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21ie
WATCHTOWER..
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.
person
from
heaven
to
earth.
Not
when
he
has
all
the
necessary
power
in
heaven
and
in
earth
which
he
can
send
forth
for
the
carrying
out
of
the
divine
purpose.
By
merely
directing
his
attention
downward
to
this
earth
and
sending
forth
his
power,
or
also
sending
down
the
angels
that
attend
him,
he
can
be
present
at
the
earth.
Let
us
here
remember
that
in
the
He
brew
part
of
the
Bible
the
expression
"at
the
pres
ence
of
the
Lord"
literally
means
''before
the
face
of
the
Lord".
For
example,
Zephaniah
1:
7
says:
"Hold
thy
peace
at
the
presence
of
the
Lord
Jehovah;
for
the
day
of
Jehovah
is
at
hand."
(Am.
Stan.
Ver.)
(Also
Jeremiah
4:
26;
etc.)
The
apostle
Peter
liter
ally
used
the
expression
when
he
said
to
the
Jews
at
the
temple:
"Repent
ye
therefore,
and
turn,-unto
the
blotting
out
of
your
sins;
to
the
end
that
in
that
case
there
may
come
seasons
of
refreshing
from
the
face
of
the
Lord,
and
he
may
send
forth
him
who
had
he
en
fore-appointed
for
you-Christ
Jesus."
(Acts
3:
19,
20,
Rotherham)
When
Peter,
at
God's
com
mand,
called
at
the
home
of
the
Italian
centurion
Cornelius
and
preached
the
gospel
to
the
non-Jews
or
Gentiles
in
that
home
and
God's
holy
spirit
de
scended
upon
them,
then,
so
James
said,
"God
visited
the
Gentiles,
to
take
out
of
them
a
people
for
his
name."
(Acts
15:
13,
14,
Am.
Stan.
Ver.)
But
God
personally
did
not
visit
the
Gentiles;
his
apostolic
representative
did
so
and
God
beamed
dmvn
his
active
force
or
spirit
UIJon
such
Gentiles
for
believ
ing.
So
with
Christ's
descent
from
heaven.
28
As
newly
installed
King
in
1914,
Christ
Jesus
on
the
11eavenly
throne
asl\:s
his
Father
for
the
nations
as
his
inheritance
and
the
uttermost
parts
of
the
earth
as
his
possession.
Hence
he
turns
his
atten
tion
down
to
them
and
in
this
sense
he
descends.
He
issues
a
"word
of
command"
for
all
nations
on
earth
to
yield
their
sovereignty
over
to
him
and
for
all
peoples
to
swear
allegiance
to
llim
as
earth's
right
ful
King.
As
he
is
Jehovah's
royal
Messenger
and
has
angels
under
his
cnarge,
he
speaks
with
the
voice
of
the
Chief
'Messenger
or
"archangel".
At
the
crowning
of
a
new
king
the
trumpet
was
sounded;
as
it
is
said
of
Solomon's
coronation:
"And
they
blew
the
trum
pet;
and
all
the
people
said,
Long
live
king
Solomon."
(1
Ki.
1:
39,
Am.
Stan.
Fer.)
The
trumpet
therefore
symbolizes
a
loud
public
proclamation
concerning
the
Kingdom.
The
royal
proclamation
is
called
the
"trump
of
God"
because
He
orders
and
causes
it
to
be
sounded
and
he
also
uses
his
witnesses
on
earth
to
sound
the
proclamation
boldly
to
all
nations.
It
is
the
"last
trump",
because
it
is
the
proclamation
respecting
the
Kingdom
which
puts
an
end
to
Satan's
world
organization
and
vindicates
Jehovah's
sover~
eignty
universally.-Rev.
11:
15;
12:
10.
28
It
is
under
such
circumstances
that
the
"dead
in
Christ
shall
rise
first".
Their
resurrection
to
heaven
ly
union
with
him
does
not
wait
until
the
living
remnant
on
earth
finish
their
Kingdom
proclamation
to
all
the
nations
for
a
witness
before
the
end
of
Satan's
world
comes.
However,
"together
with
them,"
or
during
the
same
period
of
Christ's
paro'Usia,
this
living
remnant
are
"caught
away
in
clouds
to
meet
the
Lord
in
the
air".
Daniel's
prophecy
and
Jesus'
own
words
declared
he
as
the
"Son
of
man"
would
come
with
clouds.
(Dan.
7:
13,
14;
Matt.
24:
30;
26:
64;
Rev.
1:
7)
The
clouds
denote
his
presence,
invisibly,
with
a
storm
of
trouble
and
destruction
for
the
nations
and
,vith
showers
of
blessing
for
his
de
voted
remnant
and
all
their
companions
of
good-will.
so
It
is
from
this
doomed
world
that
they
are
"caught
away"
by
being
completely
separated
from
it.
While
they
are
still
in
this
world,
they
are
no
part
of
it.
Their
destiny
is
heavenly
glory;
that
of
the
world
is
destruction
at
Armageddon.
Because
the
days
of
tribulation
on
Satan's
organization
were
shortened
for
the
sake
of
this
remnant
of
the
elect,
they
are
snatched
from
destruction
with
it.
For
this
reason
they
were
suddenly
snatched
from
the
enemy's
power
and
delivered
from
a
deathlike
captive
condi
tion
in
Babylon,
Satan's
organization,
in
the
spring
of
1919.
They
were
set
free
for
the
great
Kingdom
proclamation,
the
greatest
of
all
time.
Quite
fittingly
Jehovah
speaks
of
this
delivered
remnant
as
a
"brand
plucked
out
of
the
fire".
(Zech.
3:
2)
Thus,
as
Jesus
predicted,
these
are
the
ones
who
are
taken
ir.
to
his
favor
and
under
his
protection,
in
close
unity
,vith
him,
whereas
the
opposers
of
the
Kingdom
are
left
abandoned
to
their
doom.
The
revival
of
their
wit
ness
work
in
1919
was
likened
to
their
resurrection
from
the
dead,
after
which
they
were
invited
higher
to
the
lofty
privilege
of
proclaiming
God's
estab
lished
kingdom.
So
they
were
pictured
as
ascending
to
heaven
in
a
cloud,
showing
they
rise
up
to
that
exalted
privilege.
Thus
they
now
enjoy
active
unity
with
their
King.
at
Christ
Jesus
does
not
personally
come
into
im
mediate
contact
with
our
earth
as
he
did
at
his
first
advent
in
human
form.
Descending
by
merely
turn
ing
his
attention
downward
to
the
earth,
he
can
still
be
"in
the
air".
In
his
day
Paul
called
Satan
the
Devil
the
"prince
of
the
power
of
the
air,
the
spirit
that
now
worketh
in
the
children
of
disobedience".
(Eph.
2:
2)
But
sm{le
the
"war
in
heaven"
has
forced
the
Devil
and
his
demon
hosts
down
from
up
there
to
this
earth,
Christ
Jesus
is
now
"in
the
air"
and
has
its
power
as
an
immortal
spirit.
It
is
into
a
unity
with
him
in
that
exalted
position
that
the
remnant
are
caught
away
or
taken
along
now.
By
being
faithful
29.
In
what
way
11
1t
"together
with
them"
and
In
"cloudl"
that
the
remnant
have
their
experience
now?
-
-
-
30.
In
what
way.
then,
have
the
remnant
been
"caultht
away"?
28.
So
how
ILnd
with
what
aceotnpan1men~.does.
the
Lord
deacen.dt
_
31.
How
Is
1t
"in
the
air"
that
they
meet
the
Lord
to
oe
ever
with
him?
232 person from heaven to earth. Not when he has all the necessary power in heaven and in earth which he can send forth for the carrying out of the divine purpose. By merely directing his attention downward to this earth and sending forth his power, or also sending down the angels that attend him, he can be present at the earth. Let us here remember that in the Hebrew part of the Bible the expression “at the presence of the Lord” literally means “before the face of the Lord”. For example, Zephaniah 1:7 says: “Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord Jehovah; for the day of Jehovah is at hand.” (Am. Stan. Ver.) (Also Jeremiah 4:26; etc.) The apostle Peter literally used the expression when he said to the Jews at the temple: “Repent ye therefore, and turn,—unto the blotting out of your sins; to the end that in that case there may come seasons of refreshing from the face of the Lord, and he may send forth him who had been fore-appointed for you—Christ Jesus.” (Acts 3:19, 20, Rotherham) When Peter, at God’s command, called at the home of the Italian centurion Cornelius and preached the gospel to the non-Jews or Gentiles in that home and God’s holy spirit descended upon them, then, so James said, “God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.” (Acts 15:18,14, Am.Stan.Ver.) But God personally did not visit the Gentiles; his apostolic representative did so and God beamed down his active force or spirit upon such Gentiles for believing. So with Christ’s descent from heaven. 8 As newly installed King in 1914, Christ Jesus on the heavenly throne asks his Father for the nations as his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as his possession. Hence he turns his attention down to them and in this sense he descends. He issues a “word of command” for all nations on earth to yield their sovereignty over to him and for all peoples to swear allegiance to him as earth’s rightful King. As he is Jehovah’s royal Messenger and has angels under his charge, he speaks with the voice of the Chief Messenger or “archangel”. At the crowning of a new king the trumpet was sounded; as it is said of Solomon’s coronation: “And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, Long live king Solomon.” (1 Ki. 1:39, Am. Stan. Ver.) The trumpet therefore symbolizes a loud public proclamation concerning the Kingdom. The royal proclamation is called the “trump of God” because He orders and causes it to be sounded and he also uses his witnesses on earth to sound the proclamation boldly to all nations. It is the “last trump”, because it is the proclamation respecting the Kingdom which puts an end to Satan’s world organization and vindicates Jehovah’s sover; eignty universally.—Rev. 11:15; 12:10. 28. So how and with what accompaniments.does. the Lord descend? 3 How is it ‘tn’ the air” She WATCHTOWER. Brooxiyy, N.Y. 7° Tt is under such circumstances that the “dead in Christ shall rise first”. Their resurrection to heavenly union with him does not wait until the living remnant on earth finish their Kingdom proclamation to all the nations for a witness before the end of Satan’s world comes. However, “together with them,” or during the same period of Christ’s parousia, this living remnant are “caught away in clouds to meet the Lord in the air’. Daniel’s prophecy and Jesus’ own words declared he as the “Son of man” would come with clouds. (Dan. 7:18,14; Matt. 24:30; 26:64; Rev. 1:7) The clouds denote his presence, invisibly, with a storm of trouble and destruction for the nations and with showers of blessing for his devoted remnant and all their companions of good-will. Tt is from this doomed world that they are “caught away” by being completely separated from it. While they are still in this world, they are no part of it. Their destiny is heavenly glory; that of the world is destruction at Armageddon. Because the days of tribulation on Satan’s organization were shortened for the sake of this remnant of the elect, they are snatched from destruction with it. For this reason they were suddenly snatched from the enemv’s power and delivered from a deathlike captive condition in Babylon, Satan’s organization, in the spring of 1919. They were set free for the great Kingdom proclamation, the greatest of all time. Quite fittingly Jehovah speaks of this delivered remnant asa “brand plucked out of the fire’. (Zech. 3:2) Thus, as Jesus predicted, these are the ones who are taken into his favor and under his protection, in close unity with him, whereas the opposers of the Kingdom are left abandoned to their doom. The revival of their witness work in 1919 was likened to their resurrection from the dead, after which they were invited higher to the lofty privilege of proclaiming God’s established kingdom. So they were pictured as ascending to heaven in a cloud, showing they rise up to that exalted privilege. Thus they now enjoy active unity with their King. *t Christ Jesus does not personally come into immediate contact with our earth as he did at his first advent in human form. Descending by merely turning his attention downward to the earth, he can still be “in the air”. In his day Paul called Satan the Devil the “prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”. (Eph. 2:2) But since the “war in heaven” has forced the Devil and his demon hosts down from up there to this earth, Christ Jesus is now “in the air’ and has its power as an immortal spirit. It is into a unity with him in that exalted position that the remnant are caught away or taken along now. By being faithful 29. In what way is it “together with them’ and in “clouds” that the remnant have their experience now? In what way, then, have the remnan ta that they meet the cord to. e@ ever ayith him?
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