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YOLo
XXI
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
.JA
NlTARY
1,
1000
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.1
FALLEN
FROM
GRACE
VERSUS
COLLAPSED
110re
evident
does
it
become,
daily,
that
our
Lord's
d('('lara
tion,
"Babylon
is
fallen!"
doeR
not
signify
tIll'
outward
eol
laps!'
of
"Churchianity;"
but
that
nominal
"Chri,;tendom"
ha"
fallen
from
divine
favor
;-jU'lt
as
tIl(>
fall
of
nationa
I
.J
udaism
from
divine
favor,
at
the
rejection
and
crucifixion
of
"Me,,
siah
at
his
first
presence,
meant
not
the
collap,;e
at
the
mo
ment
of
that
religio-political
system.
The
collapse
of
.Judaism
came
after
it
had
been
faU.en
from
divine
favor
for
37
yearR,
t'l~
.•
in
A.
D.
69-70:
and
during
that
interim
God's
true
people,
"Israelites
indeed,"
were
called
out
by
the
voice
of
the
Gospel
DIspensation.
And
just
so
now,
the
collapse
of
nomillal
Chri,;tianity,
"Christendom"
or
"Babylon,"
i"
not
to
hI'
P:\.
p!'l'tl'd
until
A.
D.
HH.J..
though
fallen
from
favor
...
inc·c·
IS,S.
Thl'
eollapse
will
be
sudden
and
awful
when
it
doeR
c'omc':
and
\\
hill'
only
the
few
realize
the
fallen-from-graC('
condition
of
Babylon
in
the
present,
none
will
be
ignorant
of
her
c'ollap"e
when
it
comes.
Rut
to
know
then
will
he
too
late
,,0
far
a~
thl'
little
flock
of
overcomers
IS
t'OIH'l'rned
;-thev
an>
all
ealled
now,
during
thl'
interim,
"Come
out
of
her,
my
'people,
that
ye
he
not
partakers
of
her
sins,
and
that
VI'
reccive
not
of
her
plagues"-punishment.-Rev.
If!:
2-4.
.
The
collapse
of
Babylon
is
grnphieally
deserihl'd
by
tlU'
ReYelator
as
like
the
easting
of
a
great
millstone
into
the
sea.
Raying,
"Thus
r
sudd{'nly
1.
with
violencl'
shall
that
great
city,
Bah)
Ion.
hc
thrown
down
and
h{'
fouwl
no
mOIl'
at
alL"
He>r
"udcl,'n
destruction
is
descrihed
as
a
great
conflagration,
and
the
declaration
is
made
that
it
is
Iwcause
"the
hour
of
hpr
judgment
[krisis
1"
will
have
come,
that
~he
will
tllUH
suffer
ov{'rthrow
or
"plagues."
"Ther!'forc
shall
her
plagues
come>
in
Olle'
dl1;y
[prophetic:
time>
iR
a
day
for
a
year],
death
and
mournmg
and
famme,
and
she>
shall
he
utterly
burned
with
tire.
for
strong
iR
the
Lord
God
who
judgeth
her."
'Vhoever
arl'
worthy
the
name,
"my
people,"
will
Iwar
and
obey
tl\('
Lord'"
voice
and
come
out
of
Babylon
and
"reeeiYe
not
of
111'1'
plagues;"
because
their
obedie>nce
111
fleeing
out
as
soon
as
thpy
s~e
Babylon's
rea!
conditi~n
will
proYe
that
they
wpre
np\pr
m
real
accord
WIth
her
RillS.
ThoRe
who
1'C'moill
after
6peing
Babylon
and
her
hlasplJ{'mous
doctrines
in
the
light
now
8hinin~
arl'
reekoned
as
endorsing
thl'
blasphemies
llnd
dc'serYing
the
"plagues"
mOAt
thoroughly-aR
mueh
or
mol'l'
than
the
"tare"
clasR
of
Bllbvlolllan~.
l)('('ausp
thcv
have
greatpr
light.
.
,
)Iany
err
in
not
fleeing
promptly
when
fir"t
they
n'alizp
tllP
true
pondition
of
affairs.
SOlllP
say,-I
will
use
mv
offic'p
or
influen('e
in
Babylon,
and
then
ohPY
tlJP
Lord
after
'1
haVe'
gatherpd
some
of
the
"wheat."
Thl'v
for/rct
that
obedil'n('l'
iA
better
than
all
else
in
divinp
estimlltion-bdtN
eYen
thlln
sacrifiee.
Are
they
wiser
than
God
that
they
may
eWn
for
a
month
advantageously
0)'
"afel)'
ignore'
hi"
'YoI'd?
Latp)'
on
tlH'Y
find
that
even
the
"tarc"
class
considpr
thpm
liS
havin~
fo~
a
time
at
least
"di'l8embll'd"
llnd
misrepre
...
pnted
their
own
fal~h
as
well
as
miRrppre>Aented
tl\('
faith
of
tIll'
denomination
whH'h
~hey
had
agrl'l'd
to
uphold.
Thpir
IIlI'uel1ce
whic·h
at
first
mIght
have
lIeen
powerful
for
the
tnlth
hl'eomes
vitiutpd
hy
reason
of
tlwir
neglp(·t
to
olwv
God's
\'oic'l'-hy
tlll'ir
at
tempt
to
guide
tll{'mse>lvl'~
lind
t:l
Ipan
to
the>ir
;'wn
undpr
standing.
Othpr8
say.
I
am
ine
from
Bab;vlon
in
spirit,
God
knowA!
Although
my
name
is
still
on
the
deuominatlOnal
rolls,
I
take
no
interest
in
her
affairs-my
Hympathies
arp
all
with
the
truth,
and
I
rarely
attend
other
meetings.
But
is
this
right
to
1)(>
half
out
and
half
in
Babylon?
Iii
this
the
obedien('p
required
of
an
"overeomer"
and'
pleasing
and
a(,(,l'ptable
to
God
'!
Surely
not.
He
publicly
entered
into
a
COI'e110nt
with
tlw
d(·nomination
when
he
joined
it,
and
he
"hould
faithfully
livp
up
to
all
the
conditions
of
that
covenant
until
he
as
'[I1i/,[/('I,lI
rpllounces
(,1'
cancels
his
m{'mhership.
Others
say,
I
merely
retain
my
membership
in
the
chureh
<lnd
...
ing
in
the
ehoir,
pte.,
for
the
foak('
of
p('ace>
ill
my
famB)
.
otlwrwi8e
I
would
speedily
withdraw.
But
is
tlli,.;
"overcom
ing,,,
or
being
overcome?
The
latter,
surely:
it
is
a
balancinfl
of
regard
for
God
and
his
Word,
with
regard
for
husband
or
wift'
or
phildrcn
or
friends
and
their
wishes.
Thus
the
Lord
tN,to<
us,
whether
we
love
houses.
lands,
reputation,
friend".
h
ushand,
wIfe
or
children,
more
t
hat~
him!
\Ve
should
be
prompt
to
obey
and
thus
to
show
that
to
us
God's
will
i~
o<upPllOr
to
every
othe>r
consideration.
Additionally,
we
onee
said
to
a
cll'ar
brother
who
made
su('h
a
remark
as
the
above:
Brother,
excuse
the
illustration.
Imt
it
ma.y
he~p
you
to
see
your
po'lition
on
tllis
question
in
Its
trill'
lIght
If
I
tell
you
of
a
mattpr
which,
it
"celllS
to
mp.
aptly
illustrates
your
position
in
a
way
you
have
not
thus
far
thought.
of
it.
~t
is
tId,,:
In
Chicago.
at
onp
of
the
great
Lut('herlllg'
estabhshments
(perhaps
at
all)
they
haye
a
trained
hullock
whosl'
duty
it
is
to
decoy
the
cat.tle
that
are
ready
for
"Iuughtl'r.
The
hewilderl'd
cattle
are
naturally
fearful
of
II:1I'm
and
would
be
difficult
to
drive
to
the
butchering
spot.
Lut
with
the
decoy
bull
they
are
easily
Il'd.
He
gallops
up
to
the
hprd
to.ssing
his
head
and
tail
as
a
friendly
j!re<>ting
and
thplI.
wheelIng
around,
he
becomes
their
leader
and
gallops
off
l\
101lg-
the
narrow.
pass~ge
where
they
can
go
only
single
file.
He>
knows
:well.
hIs
bu.smess,
and
wh~n
near
the
killing
plaC'P
he
"tepR
aSIde
mto
a
lIttle
spare>
prOVIded
for
him
alone,
whill·
the
herd
push
one
another
along
to
their
slaughter.
Now,
dear
hrother
(we
remarked),
you
and
others
in
the
nominal
chur<'hes,
who
know
better
and
who
merely
sing,
or
preach,
or
hold
Homl'
petty
"office,"
or
merely
help
to
count
another
ont'
on
the
reports
?f.
Babylon's.
prosperity
or
to
giYe
anotlH'r
dollar
to
her
J?I11Ions,
are
11kI'.
~he
decoy
bull-using
your
knowledg'~
and
lll~ul'nce
to
the
mJury
and
bondage
of
other.,
who,
Heeklllg'
the
right
way
of
true
liberty
and
lifl',
are
looking
to
you
for
eounsel
and
heing
misled
by
your
e~ample.
The
brother
in
question
at
once
thankfully
acknowledged
the
Coree
of
the>
illustration,
and
requested
that
some
of
the
free
"With
draw~1
Lett~rs"
an.d
tracts
to
accompany
them
bl'
sent
him
for
hI"
lIse
III
g'ettmg
free
and
setting
a
worthy
l'xample
to
othl'rs.
THE
FEDERATION
OF
BABYLON
"Christendom"
was
united
in
the
dark
ages,
and
the
rl'
suIts
were
terrible,
every
way.
The
more
truth
and
rl'forma
tion
came
i~,
the
more
did
"Christendom"
split
up.
Had
the
re>form
contmued,
and
had
the
light
of
truth
shined
"till
morp
clearly,
the
reRult
would
have
been
that
Rplit
after
split
would
haYp
occurred,
until
each
individual
Christian
would
havc'
stood
free,
and
all
denominationaliRm
would
have
perished.
This
would
bl'
the
ideal
condition;
for
all
the
UniQ1l8
of
the
pa<;t
and
present
are
unseriptural
and
tend
to
impede
thl'
Christian's
progre>ss,
They
are
mechanical
unions,
and
not
[2553J
(3-4)
ZIONS Feri of Cysts Presene ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1900 No. 1 ly VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER FALLEN FROM GRACE VERSUS COLLAPSED More evident does it become, daily, that our Lord’s declaration, “Babylon ig fallen!” does not signify the outward collapse of “Churchianity;” but that nominal “Christendom” has fallen from divine favor ;—just as the fall of national Judaism from divine favor, at the rejection and crucifixion of Messiah at his first presence, meant not the collapse at the moment of that religio-political system. The collapse of Judaism came after it had been fallen from divine favor for 37 years, vic., in A. D. 69-70: and during that interim God's true people, “Israelites indeed,” were called out by the voice of the Gospel Iispensation, And just so now, the collapse of nominal Christianity, “Christendom” or “Babylon,” is not to be expected until a. D. 1914. though fallen from favor since 1878. The collapse will be sudden and awful when it does come: and while only the few realize the fallen-from-grace condition of Babylon in the present, none will be ignorant of her collapse when it comes. But to know then will be too late so far as the little flock of overcomers 1s concerned ;—they are all called now, during the interim, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues”—punishment.—Rey. 18:2-4. The collapse of Babylon is graphically described by the Revelator as like the casting of a great millstone into the sea, saying, “Thus [suddenly], with violence shall that great city, Babylon, be thrown down and be found no moive at all.” Her sudden destruction is described as a great conflagration, and the declaration is made that it is hecause “the hour of her judgment [krisis]” will have come, that she will thus suffer overthrow or “plagues.” “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day [prophetic time is a day for a year], death and mourning and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire. for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” Whoever are worthy the name, “my people,” will hear and obey the Lord's voice and come out of Babylon and “receive not of her plagues;” because their obedience m fleeing out as soon as they see Babylon’s real condition will prove that they were never in real accord with her sins. Those who remain after secing Babylon and her blasphemous doctrines in the light now shining are reckoned as endorsing the blasphemies and deserving the “plagues” most thoroughlv—as much or more than the “tare” class of Babylonians. because they have greater light. Many err in not fleeing promptly when first they realize the true condition of affairs. Some say,—I will use my office or influence in Babylon, and then obey the Lord after I have gathered some of the “wheat.” They forget that obedience is better than all else in divine estimation—better even than sacrifice. Are they wiser than God that they may even for a month advantageously or safely ignore his Word? Later on they find that even the “tare” class consider them as having for a time at least “dissembled” and misrepresented their own faith as well ag misrepresented the faith of the denomination which they had agreed to uphold, Their rujffluence which at first might have been powerful for the truth becomes vitiated by reason of their neglect to obey God's voice—by their attempt to guide themselves and to lean to their own understanding. Others say, I am tree from Babylon in spirit, God knows! [2553} Although my name is still on the denominational rolls, I take no interest in her affairs—my sympathies are all with the truth, and I rarely attend other meetings. But is this right— to he half out and half in Babylon? Js this the obedience required of an “overcomer” and pleasing and acceptable to God? Surely not. He publicly entered into a covenant with the denomination when he joined it, and he should faithfully live up to all the conditions of that covenant until he as publicly renounces cr cancels his membership. Others say, I merely retain my membership in the church and sing in the choir, ete., for the sake of peace in my family . otherwise I would speedily withdraw. But is this “overcoming,” or being overcome? The latter, surely: it is a balancing of regard for God and his Word, with regard for husband or wife or children or friends and their wishes. Thus the Lord tests us, whether we love houses, lands, reputation, friends. hushand. wife or children, more than him! We should be prompt to obey and thus to show that to us God’s will is superior to every other consideration. Additionally. we once said to a dear brother who made such a remark as the above: Brother, excuse the illustration. but it may help you to see your position on this question in its true light if I tell you of a matter which, it seems to me. aptly Wlustrates your position in a way you have not thus far thought of it. Jt is this: In Chicago. at one of the great butchering establishments (perhaps at all) they have a trained bullock whose duty it is to decoy the cattle that are ready for slaughter. The bewildered eattle are naturally fearful of harm and would be difficult to drive to the butchering spot. but with the decoy bull they are easily led. He gallops up to the herd tossing his head and tail as a friendly greeting and then, wheeling around, he becomes their leader and gallops off along the narrow passage where they can go only single file. He knows well his business, and when near the killing place he steps aside into a little space provided for him alone, while the herd push one another along to their slaughter. Now, dear brother (we remarked), you and others in the nominal churches, who know better and who merely sing, or preach, or hold some petty “office,” or merely help to count another one on the reports of Babylon’s prosperity or to give another dollar to her millions, are like the decoy bull—using your knowledge and influence to the injury and bondage of others who, seeking the right way of true liberty and life, are looking to you for counsel and being misled by your example. The brother in question at once thankfully acknowledged the force of the illustration, and requested that some of the free “Withdrawal Letters” and tracts to accompany them be sent him for his use in getting free and setting a worthy example to others, THE FEDERATION OF BABYLON “Christendom” was united in the dark ages, and the results were terrible, every way. The more truth and reformation came in, the more did “Christendom” split up. Had the reform continued, and had the light of truth shined still more clearly, the result would have been that split after split would have occurred, until each individual Christian would have stood free, and all denominationalism would have perished. This would be the ideal condition; for all the unions of the past and present are unscriptural and tend to impede the Christian’s progress, They are mechanicai unions, and not (3-4)
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