[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":864},["ShallowReactive",2],{"nav-current-\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F240":3,"nav-reprints-en-1881-12-01":5,"reprint-\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F240":244},{"date":4},"1881-12-01",[6,11,15,19,23,27,30,34,38,42,46,50,54,58,62,66,69,72,77,81,85,89,93,97,101,105,109,113,117,120,123,127,130,134,138,141,145,148,152,155,159,162,166,169,173,177,181,184,187,190,194,198,202,205,209,213,217,221,224,227,230,234,237,241],{"title":7,"path":8,"reprint":9,"date":4,"issue":10},"Prudent or Imprudent, Which?","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F235",235,"Vol. III, No. 6",{"title":12,"path":13,"reprint":14,"date":4,"issue":10},"The Presence and the Harvest","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F236",236,{"title":16,"path":17,"reprint":18,"date":4,"issue":10},"The Lord's and Our New Name","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F237",237,{"title":20,"path":21,"reprint":22,"date":4,"issue":10},"To the Readers of the Watch Tower","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F238",238,{"title":24,"path":25,"reprint":26,"date":4,"issue":10},"Our New Year","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F239",239,{"title":28,"path":29,"reprint":26,"date":4,"issue":10},"His Holy Name to Bear","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F239b",{"title":31,"path":32,"reprint":33,"date":4,"issue":10},"Anointed to Preach","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F240",240,{"title":35,"path":36,"reprint":37,"date":4,"issue":10},"Behold! Behold!","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F242",242,{"title":39,"path":40,"reprint":41,"date":4,"issue":10},"The Tabernacle","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F243",243,{"title":43,"path":44,"reprint":45,"date":4,"issue":10},"Do You Love God?","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F244",244,{"title":47,"path":48,"reprint":49,"date":4,"issue":10},"Thoughts on the Tabernacle","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F245",245,{"title":51,"path":52,"reprint":53,"date":4,"issue":10},"It's All in the Document","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F246",246,{"title":55,"path":56,"reprint":57,"date":4,"issue":10},"What We Expect","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F247",247,{"title":59,"path":60,"reprint":61,"date":4,"issue":10},"The New Version","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F248",248,{"title":63,"path":64,"reprint":65,"date":4,"issue":10},"Chart Supplement","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F249",249,{"title":67,"path":68,"reprint":65,"date":4,"issue":10},"Concerning Tracts","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F249b",{"title":70,"path":71,"reprint":65,"date":4,"issue":10},"Correspondents' Questions","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F249c",{"title":73,"path":74,"reprint":75,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part II)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F255",255,"Supplement",{"title":78,"path":79,"reprint":80,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part III)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F261",261,{"title":82,"path":83,"reprint":84,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part IV)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F267",267,{"title":86,"path":87,"reprint":88,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part V)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F270",270,{"title":90,"path":91,"reprint":92,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part VI)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F271",271,{"title":94,"path":95,"reprint":96,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part VII)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F276",276,{"title":98,"path":99,"reprint":100,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part VIII)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F278",278,{"title":102,"path":103,"reprint":104,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part IX)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F282",282,{"title":106,"path":107,"reprint":108,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part X)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F283",283,{"title":110,"path":111,"reprint":112,"date":4,"issue":76},"Food for Thinking Christians (Part XI)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F284",284,{"title":114,"path":115,"reprint":116,"date":4,"issue":76},"Miscellaneous (Notwithstanding)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F285",285,{"title":118,"path":119,"reprint":116,"date":4,"issue":76},"Miscellaneous (What Pleases)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F285b",{"title":121,"path":122,"reprint":116,"date":4,"issue":76},"Miscellaneous (Love)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F285c",{"title":124,"path":125,"reprint":126,"date":4,"issue":76},"Terms as Before","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F286",286,{"title":128,"path":129,"reprint":126,"date":4,"issue":76},"Jehovah's Feet","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F286b",{"title":131,"path":132,"reprint":133,"date":4,"issue":76},"Feet of Christ","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F287",287,{"title":135,"path":136,"reprint":137,"date":4,"issue":76},"Our New Name","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F288",288,{"title":139,"path":140,"reprint":137,"date":4,"issue":76},"And the Door Was Shut","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F288b",{"title":142,"path":143,"reprint":144,"date":4,"issue":76},"Short Sermon from a Familiar Text","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F290",290,{"title":146,"path":147,"reprint":144,"date":4,"issue":76},"In the Vineyard","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F290b",{"title":149,"path":150,"reprint":151,"date":4,"issue":76},"Temple Building Type","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F292",292,{"title":153,"path":154,"reprint":151,"date":4,"issue":76},"Words from Bro. Sunderlin","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F292b",{"title":156,"path":157,"reprint":158,"date":4,"issue":76},"From Brother J. J. Bender","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F293",293,{"title":160,"path":161,"reprint":158,"date":4,"issue":76},"Who Can Hear It?","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F293b",{"title":163,"path":164,"reprint":165,"date":4,"issue":76},"Another Paper","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F294",294,{"title":167,"path":168,"reprint":165,"date":4,"issue":76},"Chart of the Ages","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F294b",{"title":170,"path":171,"reprint":172,"date":4,"issue":76},"Ekklesia","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F295",295,{"title":174,"path":175,"reprint":176,"date":4,"issue":76},"Everlasting Father","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F296",296,{"title":178,"path":179,"reprint":180,"date":4,"issue":76},"Miscellaneous (Rome and Jerusalem)","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F298",298,{"title":182,"path":183,"reprint":180,"date":4,"issue":76},"Practical Preaching","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F298b",{"title":185,"path":186,"reprint":180,"date":4,"issue":76},"From Bro. J. B. Adamson","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F298c",{"title":188,"path":189,"reprint":180,"date":4,"issue":76},"No Back Numbers","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F298d",{"title":191,"path":192,"reprint":193,"date":4,"issue":76},"The Creative Week","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F299",299,{"title":195,"path":196,"reprint":197,"date":4,"issue":76},"View from the Tower","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F300",300,{"title":199,"path":200,"reprint":201,"date":4,"issue":76},"A Little While","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F301",301,{"title":203,"path":204,"reprint":201,"date":4,"issue":76},"Ye Are Gods","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F301b",{"title":206,"path":207,"reprint":208,"date":4,"issue":76},"Importance of Baptism","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F302",302,{"title":210,"path":211,"reprint":212,"date":4,"issue":76},"Blessed Dying","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F303",303,{"title":214,"path":215,"reprint":216,"date":4,"issue":76},"The Antichrist","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F304",304,{"title":218,"path":219,"reprint":220,"date":4,"issue":76},"Our List of Contributors","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F308",308,{"title":222,"path":223,"reprint":220,"date":4,"issue":76},"Notice the Wrapper","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F308b",{"title":225,"path":226,"reprint":220,"date":4,"issue":76},"Restoring Solomon's Temple","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F308c",{"title":228,"path":229,"reprint":220,"date":4,"issue":76},"Questions and Answers","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F308d",{"title":231,"path":232,"reprint":233,"date":4,"issue":76},"An Open Letter","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F309",309,{"title":235,"path":236,"reprint":233,"date":4,"issue":76},"Out of Babylon","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F309b",{"title":238,"path":239,"reprint":240,"date":4,"issue":76},"Preachers Called by the World","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F310",310,{"title":242,"path":243,"reprint":240,"date":4,"issue":76},"Knowledge Is Liberty","\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F310b",{"id":245,"title":31,"author":246,"body":247,"date":4,"description":854,"extension":855,"issue":10,"meta":856,"month":857,"navigation":858,"path":32,"reprint":33,"seo":859,"sitemap":860,"stem":861,"year":862,"__hash__":863},"reprints\u002Fen\u002Freprints\u002F240.md",null,{"type":248,"value":249,"toc":850},"minimark",[250,259,281,304,319,330,356,366,377,411,446,461,488,503,509,516,527,534,557,576,618,633,638,657,680,718,723,737,763,768,783,798,801,815,825,835,844,847],[251,252,253,254,258],"p",{},"\"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings (gospel) unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year (time) of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God.\" ",[255,256,257],"em",{},"Isa. 61:1",".",[251,260,261,262,265,266,269,270,273,274,277,278,258],{},"This prophecy Jesus quoted (",[255,263,264],{},"Luke 4:18",") and applied to himself and his work. We found that he was thus anointed when, at 30 years of age he had reached the perfection of manhood, having presented himself to his Father—a living sacrifice; indicating his surrender or death by being baptised of John in Jordan, and symbolizing his faith in the power and will of God to raise him from the tomb to ",[255,267,268],{},"newness"," of life—as a spiritual being. It was ",[255,271,272],{},"because"," John had been a witness of this anointing of Jesus, that he bore record, saying—\"And ",[255,275,276],{},"I saw,"," and bare record that this is the Son of God.\" ",[255,279,280],{},"John 1:32-34",[251,282,283,284,287,288,291,292,295,296,299,300,303],{},"We next inquire—Of what value to Jesus was this anointing?—and find answer that it was of the utmost importance: though he had been a spiritual being yet he had given that up when he took our nature, which is not spiritual, but human; consequently he no longer had a spiritual body, but a human or fleshly body— in fashion as a man. Understand us; we believe that there was no ",[255,285,286],{},"sham"," or ",[255,289,290],{},"pretention"," in this matter—no false pretence on the part of the Father and Jesus: We believe that Jesus actually ",[255,293,294],{},"gave up"," entirely and forever, his existence as a spiritual or heavenly being, changing or transferring ",[255,297,298],{},"it"," for a human or earthly existence. We state the matter thus plainly because so many have the idea that Jesus retained his spiritual being, merely covered, or concealed under the guise or pretence (deception we should call it) that he was a man. Such are continually in trouble and difficulty to explain away the statement that \"He was tempted in all points ",[255,301,302],{},"like"," as we are, yet without sin,\" and the temptation of the devil in the wilderness, etc.",[251,305,306,307,310,311,314,315,318],{},"Now, if he really took a human nature and became a man, we can understand ",[255,308,309],{},"how"," he that was rich (in a better state or condition), for our sakes ",[255,312,313],{},"became poor,"," that we, through his poverty, might become rich. If he merely left his riches for a few years to return again, and never really gave up his right or claim to them, then he did not ",[255,316,317],{},"become poor,"," but only appeared or pretended to do so.",[251,320,321,322,325,326,329],{},"But we prefer to take it as it says, and believe that God is ",[255,323,324],{},"true,"," though it contradict a great many men's theories—He who was rich, became poor—He who was a spiritual being, became a human or earthly being; not a depraved and death-condemned human being. No; having done no sin, it would have been unjust in the Father to have placed him under sin's penalty—\"the bondage of corruption\"—death. No; though of our own nature, he was the ",[255,327,328],{},"perfection"," of it, and stood on precisely the same plane that Adam occupied before sin, abundant arrangement being made for this in his miraculous birth.",[251,331,332,333,336,337,340,341,343,344,348,349,352,353,258],{},"When he had reached the perfection of ",[255,334,335],{},"manhood"," (thirty years), knowing why he had taken that nature —that it was not because he wanted to be a man and live on earth, rather than be a spiritual being and live in heavenly conditions— but that he might carry out the Father's plans, and redeem mankind from death, by giving himself a ransom for them, that, \"as by ",[255,338,339],{},"man"," came death, by a ",[255,342,339],{}," also, came ",[345,346,347],"span",{},"the right of"," resurrection of the dead\"— that \"as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one ",[255,350,351],{},"(man)"," shall many be made righteous.\" ",[255,354,355],{},"Rom. 5:19",[251,357,358,359,362,363],{},"This was necessary, for according to God's own arrangement of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and a life for a life, none but a human being ",[255,360,361],{},"could"," redeem or pay the ransom for humanity, and hence the necessity that he who was rich should ",[255,364,365],{},"become poor.",[251,367,368,369,372,373,376],{},"As we have seen, Jesus understood the object of his having become a man, and hastened at once to fulfill it, saying, in the language of the prophet, \"Lo, I come! In the volume of the book it is written of me to do thy will, O God.\" The Father's will was that that ",[255,370,371],{},"perfect"," being should freely deliver himself up to death as a ransom for us all. Did Jesus do this? Yes, everything was consecrated—a living sacrifice, there at Jordan—in the symbolic water baptism. Earthly life was henceforth to be surrendered and spent daily and hourly until it would ALL ",[255,374,375],{},"be gone","—swallowed up of death—a ransom for many.",[251,378,379,380,383,384,387,388,391,392,395,396,399,400,403,404,407,408],{},"But, having ",[255,381,382],{},"given up"," his life, unless it was a mere sham and pretence, his existence must have forever ended, says some one. We answer, yes; he gave all that he had. (",[255,385,386],{},"Matt. 13:44",".) But the Father's promise, which he well understood, was that if he were obedient in this matter, \"even unto death,\" He, the Father, would ",[255,389,390],{},"create him"," again—a ",[255,393,394],{},"new creation,"," different from the ",[255,397,398],{},"human"," creatures, and though spiritual also, yet different from and higher than the ",[255,401,402],{},"angelic"," creatures; in a word, he would highly exalt him—though before he became a man he had been the chief of all God's creation—\"the beginning of the creation of God.\" Yet if thus obedient unto death, he was to be ",[255,405,406],{},"exalted"," far above all, and to a higher position and condition than he himself had previously enjoyed—to become a partaker of the DIVINE NATURE, a sharer of the Divine ",[255,409,410],{},"Glory, Honor and Immortality.",[251,412,413,414,417,418,421,422,425,426,429,430,433,434,437,438,441,442,445],{},"The value then of the ",[255,415,416],{},"anointing,"," was, that by it the Father gave witness that the sacrifice was accepted; it was the ",[255,419,420],{},"seal"," or evidence to him that the Father would give him the promised DIVINE NATURE when he had finished and fulfilled the covenant there made, when he had ",[255,423,424],{},"actually"," given his life. And it was more, it was the power of God, which dwelling in him, enabled him not only to know the ",[255,427,428],{},"Father's will,"," but also to do it. Thus, because he had entirely laid aside his own ",[255,431,432],{},"will,"," the Father worked in him both to ",[255,435,436],{},"will"," and to ",[255,439,440],{},"do"," of his good pleasure, so that he could and did say, \"Not my will, but ",[255,443,444],{},"Thine"," be done.\"",[251,447,448,449,452,453,456,457,460],{},"It was of this indwelling spirit or ",[255,450,451],{},"power"," of God, that Jesus spoke, when he said: \"The words that I speak unto you, I speak not of myself, but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.\" (",[255,454,455],{},"John 14:10",".) And it was not ",[255,458,459],{},"merely"," because he was a perfect man, while all others were imperfect, but also because his words were indited of the indwelling Spirit of the Father, that men said of him: \"Never man spake like this man.\"",[251,462,463,464,467,468,471,472,475,476,483,484,487],{},"Does any one question this? We refer to Peter's words (",[255,465,466],{},"Acts 10:37-39",") \"That word ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, ",[255,469,470],{},"after"," the baptism which John preached—how God ",[255,473,474],{},"anointed Jesus"," of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost, and with power, ",[345,477,478,479,482],{},"thus constituting him Jesus the ",[255,480,481],{},"Christ,"," which means Jesus the *anointed,","* who went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was ",[255,485,486],{},"with"," him, and we are witnesses.\"",[251,489,490,491,494,495,498,499,502],{},"But another result of the ",[255,492,493],{},"anointing"," was that in consequence of his sacrifice, already ",[255,496,497],{},"reckoned"," complete, (by which he ransomed mankind,) he was permitted to preach or declare the ",[255,500,501],{},"good news."," He was",[251,504,505],{},[506,507,508],"strong",{},"\"ANOINTED TO PREACH.\"",[251,510,511,512,515],{},"To him who so loved the world as to surrender his life for them, it must have been a great pleasure to be permitted to declare to the ones being redeemed, the ",[255,513,514],{},"good news"," of the blessing to result to them, and so Jesus preached.",[251,517,518,519,522,523,526],{},"We next inquire as to the exact doctrines which Jesus was ",[255,520,521],{},"anointed"," to preach, assured that if we can understand it we shall get the cream of all true doctrine and the essence of all correct preaching. Was he anointed to preach that every one who did not believe in the \"shorter catechism\" and the eternal torment of nine-tenths of the human race, would himself be condemned to never-ending torments? No. Was he anointed to preach such a torment as being the doom of any of God's creatures, no matter how wicked, no matter against how much light they had sinned? No, the prophet knew nothing about such preaching commission. Where then did the preachers of to-day get the authority to preach these doctrines, and to make them the back-bone of all their teachings? Not from the Law or the Prophets, or the Gospel ",[255,524,525],{},"(good news)"," of Jesus and his Apostles, we are sure:—probably from the \"tradition of the elders,\" and the creeds formed in the \"dark ages,\" when God's people began to get free from what Luther called \"the dung-hill of Romish decretals.\" But what, according to the prophet, was Jesus anointed to preach? The prophet answers us: \"To preach the good news to the meek.\" What is the \"good news?\" It is \"Liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.\"",[251,528,529,530,533],{},"How singular—did Jesus tell of the emancipation of slaves—of the freedom of the serfs of Russia, or the negroes of America? And did he preach that there would be a general discharge of all culprits in states prisons? Surely this last would not be ",[255,531,532],{},"\"good"," news.\"",[251,535,536,537,540,541,544,545,548,549,552,553,556],{},"Ah no my brother; it was slaves— bondmen and bond-women of another sort whose freedom he proclaimed. All mankind are slaves to sin, bound and crippled by the various maladies which sin brought upon them; and millions had gone down into the great ",[255,538,539],{},"prison house","—the tomb. These were the captives and this the prison, and of ",[255,542,543],{},"no others"," did Jesus preach. But did he in his preaching ever refer to these and preach the deliverance of these captives? Yes, oh yes, repeatedly; hear him: \"The hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his (Jesus') voice and shall come forth.\" ",[255,546,547],{},"\"The dead"," shall hear the voice of the Son of man and they that hear shall live.\" (",[255,550,551],{},"John 5:25,28",".) Again, \"I am the ",[255,554,555],{},"resurrection"," and the life.\"",[251,558,559,560,563,564,567,568,571,572,575],{},"As Jesus preached freedom from evil maladies, and death, he exemplified the power and authority of his preaching by \"healing all manner of diseases,\" raising the dead to life, and turning sadness and mourning into gladness and joy, giving \"beauty for ashes.\" And all of those miracles and all of Jesus' preaching was but the proof or exemplification of the power by which the great ",[255,561,562],{},"work,"," not yet commenced should finally be accomplished. The apostle indicates this when he says concerning Jesus' miracles—\"These things did Jesus and manifested forth ",[345,565,566],{},"before the time —the Millennial age"," his glory.\" (",[255,569,570],{},"John 2:11",".) Thus did Jesus preach by word and illustration the ",[255,573,574],{},"coming"," emancipation of mankind from the thraldom of disease and death—\"liberty to the captives and opening of the prison to them that are bound.\"",[251,577,578,579,582,583,586,587,590,591,594,595,598,599,602,603,606,607,610,611,613,614,617],{},"But while Jesus had this general proclamation of ",[255,580,581],{},"deliverance"," for the world he had a special message to some—viz.: an invitation to those who would, to enter in at the strait gate and the narrow (difficult) way, and become with him joint heirs to ",[255,584,585],{},"\"Glory, Honor and Immortality.\""," Of this way he truly said—\"Few there be that find it.\" And foreknowing that few would take up their cross and follow him, he called those who would do so and thereby become heirs of the kingdom which God hath promised, ",[255,588,589],{},"a little flock","— saying: \"Fear not little flock it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the ",[255,592,593],{},"kingdom.\""," And this feature of Jesus' preaching is mentioned by the prophet—\"To appoint ",[345,596,597],{},"promise"," unto them that mourn in Zion ",[345,600,601],{},"the repentant"," to give unto them...the oil of joy for the spirit of mourning; (this is the promise of the ",[255,604,605],{},"spirit"," to all who truly turn to God. ",[255,608,609],{},"Oil,"," is a symbol of the spirit. Thus the \"little flock\" is promised a share of the same ",[255,612,493],{}," as their head—Jesus,) that ",[255,615,616],{},"they"," might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he might be glorified.",[251,619,620,621,624,625,628,629,632],{},"Thus did Jesus preach the ",[255,622,623],{},"\"good news\""," in two parts—First to the world a restitution of all things by a resurrection—illustrated by his miracles; and second—the great prize and blessing obtainable by those who will ",[255,626,627],{},"now"," walk in \"the narrow way\" ",[255,630,631],{},"illustrated"," in his own person, for he set us an example that we should walk in his footsteps.",[251,634,635],{},[506,636,637],{},"THE CHURCH ANOINTED.",[251,639,640,641,644,645,648,649,652,653,656],{},"The anointing spirit power which came first upon the ",[255,642,643],{},"head"," was due and did in due time (Pentecost) come upon the church which is his body. And the anointing which she there received abideth in her. (",[255,646,647],{},"1 Jno. 2:27",".) Why was the church ",[255,650,651],{},"anointed?"," The word answers—that she might share with her Lord in the present time the dishonor and sacrifice and in the coming age of glory be joined with him in glory and power. And more —as he was ",[255,654,655],{},"\"anointed to preach the good news\""," so must we, his body, be anointed to preach the same gospel with its same two parts—viz.: that for the world—freedom—restitution through ransom and a resurrection; and for the little flock who follow the Lamb—the kingdom, through the ransom and consecration.",[251,658,659,660,663,664,667,668,671,672,675,676,679],{},"This is all of it, just what it is called —",[255,661,662],{},"\"good news.\""," It is what the apostles preached—\"that there shall be a resurrection of the dead both of the just and unjust.\" (",[255,665,666],{},"Acts 24:15",".) They \"preached through Jesus (because of the ransom he had paid) the resurrection from the dead.\" (",[255,669,670],{},"Acts 4:2 and 17","; ",[255,673,674],{},"17:32","; and ",[255,677,678],{},"23:6",".)",[251,681,682,683,686,687,690,691,694,695,698,699,702,703,706,707,710,711,714,715,717],{},"The news was so ",[255,684,685],{},"new"," to them and so ",[255,688,689],{},"good"," that the Pharisees and religious teachers could not believe it to be true; they had become so accustomed to binding on mankind ",[255,692,693],{},"burdens"," which they did not help to remove, (",[255,696,697],{},"Matt. 23:4",") that though the common people \"wondered at the ",[255,700,701],{},"gracious words"," (words of ",[255,704,705],{},"love"," and promises of release from death,) which proceeded out of his mouth,\" the ",[255,708,709],{},"church authorities"," were ",[255,712,713],{},"\"grieved.\""," Thus it still is and ever will be—the preaching of the cross and its value as the price of the peace of all sinners, has always been to all but those ",[255,716,521],{}," to preach it—\"foolishness.\"",[251,719,720],{},[506,721,722],{},"WHO ARE TO PREACH?",[251,724,725,726,728,729,732,733,736],{},"We answer all who receive of the anointing spirit and are thus recognized as members of the body of Christ (the anointed.) Of each member it is true as of the ",[255,727,643],{},"—\"He hath anointed me to preach the gospel.\" We have each gifts and talents differing from the other and none of us are like our head, ",[255,730,731],{},"perfect,"," but each is responsible for such and so much preaching as he can do. Some can preach to multitudes; others to the twos and threes; others from house to house; others can drop a word in season; others can distribute tracts; others can give of the consecrated money entrusted to their stewardship to help others preach. Some can do several of these things, and some can do all of them, and ",[255,734,735],{},"all"," can and should preach by their life and customs the power of the good news to transform, for we are all living epistles, known and read of all men.",[251,738,739,740,743,744,747,748,751,752,754,755,758,759,762],{},"Are you preaching? We believe that none will be of the little flock except preachers. Are you preaching with all your talents and all your might? If so, you will by-and-by hear the words: \"Well done good and faithful!\" If not, begin now; remember that you consecrated your all before you were ",[255,741,742],{},"anointed,"," and now you cannot be an overcomer and keep back ",[255,745,746],{},"part"," of the price. (",[255,749,750],{},"Acts 5:4",".) Paul says: \"Ye know your calling, brethren.\" Yes, we were called to suffer with him and to proclaim the ",[255,753,514],{}," now, that in due time we might be glorified and perform the things now preached. We were not ",[255,756,757],{},"called, nor anointed"," to receive honor and amass wealth, but to spend and be spent, and to ",[255,760,761],{},"preach"," the good news. Let us give all diligence to make our calling sure and to perform that for which we were anointed.",[251,764,765],{},[506,766,767],{},"FUTURE WORK AND GLORY.",[251,769,770,771,774,775,778,779,782],{},"If Jesus was anointed of the Spirit to preach coming blessings and freedom to Death's captives, tell me was his preaching (and ours) true? Will there ever be such a wholesale release? Yes, oh yes. \"As in Adam all die, ",[255,772,773],{},"even so (unconditionally"," so far as they are concerned) in (or by) Christ, shall ",[255,776,777],{},"all be made alive.\""," But the ",[255,780,781],{},"preaching"," of the good news comes before the performance of the blessings promised. Now the preaching is going on \"to the meek\"— those willing and able to hear, in order to develop from among them the body of Christ, the joint heirs.",[251,784,785,786,789,790,793,794,797],{},"This work is almost finished, and soon the actual blessing (instead of the ",[255,787,788],{},"promise)"," will be given. Then we shall have Jesus' words fulfilled: \"Greater works than these shall ye do.\" The works which Jesus did were raising the dead, healing the sick, opening blind eyes, etc., and none of the disciples ever did greater works, hence the application of this language applies to the Millennial Age, and the great works there to be performed, of which Jesus' miracles were but illustrations of a less important character. The work of the coming Glory Age, opening the eyes of men's understanding, that they may understand the truth; the unstopping of the deaf ears that they may hear and know of \"the love of God which passeth all understanding;\" the making whole of the sin-sick, and the healing of the morally lame and crooked, are surely ",[255,791,792],{},"far, far"," greater things than the temporary healings which Jesus accomplished and which served only to ",[255,795,796],{},"show forth"," his (coming) glory.",[251,799,800],{},"But some one inquires: What means the prophet when he says, he shall \"proclaim the acceptable year (period or time) of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God?\"",[251,802,803,804,806,807,810,811,814],{},"The acceptable time is this Gospel Age, during which, if any man hear the ",[255,805,514],{}," and fully consecrate himself to God, a living sacrifice, he will be accepted and made a joint heir with Jesus Christ our Lord. It is an ",[255,808,809],{},"acceptable"," time in that, during this age, God accepts of all such sacrifices. And it ends with this age because the \"little flock\" will be complete, and no more will be ",[255,812,813],{},"accepted"," to the DIVINE NATURE.",[251,816,817,818],{},"The day of vengeance of our God is the time of fire, or purifying trouble, in which the world and all the church, except the \"little flock,\" are to be tried and purged, and made ready for the blessings of the Millennial Age. ",[345,819,820,821,824],{},"It is this ",[255,822,823],{},"Day of the Lord,\""," in which, from prophetic evidences, we believe we have been, since 1874, and which we believe will continue with increasing severity—first, on nominal Zion, and secondly, upon the world, until 1914, the first seven years of which, as heretofore shown, are years of favor and end in October of this year.",[251,826,827,828,831,832,834],{},"Jesus, in applying this prophecy to himself, stopped in the middle of this paragraph, and said nothing relative to the \"Day of Vengeance,\" because it was not then ",[255,829,830],{},"due."," The Spirit, through the Word, now shows it to be ",[255,833,830],{}," We believe, and therefore now declare it.",[251,836,837,838,840,841,843],{},"How intimate a relationship this shows between Him, as head, and us as the body of the Lord's anointed. The special work of announcing this \"Day of the Lord\"—\"Day of Vengeance,\" being done now, because now due, is mentioned as being part of the ",[255,839,514],{}," proclaimed by the Lord's anointed. It is ",[255,842,689],{}," news only as we are able to recognize the blessed results God intends shall follow afterward.",[251,845,846],{},"God having called us to preach the Good News, let us see to it that we do his will, and with Paul, we should feel, \"woe is me if I preach not the Gospel.\" But if you are filled with the subject this privilege will be your greatest pleasure and chiefest joy, and you can truly say:",[251,848,849],{},"\"I love to tell the story.\"",{"title":851,"searchDepth":852,"depth":852,"links":853},"",2,[],"\"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because he hath anointed me to preach good tidings (gospel) unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year (time) of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God.\" Isa. 61:1.","md",{},"December",true,{"title":31,"description":854},{"loc":32},"en\u002Freprints\u002F240",1881,"bevJ9jwwfvJScWXTRN9i6Y6Jbw8ms77a9D1xRFOdBKs",1776402514213]