[585]The first few years of restitution blessings will find multitudes of people diligently seeking to be restored to health and strength; and as they grow strong themselves and prepare homes for themselves and their families, they will be thinking of their beloved dead. Naturally they will want to see them again, and they will pray to the Lord to restore them. And the Lord will hear their prayers and answer them. "It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24) Jesus declared that "all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment". (John 5:28,29) "They that have done evil" here means the entire human race aside from the church. They were born evil, born sinners. (Romans 5:12) They are coming forth to judgment, to a trial; and this is the great trial time spoken of by the Apostle, in which all men shall have an opportunity. (Acts 17:31) "There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust."—Acts 24:15.
[586]St. Paul then produces his wonderful and beautiful argument on the resurrection, saying, "If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised; and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:16-22) Then the Apostle shows that after the resurrection of the church in the beginning of the kingdom every man must come forth in his own order. Jesus declared: "Many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first". (Matthew 19:30) This principle may be properly applied to the resurrection of the dead. Those who died last will be the first to be awakened; while those who died centuries ago will be among the last to be awakened.
[587]In the World War millions of men died upon the battlefield. That was indeed the land of the enemy, the land of death. The Lord gives us a picture through the Prophet as to the coming days of blessing, saying to the woman who wept for her children, and thus illustrating all who weep for their dead: "Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears; for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border." —Jeremiah 31:16,17.
[588]As the dead come back from the tombs, provision will be made for them by their friends who are living on the earth. Families long broken up will be again united; and sadness will give way to joy. The whole human race, ransomed by the Lord, will have this opportunity; and the Prophet describes it thus: "The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away". (Isaiah 35:10) Gradually, throughout the thousand years of Messiah's reign, will the human race march up over the highway of holiness, until all will have had a full and fair opportunity, the willfully wicked destroyed and the obedient ones restored to perfection of body and mind and heart.
[589]The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed by fire. It does not mean, however, that they went into an endless torture, as we have heretofore been led to believe. On the contrary, the Lord plainly states that they shall be brought back to their former estate; that is, as human beings on the earth, for the purpose of being given a trial. "When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall return to your former estate." (Ezekiel 16:55) While the Lord will rule with an iron hand, compelling obedience, yet his rule will be a righteous one, and he will reprove with justice. He is pictured by the Prophet as ruling in faithfulness and righteousness, thus: "With righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins."—Isaiah 11:4,5.
[590]The beneficial effect of his righteous reign is also pictured by the Prophet, in the passage which shows how that the wild beasts of the earth will become subject to man, and how a little child shall direct them. "The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den."—Isaiah 11:6-8.
[591]All must come to a knowledge of the truth; and those obeying it will have their sins and iniquities wiped out for ever. Thus says the Prophet: "They shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least to the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." (Jeremiah 31:34) When the Lord remembers their iniquities and sins no more, then it must be that they are restored. When John the Baptist announced the approach of Jesus, he exclaimed: "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world". When the sin of the world is gone, when there is a world without sin, then it must be a world with perfect people.
[592]That the people will be brought to a condition of health and be cured of their sickness the Lord assures us through his Prophet. "Behold, I will bring in health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." (Jeremiah 33:6) "And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity."—Isaiah 33:24
[593]The restoration means the bringing back to earth of the Edenic condition for man's benefit. Some may think there will be not sufficient room upon the earth for all the restored ones. According to the best authority, there have lived and died about 20,000,000,000 people. There are now on earth approximately 1,700,000,000 persons. This is a total of 21,700,000,000. In order to be liberal, let us suppose that all the human race will total 50,000,000,000. As a suggestion that there will be ample room for all on the earth, let one take his pencil and divide the area of the state of Texas by 50,000,000,000; and he will find that that number of people could be placed in the state of Texas alone, giving each one about 146 square feet of land upon which to stand. Of course it is not to be expected that the earth will be crowded thus; but when we remember that only a small portion of the earth's surface is now inhabited, that a great portion of it is desert, and when this desert shall become productive and all parts of the earth habitable, then we may see that 50,000,000,000 of people could comfortably be taken care of in the earth and have plenty of room to spare.
[594]But will the earth produce sufficiently to feed this multitude? The Scriptures answer: "The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon: they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God.... And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water." (Isaiah 35:1,2,7) "The desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited." (Ezekiel 36:34,35) When the whole earth's surface is brought up to a condition of high cultivation like unto the garden of Eden, then indeed the earth will be a fit habitation for man. The reclamation of desert land such as the Imperial Valley of California has now begun. Only a few years ago that valley was a desolate wilderness in which no animal or human being could live; and now it produces abundant crops because it has been watered. When all the vast deserts of Sahara, Arabia, and America are fully irrigated and blossom as the rose, they will produce abundantly for man's needs.
[595]The reign of Christ will result in the destruction of all man's enemies. The weeds, the thistles, the thorns, the pests that destroy crops, shall all be destroyed. Everything that produces sickness shall be destroyed. The Apostle plainly says; "He [Christ] must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death."—1 Corinthians 15:25,26.
[596]We can well imagine great multitudes of people assembling in different parts of the earth to celebrate their deliverance from Satan and his wicked organizations; and as the people witness the passing away of ignorance, crime, superstition; and see knowledge, goodness, loving kindness taking their place, they will fill the earth with joyful song. The Prophet describes some of the effects of these restitution blessings thus: "In this mountain [kingdom] shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations [taking away ignorance, etc,]. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away all tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off the earth; for the Lord hath spoken it."—Isaiah 25:6-8.
[597]St. John on the Isle of Patmos had a vision of the great Messianic kingdom and described it in symbolic phrase. The word "heaven" symbolically means the invisible ruling power; while the "earth" means organized society. The old heaven has been wicked, because Satan, the wicked one, has been ruling. The old earth has been wicked, because the organizations of men have been under the dominion of Satan. St. John, observing the Messianic kingdom and the blessings that would follow, wrote: "I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea". Thus he shows the new heaven (the Messianic kingdom) and the new earth (society organized on a righteous basis in the earth).Seais symbolic of restless humanity, thus picturing the fact that there will be no more strikes, lock-outs, revolutions, or anarchy. Continuing, he describes the kingdom as a holy city, the new Jerusalem, in this beautiful phrase: "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God"—picturing here the dwelling place of the Lord. The place of meeting between Jehovah and mankind is through the Christ. The results will be the destruction of the enemy death, and the full restoration of the obedient ones; and thus he describes it: "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful."—Revelation 21:1-5.
[598]Let the reasonable person ask himself these questions:
[599]Why would God outline such a marvelous plan as this?
[600]Why would he establish a new heaven and a new earth?
[601]Why would he awaken the dead out of their graves unless he intended to give them an opportunity to be restored to the perfection enjoyed by Adam before he sinned?
[602]God has invited us to use our reasoning faculties (Isaiah 1:18); and if we believe these great truths taught in the Bible, we can reach no other reasonable conclusion than that restitution is the great objective of God's plan relative to the human race, and that restitution blessings are near because the kingdom of heaven is at hand, even at the door. Let those who are cast down look up now; let the sorrowful be glad; let the sad hearts be comforted, and the broken hearts be bound up. Lift up your heads and rejoice in the fact that the day of deliverance for mankind is at the door!
[603]Call to mind for a moment the great amount of suffering in the densely populated cities. Old men and old women, young men and young women, children, infants in arms, all crowded into foul tenements, with not sufficient food, impure air, and improper clothing; and everything tending to degrade their morals. Call to mind the countries devastated by the war, the homes destroyed, families broken up, the crippled, blind, deaf, dumb, and insane. Imagine for a moment the intense suffering of the millions of people throughout the earth; and then know that this dark vail of suffering and death will shortly be lifted and the sunlight of God's love will shine in upon all. Like the sun, the great Messianic kingdom, shining forth with healing beams, shall dispel the darkness, drive away the sickness, clean up the bodies and clean up the minds and morals, point the people to proper food—what to eat and how to eat it, what to think upon and how to conduct themselves; and above all, to give them a full knowledge of the loving kindness of our great God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, the dearest Friend of all. And know, then, that these blessings will bring eternal happiness in the earth. Men and women will not only grow strong, but they will reach that state in which they will not even fear, think, or expect, to be sick.
[604]With the establishment of the new order under the Messiah wars and revolutions shall cease, because he has promised that then "they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more"; and thus there shall be no more restless humanity, symbolically calledsea.—Isaiah 2:4; Micah 4:3; Revelation 21:1.
[605]The profiteers will no longer be permitted to prey upon the people, because God's promise is that under the righteous reign none shall be permitted to injure another nor defraud his neighbor.—Isaiah 11:9; 65:25.
[606]Then shall famines vanish away and no more shall be hungering for food nor vainly striving for sustenance of life, because then the earth shall yield her increase and there shall be plenty for all.—Psalm 67:6.
[607]Then shall disease and sickness be destroyed, because God has promised under this new order to bring in health and strength and to bless the people with all favors incident thereto. "The inhabitant shall not say, I am sick."—Isaiah 33:24; Revelation 21:4.
[608]Funerals now are the order of the day, and the family and loved ones left behind assemble in sorrow to pay the last tribute to their beloved dead. But under the new order of things funerals will cease, undertakers will seek a more pleasing employment, and the hearses will be changed from vehicles of sorrow to equipages of pleasure. "There shall be no more death."—Rev. 21:4.
[609]Families have been torn asunder and each member has borne his or her sorrow until claimed by the grave; but under the new order families will be reunited, parents will be brought back to the children, and children to the parents, and they shall dwell together in happiness.—1 Corinthians 15:22,23.
[610]No more will the poor be vainly hunting for a habitation or fleeing from greedy landlords, because then, as God has promised, the people shall 'build houses and live in them; they shall not build for another to live in but then every man shall have his own habitation and every man shall sit under his own vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid'.—Isaiah 65:21-23; Micah 4:4.
[611]At that time there will be full liberty to do right, because right will always be encouraged. Every one will have the liberty to do all the good he can. There will be no secret service men nor espionage laws under the reign of Messiah. This will result in the development and exhibition of the beauty of character. Justice will prevail amongst men; they will become wise concerning the things pertaining to their welfare and happiness. Love will be the motive directing their actions and their every power shall be exercised for good.—Revelation 21:24-27.
[612]Life, that which has been the desire of men in all ages, will be completely realized—life in fullness, when men and women will be strong and vigorous, and there shall be no more pain, no suffering, no sorrow, no death; when all obedient ones shall return to the days of their youth and enjoy life as perfect human beings through endless ages.—Job 33:25; Romans 6:23; Revelation 21:4.
[613]Praise then shall take the place of sorrow. No longer will the people assemble in cemeteries on Decoration Day to pay tribute to their hero dead, because then their dead will be restored to them; and the one who shall be the greatest hero in their minds and hearts will be the great Messiah, who has brought the people the unspeakable blessings. Then will the people assemble, not to discuss politics, nor to wrangle over who shall hold the offices, but to improve their minds and to study the beauties and wonders of God's creation and to sing songs of gladness to his praise.—Isaiah 35:10; 51:11; Philippians 2:10,11.
[614]Death is a cruel enemy of the human race. Its sting has been felt for ages. It takes away beloved ones and leaves a burning dagger in the heart of the surviving friend. It has filled the earth with sadness, and the people with grief. But the sweet music from the harp of God has cheered some sad hearts who have learned of the divine arrangement to restore their dear ones whom they have loved and lost awhile. By faith the Christian sees that in his own good time and way God will bring back their beloved dead and give them an opportunity for endless life and happiness, because he has promised thus to do. The Christian knows that God's promises are certain of fulfillment and that his power to perform is unlimited. Such faith, based upon the precious promises, helps now in a measure to allay the sting of death.
[615]Beside the tossing billows of the mighty ocean one walks in silent meditation. Her mind turns to a beloved one who during the World War was taken away to serve in the navy. For a time he sailed the seas and returned, only to sicken and die, leaving behind a bleeding heart, which only time and the Lord can heal. As her feet silently tread the soft sands recently caressed by the waves, her mind is filled with thoughts of happy days spent with her beloved brother, whose laughter is now hushed in death and who sleeps in Jesus, waiting for the time of resurrection. The former joyful days were turned into sorrow because of Death's wicked hand. But the great Burden-Bearer lightens her load and helps her to bear her sorrow as there come to her mind the words spoken through his messenger: "Sorrow not as others, who have no hope; for if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring by him.... Comfort one another with these words."—1 Thessalonians 4:13,14,18.
[616]Gazing far out to sea, she observes a mighty ship being tossed by the power of the waves as though it were an empty shell. What marvelous power is thus displayed by those waves! Yet it is but a semblance of the power of God. He who made the great ocean and caused the moon to kiss its bosom at nightfall; he who hung the stars in the heavens, which serve to guide the weary and wave-tossed mariner in his stormy course, and who holds back the winds until he has reached his desired haven—he it is who is clothed with all power and authority in heaven and in earth, and has promised to bring back the beloved dead from the grave. His promise he will faithfully keep.
[617]Her meditations for a time sad, are now turned into silent joy because of the hope planted in that once troubled bosom by the precious promises of God. By faith she sees the blessed day, not far distant, when back to life shall come that beloved brother. By faith she sees him hurrying over the highway of holiness, until he is made strong, vigorous, and returns to the days of his youth, and shall dwell in peace and happiness for ever.
[618]Oh! what sweet and consoling music the restoration string of God's harp brings to the heart of the Christian now! What great joy will fill that heart when, as a member of the glorified body of Christ, the blessed privilege will be had of awakening out of death that beloved one and marking his gradual restoration to perfect manhood! Then both the blesser and the blessed will praise God for his boundless love. Until that happy day, blessed is the one who claims the promise: "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind [meditation] is stayed on thee, because he trusteth in thee".—Isaiah 26:3.
[619]For centuries Christians lost sight of the beautiful doctrine of the restoration pictured by the tenth string of the harp of God. This was due to the fact that the consecrated were in captivity to the religious systems formed by man and into which Satan injected false doctrines, thereby blinding the understanding of even the honest-hearted. But with the second presence of the Lord his people have been released from such Babylonian captivity. The eyes of their understanding opening because of the brightness of his presence, they have learned of the restoration string of the harp of God; and its sweet melody has cheered their hearts so much that they could not keep back the singing. God foreknew this, of course; and for the further encouragement of such caused his Prophet to write these appropriate words relative to the restoration blessings coming to the nations and peoples and kindreds of earth: "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them."—Psalm 126:1,2.
[620]Truly, as God's Prophet said: "I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp". (Psalm 49:4) All of God's plan has been stated in parabolic language, and is appreciated only by the consecrated follower of Jesus; but when understood, it is indeed a harp that yields the most entrancing music that ever fell upon human ears. Strike now the chord of restitution and hear how beautifully it responds and harmonises with all the other strings upon the divine harp! Know, then, that as the people come to learn of God's wonderful arrangement, all whose hearts are right will praise him. The Psalmist thus appropriately says:
"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness:
Fear before him, all the earth.
Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth;
The world also shall he established that it shall not be moved;
He shall judge the people righteously.
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein;
Then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord;
For he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth:
He shall judge the world with righteousness,
And the people with his truth."—Psalm 96:9-13.
[621]Finally, at the end of the Millennial reign of the Messianic kingdom, all the obedient ones of the human race will have been restored to perfect conditions. The harp of God, the great doctrinal truths, will be magnified in the hearts of all the people. But even now the fully consecrated Christian is pictured as standing above the kingdoms of this world, having the harp of God, and singing the song of Moses and the Lamb, saying: "Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name?" And with the close of the thousand years "all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest". (Revelation 15:3,4) These are looking to the finished work of Christ.
[622]By faith looking up through the corridor of the Millennial age now opening, we see standing at the further end thereof a perfect race of human beings. Every vestige of wickedness, selfishness, and wrong has been eliminated. During the thousand-year reign of Christ that old serpent, the devil and Satan, has been restrained, that he might not deceive the nations and peoples during the Messianic reign. (Revelation 20:1-3) Being released for a little season at the end of that period, he has put forth his efforts again to deceive; but now these have ended and Satan is destroyed, because God has decreed it thus. (Revelation 20:7-10; Hebrews 2:14) Abraham, the father of the faithful, and his colleagues of like faithfulness, who have, under the supervision of the Christ, directed the people through their Millennial trial, have finished their earthly career and have been raised to a higher plane as spirit beings. Having during that reign turned many to righteousness, they shine forth as the stars for ever and ever. (Daniel 12:3) The earth has been brought to a condition of Edenic Paradise. In it there are no weeds, thistles, or wicked thorns. It is a fit habitation for perfect man, pleasing to the eye. All men and women have been perfected in organism, mind, and character; and gracious words are upon their lips. Each one, granted a perfect voice, possesses the ability to sing perfectly; and a song of joy is upon all lips. All the creation of earth is now subjected to man; and the chief joy of every one is and will be to contribute to the happiness of his fellow men and to glorify God and Christ.
[623]By faith behold this happy picture for a moment, and then turn your vision to the things heavenly. There angels, who for ages have faithfully performed service as messengers to the Lord, are assembled; line upon line, tier upon tier of these glorious beings. In their respective positions of honor stand forth the cherubim and seraphim; and in the midst of all stands the Christ. Jesus Christ the blessed and faithful one, as the great victor now looks back over his work and 'sees the travail of his soul and is satisfied' with the happy results. Standing by his side is his glorious bride, who for a thousand years has been the recipient of the exceeding riches of the grace of God through her beloved Head, and who will now enjoy these favors to endless ages. Her bridesmaids, 'the virgins her companions who follow' and serve her, are there, performing their divinely assigned functions. Above all stands the great Jehovah God, whose wisdom planned it all and whose loving kindness has been showered upon the multitude of his creatures. Joy fills his blessed heart. His plan, as he foreknew it would be, is a grand success.
[624]It is an entrancing scene! It is the appropriate time for the Hallelujah chorus. The stage is set. The trumpeters with their trumpets take their places, and the psaltery and the harp are brought forth. The timbrel, the stringed instruments, the organ, the cymbals, and every conceivable instrument of praise is in the hands of the heavenly host. There is a breathless silence. Then the trumpeters peal forth their paeans of praise, and all the other players and singers of the heavenly hosts join in. This entrancing music is caught up by the multitudes of earth and wafted back to heaven again (because communication has been established between the perfect men and the perfect heavenly creatures), until every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, are praising God, saying: "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever". (Revelation 5:13) Every knee is bowing and every tongue is confessing that Jesus is the Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Every creature that has breath is now joining in the song. It is the Hallelujah chorus, and this is what they sing:
"Praise ye the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts; praise him according to his excellent
greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet;
Praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals; praise him upon the high sounding
cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord!"—Psalm 150.
How will the restoration string of the harp affect the world?¶ 535.
What does the tenth string of the harp represent?¶ 535.
What two great doctrines were lost sight of for a long time by Christians?¶ 535.
What did the harp with eight strings, sometimes used by the Jews, represent?¶ 535.
Define restoration.¶ 536.
What did Adam lose for himself and his offspring?¶ 536.
Give the Scriptural proof as to the nature of the first man.¶ 536.
What was God's purpose in creating the earth and putting man upon it?¶ 536.
Is any one warranted in denying the doctrine of the restoration of mankind?¶ 537.
If there is to be no restoration of man, what effect would that have upon the purpose, for which God created man and the earth?¶ 537.
Can the purposes of God fail? Give Scriptural reason for answer.¶ 537.
If there is to be no restoration of man, then the manifestation of divine justice meant what?¶ 538.
What is the meaning of God's promise to Abraham to bless all the families of the earth if there is to be no restoration?¶ 539.
How did Jehovah bind this promise? and what assurance does that give concerning its fulfillment?¶ 539.
Why did Jesus come to earth?¶ 540.
Would his coming, death, and resurrection accomplish anything if there is no such thing as restoration of the human race? Give Scriptural reason for answer.¶¶ 541, 542.
Does the ransom-sacrifice guarantee an opportunity for restoration to all? Give Scriptural reasons for answer.¶ 543.
What guarantee is given to man by the resurrection of Jesus? Give Scriptural proof.¶ 543.
If the doctrine of restoration is not true, then what shall we say about the words of the Apostle as recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:20-26?¶ 543.
The mystery being the seed of promise, what, then, is the work of the mystery class when glorified?¶ 544.
If there be no restoration of the human race, why would Jehovah devote so much time to the development of the mystery class?¶ 544.
What relationship has the second coming of Christ to restoration? Give Scriptural statement relating to this point.¶ 545.
Did the prophets foretell the days of restoration? Give Scriptural proof.¶¶ 546, 547.
Would it be reasonable to suppose that God would provide a new creation and not give it some specific work to do relative to man?¶ 548.
What do the Scriptures say about the judging and blessing of the families of the earth?¶ 548.
Could there be a judgment without a trial?¶ 548.
What did Jesus say about the regeneration of the human race, and those who would participate in this work? Give Scriptural proof.¶ 548.
Define regeneration.¶ 548.
What promise is given to the church with reference to reigning with Christ?¶ 549.
What is the purpose of the thousand-year reign with Christ Jesus?¶ 549.
What did St. Paul say about the saints judging the world?¶ 550.
What did Jesus say about the gathering the nations before him at his second appearing?¶ 550.
Would not the purpose of God concerning the new creation fail if there is no restoration of mankind?¶ 550.
What did God's Prophet say concerning the bringing out of the dead from the prison-house of death?¶ 551.
What did the prophet Isaiah state with reference to the church establishing the earth and causing the people to inherit it?¶ 551.
To what does every vital doctrine of the divine plan point?¶ 552.
With what do all the other strings of the harp harmonize?¶ 552.
Why could not the Jews get life under the law covenant?¶ 553.
For what purpose was the law covenant made?¶ 553.
Is there to be a new covenant made for the benefit of man? Give Scriptural proof.¶ 553.
When will the new covenant be sealed?¶ 554.
State the terms of the new covenant as set forth by St. Paul.¶ 554.
What opportunity will be granted to the human race under the terms of the new covenant?¶ 555.
What do the Scriptures say that God will put into their minds and hearts under the terms of this covenant?¶ 555.
What prominent characters will be resurrected immediately following the making of the new covenant?¶ 556.
What official positions will these prominent characters occupy in the Messianic kingdom?¶ 556.
What will the Lord do for the people in the way of instructing them and leading them under the terms of the new covenant, as indicated by the prophets? Give Scriptural proof.¶ 557.
What does the Apostle say about whom the Lord will judge when he comes?¶ 558.
What is meant by the word "quick" as used in the Scriptures above referred to?¶ 558.
With whom will the Lord deal, first when the new covenant is made?¶ 558.
Would we expect that he would first awaken the dead and judge them before dealing with the living?¶ 558.
Will any people be brought through the great time of trouble now on the earth and have an opportunity for restoration blessings? Give the Scriptural reason for this answer.¶ 558.
Are there many people now living on the earth who sincerely desire a righteous government?¶ 559.
What is the extent of their knowledge of the Lord and his arrangement? and what effect has this lack of knowledge had upon them?¶ 559.
What message has the Lord given to such through his Prophet? Give the Scriptural proof.¶ 560.
Why do the words of Isaiah 35:4-6 apply to these who are living and not to those in the graves?¶ 560.
Will the dead be resurrected minus arms or legs?¶ 560.
What do the Scriptures say about the body they will have when raised from the dead?¶ 560.
Having in mind the great number of cripples, deaf, dumb, and lame on the earth now, what will restoration blessings do for them?¶ 560.
What effect may the beginning of restoration be expected to have on those who observe it?¶ 561.
For what is the whole creation waiting while it groans in pain? Give the Scriptural reason.¶ 562.
For what do these hope and long?¶ 562.
What effect will the restoration blessings have on those who were crippled during the war?¶ 563.
Does the Lord indicate the kind of people that will be carried through the time of trouble? Give Scriptural proof.¶ 564.
How many people, approximately, are now living on the earth?¶ 565.
How soon may we expect the present evil order to pass away?¶ 565.
What catastrophe caused the first world to end?¶ 566.
How many persons were saved or carried over from that first world to the new order?¶ 566.
What did Noah and his family represent?¶ 566.
What promise did God make to Noah immediately following the flood? Quote the promise.¶ 566.
What assurance do we gather from this divine promise with reference to those now living on the earth?¶ 566.
Why can it now be said that millions now living will never die?¶ 566.
Quote Jesus' words in John 11:26.¶ 567.
When will this opportunity of life come to mankind?¶ 567.
What will be the results to those then living who believe and obey the Lord?¶ 567.
What is meant by believing?¶ 567.
Quote the words of Jesus in John 8:51.¶ 567.
Do the Scriptures show that all men must hear and gain a knowledge of the truth?¶ 567.
Is it possible for any one to keep the sayings of Jesus before he knows them?¶ 567.
What is the condition of the majority of mankind?¶ 568.
What promise has God made that will be beneficial to those now unrighteous?¶ 568.
Shall the unrighteous ones in the earth have an opportunity to live? Give the Scriptural proof.¶ 568.
What picture does Job give with reference to restoration in his prophecy, chapter 33, verses 16 to 25?¶ 569.
Quote these verses of Scripture and explain them.¶ 570.
Do the Scriptures indicate that some will refuse to obey the righteous rule of the Lord?¶ 571.
What will be the punishment of those who disobey?¶ 571.
How long will the Lord permit them to have a trial?¶ 571.
When the Lord speaks of dividing the people as a shepherd divides his goats and sheep, what is meant?¶ 572.
What class do the goats represent?¶ 572.
What class is pictured by the sheep?¶ 572.
What is meant by everlasting punishment?¶ 573.
What is meant by everlasting life?¶ 573.
Does the Apostle define everlasting punishment? If so, how?¶ 574.
Who is guaranteed a full opportunity for life?¶ 575.
What is meant by a gift?¶ 575.
What things are necessary to make a gift effective?¶ 575.
Quote the Apostle's words in 1 Timothy 2:3,4.¶ 575.
What is meant in this passage by being saved? and what is meant by being brought to a knowledge of the truth?¶ 575.
Quote two Scriptures showing that life is a gift.¶ 575.
To whom is this free gift offered?¶ 576.
Quote 1 John 2:2.¶ 576.
What is meant by the word "our", and also by the word "world"?¶ 576.
What does this Scripture prove with reference to the ransom-sacrifice and its benefits to mankind?¶ 576.
What message was delivered by the angel to the shepherds at Jesus' birth?¶ 576.
Does this guarantee that anything shall be given to all the people? and if so, what?¶ 576.
What does the promise made to Abraham prove as to an opportunity for life everlasting? and to whom will this opportunity be given?¶ 576.
What did Jesus say about other sheep, indicating that not all would be saved in heaven?¶ 577.
What did he mean by "this fold"?¶ 577.
Why will he have another fold?¶ 577.
Quote Psalm 86:9, and state what proof this is relative to restoration blessings.¶ 578.
What is meant by the word "highway"? Describe a highway.¶ 579.
A highway is used in the Scriptures to illustrate what?¶ 579.
Quote Isaiah 35:8.¶ 579.
What is the way over that highway called?¶ 579.
The entire highway pictures what?¶ 579.
Will the unclean go up on the highway? and will they pass over it?¶ 579.
If one upon the highway refuses to do right, what will be the result?¶ 579.
What favor will be granted to those who strive to be obedient while on the highway of holiness?¶ 579.
Shall any wicked influence be brought to bear against one on the highway of holiness? Give the Scriptural reason for the answer.¶ 579.
How will that way compare with the narrow way that is journeyed by the church?¶ 579.
Why should we expect Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to be among the first ones resurrected under the new covenant?¶ 580.
When should we expect them back on the earth?¶ 580.
What will be their positions of honor and responsibility in the earth?¶ 580.
What will be their administrative duties in the earth?¶ 580.
How many phases are there of the kingdom of God?¶ 581.
Describe the picture of the Messianic kingdom as given in Zechariah 14:4,5. Quote the Scripture.¶ 582.
What is meant in this prophecy by the words "his feet"?¶ 582.
What is symbolized by the mountain and by the olive?¶ 582.
What is represented by the cleaving or dividing of the mountain into two parts?¶ 582.
What is pictured by the valley between?¶ 582.
What will the people do with reference to this symbolic valley?¶ 582.
Why should those on earth get in communication with Abraham and the other faithful ones as soon as possible after their resurrection?¶ 583.
Quote Psalm 50:1.¶ 584.
In this text what is represented by the earth?¶ 584.
What is pictured by the sun?¶ 584.
What is pictured by the rising of the sun and the going down thereof?¶ 584.
Quote Psalm 50:4.¶ 584.
What is meant by judging the people?¶ 584.
When the peoples living on earth begin to be restored to health and strength, of whom will they then think?¶ 585.
What will they do toward having their beloved dead restored to them?¶ 585.
What Scriptural proof have we that the Lord will hear their prayers?¶ 585.
What Scriptural proof have we that the dead will arise from their graves?¶ 585.
Quote and analyze St. Paul's argument concerning the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:16-22.¶ 586.
In what order will the dead be resurrected? that is, will those who have died last or those who have died centuries ago be the first to come forth?¶ 586.
Quote Jeremiah 31:16,17.¶ 587.
What is meant in this text by the "land of the enemy"?¶ 587.
As the dead return from the grave, what will the living do for them?¶ 588.
What effect will the resurrection have in uniting families?¶ 588.
Quote Isaiah 35:10.¶ 588.
Who is there meant by the "ransomed of the Lord"?¶ 588.
How were the people of Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed?¶ 589.
What will be their final end?¶ 589.
Quote a Scripture showing that they will return to their former estates as human beings on the earth.¶ 589.
In what manner will the Messiah rule? Give Scriptural proof.¶ 589.
What will be the beneficent effects of this righteous rule, both upon animals and human beings? Give Scriptural proof.¶ 590.
Quote Jeremiah 31:34.¶ 591.
When the Lord remembers their iniquities and sins no more, what will be the condition of the people?¶ 591.
Quote John 1:29.¶ 591.
When the sin of the world is gone, what effect will that have upon mankind?¶ 591.
What Scriptural proof have we that the people will be brought to a condition of health and be cured of sickness?¶ 592.
Will the peoples of the earth then have ailments and complaints as they do now?¶ 592.
What effect upon the earth itself will the times of restoration have?¶ 593.
Will there be room for all the people that are restored to life?¶ 593.
How many people have lived on the earth and died and gone into their grave?¶ 593.
How many are now living?¶ 593.
Give an illustration showing that the earth's surface will be ample to accommodate all of these.¶ 593.
What Scriptural evidence have we that the earth will produce sufficient food to sustain the restored ones?¶ 594.
What Scriptural proof is there that the desolate land of the earth will become like the garden of Eden?¶ 594.
When will the earth be a fit habitation for man?¶ 594.
Is any part of earth's surface being reclaimed now that illustrates the restoration of the earth? If so, give an instance.¶ 594.
What will be the effect when all the desert land is made habitable?¶ 594.
In the times of restoration, what will become of the weeds, thistles, and thorns, and pests that destroy crops?¶ 595.
What will become of the poisonous things that produce sickness?¶ 595.
How will the reign of Christ affect man's enemies?¶ 595.
When, the people witness the disappearance of ignorance, crime, and superstition, and the establishment of goodness, loving kindness, etc., what effect will this have upon them?¶ 596.
What Scriptures indicate that the people will have a joyful time in the days of restoration?¶ 596.
What effect will the restoration have upon tears and sorrow?¶ 596.
Describe St. John's vision upon the Isle of Patmos relative to a new heaven and a new earth.¶ 597.
In that picture what is symbolized by heaven, earth, and sea?¶ 597.
What effect will restoration have upon strikes, revolutions, and anarchy?¶ 597.
How is the meeting place between God and man described in this prophetic utterance of St. John?¶ 597.
What does St. John say about the effect of the kingdom blessings upon mankind?¶ 597.
Unless God intends to give opportunity for man to be restored, why provide such an intricate and marvelous plan, create a new heaven and a new earth, and bring the dead out of their graves?¶¶ 598-601.
Has God invited us to use our reasoning faculties?¶ 602.
If we believe the Bible testimony, then to what inevitable conclusion are we forced with reference to restoration?¶ 602.
What should be the attitude of mind of those who now believe the Bible?¶ 602.