will no longer permit a successful flight, namely, at the destruction of Babylon the Great and the succeeding war of Armageddon.​—Rev. 16:14 to 17:18.

REMAINING IN THE “CITY OF REFUGE”

17. Who is the high priest in today’s city of refuge?

¹⁷ As we have seen, the unintentional manslayer who found protection in a city of refuge had to stay there until the high priest who was officiating when he fled had died. Then he was free to return to his former place of dwelling. The avenger of blood then had no right anymore to touch him. In fulfillment of the prophetic type Jesus Christ also fulfills the role of the high priest, for indeed he is such a high priest, as we read in Hebrews 3:1: “Consequently, holy brothers, . . . consider the apostle and high priest whom we confess​—Jesus.”

18. What does it mean to stay in the city of refuge until the high priest dies, (a) for the heavenly class? (b) for the Armageddon survivors?

¹⁸ In the interesting picture of the city of refuge, Christ therefore takes on a double role, that of the avenger of blood and that of the high priest, whose death spelled liberty for those in the protective city. What, then, does it mean to remain in the antitypical city of refuge until the death of the high priest? Since, actually, members of two classes are seeking refuge in that city​—“Israelites” and “alien residents”—​that is, members of the heavenly kingdom class and members of the earthly class, it means the following: When the members of the heavenly class, the spiritual Israelites, finish their earthly course as imperfect humans and are rewarded with a heavenly spiritual resurrection, then the high priest “dies” toward them, so to speak, that is, he ceases to function in the capacity of a high priest in their behalf. Being no longer human, they no more need his sin-atoning services, being themselves raised to immortality, to rule as kings and priests with Christ for a thousand years. (Rev. 20:6) As regards the Armageddon survivors, Jesus Christ will cease to function in their behalf as high priest when the thousand years of his royal rule have ended and all men will have been brought to human perfection on earth. To speak in the terms of the picture of the city of refuge, Jesus Christ will then “die” as respects them, that is, leave the scene as a sin-atoning high priest. These services will then no more be needed. Then they will come directly into God’s hands to prove their perfect devotion to righteousness forever.​—1 Cor. 15:24-28; Rom. 8:33; 6:7.

19. What warning is given us?

¹⁹ If, however, the one who in his human imperfection fled to the city of refuge were to leave the city before the High Priest’s death, he would expose himself to the danger of death, the danger of being executed by the legal Avenger of Blood, as he would no longer be under benefit of the ransom sacrifice of the High Priest, Jesus Christ. This is a warning for us. It shows us that we must remain in the antitypical city of refuge as long as the divine provision demands it. If we want to assure our everlasting salvation, we must stay within the bounds of Jehovah God’s loving provision associated with his visible organization, presided over by his High Priest. Let us not be tempted to forsake the shielding and powerful city of refuge in order to enjoy for a short time a deceptive freedom that exposes us to everlasting death. It is true that remaining in the city of refuge imposes some restrictions on us. We are not entirely free to do and say what we please. We have to obey God’s will, abiding under our Ransomer, Jesus Christ the High Priest, and yet that means we have full freedom to do what is right and good.

20. What advice does the disciple James give us?

²⁰ So the provision of the city of refuge in the old Mosaic law speaks with life-or-death urgency. It conveys a sobering lesson. It is a timely lesson for us who are living in this bloodguilty human society of the twentieth century. It shows us how as individuals we may escape both the world’s collective bloodguilt and the approaching divine punishment of this wicked system of things. Happy indeed is the person who, not only reads and hears what God’s requirements are, but applies them immediately and diligently in his life! Says the disciple James: “However, become doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves with false reasoning.”​—Jas. 1:22.

Getting a Permanent Hold on Life

In this series of articles on the Bible book of Revelation, we have come to Re chapter 20, verses 7 to 10. The preceding six Re 20 verses 1-6 deal briefly with the thousand-year reign of Christ, during which the earth will be ruled by his kingdom without interference from Satanic influence. This rule of the promised Seed to bless all families of the earth has the purpose of eventually bringing real life​—in the full, in its perfection—​to mankind. Re 20 Verses 7 to 10, discussed in this article, show a marvelous universal purpose that God has in connection with those on earth at that time.

CAN you feel comfortable and secure in your home if it is heavily mortgaged, even though you have steady employment or a good income? Hardly. You realize that sickness, accident or financial reverses can take away everything you have almost overnight. The same is true of life, which is “like a shadow.” But say, now, that you were perfect in physical organism, living in a world where there was no war, no crime, where you possessed your own home and had it landscaped and beautified to delight your heart; also, where you had work to do that challenged your abilities and would keep your mind occupied in joyful activity.

“Fine,” you say, “if that were possible.” Well, it is possible, for it is the very purpose that God has toward this earth, to have it peopled with obedient humankind living in perfection, able to employ all their talents and abilities, as he arranged for them at the beginning. Again, you may say, “Yes, but I observe the word ‘obedient,’ obedient mankind. How would I be sure that I would always be obedient? It would be a sword hanging uncomfortably over my head​—the fear that I might do as Adam and Eve did, and lose life.”

God realizes this and, in his love for those who love him, has kindly purposed something beyond our capacity to accomplish,