Review and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 43. (8/31/1916)

Review and Herald

Aug 31, 1916

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Aug 31, 1916

Things Coming on the Earth

By L. L. C.

AMONG the signs of his coming which Christ gave his disciples, he spoke of “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” Luke 21:26. Recent occurrences are surely bringing this fear upon men’s hearts as never before.

Industrial strife, international war, death by fire and flood and earthquake, by famine, disease, and pestilence, are causing the hearts of men to fail them for fear in anticipation of the evils which are coming on the earth.

Industrial Strife

In the fourth chapter of the book of James is foretold the great accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few which is to take place in the last days. The fortune that John D. Rockefeller has accumulated is a striking illustration of the fulfilment of this prophecy. The public press tells of a balance sheet compiled on the occasion of John D. Rockefeller’s birthday (July 9), showing his private fortune, exclusive of endowment funds and other benefactions, to exceed $1,000,000,000. This balance sheet is said to be in the possession of the authorities of Cuyahoga County, and it is expected that an attempt will be made to force Mr. Rockefeller to pay taxes on holdings of more than $300,000,000.

Some idea of Mr. Rockefeller’s fortune may be gained by considering that to accumulate $1,000,000,000 at the rate of $100 a year would require 10,000,000 years; at $500 a year, 2,000,000 years; at $1,000 a year, 1,000,000 years; at $5,000 a year, 200,000 years; at $10,000 a year, 100,000 years; at $100,000 a year, 10,000 years; at $1,000,000 a year, 1,000 years; at $10,000,000 a year, 100 years; or at $20,000,000 a year, 50 years.

Such figures are incomprehensible as a matter of fact. Professor Ely, of the University of Wisconsin, estimates that Mr. Rockefeller’s fortune is equal to the annual income of over 2,000,000 American wage-earners. The whole wealth of the United States is approximately $100,000,000,000. Mr. Rockefeller’s fortune, therefore, is about one hundredth part of the entire wealth of the country.

The accumulation of great wealth in the hands of a very few gives such power to these few that laboring men have feared what might result, and they have organized great labor unions to protect themselves. As the result of the present increased cost of living and other factors, these labor unions are now making demands from employers which are resulting in numerous strikes. The garment makers of New York have refused to ratify agreements entered into with leaders of the Garment Manufacturers’ Association, and are again on a strike. This strike, together with a lockout, is said to involve 6,000 workers. Another strike recently occurred among the employees of the surface street cars of New York City. The number of passengers usually carried daily on the lines involved has been estimated at 2,500,000. This strike was attended with some violence at the beginning, but was brought to a close through the personal efforts of the mayor of the city.

As the New York strike was closing, a strike of the street car workmen of Philadelphia began. The lines involved are said to employ 4,700 men, though only a portion of these answered the call to strike.

A still larger strike is threatened, which would involve 225 railroads and 400,000 employees. The union of railroad employees known as the Four Brotherhoods found, on taking a vote of the members, that a large proportion were in favor of going on a strike. The government board mediators were unable to suggest any solution of the problem satisfactory to the parties involved. An appeal has been made to the President, and it is hoped that through his personal efforts the national catastrophe such a railroad strike would mean, may be averted.

As money becomes more centralized in the hands of a few, and the power of the unions becomes stronger, the stoutest heart may well fear what the future has in store for us.

War

None can picture the horrors which have come to the world through the great European war. It is estimated that 4,000,000 men have been killed, 8,000,000 incapacitated for further work in the war, and 5,000,000 languish in prisons or detention camps. Dangers on every side threaten the spread of the war to nations not yet involved. Even the United States, should it escape the European cataclysm, is in danger of war with Mexico at almost any time. The recent ordering of all the State militia to the border has brought a feeling of uncertainty to the hearts of the people, as they realize that none can tell what a day may bring forth.

Earthquakes

We also see about us many things in nature which bring fear to the human heart. Earthquakes and volcanic action are on the increase. Portions of the earth which have been subject to such action seem to suffer more violent shocks, and even places not thought of as subject to earthquakes are affected at times. When the very earth under one’s feet reels, men’s hearts fail them for fear. The cry on every lip is, “The end of the world has come!” Italy has lost thousands of men and millions of dollars through volcanic action since the war began, and the public press (August 14) reports that Mt. Etna is again active.

Excessive Heat and Floods

The very seasons seem to have been altered within recent years. Chicago has suffered from such a heat wave as it never before experienced in all its history. Hundreds died from the excessive heat. Many other cities have added their toll to the list of deaths from heat prostration.

In several States severe floods have occurred, especially in Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Georgia, and recently in West Virginia. Property loss in this last State alone is estimated at $1,000,000. Hundreds have been drowned in these floods, and thousands made homeless. It is no wonder that many experience a feeling of fear at the coming of any severe storm.

Disease

Notwithstanding the great increase of knowledge in medical science in dealing with diseases of both plant and animal life, we see from time to time new epidemics spring up which seem to be uncontrollable through human effort. Of these recent epidemics, the most alarming is that of infantile paralysis. Over seven thousand cases have occurred in New York City alone, and the epidemic has so spread in the State of Pennsylvania

that a general quarantine has been established at its borders. A number of cases are also occurring in various other parts of the country. None can tell where the epidemic may next break out.

(Concluded on page 5)

Things Coming on the Earth

(Concluded from page 2)

Parents of children everywhere are in an agony of fear lest their own children may be victims to this dreadful plague. A striking fact in connection with this epidemic is the great increase, not only in the number of cases, but in the mortality rate. Nine years ago there was an epidemic of this same disease in New York, but of the 2,500 cases only five per cent died. Now not only has the number of cases increased, but the mortality rate is above twenty per cent, and of those who recover many are crippled for life.

Truly, in view of these dreadful events, one is led to think seriously of life and its meaning. The only hope of escape from the fear that is seizing men’s hearts is a trust in God, expressed by the psalmist in the beautiful words found in the ninety-first psalm.

Let us, as his children, sympathize with those whose hearts are filled with fear; but let us hasten God’s message of warning to all the world, in order that this time of sin and sorrow, pain and death, may soon end, and all God’s children be gathered home. L. L. C.

Where Shall I Attend College?

By F. M. W.

This naturally is the question which will arise in the mind of many young men and women as they read the articles in this number, setting forth the needs of a college education, and the advantages offered by each of our colleges in the United States. We doubt not that every student would find his highest ideals met in the work he would be able to obtain in any one of these institutions. The managing boards of our colleges have put forth earnest efforts during the last few years to improve their equipment and strengthen their faculties.

Every college is prepared to do excellent work. While some one may in particular ways have special advantages over another, on the whole they measure up quite equally for the work they have to do. We cannot believe that our excellent college in Nebraska, which perhaps in its long history has sent out more students into the work than any other college in the denomination, is able to give students a better preparation for their life work than is Pacific Union College, in California, or Walla Walla College, in Washington. Nor can we believe that Washington Missionary College, even though located at the nation's capital and at the headquarters of our work, is able to afford any better fitting for labor in this cause than Emmanuel Missionary College, at Berrien Springs, Mich.

Each of these schools doubtless possesses advantages peculiarly its own; we believe that, on the whole, no school can boast over any of its fellows. Hence we feel confident that as a rule it is far better for the young men and women of this denomination to attend the school in their own particular territory than to be at the expense of railroad travel to attend some other college at a distance.

There might exist special reasons why some student should go outside of his own territory to attend school. Some parent might feel that his son or daughter needed the special conditions to be found in some particular school not to be found in another. We have known cases of this character. Against this we have nothing to say. We do, however, deplore any spirit which would lead our young people to feel that there are one or two centers in this work where they must secure their education.

While we are glad we have reached a time when our vision is not hedged about by conference boundaries, and we can recognize the needs and merits of the work of God outside of localized fields, it is well for us to cherish the spirit of loyalty toward the institutions which the providence of God has placed among us. They belong to us particularly to nourish and strengthen. If we feel that they are catering to worldly standards or are lax in proper discipline; if they are weak in equipment or faculties, let us as a part of their constituency seek, at proper times and in proper ways, to set in operation those influences which will remedy these defects.

We sincerely hope that the time will never come in the history of our work when we shall feel that there is one great center where we must receive our education and training for the work of God. It surely would be unfortunate for us to give currency to such an idea as related to any college in the denomination, or even to permit such a sentiment to prevail. It could only mean the narrowing of our vision, the curtailment of the influence of our educational institutions, and the centralization of our work, with all the unfortunate circumstances attending the operation of such a principle. God designs that every one of our colleges shall stand in its own Heaven-given independence, fully prepared to equip men and women to go out and take an active, efficient part in the giving of this message to the world.

We have reason to rejoice that, including our medical school, we have six centers for higher education, in place of the one center which we had in the early part of our history. This is in harmony with the instruction which has many times come to us regarding the distribution of responsibility and the creation of many centers of light and influence.

As to where those should go who seek a medical education there is no question. We have but one medical school. Its advantages over medical schools of the world must appeal to every Seventh-day Adventist. Let us labor loyally for the promotion of every branch and department of this movement. Our schools have been established in the providence of God. To them we should send our sons and daughters to obtain that Christian training which they cannot hope to obtain in the schools of the world.

Our schools need our support; they need our moral influence; they need our prayers. Those who stand at their head, the boards of management and teachers, are carrying heavy burdens. Let us pray for them, that God may give them wisdom so to carry forward their work that our schools shall be made like the schools of the prophets, enabled to give to our sons and daughters that training which will fit them to become coworkers with God in the salvation of their fellow men.

F. M. W.

The Authenticity and Power of the Word

By George B. Thompson

CONCERNING the authenticity of the Word the psalmist says, “Thy word is truth from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever.” Ps. 119: 160. The margin reads, “The beginning of thy word is true,” which seems to emphasize especially the unimpeachable record of creation. The Revised Version reads, “The sum of thy word is truth.” Concerning the power of God’s word, the psalmist further declares, “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. . . . For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Ps. 33: 6-9. Not only were all things created by the word of God, but it is by this same word that they are upheld. Heb. 1: 3.

Some scientists have found a fertile field for cavil and conjecture in the account of creation, and have scattered their infidel conjectures to the ends of the earth. But while the critics have died and their surmisings been forgotten, the Word of the Lord still lives.

The very libraries where these learned doctors sat and explored, dissected, and subjected to microscopical examinations the venerable documents of God’s Book, were brought into being by the influence of the Book they were trying to destroy. These men reined the Word of Jehovah to the bar of their own reasoning, and pointed out what they were pleased to

call inconsistencies, discrepancies, and errancy, but their own influence waned, withered, and died, and they are now forgotten, while the circle of influence exerted by the Word continues to widen. The blessings of modern civilization are ours because of the power of the Bible.

It is by the power of the word of God that nature brings forth its harvest. “God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.” Gen. 1:11. The Hon. William Jennings Bryan has emphasized this great truth in the following words:—

“Last year as I was eating a piece of watermelon I was impressed with its beauty. I kept some of the seeds for planting, and I found that it took five thousand seeds to make a pound, and that very melon of which I was eating weighed forty pounds. I found that one little seed put into the ground, under the influence of the warmth of the soil, would gather from somewhere two hundred thousand times its own weight, and form a watermelon, the outside of which was green, with a lining of white, and a core of red, and all through the red, seeds scattered, every one of which was capable of doing the same thing over again. Where did it find its flavoring extract? Will any scientist tell us? Unless a man understands how a little seed can build a watermelon, he should not be too sure that he can place limitations upon the arm of the Almighty.”

We should indeed be pleased to have the scientist who is exploring the Bible in search of things that are unscientific, explain some of the things that are suggested by Mr. Bryan. Where does the watermelon find its flavoring extract? When they have explained this they can explain where the apple and the peach and the pear and the flowers receive their flavor and perfume. When they have explained by science the thousand and one things in nature before which they stand dumb, it will be more proper for these Gamaliels of science to turn the power of their scholarly minds to the work of dissecting the sacred books of the Holy Scriptures. The late Mr. Hastings, speaking of the work of criticizing the Bible, says:—

“The work of criticizing such writings is not to be rashly undertaken. It is an occupation for men who speak the words of truth and soberness. These records are hoary with age. They have survived the wreck of nations and empires. They have been, and still are, regarded with reverence, not merely by ignorant and degraded races, the worshipers of idols and the regarders of fetishes, but by the most intelligent and intellectual peoples on the face of the earth. The only nations which at the present time stand in the forefront of the world in art, in science, and in literature, are the nations which have read and cherished these books. They have entered into the civilization, the literature, and the jurisprudence of the civilized world; and it is impossible now to find a nation noted for art, invention, science, and progress, which has not paid reverence to these books.”—“Higher Criticism,” p. 12.

What men need is an anchor. It is easy to cut loose from our mooring, but who can tell where we will drift, or what rocks we may strike and become wrecked? God’s Word is an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. It pierces the darkness and uncertainty surrounding it, with rays of clear light, and beyond the storms and tempests reveals a place of rest for the weary. Blessed Book! G. B. T.

A General Council, or Conference

By W. A. S.

As churches increased, it was just as essential that they should keep in fellowship with one another as that individual members in the local church should be united as one body. Independent teachers had gone out from Jerusalem to the regions of Antioch and Syria and Cilicia, teaching contrary to the faith of the body. The need arose for the churches to deal with the matter, and it was arranged that representatives, or delegates, should be selected to attend a council, or conference, at Jerusalem. Just as soon as believers multiplied in various places, so that all could not meet together in one place, the plan of delegate assemblies was introduced.

The brief record of this conference is found in Acts 15. It is summarized in the following words of the Spirit of prophecy:—

“The council which decided this case was composed of the founders of the Jewish and Gentile Christian churches. Elders from Jerusalem, and deputies [delegates] from Antioch were present; and the most influential churches were represented. The council did not claim infallibility in their deliberations, but moved from the dictates of enlightened judgment, and with the dignity of a church established by the divine will.”—“Sketches from the Life of Paul,” p. 70.

Because it was an assembly engaged in God’s work, there was all the more reason that its business should be done “decently and in order.” Again the Spirit of prophecy says:—

“James presided at the council, and his final decision was, ‘Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.’”

“This ended the discussion. In this instance we have a refutation of the doctrine held by the Roman Catholic Church—that Peter was the head of the church. Those who, as popes, have claimed to be his successors, have no foundation for their pretensions. Nothing in the life of Peter gives sanction to those pretended claims. If the professed successors of Peter had imitated his example, they would have taken no authoritative position, but one on an equality with that of their brethren.

“James, in this instance, seems to have been chosen to decide the matter which was brought before the council.”—Id., pp. 68, 69.

Because James was chosen as presiding officer, he was no more head of the general church than the presiding officer or elder of the local body of believers is head of the local church. The responsibilities of office in the work of the church, whether local or general, are not laid upon men as conferring lordship or headship over any, but as appointments to special service and leadership in the common work of the church. Christ is the head of every man, and the head of every church; because he is the head of the whole church, which is his body. Thus the plan of representative, or delegate, meetings was inaugurated.

“The entire body of Christians were not called to vote upon the question. The apostles and elders—men of influence and judgment—framed and issued the decree, which was thereupon generally accepted by the Christian churches.”—Id., p. 70.

The decisions of the conference were published by letter, and authorized representatives were furnished with credentials from the body to carry the word to those churches which had been disturbed by the work of the independent and self-appointed teachers. As the Spirit of prophecy says:—

“The four servants of God were sent to Antioch with the epistle and message, which put an end to all controversy; for it was the voice of the highest authority upon earth.”—Id., p. 70.

Thus equipped, Paul and Silas went among the churches in Syria and Cilicia.

“And as they went through the cities, they delivered them the decrees for to keep, that were ordained of the apostles and elders which were at Jerusalem. And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.” Acts 16: 4, 5.

Others who went out from the conference must have done similar work elsewhere, for at the council there had been recognition and agreement as to assignment of general fields of labor. In behalf of the council, James, Peter, and John, upon whom the Lord had laid special burden for the work among the Jewish people, had given the right hand of fellowship to the apostles commissioned of the Lord to oversee the work among the Gentile peoples to the northward. Gal. 2:9.

We have this inspired record of the first general council, or conference, of the early Christian church. It represents the church in council to preserve purity of doctrine and gospel teaching, and establish harmonious action and coöperation among all the churches; and it shows that the churches truly connected with Christ, the Head, recognized the united decisions of the conference as of authority, under the word of God, in order that harmony and unity might prevail.

But already there were springing up in the church those who sought to bring in separation and error. Their spirit was one of independence and anarchy. These were not ready to accept the decision of the conference. As the Spirit of prophecy says:—

“All were not pleased, however, with this decision; there was a faction of false brethren who assumed to engage in a work on their own responsibility. They indulged in murmuring and fault-finding, proposing new plans, and seeking to pull down the work of the experienced men whom God had ordained to teach the doctrine of Christ. The church has had such obstacles to meet from the first, and will ever have them to the close of time.”—Id., pp. 70, 71.

These were the elements that led the way toward apostasy and the Papacy. The Papacy did not spring from any excess of zeal or loyalty to gospel order and recognition of the rightful authority of the church. It sprang from opposition to order and organization. It is the spirit that must have its own way despite the counsels of the Lord and of the brethren. Against every such influence that made for separation and division the Spirit of God ceased not to bear earnest testimony through New Testament times.

W. A. S.

The Connection Between Mrs. White’s Visions and This Movement

By George I. Butler

G. I. BUTLER

The Seventh-day Adventist Church claims to be giving the three angels’ messages of Rev. 14: 6-12. The visions of John the Revelator clearly foretold that in the last days, just before Christ’s second advent, these proclamations would go forth to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people; and when the world should have been warned by these messages Christ would come in his glory to gather his people home, and to destroy those not in harmony with his law.

The language of Holy Writ demonstrates that these messages, though connected, are successive, the first one mentioned coming first in point of time; the second following the first, and combining with it; the third coming last, joining the other two. The proclamation of the third closes the series and brings Christ’s personal advent.

The first message proclaims the hour of God’s judgment, which began at the close of the greatest prophetic period in the Bible, the twenty-three hundred days. The period began in the fall of 457 B. C., at the going forth of the decree of the Persian king for the restoring and rebuilding of Jerusalem, and reaches to the fall of 1844 A. D.

This great time message went forth with mighty power. “Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” The people thought at that time that by the cleansing of the sanctuary was meant the coming of the Saviour to cleanse this earth by fire. When Christ did not come as expected, the people were bitterly disappointed, but after careful study the true believers discovered that a mistake had been made—that the sanctuary to be cleansed was the temple of God in heaven, “which the Lord pitched, and not man.” Heb. 8: 2. That work is the last work of our great High Priest in the holy of holies, the final work of judgment, deciding, as it does, who are to be saved when Christ comes in glory. That work has been in progress since 1844.

The great disappointment in 1844 caused the popular churches to reject the doctrine of the soon-coming Saviour, and to cast out the believers in the advent faith. The cry went forth, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen,” and fifty thousand believers left the popular churches. From that time the belief in Christ’s soon coming has been rejected by the churches as bodies. Adventism has become very unpopular, and the churches that rejected the message have been far less spiritual than before. Much false doctrine has been received. Respect for God’s Word has greatly decreased, and while large numbers of excellent people are still connected with those churches, the churches, as bodies, are becoming less and less spiritual. Another cry of “Babylon is fallen, is fallen” is yet to go forth. Rev. 18: 1-5. This will be just before Christ comes.

The third angel’s message follows the other two, or rather joins with them. The truth of the first message still remains a glorious fact. The hour of his judgment has come, and its progress in the heavenly temple is yet a wonderfully solemn truth. The message of the second angel, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen,” also continues to be a very sad and solemn truth.

The third angel’s message has been sounding since the passing of the time in 1844. This message brings impressively to our view the preparation which must be made for the coming of Christ. If this message is fully heeded, those who fully accept it and live out its instructions will be prepared to meet him when he comes, and those who do not accept it will be found wanting. “The third angel followed them [the other two messages], saying with a loud voice. If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark, . . . the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God. . . . Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14: 9-12.

The “beast” is the power brought to view in Revelation 13,—the Papacy. And the “image” is a last-day power, in character like the Papacy, uniting church and state, and persecuting those who keep the commandments of God. It is really apostate Protestantism joining with Rome in the very last days of time, holding the same false doctrines held by the Papacy.

In other words, the Protestant Reformation was a reformation rejecting in part many false doctrines taught by the Papacy, but holding others of papal origin. The third angel’s message is a solemn call, given in the very closing scenes of time, to reject every false doctrine and return to the pure doctrines of the Holy Scriptures. This is the full, complete, and absolutely necessary work of preparation for the coming of Christ. Our Lord left a pure apostolic and holy church when he ascended on high: he will have a holy church when he returns.

But in order to have such a church, he found it necessary to bestow the Spirit of prophecy on the remnant church. This is of supreme importance. “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Prov. 29: 18. The commandments of

God and the testimony of Jesus Christ stand side by side. The Spirit of prophecy accompanied God’s people when they kept God’s commandments in the Old Testament church. It accompanied the New Testament church till John wrote the book of Revelation. The commandments and prophecy are seen together again when the divine message of the third angel is proclaimed as a preparation for the second coming of Christ.

When the third angel’s message was due, just after the great disappointment at the ending of the twenty-three hundred days in 1844, God gave a true vision to his chosen agent, a young girl of seventeen years, and during her long life of service she was granted many other visions. Like Moses of old, who was laid to sleep just before Israel entered the typical Promised Land, so this noble mother in Israel fell asleep triumphant in faith in 1915. All through her long, godly life this great movement steadily grew and prospered under the guidance of this heavenly agency. In every important crisis endangering the progress of this movement, light from heaven was given through the Spirit of prophecy to guide it in safety.

Various crises have occurred. Misguided men have cherished unbelief; have left the work, often with bitterness. But their departure was their own great spiritual loss. The movement went forward. The loyal faith and support of our own people and their belief in this blessed gift in the church, have never yet failed in any crisis.

The writer, who has had over fifty years’ experience in this cause, and has held the highest positions of trust and responsibility in it during portions of that time, firmly believes this movement could never have existed had it not been for the gift of the Spirit of prophecy, and any candid, intelligent person, knowing the facts, will be of the same opinion.

The Inhumanity of Man Is Our Greatest Sin

“The inhumanity of man is our greatest sin.”

J. O. CORLISS

By John O. Corliss

The Atonement — No. 11

J. O. CORLISS

Its Significance to the Work at Large

It is in place at this point in our studies to draw certain conclusions. The review of the work done in the earthly sanctuary revealed a regular system of service, which must have been intended to direct the faith of the Israelites toward a permanent plan of salvation. Indeed, the writer of the book of Hebrews points out that this system was the foreshadowing of Christ's work as priest in behalf of the world. Paul even affirms that the earthly sanctuary itself was built like the one God showed Moses when holding the interview with him in Mt. Sinai, at the same time that the divine law of the ten commandments was given to him. Ex. 19:18, 20; 34:1-4; Heb. 8:5.

The sanctuary presented to Moses as a pattern from which to build the earthly one, was built by the Lord himself. Heb. 8:1, 2. But Inspiration tells more than this. After speaking of the daily work in the first apartment, performed by the underpriests, the account says that the high priest went alone once each year into the second, or inner, apartment of the sanctuary, where he offered blood for the errors (ignorance) of his people. Heb. 9:1-7. Then follows the conclusion,—that by all of this service the Holy Spirit signified that the way into the holiest of all, that is, the heavenly sanctuary, was not yet clearly set forth, but the earthly service was a figure, or shadow, of the heavenly in both gifts and sacrifices, until the better service through Christ should be established by the gift of his life and the offering of his blood for sin. Heb. 9:8-11, 22-26.

But how could all the daily and yearly services in the earthly sanctuary truly typify the service of Christ as high priest in the heavenly sanctuary? In other words, how could the work allotted to the earthly underpriests be represented in the heavenly service? Could angels serve with Christ in carrying out his purpose as the world's high priest? The question might better be put in some such form as this: If it were necessary for Christ, in preparation for his priestly duties, to become united to humanity in its common likeness, and so learn its needs and the appropriate remedy for supplying them (Heb. 2:14-18; 4:15), how could angels, who have never sinned and have experienced nothing of earth's sorrows, as the result of human weaknesses, be fitted to assist in the heavenly priesthood?

This need was happily provided for. When the Lord arose from the dead, his triumph embraced more than his own release from the grasp of the king of terrors. With him came forth from the grave many saints (Matt. 27:52, 53), who also were destined to be associated with him in his work for others. When he ascended on high, these were led in his train, to receive the gifts in store for them. Eph. 4:8. While the personnel of these risen ones is not revealed, it is fair to infer that they were all fitted, by their earthly experiences, for their heavenly work.

There is, however, much that we may know of these highly favored ones, as we read of their work after their resurrection from the dead. In a wonderful vision given on the isle of Patmos, the prophet beheld a sealed book about to be opened in the presence of the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (the Lord Jesus Christ), which contained and enumerated the persecutions of men for righteousness' sake, and the sympathy felt for them in the courts of glory. When this book was taken in hand by Christ, among others who fell down in worship before him were “four and twenty elders,” and they poured out their hearts before him in a wonderful song, saying: “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:9, 10.

These “elders” were clothed in white (Rev. 4:4), the proper raiment of the priesthood (Ex. 39:27), and were those redeemed by Christ's blood.

Another feature about this heavenly priesthood is worthy of consideration, and that is the number represented in the course of service. Looking back to the adjustment of the earthly priesthood in the time of David, who was a man after God's own heart (1 Sam. 13:14), the record shows that the arrangement was made according to the chief survivors of the two sons of Aaron, namely, Eleazar and Ithamar. Sixteen of these were descendants of the former, and eight of the latter. These twenty-four were made heads of the various departments of the sanctuary work, and their sons were divided by lot to serve in the various courses. The correspondence of this number, twenty-four, in the courses of the heavenly priesthood, is at least presumptive evidence that even the number of priests in each course of the typical services is preserved in the heavenly work.

The appointed day for Israel's atonement came after the yearly accumulation of sins in the sanctuary, and the work of that day was to cleanse the sanctuary of this aggregated sin-uncleanness of the house of Israel. Lev. 16:19. This was said to be the figure, or shadow, of the real atonement to be secured by Christ's ministration in the heavenly sanctuary. Heb. 8:2, 6, 11, 12. Whatever a shadow of anything discloses, must be real in the substance which casts the shadow. Therefore the real atonement must be the final summing up of the world's guilt or innocence, as was reflected in the typical service of Israel's day of atonement, in order to settle eternally the destiny of each individual case. So all the true confessions of sin, which are laid on Christ to be borne by him, he in turn, as the high priest, will lay on the author of sin, the real scapegoat,—Satan,—and have them borne by him into oblivion. But only those sins thus laid on Christ by confession, can he lay off on the head of their originator. So if any one does not choose to benefit by the heavenly plan, he must bear his own sins, and take the consequent results.

In a previous study it was seen that the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary of sins there accumulated through confession, was announced to take place at the close of the twenty-three hundred symbolic days. Dan. 8:14. Investigation revealed that these days ended in 1844 A. D. This, then, without doubt, was the time when the closing work was begun in the sanctuary above by the heavenly High Priest. From that point forward the work of deciding the cases of all men for weal or woe has been going on, in preparation for the final issue of the Lord's second coming, to separate the good from the bad, and to take his own to dwell with him in glory.

All through the ages, this finale has been seen by the eye of faith. As far back as Enoch, only the seventh generation from Adam, it was prophesied of the two classes which will be recompensed at the second earthly presence of

the Master. His coming will be after he has laid aside his priestly garb, and ceased his mediatorial work in man's behalf. Then he will come to execute righteous judgment in accordance with the decisions rendered in the courts of the heavenly sanctuary.

This crowning event cannot be far away, since the closing work for mankind has been so long in progress. Already nearly an entire generation has come and gone since the time of the heavenly atonement began. But we know, from the assurance of the Lord, that the generation will not pass until all is finished. The end therefore cannot be far away.

Glendale, Cal.

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