and joy in my people, and there shall be heard in her no more the sound of weeping or the sound of a cry: there shall be thenceforward no more a suckling of a few days or an elder who filleth not up his days, but a youth a hundred years old may die, yea a sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed." (Isaiah 65:17-20, Rotherham) This shows that the great multitude begin to multiply and their babes are a joy to them. The parents will know how to

properly feed and care for their babes and how to instruct them in the way of righteousness that they may grow up to maturity without sickness, suffering or death; and therefore it is written:

"There shall be henceforward no more a suckling of a few days or an elder who filleth not up his days"; which clearly means that the babes will grow up to maturity and full individual responsibility. What, then, is meant by the words of the text, "But a youth a hundred years old may die, yea a sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed"? The number ten is symbolic of completeness of things pertaining to the earth. The multiple of ten times ten, or one hundred, would therefore refer to the full and complete opportunity of each one of the children of the great multitude to prove his integrity to the Lord. The 'one hundred years' would not therefore mean that literally every person must have a one hundred years' trial, but does mean that each one must have a full and complete opportunity to prove his integrity to the Lord. Those proving their integrity and therefore being made righteous shall live forever; and those who fail to prove their integrity and who become willful sinners die as accursed ones. Whether one hundred years or five hundred years are required would make no difference, but during that length of time the person would be a youth as compared to those who never die. Hence "a youth" having full opportunity and becoming a willful violator of God's law would perish, and would perish for his own iniquity and therefore would be accursed. No one would

mourn because of the death of the willful sinner. Not even the parents would mourn, because to mourn for such would mean that the mourner is not in full heart harmony with God and his purposes and his kingdom. God has commanded that those who are fully devoted to him shall not mourn because of the death of the willfully wicked. (See Ezekiel 24:16,17.) Therefore, in God's organization, "there shall be heard in her [Jerusalem] no more the sound of weeping or the sound of a cry."

The children born to the great multitude are the seed of those who are blessed by the Lord, and which obedient children shall be blessed. "They shall not labour in vain, nor have children for terror, for the seed of the blessed ones of [Jehovah] shall they be, and their offspring with them." (Isaiah 65:23, Rotherham) The kingdom in full operation will bring blessings to all obedient ones, and nothing therein shall be permitted to offend or bring sorrow upon those devoted to the Lord. — Isaiah 65: 25.

Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord Jesus, was a willful sinner, and no one mourned because of his death; and this illustrates and emphasizes the truth that no one will sorrow because of the death of one who has had a full opportunity to know and to obey the Lord and who then deliberately opposes God and his kingdom. The kingdom of God is a great joy to all who love the kingdom and who render themselves in obedience to its laws. It is the kingdom that vindicates Jehovah's name, and therefore all in God's organization or under it shall rejoice. During all the time that Satan has oper-

ated as the god of this wicked world sorrow and suffering and death have afflicted the people. Under the reign of Christ Jesus weeping shall cease, joy will take the place thereof, and in due time even death itself shall be destroyed. (I Corinthians 15: 26) By faith the anointed remnant now see and appreciate what God's kingdom means to them and to all who obey; and they seeing that the Lord Jesus is enthroned and has taken his power and has begun his reign, they greatly rejoice. (Revelation 12:12) The Lord's "other sheep", now being gathered to him, by faith see the kingdom and the blessings it will bring to them and their offspring, and they hail Jehovah and the Lord Jesus with great joy. (Revelation 7:9,10) When those of the great multitude perform their functions and privileges under the kingdom their joy will be full. To now see and appreciate the great truth that they will be permitted to bring forth children that will live forever on the earth, to the glory of God, brings them much joy.

PERSONAL OBLIGATIONS

The time designated in the Scriptures as "the last days" is now here. It is the time of great emergency and impending disaster. The great mass of the people on earth are wicked, and that includes most of the children. The "other sheep" of the Lord now being gathered to him have resting upon them weighty responsibilities to which they must give careful attention. There are Jonadabs now who are fully devoted to God and his kingdom and many of whom now have children. What must be expected for them? The

obligation is upon the parents to teach their children the truth of and concerning Jehovah and his kingdom under Christ and thus to lead them that they may 'seek righteousness and meekness', and, they so doing, the divine promise will apply to such children, to wit: "Seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger." (Zephaniah 2:3) Children born before Armageddon are brought into the world while Satan's wicked, oppressive organization affects the lives of all on the earth, and there is but one way of finding protection and safety for such children, as well as others, and that is, to devote themselves to God and his kingdom and find refuge in the organization of Jehovah under Christ. They must seek to learn the truth and conform themselves to God's expressed will. Therefore the Jonadabs should see to it that their children are properly taught and afforded an opportunity to place themselves fully under the protection of the kingdom of God. It would therefore appear that there is no reasonable or Scriptural injunction to bring children into the world immediately before Armageddon, where we now are. If children are born, then the parents should see to it that such children are properly instructed concerning the Lord and his kingdom until the child reaches the age when it must freely exercise intelligently its own will and bear its own responsibility. While it is not the obligation of the consecrated to seek out children not their own and to give them instruction, yet all children who accompany their parents or foster parents or those friendly to them and who desire

to attend and do attend meetings with the grownups and there seek righteousness and meekness should be given aid and encouragement. Such aid and encouragement can be given by having the children sit quietly at such study meetings and listen to the instructions that are given.

At the "feast of weeks" those other than Israelites were permitted to attend, concerning which God there gave the commandment, to wit: "And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there." (Deuteronomy 16:11) At the "feast of tabernacles", when his people assembled at the temple, God commanded thus: "Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law." — Deuteronomy 31:12.

Separate meetings called "Sunday schools", which are used for the juveniles, are not Scriptural, but the children should accompany their parents to the place of study of God's Word, the place of worship; and when other children come with them that they too might learn, such should be required to sit quietly in the meeting and learn.

Some of the anointed remnant now on the earth have children; and suppose children are

born to some of these now since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple? What is the status of such children? and what will be their relationship to the divine mandate concerning the filling of the earth? While it clearly appears from the Scriptures that the divine mandate to "fill the earth" does not apply to the remnant of the anointed, yet in the natural course of events some of these do now multiply and bring children into the world. The solemn duty devolves upon the parents of such children to see to it that their children are properly instructed concerning Jehovah God and his kingdom under Christ Jesus. Even the laws of the world compel the parents to see to the education of their offspring. The law of God has placed a greater responsibility upon the parents. From the time the child is old enough to have some understanding and be taught, from that time forward the consecrated parents should see to it that each day the child has some instruction concerning God and his kingdom. This is an obligation laid upon them by the Lord. Children thus properly instructed until they reach the age of personal responsibility will be equipped to choose to serve God and his kingdom, and, if they do so, and if they continue to seek righteousness and meekness, they will doubtless be of the "great multitude" class, the "other sheep", that will be protected, and may be safely carried through Armageddon, even as Noah's sons were carried over the flood by being under the protection of the ark.

Many children, because of the evil day and the power exercised by the evil one and his dupes,

grow up in wickedness, refuse instruction in righteousness, and continue in wickedness. What is the status of such children, and what protection will they have during Armageddon? and what, if anything, will be their relationship to the divine mandate relative to the filling of the earth? There is but one means of salvation, and that is by faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus and by obedience to the commandments of the Lord. "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3: 36) Faith in God and in Christ Jesus is an individual matter; and those who intelligently refuse to believe and serve God and Christ Jesus are not relieved of the wrath of God, which is against all the offspring of Adam. Jehovah God's commandment to his executioner, which commandment applies at Armageddon, is, to wit: "Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women; but come not near any man [the word man here manifestly applies to both sexes] upon whom is the mark." (Ezekiel 9: 6) The flood being a type of Armageddon, it appears that in the antitype, that is, Armageddon, God makes no exception: no favor to those who refuse to believe on him and obey his commandments.

Will the offspring born to the Jonadabs come under the redemptive provision made through the sacrifice of Christ Jesus? Yes; the children born to the Jonadabs before Armageddon, just as all those raised out of death, would necessarily come under the divine provision of redemption. The earthly parents being imperfect, that imperfection is transmitted to the off-

spring. Also all children born of Jonadabs after Armageddon must belong to Christ by reason of the redemptive price paid, and all who get life must receive it from that great Life-giver, "the Everlasting Father," Christ Jesus, who administers such gift. (Isaiah 9:6; Romans 6:23) The ransom sacrifice, of necessity, then, must apply to all who get life everlasting.

Would the carrying out or fulfillment of the divine mandate to "fill the earth" as accomplished by the great multitude do away with the resurrection of the dead? No, not at all. Undoubtedly many of Adam's offspring before and after the flood died in ignorance of God's redemptive provision through Jesus Christ's sacrifice, and the Scriptural testimony conclusively proves that such must be brought forth from the grave in God's appointed time that they may have an opportunity to take advantage of the ransom sacrifice and the kingdom. This would not mean, however, that such would have anything to do with 'multiplying and filling the earth'.

RESURRECTION

The resurrection of the faithful dead began at the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple and the building up of Zion. (Psalm 102:16; 2 Timothy 4:1,7,8; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17) Those who have part in "the first resurrection" are members of the body of Christ. (Revelation 20:6) The faithful men of old, who shall be made princes on earth, have a "better resurrection" than those of the general resurrection and are next in order to the body of Christ. (Hebrews

11:15-39) The Scriptures do not state the specific time of the general resurrection of those who have died without an opportunity to know the Lord. The reasonable conclusion is that the divine mandate to "fill the earth" will have well progressed before the awakening of those dead ones begins. Before anyone would be counted righteous he must exercise faith in God and His kingdom and prove his integrity. Those awakened out of death are not such as have shown faith in God and maintained their integrity toward God, and hence they would not have anything to do with carrying out the divine mandate.

Will not all the dead be awakened to the resurrection? and is not that made sure by the words of Jesus (John 5: 28, 29), to wit: "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 (A.R.V.)]"? The Scriptures do not support that conclusion. There appears no reason or Scriptural proof that God would resurrect the willfully wicked.

THE WICKED

Judas Iscariot, the Pharisees and scribes, and other wicked ones died and doubtless were buried, but are those men included among the ones that Jesus mentioned as those "that are in the graves"? The word here rendered "graves" is mnemeion, and means "monument in remembrance of the dead". (Strong's Conc.) Those in-

cluded within the meaning of that word are held in the memory of God. Does God hold in memory those wicked ones, that is, those who have deliberately joined the Devil and fought against righteousness and who have betrayed, opposed and persecuted the servants of God because such servants have been faithfully doing the will of God? The answer to that question is found in this text, to wit: "The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot." (Proverbs 10: 7) Certainly God would not hold in memory those creatures, those religionists who not only have refused to hear and obey God's Word but who have opposed him and his servants. They must be included within the class whose name and memory shall rot. Who, then, shall hear the voice of the Lord and come forth? Only those who are in "the graves", that is, in the memory of God. Jewish religionists blasphemed the name of God, and their counterparts continue to do so at the present day. Pretending to represent the Lord, they have blasphemed against the light; assuming to be equal to God, yet they are devoted wholly to the Devil, and Jesus says they shall not be forgiven. — Matthew 12:24-32; Mark 3:29,30.

At Acts 17:31, according to the Authorized Version, it is written: "Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness, by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance [marginal reading) hath offered faith] unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." According to Rotherham this text reads: "Offering faith unto all by raising him [Jesus] from

among the dead." The "offering faith" does not mean that all will accept that offer. Certainly such men as Judas Iscariot, the scribes and the Pharisees, who opposed and brought about the death of Jesus, and the higher critics of the present time and other religionists who today deliberately refuse to exercise faith in Christ Jesus and Jehovah God, do not and will not receive the 'offering of faith'. If after God had raised Jesus from the dead the religious leaders had no faith, but wickedly opposed the truth by bribing the guards to lie about the matter, certainly, then, they would not accept the offering of faith if brought back from the dead. Jesus spoke a parable concerning those who refused to have faith, in which he used these words: "If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16: 30, 31) Therefore the conclusion must be that Acts 17:31 does not include those who are wicked and beyond recovery and who died in that condition. Since 1918 we are in the judgment day, when the Lord is upon his judgment seat, dividing the people, separating the "sheep" from the "goats"; and if the "goats" now refuse to hear the Word of God and to take their stand on the side of the Lord Jesus Christ, and refuse to have any faith therein and in his kingdom, and the facts show they are doing that very thing, what more could be done for them if the Lord would bring them out of death and give them a "second chance"?

The Lord Jesus says that these goats go away into everlasting "cutting-off", or destruction (Matthew 25:46, Diaglott), and his words are

conclusive proof that those in such class receive the execution of final judgment and will not be awakened out of death. The Lord designates the modern-day wicked as "goats", and the argument hereinbefore made is that such "goats" will not be brought back from the dead. Is that conclusion contradicted by the following statement of Jesus: "The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it; because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here"? (Matthew 12:41) The clear meaning thereof shows that these words of Jesus do not contradict the foregoing conclusion concerning the "goats". The context thereof shows that Jesus referred specifically to the scribes and Pharisees (vs. 38), which class, ignoring the commandment of God, practiced religion and were chiefly the ones responsible for that generation being "evil and adulterous", that is, those who had wrongfully mixed with the Devil's religious organization. On another occasion Jesus said to those same scribes and Pharisees: "Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers! how can ye escape the damnation of hell [Gehenna, destruction]?" (Matthew 23: 33) It is not probable that such generation of "serpents" would be amongst the generation that shall rise with the Ninevites during the thousand-year judgment period, any more than that the "goats" of the present time will be awakened out of death. Mark these words of Jesus: "The men of Nineveh [those who heard God's word at the mouth of Jonah the prophet and who repented] shall rise in judgment with this generation." These words of

Jesus do not necessarily include the scribes and Pharisees, who not only ignored the Word of God but had deliberately sinned against the light thereof. They not only had rejected God's Word, but had been the instruments used to keep the others of that generation in ignorance. Concerning the same reprobate class of scribes and Pharisees Jesus said: "But he that shall blaspheme against the holy [spirit] hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation."  — Mark 3:29.

Those religionists had the words of God's prophet foretelling the coining of Christ, and the obligation was upon them to read it and make it known to others, particularly concerning the coming of the Messiah. Now Christ Jesus, the Messiah, had come and they had seen and heard him speak, and they had deliberately rejected him and charged Jesus with having a devil. Those religionists had every opportunity and refused the provision God had made for humankind, and they rejected God's favor and went even farther, in preventing others from receiving the message of salvation. Why should they be brought back again to life? The present-day religious leaders are in exactly the same class and in the same condition. They have professed to be the servants of God, they have his Word in their possession, they claim to teach it, and yet they reject God's provision for salvation and they do everything within their power to prevent the people from hearing and understanding the Word of God and learning of his kingdom under Christ Jesus, which is the only

means of salvation. For such "goats" it appears from the Scriptures that there is no future life.

The following saying of Jesus should also be considered here: "And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city." (Matthew 10:14,15) Also the words of Jesus concerning the population of certain Jewish cities, to wit: "Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you." (Matthew 11:21,22) Jesus was not here speaking of individuals, but of the entire population of the cities of Jews, which had received a better opportunity to know the Lord and to do his will than the heathen cities had received, and which Jewish population had rejected or failed to hear that message. For that reason, therefore, it would be less tolerable for the population or people of the Jewish cities than for those of the heathen cities. The Jewish clergy had proclaimed false doctrines to the people of the Jews' cities, and those people had followed the clergymen in obeying the traditions and teachings of men, whereas those of the heathen cities had received no such opportunity of hearing and believing the truth. Certainly such individuals as Judas Iscariot would not have a resur-

rection, whereas the population of the city where Judas resided would have an awakening out of death. Judas and the clergy were guilty of wicked deeds against the light, and the Lord had entered the final judgment against them. Those Jews who had yielded to the influence of the clergy would find it much harder in the time of judgment than the people of the heathen cities, whereas the willful wrongdoers sinning against light would have no more opportunity. The apostle appears to refer to a similar class when he wrote these words to Timothy: "Some men's sins are openly evident, leading on into judgment, with some, however, they even follow after; in the same way the noble works also are openly evident, and they that are otherwise cannot be hid." (1 Timothy 5:24,25, Roth.) Otherwise stated, the final decision did not need to wait until the judgment day, but the sins of such are open and deliberate, and final judgment was entered beforehand against the deliberate wrongdoers. By way of comparison it is written: "The good works of some are manifest beforehand" (Authorized Version); and hence the destiny of such is fixed before the day of judgment. Thus it is seen that the final judgment may be entered concerning the wicked and the good before the day of judgment. For this reason Paul, with propriety, says of himself: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Tim-

othy 4:7,8) To the same effect is 2 Thessalonians 1:4, 5. If the final and adverse judgment against the willfully wicked is entered against them before death, there would be no reason to awaken them out of death; and the weight of the Scriptural evidence is that such will not be awakened out of death.

It may be said that the words of Peter contradict this conclusion, to wit: "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished." (2 Peter 2:9) This need not, however, be understood to mean that all the "unjust" are to be brought forth at the end of the thousand years. In verses four and five he specifically names the wicked "angels" which are "reserved unto judgment"; in verses six to eight he tells of the wicked of Sodom and Gomorrah 'turned into ashes', that is, destroyed, and which were 'ensamples unto those that afterwards should live ungodly'; and shows how they shall be destroyed. In verses 10-22 he describes a class to be utterly destroyed in the day of judgment, that is, from 1918 onward, which includes a spirit-begotten class that become wicked, and also those who have learned of and then despise God's kingdom, and all of which are unjust and are to be punished at the time the godly "remnant" and "other sheep" escape. That willfully wicked class still exists and includes the "goats" to be punished in this day of judgment with everlasting "cutting-off". (Matthew 25:46, Diaglott) The "unjust" mentioned at Acts 24:15 are those unjust by virtue of inherited sin

and are not included within the class mentioned by Peter.

Concerning the resurrection it is written (Luke 20:37,38): "Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he [that is, God's angel, acting as the representative of Jehovah] calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. For he is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live unto him." This supports the conclusion that final judgment is entered by the Lord as to some before or at the time of death; and as to those who have maintained their integrity toward God, the judgment is that they shall live, and thus God speaks of such things as are to come to pass as though they were already come to pass, and of such as are dead as though they were alive. — Romans 4:17.

That Abraham, Isaac and Jacob did maintain their integrity toward God and did receive his approval, and that they shall be made perfect and live, is made certain by the plain declaration of the Lord's Word, set out at Hebrews eleven. That same scripture says of others, that they endured great affliction that they might have "a better resurrection" (11:35), and they "obtained a good report through faith" (11: 39); and for that reason it is properly said of them beforehand that 'they lived unto God'. God put them to the test and approved them and counted them worthy to have a resurrection from the dead. They are in his memory, and he purposes to raise them up and give them life; hence, as stated in Romans 4:17, he speaks of that fact as though it had already come to pass, and consequently

he is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore the words of the text at Luke 20: 38, that "all live unto him", refer only to those who have received God's approval while alive on the earth. That text has no reference whatsoever to the willfully wicked, such as Judas, the Pharisees, and the modern-day religious leaders who fight against God and his kingdom. The argument of Jesus there recorded was to prove and did prove that there will be a resurrection of those men who had proved faithful unto God and maintained their integrity toward him. The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection. Jesus proved that the resurrection is true.

Another text deserving consideration in this connection is: "The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Psalm 9:17) It has been contended by some that this text of the Psalm means that the lawless shall be brought forth from the grave during the thousand-year reign of Christ, finally judged, and then returned or turned back again into hell. (See Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 5, page 361.) But the context does not support that conclusion; neither does the text mean anything of the kind. The Hebrew word shuwb is here translated "turned". Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, concerning this word, says it is "a primitive root" meaning "to turn back (hence to turn away); transitive or intransitive, literally or figuratively". The word, therefore, means 'turned away from God and his favor and blessings', in the same way or manner that the "goats" are turned away from God and sent away into destruction. This is further proved

by the context of Psalm 9:17. Verse three of that Psalm refers to Armageddon, and says: "When mine enemies are turned back [(Hebrew) shuwb], they shall fall and perish at thy presence." At Armageddon Jehovah's "presence" is made manifest through his faithful Field Marshal, Christ Jesus; and there the enemies of God, engaging the Lord in battle, will be "turned back" in defeat and shall "perish". Further considering this Psalm, note that verse four says: "For thou hast maintained [upheld] my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right." The words here used (verse 4), "my right and my cause," mean the right and cause of Christ Jesus, the world's rightful King. When the fight is on at Armageddon, the Lord will completely defeat the enemy and Jehovah will maintain his right and cause in accomplishing that fact. Then verse five says: "Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever." This shows that such is the end of those who are wicked and that their memorial is perished with them, because it is written, in verse six: "O thou enemy! destructions are come to a perpetual end; and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them." The next verse shows that the Lord endures for ever and that before his judgment of the world in righteousness he cleans out these wicked ones for ever, and this he does at Armageddon. "But the Lord shall endure for ever; he hath prepared his throne for judgment: and he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judg-

ment to the people in uprightness." — Psalm 9:7,8.

Not all will find refuge in that trouble, but only the oppressed who seek meekness and righteousness. Verses nine and ten are further proof. That the oppressors find their end when turned back at Armageddon, note the following: "The heathen [nations] are sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot taken." (Verse 15) They set a net for God's people, and they get into it and are destroyed at Armageddon: "The Lord is known by the judgment which he executeth; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands." (Verse 16) Then immediately follows the text: "The wicked [that is, those who oppose God's 'strange work' and who are destroyed by his 'strange act'] shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God." (Verse 17) They perish in the battle of the great day of God Almighty after they have assaulted God's faithful people. In their plans to rule the world, such as set forth now by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy in combine with Fascism, they leave God out of their consideration altogether, and thus they constitute "all the nations that forget God".

Today the political, commercial and religious elements boastfully proclaim the greatness of man and applaud the deeds of men and point with great pride to what man has attained unto, and with the worst kind of presumption they say: "We can bring about a condition in the earth that will be satisfactory to all." The totalitarian rule or dictatorial power is now arising with a great flare of trumpets. It has suc-

ceeded in grabbing many countries and is moving forward to rule the whole world. Such a movement is backed by the mighty religious organization, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and supporters. Now the needy and poor population are regimented and their rights are taken away and they are forgotten; and in connection with the turning of these wicked oppressors into hell God, by the mouth of the psalmist, says: "For the needy shall not alway be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever." (Verse 18) Therefore the prophet David, representing God's people, prays: "Arise, O Lord; let not man prevail; let the heathen be judged in thy sight. Put them in fear, 0 Lord; that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah." — Verses 19 and 20.

During the time of the resurrection there will be no "nations" to be "turned" or returned into hell, because those nations will be destroyed at Armageddon. Thus it is seen that the 'turning of the wicked into hell' is by destroying them at the battle of "Armageddon, and does not mean the turning of them back into the grave from which they are supposed to come during the thousand-year reign of Christ. Manifestly the conclusion set forth in the Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 5, page 361, concerning the return of the wicked into hell is wrong.

ORDER OF RESURRECTION

From the Scriptures it appears that the order of resurrection of the dead is this: The faithful apostles and others like them who have died in faith waiting for the coming of the Lord, "at

his appearing and his kingdom" (2 Timothy 4:1, 8; 1 Thessalonians 4:16); those who shall be "changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye", at the second coming of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:51,52); the faithful men of old who have a "better resurrection" (Hebrews 11:35), and which may include the faithful Jonadabs who die immediately preceding or during Armageddon (Jonathan, who was slain at the battle of Gilboa, pictured such). Then the general resurrection, meaning all who have died without an opportunity to prove their integrity and who shall be awakened and given such opportunity during the reign of Christ. These, however, would appear to have nothing to do with filling the earth according to the divine mandate, because they must first be made righteous.

The thief that was crucified at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus will undoubtedly be awakened out of death and given an opportunity to prove his integrity. In response to the thief's request Jesus said: "Shalt thou be with me in paradise?" (Luke 23:43) These words of Jesus suggest that paradise on earth will be in existence before the thief is awakened out of death, who will then have opportunity to prove whether he is on the side of Christ Jesus, the King, or not. God planted the garden of Eden, making it a paradise, and then created man and put him in Eden. (Genesis 2: 8,15) That appears to fix the order of action concerning men and paradise. That being so, it seems probable that the filling of the earth will have progressed and

paradise will have been established in the earth before the general resurrection.

It is written: "There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and [the] unjust." (Acts 24:15) "The unjust" here mentioned surely does not apply to the earthly wicked, but to those who have had no opportunity to be justified by faith and obedience. All must prove their integrity before they get life. Being brought forth from the tomb during the reign of Christ would afford them such an opportunity.

At Revelation 20: 5 it is written: "But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished." While the authenticity of this text has been questioned, the weight of authority is that it is authentic. The "rest of the dead" here mentioned, therefore, would include all those who do not get life until they stand the test at the end of the thousand-year reign. At that time, it would appear from the Scriptures, the divine mandate would have been completely fulfilled and paradise fully established in the earth. Since righteous men must perform the functions required by the divine mandate, it would necessarily follow that those who participate in the general resurrection would have no part in the fulfillment of that divine mandate. Such as participate in the general resurrection, and who maintain their integrity, would be the ones counted worthy to obtain the "world to come" and "without end".

RESURRECTION AND MARRIAGE

Will those awakened out of death during the general resurrection marry and have part in the

fulfillment of the divine mandate? The Scriptures clearly show that they will not, because that mandate is given only to those who are righteous at the time the fulfillment begins. The Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead and sought by subtle questions to entrap Jesus, and hence they propounded a question which relates to levirate marriage, which they did not understand. (An explanation of levirate marriage appears in the book Jehovah, pages 296-299.) The Sadducees stated a hypothetical case of a woman that married a man, which man had brothers, and her first husband died, and then in regular order she married six others, so that she had seven brothers for husband. Their question to Jesus was: 'In the resurrection whose wife will she be of the seven? because all seven had her.' (Luke 20: 27-33) They did not succeed in entrapping Jesus: "And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage; but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage; neither can they die any more; for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." — Luke 20:34-36.

The Sadducees were without faith in Jesus as the Messiah. They did not understand the Scriptures because they did not believe them. The presumption must be that their question related to those who had died during the time of the operation of the law covenant and who were ignorant of God's purpose; and hence, as Jesus

told those Sadducees, they did not understand the power of God. (Matthew 22: 25-30) The answer of Jesus would have no reference whatsoever to the great multitude that survive Armageddon, and who shall have the privilege of carrying out the divine mandate. They are not "children of the resurrection", because they prove their fidelity and integrity while on the earth and before Armageddon.

Due consideration must be given to all the words of Jesus contained in his answer. Amongst other things, he said concerning those who are resurrected under the circumstances mentioned: ''They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead." What world? The Scriptural answer is, "the world to come," "wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13); the "world without end" (Ephesians 3:21); the "world without end" (Isaiah 45:17); the earth made "glorious" during the reign of Christ (Isaiah 60:13), the "footstool" of Jehovah (Isaiah 66:1), the earth brought up to a condition of paradise during the thousand-year reign of Christ Jesus. Those who are counted worthy to obtain that world "neither marry, nor are given in marriage". The divine mandate will at that time have been completely fulfilled. No more will occasion for marriage exist. Those who receive favorable judgment and approval of the Lord will not die, as Jesus stated. How could they be "equal unto the angels"? In this: that they cannot be put to death without the approval of God, but must for ever enjoy the provisions of life because they have proved their faithfulness and integrity. Each

one of them brought forth will be an individual and will be dealt with individually. They are brought forth to life, and their course of action will determine their faithfulness, and, if continuing faithful, they shall live forever, even as the angels do although not immortal. They are brought forth from the grave and receive life from God by and through Christ. They are individuals, and, like the angels, do not have any ties of wedlock. Whatever marriage ties they may have had when living on the earth are dissolved by death. The divine mandate to "fill the earth" having been fully performed, there will then be no occasion for anyone to marry. Together with all others, they must be tested.

FINAL TEST

Jehovah's Word makes known that there shall be a final test applied to earthly creatures. "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."  —Revelation 20:7-9.

It appears that such test will be applied to every creature on earth and will make manifest who are the faithful and true ones, that is, "the saints," and who shall live for ever; and also make manifest those who will be deceived by the

Devil and go into destruction. The Devil at that time will see 'the earth filled' with righteous human creatures in obedience to the divine mandate, and which then will be proof that the Devil himself is a liar; and he will know it. "The saints," that is, those who maintain their integrity toward God and who are granted life everlasting, will be a vindication of Jehovah's word and name. Surely the offspring of the "great multitude" must be put to this test, even as the spirit-begotten ones are now put to a like test, and to which latter class these words are addressed: "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." (Colossians 2:8) Will some of the offspring of the righteous great multitude fall under that test? Such is entirely probable. The babes and those others who have died in ignorance of God's gracious provision and who are awakened out of death and are judged must surely be subjected to that test before they are "accounted worthy to obtain that world" "without end", and it is certain that many of them will be deceived; and concerning such as turn to the Devil it is written: "Fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them [meaning many; which of necessity must include all the deceived ones who join the Devil]." (Revelation 20:9) The inhabiters of "Gog and Magog" (20: 8), and the Devil himself, shall be destroyed, and the memory of such wicked shall cease for ever. — 20:10,14.

DESTINY

What was the fate of that train and its load of passengers rushing upon the burning bridge? Were any of them saved? Impossible for them to escape! Those who left the train at the next preceding station stop did escape and were saved. Likewise today, all the nations and peoples of earth are face to face with the greatest emergency. They are being warned as God commands, that the disaster of Armageddon is just ahead. But only a small number, comparatively speaking, give heed to that warning, and those who do give heed thereto are leaving the organization of the world, controlled by Satan, and are seeking refuge under God's kingdom. Such persons as continue faithful henceforth will escape Armageddon, find protection from it, and be saved.

Armageddon having ended, the righteous rule shall prevail everywhere in the earth, and gradually the earth will be brought to a condition of Edenic paradise, because such is the promise of Almighty God, who made the earth to be inhabited by righteous men. Gradually the earth will be filled with righteous people who will be a vindication of the name and the word of Jehovah, the Most High.

Having been warned, each one thus warned must now choose the course he will take, whether the way to eternal destruction, or the way to everlasting salvation provided for obedient men by Jehovah, the Almighty God, through Jesus Christ, the beloved Son of