JUNE 15, 1929 The WATCH TOWER 183
earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people." -Isa. 51: 16.
42 We know that Christ Jesus is the Head of God's organization and that he is present directing the work of the anointed on earth. He has not two organizations on earth. There is but one. That organization of the Lord, or the body of Christians who are devoted to him, is known under the generic term of "the Society". God, through Christ, is now giving orders to his people which they must obey. These orders he makes clear by the flashes of lightning upon his Word, and discloses to his people the facts in fulfilment of prophecy which show that the time of fulfilment is at hand and the time for the setting up of the kingdom. Let every one who claims to be of the anointed of God keep abreast with the prescat truth and keep in step with Christ, the Head of God's organization. Therefore says the apostle to the anointed of God: "Let every soul | every one of God's organization | be subject to the higher powers," because this is God's organization and Christ Jesus now present is in command thereof. Then the apostle adds: 43 "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." (Verse 12) The day is at hand because Satan has been cast out of heaven and the forces are rapidly forming into battle array for the final conflict which will destroy darkness, completely sweep away the refuge of lies, and reveal the perfect light of day. (Isa.28:17) The works of darkness are the works of the prince of evil, Satan the Devil. There can be no compromise with any of his works or his agencies. The anointed must be for the Lord, wholly and completely. Holiness means an absolute devotion to the Lord. Any claiming to be the anointed of the Lord who now stand by and see the clergy, who are enemies of God because they are a part of the world, steal or rob God of the devotion of the people, and refuse to cry out in warning thereby become a party to the crime and prove their unfaithfulness unto God. Those who claim to be anointed of the Lord and who now refuse or fail to tell the truth because of fear of offending some of Satan's organization show thereby that they hate the instruction of the Lord and have his disapproval.-Ps. 50:17, 18. 44 As further proof that the Lord is displeased with any compromise being made by his anointed with Satan`s organization, his inspired witness says: "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." (2 Cor. 6:17:18) God's anointed must put on and henceforth keep on the armor of light and let that light so shine that no one can doubt as to where he stands. 45 "Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantoness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Verses 13, 14) These words of the apostle make clear the proper course of the anointed ones. None such can walk in honesty who tries to compromise with the enemy. There must be peace and complete harmony in the ranks of the Lord's army, and all who look well to the goods or kingdom interests which the Lord has committed unto his servant class will work together in harmony. Those who oppose the action of the Lord's people in carrying on his witness work are not walking honestly, but are walking in rioting and drunkeness and wantonness, strife and envying, within the meaning of the apostle's words. 46 God's anointed are within the walls of his organization. Therefore let every one who is of that organization say: "Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee, Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek thy good." (Ps.122:7-9) Let all controversies cease amongst the Lord's people, and let those who do not desire to have any part in the work of the Lord withdraw and remain quiet and not attempt to hinder the Lord's works. 47 The Lord Jesus is at the head of Jehovah's army. He is leading on to complete victory. Of the remnant on earth the singers are in the van, and in obedience to God's commands are proclaiming Jehovah's name and singing forth his praises. (Isa. 12:5, 6) God is safeguarding those in the van of the army. He warns the sleeping ones to arouse themselves out of their sleep and join the rear-guard. For the encouragement of those who so do he says: "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward [rear-ward]."-Isa.58:8. 48 Those who thus awake and join the army of the Lord and march on shall be safeguarded in the rear, as the Lord has promised, even as those in the front part of the army are safeguarded. Let the anointed now appreciate their privilege of being faithful and true witnesses in singing forth the praises of Jehovah.
QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY
1. State the arrangement which we find to constitute "th power that be", to which all in the church who would have the Lod's approval must be willingly submissive and obedient. 2. Show whether the existence and opertaion of the governments of the world would prove them to be ordained if God. 3. What does Acts 17:31 indicate as to God's having been judging the world during the Christian era? How does 1 Peter 4:17 support this conclusion? 4,5. How does Romans 2:1, 3 include application of Romans 13:2 to powers of the Gentile governments? How does the expression "Whosocrer resisteth " confine the judgement to God's organization?
