In our previous post we mentioned that not only has the Lord prepared his table of food, but that likewise the Adversary has follow suit and prepared his tables.

The following extract taken from The Herald of Christ’s Kingdom, Oct 1921, Page 29 well illustrates the differences between the table of the Lord and those of the Adversary.

INTOXICATION OF CHRISTENDOM (Isa 28:1-13)

Golden Text.–“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink.”–Hab 2:15.

“We note that, in harmony with the Apostle’s words, nearly all the Old Testament prophecies were written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the ages have come, and in many instances those who uttered the prophecies and those who heard them comprehended them not. (1 Pet. 1:12.) The prophecy at present under consideration we understand to be of this kind-especially applicable to spiritual Israel, though not without a meaning to natural Israel at the time of this writing.

“In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people, and for a spirit of judgment to him that sits in judgment and for strength to them that turn the battle to the gate”. Isa 28:5, 6

Today we see the Christian world intoxicated, bewildered and confused with the wine of false doctrine mentioned so explicitly in our Lord’s last Message to His people. There it is clearly set forth that the great Mother of Harlots would make all the nations of Christendom drunk with the wine of her fornication. The crown of pride and the fat valleys of her possessions are easily seen from this standpoint. But at the same time that the glory passes away from the nominal system a proportionately special blessing will come to the residue of the Lord’s people who are not of this -class, drunken with the wine of false doctrine, but, as the Apostle declares, “Sober, girding up the loins of their minds, and pressing along the Narrow Way for the prize.”

This will mean to this class a spirit of judgment, or what the Apostle calls the spirit of a sound mind, enabling them to comprehend the Divine Plan, and enabling them to be strong in the defense of the Truth and to “turn the battle to the gate;” that is to say, the citadel of Truth will be preserved notwithstanding the fall of the masses of Churchianity. This is in accord with the prophetic statement, “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked, because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation.”–Psa. 91:7-10.

Where do we find ourselves, dear brethren and sisters, as we investigate this picture, so applicable to our day? Are we amongst those intoxicated with the spirit of the world, the spirit of Babylon, the spirit of anti-Christ, the spirit of false doctrine, the spirit of sectarianism, that has “a form of godliness but denies its power?“, the table of devils.

Or are we classed with the Lord and more and more being filled with the spirit of a sound mind? And are we standing faithful as good soldiers in the defense of the Truth and turning the battle at the gateway; not suffering that any false doctrine shall intrude upon us (or upon the brethren), but insisting that every doctrine shall be decided by the Word of the Lord, and be squared by the Golden Rule and by the Scriptural presentations on the subject of the Ransom? We trust that the more we examine ourselves, the more we can assure ourselves that we are with the latter class.

Verses 7 and 8 “But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; The priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; They err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean.”

Verse 7 seemingly pictures these drunkards of Ephraim as the leaders of the people, their priests (Ministers) and prophets, their religious instructors, who have all been misled through the strong drink, the false doctrine of the Dark Ages, and who are all erring in vision and stumbling in their judgment respecting the Truth, the Divine Plan.”

TABLES FULL OF UNCLEANNESS

The statement in Verse 8 that all their tables are full of vomit and filthiness so that there is no place clean could hardly be understood to apply literally to the millions of Israelites of Isaiah’s day, but it does apply spiritually to the millions of nominal Israel of our day. We need scarcely say that the table of the Lord’s people signifies their spiritual supply of food, nourishment; and as we look about us we find in Churchianity many such tables, one to each denomination–its creed. The creed of each denomination represents what it claims God has set before it as the truth for its spiritual nourishment and refreshment; and for centuries each denomination has been busily inviting each other and the world to come to its table. Now, however, these tables are measurably deserted. Very few want to talk about the doctrine or creed of their sect; they generally prefer to ignore creeds.

For the most part most are completely ignorant of their church’s creed or statement of beliefs. As for those who do wish to know, the sect generally provides a modest outline of the church’s creed, one which provides just enough information to satisfy the inquisitor while at the same time avoiding those things which it deems would offend the senses of any righteously inclined individual, such as the belief in eternal torment as the wages of sin.

Many, while thinking that they worship God, really worship “doctrines of devils,” of which they are for the most part, if they are honest individuals ashamed and by which they are hindered. R4006:5

On the contrary, how is it with the remnant mentioned in Verses 5 and 6?

Have they any table? Yes, indeed! They have a table spread with Divine bounties, and it is referred to, prophetically in the 23rd Psalm, “My table thou hast furnished in the presence of mine enemies.” Having gotten free from the wine of the false doctrine of Babylon, these have sought the Truth of the Divine Word unadulterated, and have drawn nigh unto the Lord with their hearts and not with their lips merely; they have gotten mercy and found grace to help in time of great need. The Lord has bountifully supplied their wants with truths both new and old, and thus He fulfilled the promise He made when leaving us, saying to those servants who would be ready to hear the knock, indicating His “presence” at His second coming, that He would open the door, enter in and sup with them. Furthermore, be promised, that He would gird Himself and become our servant, and bring forth to His faithful one’s things new and old from the larder, from the treasure house of Truth and grace. We found it so! We have a table spread with the most wonderful bounties, riches of grace, mercy and truth.”

Continued with next post.