Oldal:Memorial-1938.djvu/13 forrásának megtekintése

<noinclude><pagequality level="1" user="" /></noinclude>MARcn 1, 1938 g-fie WATCHT0WER The guide preceded Ezekiel into the temple: "Then went he inward, and measured the post of the Linner] door, two cubits i and the door, six cubits i and the breadth of the door, seven cubits. So he measured the length thereof, twenty cubits; and the breadth, twenty cubits, before the temple: and he said unto me, This is the most holy place." (Ezek. 41: 3, 4) Ezekiel, fol- lowing the guide, was taken into "the most holy", as shown by the latter part of verse four, just quoted. Ezekiel was there granted the privilege of a high priest. "The most holy" pictures heaven itself. "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true i but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." (Heb. 9: 24) Other scriptures show that the Lord Jesus came to Jehovah's temple in 1918 and then he began to gather unto himself into the temple the faithful class, designated "the remnant", because thesp. have proved faithful at each progressive step from the time of justification and spirit-begetting. The going of Ezekiel into the temple foreshadowed the assembly of the faithful ones and their gathering into the joy of Christ Jesus. This point of Ezekiel's progression corresponds to the time when Christ Jesus comes to the temple of Jehovah and finds a faithful class. "Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods." (Matt. 24: 46, 47) Those composing this "faithful servant" class pictured by Ezekiel had met the reo quirements or measurements, not by reason of self- development, but by their faithful devotion to God and to his kingdom interests. Christ Jesus, the great Judge, there begins to take account with such, and the faithful ones he invites to enter into his joy.- Matt. 25: 20, 21. Jehovah's remnant class are shown how to measure the requirements or qualifications for getting an en- trance into the temple. "And hath raised us up to- gether, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:6) The apostle's words further show that the reaching of this position of blessedness is not the result of one's own efforts to make himself" exceedingly good and pious", as these words are generally understood, but rather is the reo sult of God's grace and the creature's faithfulness. "For by grace are ye saved through faith i and that not of yourselves i it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workman- ship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreign- ers, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the house- hold of God; and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habi- 77 tation of God through the spirit. "-Eph. 2: 8.10, 19-22. The progressive steps that the faithful sons of God must take before reaching the temple are briefly stated by the apostle. (See 2 Peter 1: 2-11.) It is, the power and grace of God that makes it possible for one to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ and ultimately be made a member of the royal house. "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that per- tain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue; where- by are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine Lgrowth; kind (of life), Strong], having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (2 Pet. 1: 3,4) Ezekiel, standing on the out· side of the outer court, and seeing the man with the measuring equipment, pictures that class begotten of the holy spirit and invited to the kingdom. The measurements' beginning at the gate, and the heaven. ly messenger's urging Ezekiel to keenly observe every- thing he saw, is exactly in accord with the admonition of the apostle: "And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue i and to virtue knowledge." (2 Pet. 1: 5) The word "virtue" in this text really means "manliness, valor or fortitude". Seeing the prospect set before them, and that the chief thing is to be faithful to God, the Ezekiel class is admonished to be 'real men'. "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity [unselfishness]. "-1 Cor. 16: 13, 14. 'i'ilere must be no compromise or alliance with any putt of the world, which is Satan's organization. The proper course will require diligence and hard work, and a joyful endurance of whatsoever comes. The faithful class will be compelled to suffer much reo proach, but that is one of the requirements of true soldiers of Jesus Christ: "Thou therefore endllre hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that wan'eth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawiully. " (2 Tim. 2: 3-5) 'Striving lawfully' means to follow carefully the prescribed rules, just as Ezekiel followed his guide in his progressive steps and marked the measurements he saw the guide take. The following scripture is an admonition addressed to the cla-;s that is on the way to the kingdom, and states some of the rules (pictured by measurements conrerlling the house of God) that must be carefully observed and obeyed, to wit: •Add to knowledge self- control, patience, piety, brotherly kindness, and love,' which is the unselfish devotion to Jehovah and to his kingdom. (2 Pet. 1: 5-7) The words of Bzrldel's guide showed that it was necessary for him to gain 1000wl- edge i otherwise he would not have heen admon ished to give such close attention to what he might see and hear. Jehovah has increased his light upon his Word <noinclude><references/></noinclude>