‘‘I AM married unto you.’’ Jer. 3:14. After marriage, the wife is expected to share the home of her husband. When this is not intended, something is wrong. The house of God is His church. Paul, in 1 Tim. 3:15, makes plain this relation: ‘‘But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.’’
REGULATIONS IN THE CHURCH
‘‘That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God.’’ From this we can see that there must be regulations and order in His church. In another part of the chapter, the apostle points out those who should be selected to fill the offices of a well conducted church. He mentions the bishops, or elders (see Titus 1:5, 7), and the deacons. 1 Tim. 3:1-14. In this fifteenth verse, one of the characteristics of the true church is made prominent. God says it is ‘‘the pillar and ground of the truth.’’ A pillar supports or upholds. His church will be the pillar in the earth, to support or lift up His truth.
The question, then, is one of deep importance. What is ‘‘the truth’’? Christ said, ‘‘Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.’’ John 17:17. It seems plain from this that the true church will uphold the word of God. Again He says, ‘‘Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy law is the truth.’’ Ps. 119:142. This verse brings further test of the true church of Christ: first, belief in the word of God; second, a firm acceptance of the law of God.
THE PATH MADE BY CHRIST
Christ said, ‘‘I have kept My Father’s commandments.’’ John 15:10. And being the representative head of His church (Eph. 5:23), He has left us an example, that we should follow His steps. 1 Peter 2:21. No man can follow the steps of another by taking a different way. Christ made but one path in this life, and that was a commandment-keeping path.
‘‘He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.’’ 1 John 2:6. The path the Saviour made is definite and plain, and every person can for himself decide whether he is doing as the Saviour did. There is no other life given as our example, and there are no other ‘‘steps’’ that lead from earth to heaven.
‘‘How thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.’’ 1 Tim. 3:15. There is much in the daily life of the church member. It may be ‘‘a light that shineth in a dark place,’’ or it may be an inconsistent life, that will prove a stumblingblock to those who are wandering in the darkness, yet who are honestly searching for light.
While it is a blessed privilege to be a Christian, yet if rightly understood, it is a great matter to be a Christian. There are many in our churches to-day, who live a fairly good life in a general way, yet who cannot say, from the heart, that they know acceptance with God. In the final day, when the accounts are unveiled, many will be found naming the name of the Lord, who are self-condemned because of known sins that they were unwilling to surrender.473
VICTORY THROUGH SURRENDER
When a person is truly willing to surrender a self-indulgence, God cannot fail to give the victory in its removal. We may at times hope that we are willing, believe that we are willing, or will be; but when the test comes, we reveal the fact that we are not yet willing. We take the half relinquished offering back from the hand of the priest, and he cannot lay it on the altar. We turn away, and the weakness of doubt and self-condemnation takes away all that otherwise would be filled with courage and joy. My friend, if you have not thought of this, please analyze your feelings when that temptation again comes to you.
God has said, ‘‘Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.’’ 1 Cor. 4:2. A true child of God will be as faithful when with worldlings, when in his own home, or when alone, as when he is with the members of the church. In eating or drinking, in conversation or business, he will be a representative of the light the Saviour has given him.
CONSECRATION MAKES NO RESERVE
The person who is constantly seeking excuses for some deviation from the light given, betrays the fact that the yoke of Christ is a yoke of bondage, and that his heart is still in the possession of another master. Entire consecration lays all upon the altar, and makes no reserve.
Jacob said, ‘‘If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God.’’ Gen. 28:20, 21.
It took him twenty years to learn the lesson of implicit trust, with no added conditions of raiment, bread, or even life itself. In the night of wrestling, the victory was gained, and God gave him a new name, and with it a place was given him among the conquerors through faith. Gen. 32:24-28; Heb. 11:21. Complete surrender reserves nothing. It will say, ‘‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.’’ Job 13:15.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER
A surrender that makes one reserve, betrays the fact that nothing has been surrendered; because when a man claims the right to reserve at all, he claims for himself the power to decide the extent of that reserve, whether all or part, and God’s claim is made second to man’s judgment in the matter.
This places man’s ownership first, and God’s second. But since man has sold himself to the author of sin (Rom. 6:16), so long as he has not placed his all in the hands of the Saviour, but has made his own claims first, his reserve is in the interests of his master, for whom the reserve has been made. Every reserve made, when confronted with a requirement of God, is in opposition to that requirement, and hence can be only in the interests of that being who has set his lost life in opposition to that of the Ruler of heaven. As God accepts no divided heart, all is left in the hands of the old master, and the bands of slavery are not broken. 2 Peter 2:19.
Christ said, ‘‘The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.’’ John 14:30. ‘‘Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt.’’ Matt. 12:33.
The only way, the way of success, the ‘‘way of life,’’ is in a complete, an unconditional surrender, enduring as ‘‘seeing Him who is invisible,’’ having Him as a constant companion, doing nothing but that which one would be willing for the recording angel to record in the books of heaven, and standing true, though standing alone.
Oriental Religions Coming West
By George F. Enoch
Vedantic Philosophy and Theosophy Invade England and Germany — "The Next Incarnation of God"
By GEORGE F. ENOCH
As a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isa. 2: 6, that the church would be "replenished from the East," we called attention last week to the introduction of the Vedantic philosophy of India in the West. For centuries — we had almost said, millennia — the brightest intellects of India had grappled with the problem of existence, passing their philosophy in a connected line from generation to generation with a continuity impossible in any other country. The system of philosophy developed in this great search has never been equaled by any other non-Christian people, and now is seriously challenging our attention. We wish to trace briefly, in this article, its introduction to the West, and give a glimpse of its far-reaching influence.
CAPTURING THE CULTURED WEST
The first beginnings of its influence can be traced back to Greek thought and Roman culture. But that side of the discussion does not concern us to-day. In modern times, its influence first began to be felt in the study of Sanskrit literature, first by such men as Sir William Jones and Henry Colebrooke, British officials in India, and later by such as Schlegel, Bopp, Lassen, Roth, Max Müller, and others in Germany and England.
Men like Max Müller, and Schopenhauer, and other German philosophers, have represented it in such an attractive light that much enthusiasm is felt in its behalf throughout intellectual Germany. Professor Deussen, of Kiel, is an ardent disciple, saying that the Vedanta is "the key to all religions, the lamp by which all can be studied." This influence has so profoundly affected Germany that any one comparing the philosophy of her leading school of thinkers with the ancient faith of India, can but be struck with their identity. It is in such soil as this that "higher criticism" has found its most flourishing growth; and I have no doubt but the progress of this specious reasoning, which is undermining the authority of the word of God, has its explanation in the acceptance of these replenishings from the East.
Another striking invasion of the West by the Vedantic philosophy of the East, is theosophy. The Theosophical Society was founded about 1875, by Colonel Olcott, who was later joined by Madam Blavatsky. Branches were formed in England and America, and in India itself. Mrs. Besant has succeeded to the leadership of the society, and has boldly established her headquarters in India, frankly stating her religion to be but a manifestation of Hinduism. Her zeal and eloquence have given her a very strong foothold in India.
"THE NEXT INCARNATION OF GOD"
Only last year, one of the most peculiar cases ever conducted in a modern court of law, came up for hearing in the Madras Court. A Hindu father sued to recover the custody of his two sons, who had been placed in Mrs. Besant's charge. One of these lads had been declared by Mrs. Besant to be the next "avatar," or incarnation of God. The resultant adoration was ruining the character of the boy. Mr. Leadbetter, an ardent theosophist, had immediate charge of the lads; and a further charge was brought that he was teaching them certain sexual principles that were subversive of morality, and that the theosophists were not morally fit to have charge of the boys. The father won the suit; but in the meantime, Mrs. Besant had sent the boys from the country, and she carried the resulting contempt of court proceedings to the Privy Council in England, delaying matters until the boy came of age and could legally choose for himself.
Both Mrs. Besant and Mr. Leadbetter swore that they could leave the body at will, and hold communion with spirits from other worlds and with the dead.
While antichristian in principle, theosophy professes a certain reverence for Christ. The image of Christ in brass is said to be found alongside that of Krishna in the rooms of the students at the Central College, Benares, the leading school of theosophy in India.
Next week we will study another phase of the invasion of the West by the Vedantic philosophy.
God's Eternal Purpose
By Eliza H. Morton
GOD formed this earth to be inhabited by holy beings. Isa. 45: 18; Eph. 1: 4, 5. There was no death in the plan. Eze. 18: 32. But the eternal purpose has been delayed by sin. Rom. 5: 12. God is not a changeable being (Mal. 3: 6); and what He purposed, will be accomplished.
That which was seemingly thwarted by Satan will be consummated through Christ. Eph. 1: 10. Predestination is taught in God's word, but the holy only are predestinated. "The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever." Ps. 37: 29. It is for man to choose life or death. Deut. 30: 19. All may be holy who will; for "whosoever will," may come and partake of "the water of life freely." Rev. 22: 17.
Man's destiny is in his own hands. It is for him to place his life in the hands of the Crucified One. Christ will accomplish for the humble, penitent sinner that which he never could work out for himself — salvation from sin. Christ shall "see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied." He shall "justify many; for He shall bear their iniquities." Isa. 53: 11. He has predestinated the "many," and for them His eternal purpose will be accomplished. By complying with the conditions, we may become a part of the "many." Christ said, "This is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day." John 6: 39.
God has given to Christ all who choose to accept His salvation. The earth will yet be inhabited by holy beings, even by those who comply with the conditions of the plan.
ELIZA H. MORTON.
OPEN DOORS IN THE ORIENT
By J. E. Fulton
Two Important Centers of Activity—Urgent Calls to the Home Land—How Australia Will Help
MANILA and Hongkong are two great cities of the far East, lying about 700 miles apart, each containing a population of about 300,000 inhabitants. The first is the capital of the Philippines, an old city, parts of which have changed but little for hundreds of years, while other parts, built since American occupation, are new and beautiful.
Hongkong is a modern city, dating from a treaty made between Great Britain and China in 1841. The city is one of the beauty spots of the world, and one of England's most strongly fortified points, being a great strategic center.
TEEMING WITH SHIPPING
The harbors of both Hongkong and Manila teem with shipping, especially Hongkong, and great steamships to all parts of the world visit these places. Both these cities are also becoming important centers in connection with the great world message.
Manila has already a large congregation of native Sabbath keepers, and among them many of the very brightest of young people, who are entering the gospel work as evangelists and colporteurs. Besides working for the 8,000,000 of Filipinos, some of these workers will become missionaries to the great Malay Archipelago, to which people the Filipinos are akin.
Hongkong also is no doubt destined to become a great center for our work. It is the gateway to the interior of southern China, and is a recognized center of shipping for all parts of the East. Some workers have been located in this city, and already we have a small company of native believers.
THE DIFFICULTIES AND THE PLANS
The missionaries who labor among the many millions of this great Eastern field carry a mighty burden on their hearts. The peoples among whom they toil are hidden behind an almost impenetrable caste, or are wedded to religions utterly hostile to Christianity, and in other places, are among tribes sunken in superstitions and vice. To add to the task, hundreds of difficult languages and dialects threaten to baffle the missionary in his endeavors to reach the people. If ever there were strong walls and fortifications piled up by the enemy, against which we need a concentration of strong equipment with zealous and wise counsel, it is certainly here in the East. As far as openings are concerned, there are many. Doors of opportunity are swung clear back on their hinges, bidding us enter. This is not our difficulty, but rather that our facilities and equipment are so meager, and our forces so inadequate.
The writer, with Pastor J. M. Johanson, was called to the East to meet Pastors A. G. Daniells, R. C. Porter, and H. R. Salisbury, to counsel over the work in this great field. As a result of our meeting, it was felt that there should be:
1. A more effective organization of the work in this great field, binding the countries together, and giving closer supervision, and thus a stronger administration.
2. More workers to fill the many calls and to occupy important strategic points; and —
3. Better equipment in the way of training schools, so as to fit natives quickly as evangelists and colporteurs.
THE BRIGHT YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN
In Manila, as mentioned before, there are numbers of bright young men and women. After even a meager training, some are doing well as evangelists and colporteurs. Such a course among a naturally independent class of natives is attended with danger. A substantial training should be given, that these young people may become thoroughly grounded in the message, and in the plan and methods of our work. This calls for a training school, and so it was decided to ask our brethren in America to furnish $10,000 toward this enterprise.
In Manila there is a large and growing congregation of loyal members. The interest to hear the message is excellent. At the time of our visit, a tent meeting had been in progress four months, with good success, and still hundreds were attending.
NATIVES OF THE PHILIPPINES
A church building is an urgent need. The native brethren will help to the extent of their ability; but in a city of such importance, where general meetings must frequently be held, and where the work will undoubtedly grow, we should erect a church of credit to the cause, and of such size as will meet the growing needs. A considerable sum is already in hand, but a further modest sum of $4,000 is asked for. Australasia is requested to furnish this.
PRINTING IN MANILA
In Manila also they are printing our books in the vernaculars, in a building 21 by 24 feet, formerly used as a stable for horses, the timber of which is rapidly being eaten down by white ants. Then the printing of subscription books is done on a small job press, two pages at an impression. To cope with the work, the press is kept running in shifts, from 5 A. M. to 10 P. M. The binding is done in the open basement of the mission home, where dust and rain play havoc in turn with the stock. It was therefore decided to ask our brethren in America to furnish $10,000 to build and equip a suitable printing office, and Australasia is asked to furnish a qualified printer.
AUSTRALIA FIRST IN THE FIELD
The first workers to the Philippines were sent out by the Australasian Union Conference, and it will come as a matter of great encouragement to them that their sacrifices have not been in vain. The work is very interesting, and the outlook most hopeful. Young native evangelists are meeting with good success, and churches are being raised up. Native colporteurs also are meeting with phenomenal success with our books printed on our little press, under such difficult circumstances.
But Australasia is called upon to do more, for she lies adjacent to the great Asiatic field, and naturally becomes a base475of supplies. God has blessed Australia and New Zealand with a fine army of intelligent young people. Besides the South Pacific islands, China, India, and Malaysia will always appeal to a large number of our students and young workers in Australasia. We must let them occupy the fields God calls them to, and help them get there. And not only are we to help with men, but we must join with America and do our part in furnishing means.
WILL THE MEN AND THE MEANS BE SUPPLIED?
From Japan, China, India, and Malaysia sounds the Macedonian cry to the home lands. America and Australasia must bear even heavier burdens. Already many of the conferences have given their apportioned fifteen cents weekly a member to missions, but the sums raised are inadequate. What shall be done? Will the work break down at such an opportune time for advancement? There must be funds somewhere among God's people, or the calls would not be so many and so pressing.
As these calls from the foreign field increase, the church, obedient to the Master's word, must pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into the harvest; and by the law of consistency, God must give the means to His church to meet the emergency. Therefore as the needs increase, God will increase the abilities of His people in proportion.
Now is the time to work in the far East. The doors are open, and many of the people are willing and ready, and now is a time of comparative peace throughout this part of the world. It will not always be so. There are ominous clouds that threaten us; and we should be wise, and work quickly, while we have the opportunity the present affords. As another has said, 'Time has brought forth two giants, opportunity and responsibility.' A great door of missionary opportunity is opened to us, but with the opportunity comes the solemn responsibility.
May the burden rest heavy upon all our hearts; and while we pray to God to send forth laborers to the ripening fields, let us trust Him to give us the ability to render the financial help the times demand.
J. E. Fulton
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WHO CHANGED THE SABBATH?
By George B. Thompson
The Facts upon Which the Day Rests — They Are Indelibly Embedded in the Past — How Can They Be Changed?
WHEN the claims of the law are presented, and it is seen that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord, and that another day, which the Lord has never commanded to be the Sabbath, has taken its place in the practices of the religious people of the land, the question is frequently asked, "Who changed the Sabbath?"
CANNOT BE CHANGED
In reply to this question, we would call attention to the fact that the Sabbath has never been changed. It is something that cannot be changed. No man or combination of men, no synod or ecclesiastical council of this or any other century, could change the Sabbath, or in any way abridge its divine claims upon us.
The Sabbath is a memorial of creation. It was made at the close of creation's week. God rested, blessed the day, and sanctified it. It is God's rest day.
"Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made." Gen. 2: 1-3.
FOUNDED ON THE ACTS OF GOD
In this scripture is set before us the institution of the Sabbath. The Sabbath rests on the acts of God in connection with creation. Certain facts make it the Sabbath, and facts cannot possibly be changed. The facts of creation are just as true to-day as they were when the Sabbath was instituted. It is just as true to-day that God rested on the seventh day, and blessed and sanctified it, as at creation; and so long as these facts remain facts, so long does the seventh-day Sabbath remain the Sabbath.
Through all the ages of eternity, it will be true that the Lord created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh. Therefore the seventh day will remain the Sabbath throughout eternity, and be kept by the redeemed hosts.
"For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before Me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before Me, saith the Lord." Isa. 66: 22, 23.
CHANGING YOUR BIRTHDAY
Suppose, for illustration, that you were born on the seventh day of the month, but should desire to change the date of your birth from the seventh day of the month to the first day of the month. You conclude it would be more convenient for you to have your birthday celebrated on the first day of the month than on the seventh. How would you go about it to make this change? How could you change your birthday? You might erase the record of your birth in the old family Bible, and substitute instead of the seventh day the first day of the month; but this would not change the fact that you were born on the seventh day of the month, and this day would still remain your birthday.
The state legislature might meet and pass a bill, stating that the first day of the month was your birthday; but this could in no way alter the fact that you were born on the seventh day of the month, and this date, regardless of the action of the state legislature, would still remain your birthday. You could not possibly change the date of your birth, except by being blotted out of existence, and being born again on another day, if such a thing were possible.
CREATION MUST BE DONE OVER AGAIN
The same is true in regard to the Sabbath. The only way the Sabbath could be changed from the seventh to the first day of the week would be for the Creator to blot out the world that He has made, and in bringing it again into existence, rest on some other day than the seventh, and thus make this His rest day. And even then, the fact would still remain that once God had made a world, that He did work six days, that He did bless and sanctify the seventh day; and as these facts still remain, it would still be true that the seventh day was God's rest day.
THE FACTS ARE ETERNALLY UNCHANGEABLE
The facts upon which the Sabbath rests are eternal facts; and as they are eternal, the Sabbath itself is eternal, unchangeable, and can never be abrogated. Men speak learnedly about abolishing the Sabbath; but they can never abolish the Sabbath until they abolish the facts upon which it rests, and this, as has been seen, is an impossibility.
It remains a fact, therefore, that "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." In it man is not to work, but rest, and remember the Creator as one who creates not only worlds, but creates us anew in Himself, makes us new creatures in Christ Jesus. The Sabbath thus stands as a memorial not only of creation, but of redemption, which is in fact a new creation.
A SPECTACLE TO THE WORLD
By John O. Corliss
THE apostle speaks of a certain class who are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels. 1 Cor. 4: 9. The marginal rendering of this word "spectacle" is "theater." Thus the Christian is represented as an actor on the stage of life.
A theater is a place where performers personate various characters of history or of fiction. To do this properly, actors must not only dress after the fashion of the ones to be represented, but also imitate their speech and bearing. To fail in any one of these, brings discredit to the actor.476
There must be certain humiliation when one fails to meet the approval of human auditors. But in the case under consideration, not only the world, but heavenly angels, are attendants as interested judges of the performance, because their beloved Master is held forth for the benefit of a lost world. If He is fitly represented, His very life, in detail, must be revealed in the actor's mortal flesh. 2 Cor. 4: 11. Not only this, but the dying of the Lord Jesus, with its soul agony for the lost, will be seen in the daily deportment. Verse 10.
TO ACT THE DIVINE
It must be conceded that a preparation for such an achievement requires more than ordinary effort. One must be lifted above the merely human to act the divine. He who has been born in, and actually borne the image of, the earthly, must be brought to "bear the image of the heavenly" before being capable of acting the life of the heavenly Sacrifice. 1 Cor. 15: 49. This will mean to let the human nature give way to, and be supplanted by, the divine. 2 Peter 1: 3, 4.
This transformation is the personal unfolding of that great mystery of God's fleshly indwelling. One of the purposes of Christ in coming to earth as God in the flesh, was to show what man was by creation, and what God designs him to be by redemption. We know that man's flesh was made from the "dust of the ground," but that his perfect being was accomplished by the life of God breathed into his body. Gen. 2: 7. It was thus that he became "a living soul," and was accounted as being in the image of God. But through sin, his Godlikeness departed, leaving him subject to every device of the wicked one.
The promise of the God-man was, that whosoever would believe in Him should be endowed with "everlasting life." John 5: 24. This return of God's everlasting life to the reclaimed one, is really God returning to make His abode again in the flesh (John 14: 23; 2 Cor. 4: 11), and so living within him, to be his defense against attacks of the evil one.
CAME IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL MEN
To secure this infinite boon for the downtrodden and lost, God permitted His only-begotten Son to take upon Himself the "likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom. 8: 3), and then "laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isa. 53: 6. Under this condition, one cannot wonder why He groaned in Gethsemane, and pleaded for the cup to pass. Not only was He bearing to death the load of one vile sinner's iniquity, but He was carrying the broken vows, the heated passions, the dire unbelief, and the neglected opportunities, of earth's untold millions. He never could have borne all this had not an angel from heaven appeared to strengthen Him for the ordeal.
In fact, everything possible to secure man's release from sinful bondage was done. We do indeed have forgiveness and redemption through Christ, equal to the riches of God's grace. And He has adapted His power of mind to make known to sin-darkened intellects the mystery of His will, to carry out His eternal purpose toward fallen humanity. Eph. 1: 7-9.
So one need not preach, or himself act in the great drama; because the same God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has ordered the light to shine in men's hearts, that the light of the knowledge of God's glory may be theirs. This is an infinite treasure of stored wealth committed to "earthen vessels," that the excellency may be of God, and not of humanity. It is thus that one becomes Heaven's ambassador, and a true actor on life's stage. J. O. C.
These verses contain expressions that are repeated several times in the last part of Mark 9. The question especially is over the expression, "the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched." The term "hell" in this passage comes from the Hebrew word meaning Valley of Hinnom. In the Greek it is Gehenna. The Valley of Hinnom was a valley just outside of Jerusalem where all of the offal of the city was cast. We could understand what a fearful place this would make of that small valley. Worms were continually preying upon this mass of filth. Many dead bodies of beasts were there. What the worms did not consume, constant fires were kept burning to destroy. This was done to avert pestilence.
The valley became therefore a symbol of complete and utter destruction—not of continual torment; for whatever was cast into that valley, if it was not eaten by the worms, was destroyed by fire. God uses that as a symbol of the punishment of the wicked. It does not mean that worms will prey upon the wicked men to all eternity, and that fire will burn them to all eternity. It does indicate that when the time comes for the punishment of those who have rejected every offer of mercy, there will be utter destruction of the wicked. This is what is taught in Isa. 66: 24. It declares that in the great day of Judgment, so graphically set forth in the twentieth chapter of the Revelation, the children of God shall look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against God—not upon the living bodies of these men, but the dead carcasses. There we are told: "Their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh." The thought is that neither one of these destructive agencies will cease its work until the thing upon which they preyed is destroyed.
So again in Isa. 51: 6, we read that the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner; and in verse 8, "For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool." That is, it is utter destruction.
The same figure is used in the third chapter of Matthew concerning the wicked. Speaking of our Lord it says, "Whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire"—that is, fire that will not be quenched until it has done its work.
Another illustration of that is found in a comparison between Jer. 17: 27 and 2 Chron. 36: 19, 21. Jeremiah declared that if the children of Israel would not keep God's Sabbath, and obey Him, Jerusalem would be destroyed. "Then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched." Now what was the result of that fire? We are told in 2 Chron. 36: 19, 21: "And they burnt the house of God, and brake down the wall of Jerusalem, and burnt all the palaces thereof with fire, and destroyed all the goodly vessels thereof. . . . To fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah."
The unquenchable fire burned up the thing that was cast into it.
There are many other passages, but we refer to two others. First, there is a very strong expression in Jude 7, which declares that Sodom and Gomorrha "are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Peter tells us just what this fire did: "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly." 2 Peter 2: 6.
These texts clearly show that the undying worm and the unquenchable fire of Mark mean absolute and utter destruction of the wicked; and so Malachi declares: "Behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch." God does not present before us an eternal life in misery, but utter destruction.
Verse 9 says that "there was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt;" and verse 21 says, "I have set there a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt." Does this mean that the Ten Commandments were the covenant which the Lord made with the fathers?
A SUBSCRIBER.
No, it does not mean that the Ten Commandments are the covenant made with Israel. A covenant made with one is a mutual agreement, and there is nothing in the Ten Commandments that is of the nature of a mutual agreement. They were the basis of that agreement, but they were not the agreement itself. In the fourth chapter of Deuteronomy, the Ten Commandments are called the covenant which God commanded, not the covenant which He made with any one.
It will be clearly seen that there is no contradiction or confusion in these scriptures if we will allow the "wherein" to apply not to the ark, but to "the place." That is, the ark was in the same place where the covenant of the Lord was which He made with the fathers.
159—THE TIMES OF THE GENTILES
When will the times of the gentiles be fulfilled? Luke 21: 24.
INQUIRER.
They will be fulfilled when probation closes, and God gathers home His people to Himself.
