The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-08-31


BE thou faithful unto death, and will
give thee a crown of life."-Revela-
ton ii, 10.
Today's study includes John the Bap-
lists death. King Herod had put away
his wife, and was living with the wife
of his brother Philip-Herodias. John
the Baptist in his preaching had re-
ferred to the fact that King Herod was
living in violation of the Divine Law,
and was likely to bring upon the people
a war, for his wife was the daughter
OF King Aretas.
Herodias heard of Johns teaching,
and was both angry and fearful. Had
Herod put her away, as would have
sbeen his duty, she would have been a
KIisgraced woman, for the Herods were
well known in Rome and elsewhere.
Herod feared John and feared the
people who believed John to be a
prophet but HerodiaS feared neither
God nor man. In Difference to Herodias
wish Herod had John arrested, but
even then he liked to hear John talk.
Al, the more Herodias feared the in
fiuence of John. The Kings birthday
came, and she encouraged him to ask
to the banquet his principal friends
She dressed her own daughter in the
airy costume of the dancing girls of the
East, and sent her in to dance before
them.
So great a condensation implied that
the King should make some return. He
asked the girl what he should give her,
promising anything, even to the half
OF his kingdom, and the child returned
to her mother for instructions. Hero
diaS had gotten Herod into her net.
Now, in the presence of his friends,
on his own birthday, at his own sug-
gestion. he had obligated himself to DO
anything that might be asked. If the
daughter denurTed to ask for the head
of John the Baptist, the mother prob
ably told her that if John lived both of
them would sooner or later be outcasts;
that his death was necessary.
Bound by an UnhoIy Oath.
When the maiden made her request,
the King grieved, yet he felt himself
bound to comply with his oath. The
execution was accomplished, and the
head was delivered to Herodias. Alas,
poor world! How many are its snares
OF pride and fear and attempts to in
crease its pleasures and honors!
In a previous study we heard Jesus
words, that no greater Prophet than
John had arisen. We fully agree that
he was q Prophet of the Lord and
that he will have a great reward IN
the future; with Abraham, Isaac anG
Jacob, he will come forth d perfect
nan, because he was found faithful
even unto death. He will be one OF
the class mentioned by the Lord
through the Prophet David-'Instead
of Thy fathers, shall be Thy children,
whom Thou (Messiah) shalt make
Princes in all the earth. Psalm xiv,
16.
Those who selected our lesson text
evidently overlooked the fact that John
the Baptist is not one of the Church
class referred to in the Lords words,
BE thou faithful unto death, and /
Will give thee a crown of life" (ReVe-
lation ii, 100 John will indeed get life
everlasting as u glorious portion, but
he will not be a member of the Bride
class. This honor belongs to US since
Pentecost. We quote St. PauI's words
concerning the Ancient Worthless: "All
these died in faith, not having received
the things promised Them that they,
without us, should not be made per
feet" (Hebrews H. Is, 3S-4O) We,
the Church, called to be joint heirs
with Jesus, must get our share of the
blessing first, the Bride and the Bride
groom must be perfected in the First
Resurrection before the Kingdom can
be established, and before the blessing
can go even to the Ancient Worthless.
Wherein Is the Difference?
If John the Baptist was faithful unto
death, wherein is the difference, and
why should he receive an earthly re-
ward and the Bride class receive the
heavenly? There are several reasons
could not show any preference, but in
matters of favor, as the Scriptures de-
clare, He may do what He will with
His own.
Nothing in Gods promise bound Him
to give John the Baptist place In
the Bride class The Apostle Peter de-
clares that God fo-eknew this class,
predestinated it as a class from before
the foundation of the world; and He
is now making q selection according
to principles. to determine who may
be of .his class He gave no oppor-
tunity to John the Baptist to be of this
class, but permitted him to die when
he had accomplished the work intended
for him. None can be of this Bride
class who died prior to Pentecost, for
there the Holy SPIRIT was first given.
and without this none can occupy the
plane OF sons; those under Moses and
OF his House were servants