| Highlights of Dawn | January 1964 |
Our Kingdom Hope
“Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” —Hebrews 12:28
THE beginning of 1964 sees the world still in chaos, and the people harassed with fear of worse conditions to come. During 1963 some trouble spots of discontent were temporarily salved over by promises and expediency, but no genuine and lasting solution has been found for any of the world’s major problems. Without attempting to spell out the details of what will happen during 1964, it is safe to predict that the same sort of patchwork diplomacy will continue.
At times it may seem to the diplomats that real progress is being made in settling the disputes arising from human selfishness. We may even hear the claim that all is well; that there is now “peace and safety.” But we know from the prophecies that this will be largely “wishful thinking”; that it will be a case of saying, “Peace, peace; when there is no peace,” for the Apostle Paul foretold that when the claim of peace is made, “then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child.”—Jer. 6:14; I Thess. 5:1-3
So we can expect that throughout 1964 there will be recurring stresses and strains resulting from the insistence of the backward peoples of earth upon their real and fancied rights. We can expect that tensions will continue between Israel and the Arab bloc of nations. Russia and China will continue to voice their differences of viewpoint as to how best to conquer the world. There will be much political excitement in Great Britain as the people again go to the polls to indicate what sort of government they want, and whom they desire to run it. The struggle of the various nations to find a market for their goods will continue. The problems created by a divided Germany will contribute further to the tensions under which a divided world strains to maintain a balance which will avert war.
We are living in what the prophecies of the Bible foretold as a time of shaking. “I will shake all nations,” Haggai prophesied. (Hag. 2:7) Both the symbolic earth and the symbolic heavens are being shaken. (Hag. 2:6) Paul explained that in this foretold time of shaking much which constitutes man’s world will be removed—everything indeed that is mingled with sin and selfishness. He speaks of those things “which cannot be shaken,” and assures us that these will “remain.”—Hebrews 12:26,27
The Messianic Kingdom
THE things which cannot be shaken are those which pertain to the long-promised kingdom of Christ. In our text Paul mentions that we are receiving a kingdom which “cannot be moved.” Various passages of Scripture present the viewpoint of the kingdom having its rightful place in the earth, although we know that its full establishment in power and great glory for the blessing of all the families of the earth with peace and life is still future.
In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares, the wheat is said to represent the children of the kingdom which was sown by Jesus at the beginning of the age, and the tares represent the children of the wicked one. We are told that at the harvest in the end of the age the tares are gathered out of the field, representing the removal from the kingdom of all things which offend and do iniquity. (Matt. 13:37-43) It is then that the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. The point is that the tares are removed and destroyed, not the wheat.
In Psalm 46:1-5 we have another prophecy of the time in which we are living, and in this prophecy we see the removal of “mountains,” the roaring of “the sea and the waves”, even “the earth” is removed. But the Lord’s people are given the assurance that he is caring for them: “God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved,” is the assurance that is given to us in this prophecy.
Thus while we are in a shaking time, when the very foundations of man’s world continue to crumble, we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved. This, of course, is the long-promised kingdom of the Messiah. We are a very favored people to be receiving such a kingdom. But what does it mean to be “receiving” the kingdom? Jesus said to his disciples, and to us, that they should seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness. (Matt. 6:33) Peter admonished faithfulness in order that we might have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.—II Pet. 1:10,11
The expression “kingdom of our Lord” or “kingdom of Christ,” is used in the Bible from different standpoints. (II Pet. 1:11; Eph. 5:5) Sometimes it refers to the rulership aspect of the messianic kingdom. We believe this is true of Jesus’ admonition to seek first the kingdom. We believe it is also true of the statement in our text which says that we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved. It is true also of Peter’s admonition to seek an abundant entrance into the kingdom.
But there are other references to the kingdom which relate to the blessings to be received by its subjects. One of these is found in Isaiah 2:3. Here the kingdom is symbolically described as a great mountain, and the prophecy reads, “Many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house 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.” While we are today receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, the subjects of the coming kingdom are not yet saying, “Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord.”
The rulers of the kingdom must first be selected from mankind, and prepared for the high position they will occupy in that kingdom. This great work has already required more than six thousand years in the plan of God. There are to be spiritual, invisible rulers in that kingdom, and there are to be its human representatives. Jesus was the first of the spiritual rulers to qualify for this high position. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. But those who, throughout the Gospel Age, have been willing to suffer and to die with him, have also proved worthy to live and reign with him. The work of calling and testing these still continues. There are still those who, through their faithfulness, are receiving the kingdom from this standpoint.
It was the work of selecting the earthly representatives of these spiritual rulers of the kingdom that the Lord was conducting during the ages preceding the first advent of Jesus. The first of these to qualify was Abel, and probably the last was John the Baptist, of whom Jesus said that although none born of women was greater than John, the least in the kingdom of heaven would be greater than he. (Matt. 11:11) This does not mean that John the Baptist will not be in the kingdom at all. It simply means that he will not be one of the heavenly, or spiritual, rulers in that kingdom.
The human representatives of the kingdom, who will be the Lord’s faithful servants of past ages, are described as those who will be “princes in all the earth.” Rotherham says “rulers.” (Ps. 45:16) Jesus prophesied that the people would come from all parts of the earth and sit down with these Ancient Worthies to be taught by them. (Matt. 8:11, Luke 13:28,29) In the 11th chapter of Hebrews, Paul mentions a number of these Ancient Worthies, and tells of their faithfulness to the Lord. He explains that God has provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.—Heb. 11:35,39,40
The “better thing” which the Lord has provided for the followers of Jesus during the present age is their spiritual reward, and the privilege of living and reigning with Christ a thousand years. (Rom. 2:7; Rev. 20:6) It is through faithfulness to the terms of this “heavenly calling” that we receive this rulership position in the kingdom. (Heb. 3:1) Meanwhile we rejoice in prospect of the blessings which the Lord has promised to shower upon the world through the rulers of the kingdom.
The two rulership phases of the kingdom are portrayed in Micah 4:1-4 as the “mountain of the Lord” which is to be established upon the “top of the mountains.” This mountain of the Lord also is referred to as “Zion,” and “Jerusalem.” We think that in this prophecy the spiritual phase of the ruling aspect of the kingdom is symbolized by “Zion,” and the earthly phase by “Jerusalem.” The Law of the Lord will go forth from “Zion,” that is, from Jesus and his faithful followers, glorified and enthroned as the spiritual rulers of the kingdom, and the “Word” of the Lord from “Jerusalem,” the earthly rulership aspect of the kingdom. The expression, “Word of the Lord,” would seem to mean the interpretation and application of the “Law” which shall go forth from symbolic Zion.
The Kingdom’s Blessings
AND what wonderful blessings will reach the people through this arrangement of the messianic kingdom! Micah’s prophecy speaks of learning the Lord’s ways, of beating swords into plowshares, and assures us that none will make afraid. There will be economic security for all—symbolized by dwelling under vine and fig tree. Truly the blessings of the kingdom will be rich for all who become its faithful subjects.
In Isaiah 25:6-9 the kingdom is again symbolically described as a “mountain.” Here we are informed that in this mountain the Lord will make unto all people—the subjects of the kingdom—“a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.” We are also assured that in this symbolic mountain the Lord will “swallow up death in victory,” and that “the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces.”
These are among the blessings which will be made available for the subjects of the kingdom. These blessings will hardly become available during 1964. No, they must wait until the rulership aspect of the kingdom is completed, and it is the kingdom from this standpoint that we are receiving. The plan of God cannot fail. All human plans and works are failing, being shaken by the winds of selfish strife. But the kingdom we are receiving cannot be moved, for God is in the midst of those who compose this kingdom class, and he is more powerful than all the enemies which might be arrayed against them.
How Received
WHAT is involved in our “receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved”? Paul answers this question in our text, saying, “Let us have grace”—margin, or, hold fast—“whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” The thought is clear. The Lord is giving us this high position in the kingdom, but not unconditionally. There are certain terms attached to the receiving of the gift, and on our part it is the meeting of these terms that is involved in our receiving the kingdom.
This is just another way of saying that we need to make our calling and election sure. On our part the process of receiving the kingdom calls for faithfulness to the divine will—faithfulness to all the details of his will as he has revealed them to us. We cannot know with any degree of certainty what developments there will be during 1964 in so far as the time of “great tribulation” is concerned. But we can know that if we hold fast and depend upon the grace of God, and are wholly devoted to the doing of his will, we will be in a position to receive that kingdom which so soon will become the remedy for all earth’s ills.
We know that the Lord will continue to work in and through us to do his good pleasure so far as our relationship to him is concerned. We do not know how rapidly Satan’s world will continue to deteriorate during 1964, but we do “know that all things” will “work together for good to them that love God,” and “who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) Thus we can press forward with confidence, knowing that while all the world may deride our choice, it matters not, for we have accepted a calling to glory, honor, and immortality, and to a position in that kingdom of divine promise which soon will be fully established for the blessing of all the families of the earth.—Rom. 2:7; Rev. 5:10
And what are the terms of our calling? What must we do in order to continue receiving the kingdom which cannot be moved? First of all we must deny ourselves, and take up our cross and follow the Master. Denial of self implies being emptied of self, and filled with the Holy Spirit of love. The meeting of this condition immediately places us in a position contrary to the world. It means that all we do will be done for the Lord and for his people and cause, not for ourselves. From the human standpoint we might wish to take sides in some of the world’s controversies, but the terms of our receiving the kingdom which cannot be moved do not allow this. We will continue to be in the world, but not of it.
Being emptied of self, and filled with the Spirit of the Lord, means that the fruit of the spirit—love, peace, joy, gentleness, etc.—will manifest itself in our daily dealings with one another in both the church and the world. Having denied self, we will not be seeking our own, but will gladly continue to sacrifice that which might be our right in order that others might be blessed. This will not be easy in a selfish, sinful world, but it is one of the ways in which we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved.
Another of the terms of receiving the kingdom was expressed by Jesus when he said we should love one another as he loved us. (John 13:34; 15:12) Later, John explained what this meant; that it called for the laying down of our lives for the brethren. (I John 3:16) During the year 1964 many in the world will lay down their lives for one cause or another. There will be deaths on the battlefield of one or more of the “brush wars” now burning in various parts of the earth. Many heathen worshipers during 1963 literally gave their bodies to be burned in protest against religious persecution.
The world will continue to pursue its aims during 1964, and many will sincerely give their lives in the service of causes which they believe to be right. But we are enlisted in the greatest of all causes. It is the cause of God, who has promised to establish a powerful government in the earth to provide blessings for the people which they are unable to secure for themselves. And it is a position of rulership in this kingdom that we will continue to receive throughout 1964 if we are faithful in sacrificing our all in ways directed by the Lord.
So we will continue to lay down our lives for the brethren. One of the means by which the grace of God is working on our behalf is through the brethren. The brethren are laying down their lives for us. Let us be faithful in this co-operative work whereby all the true followers of the kingdom are being prepared for their places in the kingdom.
We are also laying down our lives for the people as a whole. Paul refers to this as a baptism for the dead. (I Cor. 15:29) This is because we are joint-sacrificers with Jesus, who laid down his life to redeem mankind from sin and death. The redemption of the world is not involved in our sacrifice, but nevertheless it is on behalf of the world, for if we prove our willingness thus to die we will have a share in the blessing of mankind with peace, health, and life. This is the way the merit of Christ’s sacrifice will reach the world through those who are now receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved.
What this means is that we are dying for a cause, the messianic cause, the cause of the great Creator, a cause which cannot fail. Millions of people will experience disappointments throughout 1964. Their plans and schemes and efforts will crumble before them. Where they hoped to find light, they will stumble on in darkness. But not so with those who are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved. We will know that every evidence of the failure of man will be but an added assurance that the kingdom of the Lord is near, so we will lift up our heads and rejoice.—Luke 21:28
We will not rejoice because the world is suffering. But we will rejoice in the added evidence that all suffering is soon to be brought to an end through the agencies of the kingdom which we are receiving. So, no matter what 1964 holds for the world, we know that for us it will continue to mean the blessing of the Lord, that blessing which maketh rich, and to which no sorrow is added. (Prov. 10:22) Thus we can look ahead with confidence to a blessed year in the Lord, a year which will bring us closer to the kingdom, because by the Lord’s grace we will have fulfilled some more of the conditions upon which we may hope to share in its rulership
Proclaiming This Hope
IT WOULD seem that there are yet many developments to take place in the world ere the kingdom of Christ will be fully manifested for the blessing of the people. We can hardly expect, therefore, that 1964 will see the full ushering in of the kingdom. But we can proclaim to the people, as we have opportunity, that we are living in the last days of the reign of sin and death, and that the kingdom of the Messiah is near, yea, even at the door.
Bearing witness to the Gospel of the kingdom is one of the ways in which we have the opportunity of proving our worthiness to continue receiving that kingdom which cannot be moved. David spoke of this in one of his psalms. We quote: “All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord; and thy saints shall bless thee. They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power, to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom. Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom”—margin, Heb., a kingdom of all ages—“and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.”—Ps. 145:10-13
What a glorious message the Lord has given us to proclaim! Think of all that the promises of God contain concerning the kingdom, and the blessings it will bring to the people! Blind eyes will be opened, and deaf ears unstopped, the crippled will be made to walk. The whole world of mankind, ransomed by the precious blood of Christ, shall return and come to Zion, with songs of everlasting joy upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.—Isa. 35
In that kingdom the people shall build houses and inhabit them, they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them. They shall not, as is so often the case now, build and another inhabit, and plant and another eat, for the Lord’s people then—the subjects of the kingdom—if obedient, shall continue forever to enjoy the works of their hands, and the blessings of the Lord. (Isa. 65:17-25) In this wonderful prophecy the messianic kingdom is portrayed in symbol as a “new heavens and a new earth.” The “new heavens” are symbolic of the spiritual rulership of the kingdom, and the new earth, the earthly rulership. But the new earth will expand, so to speak, and eventually embrace all the loyal subjects of the kingdom.
In vision the Apostle John saw the “new heaven and new earth.” He recognized that this new governmental arrangement meant that God was blessing the people, dwelling with them, as it were, and that, as a result, there was no more death, for the former things had passed away. (Rev. 21:14) This means that we can tell the people that the time is near when even the great menace, death, will be destroyed. In proclaiming the glorious majesty of the kingdom, we can also remind our listeners of the almighty power of our God, and that nothing will be able to interfere with the fulfillment of his promises.
Truly, then, as we stand at the opening of a new year, the prospect for the consecrated people of God is a bright one. We see, and to some extent experience, the troubles which are upon the world, but by the eye of faith we see through and beyond these chaotic conditions to the full establishment of the kingdom—the kingdom in which we have been promised joint-heirship with Christ. The hope of sharing with Jesus in the rulership of this kingdom is as a joy set before us which gives us courage to endure the light afflictions of the present, knowing of the eternal weight of joy and glory that will follow.—II Cor. 4:17,18, I Pet. 1:3-5
But let us remember that in order to continue receiving our position in the kingdom, daily faithfulness to all the terms of our covenant of sacrifice with the Lord is necessary. But we can rejoice that the grace of the Lord is promised to the faithful. And, by the grace of the Lord, we will continue to serve him faithfully with reverence and godly fear, until we hear that much longed for, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”—Matt. 25:21, 23