kingdoms belonged. By holding to that initial decision Jesus was upheld all through the test of his integrity and he was kept from collapsing under the test the way the Jewish world collapsed. We likewise have made our decision for God’s kingdom. As long as we hold fast to our decision by preaching the Kingdom good news, we too will be kept from falling during this test. We shall never be attracted into Devil worship by choosing and serving the kingdoms of this world. Let Christendom go down under the test of this hour, stumble over God’s chosen Stone and fall to her destruction. (1 Pet. 2:7, 8) We have chosen Theocracy under Christ. We are kept standing!

30. What, therefore, must the congregation overseers do, and why must we hold fast what we have, and how?

³⁰ The “seven stars,” the anointed overseers, as well as the “other sheep” associated with them in overseership must help all of Christ’s sheep through this hour of temptation by setting a proper example themselves and by giving them all aid. The time for assigning crowns permanently comes on quickly. The Holder of the “key of David” says: “Keep on holding fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Yes, we will hold fast what we have from him, by striving to increase those Kingdom interests, by using our all as a precious instrument in Kingdom service. For the anointed ones to lose the Kingdom interests now before Armageddon means to lose the heavenly crown. For the “other sheep” to lose what they have means to lose New World life under the Kingdom.

31. How must anointed overseers prove to be pillars and stay in line for the New Jerusalem, and accordingly what should all overseers do?

³¹ Anointed overseers must prove to be pillars in God’s temple organization, upholding the temple worship in which the other sheep now engage. They must stay in line for the New Jerusalem by preaching God’s kingdom and keeping clean as the prospective bride of God’s Lamb. This is obligatory, if they want to be pillars in the glorified heavenly temple and bear the name of God’s city as heavenly citizens of it and share the name of the highly exalted Christ by being his loving bride. The temple, the New Jerusalem, Christ’s new name in his heavenly office—these also are things the other sheep must reckon with. Let them now work in harmony with these vital realities. Anyone not keeping holy, anyone who is spiritually disgusting, anyone carrying on a lie, will be barred from the New Jerusalem and from its realm on earth. So let all overseers, especially those in line for positions in the heavenly temple, lead the way in temple worship night and day. Then they will realize the benefit of Christ’s promise at Revelation 3:12.

THE LAMPSTAND IN LAODICEA

32. How did Jesus address the congregation in Laodicea, and why should this address have stung the congregation?

³² In the apostle Paul’s day there was a congregation at Laodicea. (Col. 4:15) By the time of the revelation to John it had gone bad. In addressing himself to it through the congregation angel Jesus speaks of himself as “the Amen,” “the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God.” This reference should have stung the Laodicean congregation, for it no longer wholeheartedly affirmed the truth like an amen. No longer was it a faithful and true witness. It gave no evidence of being part of the “new creation” of which Jesus Christ was and is the first and chief member. How does Jesus, as an exemplary Chief Overseer, handle the case of the congregation in Laodicea, then and now?

33. Why did Jesus threaten to vomit them out of his mouth, and how were they like Ephraim?

³³ Those of the Laodicean kind are neither stimulatingly hot nor refreshingly cold. They are lukewarm, ugh! So, like lukewarm water, out of the mouth they must go. Christ wants them as no mouthpiece of his, no “ambassadors substituting for Christ,” no message-bearers or witnesses belonging to and used by him. Their share in the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14 he will withdraw unless they repent. They are like the dominant tribe of ancient Israel, Ephraim. How so? In being like a flat cake half cooked, a griddle cake not turned onto its other side, hence half-baked, half and half, hence half-hearted, double-minded: “Ephraim is like a silly dove, without understanding: they call unto Egypt [not to Jehovah], they go to Assyria [not to God].”—Hos. 7:8, 11, AS.

34. Why were the Laodiceans in such a lukewarm condition, and what did they need to take away their spiritual wretchedness?

³⁴ Why was that so then? Because the Laodiceans did not keep on seeking first God’s kingdom and the righteousness that comes from him through Christ. (Matt. 6:33) Their talk shows they supposed that their having earthly material riches meant having God’s prospering approval; they put a higher value on material wealth than upon spiritual, Kingdom values, particularly the “treasure” of ministering the Kingdom truth to others. What do Laodiceans now need to take away their spiritual poverty, blindness and nudeness? A good, honest effort to buy from Christ the gold of faith of a tested quality, the garments of righteousness such as will endure into the new world, and the spiritual seeing power, the faculty of spiritual sight, so as to see the all-importance of the Kingdom concerning which the witness must now be given world-wide.

35. So what must the overseers do in behalf of the Laodiceans for their spiritual recovery?

³⁵ Here, then, is a work for overseers: To reawaken the Laodicean kind to feel their spiritual need and then help them become “rich in faith.” (Jas. 2:5) Such faith is rich in Kingdom fruitage and alive to witnessing work. It takes away confidence in one’s own righteousness. It leads us to seek to be righteous in God’s sight, with all worldliness and sinful nakedness put away. Overseers must also help the Laodiceans to apply the spiritual eyesalve; that is, to take Jesus’ teaching on matters, his advice, his example and his mental attitude, and to act in harmony with such. This is a healing remedy against the “desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life.” (1 John 2:15-17) Recovering spiritual sight, they can become eyes to others, and not be blind leaders of the blind.

36. What does Christ do to those for whom he has affection, and so what must overseers do and how should Laodiceans respond?

³⁶ Christ as Chief Overseer reproves and disciplines, but does so out of affection for those who have undertaken to follow him. Overseers under him must do likewise. Laodiceans should appreciate this courageous, open display of affection and be zealous to repent or change their mind and then change their way of life.

37. (a) What is it now time for, and what invitation is now directed to the Laodiceans? (b) How will modern Laodiceans show they were not vomited out of Christ’s mouth?

³⁷ The hour is late. It is the time for the best meal of the day, that is, supper, the evening meal. Many an evening meal Jesus shared on earth, giving out spiritual instruction as he enjoyed the householder’s hospitality. Now he invites us to have such a spiritually upbuilding meal with him. He stands at the door of the Laodicean kind of congregation now and knocks. You Laodiceans, will you listen to his knock, revive your affection for Christ, let him into your midst and let him teach you in a precious communion with him? If so, then you will receive his overseer over your congregation. Your overseer, the angel of the congregation, the “star” in Christ’s right hand, is willing and eager to open the door. He has opened it for Christ to enter to feast with those who repent. All you Laodiceans, show that you were not vomited out of his mouth but are still members of his congregation by coming to all meetings of the congregation for study and for service, for Jesus has promised to be present at a spiritual meal where as few as two or three are appreciatively met together in his name. The “other sheep” are letting Christ in, so that at the coming judgment he will say to them: “I was a stranger and you received me hospitably.” (Matt. 25:35) This hospitable action means life!

38. What must we now overcome, and what reward will be given to conquerors?

³⁸ Let us all be warned by the reproof given to the Laodiceans. We must overcome the materialism of this world in this “time of the end.” To each conquering one Christ, speaking by the spirit of God, promises a high reward, to his anointed followers a throne, not of any kingdom of this world, but with him at his Father’s right hand in heaven. To the conquering “other sheep” he promises a position before his throne, a position of loving favor in the “new earth” of God’s new world of righteousness.

39. What, then, should congregations and their “stars” do, and what do we pray Christ to give them?

³⁹ Shine on, then, you overseers, as “stars” in Christ’s right hand, acting as his angels to the congregations. Shine on, too, you congregations, as lampstands that he retains in their place. May he give you his careful attention and protection that you may ever shed forth light to enlighten all who will be saved forever.

How Dictators Regard the Bible

In a statement quoted in Treasury of the Christian World Harold T. Barrow speaks of the many people who regard the Bible as old-fashioned. “They imagine it is finished, out-of-date, superseded,” he writes. “The remarkable thing is that the Dictators of the world, whether in Germany, Italy or Japan, have not shared this view. Indeed they have dreaded all Bible teaching because they came to realize that the message and influence and precepts of the Word of God were in direct opposition to their program! Even the atheist and agnostic have to admit the ethical value of the Bible while they may deny the God it proclaims. A company of infidels, including Voltaire, were discussing their theories around the table one day when Voltaire said suddenly, ‘Hush, gentlemen—till the servants are gone. If they believed as we do, none of our lives would be safe!’” And in the camp of Bible-discarding dictators, whose life has ever been safe?

Aliens Please Notice

The Department of Justice has once again announced that January is Alien Address Report month. We would like to remind our many readers who are not citizens that the law requires them to report their addresses during the month of January. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has provided a very simple method for all aliens to comply with the law. All an alien has to do is go to any post office or immigration office where he will obtain an address report card. The form number is I-53. You fill this card out, sign your name and the date and leave it with the clerk. That’s really all there is to it and by so doing you will have complied with the law. Our readers who are citizens can help their government by reminding their friends and relatives who are aliens to report their addresses. Remember, January is the time, your local immigration or post office the place.