The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-07-24
BIBLE STUDIES
OF BROOKLYN
TABERNACLE
By PASTOR RUSSELL

lessons on the kingdom. This topic here
tofore has not had sufficient consdera-
ton, considering its prominence in the
Bible-from the promise made to Abra-
ham, recorded in Genesis, to the records
of Revelation, representing the full estab-
lishment of the kingdom, it's binding of
Satan. and its thousand years Of prosper
ity, resulting In the bringing of EVERY
creature in heaven and in earth" to wor-
ship and praise the Almighty, and in the
adjustment of sin. tears and DEATH
Genesis Kills; Revelation xx:2; xxi:4;
Wis.
Today's study is another of the king
dom parallels. It is the embryo kingdom
that is pictured, and not the kingdom in
glory; in other words. this parable also
relates to this gospel age. and the work
of selecting the church.
"The Field Is the World"
This parable also shows us the very
commencement of the Lords call for His
Bride from amongst all nations and not
from the Jews alone, although in the di-
vine plan 1t was necessary that they
should have the first opportunity. So ST.
dub itss Sdg iflB u lIt JeWb, IL was
necessary that the gospel should be
preached first unto you, but seeing ye
reject 1t. 10. we turn to the Gen
tiles" acts xiii:48). The entire world
constituted the field" for the sowing of
the good Seed and the good seed is
not any and every kind of a message,
but is strictly defined, THE gospel of the
kingdom"
Jesus and the apostles sowed this good
seed,' and all His true followers since
have been authorized TO continue the
work In His name, and have more or
less done SO. But the adversary, Satan,
as pointed out here In the parable,
brought In false doctrines, a different
kind of seed from the kingdom seed"
and sowed this everywhere over the
wheat field" The result is that today
the "tares'' are so plentiful that they
think they are the wheat" and the
world in general SO considers them.
The wheat" class are considered "a
peculiar people" Their HOPES In life are
toward bearing good fruit, and Showing
forth the praises of Him who called them
out of darkness" OF their good fruits
the apostle mentions meekness and hui
milty, and these tend to bow their heads,
while the ''tares" stand proudly up, erect.
in the display of their form of godli-
ness" which. however, lacks the power.
LET Both Grow Together
The Lord knew all the time what Satan
would do in the way of perverting the
truth through false doctrines, but He al
lowed the matter to go on, fully assured
that He would have in the end the crop
which He desired, and very content to
allow a great lesson to be taught by the
presence of the 'tares and the ultimate
treatment accorded the wheat"
Tha I Ar6 hax Il f,,1a tha az
versary from bringing in the false doc
trines in the early centuries, or He could
have separated centuries ago between the
wheat and tare classes, but this was not
according to His intention, as the parable
shows. He purposed to "let both grow
together until the harvest" SO 1t has
been true that Christians and imitation
Christians have lived side by side in the
same city, In the same house, and often
times In the same family-the one the
result of the true gospel message of the
kingdom, leading to a full conservation
and begetting of the holy spirit and 20
the entrance upon new life; the other
with merely "a form of goodness" inter-
mixed with worldly wisdom, earthly am
billions and selfish desires.
In the common version the words, THE
harvest is the end of the world" have
been seriously misunderstood. It does
not mean the end of time nor the end
of the earth--its destruction-nor the end
of divine favor 1t merely means the
end Of the present age This age will
close when 1t has accomplished its in
tended worh-when the full number of
Gods elect shall have been found faith
full and ready for the garner"
'In the Time of the Harvest"
This expression signifies that the har-
vest of this age will not be an instanta-
neous work, but a gradual one, requiring
time. There is good reason for believing
that the harvest of this age is a period
of 40 years, as the harvest of the Jewish
age was of that length. In this time of
the harvest two things will be accom-
plshed: % The "tares" will be gathered
into bundles ready for the burning
destruction. 90 The wheat" at the
same time, will be gathered into the gar
ner''-the heavenly kingdom.
They shall gather out of His kingdom
all things which offend, and them which
do iniquity: . there shall be wall
ing and crashing of teeth" Let us re-
member that these ''tares'' are not all of
the world of mankind but merely that
portion of them associated with the
kingdom class-that portion which now
verify believe that they are Gods people,
as the Pharisees considered themselves In
the harvest of the Jewish age. There
will be two classes amongst these
"tares:" one class, doors of inquiry
dnequity, unrighteousness). the other
class, those that have caused others 10
stumble. Doubtless this will include
many teachers and preachers, and many
doors OF wonderful works.
| But we must not forget that we are
considering a parable, and that the
"tares" are symbolical, and likewise the
furnace" and the fire" The interpre-
tation is that, in the end of this age. the
harvest time. there will be a great time
of trouble" for all nations, society, gov
ernments, financial institutions. etc. The
! wheat class will be saved from that
time of trouble by the resurrection
change. But the "tares" will not be
saved from IT. they will be cast into the
trouble and have their portion with the
4 hypocrites.
That trouble will not last forever. Many
Scriptures seem TO show that 1t will bt
terrific. but of very short duration. L
will be on the earth. and not in some
far off place. When the "fre'' of thai
great day of anarchy and trouble shall
| cease to burn" there will be no more
"tares," there will be no more people
having mere forms of godliness and pre-
tensions for the kingdom, begotten o.
error.
All humanity will be greatly humbled
and. according to the Scriptures, ready
and anxious to Messah's kingdom, which
desire of all nations" (Haggai ii:0
| Those formerly 'tares," as well as tn,
remainder of the groaning creation. will
welcome 1t and its blessings. In tina
Kingdom the righteous the garnered
glorifed wheat class shall shine fortl