A lap nincsen korrektúrázva
282
AZ ŐRTORONY
Brooklyn, N.Y.
kindness extended to us in providing the free use of the Fair Grounds for our convention.
We thank the Chamber of Commerce for its cooperation and many favors shown to us.
We thank the radio stations WCAR and WAIU for their cooperation in freely broadcasting the message of the kingdom of God to the people.
We theuk the faithful reporters and the public press for their cooperation and the part performed by them so kindly in publishing and conveying the news concerning our conven· tion to the reading public.
We extend our thanks to all the good people of Columbus antI vicinity for the many kinunesses shown toward us thus making our stay in this vicinity a pleasant one.
The Lord will not forget even the smallest favor bestowed npon his faithful witnesses. We therefore confiuently predict that the Lord will show some special favor to the good people
of this vicinity who have provided for us even a cup of cold water in his name.
Wo kindly suggest that all such good people turn their hearts more fully to Jehovah, and for you we wish many and lasting blessings.
The Columbus convention was unlike any conven- tion ever before held. Comparison seems out of place. It was a monument on the way to the kingdom. It was refreshing and gave strength to the anointed. The Lord provided it and there he fed his people. There he truly proved his promise: "I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread." (Ps. 132: 15) All honor and praise is due to Jehovah. Let the anointed continue to honor his name by de- claring his works to the people and by singing forth his praises.
UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY EHOVAH reveals himself and his purposes to his people in his own due time. His prophecy cannot therefore be understood until it is God's due time for understanding it. Prior to his due time any interpretation is merely a guess. Without doubt it has been pleasing to the Lord for those consecrated to him to seek an understanding even before the due time to understand. Their very attitude of searching for the truth kept them in harmony with the Lord. The holy angels of heaven sought an understanding; and while the Lord did not reveal his purpose to them, he did not rebuke them, and thus shows that he is not displeased with those who search for the truth. It will be found also that the understanding of the prophecies of God increases as the fulfilment thereof unfolds. Therefore one may see some part of prophecy now, and later see it more clearly. Prov- erbs, chapter four, verse eighteen, says: "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." It is also true that prophecy has more than one fulfilment. It will be found that at a certain period of time the prophecy has a small or miniature fulfilment, and later a much larger and complete fulfilment. Many students have made the grievous mistake of thinking that God has inspired men to interpret prophecy. The holy prophets of the Old Testament were inspired by Jehovah to write as his power moved upon them. The writers of the New Testament were clothed with certain power and authority to write as the Lord directed them. However, since the days of the apostles no man on earth has been inspired to write prophecy, nor has any man been inspired to interpret prophecy. The Apostle Peter emphatically says this in his second epistle, chapter one, verse twenty: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." The inter- pretation comes from the Lord in his own due time. J When his due time arrives to bring about the physical facts by which those devoted to him can see that these facts are in fulfilment of prophecy, then the prophecy can be understood. The truth does not belong to any man or any other creature. God's 'YOI'd is truth. In his due time he makes it clear to those devoted to him, and not before. To his faithful disciples Jesus said: "When he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: . . . and he will shew you things to come." (John 16: 13) The spirit of God was given to these disciples at Pentecost, and thereafter they spoke or wrote un- der the supervision of the spirit of God. (Acts 2: 4) The Lord did show them things to come, and some of them uttered words of prophecy. There is no Scriptural proof, however, that the apostles had suc- cessors, and therefore we must conclude that they had a special mission from the Lord to understand and speak according to his will. Without doubt some of them at least had a better understanding than they were permitted to disclose to others. Paul speaks of himself as receiving a vision from the Lord and of hearing words which it was not lawful for him to utter. That statement of his is found in his second letter to the Corinthians, chapter twelve, verse four. So far as the Bible discloses, there is no other man since the days of the apostles who has had any vision that was not lawful for him to utter. From the words of Jesus we must understand that even his disciples would be permitted to understand God's purpose only in his due time. Jesus also said to his disciples: "And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe." (John 14: 29) This is a plain statement of the rule concerning the understand- ing of prophecy, namely, that 'when it comes to pass, ye may believe and understand '. The expression "ye" in the text refers to the disciples, and it must
