Pagină:A-great-image-part-I-1930.djvu/7

Avuust 1, 1930 the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.’’—Ezek. 1:24, 25. 30 Above the expanse or firmament was the likeness of a great throne having the appearance of a sapphire stone, and upon the throne was one having the ap- pearance of a man, There was the appearance of fire round about and within it, and the color was of amber. After describing the appearance of the one on the throne, then the prophecy adds: ‘‘As the appearance of ithe bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.’’ (Ezck. 1:28) Thus it is seen that the prophetic description is that fitly representing a mighty war chariot, therefore picturing a chariot-like organization extending high above the earth into heaven, and this mighty organization is presided over by Jehovah the Most High. 31 The Chief Exceutive Officer in that great organi- zation is the beloved Son of God, whom he has made Ruler over the world. With him is his perfect or- ganization ‘‘the holy city’’, which forms a part of the universal organization. In that organization are cherubim, seraphim and a host of angels, and the members of the body of Christ, these all possessing authority and power as granted by Jchovah. (Isa. 6:2,3; Rev. 4:6; 1 Pet. 3:22; Heb, 12:22) Mention is here made of this mighty organization of Jchovah that the student may have in mind the mimic god who has attempted to make the organization in the likeness thercof. LUCIFER’S ORGANIZATION 32 God ercated man in his own image and put him on the carth. He put man in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it. (Gen. 1:28; 2:15) God thereby made the perfect man a part of his great organization and commanded that man should remain always in harmony with his Creator and his fixed laws. The beginning of God's creation was his beloved Son the Logos, and thereafter all things created were ereated by the Logos as the deputy of Jehovah God. (John 1:1-3) That there are various divisions of God’s universal organization is certain, as appears from the words which follow: ‘‘For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or do- minions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead ; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should ajl fulness dwell.’ 3 This establishes beyond a question of doubt that tke WATCH TOWER to eo po in God’s organization there are thrones, dominions, principalities, angels and servants. One of the titles given to the mighty Chief Deputy of Jehovah is the “bright and morning star’’, which also means prince. There was another star in God’s universal organiza- tion. It is recorded that when God laid the foundation of the earth as a home for man ‘‘the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy’’. (Job 88:7) That other star or prince was Lucifer, and the proof concerning that is quite cer- tain and clear. §¢ Lucifer was appointed to a high office in God’s organization. ‘‘Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth ; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.’’ (Ezek. 28:14) ‘‘ Anointed’’ means that he was designated to fill a certain office. The word ‘‘covereth’’ used in this text means one who provides protection, defense or supervision as an overseer, Lucifer was in Eden, the garden of God, where Adam was put, and Lucifer being made an officer in Jchovah’s organization, it seems clear that man was under the special super- vision of Lucifer and the perfect man was therefore a part of Lucifer’s organization and in the great or- ganization of Jehovah. Since Ezekiel’s prophecy shows that God’s organization is like a wheel within a wheel, then it may well be said that Lucifer’s part of the organization was one of the wheels in the greater wheel. This, of course, applies when he was in harmony with Jehovah, 35 Lucifer was made glorious and beautiful to. look upon when he appeared in Eden. ‘‘Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the earbuncle, and gold: the workman- ship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast ereated.’”’? (Ezek. 28:13) He was therefore a light-bearcr and clothed with power and authority. 56 The tree is a symbol of a living creature, and when planted by the Lord Jchovah it is a tree of rightcousness or creature of righteousness as long es remaining in harmony with Jehovah. (Isa. 61:38; Ps. 1:1-3; Prov. 11:30; Num. 24:6; Judg. 9:8; Ps, 104:16) It appears ecrtain from the language used that God’s prophet referred to Lucifer when he wrote these words: ‘‘Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him; the fir trecs were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches: nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envicd him,”’? (Iszck, 31: 7-9)