Publication date
7/15/01
Volume
22
Number
14
The WatchTower
"Beheaded for the Testimony of Jesus"
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1901/14/1901-14-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(223-227) 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
.\u 
FGH£N', 
P, 
Incidentall,Y 
we 
remalk 
that 
these 
ale 
the 
"spirits 
In 
prison" 
mentioned 
by 
Peter 
(1 
Pet. 
3: 
19), 
and 
that 
although 
re­ 
stricted 
as 
reRpects 
their 
powers 
of 
fellowship 
with 
the 
holy 
angels, 
and 
with 
mankind, 
being 
no 
longer 
privileged 
to 
appear 
as 
men, 
they 
still 
seek 
human 
fellowship, 
endeavoring 
to 
gain 
posses~ion 
of 
human 
beings 
who 
yield 
up 
their 
wills, 
and 
who 
are 
then 
said 
to 
be 
possessed 
of 
devils 
or 
"obsessed." 
It 
is 
but 
a 
preliminary 
step 
toward 
thus 
getting 
possession 
of 
the 
individual 
that 
these 
wicked 
spirits 
appeal 
to 
humanity 
to 
become 
their 
mediums 
(spirit 
mediums), 
through 
whom 
they 
to 
some 
extent 
communicatp. 
And 
they 
personate 
dead 
human 
beings, 
because 
they 
know 
\\'ell 
that 
humanity 
would 
shun 
them 
and 
fear 
them 
if 
their 
real 
identity 
were 
discovered. 
* 
• 
'NOAH 
WAS 
PERFECT 
IN 
HIS 
GENERATION" 
From 
this 
~tandpoint, 
v.hich 
we 
hold 
is 
the 
only 
reason­ 
.. 
ble, 
com,i"tent 
and 
:-;criptural 
one, 
the 
reaRon 
and 
necessity 
for 
the 
deluge 
is 
quite 
apparent. 
The 
reason 
is 
Scripturally 
given, 
that 
the 
w 
hole 
world 
had 
become 
corrupt-the 
original 
Adamic 
stock 
had 
become 
confu'led 
and 
intermixed 
with 
an­ 
other 
life. 
The 
divine 
pU1'po~e 
of 
redemption, 
blessing 
and 
reshtutlOn 
was 
confine,l 
to 
Adam 
and 
hiS 
family; 
that 
as 
by 
one 
man's 
dho!ll'd"'lll'P 
~lll 
,',Imp 
lI1to 
tlH' 
\\'olld, 
l'\ 
PH 
~o 
through 
the 
obedil'nce 
of 
one 
many 
may 
be 
justified 
to 
life. 
Although 
foreknowing 
the 
coudition 
of 
thmgs 
God 
made 
no 
provision 
for 
the 
nllxed 
progeny 
of 
the 
angels-that 
was 
out 
of 
hh 
order, 
out 
of 
harmony 
with 
hi,; 
arrangement, 
and 
hence 
,tS 
soon 
as 
it 
had 
demonstratpd 
itself 
and 
taught 
its 
lesson 
the 
flood 
swept 
all 
away, 
except 
the 
one 
family 
of 
Noah, 
of 
whom 
It 
IS 
declared, 
"Noah 
was 
a 
just 
man 
and 
perfect 
in 
his 
gen­ 
eration." 
(Gen. 
6: 
9 
\ 
Not 
a 
perfert 
man, 
for 
he 
was 
a 
fallen 
man, 
as 
were 
all 
of 
Adam's 
children, 
but 
he 
was 
perfect 
in 
his 
generattOn-he 
was 
not 
of 
the 
mixed 
sped, 
he 
was 
pure 
Adamic 
stock. 
The 
Hebrew 
v. 
ord 
here 
remlprpd 
genpmtion 
is 
toledaw 
and 
signifies 
descent, 
family. 
The 
lesson 
taught 
by 
this 
failure 
of 
the 
angel~ 
and 
its 
ft'SUlt 
to 
mankind 
wa" 
that 
any 
deviation 
fr01l1 
the 
divine 
plan 
and 
arrangempnt 
would 
work 
injury 
instead 
of 
good 
to 
those 
participating 
in, 
as 
well 
as 
to 
those 
afl'ected 
by 
it. 
The 
angels 
\\ 
ho 
fell 
from 
their 
noble 
work 
and 
condition, 
and 
became 
groveling 
and 
sensual. 
manife~ted 
clearly 
in 
their 
own 
course 
the 
downward 
tendency 
of 
all 
tran~gressions 
of 
the 
divine 
law. 
Then 
their 
children, 
who 
might 
have 
been 
expected 
to 
be 
bril­ 
liant, 
talented, 
able, 
and 
who 
were 
all 
these 
in 
many 
respects 
("men 
of 
renown") 
possessed 
their 
abilities 
in 
connection 
with 
!I. 
sinful 
and 
alienah·d 
eondition; 
and 
it 
wa" 
proper 
that 
both 
angels 
and 
men 
should 
see 
that 
the 
greater 
the 
ability 
pos­ 
sessed, 
out 
of 
harmony 
with 
the 
divine 
arrangement, 
the 
greater 
would 
be 
the 
injury 
instead 
of 
blessing 
which 
would 
result. 
Thus 
we 
Sl'e 
that 
these 
renowned 
men, 
with 
their 
great 
abilities, 
physical 
and 
mental, 
tended, 
not 
to 
the 
promo­ 
tion 
of 
godliness, 
peace, 
joy, 
happiness 
in 
the 
"orId; 
but 
to 
:,trife, 
to 
oppression, 
to 
violenre. 
It 
may 
be 
thought 
by 
some 
that 
we 
are 
straining 
the 
Illus­ 
tration, 
when 
we 
affirm 
that 
we 
"ee 
today 
in 
the 
world 
some­ 
thing- 
that 
is 
in 
many 
respects 
analogous 
to 
this 
evil 
condi­ 
tion 
which 
led 
to 
the 
dissolution 
of 
the 
first 
world 
or 
dis­ 
pensation; 
that 
we 
sec 
that 
somewhat 
similar 
conditions 
pro­ 
ducing 
somewhat 
Rimilar 
evils 
are 
leading 
on 
rapidly 
to 
the 
great 
catastrophe 
With 
which 
"this 
present 
evil 
world" 
shall 
pass 
away, 
in 
a 
great 
commotion, 
symbolically 
called 
"fire" 
of 
anarchy,-giving 
place 
to 
the 
new 
order, 
the 
l\1Jllennial 
king- 
• 
See 
What 
Say 
the 
Scnpt,trcs 
About 
Spirttualism? 
Proof< 
tllat 
,t 
's 
[Jp»lOnlfnl 
)(IUllt 
.. 
tll1 
.... 
n[fHP 
dom. 
The 
analogy 
1>\ 
as 
between 
humamty 
and 
the 
new 
ereatures 
in 
Christ, 
who 
are 
Scripturally 
called 
"the 
sons 
of 
God." 
The 
influence 
of 
these 
sons 
of 
God 
upon 
the 
world 
of 
mankind 
should 
be 
instructive, 
elevating, 
helpful, 
showing 
forth 
the 
praises 
of 
him 
who 
called 
them 
out 
of 
darkness 
into 
his 
marvelous 
light,-transformed 
by 
the 
renewing 
of 
their 
nunds, 
etc., 
they 
should 
be 
letting 
their 
hght 
-'0 
slime 
beiOlt' 
men 
that 
men 
would 
see 
their 
good 
works 
and 
glorify 
the 
Father 
in 
heaven. 
But 
the 
influence 
of 
mankind 
upon 
the 
church 
seems 
to 
have 
been 
stronger 
than 
the 
influence 
of 
the 
new 
creatures 
upon 
mankind-not 
in 
all 
cases, 
but 
in 
some 
cases, 
just 
as 
it 
was 
with 
the 
angels. 
The 
sons 
of 
God 
(the 
church), 
enlightened 
beyond 
their 
fallen 
and 
unregenerate 
neighbors, 
are 
men 
of 
renown, 
and 
the 
civilized 
world 
of 
today, 
Christendom, 
represents 
the 
influence 
of 
this 
combination 
of 
the 
spiritual 
with 
the 
natural 
in 
Babylon-Confusion. 
It 
has 
lifted 
up 
humanity 
wherever 
it 
has 
gone; 
it 
has 
sharpened, 
it 
has 
broadened, 
it 
has 
civilized; 
but 
lllstead 
of 
this 
combina­ 
tion 
working 
for 
the 
highest 
benefit 
of 
mankind 
in 
all 
cases, 
we 
find, 
rather, 
that 
the 
tendency 
is 
to 
combine 
the 
higher 
intelligence 
With 
human 
selfishness, 
and 
the 
result 
of 
this 
union 
is 
the 
bringing 
forth 
of 
giants 
in 
the 
earth,-cor­ 
porative 
giants-which 
very 
shortly 
will 
give 
mankind 
a 
great 
deal 
of 
trouble 
and 
fill 
the 
earth 
with 
violence. 
Are 
not 
the 
trusts 
and 
combines, 
now 
rapidly 
developing 
throughout 
the 
world, 
the 
off 
"pring 
of 
this 
union 
of 
heavenly 
light 
and 
intelligence 
with 
the 
selfish 
depravity 
of 
the 
fallen 
race? 
and 
what 
hope 
can 
mankind 
have 
when 
once 
these 
giant~ 
have 
reached 
their 
growth 
and 
strength, 
and 
when 
their 
Ilt'­ 
cessities 
combined 
with 
their 
selfishness, 
shall 
influence 
them 
to 
exert 
their 
power 
in 
the 
world? 
Will 
it 
not 
lead 
to 
violence? 
Will 
it 
not 
bring 
about 
the 
time 
of 
trouble 
which 
~cripturally 
is 
described 
as 
being 
a 
period 
when 
"every 
man'~ 
hand 
will 
be 
against 
his 
neighbor"-when 
selfishness 
will 
ht' 
in 
control 
in 
every 
direction 
and 
amongst 
all 
classes 
except 
those 
who, 
like 
Noah 
and 
his 
family, 
are 
in 
the 
Ark 
of 
safet,\' 
-under 
the 
Lord's 
special 
and 
protecting 
care? 
\Ve 
would 
not 
press 
the 
figure 
too 
far, 
but 
we 
do 
see 
"ome 
analo~' 
as 
between 
the 
end 
of 
the 
first 
world 
or 
dispensation 
and 
the 
end 
of 
the 
preRent 
dispensation, 
the 
second 
world. 
The 
printed 
lesson 
deals 
particularly 
with 
the 
going 
forth 
of 
Noah, 
his 
thankfulness 
to 
God, 
his 
worship, 
as 
expressed 
in 
the 
building 
of 
the 
altar, 
and 
the 
offering 
of 
the 
sacrifice, 
typifying 
man's 
reliance 
upon 
God 
and 
the 
great 
sacrifice 
for 
'lin 
securing 
the 
return 
of 
divine 
favor 
which 
would 
be 
accom­ 
plished 
in 
due 
time 
by 
Messiah. 
The 
ofl'ering 
was 
accepted 
by 
the 
Lord, 
who 
declared 
that 
the 
earth 
should 
nevermore 
be 
visited 
by 
such 
a 
catastrophe, 
and 
that 
nevermore 
should 
every 
living 
thing 
be 
smitten; 
and 
in 
this 
we 
see 
another 
evidence 
that 
the 
coming 
trouble 
will 
not 
destroy 
all 
human 
life, 
although 
it 
is 
represented 
symbolically 
as 
fire: 
the 
fire 
of 
that 
day 
will 
burn 
against 
all 
wickedness, 
against 
all 
sin, 
to 
de­ 
stroy 
it 
root 
and 
branch, 
yet 
the 
Lord, 
through 
the 
Prophet, 
declares 
that 
after 
the 
fire 
of 
his 
anger 
shall 
have 
burned 
in 
fierceness 
against 
the 
world 
of 
mankind, 
he 
will 
subsequently 
turn 
to 
the 
people 
a 
pure 
language, 
that 
they 
may 
all 
call 
upon 
the 
name 
of 
the 
Lord, 
to 
serve 
him 
with 
one 
consent­ 
thus 
indirating 
that 
while 
the 
symbolical 
fire 
of 
that 
day 
will 
destroy 
the 
institutions, 
arrangements, 
peculiar 
to 
this 
time, 
it 
will 
not 
destroy 
all 
the 
people. 
but 
prepare 
them 
for 
the 
reception 
of 
the 
Lord's 
message 
of 
favor 
and 
blessing, 
for 
it 
is 
written, 
"When 
the 
judgments 
of 
the 
Lord 
are 
abroad 
in 
thf' 
earth 
the 
inhabitants 
of 
the 
world 
will 
learn 
righteousness."­ 
Zeph. 
3:8, 
9; 
lsa. 
26:9. 
Our 
German 
tJi"nds 
ale 
lllgmg 
that 
DAWN. 
VOL. 
V., 
be 
publi~hed 
in 
their 
language 
for 
the 
benefit 
of 
those 
who 
can­ 
not 
so 
clearly, 
or 
at 
all 
understand 
the 
English 
language. 
We 
'lubmit 
the 
matter 
to 
you 
and 
inquire 
now,-How 
many 
con­ 
~ider 
thiS 
advi~able" 
~ay 
how 
many 
eopies 
you 
will 
want 
at 
DA\VN 
VOL. 
V. 
IN 
GERMAN 
12%c 
in 
paper 
covers 
po>\tpaid 
in 
America, 
or 
25c 
in 
cloth 
plus 
10c 
postage 
anywhere. 
If 
we 
obtain 
a 
sufficient 
number 
of 
orders 
to 
meet 
one-half 
of 
the 
expense 
we 
will 
publish 
it. 
You 
need 
not 
send 
the 
money 
now, 
but 
merely 
say 
how 
many 
copies 
you 
will 
take 
if 
it 
is 
puhlished. 
VOL. 
XXII 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
JULY 
15, 
1901 
No. 
14 
"BEHEADED 
FOR 
THE 
TESTIMONY 
OF 
JESUS" 
"And 
I 
saw 
the 
81.r1/18 
[pl'rsons] 
of 
them 
that 
were 
beheaded 
for 
the 
!citness 
of 
Jesus, 
and 
for 
the 
word 
of 
God, 
... 
and 
they 
lIVed 
and 
reigned 
with 
Christ 
a 
thousand 
years."-Rev. 
20 
:4. 
All 
comtituting 
the 
kingdom 
ela~" 
are 
here 
referred 
to 
Pentecost 
to 
the 
present 
time, 
have 
died 
by 
decapitation. 
We 
as 
beheaded-every 
member 
of 
the 
glorified 
church 
must, 
are 
to 
remember, 
however, 
that 
this 
statement 
is 
from 
the 
eventually, 
have 
this 
experience, 
whatever 
it 
signifies. 
But 
symbolical 
book, 
and 
is 
therefore 
a 
figure 
of 
speech, 
a 
word­ 
we 
reflect 
that 
our 
Lord 
wa" 
not 
beheaded 
and, 
so 
far 
as 
picture, 
and 
its 
meaning 
must 
be 
sought 
for 
accordingly. 
history 
shows, 
few, 
if 
any, 
of 
the 
apostles 
were 
literally 
be- 
The 
Apostle 
gives 
us 
the 
key, 
saying, 
"The 
head 
of 
hf'aded; 
indel'd. 
vl'rv 
ft'w. 
if 
any. 
of 
the 
Lord's 
saints, 
from 
every 
man 
i" 
Christ, 
the 
head 
of 
the 
woman 
IS 
the 
man; 
[2844] 
(223-227) ZION’S Incidentally we remaik that these are the “spirits in prison” mentioned by Peter (1 Pet. 3:19), and that although restricted as respects their powers of fellowship with the holy angels, and with mankind, being no longer privileged to appear as men, they still seek human fellowship, endeavoring to gain possession of human beings who yield up their wills, and who are then said to be possessed of devils or “obsessed.” It is but a preliminary step toward thus getting possession of the individual that these wicked spirits appeal to humanity to become their mediums (spirit mediums), through whom they to some extent communicate. And they personate dead human beings, because they know well that humanity would shun them and fear them if their real identity were discovered.* “NOAH WAS PERFECT IN HIS GENERATION’ From this standpoint, which we hold is the only reasonable, consistent and Scriptural one, the reason and necessity for the deluge is quite apparent. The reason is Scripturally given, that the whole world had become corrupt—the original Adamie stock had become confused and intermixed with another life. The divine purpose of redemption, blessing and restitution was confined to Adam and his family; that as by one man’s disobedience sin came inte the world. even so through the obedience of one many may be justified to life. Although foreknowing the condition of things God made no provision for the mixed progeny of the angels—that was out of his order, out of harmony with his arrangement, and hence ag soon as it had demonstrated itself and taught its lesson the flood swept all away, except the one family of Noah, of whom it 1s declared, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation.” (Gen. 6:9) Not a perfect man, for he was a fallen man, as were all of Adam’s children, but he was perfect in his gencration—he was not of the mixed seed, he was pure Adamic stock. The Hebrew word here rendered generation is toledaw and signifies descent, family. The lesson taught by this failure of the angels and its result to mankind was that any deviation from the divine plan and arrangement would work injury instead of good to those participating in, as well as to those affected by it. The angels who fell from their noble work and condition, and became groveling and sensual, manifested clearly in their own course the downward tendency of all transgressions of the divine law. Then their children, who might have been expected to be brilliant, talented, able, and who were all these in many respects (“men of renown”) possessed their abilities in connection with a sinful and alienated condition; and it was proper that both angels and men should see that the greater the ability possessed, out of harmony with the divine arrangement, the greater would be the injury instead of blessing which would result. Thus we see that these renowned men, with their great abilities, physical and mental, tended, not to the promotion of godliness, peace, joy, happiness in the world; but to strife, to oppression, to violence. It may be thought by some that we are straining the llustration. when we affirm that we see today in the world something that is in many respects analogous to this evil condition which led to the dissolution of the first world or dispensation; that we see that somewhat similar conditions producing somewhat similar evils are leading on rapidly to the great catastrophe with which “this present evil world” shall pass away, in a great commotion, symbolically called “fire” of anarchy,—giving place to the new order, the Millennial king *See What Say the Scriptures About Spirttualism® Proofs that 1 ts Demontsm 10 cents this office DAWN VOL. V, Our German friends aie urging that Dawn, VoL. V., be published in their language for the benefit of those who cannot so clearly, or at all understand the English language. We submit the matter to you and inquire now,—How many consider this advisable’ Say how many copies you will want at WATCH TOWER ALLFGHENY, Pv dom. The analogy is as between humamty and the new creatures in Christ, who are Scripturally called “the sons of God.” The influence of these sons of God upon the world of mankind should be instructive, elevating, helpful, showing forth the praises of him who called them out of darkness into his marvelous light,—transformed by the renewing of their minds, etc., they should be letting their light 50 shine betoie men that men would see their good works and glorify the Father in heaven. But the influence of mankind upon the church seems to have been stronger than the influence of the new creatures upon mankind—not in all cases, but in some cases, just as it was with the angels. The sons of God (the church), enlightened beyond their fallen and unregenerate neighbors, are men of renown, and the civilized world of today, Christendom, represents the influence of this combination of the spiritual with the natural in Babylon—Confusion. It has lifted up humanity wherever it has gone; it has sharpened, it has broadened, it has civilized; but instead of this combination working for the highest benefit of mankind in all cases, we find, rather, that the tendency is to combine the higher intelligence with human selfishness, and the result of this union is the bringing forth of giants in the earth,—corporative giants—which very shortly will give mankind a great deal of trouble and fill the earth with violence. Are not the trusts and combines, now rapidly developing throughout the world, the offspring of this union of heavenly light and intelligence with the selfish depravity of the fallen race? and what hope can mankind have when once these giants have reached their growth and strength, and when their necessities combined with their selfishness, shall influence them to exert their power in the world? Will it not lead to violence? Will it not bring about the time of trouble which Scripturally is described as being a period when “every man’s hand will be against his neighbor”—when selfishness will be in control in every direction and amongst all classes except those who, like Noah and his family, are in the Ark of safety —under the Lord’s special and protecting care? We would not press the figure too far, but we do see some analogy as between the end of the first world or dispensation and the end of the present dispensation, the second world. The printed lesson deals particularly with the going forth of Noah, his thankfulness to God, his worship, as expressed in the building of the altar, and the offering of the sacrifice, typifying man’s reliance upon God and the great sacrifice for sin securing the return of divine favor which would be accomplished in due time by Messiah. The offering was accepted by the Lord, who declared that the earth should nevermore be visited by such a catastrophe, and that nevermore should every living thing be smitten; and in this we see another evidence that the coming trouble will not destroy all human life, although it is represented symbolically as fire: the fire of that day will burn against all wickedness, against all sin, to destroy it root and branch, yet the Lord, through the Prophet, declares that after the fire of his anger shall have burned in fierceness against the world of mankind, he will subsequently turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent— thus indicating that while the symbolical fire of that day will destroy the institutions, arrangements, peculiar to this time, it will not destroy all the people. but prepare them for the reception of the Lord’s message of favor and blessing, for it is written, “When the judgments of the Lord are abroad in the earth the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.”— Zeph. 3:8, 9: Isa. 26:9. IN GERMAN 12%4e in paper covers postpaid in America, or 25¢ in cloth plus 10c postage anywhere. If we obtain a sufficient number of orders to meet one-half of the expense we will publish it. You need not send the money now, but merely say how many copies you will take if it is published. VoL. XXII ALLEGHENY, PA., JULY 15, 1901 No. 14 “BEHEADED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS” “And I saw the suuls | persons] of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, ... and they lied and reigned with Christ All constituting the kingdom class are here referred to a8 beheaded—every member of the glorified church must, eventually, have this experience, whatever it signifies. But we reflect that our Lord was not beheaded and, so far as history shows, few, if any, of the apostles were literally beheaded; indeed. very few, if any, of the Lord’s saints, from a thousand years.”—Rev. 20:4. Pentecost to the present time, have died by decapitation. We are to remember, however, that this statement is from the symbolical book, and is therefore a figure of speech, a wordpicture, and its meaning must be sought for accordingly. The Apostle gives us the key, saying, “The head of every man is Christ, the head of the woman is the man; [2844]

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