LECTURE 8
From
Along The King’s Highway.
A Popular “
FROM Eden to Eden is a journey of six thousand years, during which period
countless millions have entered, trod, and passed out of this vale of tears.
Our first parents enjoyed the felicity of
Behold, then, a world
developed outside the fair estate of
“Whither shall I flee
from thy presence? If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the
uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right
hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the
night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth
not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the
darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” (Psa.
139: 7-12).
Cast out from the
presence and favor of God, it can truly be said of the whole Adamic family, that “darkness shall cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people;” and unless “the Lord shall arise upon thee,” never
again “shall history be seen upon thee.”
What has happened to
the countless millions who, in the barque of
humanity, have sailed down the dark river of time? From the “broad way” comes
an answer in the voice of the sons of men, who possess a way which seemeth right unto themselves, and who, in part, would
have us believe that universal salvation is the solution; others claim a
second, or fair, chance for the multitudes who in their day and generation have
missed the mark, and who otherwise would have died without hope. Yet many there
be with whom God is not in their thoughts; and these knowing not God
have no understanding of His ways, and therefore either accept oblivion as the
inevitable, or- the wish being father to the thought-speculate upon some way of
escape as being their due; still they know not how. But Christendom cries “All
men are immortal- they live on for weal or woe!”
Is it true that “one
generation passeth away, and another generation
cometh;” and yet “the earth abideth for ever”?
(Eccles. 1: 4). When the generations “pass away,” do they continue to be? Do we
not rather “spend our years as a tale that is told”? These being, according to
the Psalmist, “passed away in thy wrath,” we are therefore “consumed by thine anger.” The result:
“Thou
turnest man to destruction.” (Psa.
90). “Thou takest away their breath, they die, and
return to their dust.” (Psa. 104: 29).
“As for man, his days
are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the
place thereof shall know it no more.” (Psa. 103: 15,
16).
From the King’s
Highway a clarion call is heard; “Consider
the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked? In
the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider; God also
hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find
nothing after him.” (Eccles.
Sinners against the Edenic Law, by their own action, were adjudged unworthy of
being the recipients of the divine favors so lavishly, hitherto, bestowed upon them.
Fellowship with God was impaired by sin; the sinners must be made to realize
all that was involved in, and by, their transgression. “Therefore the Lord God
sent him forth from the Garden of Eden.” Man must henceforth “till the ground.”
“So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the
DR. JOHN THOMAS has some interesting observations upon the CHERUBIM,
from which a few quotations are submitted. “The cherubim and sword were to
guard the Way of the Tree, so that it could not be approached. If they
disposed to make a Circuit to avoid the Cherubim, the flaming sword, or
devouring flame, flashed on every side; ‘it turned every way to keep it’ from,
being invaded by their presumption.”
“But little is said
about the Cherubim in the Mosaic narrative. The word is a plural noun, and
represents therefore more objects than one. But, in what did this plurality
consist? I should say, judging from a text in the next chapter, that it had
special regard to a plurality of faces; for when the Lord God sentenced
Cain to a fugitive and vagabond life, the fratricide answered, ‘behold, then,
from THY FACES (plural in the Hebrew) shall I be hid.’ That is, ‘I shall
no more be permitted to come before the Cherubic faces, which thou hast placed
at the east of the garden, to present an offering for my sin.’ As he truly
observed, ‘mine iniquity is greater than that it may he forgiven.’ He was
exiled from the faces of God still further to the east as a murderer doomed to
eternal death as the end of his career. That the faces were connected with the
Cherubim seems unquestionable from other passages of scripture where cherubims are described. The Lord spoke of them to Moses in
the mount . . . It is probable that the reason why Moses gave no description of
them in Genesis was because he intended to speak more particularly when he came
to record their introduction into the most holy place of the tabernacle . .
.But, though Moses informs us of two cherubim with a plurality of faces and
wings each, he does not tell us what kind of faces, or how many wings they had.
This deficiency, however, seems to be supplied by Ezekiel. . . . It will be
seen, from this view of things, how important a place the Cherubim occupied in
the worship of God connected with ‘the representation of the truth.’ They were
not objects of adoration; but symbols representing to the mind of an
intelligent believer, the Seed of the woman as God manifested in the likeness
of sinful flesh. This I take it was the significancy
of the Cherubim which the Lord God placed at the east of the garden; and which
became the germ, as it were, of the shadowy observances of the patriarchal and
Mosaic institution’s; whose substance was of Christ.” -Elpis
Israel, pp.131-6.
In his exposition of The
Apocalypse in Zechariah, Dr. Thomas wrote “These four chariots are the
cherubim of glory, which constitute the Chariot of Jehovah. In speaking of the
four-faced figures with wings outstretched over the Mercy Seat of the
“Zechariah’s Four
Chariots are identical with these. They represent the resurrected Saints in
the execution of the judgment written (Psa. 149). There
are ‘four’ of them, because there were four faces to the typical golden cherubims of the Ark of the Covenant in the temple; and
‘four living creatures’ in Ezekiel’s vision; and ‘four living creatures’ in the
Apocalypse; and the reason why there are four, and not three or five, is
because in the military organization of Israel the twelve tribes were set off
into four camps.” –
“These four living
ones and their four wheels are ‘THE CHARIOT OF THE CHERUBIM.’ They are the
chariot in which the Deity rides forth to battle against the enemies of the
house of David, and upon which he sits enthroned over
“The things
represented by the lion, ox, and eagle faces were visibly manifested in the
sword of flame. This was light, spirit, and fire, flaming around the cherubim
as the glory of God. It turned every way to keep the way of the tree of life.
This is all Moses says about it; and were it not for other testimonies, we
should be at a loss to understand its allegorical signification. The cherubim
set up in the tabernacle and first temple, were enveloped in a cloud of thick
darkness. At night the cloud appeared like a blaze of fire, but in the day, it
towered aloft as a pillar of cloud. Darkness and fire were frequent
accompaniments of the divine presence; indeed, always so upon great occasions.
The presence of the Lord upon
THE significance of the symbolic, or representative, “Cherubim” presented
in the prophecies, as given in the exposition of Dr. Thomas, may be taken as a
guide to the understanding of the divine purpose, hidden in the simple
statement of Gen. 3: 24, “Cherubim, and a flaming sword.” Yet, whilst the
symbolic cherubim had “wings,” and “wheels,” we do not therefore concede that,
of necessity, these were also to be found on the literal cherubim “placed at
the east of the garden.” If the cherubim were of the elohim
they would have within themselves, by the Spirit of the Almighty, the
powers depicted in, and by, the symbolic representations. It is, as Dr. Thomas
says, “a fair inference.” We are not informed how long the cherubim remained
“at the east of the garden.” But if their purpose was to act as mediator
“between God and man” they would, at least, continue until a new ordinance was
established.
Perhaps the casual reader of the Bible record would conclude that the cherubim with the sword was so placed to prevent Adam and Eve returning to the tree of life, as seems to be suggested by the language of verse 22. But, in view of what has been advanced, much more was involved. Adam and Eve were “sent forth from the garden” lest they should do what is stated in verse 22. If it were simply “lest they should eat of the tree of life,” and it was feared that the transgressor- even after being “driven out”- would seek to return to the garden, the situation could have been met by removing the tree. But such action would have imparted no lesson to the transgressors, other than “thou shalt not eat of it.” We do well to ponder (and seek for its hidden meaning) the statement “to keep the way of the tree of life.” In the last message of the Bible we read: “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, the tree of life, which bare twelve fruits, and yielded her fruit every month; and the leave’s of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22: 1, 2).
BY COMPARING SCRIPTURE
WITH SCRIPTURE we may conclude that “the tree of life” became a symbol,
representative of “a promise of life” which God- in mercy and goodness- saw fit
to open up for those who would come in to the world, which unfortunately had
now become subject to the reign of sin. But “sin hath reigned unto death”;
hence, transgressors had no right in themselves to approach the tree of life.
And yet, the tree was there! Doubtless its significance was made known, and
“THE WAY of the tree of life” would be unfolded for the benefit of the Adamic family. Otherwise, how could Adam and Eve, with
their children, comply with Heaven’s mandate? The sinners, we are told, “sewed
fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (Gen. 3: 7).
Such a covering was
not acceptable to God, for in place thereof we are informed, “the Lord God did
make coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Verse 21). Without the reason
being given for the new covering the change would have been ineffective upon
the minds of Adam and Eve. A detailed explanation being given to them at the
time of the change would open their understanding to the new Way. They
would know the Cherubim were there, and for what purpose the flame of fire
“turned every way, to keep- or guard- the Way.”
A TRUTH WAS THERE, and
then, definitely set forth for all to learn that “there is a way which seemeth right to the sons of men; the end thereof is the
way of death.” A further fact was emphasized- one which is as true and as
stringent today- that none can draw nigh to God without first complying with
the conditions laid down by God Himself, and which way is jealously guarded by
the Almighty to the extent depicted in the “flaming sword.” Four thousand years
later, Jesus taught: “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me.” (John 14: 6). “I am the door”; said the Savior,
“by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved. He that entereth
not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up
some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.” (John 10: 9, 1).
This detailed
information of New Testament doctrine was not given “in the beginning”;
nevertheless, sufficient to meet the needs of time and circumstances would, of
necessity, be made known. This is demonstrated in the brief record concerning
Cain and Abel. “In process of time” we
are told that both Cain and Abel brought “an offering unto the Lord.” To whom
would they present their offerings? It seems to be “a fair inference” that the
offerings would be taken to the Elohim, who, as the
Cherubim, were appointed to “keep the way.” That the Lord “had respect to one
offering,” but to the other “had not respect,” shows that there was a principle
involved, which was recognized by Abel, but disregarded by Cain. “The Lord said
unto Cain,” shows clearly that instructions had been given which must be obeyed
if man would have access to “the Way.”
Without such
compliance access to God was not, and is not, permitted. From this it is seen that the Way of Salvation was
introduced “in the beginning,” immediately after “sin entered the world, and
death by sin”; and further, that the law of sacrifice-essential to salvation-
being then inaugurated was typical of the One Great Sacrifice, which would
“take away the sin of the world.” In this way Jesus was “the Lamb slain from
the foundation of the world.” (Rev. 13: 8). This is a fundamental truth,
which belongs to the King’s Highway. If any aver that such a view is
“narrow,” let it be remembered it is “the narrow way” which leads to life, even
though there be few who find it. When thoughts and theories are met
contrary to this truth (and there are many) they are the offspring of “the
broad way”; to follow in their path can only lead to destruction.
FROM the depths of “the broad way” a voice is heard, crying;
“There is no death!” “All men are immortal, and cannot die.” “Man has a
soul. The body dies, The soul never dies.” “The soul is immortal. This is a
foundation truth, upon the removal of which religion falls to the ground.” Men
and women through the ages have accepted the theory of the immortality of the
soul as if it were gospel truth. They have not known that, in reality, it is
but a continuance of the first lie, which we have on record. That lie
came from the serpent- not from God. The woman said, “God hath said, Ye shall
not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” Today
it is said, “There is no death.” To the woman, the serpent said, “Ye shall not surely
die.”
“The idea of the
immortality of the soul has no source in the gospel; it comes, on the contrary,
from the Platonists, and it is just when the coming (of Christ) was denied or
lost sight of that the doctrine of the immortality of the soul came in to
replace that of the resurrection.” -John Nelson Derby, Lectures Vol. 4.
“The Egyptians were
also the first that asserted the doctrine that the soul of man is immortal,
that when the body perishes it enters into some other animal, constantly
springing into existence . . . This opinion some among the Greeks have at
different periods of time adopted as their own.” -Herodotus
“The Egyptians were
the first who taught the doctrine of the immortality of the soul, a fact
mentioned by all Greek writers from Herodotus to Aristotle, and one brilliantly
confirmed by the monuments”-Bunsen, Egypt's Place in Universal History.
“When arguments are
offered for the immortality of the soul, they are rarely derived from
Scripture. The indication there afforded, when properly coordinated one with
another, bear no marks of the idea of natural immortality, either as directly
revealed or as prevalent among mankind at large”
W.E. Gladstone.
“The tomb is not the
terminus, but the starting-point.”- T. De Witt Talmage.
Well might a poet
write; “Tell me, my soul, can this be death?”
Arising from this
serpent-lie dogma other voices are also heard; these, likewise, are not founded
upon Bible Truth. If the soul does not die, what becomes of it when the body
dies? Some place must be found for it- therefore (discarding the Scriptures
which definitely teach the resurrection and judgment of those who are
associated with the divine Plan of Salvation) these theorists have the souls
pass out, in the event men call death, and wing their flight to realms of bliss
beyond the skies or, otherwise, sink to the depths of degradation in the
tortures of hell, ordained for the damned! But that is not all! for, the voice
cries yet again, “If there is a God, there must be a devil.” And what a
devil a false theology has invented and proclaimed. This devil roams “the
broad way” in every age, land and clinic. His work- and continual purpose- is
to deceive, entice, allure, and destroy. His field of operation is every where-
no color, race or creed can stay his hand. Judging by his success, numerically
speaking- for wickedness is more rampant in the earth than righteousness- this
devil is stronger than God. Whence did he come, or who made him? According to
“the broad way” this devil is not alone. “He is the prince of the devils, who
perhaps was the first and leader of that grand rebellion against God. He conveyed
himself into the serpent when he tempted Eve.” -Cruden.
For such a devil a
home is necessary. He has therefore been clothed with asbestos, and given
control of the subterranean regions, which have been wrongly styled “hell.”
Many pictures have been painted of those “sulphurous
caverns,” but listen to this for a sample; “Listen to the tremendous, the
horrible uproar of millions and millions of tormented creatures, mad with fury
of hell. Oh, the screams of fear, the groanings of
horror, the yells of rage, the cries of pain, the shouts of agony, the shrieks
of despair, from millions on millions. There you hear them roaring like lions,
hissing like serpents, howling like dogs, and wailing like dragons. There you
hear the gnashing of teeth, and the fearful blasphemies of the devils. They cry
forever and ever. They cry because the sulphurous
smoke torments their eyes. A sixteen year old girl, with feet which are bare,
stands upon the red-hot burning floor. She asks, Let me go off this burning
floor for one moment. The devil answers, Not for one single moment during the
never ending eternity of years shall you ever leave this red-hot floor.”- ‘Rev.’
J. Furness.
The unrepentant “are
cast into hell, where they are compelled. by punishments, not to sin; but
punishments do not take away the will, the intention, and consequent thought
of evil; they only take away the act.” -Swedenborg.
And then to enlarge
“the glory of the blessed” we are asked to believe that all these horrors are
witnessed by those who are saved! The following quotations from different
writers demonstrate this fallacy. “The elect will come forth to behold the
torments of the ungodly, and at this spectacle they will not be smitten with
sorrow; on the contrary, while they see the unspeakable suffering of the
ungodly, they, intoxicated with joy, will thank God for their own salvation.”
“The smoke of their torment shall ascend up in the sight of the blessed for
ever and ever.” “Should this eternal punishment cease, and this fire be
extinguished, it would in a great measure obscure the light of heaven and put
an end to a great part of the happiness and glory of the blessed.” “The
happiness of the redeemed in heaven will be enhanced, by beholding the agonies
of the damned in hell, throughout endless ages.” -From The Bible Vindicated.
IN seeking for The King’s Highway, amidst the clamor of the broad way, it
is well to examine the claims of popular theories in the light of definite
statements given in the Book of God. Whilst these outrageous doctrines have
held sway, for many generations, with professing Christians- and with many,
fear of the devil has been more evident than the fear of God- it is a fact that
the term devil does not appear in the Old Testament; four times only do
we find the plural, devils; and in those cases idol worship is clearly seen.
“They served their idols: which were a snare unto them. Yea, they sacrificed
their sons and their daughters unto devils” (Psa 106:
36, 37). God is both “just” and “merciful.” When God punished Adam and Eve for
their sin no mention was made of the devil being the cause of all the trouble.
The sinners were not warned of the danger of further temptation, by such a
devil, and of their ending in the flames of hell if they failed to escape
from the snare of the prince of the devils, with the mighty host under his
command. The few passages of scripture advanced by “the broad way,” in support
of this erroneous conception, upon examination fail to teach the theory, or to
agree with its claim.
He who would find the
Way of God is not asked to do so blindly. He is invited by God “to reason
together”; by so doing, after he has found the way, he will be able to comply
with the injunction, required of those who would be saved, “Be ready always to
give an answer to every man that asketh you a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (I Pet. 3: 15).
In our march from EDEN
TO EDEN we, at times, obtain a glimpse of the One who was promised from the
beginning, by whom the devastating effects of “the Sin of the world” was to be
removed; and who was to “restore” that which he did not take away.” (Psa. 69: 4). The Spirit of Christ is to be found in the
Law, the Psalms, and the Prophets; yet not always with the same outstanding
clarity. We cannot contemplate
So in The King’s
Highway we look for the means by which the evil will be eradicated, and
when we read, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil” (John 3: 8), we must follow in His steps
to find the devil whose works He was destined to destroy. By finding
“the works" which are to be destroyed, we shall surely find the
devil, or the cause of the works. John further testifies; “Ye know that he
was manifested to take away our sins.” (verse 5); to which is added, “He
that committeth sin is of the devil.” Sin and the
devil are therefore closely associated. WHEN JESUS HAS
We read again of
Jesus; “Now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by
the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb. 9: 26). The work of Jesus, in His
sacrificial death, was “to take away sin.” In doing so would He also destroy
the devil? Not the devil of the broad way- for such is a fallacy, and not to be
found in the Bible. The Bible devil we are now considering is the diabolos- “that which causes to cross the line,
as from right to wrong”; and as such may be applied to a person or principle.
Now read again concerning Jesus: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers
of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that
through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the
devil.” (Heb. 2: 14). Whatever has “the power of death” is the devil. And
Paul says, “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom.
Sin will be taken
away, according to God’s Plan, by reason of the death of Christ. The
destruction of such a devil, and the spoilation of
all its works, arising from “the death of the cross” is understandable; but it
is beyond comprehension that by dying on the cross Jesus could destroy the
fire-proof, immortal devil of the broad way!
We look back to the
garden from which our first parents were cast out. We, too, are on the outside.
In the garden there was fellowship with God- outside we are “without God in the
world.” In the garden, before sin entered, there was no need of a savior, and
therefore no plan of salvation. In the development of the Adamic
family- born after sin, and consequently under the reign of sin and death, or
“death passed upon all men”- that which has the power of death early manifested
itself. TWO WAYS- the way of sin and the way of God- were manifest and demonstrated
in the two sons of Adam. That “sin reigned” was evidenced in the character of
Cain, and amply proved by his acts. “Sons of God” and “daughters of men” in the
days of Noah show the divergence developed in the children of Adam, as “men
multiplied on the face of the earth.” The absolute degeneration of the race
cannot be denied in face of the Apostolic testimony; “When once the
long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a
preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Pet. 3:
20).
The flood being past,
we are told that, “God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them; Be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth.” Further we read, “Of them was
the whole earth overspread.” But it was not long ere “sin” again demonstrated
that it “reigned” among the sons of men.
With sin reigning, and
When sin and death no more shall reign
And
What, then, is the witness? Where shall it be found? Let the Apostle answer;
“Whereby are given unto as exceeding great and precious promises: that by these
ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that
is in the world through lust.” (2 Pet. 1: 4).
. . . is the safe and sane way of seeking
“the gift of God,” which is “the pearl of great price.” They who are persuaded
of these things are exhorted to “draw near with a true heart in full
assurance of faith; hold fast the profession of faith without wavering;
(for he is faithful that promised)” (Heb.
THE PROMISES OF GOD
are the foundation of THE GOSPEL OF SALVATION, which is also “the glorious
gospe1 of the blessed God.” (1 Tim.1: 11); and “the gospel of the Kingdom.”
(Matt.
THE PLAN OF SALVATION,
however, was in operation before the “Israelites” were developed as a people
and nation. Promises were made before the period of
Unto the serpent God
said, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt
bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3: 15). This is the first promise of the Savior. That
Jesus might save His people from their sins, and take away the Sin of the
World, He must needs be “the seed of the woman.” This fact was never lost sight
of in subsequent revelation, but was emphasized and elaborated. As Jesus
Himself testified, “Thus it is written, and thus it behoved
Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” (Luke 24: 46).
There was a promise
made after Noah and his family came out of the ark: and this, too, has to do
with the gospel of salvation. God said, “I will establish my covenant with you;
neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither
shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.” “While the earth remaineth seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and
summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (Gen. 9: 11;
But God has spoken; “As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled
with the glory of the Lord.” (Num. 14: 21).
“For ever, O Lord,
thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness unto all generations: thou hast
established the earth, and it abideth.” (Psa. 119: 9)
“Behold, the
righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the
sinner.” (Prov. 11: 31).
IN A PROPHECY
CONCERNING CHRIST, and the glories of His kingdom, we have this promise; “They
shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full
of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (Isa. 11: 9). “Blessed are the meek,” said Jesus “for
they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5: 5). At the birth of Jesus, the angel
proclaimed “good tidings of great joy,” and foretold the characteristics of His
reign, when His kingdom shall be established: “Glory to God in the highest, and
on earth peace, good will toward men.” To those who will receive from their
Savior “the gift of God,” the promise is given, “Thou hast made us unto our God
kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5: 10).
ABRAHAM, “THE FRIEND OF GOD” (Jas.
When contending with
the Jews, Jesus said, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of
Abraham. But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which
I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.” They claimed “Abraham is our
father,” but Jesus saw beyond mere natural descent. There was, and is, a
difference between a “Jew outwardly,” and a “Jew inwardly.” Therefore, ignoring
the flesh-connection, Jesus dealt with the characteristics of those people, and
said, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do
. . . And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” Not understanding
the doctrine of Jesus, the Jews said unto him, “Now we know that thou hast a
devil.” And they challenged the claims of Jesus, saying, “Art thou greater than
our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?” This led Jesus to declare, “Your
father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” (John 8).
Abraham by faith
looked forward to the manifestation of his “seed,” and Jesus proclaimed Himself
to be that “seed” through whom the promises will be fulfilled in His Day- the
Day of His Coming, to reign for God, and to dwell with men. The land of promise
was covenanted to Abraham “for an everlasting possession.” (Gen. 17: 8).
Nevertheless, although he lived in the land, it is definitely stated that God
“gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on.”
An everlasting possession involves everlasting life. Obviously,
then, the promises to Abraham cannot be fulfilled apart from a resurrection
from the dead, and the bestowal of immortality; these, therefore, were
embraced in the promises, which are said to be “the gospel preached unto
Abraham;” by reason of which the patriarch could look forward to the day of
Christ, and rejoice in it. Paul demonstrated the association of the Abrahamic covenant and the gospel of salvation, when he
wrote; “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus
Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” The
Apostle names “the seed”- not as of many, but as of one, “To thy seed, WHICH IS
CHRIST.” (Gal. 3).
“HEIRS with him of the same promise.” (Heb. 11: 9), the
good things, spoken of the Lord to Abraham, were extended to Isaac and Jacob.
Of them we read, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises
(i.e. the fulfillment of them), but having seen them afar off, and were
persuaded of them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth.” (verse 13). The Psalmist sings “of all his wondrous works,” and calls
upon “the seed of Abraham his servant” to “seek the Lord,” and to “Remember
his marvellous works”-for, “He is the Lord our God:
his judgments are in all the earth. He hath remembered his covenant for ever,
the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Which he made with
Abraham, and his oath unto Isaac; and confirmed the same unto Jacob for a law,
and to
“WHAT IS HIS NAME?”
AS foretold, the natural seed of Abraham went down into
The children of
The following
quotation from Dr. Thomas is helpful: "Ehyeh asher Ehyeh, said he, on that
occasion, I will be who I will be; EHYEH I will be; and in
the third person, Yah, or Yahweh, He shall be. ‘Thou shalt
say to the children of
THE NAME then given was designed to encourage the children of
AS THE “MEMORIAL NAME”
was for “the generation of a race,” its future significance is readily seen.
Later, Isaiah wrote of the Messiah, “When thou shalt
make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his
days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” (Isa. 53: 10). “He shall see his seed.” This will be
the outcome of “the travail of his soul.” And when will God’s “righteous
servant” be satisfied, as the prophet declares? The apostle directs our
minds forward to a day of power and glory, when he speaks of “bringing many
sons unto glory,” and adds: “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the
midst of the church (ecclesia) will I sing praise unto thee.” And again,
“Behold I and the children which God hath given me.” (Heb. 2: 10, 13).
These “children” are
“the seed to whom the promise was made” in multitudinous form. They are the
true seed of the woman, the seed of Abraham, not according to the flesh, but
according to the spirit, by faith and obedience. By compliance with the
precepts and commandments of God they entered into the only “Name given among
men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts
To “the seed,” being
prepared, the word is written: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed
with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation
received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ,
as of a lamb without blemish and without spot . . . that your faith and hope
might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through
the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another
with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of
incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (I Pet. 1: 18, 23).
Into this “Name” the
people of God entered, by type and anti-type, and, with the “Father’s name
written in their foreheads,” they were “born again to walk in newness of life.”
A promise was left them: “To him that overcometh will
I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the
stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving
he that receiveth it” (Rev. 2: 17). The
condition governing this manifestation of the Name was “show thy faith by thy
works.” (Jas. 2: 18). “Behold, I come
quickly,” says their Master; “Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take
thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar
in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him
the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God: even my new name.”
(Rev. 3: 11,12).
Such is the incentive
for them to go unto perfection; “to make their calling and election sure,” not
only to do the will of their Father in heaven, but also to anticipate the day
of reward; “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.” (Verse 21).
BUT we must return from this ramble down one of the by-paths, which are
both interesting and alluring. As we contemplate the Exodus we recall how God
did “Wondrous works in the
“
It was, indeed, “a
night to be much observed unto the Lord for bringing them out from the
IN THE PICTORIAL CHART we have a line, from the name Abram down to the
Pyramid, which represents the land of Egypt; of this land we read- words spoken
to Abram- “thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall
serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years.” The touching story
of the “famine upon the land,” and how “he brake the whole staff of bread”;
followed by the sons of Jacob going down into the land wherein “there was
corn,” is well known to all Bible readers. As the Psalmist wrote, “He sent a
man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt
with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word
of the Lord tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the
people, and let him go free.”
IN THE LAND OF HAM,
the people (of Israel) increased greatly; their growth in numbers and strength
caused the Egyptians to fear the children of Israel, and this brought about
their oppression by those whose heart was turned “to hate his people.” But had
not God said, “I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee”?(Gen. 12: 3). And God does not forget.
“He sent darkness, and
made it dark. He turned their waters into blood, and slew their fish. Their
land brought forth frogs. There came divers sorts of flies and lice. Hail for
rain, and flaming fire in their land. Locusts and caterpillars-without number-
to eat up the herbs in their land, and devour the fruit of their ground.”
By these plagues were
the Egyptians punished, until they were glad to “let My people go.”
From the pyramid there
is another line, with the words “come out,” and this line extends to a small
group- representing father, mother and two children- outside of a building. The
father is particularly interested in “the lintel and the doorpost”; the
lettering reads, 1st month, 14th day. Over this building are the words, “seed
a stranger in a land not theirs; afflict them 400 years.”
Still another line
directs attention to the boy on the altar. It is the story of Abraham and his
seed. About fifteen years before Isaac was born God had spoken to Abraham
concerning the welfare of his seed- “when as yet he had no child.” The
patriarch was informed that, in process of time, “thy seed shall be a stranger
in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them
four hundred years.” Nevertheless, God would judge and punish that nation;
whilst the seed of Abram would escape from the land, and “come out with great
substance”; for “in the fourth generation they shall come hither again.” (Gen.
15: 13, 16). When Abraham “was an hundred years old, his son Isaac was born
unto him”; and of this son, God said, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”
(Gen. 21: 12).
From henceforth the
hopes and aspirations, of this “Friend of God,” would be centered in
his son, Isaac; for concerning him God had said: “I will establish my covenant
with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.” (Gen. 17:
19). So fully did Abraham realize this that he complied with the demand of
Sarah, “Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman
shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.” (Gen. 21: 10). Although
this “was very grievous in Abraham’s sight- for Ishmael had been “born unto
him” by Hagar the Egyptian handmaid- nevertheless, being instructed by God he
complied, sending Hagar and the child away; “and she departed, and wandered in
the wilderness of Beer-Sheba.” Howbeit, because Ishmael was the son of Abraham,
“God was with the lad.”
BEFORE the things embraced in “the covenant” could be
developed, the faith of Abraham must again be put to the test. The gospel was
being “preached to Abraham” as it was later proclaimed to his natural, and
national, seed; “but the word preached to the children of
This is depicted in
the portion of the chart now being considered. Faith in God was manifested, and
this was all that was required so far as “the lad” was, concerned, for Heaven’s
arresting voice sounded forth; “Lay not thine hand
upon the lad, for now I know that thou fearest God.”
(Gen. 22: 12). And, so long afterward, James wrote: “Was not Abraham
our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the
altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works,
and by works was faith made perfect?” (Verse 21, 22).
When the descendants
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob came out of
Before the last of the
plagues was inflicted upon
What a different Moses
to the young man who (having “slain the Egyptian” who was seen “smiting an
Hebrew,” and learning that “this thing is known,” and knowing that Pharaoh
having heard of it “sought to slay Moses”) “fled from the face of Pharaoh, and
dwelt in the
BUT now the climax was upon
them. The slaves were to be set free, and the oppressor punished by the Lord
making “bare his holy arm in the eyes of all” the Egyptians; in such a way that
Pharaoh and his people would remember and appreciate what was meant when God
said, “
“And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the
Such an event was not
to be forgotten by those who were thus the recipients of divine favor and
deliverance. That it should be fixed in the minds of the children of
“This day shall be
unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout
your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.”
Instructions were
given covering seven days wherein they were to eat “unleavened bread”; all
leaven was to be “put away out of their houses.” On “the feast day,” and also
“the seventh day” there was to be "an holy convocation.” “In the first
month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened
bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even”; during which
period “Ye shall eat nothing leavened.” These instructions having been given to
“all the congregation of
“Draw out and take you
a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover.
And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the
basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in
the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the
morning. For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts,
the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in
unto your houses to smite you.”
The observance of
“this thing” was not for the night of deliverance only; for “when ye be come to
the land which the Lord will give you, ye shall keep this service.” As the
years rolled by the children would ask of their elders, “What mean ye by this
service?” An explanation must be given in answer thereto; “It is the sacrifice
of the Lord’s passover.”
“And it came to pass
at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came
to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the
This night of
observation was one “to be observed of all the children of
THE RESTRICTIONS, imposed by God's law, which appertain to the
ordinance of the passover are not acceptable to those
who travel the broad way. Their thought is that there should be no difference
in the relationship of any of the children of men toward God. They do not
appreciate that to this day there is a difference between “the clean and the
unclean,” and “the holy and unholy.” The voice from the broad way is sometimes
heard to quote, but to misapply, from the inspired Word: “Have we not all one
father? Hath not one God created us?” (Mal. 2: 10). In doing so they ignore all that is
involved in “the covenant of our fathers.” It is still a divine principle that
“I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me.” (Lev. 10: 3).
THE LESSONS OF THE
PASSOVER given to the children of
To become a member of
the “body of Christ,” of which He is the “Head,” it is necessary for all who
believe the gospel “to put off the old man with his deeds:
and put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of
him that created him.” (Col. 3: 9, 10). This transference, and
regeneration, can only be accomplished by association with the cross of
Calvary; and a further significance of the ordinance of the passover
is seen by an understanding of the means provided for all who would walk in the
“narrow way,” that they may become related to Christ as their Passover. Paul
wrote to those who had “received Christ Jesus the Lord;” “In whom also ye are
circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body
of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.”
But this circumcision,
incumbent on the believers now, is not the fleshly circumcision required of the
Jews under the law of Moses. Jesus was subject to this requirement, of which we
read; “When eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his
name was called Jesus.” And, “when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to
do for him after the custom of the law.” (Luke 2: 21, 27). This,
however, was typical; it was superceded by His crucifixion, when “He was cut
off out of the land of the living.” (Isa. 53: 8). This
“cutting off” became the circumcision of Christ. The believer in the
gospel must connect himself with it, or forever remain “without Christ.” There
is but one way so to do- it is the Way of the gospel, God’s Way, a straight
and narrow way, and yet the only Way to enable us to walk The King’s
Highway. Continuing the testimony, Paul shows us the way: "Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith
of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.” (Col. 2: 11, 12).
It is still true that “no uncircumcised person shall eat the passover!”
FOLLOWING the Exodus the people came to the wilderness of
Sinai, and “there
“When the time of
the promise drew nigh, which God had sworn to Abraham, the people grew and
multiplied in Egypt. Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. When
he was full forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brethren the
children of Israel. He supposed his brethren would have understood how that God
by his hand would deliver them: but they understood not. Then fled Moses at
this saying, and was a stranger in the land of Midian.
And when forty years
were expired, there appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai an angel
of the Lord in a flame of fire in a bush. This Moses whom they refused, saying,
Who made thee a ruler and a judge? The same did God send to be a ruler and a
deliver by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush. This is
that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord
your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.
This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spoke
to him in the mount Sinai, and with our fathers: who received the lively
oracles to give unto us; To whom our fathers would not obey, but thrust from
them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt.
Ye stiffnecked
and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as
your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the
prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye
have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the
disposition of angels, and have not kept it.”
Of Moses, in Ex. 24,
we read; “And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the
people: and they said, All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient.
And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, Behold the
blood of the covenant which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these
words.” The “blood of the covenant”, is an integral feature of the
Way of God. Without it, no plan of salvation is complete. A perversion of
its true import will negative any so-called gospel. Paul marveled that any who
had known the true gospel should be “removed from him that called you into the
grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another, but some
would pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Gal. 1: 6, 7). And although “the
broad way” has much to say concerning the Cross of Christ, its voice is not the
testimony of Jesus, according to that which is written of Him, in the Law, the
Psalms, and the prophets. “For where a covenant exists, the death of that which
has ratified it is necessary to be produced; Because a covenant is firm over
dead victims, since it is never valid when that which ratifies it is alive.”
(Heb. 9: 16, 17). -Diaglott.
The necessity for bloodshedding was demonstrated “when sin entered the
world;” it was emphasized in the enactments of the Law.
“For when Moses had
spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood
of calves and goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled
both the book, and all the people. And almost all things are by the law purged
with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission,” (verses 19, 22).
However. “the law made
nothing perfect, but it was the bringing in of a better hope.” (Heb. 7: 19).
Consequently, it is “through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once”
that the typical sacrifices, from the beginning to the cross, were ratified.
“But Christ being come
an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect
tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither
by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into
the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption.” (Heb. 9: 11, 12).
CHRIST DIED UNTO SIN,
that He might destroy its power, and so “take it away.” But the death of Christ
in and of itself, would not have demonstrated victory over sin- rather, it
would have been victory of sin over Him! It is here then, that we see the
efficacy of the blood of Jesus, “who through the eternal Spirit offered himself
without spot (or, fault) to God.” (verse 14). Had “the blood of the
covenant,” in a perfect sacrifice, not been shed there would have been
no Risen Lord and Savior. THE RESURRECTION is therefore based upon The One
Great Offering; as it is written, “The God of peace, that brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the
blood of the Everlasting covenant.” (Heb. 13: 20).
THE superiority of “the things in Christ”, to those which were “under the
law”, is very evident; and yet “the law” had a purpose to fulfill. First “the
promises,” then the law added thereto “till the seed should come.” Would “the
law” continue in force after the specified time- when “the seed” came?
Paul speaks of the two phases, and compares them; “But the scripture hath
concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might
be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the
law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the
law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified
by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a
schoolmaster.” (Gal. 3: 22, 25).
As stated on the
Chart, “The law through Moses’ service came, But grace and truth by Jesus’
Name.” The law was “a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of
the things.” (Heb. 10: 1). We see a line, on the Chart, from the Tables
of stone pointing towards the Cross. There we find the substance, in contrast
to the Shadow. On this line we read, “A body prepared.” The preparation
culminated on Calvary. “Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2: 8).
Jesus knew what the purpose of God required of Him; “Wherefore when he cometh
into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou
wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me.” The
law was about to pass from the divine scheme of things, as Jesus knew;
therefore He said, “Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh
away the first that he may establish the second.” (Heb. 10: 5, 9).
A NEW COVENANT TO SUPERCEDE THE OLD
MOSES was “faithful in all his house, as a servant; But
Christ as a son over his own house.” (Heb. 3: 5, 6). Under the law the
priests were “a shadow of heavenly things;” but of Christ we read, “Now hath he
obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better
covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first
covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the
second.” (Heb. 8: 5, 7).
“Behold, the days
come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the
covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand
to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although
I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: But this
shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those
days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their
inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they
shall be my people.”
This has not yet come
to pass, as is evident from the next verse.
“And they shall teach
no more every man his neighbour, and every man his
brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of
them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I
will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer. 31: 31, 34).
Without here
developing this particular theme further, I would say that the “new covenant,”
yet to be entered into with the two houses of the people of Israel, is new inasmuch
as the blessings to be conferred thereby were not obtainable under the old
covenant; of which the apostle says, “For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold the days come,” and proceeds to quote the
testimony of Jeremiah, as given above. That the “old covenant” had reference to
the Mosaic constitution is obvious, from verse 13 of Heb. 8, “In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that
which decayeth and waxeth
old is ready to vanish away.”
A clue to the
situation lies in the fact that, in the unfolding of the story of Abraham, we
have two seeds, and that the development of the natural seed must precede the
manifestation of the spiritual seed. The “spiritual” arises from the things
spoken in the promises to Abraham; and to him God “made a covenant.” In point
of time this was “before the law,” or the Mosaic. Yet the blessings of the Abrahamic covenant could not be bestowed to the full
extent of the promises, till the seed should come. When Jesus first appeared in
the midst of Israel the circumstances did not permit of the promises being
fulfilled, for they said, “We will not have this man to reign over us.”
The law, as we have
seen was added to the promises. It served its time and purpose; waxed old and
vanished away. The people rejected Jesus, and they cried, “Crucify him.” But He
will come again! As the “lion of the tribe of
Of their former
possession of the Land, it is recorded; “Thou art the Lord the God, who didst
choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of
the Chaldees, and gavest
him the name of Abraham; and foundest his heart
faithful before thee, and madest a covenant with him
to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Jebusites,
and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his
seed, and hast performed thy words.” (Neh. 9: 7,
8). Whilst concerning the promise “to Abraham and his seed, the Christ,” for
an everlasting possession, it is written: “These all died in faith, not
having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded
of them . . . And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that
they without us should not be made perfect.” (Heb. 11: 13 , 39, 40).
THE name DAVID stands out in bold relief on the Chart. There is no
pictorial embellishment, even though there are many interesting highlights in
the life of David, which could be well expressed from the artists brush. But
for our purpose the word DAVID is all-sufficient. And who, having read the
Bible, cannot recall in some measure the extension of the Eternal Plan at the
mention of this Name?
“Unto my servant
David, Thus saith the Lord of host, I took thee from
the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over
David reigned for
forty years- “In
Of David we again
read; “So he fed them (
THE PROMISES made of God UNTO DAVID were associated with, and an
extension of, the promises unto Abraham. To the “father of the faithful” God
promised, to him and to his seed, the land for an everlasting
possession. DAVID WAS A KING, and God’s covenant with him was in regard to his
kingdom. But as this kingdom was in the land promised, it is clear that the one
promise cannot be fulfilled without the other. The Abrahamic
and Davidic covenants are thus but two phases of the selfsame covenant, in the
completion of which the new covenant will be brought to its full fruition. “My
covenant,” saith the Lord, “will I not break, nor
alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. Once have I sworn by my holiness
that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne
as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a
faithful witness in heaven.” (Psa. 89: 34, 37).
THE THRONE OF DAVID
WAS, and will yet again be, in
“Our feet shall stand
within thy gates, O Jerusalem. Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of the
Lord, unto the testimony of
“For thy servant
David’s sake turn not away the face of thine
anointed. The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of
the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne. For the Lord hath chosen
“The Lord telleth thee that he will make thee an house. And when thy
days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy
fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy
bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. I will stablish
the throne of his kingdom for ever. And thine house
and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be
established for ever.”
Realizing the
magnitude of this promise, David responded: “Thou has spoken also of thy
servant’s house for a great while to come.” (2 Sam. 7: 12, 19).
In “THE LAST WORDS OF
DAVID”, we have this theme carried forward to the day of its manifestation,
with an intimation concerning the One through whom it will be accomplished. “He
that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear
of God.” Or, as translated by Dr. J. Thomas, “There shall be a just man ruling
over mankind, ruling in the righteous precepts of the gods. And as the
brightness of morning He shall arise, the sun of an unclouded dawn shining
forth after rain upon tender grass out of the earth.” (2 Sam. 23: 3, 4).
The immediate
circumstances of David’s household did not fit the case for a fulfillment at
that time; hence, “Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with
me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all
my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow.” (verse
5). Nevertheless, when the time spoken of arrives; i.e. “The great while
to come,” God will indeed cause it “to spring forth.” Anticipating this, the
petition was made; “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness
unto the King’s son”- David’s greater Son. (Psa. 72:
1). That is why the line is extended from DAVID TO BETHLEHEM, where we
have Son of Man and Son of God. “And there were Shepherds
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And the angel
said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,
which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of
JESUS WAS BORN a
prince of the House of David, and of Him it was said; “He shall be great, and
shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the
throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for
ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1: 32, 33). Paul wrote,
of the gospel of God, “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made
of the seed of David according to the flesh: And declared to be the Son of
God with power by the resurrection from the dead.” (Rom. 1: 3, 4). The
patriarch David, “being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath
to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise
up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake
of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his
flesh did see corruption.” (Acts 2: 29, 31).
We, therefore, have
Jesus, the son of David, the Son of God, the seed of Abraham; in whom all the
promises are “Yea, and Amen!” And inasmuch as the promises were not fulfilled
when Jesus was in the midst of His people, and have not since been fulfilled,
there is but one explanation- we must wait for His coming again. This will be
“when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Who,
to His Son did say, “Sit on my right hand, until I make thine
enemies thy footstool.” This will be the time of “restoration,” to bring about
which, God “shall send Jesus Christ;” and then what “Moses truly said,”
concerning the prophet like unto Moses, will also be fulfilled, “Him shall ye
hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.” (Acts
How different to His
first coming, when they said He had a devil! Then they refused to acknowledge
Him, and did not believe in His Word. But as “children of the prophets, and of
the covenant which God made with our fathers” the mercy of the Lord is
manifest; “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to
bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” (verses 25, 26).
“THE HOPE OF THE PROMISE” - NOT
TRADITIONS!
ABRAHAM and David; Judah and Jerusalem; Israel and Mount Zion
are inseparably connected. They are the theme of the seers, the burden of
the prophets, the hope of a nation; a light unto the Gentiles, and the
foundation for redemption and restoration: upon which a new world will be
established.
Seeing “the Land” as
it is today, and contemplating the throne of David- still “cast down to the
ground”- without a King, one might feel justified in doubting the reality of
the promises. In fact many, of the “broad way”, do not anticipate a literal
fulfillment of those “precious promises.” Their theology does not call for
such. For them “the ways of Zion” are out-of-date. They believe in a kingdom not
promised for the righteous. With them tradition has superceded Truth. A
kingdom in the skies, “beyond the bounds of time and space,” has for many
centuries been accepted as “the saint’s secure abode.” This tradition is still
the hope of many professing Christians; nevertheless, this false doctrine
“inherited from our fathers” must be discarded, along with many other errors,
by all who would walk THE KING’S HIGHWAY.
“PEACE ON EARTH,” so
desirable, is associated with “the throne of His father David;” and this at a
time when “the Son of the Highest” shall “reign over the house of Jacob for
ever.” Paul affirms, “God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.” And
he met the challenge of his day, and ours; “I say then, Have they stumbled that
they should fall?” His dissertation, in the eleventh chapter of Romans, is a
clear demonstration in support of the fact that such is not the case; but
“rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles.” But this does
not negative the hope of
Amos gives the word of
the Lord; “spoken against you, O children of
ONE OF THE FALLACIES
of the “broad way” is that at the present time, and during past years, one
section of the tribes of Israel (referred to as British Israel), even the
“ten-tribe” kingdom, is the recipient of the favor of Heaven whilst the House
of Judah is still undergoing punishment on account of their sins. But Amos
speaks against “the whole family,”(3: 1), and continues; “You only
have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for
all your iniquities.” And yet we are told, “Behold, the eyes of the Lord God
are upon the sinful kingdom, and I will destroy it from off the face of the
earth; saving that I will not utterly destroy the house of Jacob, saith the Lord.” (Amos 9: 8).
To this we add the
prophecy of Obadiah; “But upon mount
It is not in the scope
of this treatise to follow the rise and fall in the fortunes of the kingdom of
Israel. From the days of Saul, through the war-like activities of David to the
glory of Solomon’s reign, when a queen of Sheba, hearing of his fame, “came to
prove him with hard questions.” She came, she saw, she heard. Having done so,
she said to the king; “It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of
thy acts and of thy wisdom. Howbeit I believed not the words, until I came, and
mine eyes have seen: and, behold, the half was not told me!” (1 Kings 10). Then,
Solomon’s lapse to idolatry, followed by the rending of his kingdom; and the
long, dark history of the Houses of Israel and Judah, until the Teacher of
Galilee denounced a “generation of vipers,” who, said He, were “the children of
them which killed the prophets;” and upon which generation “all these things,”
of which Jesus had spoken, were to come. To those Jews he said, “Fill ye up
then the measure of your fathers.” (Matt. 23: 32).
Touching, indeed, was
the lament of the Master as He looked upon the City, knowing how desolate it
was to become; and yet, like Abraham who “saw the day of Christ, and was glad,”
Jesus looked down the river of years, and seeing a ray of hope, testified; “For
I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say Blessed is he
that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (verse 39).
THE THRONE OF THE KINGDOM was overturned long before the destruction of the city of Jerusalem, even as God had said by His prophet. But even with that word against the throne, when the “wicked prince of Israel” was about to be removed, the “end of the matter” was not overlooked: “it shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” (Ezek. 21: 27). “He who ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will” (Dan. 4: 17), makes use of the powers of darkness for the execution of His Will. The people were led away captive, and the Psalmist depicts their plight when, “By the waters of Babylon, they sat down, and wept; yea, they wept when they remembered Zion. How could they sing the Lord’s song in a strange land?” No! they could not give “mirth” to their captors. And the spirit of t