Publication date
3/15/02
Volume
23
Number
6
The WatchTower
Truth "Wounded in the House of its Friends"
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1902/6/1902-6-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXIII 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
MA 
RCH 
15, 
1902 
No.6 
TRUTH 
"WOUNDED 
IN 
THE 
HOUSE 
OF 
ITS 
FRIENDS" 
THE 
REAL 
OBJECT 
OF 
OUR 
LORD'S 
RETURN 
If 
the 
real 
object 
of 
our 
Lord's 
return 
could 
be 
clearly 
understood 
by 
all 
of 
his 
true 
people, 
unquestionably 
every 
sin· 
cere 
Christian 
would 
be 
long-ing 
and 
waiting- 
for 
that 
event, 
as 
the 
glorious 
realization 
of 
their 
best 
hopes 
and 
desires, 
the 
one 
without 
which 
all 
others 
would 
be 
valueless, 
meaning­ 
ll''ls. 
The 
second 
coming 
of 
our 
Lord 
is 
closely 
related 
to 
the 
first 
advent 
as 
respects 
the 
divine 
plan 
of 
salvation. 
The 
en· 
trance 
of 
sin 
into 
our 
world 
six 
thousand 
years 
ago 
(com­ 
monlv 
calII'd 
"original 
sin") 
brought 
to 
us 
as 
a 
rapc 
mental, 
"THE 
EARTH 
ABIDETH 
FOREVER" 
Notwithstanding 
the 
Scriptural 
statement 
that 
"The 
earth 
abideth 
forever" 
(Eccl. 
1 
:4), 
an 
the 
creeds 
of 
Christendom 
take 
the 
same 
view 
of 
this 
subject 
that 
is 
entertained 
by 
our 
Second 
Adventist 
friends: 
rxcept 
that 
the 
latter 
expect 
the 
burning 
of 
the 
world 
soon, 
while 
the 
majority 
of 
Christendom 
presume 
that 
it 
will 
be 
in 
the 
remote 
future, 
"Veda 
not 
charge 
intentional 
mi'lrepr!,sentation 
of 
the 
divine 
plan 
upon 
any 
of 
our 
Christian 
brethren. 
Rather, 
we 
say, 
in 
the 
lan­ 
guage 
of 
our 
te,t. 
that 
then 
conecptions 
are 
not 
God's 
COIl­ 
crptlOns, 
and 
thrir 
plans 
are 
not 
the 
divine 
plans-the~' 
have 
misunderstood. 
unintrntiol1ally, 
to 
their 
own 
detriment, 
the 
testimonv 
of 
God'" 
vVord 
on 
this 
subject. 
Thev 
have 
read 
of 
the 
burning 
of 
the 
world, 
anll 
have 
remembered 
in 
the 
same 
connpction 
the 
account 
in 
thr 
Lora''l 
parable. 
of 
the 
burning 
of 
the 
"tares." 
and 
have 
entirely 
overlooked 
the 
fact 
that 
these 
fires 
arc 
figurativp 
and 
symbo'lical, 
a'l 
are 
the 
fiery 
trials 
which 
now 
try 
us, 
as 
God's 
people, 
ana 
thl' 
furnaees 
of 
affliction 
iT. 
which, 
by 
divine 
permis'lion, 
we 
havr 
sometimes 
been 
refined. 
(1 
Pet. 
4: 
12; 
Isa. 
48: 
10) 
In 
the 
brief 
space 
at 
our 
command 
we 
cannot 
take 
up 
this 
subject 
thoroughly 
and 
discuss 
every 
text 
of 
Scripture 
bearing 
upon 
it, 
but 
We 
will 
briefly 
call 
attention 
to 
one, 
which 
will 
serve 
as 
a 
key 
to 
others. 
We 
fluote 
from 
the 
Prophet 
(Zeph. 
3: 
8): 
"W 
ai 
t 
ye 
upon 
me, 
saith 
the 
Lord. 
until 
the 
day 
that 
I 
rise 
up 
to 
the 
prey; 
for 
my 
determination 
is 
to 
gather 
the 
nations, 
that 
I 
may 
assemble 
the 
kingdoms, 
to 
pour 
upon 
them 
mine 
indignation, 
even 
all 
my 
fierce 
anger; 
for 
all 
the 
earth 
shall 
be 
devoured 
with 
the 
(ire 
of 
my 
jl'alousy." 
Thi'l 
i'l 
certainly 
as 
graphic 
a 
picture 
of 
the 
burning 
day 
a'l 
could 
be 
askpd 
for, 
even 
by 
the 
most 
zealous 
advocates 
of 
that 
theory; 
and 
they 
consider 
that 
it 
is 
quite 
sufficient 
to 
overbalance 
the 
other 
statements 
of 
Scripture, 
to 
the 
effect 
that 
the 
"earth 
abideth 
forever." 
They 
assume, 
of 
course, 
that 
this 
burning 
day 
will 
incinerate 
not 
only 
the 
earth, 
itself, 
but 
all 
of 
its 
inhabitants. 
But 
a 
careful 
reading 
of 
the 
Prophet's 
succeding- 
words 
will 
make 
clear 
to 
U'l 
that 
this 
i'l 
not 
the 
case; 
but 
that 
after 
the 
burn­ 
ing 
day 
has 
passrd 
a 
population 
will 
still 
remain 
in 
the 
earth, 
and 
that 
for 
a 
blessing. 
We 
read 
(Verse 
9): 
"Then 
will 
I 
turn 
to 
the 
people 
[not 
consumed, 
but 
alive 
and 
capable] 
a 
pure 
language, 
that 
they 
may 
all 
call 
upon 
the 
name 
of 
the 
Lord, 
to 
serve 
him 
with 
one 
consent." 
\Vho 
could 
question, 
in 
the 
light 
of 
this 
further 
statl'ment 
by 
the 
Prophet, 
that 
the 
fire 
and 
devastation 
previously 
mentioned 
are 
figurative 
-not. 
however. 
unrral, 
but 
real 
in 
another 
sense, 
in 
a 
figura­ 
tive 
sense, 
insteaa 
of 
in 
a 
literal 
sen'll'. 
This 
burning 
day, 
so 
frequently 
referred 
to 
in 
the 
Scrip­ 
tures, 
will, 
to 
our 
understanding, 
be 
more 
than 
a 
twenty-four. 
hour 
day-the 
day 
of 
wrath 
will 
he 
a 
period 
of 
several 
years' 
duration, 
so 
far 
as 
the 
intensit;y 
of 
it~ 
bllrnin3' 
is 
concerned- 
"My 
thoughts 
are 
not 
your 
thoughts, 
neither 
are 
your 
plans 
my 
plans, 
saith 
the 
Lord>' 
for 
as 
the 
heavens 
are 
htgher 
than 
the 
earth, 
80 
are 
my 
plans 
higher 
thtm 
your 
plans, 
and 
my 
thoughts 
t1uJm, 
your 
thoughts."-Isa. 
55 
:8, 
9. 
Those 
who 
claim 
that 
thc 
second 
advent 
of 
Christ 
means 
a 
peri 
011 
whose 
burning 
will 
not 
entirely 
cease 
until 
the 
close 
the 
rnd 
of 
probation, 
the 
burmng 
up 
of 
this 
world, 
and 
the 
of 
the 
.l\1Jllennial 
age, 
by 
which 
bme 
it 
shall 
have 
destroyed, 
death-knell 
of 
hope 
for 
poor, 
fallen 
humanity, 
are 
responsible 
root 
and 
branch, 
everything 
that 
is 
evil-everything 
contrary 
in 
a 
very 
large 
degree 
for 
the 
intense 
prejudice 
which 
exists 
to 
righteousness, 
truth 
and 
goodness. 
This 
fire 
of 
God's 
jeal­ 
on 
this 
subject, 
Amongst 
those 
who 
thus 
hold, 
are 
some 
who 
ousy 
or 
zeal 
for 
righteousness 
will, 
we 
understand, 
burn 
in 
a 
are 
thoroughly 
conscientious 
and 
are, 
after 
a 
fashion 
at 
least, 
vl'ry 
natural 
manner 
as 
reg-ards 
humanity 
and 
its 
affairs. 
In 
Bible 
students, 
but 
study 
not 
acrording 
to 
knowledge. 
They 
the 
pIesent 
time 
God 
is 
letting- 
the 
light 
of 
truth 
shine 
in 
the 
love 
the 
Lord, 
not 
because 
of 
his 
character, 
exemplified 
in 
his 
world 
marvelously; 
not 
that 
light 
only 
which 
is 
shining 
UpOD 
plan 
'I, 
but 
in 
spite 
of 
their 
misconception 
of 
his 
plans 
and. 
the 
path 
of 
the 
just, 
leading 
God's 
people 
onward 
to 
the 
per- 
therefore, 
of 
his 
character. 
Thev 
have 
looked 
at 
certain 
pass- 
fect 
day, 
but 
a 
light 
is 
also 
being 
retlected 
now 
upon 
the 
path 
ages 
of 
Scripture 
from 
the 
wro~g 
standpoint, 
and 
have 
failed 
of 
the 
world, 
opening 
its 
eyes 
to 
human 
rights 
and 
preroga- 
to 
discern 
which 
are 
its 
symbolical 
and 
which 
are 
Its 
literal 
tives, 
liberties 
and 
pnvileges, 
to 
which 
formerly 
it 
was 
blinded 
statements. 
We 
hope 
that 
this 
paper 
will 
come 
to 
the 
atten- 
through 
ignorance 
and 
superstition. 
A'l 
the 
light 
now 
comes 
tion 
of 
many 
of 
this 
kind, 
and 
that 
it 
will 
come 
also 
to 
the 
in, 
the 
result 
is 
unrest; 
and 
thus 
the 
Lord 
seems 
to 
purpose, 
attention 
of 
many 
of 
those 
who, 
because 
of 
these 
misrepre- 
that 
the 
very 
blessings 
of 
this 
time, 
the 
end 
of 
thi'l 
Gospel 
senbtlOns 
of 
the 
divine 
plan 
arc 
thoroughly 
out 
of 
sympathy 
age, 
the 
very 
condition 
of 
things 
which, 
rightly 
received, 
with 
the 
promises 
of 
the 
second 
coming 
of 
the 
Lord, 
but 
de- 
should 
be 
bringing 
men 
happiness, 
is 
bringing 
morc 
and 
more 
sirous, 
rather, 
that 
he 
should 
not 
come 
at 
all, 
and 
especially 
of 
discontent, 
and 
thus 
leading 
them 
step 
by 
step 
into 
the 
that 
he 
should 
not 
come 
soon. 
'VI' 
hope 
that 
all 
of 
this 
class 
great 
period 
of 
anarchy, 
which 
the 
Scriptures 
distlllctly 
show 
who 
arc 
earnest, 
honest, 
and 
spiritually 
minded, 
will, 
with 
the 
will 
be 
the 
fire 
of 
trouble 
in 
the 
end 
of 
this 
age, 
which 
will 
presentatlOn 
we 
are 
about 
to 
make, 
be 
able 
to 
see 
the 
Lord's 
consume 
church 
and 
state, 
religious, 
political 
and 
financial 
character 
and 
plan 
from 
a 
different 
standpoint, 
and 
thence- 
institutions, 
and 
reduce 
the 
whole 
world 
to 
a 
general 
level 
forth 
to 
long 
for 
it 
and 
to 
pray 
in 
the 
language 
of 
the 
Apos· 
-"a 
time 
of 
trouble 
such 
as 
was 
not 
since 
there 
was 
ana- 
tIe, 
"Even 
60, 
come, 
Lord 
Jrsus!" 
rralizing 
the 
blessings 
that 
tion."-Dan. 
12: 
1. 
arc 
due 
to 
come 
with 
that 
bJesseJ 
presence-flooding 
the 
world 
This 
trouble 
is 
coming 
as 
the 
direct 
result 
of 
the 
bless- 
with 
the 
light 
of 
tIl(> 
knowledge 
of 
the 
goodness 
of 
God 
as 
it 
ings 
of 
our 
day. 
the 
increased 
enlightenment 
which 
we 
enjoy, 
shines 
in 
the 
face 
of 
Jesus 
Christ 
our 
Lord, 
and 
bringing 
and 
which 
selfishness 
does 
not 
permit 
to 
take 
its 
proper 
course 
to 
mankind 
in 
general 
all 
the 
blessing 
whit'h 
divine 
grace 
has 
and 
to 
bring 
proportional 
blessings 
for 
the 
world 
as 
a 
whole; 
prearranged, 
and 
which 
divine 
mercy 
and 
truth 
have 
declared 
but, 
rather, 
attempts 
to 
corral 
and 
to 
apportion 
merely 
to 
the 
for 
the 
consolation 
and 
encouragement 
of 
God's 
people. 
great, 
the 
wise, 
the 
efficient, 
allowing 
the 
burdens 
of 
life 
to 
fall 
with 
disproportionate 
weight 
upon 
the 
masses 
until 
the 
groaning 
creation 
shall 
not 
only 
cry 
out 
in 
despair 
but 
will 
also 
arise 
in 
despair 
bringing 
in 
the 
anarchy 
and 
disarrange­ 
ment 
foretold-the 
fire 
of 
God's 
jealousy 
which 
shall 
con­ 
sume 
the 
whole 
earth 
(society 
in 
general 
in 
its 
every 
depart­ 
ment) 
. 
After 
this 
symbolical 
fire 
shall 
havc 
consumed 
present 
institutions, 
on 
their 
ruins 
shall 
arise 
the 
triumphant 
kingdom 
of 
God 
so 
long 
foretold-the 
same 
for 
which 
the 
Master 
him­ 
self 
taught 
us 
to 
pray 
"Thy 
klllgdom 
come; 
thy 
will 
hp 
done 
on 
earth 
as 
it 
is 
done 
in 
heaven." 
The 
Prophet 
a'l 
"t' 
have 
seen 
declares 
that 
then 
the 
Lord 
will 
turn 
unto 
tIlt' 
ppople. 
"a 
pure 
language"-literally 
a 
pure 
won1. 
In 
tIlt' 
pa~t 
anll 
at 
present 
the 
people 
a'l 
a 
wholr 
have 
heen 
unabl<> 
to 
di'lc('rn 
the 
pure 
Word 
of 
God, 
They 
have 
heanl 
variou'l 
er<>pds 
and 
theories 
more 
or 
les'l 
reasonabl<> 
and 
the 
l'!fect 
of 
so 
many 
"voices" 
has 
been 
to 
them 
as 
a 
Babel 
in 
WlllPh 
they 
werp 
un­ 
able 
to 
discern 
the 
voice 
of 
God. 
But 
,,,hen 
the 
pr~mi'lecl 
day 
shall 
have 
come 
and 
present 
institution'l, 
religlOu'l 
as 
well 
as 
secular, 
shall 
havr 
sut'cumbed 
to 
thp 
fiert'e 
hurnmg 
wrath 
of 
the 
people 
with 
all 
of 
its 
atkndant 
miseries 
and 
injustices 
the 
mists 
and 
fogs 
of 
prejudice 
and 
super'ltition 
will 
clear 
away 
and 
the 
bright 
orb 
of 
truth 
Will 
shine 
forth 
to 
give 
man­ 
kind 
a 
clearer 
and 
a 
better 
comprehension, 
not 
only 
of 
the 
divine 
character 
and 
the 
divme 
plan. 
but 
of 
the 
rights 
of 
men, 
and 
of 
the 
proper 
course 
of 
actlOn 
and 
dealing 
one 
with 
another. 
The 
r<>suHq 
will 
he 
blf'ssed, 
however 
awful 
will 
be 
the 
cup 
of 
divine 
wrath 
whidl 
thp 
world 
will 
have 
drunk 
to 
its 
dregs 
previously; 
figuratively 
called 
"the 
fire 
of 
God's 
jealousy." 
Altho, 
as 
thus 
se<>n. 
the 
fire 
of 
God's 
jealousv 
will 
burn 
itself 
out 
quickly 
in 
the 
close 
of 
this 
age. 
other 
Rcriptures 
give 
us 
to 
under'ltand 
that 
it 
will 
not 
entirely 
eea'lp 
until 
the 
close 
of 
the 
Millennial 
age-that 
it 
will 
hurn 
against 
every­ 
thing 
that 
is 
contrary 
to 
the 
pure, 
the 
good. 
thc 
true, 
the 
right. 
the 
just. 
Evil 
of 
every 
kind 
shan 
he 
burned 
up 
root 
and 
branch. 
so 
that 
ultimately 
"all 
the 
proull. 
Yea, 
all 
that 
do 
wickf'dly, 
shall 
[figurativel:v] 
'be 
as 
stuhhle 
am( 
a'l 
a'lhe'l 
under 
the 
fret." 
in 
full 
subjection 
to 
the 
righteou'l, 
who, 
shall 
then 
have 
been 
brought 
into 
fu]] 
acpord 
with 
the 
Lor,l 
and 
have 
his 
blessing 
unto 
eternal 
life. 
[2971] 
(83-84) 
Vou. XXII ALLEGHENY, PA., MARCH 15, 1902 No. 6 TRUTH “WOUNDED IN THE HOUSE OF ITS FRIENDS” “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your plans my plans, saith the Lord; for as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my plans higher than your plans, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isa. 55:8, 9. Those who claim that the second advent of Christ means the end of probation, the burning up of this world, and the death-knell of hope for poor, fallen humanity, are responsible in a very large degree for the intense prejudice which exists on this subject, Amongst those who thus hold, are some who are thoroughly conscientious and are, after a fashion at least, Bible students, but study not according to knowledge. They love the Lord, not because of his character, exemplified in his plans, but in spite of their misconception of his plans and, therefore, of his character. They have looked at certain passages of Scripture from the wrong standpoint, and have failed to discern which are its symbolical and which are its literal statements. We hope that this paper will come to the attention of many of this kind, and that it will come also to the attention of many of those who, because of these misrepresentations of the divine plan are thoroughly out of sympathy with the promises of the second coming of the Lord, but desirous, rather, that he should not come at all, and especially that he should not come soon. We hope that all of this class who are carnest, honest, and spiritually minded, will, with the presentation we are about to make, be able to see the Lord’s character and plan from a different standpoint, and thenceforth to long for it and to pray in the language of the Apostle, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” realizing the blessings that are due to come with that blessed presence—flooding the world with the light of the knowledge of the goodness of God as it shines in the face of Jesus Christ our Lord, and bringing to mankind in general all the blessing which divine grace has prearranged, and which divine mercv and truth have declared for the consolation and encouragement of God’s people. “THE EARTH ABIDETH FOREVER’’ Notwithstanding the Scriptural statement that “The earth abideth forever” (Eccl. 1:4), all the creeds of Christendom take the same view of this subject that is entertained by our Second Adventist friends: except that the latter expect the burning of the world soon, while the majority of Christendom presume that it will be in the remote future. We do not charge intentional misrepresentation of the divine plan upon any of our Christian brethren. Rather, we say, in the language of our text, that their conceptions are not God’s conceptions, and their plans are not the divine plans—they have misunderstood, unintentionally, to their own detriment, the testimonv of God’s Word on this subject. They have read of the burning of the world, and have remembered in the same connection the account in the Lord’s parable, of the burning of the “tares.” and have entirely overlooked the fact that these fires are figurative and symbolical, as are the fiery trials which now try us, as God’s people, and the furnaces of affliction in which, by divine permission, we have sometimes been refined. (1 Pet. 4:12; Isa. 48:10) In the brief space at our command we cannot take up this subject thoroughly and discuss every text of Scripture bearing upon it, but we will briefly call attention to one, which will serve as a key to others. We quote from the Prophet (Zeph. 3:8): “Wait ve upon me, saith the Lord, until the dav that I rise up to the prey; for mv determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger; for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.” This is certainly as graphic a picture of the burning day as could be asked for, even by the most zealous advocates of that theory; and they consider that it is quite sufficient to overbalance the other statements of Scripture, to the effect that the “earth abideth forever.” They assume, of course, that this burning day will incinerate not only the earth, itself, but all of its inhabitants. But a careful reading of the Prophet’s succeding words will make clear to us that this is not the case; but that after the burning day has passed a population will stiJl remain in the earth, and that for a blessing. We read (Verse 9): “Then will I turn to the people [not consumed, but alive and capable] a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent.” Who could question, in the light of this further statement by the Prophet, that the fire and devastation previously mentioned are figurative —not, however, unreal, but real in another sense, in a figurative sense, instead of in a literal sense. This burning day, so frequently referred to in the Scriptures, will, to our understanding, be more than a twenty-fourhour day—the day of wrath will he a period of several years’ duration, so far as the intensity of its burning is concerned— [2971] a period whose burning will not entirely cease until the close of the Millennial age, by which time it shall have destroyed, root and branch, everything that is evil—everything contrary to righteousness, truth and goodness. This fire of God’s jealousy or zeal for righteousness will, we understand, burn in a very natural manner as regards humanity and its affairs. In the present time God is letting the hght of truth shine in the world marvelously; not that light only which is shining upon the path of the just, leading God’s people onward to the perfect day, but a light is also being reflected now upon the path of the world, opening its eyes to human rights and prerogatives, liberties and privileges, to which formerly it was blinded through ignorance and superstition. As the light now comes in, the result is unrest; and thus the Lord seems to purpose, that the very blessings of this time, the end of this Gospel age, the very condition of things which, rightly received, should be bringing men happiness, is bringing more and more of discontent, and thus leading them step by step into the great period of anarchy, which the Scriptures distinctly show will be the fire of trouble in the end of this age, which will consume church and state, religious, political and financial institutions, and reduce the whole world to a general level -—“‘a time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.”—Dan, 12:1, This trouble is coming as the direct result of the blessings of our day, the increased enlightenment which we enjoy, and which selfishness does not permit to take its proper course and to bring proportional blessings for the world as a whole; but, rather, attempts to corral and to apportion merely to the great, the wise, the efficient, allowing the burdens of life to fall with disproportionate weight upon the masses until the groaning creation shall not only cry out in despair but will also arise in despair bringing in the anarchy and disarrangement foretold—the fire of God’s jealousy which shall consume the whole earth (society in general in its every department). After this symbolical fire shall have consumed present institutions, on their ruins shall arise the triumphant kingdom of God so long foretold—the same for which the Master himself taught us to pray “Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven.” The Prophet as we have seen declares that then the Lord will turn unto the people, “a pure language’’—literally a pure word. In the past and at present the people as a whole have been unable to discern the pure Word of God. They have heard various creeds and theories more or less reasonable and the effect of so many “voices” has been to them as a Babel in which they were unable to discern the voice of God. But when the promised day shall have come and present institutions, religious as well as secular, shall have succumbed to the fierce burning wrath of the people with all of its attendant miseries and injustices the mists and fogs of prejudice and superstition will clear away and the bright orb of truth will shine forth to give mankind a clearer and a better comprehension, not only of the divine character and the divine plan, but of the rights of men, and of the proper course of action and dealing one with another. The results will be blessed, however awful will be the cup of divine wrath which the world will have drunk to its dregs previously; figuratively called “the fire of God’s jealousy.” Altho, as thus seen, the fire of God's jealousy will burn itself out quickly in the close of this age, other Scriptures give us to understand that it will not entirely cease until the close of the Millennial age—that it will burn against everything that is contrary to the pure, the good, the true, the right. the just. Evil of every kind shall be burned up root and branch. so that ultimately “all the proud, yea, all that do wickedly, shall [figurativelv] be as stubble and as ashes under the feet.” in full subjection to the righteous, who, shalJl then have been brought into full accord with the Lord and have his blessing unto eternal life. THE REAL OBJECT OF OUR LORD’S RETURN If the real object of our Lord’s return could be clearly understood by all of his true people, unquestionably every sincere Christian would be longing and waiting for that event, as the glorious realization of their best hopes and desires, the one without which all others would be valueless, meaningless. The second coming of our Lord is closely related to the first advent as respects the divine plan of salvation. The entrance of sin into our world six thousand years ago (commonly called “original sin”) brought to us as a race mental, (83-84)

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