Shall Not Do Iniquity by A. R. Bell

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jul 28, 1914

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 41, No. 29.

"Shall Not Do Iniquity"

By A. R. Bell

Promise of a Glorious Condition — The Last Generation in Which Sin Will Rule

By A. R. BELL

"The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid." Zeph. 3:13.

This is a condition of things most glorious to contemplate. What would it mean if this state of affairs should obtain in all the world with all men?

HUMAN RIGHTS WOULD BE RECOGNIZED

It would mean that man would find his true relation to his fellow, and occupy it. The great doctrine of human rights would then be recognized by all. Religious and civil bigotry and prejudice, world-wide, would cease.

In the industrial world, it would mean that the master and the man would bury the hatchet forever. Labor and capital would find their true level. Strikes, lockouts, and labor troubles would be no more. There would be no more the massing of wealth, and keeping pace with it "a deepening and deadening poverty."

In the political realm, it would mean that diplomacy — local, state, national, and international — which develops the gentleman plunderer and the polite cutthroat, and which has been truly called "the art of lying," would be an unnecessary profession.

VIRTUE WOULD SUPPLANT VICE

And what would it mean in the social world if none should do iniquity? — It would mean that vice would give way to virtue. The home and the family would be the most sacred ties of earth. The slaying of the unborn would be no more, and the respectable married murderess would have passed from the stage of action. Purity in private and public life would rule. The cesspool of a world's iniquity would be transformed into a veritable garden of Eden, and men would love the good. There would be no more lying lips, no more deceitful tongues.

A glorious state to contemplate, truly! For the day-dream socialism, which so many to-day believe to be the only healing of the world's wounds, there would be found no place.

But what a contrast to all this contemplation are conditions as they are — wickedness, lawlessness, and apostasy everywhere, and alarmingly on the increase; and so far as human sight can penetrate into the future, there is no hope.

WHERE WE ARE LIVING

We are living amid the closing scenes of earth's history. Every prophecy of the Bible that treats of the second coming of Christ focuses upon this generation, fixing it as the last; and of this generation, which shall not pass until the Lord in glory is revealed, the Saviour Himself has said, "And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man."

Texts could be multiplied, but this one is sufficient, revealing, as it does, conditions prevailing when the Son of man comes, which conditions are everywhere present.

YET THE GLORIOUS CONDITION WILL BE REACHED

But in spite of all the sin and wickedness, in spite of all the rottenness of earth, the scripture we have been considering is held up before us of God, and gladdens the heart of every believing soul.

In the everlasting glory of the kingdom of God, all that we have contemplated here will be realized. Gladness and rejoicing will take the place of sorrow and mourning.

The Lord will be in the midst of His redeemed people. We read, "The King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more." Zeph. 3:15. And further: "The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing." Verse 17.

The Lord hasten the day!