Bible Study from March 18th, 2023

Easter Morn

Gently thou beckonest from the giant hills
The new-born beauty in the emerald sky,
And wakening murmurs from the drowsy rills —
O gladsome dayspring! ’reft of mortal sigh
To glorify all time — eternity —
With thy still fathomless Christ-majesty.

E’en as Thou gildest gladdened joy, dear God,
Give risen power to prayer; fan Thou the flame
Of right with might; and midst the rod,
And stern, dark shadows cast on Thy blest name,
Lift Thou a patient love above earth’s ire,
Piercing the clouds with its triumphal spire.

While sacred song and loudest breath of praise
Echo amid the hymning spheres of light,—
With heaven’s lyres and angels’ loving lays,—
Send to the loyal struggler for the right,
Joy — not of time, nor yet by nature sown,
But the celestial seed dropped from Love’s
throne.

Prolong the strain “Christ risen!” Sad sense, annoy
No more the peace of Soul’s sweet solitude!
Deep loneness, tear-filled tones of distant joy,
Depart! Glad Easter glows with gratitude —
Love’s verdure veils the leaflet’s wondrous birth
Rich rays, rare footprints on the dust of earth.

Not life, the vassal of the changeful hour,
Nor burdened bliss, but Truth and Love attest
The solemn splendor of immortal power, —
The ever Christ, and glorified behest,
Poured on the sense which deems no suffering vain
That wipes away the sting of death — sin, pain.

Pleasant View, Concord, N. H., April 18, 1900

— from Poems, published 1910,
by Mary Baker Eddy, page 30-31

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In the divine Mind, truth and love are constantly and indissolubly wedded. All human undertakings which are to count for anything must exemplify this union, for it is “according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount”. “Be ye perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” It is one of the “wiles of the devil” to try to divorce truth and love in the consciousness of men, and to make them believe that truth can be advanced through war and strife, carried on with motives of anger, hatred, revenge, self-interest, or self- justification. Ever and anon, problems of importance must be discussed and settled in our families, in our churches, in our business relations, and in the larger negotiations of politics, law, government, religion, and diplomacy. In these discussions, let us defeat the “one evil” through understanding and bearing in mind that, by no amount of argument, however valid, and by no amount of force of any kind, can we successfully promulgate truth and permanently bring to pass the correct issue, unless, during our efforts, we purposely and habitually exercise the spirit of good-will. In dealing with others, reasoning and good-will are as the wings of a bird. If a bird tries to fly with only one wing, he whirls round and round, to his own confusion, getting nowhere; but using both wings, he makes much progress.

Only as the male principle, truth, and the female principle, love, are wedded in our consciousness can we obey the spiritual command: “Be fruitful (of righteous thoughts and deeds), and multiply (them), and replenish the earth ( with them), and subdue it.” Truth will go no farther and no faster than love goes as a companion. “What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” St. John’s statement is that these two witnesses will be active in human consciousness during apocalyptic days, equivalent to 42 months, and symbolical of the period of the apparent supremacy of satanic activity in the world, during which period these two witnesses will perform their work in an apparently subordinate position, “clothed in sackcloth”, that is, they will not have that supreme and unquestioned place in the world to which they are entitled.

“The Union of Truth and Love” from Revelation Interpreted, by Rev. Kratzer

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The right valuation of our dear Leader includes much more than appears at first sight. Throughout the ages God has not been without a witness of Himself. A long line of witnesses in the Scriptures bear testimony to the power of God to destroy sin and heal sickness through prayer. In the words of the prophet, “Fear ye not, neither be afraid: … ye are even my witnesses.” Zechariah speaks of two olive trees and “two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” The Revelator tells of the angel that gives power “unto my two witnesses” and says, “These are the two olive trees.” Christ Jesus bore witness to the truth which delivers mortals from every so-called law of matter, from sin, sickness, and death. He proved in what are called his miracles that material laws are no laws, and that the law of Spirit, Truth, is the one and only law. Thus the Master raised Lazarus, resuscitated himself and came forth a victor from the rocky tomb. Christ Jesus said, “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.” Jesus witnessed to the power of God through his works; but as we know, he did not specify the rule and Science by which those works were done. The rule and Science of Christ, Truth, were to be discovered by Mrs. Eddy. And this second witness, who stands “by the Lord of the whole earth,” is the truth revealed by her as the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science. Hence our Leader tells us in “The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany” (p. 347) that God’s two witnesses are “Christ Jesus and Christian Science.”

The Bible and our Leader’s writings show that there are two witnesses and no more. The first witness, Christ Jesus, reveals the fatherhood of God, good, and the omnipotence of Truth. The second witness, the discovery of Mary Baker Eddy,—Christian Science,—reveals the motherhood of God and the omnipresence of divine Love, with its complete protection for the offspring of Love. The first witness testified to the spiritual idea of Truth, which liberates man from bondage to the flesh and overcomes every material law. The second witness revealed the spiritual idea of Love, which brings the new spiritual birth, explains the law, and preserves from every attack of error. He who sees that Christian Science bears witness to the final and complete revelation of the Science of Being, who knows also that he himself can witness to the truth Mrs. Eddy has revealed, cannot fail to form a true estimate of God’s messenger.

“True Estimate Of God’s Messenger” from Christian Science Journal, October 1927, by Irving C. Tomlinson

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Revelation 10-11 – A Bitter-Sweet Time

A. The temple of God.

1. John is instructed to measure the temple, the altar and its worshippers. “Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, ‘Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there'”.

Rise and measure the temple of God: Sometimes in the Old Testament, the idea of measuring communicates ownership, protection, and preservation. When Habakkuk prophesied, He stood and measured the earth (Habakkuk 3:6), the idea was that the Lord owned the earth and could do with it as He pleased. When this temple is measured, it shows that God knows its every dimension, and He is in charge.

God is in charge. This is one of the glorious, mighty themes of the Book of Revelation. Revelation 11:17 again uses the title Almighty for God. The Greek word for Almighty is pantokrater, and it describes “the one who has his hand on everything.” Nine out of the ten times this word is used in the New Testament, it is used in Revelation. This temple will be the scene of great horror and great glory, but God is in charge, working through both the good and bad actions of man.

— by David Guzik from Enduring Word

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Science and Health makes it plain to all Christian Scientists that the manhood and womanhood of God have already been revealed in a degree through Christ Jesus and Christian Science, His two witnesses. What remains to lead on the centuries and reveal my successor, is man in the image and likeness of the Father-Mother God, man the generic term for mankind.”

— from Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy, page 347

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CARD

Since my attention has been called to the article in the May JOURNAL, I think it would have been wiser not to have organized the GENERAL ASSOCIATION FOR DISPENSING CHRISTIAN SCIENCE LITERATURE.

1. Because I disbelieve in the utility of so wide spread an organization. It tends to promote monopolies, class legislation and unchristian motives for Christian work:

2. I consider my students as capable, individually, of selecting their own reading matter and circulating it, as a committee would be which is chosen for this purpose.

I shall have nothing further to say on this subject, but hope my students’ conclusion will be wisely drawn, and tend to promote the welfare of those outside, as well as inside this organization.

Oh, my God, I offer as a consecrated gift upon Thine altar, a heart dedicated to Thy service, lips speaking only words of charity, love, and truth, thoughts striving to be only the true thoughts of the Mind of God. Help me to endure unto the end, strong in the faith, powerful in the truth, all the influence that I can bring to bear, all the force of tongue or pen that is mine, I offer in Thy service. May heaven help, consecrate, and accept.

“An insert added” to The Christian Science Journal, July 1891, by Mary Baker Eddy

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Because of the controversy surrounding these two witnesses, it is important that who or what they are be clarified. Mrs. Eddy says, “Science and Health makes it plain to all Christian Scientists that the manhood and womanhood of God have already been revealed in a degree through Christ Jesus and Christian Science, His two witnesses.” As this statement was given to the Associated Press on May 16, 1901, Mrs. Eddy prudently avoided revealing to the press that both Christ Jesus and Mary Baker Eddy are God’s two witnesses.

Excerpt from Mary Baker Eddy, the Prophetic and Historical Perspective
by Paul Smillie, page 251

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