No. 749
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8)
With the beginning of a new year, let us resolve to discipline our thoughts to feed upon pure and healthful food and not permit them to graze in every pasture. One of the wise sayings of the inspired Word is, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Prov. 4:23) It was with the same thought in mind that the Apostle penned the above words to the Church at Philippi, addressing them with great affection and appreciation as his “joy and crown.” (Phil. 4:1) That small company of consecrated believers were the first-fruits of his ministry, and were especially remarkable for their loyalty and faithfulness to the Lord, the Truth and the beloved Apostle, who at that time was a prisoner in Rome.
In his time of need, they sent gifts and expressed their love and sympathy for his temporal welfare, as they had always done while he ministered to them in spiritual things. (Phil. 4:10-19) The Apostle was comforted and cheered by them, rejoicing even in his afflictions because he suffered them also for their sakes. The example of his patience in tribulation and self-sacrifice was as valuable a lesson to the saints as were any of his most profound and logical instructions.
Desiring that these disciples continue to manifest the fruits of the spirit and to grow in grace, this Epistle to the Philippians is one of encouragement and wise counsel. He counseled them to stand fast in the faith and spirit of the gospel and to learn more fully how to deny themselves even as Christ did. (Phil. 1:27, 29; Phil. 2:1-11) He advised them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12), and to beware of false teachers and evil workers. (Phil. 3:2, 18, 19) He admonished them to be all of the same mind – the mind which was in Christ Jesus, esteeming each other in the Lord and doing nothing through any spirit of strife or self-promotion, even if it be for the cause of Christ.
He followed up this counsel with the beautiful final admonition of our text, so in keeping with the thought that out of the heart are the issues of life. The heart represents the will, the intentions. The will must be kept true and centered in God: it is the governing power of the whole person. Blessed are the pure in heart – those of fixed, uncompromising purpose. Yet, even though the will is the controlling power, it is also subject to influences. If the thoughts are impure, unjust or unholy, the power of the will becomes more and more impaired.
The Apostle gave wise advice on what should be the character of the thoughts of those who strive to adorn themselves with the beauty of holiness:
(1) “Whatsoever things are true.” This would exclude indulgence in fanciful and foolish fiction, which does so much to corrupt the mind and squander time. It would also exclude all the idle speculative theories of men who, ignoring the true gospel, seek to draw away disciples after them. It would banish also the vain philosophies of the creeds of “Christendom,” when once the symmetry and beauty of the divine plan of the ages has been seen. It would avoid all idle gossip and evil speculations. The mind that escapes the gloom, discontent, perplexity, care and worry that result from entertaining such thoughts can have peaceful leisure to contemplate that which is true. It may then draw from the abundant storehouse which our bountiful God has supplied, both in His Word and in the open book of nature.
The mind that dwells upon these things is richly rewarded. God’s Law and its application to all our business and social interactions should be our constant focus. The inspired Psalmist would put these words into the mouths of all the Lord’s people: “O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Psa. 119:97) For those who delight to contemplate the prophecies, they are laden with good tidings of great joy for all people; the promises are exceedingly great and precious. In the light of the glorious gospel, nature itself wears a brighter face and speaks a loftier language, emphasizing the love and power and praise of our God: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.” (Psa. 19:1) Therefore, think on whatsoever things are true.
(2) “Whatsoever things are honest.” This would naturally exclude all thoughts of deceit, hypocrisy, and intrigue. Yet, there are many things that are true but dishonorable, not worthy of our thoughts. The true, but dishonorable and unworthy things that attract our attention are often connected to the weaknesses and shortcomings of others close to us. Pondering these thoughts is detrimental to us and the sooner we dismiss them the happier and more at peace we will be. Doing so will leave us the opportunity and energy to pursue things that are worthy of our attention, things that are honorable as well as true. Replace unworthy thoughts with frank, open and honest thoughts which will develop into good and noble actions.
(3) “Whatsoever things are just.” This requires us to discard all unjust standards of evaluating the character and motives of our fellow-men, particularly our brethren in Christ. It requires us to make due allowances for the weaknesses of the flesh, remembering that we also are weak in one way or another. In our evaluation of others, we should consider their environment, negative influences and the force of temptations. If possible, we should consider extenuating circumstances that might soften our judgment, but at the same time, we are not to ignore facts and blindly encourage evil.
A mind ruled by justice not only seeks to always judge justly, but it also has a keen appreciation of justice in all matters. It delights to trace the lines of justice in God’s wonderful plan of human salvation. It clearly sees the value of justice as the very foundation principle of God’s throne. (Psa. 89:14) It sees the value of the precious blood of Christ in satisfying the demands of justice, reclaiming the forfeited life of the world. When this feature of the divine plan and its grand principle of justice is seen and realized, other schemes of salvation which ignore the claims of justice are recognized as the vain philosophies of men. No other plan but this, which is founded in justice and executed in love, can claim the attention of a mind ruled by justice.
(4) “Whatsoever things are pure.” Pure thoughts are devoid of the degradation and filth of sin; they invigorate and energize us to high and noble work. The pure mind seeks the fellowship of only the pure and good and shuns the contamination of all others. It will naturally seek only that which is pure in literature and in art, because coarseness and vulgarity are an abomination to the pure mind. The pure mind delights to associate with like minds; it delights in the contemplation of what is virtuous, true and beautiful. The refreshing and ennobling influence of this condition of mind and heart is best illustrated by the invigorating effects that a bath and clean clothing can have on the body,
(5) “Whatsoever things are lovely; whatsoever things are of good report [worthy of praise]; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” In addition to the solid virtues of truth, honesty, justice and purity, let us also occupy our thoughts with the lovely graces and adornments of meekness, patience, faith, godliness, benevolence, kindness and charity. If we hold these virtues before the mind’s eye as a mirror, we will gradually assimilate them more and more, transforming our characters. In this way the will is strengthened and inspired with fresh energy to fulfill its great work in governing and controlling the self.
This is how the Apostle saw the influence of the thoughts upon the will and the influence of the will upon the thoughts. Therefore, he would have us set a guard and a governor over our thoughts, feeding them only with wholesome and life-giving food, allowing the thoughts to reinforce the will and the will to govern and control the thoughts. The result will be the present and future blessing of the pure in heart who diligently seek to follow this course. “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” (Matt. 5:8)
(Based on Reprint 1703.)
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THE LORD’S HOUSE OVER ALL
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isa. 2:2)
The prophecy of this chapter of Isaiah has not yet been fulfilled, but we believe the beginning of its fulfillment to be near. It pictures Messiah’s Kingdom, for which Christian people have long been waiting and praying, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven.” (Matt. 6:10) It is the same Kingdom the Jews waited for so long and for which they are still waiting. This text relates not to the spiritual part of the Kingdom, but to the part belonging to the natural seed of Abraham. In the past, many of us have made a great mistake in not discerning and acknowledging that there are two Israels, Spiritual and Natural, with separate rewards and blessings provided to them by the divine promises of the Scriptures. Both will be used by God in fulfilling the promise made to Abraham – the promise to bless all the families of the earth.
During this Gospel Age, only a “little flock” was to be selected and tried, fitted and polished and eventually changed from human to spirit nature. With their Lord and Head, these will constitute the great Mediator of the New Covenant under which all the families of the earth will be blessed. After the completion of Messiah, Head and Body, on the plane of glory, the New Covenant will be inaugurated with Israel, as the Scriptures distinctly teach. (Jer. 31:31-34) Therefore, the prophecy of this text has had to wait for its accomplishment until the last member of the elect Church of Christ passed beyond the veil.
In the symbolic language of the Scriptures a mountain always indicates a kingdom. Hence the “mountain of the Lord’s house” means the Kingdom of God and the royal house or family recognized by Him. We read that David sat upon the throne of the Kingdom of the Lord, and that God made a covenant with him, “even the sure mercies of David” (the holy things promised to David), namely that only his “seed” or posterity would ever be recognized as the divinely appointed representatives of God in kingly authority and power. (Isa. 55:3) In other words, Messiah was to be the great antitypical David (David means “beloved”), the offspring of typical David and, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.” (Psa. 72:8) Under His reign, Israel will be exalted among the nations and used as the divine channel for blessing all people.
Messiah is the antitypical David and also the antitypical Solomon, the wise, the great, the rich. He is the Son of God, King on the spirit plane and like God invisible to men, as are the angels. While in the flesh, He was the Son of David according to the flesh, though begotten of a divine life not tainted by any human imperfection. He was, therefore, “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.” (Heb. 7:26) Faithful to the will of the Father, He was subject to a life of suffering and death, as expressed in His own words, “The cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?” (John 18:11) His obedience unto death, even the death of the cross, demonstrated His loyalty to the last degree and He received the high reward apportioned: “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth, and things under theearth.” (Phil. 2:9-10)
Exalted to the right hand of divine favor, He waits only for the Father’s time to take to Himself His great power and reign. (Rev. 11:17) Meanwhile, in harmony with the divine will purposed before the foundation of the world, He has acted as an advocate for any who have had an ear to hear and an obedient heart, responding to the special invitation of the Gospel Age. That call has been to leave the world, its sins, its pleasures and its hopes, and to walk by faith in the exceeding great and precious promises of God. (2 Pet. 1:4) “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1 Cor. 2:9) These are the Heavenly things promised them as the Bride and joint-heir with their Redeemer in His glorious Kingdom to come and its blessed work of uplifting Israel and the world.
IN THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAINS
Messiah’s kingly household, the Royal Priesthood is the divinely prepared antitypical House of David. As a Kingdom it will be “in the top of the mountains” that is, it will be above all the kingdoms of earth. But the world will only see Messiah in the sense that they will see His mind, disposition and character through His earthly representatives in the Kingdom. He fully meant it when He declared before He died, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye [shall] see me.” (John 14:19) The Apostle assured the Church that they will see Him as He is, because they will be like Him when they experience the First Resurrection change from earthly to Heavenly nature. (1 Cor. 15:50; 1 John 3:1, 2)
While stating that He would not be seen by the world, the Master said that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the Prophets will be seen by all in the Kingdom. (Luke 13:28) The resurrected Ancient Worthies, perfected as men, will be the earthly representatives at the head of the earthly Kingdom as “princes in all the earth.” They will exemplify the perfection and eternal life that all mankind may attain by obedience to the laws of the Kingdom. Those Ancient Worthies are enumerated in the Scriptures – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the Prophets, etc. – and are described by St. Paul. (Heb. 11)
The world will have contact with them and will be blessed by their instruction. The earthly promises of the Old Testament belong to them; they never heard of the Heavenly or spiritual promises. As the reward for their loyalty, they will come forth from the tomb no longer blemished and imperfect, but fully, completely restored to the perfection originally enjoyed by Father Adam. They will have the special guidance and instruction of Messiah (Head and members) in all the affairs of mankind.
Thus God’s Kingdom will be represented on the earth by Israel – especially by these saintly men of Israel, who will be the special appointees and representatives of the glorified Messiah’s Rule. As it is written, “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.” (Psa. 45:16) The ancient saintly ones were styled “the fathers,” just as Jesus was styled the Son of Abraham and David. These princes will act under the direction of the spiritual Kingdom, called in the Scriptures “the Royal Priesthood.” They will be so superior in their wisdom and power as to command the obedience of the whole earth. The nation of Israel, which has been waiting and praying for the new order of things for more than thirty centuries, will naturally respond more quickly than others.
Messiah’s Kingdom will be high above all other kingdoms, not only in its grandeur, majesty and authority, but also in the lofty principles it will represent. Thus it is written: “Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters shall overflow the hiding place.” (Isa. 28:17) As the world comes to appreciate the new order of the Kingdom, all nations will “flow unto it,” that is they will flow up to it in contrast to the current downward course of the fallen human nature. The wonderful rewards for righteousness and obedience to God will be made manifest, as will the
punishments (“stripes”) for all willful disobedience to the divine arrangement. The Scripture will be fulfilled which declares, “For when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.” (Isa. 26:9)
THE LESSON FOR HUMANITY
For six thousand years humanity has been learning the lesson of “the exceeding sinfulness of sin” and its downward tendency in every sense of the word. Every form of government has been tried, but the uniform results have been that those exalted to influence and power have proven themselves inadequate, and many have abused their positions selfishly. Anyone acquainted with history realizes that this is true. While we may have hoped that the general education and enlightenment of the human race would abolish sin and selfishness and demonstrate the truthfulness of the proverb, “Honesty is the best policy,” we are willing to confess that this has been a mistake. We perceive that more knowledge and information granted to selfish minds and hearts results in greater opportunities for evil.
Consequently, the world is losing confidence in itself and its institutions. All leaders – politicians, judges, governors, officials great or small, of one party or another, of one nationality or another – all are accused of being “tarred with the same stick” of selfishness. The Bible clearly indicates that this distrust is not without reason and that the great Time of Trouble soon to come upon every nation (Dan. 12:1) will be the direct result of this loss of confidence. The Bible briefly sums up the conditions that will prevail: “For I set all men every one against his neighbour. . . . And it shall come to pass in that day, that a great tumult from the Lord shall be among them; and they shall lay hold every one on the hand of his neighbour, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbour.” (Zech. 8:10; Zech. 14:13)
After that great Time of Trouble has thoroughly sickened humanity, crushing its faith in itself and any hopes it had of bringing about a Millennium by its own efforts, God will manifest His Kingdom in the top of the mountains. It will be higher than all other kingdoms in every way, and all people will flow toward it. As it is written, “And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Hag. 2:7)
The verses that follow our opening text describe this result: “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, let us go up to the mountain [kingdom] of the Lord, to the house [temple] of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations [rewarding and punishing justly], and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isa. 2:3-4) Here we see the two Israels, with Zion representing the spiritual, unseen Kingdom of Messiah and Jerusalem representing the earthly seat of the coming empire.
All Christians agree that these words apply to the Messiah’s Kingdom. They tell us clearly and distinctly of how the judgments of the Lord will be abroad in the earth, causing wars to cease and the knowledge of the Lord to fill the whole earth as the waters cover the great deep. (Isa. 11:9) Despite the picture of the intervening trouble, let us rejoice in the glorious arrangement God has made on mankind’s behalf, which divine wisdom deems necessary for the humbling of human pride. The Church of Christ can especially rejoice in her favored position in connection with the world’s salvation – a seat with the Redeemer in His glorious spiritual throne, sharing with Him in the great work of blessing Natural Israel and all the families of the earth.
“O HOUSE OF JACOB, COME YE”!
As noted, this prophecy belongs to Natural Israel and not to Spiritual Israel; the first verse of the chapter declares that it concerns Judah and Jerusalem. (Isa. 2:1) By the time this prophecy begins to be fulfilled, Spiritual Israel will be beyond the veil. It is then that this message to Natural Israel will go forth: “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” (Isa. 2:5) We understand the Scriptures to teach that soon the Lord will have special dealings with Israel in connection with this call. He will point out to them the way of righteousness and the great privileges that are theirs as a people because of divine promises to their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and others. But only those who respond by turning to and walking in the light of God’s Word will be in the proper condition of heart to get the blessing at the beginning of Messiah’s Reign, with those who respond most promptly getting the greater blessing.
Reading further in this chapter (Isa. 2:6-10), we find some of the reasons God’s favor has been withdrawn for a time from Natural Israel (aside from the fact that His special favor was for the time to be given to Spiritual Israel): “Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.” (Isa. 2:8) Then follows a description of the Time of Trouble, in which present institutions will succumb, to be followed by Messiah’s Empire.
Note the applicability of these verses to our day and the correspondence between these statements and very similar pronouncements in the Book of Revelation, also applicable to the time in which we are living. The various theories of man will be tried and found wanting during the Time of Trouble, thoroughly demonstrating that the wisdom from above is neglected in favor of earthly wisdom: “And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.” (Isa. 2:17) Pride is one of the greatest obstacles in the pathway of humanity, hindering approach to truth and righteousness. The Almighty God is not sufficiently reverenced; the very learned instructors of our colleges seem more and more to doubt that there is a God and that the affairs of earth are subject to any regulations other than those of chance, except as the learned can regulate them.
God must be first under the new order of things. No peace or blessing will otherwise result. All the wisdom of the learned and the methods to which they have trusted will prove futile. The result will be the glory of the Lord and the humbling of human pride: “For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan, And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up. And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall . . . and upon all pleasant pictures. . . And the idols he shall utterly abolish.” (Isa. 2:12-18)
The ecclesiastically great (“cedars of Lebanon”) and the politically strong (“oaks of Bashan”) will be brought low. The kingdoms and princedoms of this world (“high mountains” and “hills”) will be brought down. Human organizations formed for strength and protection (“high towers” and “fenced walls”) will be brought down. The arm of the Lord will be heavy upon the ideals of earthly ambition (“pleasant pictures”). As a result, the pride and arrogance of man will be brought down and the Lord alone will be exalted in that day. The idolatry of money, greed and covetousness will be utterly abolished.
As the Lord says in another place, “Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” (Isa. 29:14)
HIDING IN ROCKS AND CAVES
The prophecy continues, describing how during that Time of Trouble the distressed and perplexed will flee in fear to the figurative holes, rocks and caves of earth. (Isa. 2:19-21) These thoughts are echoed in Revelation: “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:15-17)
We are not to understand this literally; hiding in the shelters of the earth’s rocks and caves symbolically represents the attempt to seek the protection of human organizations, companies, societies, etc. None of these will be able to protect from the coming trouble. It will be world-wide and will involve every earthly thing and interest – religious and secular, financial and political.
This will happen when the Lord stands up to assume command of the world. The glory of the Lord and His majesty will then be manifested and He will shake terribly the earth (society), that everything contrary to righteousness and holiness may be uprooted and overthrown. St. Paul gave us a picture of that time, declaring that the only thing that will not be shaken will be whatever is in harmony with God’s Kingdom of righteousness. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” (Heb. 12:26-29)
(Based on Pastor Russell’s Sermons, pages 730-738.)
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ANNOUNCEMENT
The date of our Lord’s Memorial is April 5, 2020 after six p.m.
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