August 25We know that when he shall appear we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is — 1 John 3:2.
Let the hope that we shall soon experience our resurrection change, and be made like our dear Redeemer, and see Him as He is, and share His glory in the great epiphaneia, or shining forth of the sons of God in the glory of the Kingdom, enthuse us—let this energize our hearts, loose our lips and strengthen us for every duty, privilege and opportunity—to serve our Master and the household of faith. If this hope has been an anchor to the Lord's people for so many centuries, how much more does it mean to us who are living now in the very time of His presence, waiting for His full apokalupsis—His revealing in the glory of the Kingdom!—Z '03, 151 (R 3191). By Christ's appearance His manifestation of Himself to the world is meant. This will occur through the afflictions of the Time of Trouble. We were given the assurance, therefore, that before the trouble would be fully over, the whole Church would be glorified with Her Lord. Their appearance with Him will not be in the flesh, just as His appearance will not be in the flesh. They are resurrected like Him—changed from corruptibility to incorruptibility; from mortality to immortality; from humanity to divinity! In this glorious condition they see and are like Him, as well as are with Him! Well may we be content with present unfavorable conditions with Kingdom prospects before our longing eyes!—P '32, 112. Parallel passages: Psa. 16:11; 17:15; Matt. 5:8; 8:11; 1 Cor. 13:12; Rom. 8:29; 1 Cor. 15:49; Phil. 3:21; Col. 3:4; 2 Pet. 1:4. Hymns: 92, 7, 25, 29, 53, 72, 105. Poems of Dawn, 260: The World is Old with Centuries. Tower Reading: Z '12, 61 (R 4973). Questions: How has this hope affected me this week? What were the results? |
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"THE WORLD IS OLD WITH CENTURIES"
THE world is old with centuries,
But not for these she bows her head;
Close to her heart the sorrow lies:
She holds so many dead!
Sad discords mingle in her song,
Tears fall upon her with the dew,
The whole creation groans—How long
Ere all shall be made new?
Yet brightly on her smiles the sun,
A bounteous heaven delights to bless;
O! what shall be that fairer one,
Wherein dwells righteousness?
O happy world! O holy time!
When wrong shall die, and strife shall cease,
And all the bells of heaven chime
With melodies of peace.
No place shall be in that new earth
For all that blights this universe;
No evil taint the second birth—
There shall be no more curse.
Ye broken-hearted, cease your moan;
The day of promise dawns for you;
For He who sits upon the throne
Says, "I make all things new."
We mourn the dead, but they shall wake!
The lost, but they shall be restored!
O! well our human hearts might break
Without that sacred word!
Dim eyes, look up! Sad hearts, rejoice!
Seeing God's bow of promise through,
At sound of that prophetic voice:
"I will make all things new."
THE world is old with centuries,
But not for these she bows her head;
Close to her heart the sorrow lies:
She holds so many dead!
Sad discords mingle in her song,
Tears fall upon her with the dew,
The whole creation groans—How long
Ere all shall be made new?
Yet brightly on her smiles the sun,
A bounteous heaven delights to bless;
O! what shall be that fairer one,
Wherein dwells righteousness?
O happy world! O holy time!
When wrong shall die, and strife shall cease,
And all the bells of heaven chime
With melodies of peace.
No place shall be in that new earth
For all that blights this universe;
No evil taint the second birth—
There shall be no more curse.
Ye broken-hearted, cease your moan;
The day of promise dawns for you;
For He who sits upon the throne
Says, "I make all things new."
We mourn the dead, but they shall wake!
The lost, but they shall be restored!
O! well our human hearts might break
Without that sacred word!
Dim eyes, look up! Sad hearts, rejoice!
Seeing God's bow of promise through,
At sound of that prophetic voice:
"I will make all things new."