| HIGHLIGHTS OF DAWN | March 2001 |
A New Administration
DURING THE PAST year 2000, and earlier, the United States of America was involved in preparatory efforts for a presidential election. Much time, energy, and financial resources were expended in an effort to secure new leadership for the nation. People always have great expectations of a new administration. They hope that it will bring prosperity, joy, and peace to all of its citizens.
ELECTIONS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
How is a new administration selected? Do the people of the United States of America get to know who the best man for the task might be and then select him? Most would like to think so. In order to really know a person nominated for the highest office of the country requires much advertising. Only two major political parties in the United States of America have the financial means for supplying such advertising and although other parties nominate candidates, these are usually at a disadvantage because they lack the means for getting the public to know their nominee. Thus the presidential race became one between the Democratic party nominee, Vice President Albert Gore, and Republican party nominee, Texas Governor George W. Bush. The election was the closest ever witnessed. It took a month after the ballots were cast to determine who had won the election. The electoral votes of the State of Florida became the key factor of the election, and an attempted recount of the votes became a much-disputed issue.
The “Economist,” a national publication, in its December 16 issue, published an article after the election was finally decided in favor of George W. Bush. This article entitled, “The Accidental President,” began by saying, “Seldom has so much power been awarded to one man by such a narrow margin—and with quite so many Supreme Court justices at each other’s throats. Al Gore’s gracious concession, more than a month after the actual election, means that George W. Bush will finally be America’s next president. But Mr. Bush steps up to the victor’s podium a shadow even of the fortunate figure who first appeared to have sneaked to victory on election night. His presidency begins on an accidental, even damaged, note. Can he recover from such a terrible start?”
The article continued, mentioning that America had greeted the final decision with relief more than with joy (on the part of some), and dismay (on the part of others). It described the actions that had been taken by both candidates in filing lawsuits in three courts: a Florida State Court, the Florida Supreme Court, and the U.S. Supreme Court. The actions taken by the justices of these courts will be the subject matter of many media articles of the future. Nevertheless, George W. Bush was declared the winner and was inaugurated as the forty-third President of the United States of America on January 20, 2001.
THE BIBLICAL NEW ADMINISTRATION
Our interest, as students of the Bible, however, is in the new administration spoken of in God’s Word. It, too, requires an election process that is mentioned by the Apostle Peter where he says, “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” (II Pet. 1:10) This election, or more accurately stated as the ‘selection’ by God, is found applied to the nation of Israel in the Old Testament, “Israel mine elect.” (Isa. 45:4) Since natural Israel is a type of spiritual Israel, this election applies to spiritual Israel, or the bride of Christ called during the present Gospel Age. The prophet also points to the Messiah saying, “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”—Isa. 42:1
In the New Testament we find reference to this election such as, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;” (Col. 3:12) and “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect?” (Rom. 8:33) These are being selected by God to be “partakers of the heavenly calling.” (Heb. 3:1) They are “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” (I Pet. 1:2) It is God who will complete the election process when, through Jesus, God will “send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.”—Mark 13:27
Thus will the work of election in the two harvests—the one closing the Jewish Age, and the other closing the Gospel Age—be concluded. The work of the new administration, which is the blessing of all the families of the earth, has been described as occurring when “the Sun of righteousness [representing Christ]” shall “arise with healing in his wings.” (Mal. 4:2) It will bring joy, peace, and everlasting life to all who wish to live obediently on a restored, perfect earth. Truly God’s ways are higher than man’s, and God’s plans above man’s. All will be accomplished through his administration, and carried out by means of his wonderful love, mercy, justice, wisdom, and power on behalf of the human family.
MEANING OF ADMINISTRATION
The dictionary definition of the word administration is ‘the act or process of administering, performance of executive duties, the execution of public affairs, a body of persons who administer.’ Administer is defined as ‘to manage or supervise; mete out or dispense; to minister; to manage or execute.’ We learn how to do this in our Christian walk.
This new administration requires that the administrators be properly prepared for their work. These are not to be “conformed to this world,” but are described as being “transformed by the renewing of” their “mind, that” they “may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”—Rom 12:2
We are to love the Heavenly Father with all of our heart and are, therefore, interested in the Biblical definition of administration and administrators. The word administration occurs in II Corinthians 9:12, and I Corinthians 12:5, and is translated from the Greek word diakonia which means ‘ministry.’ A companion word administer in II Corinthians 8:19,20 is from the verb diakoneo which means ‘to minister.’ The English word deacon is derived from this Greek word having to do with ministering, or one who serves. Jesus used this word in giving a lesson on service to his disciples saying, “The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister.”—Mark 10:45
MANY ADMINISTRATIONS
In I Corinthians 12:5, the Apostle Paul says, “There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.” There are indeed varieties of services, and God is directing all. Paul implies that each one of us has something to offer, a talent to give to the Lord and to be used in his service. As we give of ourselves, it is for the purpose of building up the members in the body of Christ. When we do this we honor our Father in heaven. In training for their part in this administration work, the various members of the body must cooperate with each other, offsetting and compensating for each other’s imperfections, shortcomings, and weaknesses. We learn to do this by becoming involved with Jesus. Jesus invites us to “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; … For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:29,30) In this union we learn about fellowship in the body of Christ and how to be interested in the other body members.
We are indeed yokefellows together with Christ. Paul tells us this in Philippians 4:3,4, “I entreat thee also, true yokefellow.” He finishes his thought with, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” We should feel this same way, for all who are in the family of Christ are bound together in the one bond of love and fellowship. This will help us to have confidence, sympathy, harmony, and common interest with our brethren. This is the same training the world of mankind will receive during God’s kingdom. All will then give glory, praise, and honor to the Father under his new administration.
FINANCING THE ELECTION PROCESS
In the election process in the world, as preparation for a new administration, wealth is required to fund a campaign. Advertising is required to make known the qualifications of the candidate. How different is God’s election process in preparation for a new administration. Wealth can be a hindrance, as Jesus said in Matthew 19:23.
Paul speaks of himself and his colaborers in the Gospel Age work as poor, yet making many rich. (II Cor. 6:10) These faithful servants of God made many rich in hope, faith, love, and all the various aspects of the graces of God which he abundantly supplies. “For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.” (II Cor. 9:12) The apostle says that the brethren in Jerusalem were glorifying God on account of “your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men.”—vs. 13
NEED FOR SACRIFICE
Another part of our training involves sacrifice, or laying down our lives, in service to the cause of truth and righteousness. We look upon this as a privilege, but the world looks upon sacrificing differently. To some, sacrifice carries with it a sense of being a fanatic, and there have been many fanatic martyrs.
The follower of Jesus renders his sacrifice to God day-by-day, hour-by-hour, experience-by-experience, on a continuing basis with every opportunity that is given. We are to give our little all. Our sacrifices may be small, but they must be all-consuming and burning, until there is nothing more to be consumed, and we have reached the end of our earthly course.
The sacrificing and suffering is clearly outlined for us by the Apostle Paul when he said, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him.” (II Tim. 2:12) We also are promised, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne.” (Rev. 3:21) What a blessed privilege it is for these called ones to be granted a share in the heavenly realm, and be raised to glory, honor, and immortality. “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.”—II Cor. 9:8
This ministering and giving throughout our Christian walk, and desire to give our all, is stated by Paul to Timothy, “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” (I Tim. 4:15) The first lesson in giving was of our hearts to the Lord, but this was only the beginning and leads to the giving of our all. We must achieve godliness, and Paul told Timothy, “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Tim. 6:6) It is a step on the Christian ladder that leads to agape love.—II Pet. 1:4-8
Such love must be developed with the assistance of the Holy Spirit—and cannot be a hypocritical love. It must be genuine, heartfelt, as well as expressed by service and word of mouth. The psalmist speaks for us when he says, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Ps. 19:14) This love is toward God and toward all in proportion as they are godlike, or striving to be so. It is to be a love of all that is good, right, pure, and true.
Paul explains more about this love when he writes, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”—Eph. 3:17-19
MAKING KNOWN THE GLAD TIDINGS
Another aspect of our training for this service of the future is in the promotion of the good news of God’s kingdom. Paul, quoting from Isaiah 52:7, wrote, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”—Rom. 10:13-15
THE POWER OF JESUS
When the good news of the kingdom becomes a reality, these trainees will be used by God who has a plan and guarantees its success by miracle-working power. Jesus is the ruler in that plan, not elected by the people, but chosen by God. His enemies killed him when he was on earth, more than nineteen centuries ago, but Divine power raised him from the dead. After his resurrection Jesus announced to his disciples, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”—Matt. 28:18
By the use of this ‘all power’ Jesus will have no difficulty in establishing Divine control over the peoples of earth. Associated with him in that government will be his faithful followers who, throughout the Gospel Age, have suffered and died with him. They, too, are raised from the dead in what the Scriptures describe as the “first resurrection,” that they may share with Jesus in his Divine administration.—Rev. 20:5
These will be the invisible spiritual rulers in the new social order. They will have human representatives who will be the Ancient Worthies of past ages, of whom righteous Abel was the first, and John the Baptist the last. These also will be raised from the dead before the new kingdom is ready to function for the actual liberation of the people from their bondage to sin and death. But the important consideration is that Divine, miracle-working power guarantees the success of God’s plan for solving the present problems of the nations.
GOVERNED BY DIVINE WISDOM
All the associate rulers in the Lord’s kingdom, or government, will be directly under the headship of Christ, and will be wholeheartedly in harmony with all the righteous principles by which he will judge and govern the people. How wonderful are those principles!
Jesus will not be under the necessity of placating various conflicting elements and divergent interests of those who will work with him in that Divine government. As Isaiah prophesied, “He shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.” (Isa. 11:3) Earth’s new King will be able to read the hearts of men, and will know and understand their innermost thoughts. Through his representatives, he will deal with the people according to what they really are at heart, and not upon the basis of what they profess to be. Can we imagine what changes this will make in governmental administration!
“With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth.” (vs. 4) Under the rulership of this righteous King, the legitimate desires of all mankind will be satisfied.
EVERYONE A BENEFICIARY
The ‘poor’ and the ‘meek’ will then have someone to speak for them. David wrote concerning him, “He shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper. He shall spare the poor and needy, and shall save the souls of the needy. He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence: and precious shall their blood be in his sight.”—Ps. 72:12-14
“All kings shall fall down before him: all nations shall serve him.” (Ps. 72:11) The great and mighty, as well as the meek and humble of earth, will recognize the virtues and qualifications of this new King. He will not pamper the rich and exploit the poor. Neither will he exalt the poor and destroy the rich.
One of the symbolisms descriptive of the effect of his rulership pictures the valleys being exalted, and the hills made low. (Isa. 40:4; Luke 3:5) This indicates a just distribution of all the bounties of earth, and a recognition that God has made of one blood all nations of the earth. (Acts. 17:26) From God’s standpoint, there are no dukes and lords, and there will be no peasants and paupers.
Beyond this, and even more wonderful, is the fact that his government will give health and life to the people—everlasting life. This is why God allowed Jesus’ enemies to put him to death, and why Jesus voluntarily gave himself up to die. It was in the Divine plan that his rulership should not be over a dying race, but over one being restored to life. It was therefore necessary that he should first die to redeem mankind from death. Paul wrote that Jesus gave himself “a ransom for all,” and then added, “to be testified in due time.”—I Tim. 2:6
Jesus gave himself as a ransom at his First Advent, and it will be during his Second Presence that the glorious truth concerning this will be testified, or made known to all. All who, when they learn of this provision, accept God’s grace through Christ and obey the laws of that ‘government’ which will then be upon ‘his shoulder,’ will not need to die. They will be restored to perfection of being, and live happily forever.