HE WILL DWELL WITH MEN
“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Rev. 21:3-5)
The Tabernacle is God’s dwelling place with the glorified Church. He will dwell in this glorious city and it will be his Temple. Mankind will approach God as Israel approached the typical Tabernacle and Temple in their religious services.
It is Messiah’s Kingdom called a Tabernacle because it is not to be a permanent or eternal condition of things, but for a millennium with mankind — a Thousand years. He will dwell with them and pour out his Spirit upon all flesh. They shall become his people and when the work of reconciliation is complete God will recognize the world of mankind and place his sanctuary among them. All mankind will be treated from the standpoint of reconciliation, the propitiation price for the sins of the whole world having been paid at Calvary. God’s dear earthly son just as Adam was an earthly son before he sinned. (Luke 3:38; 1 Cor. 15:47)
While the Millennial Kingdom will be the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, it will also be the Kingdom of God, because God’s Son, and his joint-heir, the Church, will be in absolute accord with the Father. He will dwell with mankind, represented in his Church (The Christ, Head and Body), during the Millennium.
“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Dan. 12:1)
This time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation prepares the way for the establishment of Christ’s Millennial Kingdom.
“Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:8,9)
With the growing disorder in the world at the present time it could not be clearer that the human race will soon be facing a whirlwind of advancing troubles. One might say world-end of troubles. (“This Present Evil world”—Gal. 1:4) Our text above tells us we are to wait on the Heavenly Father, have full confidence in Him and not take matters into our own hands. His methods are perfect, His times and seasons are best for us and any attempt on our part to push ourselves in advance of His will would surely react unfavorably. Now is the time for patience and for remembering that no earthly government, secular or religious can do for the human race what it desires and needs. “Be patient, therefore, brethren.” (James. 5:7)
The Heavenly Father says to the Church; I shall attend to this matter myself. Wait for His time. God has an eternal purpose, which is exactly on schedule. God’s people must not interfere with the powers that be at this time. We are forewarned not to use carnal weapons and not to trust them in the hands of others. Our trust is to be in God. It is not the duty of every one of the Lord’s people to become public reprovers of public officials, even though they may see unrighteousness practiced. Do not avenge yourselves on those who legally oppress you, but wait for His justice. We are not to demand justice, but to be sympathetic and forbearing in all things. “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19) His Day of Wrath is our time of trouble and not a 24-hour day. His prey are all those who oppose His righteous purpose, knowingly or unknowingly
The gathering of the nations during these last days in fulfillment of Zephaniah’s prophecy is very notable. Modern discoveries and inventions have indeed made neighbors of people from the remotest ends of the earth. Air Travel, telephones, computers and the Internet have brought the entire world to a considerable extent into a community of thought and action hitherto unknown. This condition of things has already made necessary the United Nations and international laws and regulations that each of the nations must respect. Their delegates meet in Councils, and each nation has in every other nation its ministers or representatives. International Exhibitions have also been called forth as results of this neighboring of nations. There can no more be that exclusiveness on the part of any nation that would bar other nations from its ports. The gates of all are necessarily thrown open, and must remain so; and even the barriers of diverse languages are being surmounted.
Truly, the nations are “assembled” in a manner not expected, but not in brotherly love as selfishness marks every step of this progress. The spirit of enterprise with selfishness as the motive power is astonishing. It has prompted an amazing advancement in manufacture, travel and communication, which practically and easily connects everyone around the world in every other energy and enterprise.
Except for preaching of the gospel and even in this it is to be feared that much of what is being done is inspired by motives, other than pure love for God and humanity.
Selfishness has gathered the nations and has been steadily preparing them for the predicted and now fast approaching, retribution, Revolution and Anarchy. This is so graphically described as the “fire of God’s jealousy” or anger, which is about to consume utterly the present social order—the world that now is. (2 Pet. 3:7) Yet this is speaking only from the human standpoint; for the Prophet ascribes this gathering of the nations to God. But both are true, for while man is permitted the exercise of his free agency, God by his overruling providence is shaping human affairs for the accomplishment of his own wise purposes. And therefore, while men and their works and their ways are the agents and agencies, God is the Great Commander who now gathers the nations and assembles the kingdoms from one end of the earth to the other, preparing the transfer of earth’s dominion to him “whose right it is,” —Immanuel.
We should neither advocate the coming revolution, nor take part in it. Let us seek to subdue and calm the passions of men in the coming strife and do nothing to augment them, except to point out that the worst government is better than no government, and that we have, in fact, one of the best of all the flawed earthly governments.
Globally the military expenditures at present are over $1.7 trillion annually and the USA accounts for 41% of the total. With all the hardware for killing and the training given the soldiers around the world, the products for a really horrendous worldwide revolution are frightening and there is no shortage of tragedy everywhere. Already there are clashes and uprisings in many nations including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Libya, where last year militant Muslims attacked the US Consulate and killed four employees including the Ambassador. They were shouting “God is Great” and we agree that the God of this present evil world is greater than all mankind combined. Satan uses the extremes of error in opposition to one another in order to confuse and divert governments, religions and the social order. We would be more concerned if we did not know that Satan can do only what the Heavenly Father permits. God uses Satan to further his eternal purpose. He used the evil one in The Garden of Eden to aid the humans in their disobedience of God’s Law and He has continued to use him all down through the ages.
The Prophet tells us why the Lord gathers the nations, saying— “That I may pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for the whole earth [the entire social fabric] shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”
This message would bring us sorrow and anguish only were it not for the assurance that the results shall work good to the world, overthrowing the reign of selfishness and establishing, through Christ’s Millennial Kingdom, the reign of righteousness referred to in the words of the prophet—“Then will I turn unto the people a pure language [Their communications with each other shall no longer be selfish, but pure, truthful and loving], to the intent that they may all call upon the name of the Lord to serve him with one consent.” (Zeph. 3:9)
The “gathering of the nations” will not only contribute to the severity of the judgment, but it will also make it impossible for any to escape it; and it will thus make the great tribulation a short, as well as a decisive, conflict, as it is written: “A short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” (Rom. 9:28; Isa. 28:22)
Looking about us we see the elements preparing for the fire
of this day—the fire of God’s wrath.
Selfishness, knowledge, wealth, ambition, hope, discontent, fear and despair
are the ingredients whose friction will shortly set aflame the angry passions
of the world and cause its various social “elements” to melt in the fervent
heat.
Scanning the world, currently, note what changes have taken place in respect to these passions. The satisfied contentment of the past is gone from all classes—rich and poor, male and female, educated and ignorant. All are dissatisfied. All are selfishly and increasingly grasping for “rights” or bemoaning “wrongs.”
True, there are wrongs, grievous wrongs, which should be righted, and rights that should be enjoyed and respected. But the tendency of our time, with its increase of knowledge and independence, is to look only at the side of questions closest to self-interest and to fail to appreciate the opposite side. The effect foretold by the prophets will be to set ultimately, every man’s hand against his neighbor, which will be the immediate cause of the great final catastrophe.
God’s Word
and providence and the lessons of the past are forgotten under the strong
convictions of personal rights, etc., which hinder people of every class from
choosing the wiser, moderate course, they cannot see because selfishness blinds
them to everything out of accord with their own prejudices. Each class fails to
consider with impartiality the welfare and rights of the other. The golden rule
is
generally ignored; and the lack of wisdom as well as the injustice of this
course will soon be made manifest to all classes, for all classes will
suffer terribly in this trouble.
While the rich are diligently heaping up fabulous treasure for these last days, tearing down their storehouses and building greater, and saying to themselves and their posterity, “Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; eat, drink and be merry,” God, through the prophets, is saying, “Thou fool! this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” (Luke 12:15-20)
Yes, the dark night predicted (Isa. 21:12; 28:12,13,21,22; John 9:4) is fast approaching; and, as a snare, it shall overtake the whole world. Then, indeed, whose shall these hoarded treasures be, when, in the distress of the hour, “They shall cast their silver in the streets and their gold shall be removed: their silver and their gold shall not be able to deliver them in the day of the wrath of the Lord: they shall not satisfy their souls, neither fill their bowels: because it is the stumbling block of their iniquity.” (Ezek. 7:19)
MONEY – THE ECONOMY
“A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.” (Eccl. 10:19)
Anglo-Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) once said; “There is only one class that thinks more about money more than the rich and that is the poor. The poor can think of nothing else.” We see a growing unrest especially amongst the poor, in part because of economic problems besetting people and nations. Unemployment is growing, money is scarce, essential products and services are more costly and banks are struggling.
Some people think money is the root of all evil, not true, money is a blessing. It is the love of money that is the root of all evil.
Even nations that have long been recognized as stable are having money troubles, Greece, Spain, Egypt and others. All nations are beginning in one way or another to feel the pinch of growing trouble. It is reasonable that money troubles are indication of deeper and more violent trouble.
united states of america
Citizens of Canada are called Canadians, those of Mexico are Mexicans, but citizens of the USA are termed around the world as “Americans.” Respect for the name has greatly diminished in recent years. Some non-Americans sneer, and show contempt for the “Ugly American,” whose god they say is the “dollar.”
But the USA is one of the most religious nations in the world. Nearly every religious organization in this world is represented and some citizens call it “God’s Country,” which is a total misnomer. Though, the US has been surely blessed in many ways.
The aristocracy of the US is mostly from wealth – money. There is no official Government registry. Other nations appoints their aristocrats and children from the aristocracy may inherit the positions or title down through generations, though most were of the wealthy before their appointments. Even so, those so honored usually receive a yearly sum from the taxes of the less honored. But there is some truth in the belief that the God of “America” is the dollar. Though, many of the wealthiest Americans are and have been the greatest contributors and benefactors of all manner of worthy charities, including the government.
After the end of this “time of trouble” and the thousand year Judgment Day has finished its course, followed with a “little season” to test the judged for worthiness to life eternal, many changes in how we live will take place.
The human race will no longer kill and eat animals who will become our friends and all animals, including the human will cease to propagate as the earth is made perfect and a proper balance established among all its inhabitants. (Isa. 11:6)
Resurrection State
“For in the resurrection [state] they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels in the heaven.” (Matt. 22:30, Diaglott)
In light of the above think of this just for a moment, though it might be a flight of fancy and unwarranted speculation, as there is no scripture that we have found which might prove or disprove it. No marriage and no birth of children in God’s Kingdom after Christ’s Millennial Judgment day. The scripture does not say the human race will be angels, but “as” (like) the angels of heaven, though not spirit beings — earthly beings, “of the earth earthy.” (1Cor 15:47)
This is what we were created to be, a little lower than the angels. The reproductive organs of animals including humans, could likely become inoperable or even be
removed and since they are a part of the bodily waste system for the unconsumed portion of the food we eat, it is reasonable to consider that eliminating waste from the perfect human body will no longer be necessary as all food in the kingdom will be perfect and totally useful within the perfect body. As we said at the beginning of this flight of fancy, it is merely speculation. Although, it is hard to imagine angels find it necessary to eat. Since humans will be like angels, eating may not be necessary.
However as with everything, this is better left to the Creator of all things — our Heavenly Father and his Eternal Purpose.
This paper has been constructed in part from Volume 4 by Pastor C. T. Russell. (Not “The Resurrection State” on the previous page.) Since the volume was first published in 1897, updating has been attempted in order to bring some of the advancements [?] in the facilities and nature of this present evil world.
LETTER OF GENERAL INTEREST
July 3, 2012
Dear Marjorie and all the friends there,
Warm greetings from Israel! It is warm as we are really into our summer here with most days 1000 or more. But we look back on a very rainy and snowy winter, which was a big blessing for Israel after 7 years of drought. It is so good to finally see the Sea of Galilee coming back up to a good level. We had a long, beautiful and very green spring as a result of all the rains. So we are thankful for God’s mercy on the land!
Hope you will not have hurricanes and severe weather there in Florida.
How are you and all there feeling? I hope it all goes well and you have the strength for each day.
As for me I am rejoicing in the faithfulness of the Lord to give me renewed strength and health daily! My last doctor (oncologist) visit and blood tests were very good. Even the doctor considered it a “miracle” since I have not taken the chemotherapy treatments. So I take one day at a time in the Lord’s strength.
July 18th I will have a 2nd cataract surgery on my left eye (had the right one done last year in June). So I pray it will go as well as the other one did!
Israel is in a tense “hold” pattern now as we await developments in our unstable neighbors. Syria is a big concern with its big amount of chemical weapons that could land in the wrong hands or be transferred to Hezbollah, or Hamas. Also Egypt is very shaky with them trying to make a new leadership, and the negative view of Israel, the peace agreement and the sad situation of the Christians there. Then there is the mess in Lebanon with so many factions. Hamas still sends rockets from Gaza as it pleases King Hussein in Jordan. He tries to walk the tightrope with lots of tensions there. Then we have Iran and Turkey who are both very unfriendly these days. So the Israeli government keeps needing God’s wisdom to work it out day by day.
So good to know God is in control in the end of things and has a plan and purpose for all these events and those in our own lives!
Thank you for your continuing work to serve the Lord daily.
Greetings to all there!
Shalom and Love from Zion, Hava Baush