EZEKIEL 10

SCATTERING COALS OF FIRE

10:1. Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubim there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne.-Verses 1, 8-11, 12, 14-22 are explained in Chapter 1. The repetition of the symbols of the Justice, Wisdom, Love and Power of God, of the wings (Word of God), of the wheels, and the wondrous light, are assurances that in the anarchous destruction of Christendom, our Father is acting wisely, justly, lovingly and in accordance with His Word and Plan for the good of mankind.-T125.

10:2. And He spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight.-Ezekiel, typing Pastor Russell, sees himself as acting in the manner here described. He was to go in between the wheels, to do his work in accordance with the Divine Plan, to act under the dictates of the Divine Justice, "the cherub." The coals of fire are symbolic of the fiery trials, distress, "great tribulation," with which Christendom will be overwhelmed in the last period of the Time of Trouble, and the prophecies of these events. (Rev. 8:5.) These Divinely permitted troubles have the approval of Divine Wisdom, Justice, Love and Power, as necessary from every viewpoint, and the inevitable retribution of a longforbearing God. Pastor Russell was to do this work,-"fill his hand," with all his might, to devote himself wholly to this task. Over the whole world was scattered the warning of impending trouble.-D57.

10:3. Now the cherubim stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the Inner court. The cherubim stood by the nominal Temple class--to inquire and visit the offences of Christendom. The house was on their left, the place of disfavor. When no priests were in the Holy, it was filled with a cloud. In 1 Kings 8:10 and in 2 Chron. 5:11-14 the cloud filled the Holy, and the priests were unable to serve there because

of it. When the cloud filled the Court, no one could see to serve in it. This types that in the Harvest period, from 1878 to 1918, while Pastor Russell was dispensing as part of the "food in due season" the impending downfall of Christendom, those who had been serving in the believing Court condition-clergy and other church workers—were no longer permitted to do so. It corresponds to the passing of the stewardship from the clergy to Pastor Russell In 1878. This applies also to verse 4, where the presence of the cloud also types the presence of Jehovah to visit punishment for wickedness.-B138.

10:4. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory.-Pastor Russell saw more clearly than any one in this end of the Age the glor ious Gospel of God in the Ransom for all (Court and altar.)

10:5. And the sound of the cherubim's wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.-Here is indicated the sounding forth of the Word of God through Pastor Russell's proclamation of Present Truth. The inner Court typed the condition of faith and justification, and the outer Court typed the con dition of those not fully believing, nor directly serving God. The preaching and writings of Pastor Russell were heard by all classes of believers and unbelievers. It was the voice of Jehovah, represented as almighty to save, that was heard throughout the world.

10:6. And it came to pass that when He had com. manded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubim; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. In the Divine Plan of the Ages Pastor Russell was to find clearly indicated the great tribulation then close at hand.

10:7. And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubim unto the fire that was between the cherubim, and took thereof and put it into the hands of him clothed with linen; who took it, and went out.-Justice gave to Pastor Russell the knowledge of impending troubles, to go out and publish to Christendom.

10:8. And there appeared in the cherubim the form of a man's hand under their wings.-The work of witness here depicted is carried out by human beings, under the power and protection of the Word of God.

10:9-11. And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubim, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was

as the colour of a beryl stone. And as for their appear ance, they four had one likeness, as If a wheel had been In the midst of a wheel. When they went, they went upon their four sides; they turned not as they went, but to the place whither the head looked they followed it; they turned not as they went.-See Chapter 1 for explanation. The leading face in the head was the man's face, typical of Divine Love. This is the dominating attribute of God's character, directing the course of the other three.

10:12. And their whole body, and their backs, and their hands, and their wings, and the wheels, were full of eyes round about, even the wheels they four had.-Every part of the Divine character, as well as every operation of the Divine attributes and of the human beings through which God acts is full of Wisdom.-B305.

10:13. As for the wheels, it was cried unto them in my hearing, O wheel. Very emphatic was the Divine directing of the attention toward the wheels-the 'Divine Plan of the Ages. Pastor Russell always directed the Bible student's mind toward the great Plan.

10:14-22. And every one had four faces; the first face was the face of a cherub, and the second face was the face of a man, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. And the cherubim were lifted up. This is the living creature that I saw by the river of Chebar. And when the cherubim went, the wheels went by them: and the cherubim lifted up their wings to mount up from the earth, the same wheels also turned not from beside them. When they stood, these stood; and when they were lifted up, these lifted up themselves also; for the spirit of the living creature was in them. Then the glory of the Lord departed from off the threshold of the house, and stood over the cherubim. And the cherubim lifted up their wings, and mounted up from the earth in my sight: when they went out, the wheels also were beside them, and every one stood at the door of the east gate of the Lord's house, and the glory of the God of Israel was over them above. This is the living creature that I saw under the God of Israel by the river of Chebar; and I knew that they were the cherubim. Every one had four faces apiece, and every one had four wings; and the likeness of the hands of a man was under their wings. And the likeness of their faces was the same faces which I saw by the river of Chebar, their appearance and themselves: they went every one straight forward.-See explanation of these verses in Chapter 1. (Hos. 9:12) "Yea, woe also to them when I depart from them."

EZEKIEL 11

THE WICKED COUNSEL

11:1. Moreover the Spirit lifted me up, and brought me unto the east gate of the Lord's house, which looketh eastward: and behold at the door of the gate five and twenty men; among whom I saw Jaażaniah, the son of Azur, and Pelatiah, the son of Benaiah, princes of the people. The east gate types Christ, the entrance to true Christianity. (John 10:9.) At the door of the gate were the leading sects, Jaazaniah, the son of Azur (helper) types the idea that by self-help man can please God. Pelatiah (Jah delivers), the son of Benaiah (Jah is intelligent), types the belief that earthly wisdom will deliver the world from its difficulties. (1 Cor. 1:21.) These were "princes among the people"-very popular ideas.

11:2. Then said He unto me, Son of man, these are the men that devise mischief, and give wicked counsel in this city. These teachings have actuated many of the erroneous beliefs and wicked acts of nominal Christians.

CHRISTENDOM THE CALDRON

11:3. Which say, It is not near; let us build houses: this city is the caldron, and we be the flesh.-Ecclesiasticism's thought is that the Time of Trouble is not near, and the destruction of Christendom is not to be thought of. (1 Thes. 5:3.) "Let us build houses" is an expres. sion implying confidence in the permanence of things as they are. (2 Pet. 3:4.) "This city is the caldron, and we be the flesh" (Jer. 1:13) is a proverb, here applied to the iron sides of the caldron keeping away the fire, or in antitype civil and military powers, protecting from actual anarchy (fire), however hot things may become.

11:4, 5. Therefore prophesy against them, prophesy, O son of man. And the Spirit of the Lord fell upon me, and said unto me, Speak: Thus saith the Lord; Thus have ye said, O house of Israel: for I know the things that come unto your mind, every one of them.-The false teachings of the clergy are nothing new. Every one of them is the old worship of Nimrod and Baal.

11:6. Ye have multiplied your slain in this city, and ye have filled the streets thereof with the slain.-There never was a war that a clergy did not preach "their people" into it, and multiply the slain. Furthermore, the number is legion of those who would have liked to gain spiritual life, but the clergy have discouraged (John 7:48), and in millions of cases caused their actual death.

11:7. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Your slain whom ye have laid in the midst of it, they are the flesh, and this city the caldron: but I will bring you forth out of the midst of it.-Another sense in which the Jerusalem Jews used this proverb was that the Jews taken captive into Babylon were worthless, and they in Jerusalem were the valuable flesh remaining. (Mi. 3:3.) God here tells that the only ones to remain in Christendom will be the literally dead, or those who are dead to the claims of Mystic Babylon. These have the best chance of surviving the trouble. The walls, defences, military and police, will be broken down by war and revolution; and nothing can save the adherents of ecclesiasticism from their fate.

11:8. Ye have feared the sword; and I will bring a Sword upon you, saith the Lord. The devotees of established priestcraft fear both the literal sword and the Sword of the Spirit. The armies of the nations will be in open revolt against the established powers, religious, political and economic. Also the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, will cut through all pretense and bring about the death of religion in all not begotten of the Holy Spirit.

11:9. And I will bring you out of the midst thereof, and deliver you into the hands of strangers, and will execute judgments among you.-Christendom will fall literally into the hands of revolutionists and anarchists, Industrial Workers of the World, Syndicalists, Socialists,, unfriendly to established systems, and spiritually into the power of the Word of God in the hands of His "strangers." (1 Pet. 1:1; 2:11,) a "just recompense of reward." (Heb. 2:2.)

11:10, 11. Ye shall fall by the sword; I will judge you in the border of Israel, and ye shall know that I am the Lord. This city shall not be your caldron, neither shall ye be the flesh in the midst thereof; but I will judge you in the border of Israel.-The Jews taken captive out of Jerusalem were tried and slain at Riblah (a bare place) outside of Palestine, typifying that the destroying judgments on Christendom will come upon her after her institutions have gone to pieces, and she is desolated.

11:12. And ye shall know that I am the Lord: for ye have not walked in My statutes, neither executed My judg ments, but have done after the manner of the heathen