Publication date
6/15/02
Volume
23
Number
12
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1902/12/1902-12-1.html
 
 
 
JUNE 
1, 
1902 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(175-179) 
such 
as, 
it 
would 
appear, 
was 
not 
unusual 
where. 
the 
numbers 
"ere 
insufficient 
to 
erect 
a 
synagogue. 
It 
is 
pOSSible, 
too, 
that 
this 
city, 
being 
du 
ectly 
under 
the 
Roman 
government, 
pro­ 
hibited 
synagogues 
within 
its 
walls. 
We 
note 
the 
course 
of 
the 
apostles 
here, 
in 
the 
presenta­ 
tion 
of 
the 
gospel. 
They 
did 
not 
go 
to 
the 
chief 
magistrates 
of 
the 
city 
and 
say, 
Please 
direct 
us 
to 
y.our 
~os~ 
degraded 
population, 
the 
wickedest 
people 
you 
have 
m 
thiS 
City, 
for 
we 
\\'18h 
to 
prell.ch 
the 
gospel 
to 
t~em. 
a!ld 
reform. 
them. 
On 
the 
contrary, 
they 
evidently 
made 
mqmnes 
respect~ng 
pe~ple 
who 
already 
knew 
God 
and 
reverenced 
and 
worshiped 
hun; 
and 
however 
small 
th~lr 
number 
and 
unimposing 
their 
meeting 
place 
thither 
the 
Apostle 
and 
his 
companions 
went. 
He 
knew, 
as 
~ny 
at 
the 
present 
time 
s?em 
not 
to 
kn~w, 
that 
,?od's 
\\ork 
now 
is 
not 
that 
of 
reformmg 
the 
world, 
IS 
not 
a 
slu:m 
"'01 
k," 
but 
a 
seeking 
and 
gath~ring 
of 
th~ 
"j?wels; 
"-a 
.mls­ 
sion 
for 
those 
who 
Itre 
hungenng 
and 
thustmg 
after 
nght­ 
eommess 
'-a 
hunt 
for 
those 
whose 
hearts 
all.' 
tender 
and 
broken 
~nd 
the 
I 
efol 
e 
ready 
for 
the 
balm 
of 
Gilead, 
the 
gospel 
message 
of 
redemption 
and 
delIverance 
from 
sin 
and 
i~s 
pen­ 
alty. 
Whatever 
others 
may 
do, 
let 
us 
f.ollow 
th.e 
S~nptural 
precedents-let 
us 
be 
laborers 
togethu 
With 
God 
m 
hiS 
work; 
the 
results 
will 
justify 
this 
course, 
when 
this 
age 
shall 
have 
fully 
ended, 
and 
the 
things 
now 
hidden 
to 
so 
many 
shall 
~e 
revealed, 
and 
they 
shall 
learn 
that 
God's 
ways. 
were 
not. 
their 
ways, 
nor 
his 
plans 
their 
plans, 
but. 
that 
hiS 
were 
higher, 
broader, 
grander, 
as 
the 
heavens 
are 
higher 
tha!! 
the 
earth­ 
that 
his 
time 
for 
the 
reformation 
of 
the 
world 
IS 
future, 
and 
that 
the 
present 
is 
his 
tir;le 
for 
sele~ting 
the 
kingdom 
class, 
which 
shall 
bring 
about 
tIns 
reformatIon. 
The 
text 
of 
the 
Apostle's 
discourse 
is 
not 
given. 
We 
know, 
!level 
thcless, 
quite 
distmctly 
what 
his 
message 
was. 
He 
had 
only 
the 
one 
message; 
viz., 
that 
God's 
promises 
I;Uade 
to 
Abra· 
ham 
were 
begmning 
to 
be. 
fulfilled; 
that 
Mes~lah. 
had 
c?me 
and 
had 
paid 
the 
ransom-pnce 
for. 
t.he 
.world, 
as 
Its 
sm-offen.n~, 
and 
that 
now 
forgiveness, 
recor.clhatwn 
to 
God, 
and 
a 
pnvI­ 
lege 
of 
joint-heirship 
in 
the 
kingdom, 
was 
being 
offered, 
"to 
thl' 
Jew 
first 
an(l 
also 
to 
the 
Gentile 
;"-and 
that 
whosoever 
accepted 
the 
'call 
in 
honesty 
of 
heart, 
and 
was 
faithf~l 
to. 
i!, 
would 
have 
not 
only 
the 
joy 
and 
peace 
of 
the 
Lord 
s 
spmt 
alll! 
bles~mg 
m 
the 
present 
tIme, 
but 
also 
a 
share 
in 
the 
glory 
to 
follow 
by 
and 
by. 
In 
the 
auuience 
was 
a 
woman 
from 
Thyatira, 
of 
the 
very 
district 
(Asia 
:Minor) 
into 
which 
the 
Apostle 
was 
not 
per­ 
mitted 
to 
enter 
and 
preach. 
She 
was 
in 
Philippi, 
probably 
telllporanly, 
engaged 
in 
merchandising-a 
seller 
of 
purple­ 
perhaps 
of 
purple 
dyes, 
or 
possibly 
of 
purple-dyed 
cloth. 
Dye­ 
mg 
and 
dyes 
had 
not 
reached 
present 
development, 
and 
the 
processes 
were 
generally 
secret, 
and 
profitable 
to 
those 
who 
un(lerstood 
them. 
It 
is 
presumed, 
therefore, 
that 
Lydia 
was 
well 
to 
do 
in 
this 
world's 
goods, 
as 
well 
as 
rich 
toward 
God 
in 
faith. 
Like 
the 
Apostle, 
she 
had 
sought 
out 
the 
place 
of 
prayer, 
and 
now 
the 
Lord 
had 
rewarded 
her 
and 
answered 
her 
pI 
ayers 
by 
sending 
her 
the 
truth 
for 
which 
she 
had 
been 
.hun­ 
gerincr 
and 
thirsting. 
She 
and 
some 
of 
her 
household 
belIeved 
and 
~vere 
promptly 
baptized 
in 
confession 
of 
their 
faith;­ 
possibly 
on 
this 
very 
Sabbath 
day 
in 
which 
she 
first 
heard. 
Where 
the 
heart 
is 
in 
a 
condition 
of 
readiness, 
obelience 
does 
not 
need 
to 
be 
delayed, 
nor 
does 
it 
require 
long 
to 
de- 
cide 
to 
be 
on 
the 
Lord's 
side, 
and 
to 
be 
obedient 
to 
the 
voice 
of 
the 
good 
message 
which 
he 
sends 
us. 
This 
attitude 
of 
Lydia's 
heart 
is 
noted 
in 
the 
lesson, 
in 
the 
words, 
"whose 
heart 
the 
Lord 
had 
opened." 
We 
are 
not 
to 
suppose 
a 
miracle 
wrought 
1Jl 
her 
case, 
to 
open 
Iter 
Iteart 
to 
the 
truth; 
we 
afl' 
rather 
to 
suppose 
that 
it 
was 
in 
her 
case 
as 
it 
is 
in 
the 
case 
of 
all 
the 
Lord's 
people; 
that 
none 
are 
ready 
for 
the 
truth 
unless 
the 
Lord 
has 
prepared 
their 
hearts. 
And 
0, 
how 
much 
this 
preparation 
of 
heart 
means!-often 
tnals, 
disappolllt­ 
ments, 
difficulties, 
etc.--ihe 
processes 
by 
which 
the 
Lord 
breaks 
up 
and 
mellows 
and 
makes 
the 
SOlI 
of 
our 
hearts 
fit 
for 
the 
receivmg 
of 
his 
truth 
and 
grace. 
No 
doubt 
LydIa, 
after 
receiving 
the 
truth, 
looked 
back 
at 
past 
experiences, 
se­ 
vel 
e 
ordeals, 
etc., 
aml 
could 
praise 
God 
for 
the 
leadings 
of 
his 
providence 
by 
which 
her 
heart 
had 
bef'n 
"broken" 
allli 
humbled 
and 
made 
readv 
for 
the 
seed 
of 
truth-I 
cady 
to 
appreciate, 
not 
only 
the 
good 
things 
which 
God 
h~tlt 
in 
resl'rvation 
for 
them 
that 
love 
him, 
but 
ready 
al"o 
to 
appreelute 
his 
prollli~ed 
watch-care 
in 
their 
affairs 
1Il 
the 
present 
time, 
guaranteeu 
to 
\\ork 
out 
blessings 
to 
those 
W]IO 
abide 
in 
his 
loye. 
Having 
receiveu 
the 
truth, 
anu 
some 
of 
its 
joy, 
Lydia 
not 
only 
confessed 
the 
Lord, 
but 
sought 
means 
to 
SCI 
Ye 
him. 
She 
could 
not 
join 
the 
Apostle's 
company 
as 
an 
evangeli8t 
of 
the 
good 
tidings, 
but 
she 
could 
entntain 
and 
SCI 
ve 
Paul 
and 
his 
associates, 
and 
did 
so. 
No 
doubt 
she 
receive(l 
more 
than 
com 
pensation 
for 
tIte 
expense 
and 
trouble, 
in 
spiritual 
ril'he8 
and 
refreshment 
;-but 
nothing 
in 
the 
narrative 
implies 
that 
cven 
this 
laudable 
selfishness 
aetuate<l 
her. 
Apparently 
her 
sole 
desire 
was 
to 
serve 
the 
Lord, 
and 
she 
saw 
the 
opportunity 
for 
this 
in 
rendering 
service 
to 
his 
representatives. 
She 
esteeme(l 
it 
it 
privilege, 
and 
so 
expressed 
herself, 
saying, 
"If 
ye 
have 
judged 
me 
to 
be 
faithful 
to 
the 
Lord, 
cOllle 
into 
my 
house 
and 
abide." 
"-hen 
we 
remember 
the 
l\faster's 
own 
words. 
"He 
that 
re­ 
ceiveth 
you, 
receiveth 
me; 
and 
he 
that 
receiveth 
me 
receiveth 
him 
that 
sent 
me," 
we 
can 
see 
that 
Lydia 
took 
no 
f'xtreme 
view 
of 
her 
privilege 
and 
opportunity 
in 
connection 
with 
this 
service. 
Her 
whole 
question 
was 
whether 
the 
Apostle 
and 
his 
companions 
would 
honor 
her 
dwelling 
with 
their 
presence. 
The 
same 
principle 
is 
truc 
and 
applicable 
today, 
and 
conduct 
similar 
to 
that 
of 
Lydia 
is 
always 
to 
be 
considered 
a 
fayorable 
Bign 
indicating 
deep 
love 
for 
the 
Lord 
and 
for 
the 
good 
tidings. 
The 
messengers 
of 
the 
good 
tidings 
must 
necessanly 
always 
be 
associated 
in 
our 
minds 
with 
the 
message 
which 
they 
bear, 
aTIlI 
the 
great 
King 
whom 
they 
represent. 
Our 
Golden 
Tl'xt 
calls 
for 
just 
a 
won1 
of 
cOIllJllent. 
It 
represents 
the 
Lord's 
message 
to 
Paul. 
It 
can 
be 
umll'1 
stood 
only 
when 
we 
remember 
that 
up 
to 
that 
time 
God's 
message 
was 
not 
sent 
to 
all 
men, 
nor 
to 
all 
nations, 
but 
merely 
to 
the 
men 
of 
one 
nation, 
the 
Jews. 
Henceforth 
it 
was 
open 
to 
all; 
-to 
be 
delivered 
to 
all, 
as 
they 
might 
have 
ears 
to 
hen 
r 
it. 
This 
explanation 
will 
be 
found 
a 
key 
also 
for 
various 
other 
Scriptures, 
referring 
to 
all 
people, 
all 
nations, 
and 
thc 
preach­ 
ing 
of 
the 
Gospel 
to 
them 
during 
the 
present 
age. 
It 
is 
to 
and 
for 
as 
many 
as 
"have 
an 
ear 
to 
hear"-we 
are 
to 
let 
such 
hear. 
Tho 
these 
will 
in 
all 
be 
but 
a 
"little 
flock," 
yet 
it 
is 
the 
Father's 
good 
pleasure 
to 
give 
to 
this 
littlc 
flock 
the 
kingdom 
under 
which 
all 
the 
families 
of 
the 
earth 
shall 
be 
blessed 
and 
brought 
to 
an 
accurate 
knowledge 
of 
the 
truth.­ 
Luke 
12: 
32; 
I 
Tim. 
2: 
4, 
Diaglott. 
VOL. 
XXIII 
ALLEGHENY, 
P 
A., 
JUNE 
15, 
1902 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
"\'0. 
1:2 
THE 
UNREST 
IN 
RUSSIA 
Under 
this 
heading 
the 
London 
"Spectator" 
(a 
very 
con­ 
sf'rvative 
journal) 
gives 
further 
details 
of 
recent 
occurrences 
and 
grounds 
for 
expectation 
that 
some 
sort 
of 
a 
revolution 
in 
Russia 
is 
rather 
to 
be 
expected 
soon. 
It 
represents 
the 
Czar 
as 
the 
helpless 
and 
unwilling 
tool 
of 
the 
Russian 
no­ 
bility, 
and 
points 
out 
that 
the 
latter 
may 
feel 
forced 
to 
go 
to 
war 
in 
order 
to 
awaken 
"patriotism," 
and 
keep 
its 
hold 
on 
the 
government. 
Evidently 
Russia 
will 
hold 
together 
as 
a 
great 
nation 
for 
some 
time, 
for 
it 
seems 
indicated 
as 
one 
of 
the 
leading 
actors, 
up 
to 
the 
close 
in 
the 
great 
time 
of 
trou­ 
ble 
impending. 
'Ve 
give 
some 
extracts 
from 
the 
"Spectator," 
(May 
3) 
which 
go 
to 
show 
that 
the 
least 
enlightened 
of 
the 
civilized 
peoples 
of 
the 
world 
is 
awakening 
and 
getting 
ready 
for 
the 
great 
affray,-as 
follows:- 
"Accounts 
of 
the 
unrest 
in 
Russia 
grow 
more 
serious. 
It 
is 
statpd 
that 
the 
sufferings 
of 
the 
peasantry 
in 
the 
South, 
the 
most 
populous 
and 
richest 
division 
of 
the 
Empire, 
involve 
actual 
hunger, 
and 
that 
in 
the 
provinces 
of 
Pultawa 
and 
Khar· 
koff 
the 
peasants 
have 
proclaimed 
'war 
to 
the 
castle.' 
Eighty 
reRidencps 
of 
landlords 
have 
been 
sacked, 
and 
the 
local 
offi- 
cials 
are 
so 
terrified 
that 
the 
Ministry 
of 
the 
Intel 
ior, 
]\1. 
Plehve, 
has 
gone 
himself 
to 
the 
disturbed 
dIstricts 
to 
brace 
up 
the 
bureaucracy. 
The 
artisans 
everywhere 
are 
clamoring 
against 
their 
employers, 
who, 
poor 
people, 
find 
01 
dcrs 
so 
short 
that 
they 
recently 
appealed 
for 
Government 
help, 
an(l 
circu­ 
lar'! 
have 
been 
discovered 
directed 
against 
the 
'foreign 
devils' 
who 
as 
foremen 
and 
overseers 
try 
to 
exccute 
the 
owners' 
commands. 
The 
students 
have, 
it 
is 
said, 
circulated 
a 
forged 
ukase 
bestowing 
the 
land 
on 
the 
peasantry, 
and 
the 
leaders 
of 
the 
artisans 
have 
formulated 
their 
demands, 
which 
are 
the 
ordinary 
demands 
of 
English 
workmen, 
with 
the 
significant 
('xception 
that 
they 
ask 
for 
a 
day 
of 
ten 
and 
a 
half 
hours. 
It 
is 
reported, 
moreover, 
that 
the 
'moral 
tone' 
of 
the 
non­ 
commissioned 
officers 
can 
only 
be 
tru'!ted 
when 
they 
are 
peas­ 
ants, 
and 
that 
pea'!ants 
of 
sufficient 
cultivation 
are 
not 
al­ 
ways 
in 
the 
ranks. 
Altogether, 
there 
is 
an 
ominous 
stirring 
among 
the 
dry 
bones, 
society 
in 
St. 
Petersburg 
and 
Moscow 
is 
divided, 
and 
there 
are 
furious 
dissensions 
among 
the 
group 
around 
the 
Czar. 
"The 
unrest 
is 
more 
serious 
even 
than 
we 
thought 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
As 
far 
as 
we 
can 
ascertain, 
the 
case 
stands 
thus: 
There 
has 
[3023] 
June 1, 1902 such as, it would appear, was not unusual where the numbers were insufficient to erect a synagogue. It is possible, too, that this city, being duectly under the Roman government, prohibited synagogues within its walls, We note the course of the apostles here, in the presentation of the gospel. They did not go to the chief magistrates of the city and say, Please direct us to your most degraded population, the wickedest people you have in this city, for we wish to preach the gospel to them and reform them. On the contrary, they evidently made inquiries respecting people who already knew God, and reverenced and worshiped him; and however small their number and unimposing their meeting place, thither the Apostle and his companions went. He knew, as many at the present time seem not to know, that God 8 work now is not that of reforming the world, is not a “slum work,” but a seeking and gathering of the “jewels;”—a mission for those who are hungering and thirsting after righteousness;—a hunt for those whose hearts are tender and broken, and therefore ready for the balm of Gilead, the gospel message of redemption and deliverance from sin and its penalty. Whatever others may do, let us follow the Scriptural precedents—let us be laborers together with God in his work; the results will justify this course, when this age shall have fully ended, and the things now hidden to so many shall be revealed, and they shall learn that God’s ways were not their ways, nor his plans their plans, but that his were higher, broader, grander, as the heavens are higher than the earth— that his time for the reformation of the world is future, and that the present is his time for selecting the kingdom class, which shall bring about this reformation. The text of the Apostle’s discourse is not given. We know, neveitheless, quite distinctly what his message was. He had only the one message; viz., that God’s promises made to Abraham were beginning to be fulfilled; that Messiah had come and had paid the ransom-price for the world, as its sin-offering, and that now forgiveness, reconciliation to God, and a privilege of joint-heirship in the kingdom, was being offered, “to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile;”—and that whosoever accepted the call in honesty of heart, and was faithful to it, would have not only the joy and peace of the Lord’s spirit and blessing mm the present time, but also a share in the glory to follow by and by. In the audience was a woman from Thyatira, of the very district (Asia Minor) into which the Apostle wag not permitted to enter and preach. She was in Philippi, probably temporarily, engaged in merchandising—a seller of purple— perhaps of purple dyes, or possibly of purple-dyed cloth. Dyeing and dyes had not reached present development, and the processes were generally secret, and profitable to those who understood them. It is presumed, therefore, that Lydia was well to do in this world’s goods, as well as rich toward God in faith. Like the Apostle, she had sought out the place of prayer, and now the Lord had rewarded her and answered her piayers by sending her the truth for which she had been hungering and thirsting. She and some of her household believed and were promptly baptized in confession of their faith ;— possibly on this very Sabbath day in which she first heard. Where the heart is in a condition of readiness, obelience does not need to be delayed, nor does it require long to de Vou. XXIIT ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA., JUNE 15, 1902 (175-179) cide to be on the Lord’s side, and to be obedient to the voice of the good message which he sends us. This attitude of Lydia’s heart is noted in the lesson, in the words, “whose heart the Lord had opened.” We are not to suppose a miracle wrought in her case, to open her heart to the truth; we are rather to suppose that it was in her case as it is in the case of ali the Lord’s people; that none are ready for the truth unless the Lord has prepared their hearts. And O, how much this preparation of heart means!—often trials, disappointments, difficulties, etc—the processes by which the Lord breaks up and mellows and makes the soil of our hearts fit for the receiving of his truth and grace. No doubt Lydia, after receiving the truth, looked back at past experiences, severe ordeals, ete., and could praise God for the leadings of his providence by which her heart had been “broken” and humbled and made ready for the seed of truth—ieady to appreciate, not only the good things which God hath in reservation for them that love him, but ready also to appreciate his promised watch-care in their affairs in the present time, guaranteed to work out blessings to those who abide in his love. Having received the truth, and some of its jov, Lydia not only confessed the Lord, but sought means to serve him. She could not join the Apostle’s company as an evangelist of the good tidings, but she could entertain and serve Paul and his associates, and did so. No doubt she received more than com pensation for the expense and trouble, in spiritual riches aud refreshment ;—but nothing in the narrative implies that even this laudable selfishness actuated her. Apparently her sole desire was to serve the Lord, and she saw the opportunity for this in rendering service to his representatives. She esteemed it a privilege, and so expressed herself, saying, “If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide.” When we remember the Master’s own words, “Te that receiveth you, receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me,” we can see that Lydia took no extreme view of her privilege and opportunity in connection with this service. Her whole question was whether the Apostle and his companions would honor her dwelling with their presence. The same principle is true and applicable today, and conduct similar to that of Lydia is always to be considered a favorable sign indicating deep love for the Lord and for the good tidings. The messengers of the good tidings must necessarily always be associated in our minds with the message which they bear, and the great King whom they represent. Our Golden Text calls for just a word of comment. It represents the Lord’s message to Paul. It can be understood only when we remember that up to that time God’s message was not sent to all men, nor to all nations, but merely to the men of one nation, the Jews. Henceforth it was open to all; —to be delivered to all, ag they might have ears to hear it. This explanation will be found a key also for various other Scriptures, referring to all people, all nations, and the preaching of the Gospel to them during the present age. It is to and for as many as “have an ear to hear’—we are to let such hear. Tho these will in all be but a “little flock,” yet it is the Father’s good pleasure to give to this little flock the kingdom under which all the families of the earth shall be blessed and brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth.— Luke 12:32; 1 Tim. 2:4, Diaglott. No. 12 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER THE UNREST IN RUSSIA Under this heading the London “Spectator” (a very conservative journal) gives further details of recent occurrences and grounds for expectation that some sort of a revolution in Russia is rather to be expected soon. It represents the Czar as the helpless and unwilling tool of the Russian nobility, and points out that the latter may feel forced to go to war in order to awaken “patriotism,” and keep its hold on the government. Evidently Russia will hold together as a great nation for some time, for it seems indicated as one of the leading actors, up to the close in the great time of trouble impending. We give some extracts from the “Spectator,” (May 3) which go to show that the least enlightened of the civilized peoples of the world is awakening and getting ready for the great affray,—as follows:— “Accounts of the unrest in Russia grow more serious. It is stated that the sufferings of the peasantry in the South, the most populous and richest division of the Empire, involve actual hunger, and that in the provinces of Pultawa and Khar. koff the peasants have proclaimed ‘war to the castle.’ Eighty residences of landlords have been sacked, and the local offi cials are so terrified that the Ministry of the Interior, M. Plehve, has gone himself to the disturbed districts to brace up the bureaucracy. The artisans everywhere are clamoring against their employers, who, poor people, find o1ders so short that they recently appealed for Government help, and cireulars have been discovered directed against the ‘foreign devils’ who as foremen and overseers try to exccute the owners’ commands. The students have, it is said, circulated a forged ukase bestowing the land on the peasantry, and the leaders of the artisans have formulated their demands, which are the ordinary demands of English workmen, with the significant exception that they ask for a day of ten and a half hours. It is reported, moreover, that the ‘moral tone’ of the noncommissioned officers can only be trusted when they are peasants, and that peasants of sufficient cultivation are not always in the ranks. Altogether, there is an ominous stirring among the dry bones, society in St. Petersburg and Moscow is divided, and there are furious dissensions among the group around the Czar. “The unrest is more serious even than we thought..... As far as we can ascertain, the case stands thus: There has [3023]

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