-
Part 34—“Your Will Be Done on Earth”The Watchtower—1960 | March 15
-
-
was not just his earthly human name. He resumed his heavenly name Michael. The name Jesus Christ was retained in order to show his identicalness with the humanborn Son of God on earth. The name Michael was resumed in order to tie him in with his prehuman existence. As Michael, he was the heavenly member whom Jehovah’s wifely organization of holy angels, Jehovah’s symbolic “woman,” provided in order to be the Seed that should be bruised in the heel by the great Serpent and that should, in turn, bruise the Serpent in the head. (Gen. 3:15) Hence it was a just thing that the glorified Jesus Christ, who had been bruised in the heel on earth, should, as Michael once again, battle against Satan and his demons and hurl them out of heaven to beneath his feet at the earth. Jude 9 calls him “Michael the archangel” who had had a dispute once before in heaven with Satan the Devil, and had won.
16. How is he the “Prince” of the sanctuary, and what was his duty toward the remnant of the sanctuary class?
16 Since Jesus Christ glorified is Michael the great prince who stands for the children of Daniel’s people, he is the Prince of the sanctuary. Daniel’s people today are, like Daniel, witnesses of Jehovah. They are Jehovah’s sanctuary class, His temple of “living stones,” his “spiritual house,” in which he dwells by his spirit. The glorified Jesus Christ, or Michael, is the Chief Cornerstone of this living sanctuary. So he is the Prince of this sanctuary and upon his own self as the rock-mass he builds this sanctuary. Hence it is his duty to stand up for the remaining members of this sanctuary class and to deliver them from their oppressors.
17. Why now more than ever before should he be their Prince?
17 More than ever before as Michael he should be their Prince. Why? Because now he is Jehovah’s Right Shepherd who laid down his human life for his “little flock” of Kingdom joint heirs. “You must call his name ‘Jesus,’ for he will save his people from their sins.” (Matt. 1:21; John 10:11-15; Luke 12:32; Rom. 8:16, 17) As Prince he now has more power than ever, because he “humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake. For this very reason also God exalted him to a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above every other name, so that in the name of Jesus every knee should bend of those in heaven and those on earth and those under the ground, and every tongue should openly confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:8-11; Matt. 28:18) In 1914 he was made reigning King in Jehovah’s capital organization over all the universe. He will prove himself to be Prince of Peace.—Isa. 9:6.
(To be continued)
-
-
Only “a Form of Godly Devotion”The Watchtower—1960 | March 15
-
-
Only “a Form of Godly Devotion”
When prophesying of the last days the Bible said people would be having “a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power.” (2 Tim. 3:5) In view of this it is interesting to note what the magazine Cosmopolitan of April, 1958, said: “Moreover, it becomes clear that a person may profess one faith but live by another. Pollsters found this out when they queried Americans about their belief in God. Although ninety-seven percent quickly affirmed their belief, more than seventy percent admitted that their belief did not play an essential role in their lives. For many such Americans, success or social prestige is the most important thing in life; hence it is their real faith. For many people, following a dictator or a political leader is a faith.”
-