Publication date
4/15/06
Volume
27
Number
8
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1906/8/1906-8-1.html
 
 
APRIL 
I, 
1906 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(III-liS) 
J. 
HEMDY. 
ture 
of 
the 
permission 
of 
evil, 
the 
end 
of 
the 
first 
dispensation 
and 
the 
end 
of 
the 
permission 
of 
evil 
being 
alike 
in 
that 
they 
end 
in 
catastrophe. 
(2) 
The 
race 
which 
was 
destroyed 
at 
the 
flood 
repre­ 
sented 
Adam's 
whole 
progeny; 
while 
the 
replenishing 
under 
Noah 
represents 
the 
new 
race 
which 
shall 
find 
life 
under 
the 
Life-giver, 
the 
Everlasting 
Father, 
our 
Lord 
and 
his 
bride. 
(3) 
Noah 
and 
his 
family, 
therefore, 
do 
not 
represent 
those 
of 
the 
human 
family 
which 
will 
be 
carried 
over 
from 
this 
present 
evil 
world 
into 
the 
kingdom 
of 
heaven 
soon 
to 
be 
established 
on 
the 
earth. 
Rather 
he 
and 
his 
family 
with 
the 
ark 
represent 
the 
church. 
Lifted 
up 
above 
the 
whole 
earth, 
saved 
by 
the 
flood, 
they 
will 
be 
preserved 
from 
the 
terror 
of 
the 
trouble, 
and 
"when 
the 
trouble 
is 
overpast" 
will 
come 
down 
from 
heaven 
to 
bless 
and 
replenish 
the 
earth. 
But 
it 
is 
in 
reference 
to 
the 
time 
features 
that 
I 
now 
write. 
From 
the 
day 
when 
Bible 
chronology 
was 
seen 
so 
explicitly, 
accounts 
of 
time 
in 
the 
Scriptures 
have 
always 
de­ 
manded 
their 
full 
measure 
of 
regard; 
and 
the 
account 
of 
the 
days 
of 
the 
year 
of 
the 
flood, 
given 
so 
particularly, 
have 
always 
been 
regarded 
as 
of 
importance. 
But 
as 
the 
forty 
days 
of 
rain 
and 
of 
the 
breaking 
up 
of 
the 
fountains 
of 
the 
great 
deep 
seem 
so 
clearly 
to 
correspond 
with 
the 
forty 
years 
of 
the 
present 
harvest, 
one 
has, 
perhaps 
naturally, 
looked 
for 
the 
other 
periods 
of 
the 
flood 
year 
to 
follow, 
in 
type, 
on 
into 
the 
establishment 
of 
the 
kingdom. 
But 
without 
result, 
for 
there 
seems 
to 
be 
a 
complete 
lack 
of 
Scripture 
corroboration 
of 
this 
thought. 
Now, 
I 
think 
that 
way 
is 
not 
the 
correct 
one, 
and 
that 
probably 
we 
should 
view 
the 
matter 
from 
this 
standpoint 
:- 
(4) 
That 
the 
first 
dispensation 
covers 
the 
entire 
period 
of 
evil 
under 
present 
ruling 
powers, 
which 
last 
until 
October, 
1914, 
A.D.; 
and 
that 
(5) 
The 
year 
of 
trouble 
so 
remarkably 
detailed 
is 
a 
figure 
of 
the 
year 
of 
trouble, 
1915, 
A.D., 
and 
that 
probably 
the 
details 
fit 
exactly 
to 
the 
events 
of 
this 
year. 
If 
the 
kingdoms 
of 
this 
world 
are 
undermined, 
as 
many 
Scriptures 
and 
parallels 
indicate 
will 
be 
the 
case, 
when 
the 
restraining 
power 
of 
God 
is 
removed 
little 
will 
be 
needed 
to 
bring 
about 
their 
destruction. 
Probably 
the 
forty 
days 
will 
be 
ample 
for 
the 
overthrow 
and 
utter 
ruin. 
The 
remaining 
part 
of 
the 
150 
will 
serve 
to 
let 
anarchy 
have 
its 
raging 
and 
tossing 
whirlpool, 
and, 
to 
an 
extent, 
to 
exhaust 
itself. 
From 
that 
time 
the 
trouble 
will 
begin 
to 
abate, 
partly 
for 
lack 
of 
power, 
and 
partly 
because 
the 
horror 
and 
desolation 
is 
being 
felt. 
The 
raven 
may 
signify 
that 
even 
yet 
trouble 
is 
rampant. 
It 
found 
no 
need 
to 
return 
to 
the 
ark, 
while 
the 
gentle 
dove 
soon 
came 
back. 
But 
a 
little 
later 
the 
dove 
brings 
the 
olive 
leaf: 
there 
is 
capitulation, 
the 
trouble 
is 
fast 
dying 
down 
and 
peace 
is 
wanted. 
Soon 
the 
waters 
are 
dried 
up, 
and 
on 
the 
"first 
day 
of 
the 
first 
month" 
of 
a 
new 
and 
blessed 
year 
and 
dispensation 
the 
earth 
is 
ready 
to 
be 
blessed 
by 
those 
whom 
God 
has 
prepared. 
No 
doubt 
most 
of 
these 
thoughts 
are 
old 
to 
you; 
but 
I 
wonder 
if 
you 
have 
connected 
the 
year 
of 
the 
flood 
with 
the 
year 
of 
trouble, 
and 
if 
you 
have 
whether 
you 
think 
this 
is 
the 
type. 
A 
little 
time 
ago 
one 
was 
almost 
precluded 
from 
seeing 
the 
above 
by 
reason 
of 
the 
thought 
that 
all 
the 
trouhle 
would 
be 
over 
in 
October, 
A.D., 
1914. 
Much 
love 
to 
you, 
as 
ever. 
Your 
brother 
in 
the 
Lord, 
VOL. 
XXVII 
ALLEGHENY, 
P 
A., 
APRIL 
15, 
1906 
No.8 
[3757] 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
general 
arousing 
of 
the 
public 
conscience 
on 
the 
subject 
of 
graft, 
the 
gentleman 
says: 
"This 
i.s 
our 
revival, 
the 
answer 
to 
our 
prayers. 
And 
this 
is 
the 
cause 
and 
heart 
of 
it. 
What 
is 
true 
in 
the 
CIVIC 
sphere 
is 
just 
as 
true 
in 
the 
spiritual, 
and 
the 
two 
are 
not 
to 
be 
separated. 
I 
firmly 
believe 
that 
the 
hearts 
and 
con­ 
sciences 
of 
the 
people 
are 
ready 
for 
the 
preaching 
of 
judg­ 
ment 
on 
sin, 
without 
dilution 
or 
reservation, 
given 
with 
the 
clear 
note 
of 
Chri.st 
~o 
the 
Pharisees 
and 
laid 
hot 
upan 
life 
for 
this 
world 
and 
the 
future: 
'How 
can 
ye 
escape 
the 
damnation 
of 
helU' 
Let 
love 
glow 
undimmed-but 
let 
justice 
flame. 
The 
fear 
of 
the 
Lord 
is 
still 
the 
beginning 
of 
wisdom; 
and 
some 
will 
never 
learn 
wisdom 
unless 
fear 
be 
stirred. 
The 
Felixes 
of 
the 
horne, 
the 
mart 
and 
the 
thrane 
need 
to 
tremble 
at 
the 
message 
of 
righteousness, 
temper­ 
ance 
and 
judgment 
to 
corne, 
and 
we 
all 
have 
them 
in 
our 
congregations. 
Let 
the 
hell-fire 
cycle 
strike 
once 
more." 
So 
this 
is 
the 
revival 
that 
has 
corne 
in 
answer 
to 
prayers 
-not 
a 
revival 
of 
the 
Lord's 
saints 
to 
renewed 
zeal 
in 
self­ 
sacrifice 
an 
behalf 
of 
the 
divine 
Word 
and 
plan, 
nor 
a 
con­ 
ver.sion 
of 
sinners 
to 
repentance 
and 
reformation 
of 
life 
and 
consecration 
to 
God, 
but 
merely 
the 
arousing 
of 
the 
spirit 
of 
righteous 
indignation 
against 
trusts 
and 
boodlers-an 
indignation 
which 
i.s 
usually 
fraught 
with 
anger, 
malice, 
hatred, 
strife, 
etc. 
This 
is 
what 
one 
minister 
at 
least 
has 
been 
preaching 
far, 
and 
i.s 
now 
rejoicing 
that 
his 
prayers 
have 
been 
heard. 
It 
is 
well 
that 
he 
states 
himself 
so 
exactly: 
on 
our 
part 
we 
see 
the 
uncovering 
of 
rottenness 
in 
political 
and 
financial 
circles 
highly 
esteemed 
amongst 
men, 
and 
to 
us 
it 
reads 
that 
we 
are 
in 
the 
day 
that 
the 
Lord 
referred 
to 
when 
he 
said 
that 
whatsoever 
things 
were 
hidden 
would 
be 
made 
manife.st. 
This 
manifestation 
of 
the 
hidden 
corruption 
of 
the 
hearts 
of 
the 
respectable, 
the 
wealthy, 
the 
influential, 
is 
nat, 
so 
far 
as 
we 
know, 
leading 
others 
to 
paths 
of 
righteousness, 
but 
rather 
exciting 
their 
bitterness 
and 
resentment-that 
others 
have 
had 
the 
advantage 
of 
greater 
opportunities 
for 
the 
accumulation 
of 
vast 
wealth 
by 
unscrupulous 
means, 
and 
chagrin 
on 
their 
part 
that 
the 
opportunity 
had 
not 
been 
their 
own, 
and 
the 
determinatian 
that 
if 
they 
cannot 
at 
some 
time 
in 
the 
future 
find 
a 
prospect 
for 
accumulating 
vast 
riches 
in 
some 
such 
manner 
they 
will 
be 
ready 
to 
wreck 
the 
interests 
of 
those 
who 
have 
fared 
better. 
From 
our 
standpoint 
this 
uncovering 
of 
the 
weakne.sses 
of 
human 
nature 
means 
loss 
of 
confidence 
in 
the 
rich 
and 
influential 
generally, 
and 
spells 
eventually 
the 
hatred 
which 
ere 
long 
will 
fulfil 
the 
prediction, 
"Go 
to 
now, 
ye 
rich 
men, 
weep 
and 
howl 
for 
your 
miseries 
that 
shall 
corne 
upon 
you.' 
,­ 
James 
5:1. 
THE 
"HELL 
CYCLE" 
STARTED 
In 
"The 
Westminster," 
a 
Presbyterian 
journal, 
Phila­ 
delphia, 
Reverend 
H. 
H. 
Barstow 
predicts 
a 
return 
to 
"The 
Hell 
Cycle." 
He 
says: 
"We 
minister.s 
have 
easily 
caught 
the 
cue 
from 
the 
popular 
demand, 
and 
have 
fed 
the 
people 
the 
love 
of 
God 
and 
the 
beauty 
af 
holiness 
and 
the 
doctrines 
of 
sweetness 
and 
light-shall 
I 
say 
itT-ad 
nauseam." 
He 
believes 
that 
the 
signs 
of 
the 
times 
indicate 
that 
"the 
pendulum 
has 
touched 
its 
limit 
in 
that 
direction; 
that 
the 
cycle 
of 
hell-fire-figurative, 
ye.s, 
but 
for 
that 
reason 
all 
the 
more 
awful 
and 
appalling-is 
due 
once 
more." 
Are 
we 
to 
ur.derstanil 
the 
gentleman 
to 
mean 
that 
the 
preachers 
merely 
watch 
the 
popular 
sentiment 
that 
they 
may 
preach 
what 
wiJI 
please 
the 
majority 
of 
the 
people' 
Does 
he 
mean 
that 
it 
was 
because 
of 
the 
popular 
demand 
which 
he 
men­ 
tions 
that 
he 
was 
preaching 
the 
lcrve 
of 
God, 
the 
beauty 
of 
holiness, 
etc.' 
Evidently 
he 
has 
been 
preaching 
more 
of 
it 
than 
he 
believed, 
as 
is 
indicated 
by 
his 
nau.sea 
in 
con­ 
nection 
with 
these 
teachings. 
His 
nausea 
is 
somewhat 
re­ 
lieved 
now, 
and 
he 
feels 
a 
little 
more 
free 
to 
speak 
against 
the 
beauty 
of 
holiness 
and 
the 
love 
of 
God 
because 
he 
real­ 
izes 
that 
the 
"popular 
demand" 
i.s 
turning 
his 
way 
again 
and 
bids 
fair 
for 
another 
hell-fire 
cycle. 
This 
is 
what 
we 
have 
feared 
far 
some 
time-that 
a 
great 
many 
preachers 
are 
merely 
endeavoring 
to 
find 
the 
popular 
demand, 
and 
are 
proportionately 
careless 
respect­ 
ing 
the 
will 
and 
Word 
of 
the 
living 
God. 
They 
have 
been 
te11ing 
the 
people 
of 
their 
dreams 
respecting 
politics, 
wom­ 
an's 
rights, 
social 
fads, 
etc., 
and 
.sending 
them 
oft' 
whole­ 
sale 
to 
a 
dreamy 
heaven 
quite 
contrary 
to 
the 
Ward 
of 
God. 
The 
people 
are 
waking 
up 
to 
a 
realization 
of 
the 
fact 
that 
they 
have 
been 
fed 
ad 
nauseam 
something 
un­ 
satisfying, 
and 
an 
increasingly 
large 
proportion 
of 
the 
in­ 
telligent, 
especially 
of 
the 
male 
sex, 
no 
longer 
attend 
such 
preaching. 
Reverend 
Barstow 
believes 
he 
has 
the 
.secret, 
and 
that 
"popular 
demand" 
is 
moving 
taward 
a 
love 
for 
hell-fire 
for 
other 
people, 
and 
that 
if 
he 
gets 
in 
on 
the 
tidal 
wave 
soon 
enough 
it 
will 
score 
him 
a 
big 
success. 
Perhaps 
the 
gentleman 
is 
mistaken. 
We 
beHeve 
he 
is, 
and 
that 
he 
will 
find 
it 
out 
before 
very 
long. 
In 
our 
opin­ 
ion 
many 
people 
are 
getting 
awake, 
so 
that 
they 
begin 
to 
know 
the 
difference 
between 
dreams 
and 
realities, 
and 
are 
wanting 
something 
more 
substantial. 
Their 
craving 
is 
in 
line 
with 
the 
divine 
direction, 
"He 
that 
hath 
a 
dream 
let 
him 
tell 
a 
dream, 
but 
he 
that 
hath 
my 
Word 
let 
him 
speak 
my 
Word. 
"-J 
er. 
23: 
28. 
After 
calling 
attention 
to 
the 
wave 
of 
sentiment 
in 
favor 
of 
purp 
palitics 
that 
is 
sweeping 
over 
the 
country 
and 
the 
V-5 
APRIL 1, 1906 ture of the permission of evil, the end of the first dispensation and the end of the permission of evil being alike in that they end in catastrophe. (2) The race which was destroyed at the flood represented Adam’s whole progeny; while the replenishing under Noah represents the new race which shall find life under the Life-giver, the Everlasting Father, our Lord and his bride. (3) Noah and his family, therefore, do not represent those of the human family which will be carried over from this present evil world into the kingdom of heaven soon to be established on the earth. Rather he and his family with the ark represent the church. Lifted up above the whole earth, saved by the flood, they will be preserved from the terror of the trouble, and ‘‘when the trouble is overpast’’ will come down from heaven to bless and replenish the earth. But it is in reference to the time features that I now write. From the day when Bible chronology was seen 80 explicitly, accounts of time in the Scriptures have always demanded their full measure of regard; and the account of the days of the year of the flood, given so particularly, have always been regarded as of importance. But as the forty days of rain and of the breaking up of the fountains of the great deep seem so clearly to correspond with the forty years of the present harvest, one has, perhaps naturally, looked for the other periods of the flood year to follow, in type, on into the establishment of the kingdom. But without result, for there seems to be a complete lack of Scripture corroboration of this thought. Now, I think that way is not the correct one, and that probably we should view the matter from this standpoint :— ZION’S WATCH TOWER (241-115) (4) That the first dispensation covers the entire period of evil under present ruling powers, which last until October, 1914, A.D.; and that (5) The year of trouble so remarkably detailed is a figure of the year of trouble, 1915, a.p., and that probably the details fit exactly to the events of this year. If the kingdoms of this world are undermined, as many Scriptures and parallels indicate will be the case, when the restraining power of God is removed little will be needed to bring about their destruction, Probably the forty days will be ample for the overthrow and utter ruin. The remaining part of the 150 will serve to let anarchy have its raging and tossing whirlpool, and, to an extent, to exhaust itself. From that time the trouble will begin to abate, partly for lack of power, and partly because the horror and desolation is being felt. The raven may signify that even yet trouble is rampant. It found no need to return to the ark, while the gentle dove soon came back. But a little later the dove brings the olive leaf: there is capitulation, the trouble is fast dying down and peace is wanted. Soon the waters are dried up, and on the ‘‘first day of the first month’’ of a new and blessed year and dispensation the earth is ready to be blessed by those whom God has prepared. No doubt most of these thoughts are old to you; but I wonder if you have connected the year of the flood with the year of trouble, and if you have whether you think this is the type. A little time ago one was almost precluded from seeing the above by reason of the thought that all the trouble would be over in October, a.D., 1914. Much love to you, as ever. Your brother in the Lord, J. H&MERY. Vou. X XVII ALLEGHENY, PA., APRIL 15, 1906 No. 8 THE ‘‘HELL CYCLE’? STARTED In ‘‘The Westminster,’’ a Presbyterian journal, Philadelphia, Reverend H. H. Barstow predicts a return to ‘‘The Hell Cycle.’’ He says: ‘¢We ministers have easily caught the eue from the popular demand, and have fed the people the love of God and the beauty of holiness and the doctrines of sweetness and light—shall I say it?—ad nauseam.’?’ He believes that the signs of the times indicate that ‘the pendulum has touched its limit in that direction; that the cycle of hell-fire—figurative, yes, but for that reason all the more awful and appalling—is due once more.’’ Are we to understand the gentleman to mean that the preachers merely watch the popular sentiment that they may preach what will please the majority of the people? Does he mean that it was because of the popular demand which he mentions that he was preaching the love of God, the beauty of holiness, ete.? Evidently he has been preaching more of it than he believed, as is indicated by his nausea in connection with these teachings. His nausea is somewhat relieved now, and he feels a little more free to speak against the beauty of holiness and the love of God because he realizes that the ‘‘popular demand’’ is turning his way again and bids fair for another hell-fire cycle. This is what we have feared for some time—that a great many preachers are merely endeavoring to find the popular demand, and are proportionately careless respecting the will and Word of the living God. They have been telling the people of their dreams respecting politics, woman’s rights, social fads, ete., and sending them off wholesale to a dreamy heaven quite contrary to the Word of God. The people are waking up to a realization of the fact that they have been fed ad nauseam something unsatisfying, and an increasingly large proportion of the intelligent, especially of the male sex, no longer attend such preaching. Reverend Barstow believes he has the secret, and that ‘‘popular demand’’ is moving toward a love for hell-fire for other people, and that if he gets in on the tidal wave soon enough it will score him a big success. Perhaps the gentleman is mistaken. We believe he is, and that he will find it out before very long. In our opinion many people are getting awake, so that they begin to know the difference between dreams and realities, and are wanting something more substantial. Their craving is in line with the divine direction, ‘‘He that hath a dream let him tell a dream, but he that hath my Word let him speak my Word.’’—Jer. 23:28. After calling attention to the wave of sentiment in favor of pure politics that is sweeping over the country and the vV—5 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER general arousing of the public conscience on the subject of graft, the gentleman says: ‘(This is our revival, the answer to our prayers. And this is the cause and heart of it. What is true in the civic sphere is just as true in the spiritual, and the two are not to be separated. I firmly believe that the hearts and consciences of the people are ready for the preaching of judgment on sin, without dilution or reservation, given with the clear note of Christ to the Pharisees and laid hot upon life for this world and the future: ‘How can ye escape the damnation of hell?’ Let love glow undimmed—but let justice flame. The fear of the Lord is still the beginning of wisdom; and some will never learn wisdom unless fear be stirred. The Felixes of the home, the mart and the throne need to tremble at the message of righteousness, temperance and judgment to come, and we all have them in our congregations. Let the hell-fire cycle strike once more.’’ So this is the revival that has come in answer to prayers —not a revival of the Lord’s saints to renewed zeal in selfsacrifice on behalf of the divine Word and plan, nor a conversion of sinners to repentance and reformation of life and consecration to God, but merely the arousing of the spirit of righteous indignation against trusts and boodlers—an indignation which is usually fraught with anger, malice, hatred, strife, ete. This is what one minister at least has been preaching for, and is now rejoicing that his prayers have been heard. It is well that he states himself so exactly: on our part we see the uncovering of rottenness in political and financial circles highly esteemed amongst men, and to us it reads that we are in the day that the Lord referred to when he said that whatsoever things were hidden would be made manifest. This manifestation of the hidden corruption of the hearts of the respectable, the wealthy, the influential, is not, so far as we know, leading others to paths of righteousness, but rather exciting their bitterness and resentment—that others have had the advantage of greater opportunities for the accumulation of vast wealth by unscrupulous means, and chagrin on their part that the opportunity had not been their own, and the determination that if they cannot at some time in the future find a prospect for accumulating vast riches in some such manner they will be ready to wreck the interests of those who have fared better. From our standpoint this uncovering of the weaknesses of human nature means loss of confidence in the rich and influential generally, and spells eventually the hatred which ere long will fulfil the prediction, ‘‘Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.’’— James 5:1. [3757]

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