The Harp of God Part 23

What did St. Paul later say about Jesus appearing unto him? -- 292.

What does the appearance of the Lord to St. Paul prove with reference to the bodies in which Jesus appeared shortly after his resurrection? -- 292.

What became of the body of the Lord that was crucified? -- 292.

Christ Jesus in glory possesses what kind of body? -- 292.

What did the resurrection of the Lord and his appearance in heaven have to do with the ransom and sin-offering? -- 293.

Were his resurrection and ascension on high necessary to complete the sin-offering? -- 293.

On the typical atonement day, through what ceremonies did the high priest pa.s.s in connection with the sin-offering? -- 293.

What did this typify? -- 293.

In the Revelation of Jesus to St. John, what did he say about being the one who was once dead? and what power does he now possess? -- 294.

What is meant by the terms h.e.l.l and death as used in Revelation 1:18?

-- 294.

Up to this time who have appreciated the value of Jesus' resurrection as a part of the divine plan? -- 295.

Do the Scriptures herein cited prove the resurrection of Christ Jesus?

-- 295.

What argument did St. Paul produce against the contention that Christ was not raised from the dead? -- 296.

What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ guarantee to mankind? -- 297.

Give the Scriptural proof of such guarantee. -- 297.

Where are we now with reference to the 'day appointed', as referred to in Acts 17:31? -- 297.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

CHAPTER VIII

String 7: _Mystery Revealed_

A mystery is that which is kept a profound secret. It is something unknown, except to certain ones, being kept carefully and continuously concealed from all others. Jehovah being all powerful can hide or keep secret from every creature, earthly or heavenly, any part or all of his great plan and reveal or make it known at such time as might please him.

One feature of his great plan he did keep secret for ages and it is still a secret to all except a few.

[299]When Jesus was on earth he taught the people in parables or dark sayings. His disciples came to him and asked: "Why speakest thou unto them in parables? He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given." (Matthew 13:10,11) It will be observed that he did not say, 'You now know the mysteries of G.o.d'; but that it was given them to know those mysteries. Not even his disciples understood him in many things when they were with him. On the last night before his crucifixion he was instructing them in various things that would be helpful to them in the days to come. On that occasion he said: "When he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." (John 16:13) The spirit of truth here mentioned is the holy spirit, the spirit of G.o.d, the invisible power operating upon the minds of those who are in covenant relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d. Jesus here used the masculine p.r.o.noun in speaking of the holy spirit.

[300]The holy spirit was given to the disciples at Pentecost, that is to say, fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rus.h.i.+ng mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the holy spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the spirit gave them utterance." (Acts 2:1-4) The King James Version of our Bibles, translates the word here holy "ghost", but there is no warrant for such a translation. It comes from the word which means spirit.

[301]It was at Pentecost that for the first time G.o.d's great mystery began to be understood by the disciples. The mystery of G.o.d has been a stumbling block to both Jews and Christians so-called; but in G.o.d's due time he will make known to all the secret of his mystery and then all rightly exercised by this will rejoice with exceeding joy.

[302]The mystery is _the Christ_, the great one through whom redemption, deliverance and blessing will ultimately come to all mankind who receive Christ and obey him. G.o.d foreshadowed his mystery for ages by the use of various men. Yet all of that time he kept it secret.

[303]Death has been and is the great enemy of man. Death is the very opposite of life. The greatest desire of man is and always has been to have life everlasting in happiness. From the time of his expulsion from Eden man has been looking for something upon which to fasten a hope for life and happiness. Satan was the cause of death, and when G.o.d p.r.o.nounced the sentence in Eden he said that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head. This statement was in the nature of a promise, but it could not then be understood. Since Pentecost some have understood the meaning of these words to be an a.s.surance that in G.o.d's due time the seed of promise, the seed of the woman, will destroy Satan, who has the power of death. Nearly two thousand years rolled by after this statement before anything further was promised.

[304]Then unto Abraham Jehovah called and made him the promise: "In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed". This was another reference to the mystery; but that promise was not understood in its proper light. Abraham believed G.o.d would bless the human race, but he did not understand just the manner in which it would be done. At the time of this promise Abraham had no children. Several years more pa.s.sed and then Isaac, Abraham's first legitimate son, was born. Abraham believed that his natural seed, his son, would be the ruler through whom the blessing would come to the people; but his son Isaac was merely a type of the mystery, G.o.d using him to foreshadow the greater one. This promise was renewed to Isaac and to Jacob, and at the death of Jacob his descendants, who of course were descendants of Abraham, were organized into twelve tribes, forming the nation of Israel, and were thereafter recognized as G.o.d's chosen nation. (Genesis 49:28; Deuteronomy 26:5) Then it was that the faithful believed that G.o.d's promised blessings would come through this nation, his chosen people. But in time they became slaves to the Egyptians and their hopes were almost blasted. They were sorely oppressed in Egypt when G.o.d sent Moses to be their deliverer and to lead the people of Israel out of Egyptian bondage.

Moses was also a type foreshadowing the great One. (Acts 3:22) Moses died and the promised blessing had not yet come. The prophetic statement made by Moses that G.o.d would raise up unto Israel one like unto himself led the prophets to understand that there would be a great one raised up from the nation of Israel who would be the deliverer and blesser of mankind.

[305]Joshua followed next in line after Moses. His name signifies savior or deliverer. But he also was only a type of the great Deliverer.

[306]Then David became the king of Israel. His name means beloved one.

The Jews had hoped that he would be the great deliverer, but in his old age he abdicated the throne in favor of Solomon, and yet the blessing did not come. Solomon became the most famous man in the world for riches and wisdom, and the hopes of Israel were centered in him, only to be disappointed. David and Solomon were also but mere types foreshadowing the coming of the great Deliverer.

[307]The nation of Israel degenerated and under the reign of Zedekiah, their last king, they fell into captivity to the Babylonians and they continued subject to other nations until they were finally driven out of Palestine.

[308]Moved by the holy spirit of G.o.d operating upon their minds, the holy prophets testified of the coming of this great Deliverer, both of his sufferings and of his glory that would follow; but they did not understand. The matter was a mystery to them. (1 Peter 1:11) Even the angels of heaven sought to look into it, but they were not permitted.

G.o.d's purpose was to keep the matter secret until his own due time to reveal the great truth.

[309]Then came Jesus, whose coming was announced by John the Baptist; and he was pointed out as the one who would take away the sin of the world. He chose his disciples and they walked with him, and he taught them for three and a half years; yet they did not understand the great mystery. They expected Jesus to be made an earthly king and hoped that they might be with him in the kingdom, probably in his cabinet, because he was asked if one might sit on his left and the other on his right hand in the kingdom. They expected him to make Israel a great nation and believed that through that nation other nations would be blessed. When he was put to death they were greatly disappointed, mystified, and in great distress. (Luke 24:21) Even after his resurrection they did not understand his mission, and this is shown by their words to him on the day that he ascended into heaven. "When they were therefore come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy spirit is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."--Acts 1:6-9.

[310]In obedience to the command of Jesus, these faithful disciples went to Jerusalem to the place known as the upper room, and there waited. Ten days pa.s.sed and then it was that the holy spirit, the invisible power of G.o.d, was visited upon them; and true to his promise, the disciples began to understand.

[311]Jesus had now ascended on high and presented the merit of his sacrifice before Jehovah and the acceptance of this was manifested by the giving of the holy spirit to his disciples who had been his consecrated followers for three and a half years. Doubtless the angels of heaven now began to know something about the great mystery. What joy must have been in heaven when Jesus Christ appeared before the Father and presented the merit of his sacrifice and was received by Jehovah!

Surely the heavenly host must have sung his praises. They had beheld him triumphing over death and the grave and now exalted to a position in heaven next to the Father. It must have been a great joy to the heavenly host, even as contemplation of it was a great joy to Jesus himself. "For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of G.o.d." (Hebrews 12:2) What joy must have filled the hearts of his disciples when they began to understand the mystery of G.o.d and to see how wonderfully he had led them and their fathers before them, preparing them now for the revelation of this great truth!

[312]In due time Saul of Tarsus, who afterward was named St. Paul, was illuminated and understood. And then he wrote: "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of G.o.d which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of G.o.d; even the mystery which hath been hid for ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom G.o.d would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the gentiles; which [mystery] is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:24-27) The Apostle here emphasizes the fact that this mystery of G.o.d is now made known only to the saints.

Saints means purified ones, which purification comes through receiving the merit of Christ's sacrifice.

[313]The word Christ signifies anointed. Anointing means designation to official position in G.o.d's arrangement. The Christ is the instrument or channel for the blessing of mankind. The Christ is composed of Jesus, the great and mighty head, and 144,000 members. (Revelation 7:4) Christ Jesus is the head and the church his body. We ofttimes hear the expression, a body of men with a general at their head. Of the Christ the Apostle says: "And he [Christ Jesus] is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell."--Colossians 1:17-19.

[314]The apostle Paul uses a human body to ill.u.s.trate the Christ, the great mystery cla.s.s; the head representing Jesus, and the other members of the body those who are of his church. "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.... Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular."--1 Corinthians 12:12,27.

[315]The Christ is also designated in the Scriptures as the seed of Abraham according to the promise. "Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ." (Galatians 3:16) Addressing himself to the church, the Christians, the followers of Jesus, the Apostle further said: "For ye are all the children of G.o.d by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ.... And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:26,27,29) This is the seed, then, through whom the blessings will come to all the families of the earth. Church means a gathered out cla.s.s; and so the gospel age, that is to say, the period from Jesus' first coming until his second coming, is employed by Jehovah for the selection of the church, the seed of Abraham, through which blessings will come to all the remainder of mankind in G.o.d's due time.

[316]This same cla.s.s is called the elect of G.o.d, according to his foreknowledge.--1 Peter 1:2.

[317]Again the Apostle likens the whole of the Christ to a living stone, saying: "Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up sacrifices acceptable to G.o.d by Jesus Christ.... Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious." (1 Peter 2:5-7) In earthly buildings there is no chief cornerstone; but in this building of G.o.d there is a chief cornerstone which is Christ Jesus. The topstone or chief cornerstone of a pyramid is itself a perfect pyramid. The other members of the body, then, must be built up into Christ to conform to that chief cornerstone, which is ill.u.s.trated by the Great Pyramid in Egypt.--See Isaiah 19:19.

[318]Again this anointed cla.s.s, Jesus the head and the church his body, is spoken of as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people.

This was foreshadowed by the nation of Israel, particularly by the priesthood in connection with the house of Israel. The apostle Peter speaking of this cla.s.s says: "Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of G.o.d: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy."--1 Peter 2:9,10.

[319]The members of the body of Christ, the church, are also designated as his footstep followers; and as such they are called to suffer with him that they might also reign with him. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his footsteps." (1 Peter 2:21) These are also designated as Christians. It does not mean that because one is a member of some earthly organization called a church he is a Christian or a member of the true church. The true church is the body of Christ; and any one to be of the true church must be a follower of Christ in the truest sense of the word. To this cla.s.s are given the exceeding great and precious promises recorded in the Bible, the promises of being a.s.sociated with Christ Jesus in his kingdom. (2 Peter 1:4) Not to the world, but to his followers Jesus said: "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life".--Revelation 2:10.

[320]No one has been able to understand these things and appreciate them except those who have given their hearts to the Lord. The apostle Paul says: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of G.o.d: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned". (1 Corinthians 2:14). Jehovah has so arranged that only those who have their minds illuminated by the holy spirit, which follows their consecration, justification, and acceptance by the Lord, can understand and appreciate the mystery of G.o.d. These are the ones designated by the prophet Joel as the servants and handmaidens of G.o.d; and in the gospel age G.o.d pours out his spirit upon them; which means to give them his spirit. But in G.o.d's due time he will pour out his spirit upon all mankind, so that all can understand his wonderful plan.--Joel 2:28,29.