9
1
9
download/literature/watchtower/1902-7.pdf
../literature/watchtower/1902/7/1902-7-1.html
MARCil:
15,
1902
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
(96-99)
twinkling
of
an
eye,
shall
soon
obtain
that
blessing,
and
that
then
the
great
time
of
trouble
will
fully
burst
upon
the
world,
and
speedilv
bring
down
the
high,
the
lofty,
and
the
proud,
and
prepare
the
world
for
the
reign
of
the
Prince
of
Pea~e.
Here
we
have
consistency,
at
least,
and
harmony
of
Senp
tures
which
have
never
been
harmonized
in
the
past,
and
which
cannot
now
be
harmonized
from
any
other
stan~J?Oint
or
with
any
other
interpretation.
Here.
we
h!!'ve
the
sp~r~tual
kingdom
of
Messiah,
with
all
power,
dlsplacmg
the
splrltual
kingdom
of
Satan,
and
establishing
order
and
right~ousness
through
earthly
agents
of
its
own,
and
overthrowmg
the
earthly
agents
of
the
prince
of
darkness,
many
of
whom
are
his
servants
merely
because
"the
god
of
this
world
[age]
has
bltnded
the
minds
of
them
that
believe
not."
"THEY
WITHOUT
US
SHALL
NOT
BE
MADE
l'ERl'ECT"
HEB.
11:40
We
remark,
incidentally,
that
following
the
gathering
of
the
Church
to
glory,
as
above
outlined,
will
come
the
resurrec
tion
of
the
holy
ones
of
the
past,-"Abraham,
Isaac
and
Jacob,
and
all
the
holy
prophets,"
whose
resurreetion
wi}l
be
to
perfect
earthly
conditions,
and
who
shall
be
the
"prmces
in
all
the
earth,"
seen
of
men,
and
representatives
of
the
invisible
but
all-powerful
spiritual
kingdom-the
glorified
Christ.
Thus,
chosen
representatives
of
fleshly
Isr~el
will
indeed
rule
the
world,
and
bless
it,
as
the
representatives
and
agencIes
of
the
Spiritual
Israel,
and
the
nation
of
Israel
will
he
first
to
respond
to
the
standard
of
the
Lord
thus
set
up.
-Psa.
45:16;
Rom.
1l:25-31;
Zech.
12:10.
Our
Lord's
parousia
(presence
in
the
world)
begun
in
1874,
will
continue
till
the
end
of
the
Millennial
age.
The
word
is
not
applicable
merely
to
a
little
period
of
presence
at
the
beginning
of
the
Millennial
age;
Christ's
parousia
and
that
of
his
church
will
continue
throughout
the
age.
Nor
will
the
epiphania
and
apokalupsts
be
a
sudden
burst
of
glorious
light;
nor
do
these
words
signify
a
visible
showing
to
mankind
of
the
Lord's
person,
or
of
the
persons
of
his
church.
Let
us
remember
his
words,
"yet
a
little
while,
and
the
U"orld
seeth
me
no
more."
Let
us
remember
also
that,
as
his
church
is
to
be
in
his
ltkeness,
so
his
likeness
is
declared
to
be
an
"express
image
of
the
Father's
person
j"
it
is
written
that
he
is
the
King
eternal,
immortal,
invisible.
(1
Tim.
1
:
17
)
Nor
will
it
be
any
more
necessary
that
the
world
should
see
with
their
natural
eyes
the
Lord
and
his
glorified
ones,
than
that
they
should
see
the
Heavenly
Father:
the
world
will
see
the
earthly
representatives
of
God
and
of
Christ
and
of
the
church,
when
they
"see
Abraham,
Isaac
and
Jacob,
and
all
the
holy
prophets,"
for
they
will
be
sam
ples
of
perfect
manhood,
which
is
the
earthly
image
of
the
invisible
God.
Our
Lord's
epiphania
(bright
shining)
and
his
apokalupsis
(unveiling)
began
shortly
after
his
parousia
began;
the
bnght
shining-
of
his
presence
is
now
visible
to
those
who
are
walk
ing
"in
the
light"-to
those
who
"are
not
in
darkness
with
the
world."
It
is
a
mental
illumination,
an
illumination
to
the
eyes
of
our
understanding,
and
not
to
our
natural
eyes.
The
eyes
of
our
understanding
have
been
opened
to
see
him
that
is
invisible
to
the
natural
sight.
The
epiphania
of
our
Lord
is
already
affecting
the
world
also,
tho
not
through
the
eyes
of
the
understanding;
for
they
have
no
eyes
for
such
spiritual
things:
nevertheless,
the
bright
shining
of
the
Lord's
presence
is
influencing
and
affecting
the
whole
course
of
the
world,
through
an
increase
of
knowledge
on
every
subject-
specially
noticeable
since
1878.
Eventually,
all
the
blinded
shall
have
opened
eyes
of
understanding,
and
"EVERY
EYE
SHALL
SEE
HIM"
Many
even
who
are
not
of
the
watchers
are
noting
the
signs
of
our
times
and
are
startled,
and
led
to
exclaim,
What
do
these
things
mean
1-this
remarkable
latter-day
advance
in
science,
art
and
mechanical
invention
1·-this
latter-day
discontent
in
the
midst
of
plenty
and
luxury?-this
latter
day
growth
of
mIllionaires
and
paupers
1-this
growth
of
giant
corporations
of
world-wide
power
and
influence?-Why
are
national
policies
and
public
men
and
their
utterances
and
doings
criticized
(judged)
by
the
masses
as
never
before
1
And
what
means
it
that
with
an
apparent
growth
in
wealth
and
numbers
in
all
denominations
of
Christians,
there
is
a
growing
dissatisfaction,
discontent
in
them
all:
a
growing
tendency
to
criticize
the
creeds
and
the
preaching
of
every
thing1-How
comes
it
that
nine-tenths
of
the
preachers
in
all
denominations
know
that
their
hearers
desire
a
change,
and
would
gladly
"move
on,"
if
they
knew
how
to
better
them
selves
even
at
smaller
salaries
1
The
Scriptural
answer
is,
The
hour
of
God's
judgment
is
come;
the
time
when
"Christendom,"
political,
financial,
social
and
eccle'liasth>al
is
being
judged-being
tried
in
the
divine
balances.
And
the
Scriptures
declare
that
she
WIll
be
found
wanting,
and
will
be
adjudged
unworthy
to
further
administer
the
affairs
of
earth,
which
will
be
turned
over
to
the
elect
"little
flock,"
according
to
the
divine
promise.
Luke
12:32.
The
secret
of
the
matter
now
is
the
same
as
in
the
Jewish
"harvpst,"
which
John
explained,
saying,
"THERE
STANDETH
ONE
AMONG
YOU
WHOM
YOU
KNOW
NOT
"--JOHN
1:26
''Mine
eyes
can
see
the
glory
of
the
presence
of
the
Lord;
He
is
trampling
out
the
winepress
where
the
grapes
of
wrath
are
stored;
I
see
the
flaming
tempest
of
his
swift
descending
sword:
Our
King
is
marching
on.
"I
can
see
his
coming
judgments,
as
they
circle
all
the
earth,
The
sign'l
and
groanings
promised,
to
precede
a
second
birth;
I
read
his
righteous
sentence,
in
the
crumbling
thrones
of
earth:
Our
King
is
marching
on.
"The
'Gentile
Times'
are
closing,
for
their
kings
have
had
their
day;
And
with
them
sin
and
sorrow
will
forever
pass
away;
For
the
tribe
of
Judah's
Lion
now
comes
to
hold
the
sway:
Our
King
is
marching
on."
•
•
•
"Behold,
I
stand
at
the
door
and
knock.
It
any
man
hear
my
voice
[knock],
and
open
the
door,
I
will
corne
in
to
Mil'
and
sup
with
him,
and
he
with
me."-Rev
3:
20.
VOL.
XXIII
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
APRIL
1,
1902
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.7
"Finally,
this
revision
movement
should
give
us
a
stronger
emphasis
on
the
truth
that
God
is
love.
"Sovereignty
and
grace
have
always
been
the
two
great
pil-
tioning
'elect
infants'
the
Westminster
Confession
leaves
open
the
supposition
that
there
may
be
'non-elect
infants.'
Presby
terians
today
believe
that
all
who
die
in
infancy
are
saved
by
Jesus
Christ.
The
Westminster
Confession
has
a
long
metaphy
sical
chapter
on
God's
eternal
decree,
which
at
least
seems
to
teach
that
some
men
are
created
to
bp
saved
and
others
created
to
be
damned.
The
Presbyterian
Church
today
does
not
be
lieve
this,
and
to
guard
against
misapprehension
on
the
sub
ject
it
wishes
to
say
clearly
and
unmistakably
that
God
has
not
put
any
barrier
between
any
human
soul
and
salvation.
"Moreover,
the
Westminster
Confession
has
no
chapter
on
the
love
of
God
for
all
men,
on
the
Holy
Spirit,
on
the
Gospel,
or
on
missions.
N
ow
the
Presbyterian
Church
has
come
to
be
lieve
in
these
things
with
all
its
heart;
and
it
wishes
to
put
its
belief
into
words.
"Therefore
revision
is
needed,
not
because
of
a
conflict
in
the
church,
nor
because
of
a
lack
of
liberty,
but
because
faith,
deeppning
and
broadpning
through
the
study
of
God's
Word,
craves
an
utterance
in
the
language
of
living
men.
*
*
*
*
A
l'RESBYTERIAN
MINISTER'S
LONGINGS
Rev.
Henry
Van
Dyke,
one
of
the
prominent
ministers
of
the
Presbyterian
denomination,
has
felt
constrained
to
give
utterance
to
his
conception
of
the
needs
of
his
church
for
a
bet
ter
and
clearer
statement
of
its
present
belief.
We
clip
the
below
quotations:-
"There
is
a
twofold
need
for
revision
of
the
Westminster
Confession
of
Faith.
In
the
first
place,
the
church
has
been
studying
her
supreme
standard,
the
Bible,
for
two
hundred
and
fifty
years
since
the
Confession
was
written.
She
has
been
educated
by
Christ
for
one
hundred
years
in
the
great
work
of
missions.
It
is
reasonable
to
suppose
that
she
has
learned
something.
Why
should
she
not
express
it
in
her
creed
1
"Another
reason
for
revision
arises
out
of
the
fact
that
the
Westminster
Confession
was
made
in
a
time
of
fierce
conflict
and
controversy.
It
was
natural
that
certain
things
should
be
stated
then
with
greater
emphasis
than
they
would
have
other
wise
received;
that
the
metaphyics
of
the
seventeenth
century
should
creep
into
certain
chapters;
and
that
certain
points
should
represent
a
judgment
of
that
age
rather
than
a
per
manent
truth.
For
example,
the
Westminster
Confession
speaks
of
the
Pope
of
Rome
as
the
Antichrist.
Presbyterians
today
do
not
generally
believe
this.
Again,
by
expressly
men-
[2983]
Marcu 15, 1902 twinkling of an eye, shall soon obtain that blessing, and that then the great time of trouble will fully burst upon the world, and speedily bring down the high, the lofty, and the proud, and prepare the world for the reign of the Prince of Peace. Here we have consistency, at least, and harmony of Scriptures which have never been harmonized in the past, and which cannot now be harmonized from any other standpoint or with any other interpretation. Here we have the spiritual kingdom of Messiah, with all power, displacing the spiritual kingdom of Satan, and establishing order and righteousness through earthly agents of its own, and overthrowing the earthly agents of the prince of darkness, many of whom are his servants merely because “the god of this world [age] has blunded the minds of them that believe not.” “THEY WITHOUT US SHALL NOT BE MADE PERFEOT’’ HEB. 11:40 We remark, incidentally, that following the gathering of the Church to glory, as above outlined, will come the resurrection of the holy ones of the past,—‘‘Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the holy prophets,” whose resurrection will be to perfect earthly conditions, and who shall be the “princes in all the earth,” seen of men, and representatives of the invisible but all-powerful spiritual kingdom—the glorified Christ. Thus, chosen representatives of fleshly Israel will indeed rule the world, and bless it, ag the representatives and agencies of the Spiritual Israel, and the nation of Israel will be first to respond to the standard of the Lord thus set up. —Psa. 45:16; Rom. 11:25-31; Zech. 12:10. Our Lord’s parousia (presence in the world) begun in 1874, will continue till the end of the Millennial age. The word is not applicable merely to a little period of presence at the beginning of the Millennial age; Christ’s parousia and that of his chureh will continue throughout the age. Nor will the epiphania and apokalupsis be a sudden burst of glorious light; nor do these words signify a visible showing to mankind of the Lord’s person, or of the persons of his church, Let us remember his words, “Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more.” Let us remember also that, as his chureh is to be in his lnkeness, so his likeness is declared to be an “express image of the Father’s person;” it is written that he is the King eternal, immortal, invisible. (1 Tim. 1:17) Nor will it be any more necessary that the world should see with their natural eyes the Lord and his glorified ones, than that they should see the Heavenly Father: the world will see the earthly representatives of God and of Christ and of the church, when they “see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the holy prophets,” for they will be samples of perfect manhood, which is the earthly image of the invisible God. Our Lord’s epiphania (bright shining) and his apokalupsis (unveiling) began shortly after his parousia began; the bright shining of his presence is now visible to those who are walking “in the light”—to those who “are not in darkness with the world.” It is a mental illumination, an illumination to the eyes of our understanding, and not to our natural eyes. The eyes of our understanding have been opened to see him that is invisible to the natural sight. The epiphania of our ZION’S WATCH TOWER (96-99) Lord is already affecting the world also, tho not through the eyes of the understanding; for they have no eyes for such spiritual things: nevertheless, the bright shining of the Lord’s presence is influencing and affecting the whole course of the world, through an increase of knowledge on every subject specially noticeable since 1878. Eventually, all the blinded shall have opened eyes of understanding, and “EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM’’ Many even who are not of the watchers are noting the signs of our times and are startled, and led to exclaim, What do these things mean?—this remarkable latter-day advance in science, art and mechanical invention?.—this latter-day discontent in the midst of plenty and luxury?—this latterday growth of millionaires and paupers?—this growth of giant corporations of world-wide power and influence?—Why are national policies and public men and their utterances and doings criticized (judged) by the masses as never before?— And what means it that with an apparent growth in wealth and numbers in all denominations of Christians, there is a growing dissatisfaction, discontent in them all: a growing tendency to criticize the creeds and the preaching of everything ?—How comes it that nine-tenths of the preachers in all denominations know that their hearers desire a change, and would gladly “move on,” if they knew how to better themselves even at smaller salaries? The Scriptural answer is, The hour of God’s judgment is come; the time when “Christendom,” political, financial, social and ecclesiastical is being judged—being tried in the divine balances. And the Scriptures declare that she will be found wanting, and will be adjudged unworthy to further administer the affairs of earth, which will be turned over to the elect “little flock,” according to the divine promise.— Luke 12:32. The secret of the matter now is the same as in the Jewish “harvest,” which John explained, saying, “THERE STANDETH ONE AMONG YOU WHOM YOU KNOW NOT’’—JOHN 1:26 “Mine eyes can see the glory of the presence of the Lord; He is trampling out the winepress where the grapes of wrath are stored; I see the flaming tempest of his swift descending sword: Our King is marching on. “I can see his coming judgments, as they circle all the earth, The signs and groanings promised, to precede a second birth; I read his righteous sentence, in the crumbling thrones of earth: Our King is marching on. “The ‘Gentile Times’ are closing, for their kings have had their day; And with them sin and sorrow will forever pass away ; For the tribe of Judah’s Lion now comes to hold the sway: Our King is marching on.” * * * “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hear my voice [knock], and open the door, I will come in to him and sup with him, and he with me.”—Rev 3:20. Vou. XXIII ALLEGHENY, PA., APRIL 1, 1902 No. 7 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER A PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER'S LONGINGS Rev. Henry Van Dyke, one of the prominent ministers of the Presbyterian denomination, has felt constrained to give utterance to his conception of the needs of his church for a better and clearer statement of its present belief. We clip the below quotations :— “There is a twofold need for revision of the Westminster Confession of Faith. In the first place, the church has been studying her supreme standard, the Bible, for two hundred and fifty years since the Confession was written. She has been educated by Christ for one hundred years in the great work of missions. It is reasonable to suppose that she has learned something. Why should she not express it in her creed ? “Another reason for revision arises out of the fact that the Westminster Confession was made in a time of fierce confiict and controversy. It was natural that certain things should be stated then with greater emphasis than they would have otherwise received; that the metaphyics of the seventeenth century should creep into certain chapters; and that certain points should represent a judgment of that age rather than a permanent truth. For example, the Westminster Confession speaks of the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist. Presbyterians today do not generally believe this. Again, by expressly men tioning ‘elect infants’ the Westminster Confession leaves open the supposition that there may be ‘non-elect infants.’ Presbyterians today believe that all who die in infancy are saved by Jesus Christ. The Westminster Confession has a long metaphysical chapter on God’s eternal decree, which at least seems to teach that some men are created to be saved and others created to be damned. The Presbyterian Church today does not believe this, and to guard against misapprehension on the subject it wishes to say clearly and unmistakably that God has not put any barrier between any human goul and salvation. “Moreover, the Westminster Confession hag no chapter on the love of God for all men, on the Holy Spirit, on the Gospel, or on missions. Now the Presbyterian Church has come to believe in these things with all its heart; and it wishes to put its belief into words. “Therefore revision is needed, not because of a conflict in the church, nor because of a lack of liberty, but because faith, deepening and broadening through the study of God’s Word, craves an utterance in the language of living men. * * * * “Finally, this revision movement should give us a stronger emphasis on the truth that God is love. “Sovereignty and grace have always been the two great pil [2983]
To enhance your experience on our website, we use cookies and similar technologies. Some cookies are essential for the core functionality of our site and cannot be declined. You can choose to accept or decline additional cookies. We want to assure you that none of this data will be sold or used for marketing purposes. You can adjust your preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy Settings from the footer of the page. For more information, please refer to our
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
.
