Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 7: The Finished MysteryRussell, C. T. (Charles Taze)
Religion
Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 7: The Finished Mystery
Russell, C. T. (Charles Taze)
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Jehovah's witnesses -- Controversial literature
Like unto crystal.—Indicating that nothing escapes God’s notice; all is
transparent. “For centuries skeptics have been disposed to smile
incredulously at the words of our Lord, ‘Enter into thy closet; and when
thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy
Father which _seeth in secret_ shall reward thee openly.’ (Matt. 6:6.) Now
that an electric ray can be passed through opaque substances, such as
paper, wood, cloth, leather, aluminium, animal flesh, etc., can these
scientists any longer mock at Christians for ‘credulity,’ because we
believe that ‘All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with
whom we have to do’? (Heb. 4:13.) ‘He that formed the ear shall He not
hear? He that formed the eye shall He not see?’ Now we begin to see how it
is that ‘There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hid,
that shall not be known.’ ”—Z. ’96‐27; Ezek. 1:22.
And in the midst of the Throne.—Woven into its very fabric.
And round about the Throne.—Completely encircling and enveloping it.
Were four beasts.—“Living ones” (_Diaglott_.); the four immortal
attributes of Justice, Power, Love and Wisdom.—Ezek. 1:5, 6.
Full of eyes before and behind.—Seeing clearly everything that will ever
occur in the future, and everything that has ever transpired in the
past.—Ezek. 10:4, 12.
4:7. And the first beast.—Justice was the attribute first manifested
toward our sinful race. “God has found it necessary to perform the
unpleasant duties of discipline; and though all the while His fatherly
love was preparing to bless the deceived and fallen ones when the purposes
of redemption should restore the repentant to His favor, Love must be
veiled while only stern, relentless Justice could be manifested. This has
been no happifying duty.”—Z. ’95‐154.
Was like a lion.—The characteristics of the lion illustrate this
attribute: The teeth are of the highest carnivorous type, adapted to
seizing and holding firmly. Although occasionally seen abroad during the
day, especially in wild and desolate regions, the _night_ (Psa. 30:5) is
the period of its greatest activity. The usual pace of a lion is a walk;
and, though apparently rather slow, yet he is able to get over a good deal
of ground in a short time. As a rule, he kills only when hungry or
attacked, and not for the mere pleasure of killing.—Ezek. 1:10; 10:14.
And the second beast.—Power, exhibited in the Flood, was the second of
God’s attributes manifested to man. “God, the Creator of all things, is
also the competent Sustainer of all things. In silent grandeur, from age
to age, the whole physical Universe fulfils His will, without a suspicion
of disorder or mishap; and the same Power is pledged for its sustenance
throughout the eternal future.”—Z. ’95‐153; Ezek. 1:10.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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