“I
saw in the night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of heaven one
like unto a son of man, and . . . there was given him dominion, and
glory, and a kingdom.”—Dan. 7:13, 14, AS.
JEHOVAH God has created man with a mind to
think with. He can use this mind to reason. He can consider opinions of others
and can determine for himself what is right and wrong. This means that he can
progress by learning, as well as discard old, worn-out conclusions, proved to
be erroneous. However, many refuse to utilize their mind and rather permit
others to think for them. When new ideas are advanced they are at first, and in
many instances always, rejected. Early in the fourteenth century (A. D.) the people
lived in great ignorance as compared with our present day. They depended upon
their professors and theologians, who in turn relied upon the published
discoveries of men who lived prior to their time, many of which discoveries
were foundationless. When some new ideas were presented, the theologians of the
day rejected them.
In the
year 1543 Copernicus published a work in which he refuted the old idea that the
sun and all the stars revolved around the earth as a center, as was then taught
in all the universities. Though he was right, his theory was rejected. Galileo
proved that Aristotle was pitiably wrong on a number of things, but still this
would not do. His works gave offense to those who pinned their faith on
Aristotle, which included the theologians, and though Galileo was right, he was
summoned before the Inquisition and some of his theories were condemned by the
church authorities. He was then sentenced to incarceration and observation, and
so remained until his death. The people followed suit, and they, as well as
those before them, lived and died, rejecting the proved works and clinging to
the old, worn-out, false ideas.
Strange as it seems, we are living in a
similar condition today. Many people do not use their minds, but rather let
others think for them. When sound reasoning is presented that disproves a
popular conception or what someone has taught them, they refuse it. They live
and die, still clinging to what is false.
Today
when we look about us we can clearly see the general condition of mankind. In
every nation there is evidence of fear, unrest and a craving desire to live in
peaceful surroundings. In Christendom they are taught from birth about a
kingdom to come, a better form of rule, yes, God’s kingdom. The end of the
world was foretold generations ago, in many ways. Various would-be prophets
heralded that the end of the world was soon to come, and many people left their
homes to seek refuge.
The
general attitude and understanding relative to God’s kingdom is indeed very
confusing. It is something abstract. They know about a “kingdom” but that is
about as far as it goes. For instance, some individuals when thinking about God’s
kingdom expect to go to heaven and in that way realize it. Some expect man to
set up the Kingdom on earth and many expect the world to be converted to the
gospel and then God’s kingdom will be established. Still others will contend
that Christ will appear in visible form and then set up God’s kingdom on the
earth. Yet these very same ones believe that they are going to heaven. Some
even think God’s kingdom is within human creatures. A confused and unsettled
picture indeed, with each person having his own opinion. They will live and die
with their own conclusions, but that does not make them right. It does not mean
that the Kingdom does not exist, nor does it mean that there will be no such
thing as a Kingdom.
For
example, you may be an observer at a trial and hear the testimony of several
witnesses regarding an accident. One says that he saw the lady that was hurt
getting on the bus. Another says that he also saw the lady get hurt, but she
was not getting on the bus but was getting off. A third person swears that he
saw the whole thing and no lady got on or off a bus; it was not even a lady at
all but was an old man. All claim that they saw the accident, but each gives a
different picture. Nevertheless, because the picture is confusing it does not
mean that the accident never happened. It did. There are indications that it
did take place. The individual is hurt. Obviously, the difficulty lies in the
several individuals’ interpretations of the event. But how can the differences
be settled? By considering all the evidence; by investigating in order to reach
a logical conclusion. Someone is wrong, maybe all the witnesses are testifying
inaccurately, but it is up to the judge to find out. He can do it.
So it
is with God’s kingdom. Christendom’s picture relative to it is confusing. But
does that mean there is no such thing as the Kingdom? Does the confused picture
Christendom’s spokesmen portray mean that God’s Word, the Bible, is not true or
that God’s kingdom has not taken place? No! Someone is wrong, maybe all of
Christendom’s spokesmen, but you must be the judge. You can do it. How? By
investigating the various claims. By weighing the evidence with a sane outlook.
By going to the information source, the Bible, and thus coming to an accurate,
logical conclusion.
Going
then to the Bible, we find that many people are praying the Lord’s prayer
without proper understanding. But how about you? Do you pray with
understanding? Are you a merchant, or maybe a farmer or statesman, an executive
or laborer? Whatever may be your course in life, what does God’s kingdom mean
to you? When will it come? What is God’s purpose respecting it? What is your
outlook respecting the Kingdom? How do you fit in in God’s purpose respecting
his kingdom? What is your understanding?
Upon
examination of the Scriptures we find that man was created and placed in the
garden of Eden. It was God’s purpose that man live under perfect conditions
forever. However, man sinned and as a result death came upon all men and all
are born in sin. (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12, NW) It was God’s purpose to have
mankind redeemed from such a condition. But how was he going to do this?
Through the Kingdom arrangement. And so it is that at Genesis 3:15 God speaks
of this kingdom and foretells the coming of a “seed” to accomplish this and to
bring peace to all mankind. It is also referred to in Genesis 12:3, 7 (AS),
which says: “And I will bless them that bless thee, and him that curseth thee
will I curse: and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed. And
Jehovah appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land.”
The “seed” referred to was later identified in Romans 1:1, 3 and Galatians
3:16, NW, as Christ Jesus, “who sprang from the seed of David according
to the flesh.” This Son of God obediently laid down his life in the flesh and
was resurrected in the spirit.
That
Christ was resurrected in the spirit the Bible makes clear. At this point
suffice it to say concerning Christ’s resurrection that there are many
contentions relative to it. Many point to his various appearances in visible
form. Yet these very ones fail to understand that if he was raised in the flesh
why the need for materializing a body? Note the account that states that “eight
days later his disciples were again indoors, and Thomas with them. Jesus came,
although the doors were locked, and he stood in their midst”. (John 20:26, NW)
How, pray, tell us, did Jesus get through the locked doors if he had been
resurrected in the flesh? The fact that he appeared in a room after going
through closed, locked doors indicates that he was a spirit and he merely
clothed such spirit form with a fleshly body for the purpose of showing his
disciples that he was alive.
11 It was nothing unusual. Angels had
materialized before but we do not refer to them at that time as human
creatures, but as spirit creatures. (Gen. 19:1-11; 32:1, 2; John 20:12, NW)
This must be the case; otherwise what flesh did Jesus sacrifice? If he had been
resurrected in the flesh there would be no flesh that was sacrificed. Remember
that by Christ’s sacrifice of his flesh he provided for mankind’s ransom. But
where would such ransom benefit be if Christ took that life back, and if he
were now in fleshly form? But that he was resurrected in the spirit we are
informed at 1 Peter 3:18 (NW), which says: “Why, even Christ died
once for all time concerning sins, a righteous person for unrighteous ones,
that he might lead you to God, he being put to death in the flesh, but being
made alive in the spirit.” Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NW)
says that “flesh and blood cannot inherit God’s kingdom”. No higher learning or
philosophical teachings from our religious critics can explain away from God’s
Word such simple truths that a child can understand.
Also,
John 6:48-51 (NW) informs us of Jesus’ own words on the matter when he
said: “The bread that I shall give is my flesh in behalf of the life of the
world,” and, “if anyone eats of this bread he will live forever.” Here Jesus
instructs his followers to eat his flesh; but how can they eat his flesh if he
did not sacrifice it? He did sacrifice it. So, obviously, he was resurrected in
the spirit. con't
