| Highlights of Dawn | March 1953 |
The Triumph of Righteousness
“This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” —Acts 2:32
AS WE turn on the radio or television for news, or perchance glance at the headlines of our daily papers, we hear reports of ghastly destruction and of the fearful, feverish efforts to prevent even worse catastrophes. We learn also about the tragic increase of crime, vice, and corruption in politics, and hear of the increasing strength of the “underworld” of sin which has lost all respect for the standards of civilization. Yes, the world is crumbling under this assault of evil forces against which the sincere and honest-hearted are valiantly fighting, but without the needed wisdom and strength to win.
This world over which Satan has been the prince and god has always been an evil one. Selfishness has always dominated. But throughout the ages men have prayed and struggled—and hoped—that one day the tide would turn. They have set horizons of righteousness and justice toward which they have laboriously journeyed, and while these horizons have always receded as they were approached, the stouthearted have had the courage to keep pressing on.
Emerging from the Dark Ages, and with science, invention, and general education entering the scene, the wisdom of this world concluded that the goal of peace, security, righteousness, and good will was within reach. The world was progressing, and would continue to progress—they thought—until the golden-age dreams of the ancient sages had actually and finally come true.
Sudden Destruction
Then the great surprise! As sudden as it was unexpected came that blow against the bulwarks of civilization which we now call the First World War. It came exactly as the Apostle Paul had prophesied, for he wrote, “When they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”—I Thess. 5:1-3
Since then innumerable plans and devices have been tried in an effort to restore the world to “normalcy,” but all have failed. Meanwhile, technical knowledge has increased. By means of rapid travel and communication the earth has been shrunk to such minute dimensions as to bring all nations, figuratively speaking, into one another’s dooryards.
Accounts of the killed and the wounded on battlefields are announced over the radio within a few minutes after the battle, shocking the nerves and increasing the fears of those at home. It has been well said that “the world has gone mad,” and if we could imagine a person accustomed to the comparative serenity of nineteenth century living being suddenly transferred into our world of today, he would probably think it was worse than mad.
And this is the backdrop against which the great theme of life from the dead will this year again be proclaimed to a suffering, yet pleasure-mad world. It will peal forth in song, and be voiced in sermons, from thousands of churches and pulpits, as well as by radio and television. We are glad that the world will once more be reminded of what occurred more than nineteen centuries ago. Perchance this gleam of light will at least temporarily pierce the darkened and discouraged hearts of some, and give them a dim ray of hope.
Human Failure
However, the vast majority are still pinning their hopes—fading though they are—on human plans and efforts. These plans, for the most part, are built around militarism. As an army officer of a past generation expressed it, “Put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.” A similar thought was expressed recently by a retiring general in Korea who, when bidding farewell to his soldiers there, said, “God bless you, and good shooting.”
The world is not to blame for having no better viewpoint than this. It was taught and practiced under the leadership of the great church systems of Europe during the heyday existence of powerful church-state systems of the old Roman world. Through the influence of those church systems the governments of Europe were taught to believe that they were actually a part of Christ’s kingdom on earth, and that the authority of Christ’s kingdom was properly enforced through the strength of their armies.
They did not stop to consider just why the German segment of Christ’s kingdom should make war with the French part, or vice versa. It was enough that the clergy told them that they were Christ’s kingdom, and that they were to use their cold steel swords in defending the faith.
These systems as functioning phases of a now dying social order have almost entirely disappeared, but millions of people are still dazed and confused by that poisonous potion of false doctrine, which the Revelator so lucidly described as the “wine of her fornication.” Because of this, they still think that the only way to establish the righteousness which God wants in the earth is by the power of tanks and guns and bombs.
But God has permitted this view point to develop and these efforts to be made in order that man might be the more thoroughly convinced of his own inability to cope with the giant monster of human selfishness. Meanwhile he has been carrying forward his plan, making ready, when man reached his extremity, to intervene and do for him what he has, during all the centuries, been so completely helpless to do for himself.
Throughout the ages of the past, God’s hand in the affairs of earth has seldom been manifested in a manner to attract human attention, although there have been exceptions, such as the Deluge. This was the most devastating disaster known to man. The recent storms which wrought such havoc in Holland, Germany, Belgium, France, and Great Britain were as nothing compared to the flood of Noah’s day.
Then there was the destruction of the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. The dramatic deliverance of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt was another. Who today is not fairly well acquainted with that thrilling news story that came out of Canaan concerning the crumbling of the walls of Jericho? There was the destruction of the mighty army of the Assyrians by an angel of the Lord—no atom bombs were needed.
Daniel’s miraculous deliverance from the lions, and the protection of the three Hebrews who were thrown into a fiery furnace by the command of a pouting and pride wounded heathen king, are other news events which still live and are discussed thousands of years after they occurred. And the greatest of all events in the experiences of the human race was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
They Killed the King
Jesus’ birth and the miracles which he performed were a background to his ministry which compelled public attention. It was inevitable that the purpose of his mission on earth should become known, and that the religious rulers of Israel should be induced either to endorse or to condemn him. In their hypocrisy and jealousy they chose the latter, and instigated proceedings which led to Jesus’ death.
Jesus was born to be a king, but his enemies, in total disregard of the hopes of Israel and the promises of their God, insisted that they would have no king but Caesar reign over them; so they killed the King whom the God of Israel had sent.
Here again was what seemed like a triumph of evil. From the standpoint of those who master-minded the crime, it was a victory. They thought they had made an end to a challenge of their religious authority in Israel, and to them this was all that mattered. But God’s intervention was quick and dramatic. He raised his beloved Son from the dead.
God’s Zeal
In a prophecy of Jesus’ birth, in which is outlined the purpose of his being born, the assurance is given that of the increase of his government and peace there should be no end. Then is added the assurance, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isa. 9:6,7) The Hebrew word here translated “zeal” conveys more than merely the thought of enthusiasm. It is the same word which is translated “jealousy” in the prophecy in which the Lord tells us that the “whole earth” will be devoured with the “fire” of his “jealousy.”—Zeph. 3:8
The primary meaning of “jealous” is, “exacting exclusive devotion, intolerance of rivalry.” The ultimate and complete expression of this principle with respect to man’s relationship to God is expressed by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians 15:28. Paul had explained that Christ will reign until all enemies are put under his feet. He adds that then the kingdom will be turned over to the Heavenly Father, that he may be “all in all.”
It was God’s determination to be “all in all” that caused him to demand full obedience to his laws on the part of our first parents. This exacting of exclusive devotion could result in nothing less than the death sentence for disobedience, for how could the Creator permit his creatures to continue living while in rebellion against him, and at the same time also rendering obedience to the great enemy, Satan?
But the sentence was tempered with mercy in the sense that our first parents were not immediately destroyed. In his wisdom God saw that by permitting them to live and to bring forth children before dying, each generation could acquire valuable experience with evil and its results. His wisdom also planned a loving arrangement for the redemption and recovery of the fallen and dying race. “God so loved the world,” we are told, “that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16
Meanwhile the Lord has refrained from interfering with the downward course of his dying human creatures, except where interference was necessary in order to safeguard the successful outworking of his own plans and purposes. That purpose from the beginning has been to put down the rebellion against his will that began in the Garden of Eden, and so completely that ultimately he will again be “all in all.”
But the plan has been a long-range one. One reason for this has been to allow the entire human race—sufficient to fill the earth in harmony with his original command—to experience the result of sin. To the righteously inclined—those whose hearts are turned toward God with a desire to be in harmony with him—the unbridled sin, selfishness, and rebe11ion against righteousness, so manifest on every hand, have been a great trial.
This class the Lord has chosen as his servants and he has revealed to them those features of his plan which were essential for them to know in order that they might co-operate with him. To Abraham he promised, “In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 22:18) This promise was confirmed to Isaac and to Jacob. On his deathbed Jacob prophesied that the “seed” would come through his son Judah, saying that his name would be “Shiloh,” and that unto him would “the gathering of the people be.”—Gen. 49:8-10
The prophets enlarged upon this God-given theme of a coming “seed.” He was to be a “prophet” like unto Moses. (Deut. 18:15; Acts 3:22) He was to be a “priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Ps. 110:4) He was to a judge and a prince and a king. He was to be the “arm of the Lord” who would be revealed in the eyes of all the nations, so that “all the ends of the earth” would see the salvation of God.—Isa. 52:10
He was also to be the “lamb” of God, and in this role was to be led to the slaughter. Thus he was to make his soul an offering for sin. His enemies who killed him did not know this. They thought only to get rid of this One whom they feared would undermine their influence with the people, so they killed “the Prince of Life.”
Jesus knew their attitude and that it would lead to his death by his surrender to them. It had been prophesied of Jesus, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” (Ps. 69:9) Here, again, the Hebrew word translated “zeal” is the one which means “jealous.”
“I and my Father are one,” Jesus said. Also, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” (John 4:34) God’s determination to put down all rebellion against his righteous will was the governing principle in Jesus’ life. He knew that for this to be accomplished it was necessary for him to die for the sins of the world, so this “zeal” for his Father’s house led him voluntarily to sacrifice his life that “through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.”—Heb. 2:14
Jesus could tolerate opposition to divine law in the earth no more than could his Heavenly Father. Satan has ever been the leader of all the opposition to God. He has been the ruler during the reign of sin and death. But God’s design is that he shall be rendered powerless by earth’s new ruler. The reign of sin and death is to be supplanted by the kingdom of peace and joy and life. It was through his death that Jesus made possible the restoration of fallen man to life, and proved his own worthiness to be King of kings and Lord of lords.
“Fire” of “Jealousy”
Just as God’s zeal in destroying all opposition to his will was manifested in giving life to the King whom he had sent to rule that world in righteousness, it is that same zeal, described as the “fire of his jealousy,” which is now being poured out upon the gathered nations of earth in fulfillment of Zephaniah 3:8.
This “zeal,” this “jealousy,” which will not permit rivalry in claiming the affections of his creatures, is thus seen in giving life to Jesus, the new King of earth, and also in destroying those governmental influences which throughout the ages have knowingly or unknowingly rendered obedience to God’s greatest enemy, Satan.
But after the “fire of God’s jealousy” “devours” the whale “earth”—this social order of unrighteousness—then, as the prophet declares, the Lord will turn to the people a “pure language,” the purpose of which will be to enable them all to call upon him with one consent. (Zeph. 3:9) God’s zeal will have accomplished its full purpose only when all people wholeheartedly call upon him.
The fact that Jesus was raised from the dead after the enemies of God had killed him gives us the assurance that nothing can interfere with the zeal of God in the accomplishment of his full purpose. So, if you are heartsick over the news of war, crime, and of the many other demoralizing events which reach you day by day, just think of that greatest of all news items ever to reach human ears!
It wasn’t broadcast by radio. Television cameras did not reflect its grandeur to the world. But, in fulfillment of the Master’s own promise, after returning to the courts of heaven, he sent the Holy Spirit; and, under the inspiration of this Spirit, which enlightened the minds of his disciples and brought into focus the meaning of all that had happened, Peter gave the authenticated report: “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.” Let this be our consolation and our comfort!
To us the promises of God may seem slow of fulfillment. The “vision” may seem to “tarry.” But the Lord has bidden us to “wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not [actually] tarry.” (Hab. 2:3) The darkest of all nights is rapidly settling down upon the distressed and dying world. We know what it means. We have heard the Lord’s invitation, “Wait ye upon me, … for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.”
So we “wait,” expectantly, hopefully, even joyfully, knowing that there will not fail one word of all God’s good promises. And we should do more than wait! If our waiting on the Lord is in full faith our greatest joy will be to “tell the whole world these blessed tidings.”
The women who were first at the tomb early in the morning of that memorable first day of the week were instructed to go and tell the disciples. So it is now our privilege to “go and tell” all who will listen, not only the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead, but also that he is now here and that his kingdom will soon become manifest, resulting in a glorious triumph of righteousness.