| Christian Life and Doctrine | December 1983 |
The Holy Spirit
THE THEME SUBJECT OF THE 1983 GENERAL CONVENTION
AMONG the many blessings of the 1983 General Convention, held at Albion, Michigan, was a doctrinal study on the subject of the Holy Spirit. The many ramifications of this topic were discussed in a four-part presentation as assigned subject discourses by very able brethren. We have condensed these four talks and publish them here for your enjoyment.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN PAST AGES
In the Old Testament, the word spirit is often the English translation of the Hebrew word ruach. The primary significance of this word is ‘wind’, and constitutes the root meaning of the word spirit. Wind is both invisible and powerful, hence the ancients applied this word to the various invisible and powerful influences of God. Divine power is many times exercised through channels and agencies beyond human sight and understanding. This Hebrew word, ruach, in addition to being translated ‘spirit’, is also translated ‘tempest, mind, smell, wind’ and ‘windy’. In each of these translations, the thought behind the word is that of invisible power or influence. There is a power in the mind, for example, but It is a power that is invisible in its operation and little understood. The Holy Spirit, then, is simply the invisible power of God.
In past ages, the Holy Spirit was manifested in a great variety of ways. Speaking of God’s creative power, we read in Genesis 1:2 that his Spirit “moved upon the face of the waters.” God’s power initiated the life-cycling processes which over eons of time prepared the planet Earth as a suitable home for mankind. When this was accomplished, God’s Holy Spirit as a creative power brought forth Adam and Eve, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul.”—Gen. 2:7
The word breath (Hebrew, neshana) simply refers to ‘vitality, life, power’, or a ‘living soul’. It required two things for man to become a living soul; first, a body which God formed out of the dust of the ground; and second, the breath of life. These two in combination formed a living soul, a sentient being, in the person of Adam. The Prophet Job wrote, “In whose hand [in whose power] is the soul [life] of every living thing, and the breath [ruach] of all mankind.” (Job 12:10) This same thought is beautifully expressed by the Apostle Paul in Acts 17:28, when he said, “In him [God] we live, and move, and have our being,” referring to the fact that all life stems from our Heavenly Father.
Yes, the Spirit or power of God is manifest throughout all creation. It was the Spirit of God that transformed this planet from an empty, shapeless mass into this beautiful, vital earth. It was God’s Spirit (power) which set bounds to the mighty oceans. “Hitherto shalt thou come but no further, and here shall thy proud waves be stayed.” (Job 38:11) It was God’s Spirit (power) in the past ages that decreed, “Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life. Let the earth bring forth the living creatures, after his kind.” (Gen. 1:20,24) We marvel at the magnitude of these great accomplishments, and search for understanding of them. Solomon wrote, “Thou knowest not what is the way of the Spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child. Even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all.” (Eccles. 11:5) Solomon, the wisest of men in his day, acknowledged that he did not understand how the Spirit of God accomplishes the commonplace miracles of life.
Another aspect of the invisible power of God is made manifest in gravitation. The Prophet Job wrote, “He … hangeth the earth upon nothing.” (Job 26:7) This great, immeasurable weight is hung upon nothing, and yet so precisely balanced, and minutely timed, that its celestial movements can be accurately plotted for millions of years in advance. And the earth is only one speck in God’s great universe. Think of the countless billions of stars which are likewise hung upon nothing! Yet they spin as ordered in orbits designed for them, kept in place by forces staggering to our imagination.
The Bible reveals another important facet of the power of the Holy Spirit in the lives of those who served him in past ages. Take, for example, Joseph and his ability to interpret for Pharaoh two strange dreams concerning the seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. (Gen. 41) God caused Pharaoh, by giving him these dreams and later arranging an interpretation, to realize that Joseph accomplished this under the direction of the Spirit of God. Pharaoh, acknowledging this, said, “Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?”—Gen. 41:38
A different manifestation of God’s Spirit was given to Bezaleel at the time the Tabernacle was built. The Tabernacle, constructed in the wilderness, required very special and skilled workmanship for its accomplishment. God said about Bezaleel, to whom this task was given, “I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom and in understanding and in knowledge and in all manner of workmanship, to devise cunning works, to work in gold and in silver and in brass, and in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. … And in the hearts of all that are wise hearted, I have put wisdom that they may make all that I have commanded thee.” (Exod. 31:3-6) Not only were the skilled workers important for the Tabernacle, but so also was the cooperation of all the Israelites. “Moses spoke unto all the congregation of the children of Israel saying, … Take ye from you an offering unto the Lord. And they came everyone whose heart stirred him up.”—Exod. 35:4,5,21
One of the activities of the Holy Spirit in past ages was its work among the prophets, whose written testimonies are still very important to us today. God said, “I have also spoken by the prophet and I have multiplied visions and used similitudes by the ministry of the prophets.” (Hos. 12:10) And again in II Kings 17:13, “Jehovah testified against Israel and against Judah through all his prophets, everyone who had a vision which I sent unto you through my servants the prophets.”—Rotherham
The Apostle Peter eloquently states: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy whereunto you do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place. … Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” (II Pet. 1:19-21) Our faith is confirmed in the knowledge that the teachings of our Lord and the apostles are built upon the foundation of the prophets.
What about the miracles of past ages which were recorded for us? What about the ten plagues upon Egypt? Who performed them? It was the Spirit, the mighty power of God! Again, an even more amazing miracle recorded in the Scriptures took place when Israel, being led out of Egypt on their way to Canaan, came to the Red Sea. What now? Did you bring us here to die or to drown? was the question asked by the Israelites. Only the great power of God could save them, and It did. In acknowledgement they sang, “Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power; thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” (Exod. 15:6) There are many other miracles recorded in the Bible: the curing of the bitter waters of Marah; the providing of manna from heaven; crossing the Jordan; the fall of the wall of Jericho; the staying of the sun and moon by Elijah; the raising of the widow’s son by Elijah; the raising of the Shunamite’s son. Yes, we could goon and name many more, all accomplished by the Spirit of God.
The marvelous way in which the Holy Spirit of God was exercised aforetime was not only to reveal Jehovah’s great power, but also to establish a foundation of information and source of inspiration for the later ministry of our Lord and the apostles. The work of the entire Gospel Age—the call of the church—is accomplished “not by power [of men], not by might [of men] but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.” (Zech. 4:6) God’s Holy Spirit as it worked in ages past was chiefly for our benefit today. My Word “that goeth forth out of my mouth, it shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please and it shall prosper in the thing whereunto I sent it.”—Isa. 55:11
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE GOSPEL AGE
Beginning with the Gospel Age, God began to deal with his servants in an entirely different way than in past ages. He still instructed his people how to accomplish his will, but, with the instruction, added the new dimension of why! This opened up a whole new vista of understanding, allowing those receiving the Holy Spirit to share God’s thoughts more intimately. The veil which for ages had shrouded God’s Word in mystery, even for those who were instrumental in writing its sacred pages, began to be lifted through the ministry of our Lord and the apostles.
That the Holy Spirit is the power that accomplishes the removal of this veil was well illustrated in the life of Jesus, when the time came for him to be baptized. Prior to this experience, our Lord must have known the Scriptures well. No doubt he was very familiar with the writings of Moses and the prophets and knew of the types, illustrations, and prophecies which they contained, and he realized that locked in their mysteries was the purpose and detail of his life hereon earth.
When he was baptized with the Holy Spirit at Jordan, the scripture says that “the heavens were opened unto him.” (Matt. 3:16) The effulgence of light and spiritual understanding that came upon his perfect mind began to illuminate the thoughts of God written aforetime for him. To grasp its full import, Jesus felt the need of being alone, to ponder and consider how to plan his ministry so that it might conform to those things which he found written in the “volume of the book.” (Ps. 40:7) “And immediately the Spirit driveth him into the wilderness and he was there in the wilderness forty days.”—Mark 1:12,13
The Holy Spirit is also the power of God which has called every one who is to be associated with Jesus. He said, “No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.” (John 6:44) While not so spectacular as with Jesus at Jordan, or the coming of the Holy Spirit on the apostles at Pentecost, the process is, nevertheless, essentially the same. With us, it is generally a step by step process of coming to a knowledge and appreciation of the truth, which inspires in us a desire to serve God, and leads on to consecration.
The Scriptures give some wonderful examples of the drawing power of God. The eunuch whom Philip met was a man seeking to serve God, and was searching the Scriptures for truth. (Acts 8:26-39) The Holy Spirit directed Philip to him, and starting with the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, his eyes became opened to Jesus. While the record of this meeting is greatly abbreviated, we can be sure that Philip pointed out the ransom features of Jesus’ death, and the necessity of the merit of his sacrifice being applied on our behalf. He must have indicated the necessity of sharing in sacrifice in order to do God’s will. With this knowledge, the eunuch asked, “What doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. … And he baptized him.”
Another experience that well illustrates the drawing power of God involved some disciples whom Paul met when he came to Ephesus. They had some truth and believed, but were unfamiliar with baptism into Christ, and the receiving of the Holy Spirit, and the purpose for which it was given. Again, the record in Acts 19:1-6 is very brief, but we can be sure that the apostle gave a full explanation of baptism to these brethren—how it symbolizes the surrendering of our wills to the will of God, the desire to walk in the footsteps of Jesus even unto death, the taking up of our cross to follow him, the burial with Jesus into death, and to be raised with him in newness of life. After hearing Paul they believed and were baptized, and evidences of the Holy Spirit came upon them.
These examples suggest a sequence similar to mat mentioned in Ephesians 1:12-14. First the truth must be presented and heard—“In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard.” Next, it must be accepted and acted upon through consecration—“After that ye heard … ye believed [believed into].” Then follows the sealing work of the Holy Spirit, stamping the impression of God’s character (his identity) into our hearts and minds—“Whom also after that ye believed ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance.” The many manifestations of the power of the Holy Spirit working in our lives gives evidence that God will someday complete this good work in a heavenly inheritance. And all this comes about, as the apostle declares, by having “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.”—vs. 18
The Apostle James tells us that it is the truth that begets: “Of his own will begat he us with the Word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” (James 1:18) A belief and acceptance of the high calling based upon the redemptive work of Jesus starts us off on a new life with a living hope destined in heaven. Expanding upon this thought, Paul wrote, “Even when we were dead in sins hath he quickened us together with Christ … and hath raised us up together and made us to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”—Eph 2:5,6
Being made alive to spiritual hopes and promises, we now enjoy a special fellowship with Jesus as sons of God. And prospectively we look forward to being resurrected to the divine nature as he was. “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection.”—Rom. 6:5
The Bible also speaks of those who are spirit-begotten as being anointed. In II Corinthians, the first chapter, verses twenty-one and twenty-two, we read, “Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ and hath anointed us is God. Who hath also sealed us and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” The same anointing that our Lord experienced at Jordan, we experience. What it meant to him, it also means to us. Anointing had its roots in early Bible times when kings and priests who served the Lord were anointed with the holy anointing oil. This act demonstrated to all that the person so honored was authorized by God.
Isaiah prophesied of Jesus: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.” (Isa. 61:1 ) This was a commission that our Lord received and accomplished during the three-and-one-half years of his ministry. Jesus, reading this scripture to the Jews, said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your ears.” (Luke 4:21) During his ministry, this was his chief occupation. The prophecy of the fortieth psalm was used to beautifully speak for Jesus on this matter. “I have preached righteousness in the great congregation. Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest.” (vss. 9,10) This is how he proved his faithfulness. It was his diligence in preaching that brought on his trials and finally led to his death on the cross.
We have the same anointing; we have the same commission to preach the Gospel. And the joy which was set before Jesus which enabled him to endure the cross and despise the shame, is also set before us. The vision of truth that is revealed to us by God’s Holy Spirit is the motivating factor in our lives, enabling us to endure suffering and pain, and trials and tribulations, with the expectation of one day being exalted with our Lord to share in his work of blessing.
EVIDENCES OF SPIRIT-BEGETTAL
Perhaps most of us, from time to time, wonder: Was my consecration really accepted? Is the power of God truly working in my life? In order to help us answer these questions, we have prepared a list of ten evidences of Spirit-begettal by which we can carefully scrutinize our lives and know that the power of God’s Holy Spirit is working within us.
Witness number one is hunger. In John 6:32 we read, “My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.” When a baby is born, it needs food. When it is hungry, the mother feeds her baby, and it is satisfied. When It gets hungry again, it cries; again it is fed. When we grow older, we know how important proper nutrition is to us.
The new creature needs food; spiritual food to the new creature is a great joy and pleasure. An important evidence that the new spiritual life has begun within us is our hunger for spiritual food. Where will we get this food? It must come from the Word of God, and we realize that this food will not come to us without effort on our part. We satisfy this appetite for truth by our personal studies, by going to meetings and conventions, because it is by these methods food is supplied for the new creature. We should have such a great drive within us for this spiritual food that we will be willing to sacrifice in order to obtain it! We will be willing to lay aside the interests of the world in order to have time to study God’s Word, and to satisfy the new creature. If we do, then it is a real evidence that the Holy Spirit of God is working in our lives.
Witness number two is knowledge. II Timothy 3:16,17 says, “All scripture, given by inspiration of God, is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” After our Lord was immersed at Jordan, he went into the mountain in order to be with his Heavenly Father. While there, forty days and forty nights, an understanding of his Father’s Word was opened to him in a magnificent way. Can you imagine how he felt when he thought about Abraham and Isaac? He said to himself, “I’m Isaac! My Father wants to offer me for the world!” Can you realize how he felt when the windows of heaven were opened to him and he realized that, as Aaron had offered sacrifices, he would offer a better sacrifice? How he must have rejoiced when he realized that there would be a greater priesthood than the Aaronic—that he would be the head of the Melchisadec priesthood. Oh, what joy that must have been to him!
He had no thought concerning anything of an earthly nature for all those days. And, my dear brethren, when we are really serious about the truth, when it means everything in our lives, then, as we hunger and as we feed upon God’s Word, the windows of heaven also open for us. We come to understand the great doctrine of the ransom, the two salvations, restitution. We might think these are such simple things, but in reality they are the deep things of God. An understanding of these basic truths has given us the theme in our lives and we gladly lay everything down upon the altar in order that we might in some way bring glory to God’s great name.
God’s Word is written in such a marvelous way that nearly every time we open the Bible we see something new, something wonderful, and we say, I’ve never seen this before! although we may have read it for fifty years! “‘Tis a mine, aye, deeper too, than can mortal ever go. Search we may for many years, still some new, rich gem appears.” So, if our knowledge is growing, then we do have another wonderful evidence of the Holy Spirit working in our lives.
Witness number three is separation. God’s servants in every age have been a separated people. In Numbers 8:14 we read (God speaking to Moses): “Separate the Levites from among the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be mine.” What was their portion as far as temporal things were concerned? They obtained no inheritance in the land. They received the opportunity, however, of serving God full-time, and our portion is like that of the Levites. We receive no earthly inheritance, but we are given the privilege of offering our lives in complete consecration to the Lord and his service.
The Apostle Paul, in II Corinthians the sixth chapter, gives us a list of ways in which we must be separate from the world:
Be not unequally yoked—separation from worldly marriage partners. (vs. 14) What part has a believer with an unbeliever, or an infidel?—separation from worldly activities. (vs. 15) What connection has God’s Temple with idols?—separation from worldly worship. (vs. 16) “Wherefore, come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you.” (vs. 17) This will not be an easy path. The world will continue to call to us. We will hear voices in our ears calling us to take part in their worldly pursuits, to join them in worldly pleasures, and love of ease.
The enemies of God tried to convince Nehemiah to stop his work of rebuilding the wall at Jerusalem, and meet them in the plain of Ono. He answered, “I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down. Why should the work cease whilst I leave it, and come down to you?” (Neh. 6:3) But God’s enemies did not give up. Four times they tried to interrupt the work, and four times he said, Oh no, not I! We must be able to say, No, to similar temptations and suggestions to hinder the work God has given us to do. Paul wrote, “I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38,39) If we are likewise persuaded, we have a great evidence of God’s Holy Spirit transforming our lives.
Evidence number four is discipline. Paul wrote, “If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.” (Heb. 12:7) The thought of the word chastening is tutorage, education, or training; by implication, disciplinary instruction. The Heavenly Father is watching over our actions, whether they be influences of present advantage, worldly policies, personal friendships, earthly loves, honor among men, love of ease, love of peace at any price. We must be controlled, rather, by the principles of truth and righteousness. In our walk, we must look for correction, for instruction, for these are important lessons that will help us become more Christ like lf we do, we have another evidence of God’s Holy Spirit working in our lives.
Evidence number five is suffering. “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God. And if children, then heirs: heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be glorified together.” (Rom. 8:16,17) The strength of this witness is often lost through a circumscribed conception of what the sufferings of Christ are. We often contemplate the cruelty heaped upon the Lord which culminated in his crucifixion. We think of the cruelty suffered by Early Christians at the Colosseum in Rome, and the Christian persecution during the pagan and papal times in Early Church history. And we compare them to the more or less tranquil kind of lives we lead today. Although Jesus endured actual physical abuse only the last day of his life on earth, he also suffered uncomplainingly during the many preceding days of his ministry—the ridicule and scorn of the Pharisees, weariness and fatigue, and rejection from his people.
If we have plunged wholeheartedly into the Lord’s service, and we bear willingly at least some twinges of painful fatigue, some loss of vitality, some ridicule or rejection for our witness of the truth, then we have cause for rejoicing because our Heavenly Father considers this as part of the sufferings of Christ, which constitutes another strong evidence of Spirit-begettal.
Next comes loyalty, another word for faithfulness. The beginning of each day should find us going immediately to our Heavenly Father to say, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” This should be the song in our heart. And then, all day long, because we realize our loyalty belongs to God, we will continue to go to the throne of grace for his direction, help, comfort, praise and thanksgiving. The Spirit-begotten child of God is so loyal to God’s righteous principles that he does not sin willfully. God’s righteous principles are his standard also. “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” (I Thess. 4:3) “Be ye holy, for I [the Lord] am holy.” (I Pet. 1:16) Our loyalty to God and his righteousness must go on day by day, year by year, decade by decade. If it does, we have another great witness.
Number seven is witnessing, which is another wonderful evidence in our life. Jeremiah said, “His Word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forebearing, and I could not stay.” (Jer. 20:9) Jeremiah had to speak the Word of God; he had to give God the glory. And so It should be with us. Like Jesus, we too must bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and preach the acceptable year of the Lord.—Isa. 61:1-3
We can witness by being an example—having an epistle “written in our hearts, known and read of all men.” (II Cor. 3:2) Witnessing God’s great plan of salvation to the poor, sin-sick world is a thrilling experience for us. And it is another evidence that God’s power is working within us.
Number eight is sacrificing. In Leviticus the eighth chapter we have a beautiful picture of consecration. The blood of the ram of consecration was put on each individual priest’s right ear, right thumb, and right big toe. The consecration of everything we possess was represented in this type. What are we doing with our hands? What are we listening to? Where are our feet taking us? The April 20th Manna says, “Let us carefully scan our earthly duties and obligations to see in what manner we could justly and properly cut off moments, hours, or days from the service of earthly things and earthly interests that now might be given to sacrifice to spiritual interests of ourselves and others.” Our recognition of the reasonableness of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, acceptable to God, is a powerful evidence that the Holy Spirit is doing its work in our lives.—Rom. 12:1,2
Number nine is providences. “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) This, and other scriptures assure us that the providences of God are great indeed. All of our steps are ordered by God. His eyes are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers. No good thing is withheld from them.—Ps. 37:23; I Pet. 3:12; Ps. 84:11
Sometimes the experiences that come to us do not always seem like providences from God—losing a job; becoming ill; not being able to sell a home; not being elected an elder or deacon; or a sudden death in the family. These things, from the human standpoint, can seem like tragedies. But when we faithfully respond and submit to them with confidence that he knows what is best of us, we will see the hand of God and his work in our experiences, and looking back will praise the way he has led us. When we look for, find, and accept our Heavenly Father’s providences in our lives, we have another evidence that we have been begotten by his Holy Spirit.
Last, but not least, number ten is fruitage. John 15:8 says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit. So shall ye be my disciples.” II Peter 1:5-8 gives the thought that there must be growth—Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge temperance, to temperance patience, to patience piety, to piety brotherly kindness, and finally love itself. If these fruits are manifest in our lives, then truly we can rest assured that God’s Spirit is within us. “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”—Gal. 5:25
It should be encouraging to us to note evidences that give witness that the power and influence of God is working in our lives. He loves us, and is working in us, both to will and to do his good pleasure.
THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE KINGDOM
All who come under the influence of God’s Word of truth are properly said to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit, or disposition of the truth. Mainly, in our studies, we apply this definition to the work of the Gospel Age, but we must remember that the Spirit of the truth will be given also to the world of mankind in the Millennial Age. The Holy Spirit will then be used by Christ and his church to further carry out God’s purposes to their glorious conclusion in the restitution of the world of mankind.
Jesus said on one occasion, after his resurrection, “All authority has been imparted to me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt. 28:18, Diaglott) Authority implies power, power that was given to our Master at the time of his resurrection to be used in the subsequent outworking of God’s plan. In the kingdom, Christ and his church, as the Mediator of the New Covenant, will act as the principal agency of Jehovah in bringing blessings to all the families of the earth.
This great work will be carried out by the authority and power which was granted to Jesus. In that day the Holy Spirit of God will be exercised through the Christ, who will teach all mankind how to comply with the righteous laws of the kingdom. The application of the blood of the New Covenant will mark the inauguration of the blessings to come through the reign of Christ. This will commence after the end of the great time of trouble, which culminates in Armageddon—bringing to a close this present evil world. While this is the point in time which marks the beginning of the kingdom, it will however, require the entire thousand years for the full establishment of the New Covenant, when the work of perfecting the earth and its people is completed. Then will be fulfilled that part of God’s Covenant to Abraham which promised blessings to all the families of the earth.
The Scriptures seem to indicate that the initial use of the Holy Spirit’s power will be exercised in the work of resurrecting the dead. That the Holy Spirit’s power is to be used for this purpose is made clear in the experience of our Lord in raising Lazarus from death. (John 11:40,41) He did not accomplish this by his own power, but by God’s power, the Holy Spirit, given to him.
The first to receive this blessing will be the ancient worthies, a class mentioned by Paul in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. These devout men and women, because of their faith and service to God, were promised a better resurrection. “And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39,40) The ancient worthies also have other blessings in store for them, for they will be the earthly representatives of the kingdom. Psalm forty-five, verse sixteen, reads, “Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.” They will be raised out of death and made princes by the power of the Holy Spirit.
These worthy men of old, raised perfect, will also have the influence of the Holy Spirit upon them. Like Bezaleel, they will be filled with the Spirit of God imparted to them by Christ and the church, in wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all manner of workmanship in order that they might function as the earthly representatives of the kingdom here upon earth. They will, by the power and authority vested in them, bring order out of chaos, instruct the people as to God’s purpose, and what is expected of them. This will be the fulfilling of the Apostle Paul’s prophecy, that all men will be brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth.—I Tim. 2:4, Diaglott
With the resurrection of the ancient worthies and the subsequent resurrection of the rest of mankind, God will pour out his Holy Spirit upon all flesh. And what will be the result of this outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all the world? Let us briefly consider some of the specific statements of the Bible. “This shall be the covenant that I will make … saith the Lord. I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts, and will be their God and they shall be my people.”—Jer. 31:33
Isaiah prophesied of the kingdom: When “the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness be a fruitful field, and the fruitful field be counted for a forest, … the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness, and assurance forever.”—Isa. 32:15,17
Ezekiel wrote, “A new heart also will I give you, and a new Spirit will I put within you, and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments and do them.” (Ezek. 36:26,27) As the world of mankind comes under the influence of the Spirit of truth through a knowledge of it, they will experience a gradual transformation of their characters. Their desires, habits and inclinations, will turn toward righteousness and true service to God. And as the spirit of selfishness, which so characterizes the present evil world, gives way to the law of love, mankind will learn to work together under the kingdom’s tutelage, to make our planet, Earth, the bountiful, beautiful, perfect home which God envisioned, when long ago his Spirit first moved over the waters, and lifted the darkness from the face of the deep.
“Close your eyes for a moment to the scenes of misery and woe, degradation and sorrow that yet prevail on account of sin, and picture before your mental vision, the glories of the perfect earth. Not a stain of sin mars the harmony and peace of a perfect society. Not a bitter thought. Not an unkind look or word. Love, welling up from every heart, meets a kindred response in every other heart, and benevolence marks every act. There sickness shall be no more, not an ache nor a pain, nor any evidence of decay, not even the fear of such things. Think of all the pictures of comparative health and beauty of human form and feature that you have ever seen, and know that perfect humanity will be of still surpassing loveliness. The inward purity and mental and moral perfection will stamp and glorify every radiant countenance. Such will earth’s society be, and weeping bereaved ones will have their tears all wiped away when thus they realize the resurrection work complete.”—“The Divine Plan of the Ages”
“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come, and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”—Rev. 22:17