True Christian Religion #689
689. The reason why John's baptising prepared the way was that by this means, as shown above, people were introduced into the coming church of the Lord, and brought into the company of those in heaven who were awaiting and longing for the Messiah. They were thus protected by angels to prevent devils breaking out of hell and destroying them. This is why it says in Malachi, 'Who will endure the day of his coming' and 'so that Jehovah may not come and strike the land with a curse' (Malachi 4:6). Likewise in Isaiah:
Look, the cruel day of Jehovah is coming, a day of wrath and an explosion of anger. I shall make the heaven tremble, and the earth will be shaken from its place on the day of the explosion of His anger, Isaiah 13:6, 9, 13, 22; 22:5, 12.
Also in Jeremiah that day is called a day of laying waste, of revenge and ruin (Jeremiah 4:9; 7:32; 46:10, 21; 47:4; 49:8, 26). In Ezekiel it is called a day of wrath, of cloud and thick darkness (Ezekiel 13:5; 30:2-3, 9; 34:11-12; 38:14, 16, 18-19). Equally in Amos (Amos 5:13, 18, 20; 8:3, 9, 13); in Joel, the great and terrible day of Jehovah, and who will endure it? (Joel 2:1-2, 11; 3:2, 4). In Zephaniah:
On that day there will be a shout. The great day of Jehovah is at hand, the day of the explosion of His anger is that day, the day of anguish and affliction, the day of laying waste and devastation. On the day of the explosion of Jehovah's anger the whole earth will be consumed, and He will bring about an ending with all the inhabitants of the earth, Zephaniah 1:7-18.
There are other passages too.
[2] From these it is plain that if the way had not been prepared by baptism for Jehovah to come down into the world, the effect of which in the heavens was to shut off the hells and to protect the Jews from total extinction, [all there would have been struck with a curse and would have perished] 1 . Jehovah also says to Moses:
In a single moment, if I were to go up in your midst, I should consume the people, Exodus 33:5.
The truth of this is clearly to be seen from John's words to the crowds who came out to be baptised by him:
You brood of vipers, who has warned you to run away from the wrath to come? Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7.
For John also teaching about Christ and His coming when he baptised, see Luke 3:16; John 1:25-26, 31-33; 3:26. These passages make it plain how John prepared the way.
Footnotes:
1. The sentence is incomplete; the words in brackets are restored from 688.
John 2
1
The third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. Jesus' mother was there.
2
Jesus also was invited, with his disciples, to the marriage.
3
When the wine ran out, Jesus' mother said to him, "They have no wine."
4
Jesus said to her, "Woman, what does that have to do with you and me? My hour has not yet come."
5
His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it."
6
Now there were six water pots of stone set there after the Jews' way of purifying, containing two or three metretes apiece.
7
Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots with water." They filled them up to the brim.
8
He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the ruler of the feast." So they took it.
9
When the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and didn't know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast called the bridegroom,
10
and said to him, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!"
11
This beginning of his signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
12
After this, he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they stayed there a few days.
13
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14
He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
15
He made a whip of cords, and threw all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables.
16
To those who sold the doves, he said, "Take these things out of here! Don't make my Father's house a marketplace!"
17
His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will eat me up."
18
The Jews therefore answered him, "What sign do you show us, seeing that you do these things?"
19
Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
20
The Jews therefore said, "It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?"
21
But he spoke of the temple of his body.
22
When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.
23
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in his name, observing his signs which he did.
24
But Jesus didn't trust himself to them, because he knew everyone,
25
and because he didn't need for anyone to testify concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man.
