1917_The_Finished_Mystery_Text

Of the tribe of Reuben [were sealed] twelvethousand.— Reuben's name signifying "See ye,a son, provided in my affliction" or The Pity ofGod, seems to refer to the five-talented brethrenwho make their calling and election sure. To bepossessed of ability and means to get the fullestenjoyment out of life, and to sacrifice it allgladly, requires a standard of character so highthat the Lord expressly states that not manyattain it. (1 Cor. 1:26; Gen. 37:21, 22, 29, 30;42:22, 37.) A taint of love of the world (spiritualuncleanness) is all that prevents from attainingthe very highest place.— Gen. 35:22; 49:3, 4; 2Cor. 7:1.Of the tribe of God [were sealed] twelvethousand.— Gad's name, signifying A troop ofchildren cometh, seems to give the third highesthonor to those faithful men and women whohave been blessed of God in bringing manyFM131of their own descendants into the Divine family.Instances are on record where as many as twelvechildren in one family have all come into thelight of Present Truth and consecrated, as a resultof the life and teachings of a noble father andmother. There is a family interest on the part ofthe Heavenly Father in every family that rightlyseeks His face. Not a crown is available forothers, so long as even one child of one of theconsecrated is ready to run for that crown. "Thepromise is unto you [first], and to your children[next], and [after that] to all that are afar off,even as many as the Lord your God shall call."(Acts 2:39; 1 Cor. 7:14.) "Of the childhood andlife of the patriarch Gad nothing is preserved. Atthe time of the descent into Egypt, seven sons areascribed to him, remarkable from the fact that amajority of their names have plural terminations,as if those of families rather than persons."(McC.)— Gen. 46:16; Num. 26:15-18. 7:6Of the tribe of Aser [were sealed] twelvethousand.— Aser's name signifies Happy. "AndLeah said, Happy am I, for the daughters willcall me blessed: and she called his name Asher."(Gen. 30:13.)