Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1911 — OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OLD TESTAMENT TIMES BROOKLYN TABERNACLE BIBLE STUDIES

"RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE” Ezekiel xlvii, 1-12—Oct. 8 ,r Whosoever will, let him take of the Water of Life freely.’’—Rerelation xxii, n. IN this study also we find that the Lord through Ezekiel gives us a picture of the Millennial Age, very similar to the one given us in the book of Revelation, seven hundred years after. Ezekiel’s picture shows Jerusalem and the Temple of God as the source of the River of the Water of Life; so

In Revelation. Ezekiel shows the river deepening and broadening from a rivulet to a mighty river. He pictures it as flowing down to the De a d Sea. and carrying life whithersoever i t goes. He pictures the Dead Sea as being revived, re-

covered from its (leadness, and full Of fish. No such river has ever yet sprung forth from Jerusalem, nor can we imagine bow the river would ever have its start in the mountain top and reach such proportions in the short distance. This description, picturing a great spiritual truth, is in full accord with the picture in Revelation. It represents beautifully, forcefully, the blessings of refreshment and restitution which will issue forth from the New Jerusalem, the Kingdom of Messiah. when it shall be established amongst men. Gradually the mighty influences of the reign of Messiah will extend blessings to all mankind, even to the submerged class, steeped in ignorance and superstition, fitly represented by the Dead Pea. Revelation pictures this river as flowing from under the Throne, the New Jerusalem, clear as crystal, and having trees of life on either side of its banks, good for food. Ezekiel has the same picture in mind; he tells of the same trees, whose leaf shall not fade and whose fruit shall not fall, but which will bring forth good fruit every month, because the water which refreshes them comes from the Sanctuary. “The fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaves thereof for healing.” Similarly, in Revelation, we are told, “the leaves of the trees will be for the healing of the people” and the fruit for the sustenance of everlasting life; and the Water itself will be for their refreshment. Then we are told that “the Spirit and the Bride” shall give the invitation—a world-wide invitation. “Whosoever will” may come, and he who hears the invitation may say to others, “Come, and drink of the water of life freely!”

No Water of Life Now We are certain in our application of these symbolic pictures, that they belong to the future and not to the present. Where Is the Water of Life of Revelation now? Where have we anything corresponding to the life-sustain-ing trees and their healing leaves? On the contrary, now, we have the Lord’s Word for it that “No man can come unto Me except the Father which sent Me draw him." In other words, there is a measure of selection or election as respects the class invited to constitute the Bride, the Lamb's Wife. But with the end of this Age will come the end of the elective process; then the Divine Message will be Free Grace, an offer and opportunity to every creature of Adam’s race. All blind eyes will be opened so that all may see; all deaf ears will be unstopped that all may hear, so that the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth. No Bride to Say, “Come" The Revelation picture tells us that the Bride of Christ, as well as the Holy Spirit, will give the invitation to

every creature to come and partake of the Water of Life freely. But bow could the Bride give this invitation before she exists? That there is no Bride at the present time is manifest Now is the time for calling the Bride class. Now is the time for

those invited to make their “calling, and their election sure,” but Bride there will be none until the Incoming Age. The name “bride” implies a marriage; the Church is already espoused to Christ, but the marriage is promised to take place at His second coming. Then there will be' a Bride, and shortly after, the glorified Church, in association with her Lord, will be in Kingdom power, in the N,ew Jerusalem—the heavenly. From that City, that new Seat of earth’s Empire, will go forth God’s Message, gradually deepening and broadening until every member of the race shall have had an opportunity to share Jn its blessing of life everlasting. , Blessed thought! When the Prince of Life shall have put in force the laws of righteousness and equity with an iron rod, the masses of humanity will learn that “Righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” And. ultimately, they will learn to low righteousness. All who refuse to learn and obey will be “cut off” from life. • ".i-

“Sitting under the vine.”

"River of water.”