Publication date
12/1/08
Volume
29
Number
23
The WatchTower
Views from the Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1908/23/1908-23-1.html
 
 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA. 
tion 
and 
the 
still 
further 
success 
they 
are 
expecting 
is 
all 
the 
result 
of 
their 
finding 
out 
a 
method 
by 
which 
it 
might 
appear 
to 
them 
that 
they 
had 
circumvented 
the 
divine 
mandate. 
Thus 
they 
would 
seem 
to 
triumph 
over 
God 
and 
be 
able 
to 
worlt 
their 
orgies 
in 
defiance 
of 
his 
power. 
Here 
would 
be 
the 
sublime 
test, 
which 
would 
demonstrate 
not 
only 
the 
gross 
wickedness 
of 
those 
of 
them 
who 
for 
cen· 
turies 
had 
defied 
God 
and 
righteousness 
and 
injured 
humanity, 
but 
it 
woula 
be 
the 
supreme 
test 
also 
upon 
that 
other 
company 
of 
the 
fallen 
angels 
who, 
we 
are 
assuming, 
are 
sick 
of 
sin, 
abstaining 
from 
it 
and 
longing 
for 
divine 
mercy 
and 
recon­ 
ciliation. 
The 
breaking 
loose 
of 
such 
evil 
spirits 
and 
the 
resulting 
pandemonium 
would 
imply 
amongst 
them 
a 
climac­ 
teric 
test, 
the 
decision 
in 
which 
would 
be 
final. 
It 
not 
only 
seems 
to 
me 
that 
no 
such 
tests 
would 
be 
possible 
for 
those 
demons 
during 
the 
Millennium, 
when 
nothing 
shall 
hurt 
or 
destroy, 
but 
it 
also 
seems 
incongruous 
to 
me 
to 
suppose 
that 
there 
would 
be 
any 
hope 
for 
those 
who 
are 
in 
a 
devilish 
atti· 
tude 
now 
after 
having 
witnessed 
the 
fall 
and 
its 
terrible 
con­ 
sequences, 
and 
the 
goodness 
of 
God 
manifested 
in 
Jesus' 
death 
and 
resurrection 
and 
the 
faithfulness 
of 
his 
followers 
in 
being 
baptized 
into 
his 
death. 
I 
am 
not 
urging 
this 
matter, 
dear 
brother, 
merely 
ex­ 
plaining 
the 
matter 
as 
it 
appears 
to 
my 
mind. 
In 
doing 
this 
I, 
of 
course, 
wish 
to 
thoroughly 
arouse 
the 
Lord's 
people 
in 
due 
time, 
to 
put 
them 
on 
guard, 
to 
forewarn 
and 
forearm. 
And 
incidentally, 
we 
know 
not 
but 
that 
we 
are 
forewarning 
and 
forearming 
those 
of 
the 
demons 
who 
have 
turned 
their 
faces 
again 
towards 
God 
and 
his 
righteousness. 
It 
is 
far 
from 
our 
thought 
to 
terrify 
the 
Lord's 
people 
or 
others. 
Rather 
we 
point 
them 
to 
the 
only 
sure 
place 
of 
safety, 
and 
admonish 
them 
that 
in 
abiding 
therein 
they 
need 
have 
no 
fear. 
The 
vow 
we 
have 
recently 
suggested 
is 
a 
finger 
pointing 
in 
the 
right 
direction-to 
the 
fullest 
imaginable 
degree 
of 
conse· 
cration 
to 
the 
Lord 
and 
his 
service, 
and 
to 
love 
for 
the 
brethren 
and 
to 
separateness 
from 
sin. 
These, 
abiding 
under 
the 
shadow 
of 
the 
Almighty, 
need 
fear 
no 
evil. 
The 
Lord 
will 
be 
their 
refuge 
and 
habitation, 
and 
no 
evil 
can 
come 
near 
that 
dwelling-place. 
In 
a 
word, 
those 
who 
are 
living 
as 
closely 
as 
possible 
to 
the 
Lord 
in 
faith 
and 
obedience 
and 
knowledge 
are 
abso· 
lutely 
safe 
and 
need 
fear 
none 
of 
the 
powers 
of 
darkness. 
We 
believe 
that 
all 
others 
are 
unsafe 
propositions, 
as 
they 
are 
distant 
from 
this 
safe 
habitation. 
VOL. 
XXIX 
ALLEGHENY, 
PA., 
DECEMBER 
15,1908 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BIBLE 
AND 
TRACT 
SOCIETY'S 
REPORT 
No. 
24 
DECEMBER 
1, 
1907, 
TO 
DECEMBER 
1, 
1908. 
For 
many 
years 
the 
work 
of 
the 
Society 
has 
shown 
phE!' 
fact 
that 
the 
harvest 
time 
is 
not 
alone 
for 
gathering 
the 
nomenal 
progress, 
our 
last 
report 
being 
the 
best 
of 
all-an 
wheat 
from 
the 
fields, 
but 
a 
time 
also 
for 
threshing 
and 
astonishment 
even 
to 
the 
most 
hopeful. 
Of 
course, 
in 
the 
winnowing 
it, 
for 
the 
separation 
of 
the 
chaff 
from 
the 
wheat, 
face 
of 
the 
financIal 
depression, 
we 
had 
not 
the 
courage 
that 
the 
latter 
may 
be 
ready 
for 
the 
garner. 
We 
should, 
to 
hope 
that 
the 
present 
year 
would 
even 
nearly 
come 
up 
perhaps, 
expeet 
that 
the 
remaining 
years 
of 
the 
harvest 
will 
to 
last 
year's 
remarkable 
showing. 
We 
are 
confident, 
there· 
be 
consp.icuously 
marked 
in 
this 
manner. 
While 
we 
expect 
fore, 
dear 
brethren, 
that 
you 
will 
be 
overwhelmed 
with 
sur· 
a 
large 
ingathering 
of 
ripened 
grain, 
we 
must 
also 
expect 
prise 
to 
learn 
that, 
notwithstanding 
the 
adverse 
conditions 
that 
the 
flail 
of 
trial 
and 
testing 
will 
fall 
heavily, 
swiftly 
to 
which 
the 
panic 
led, 
the 
present 
year 
not 
only 
shows 
as 
and 
repeatedly 
upon 
the 
wheat, 
that 
it 
may 
be 
thoroughly 
favorably 
as 
last 
year, 
but 
shows 
a 
great 
improvement. 
We 
threshed, 
that 
every 
grain 
may 
be 
thoroughly 
separated 
from 
may 
well 
rejoice 
with 
one 
another 
and 
give 
to 
our 
Lord 
the 
hull 
or 
chaff. 
Results 
may 
sometimes 
be 
very 
disappoint- 
all 
the 
praise. 
Surely 
without 
him 
we 
could 
do 
nothing, 
ing 
as 
we 
find 
ourselves 
mistaken 
in 
our 
estimates; 
as 
we 
in 
the 
fure 
of 
the 
opposition 
which 
we 
continually 
meet 
from 
find 
some 
fall 
whom 
we 
had 
no 
doubt 
would 
stand 
firmly 
the 
world, 
from 
the 
flesh, 
and, 
above 
all, 
from 
our 
great 
with 
us 
to 
the 
end 
of 
the 
journey 
and 
enter 
the 
garner 
of 
adversary, 
who 
works 
in 
and 
through 
the 
blinded 
children 
the 
kingdom. 
However, 
the 
work 
is 
the 
Lord's, 
and 
not 
of 
disobedience. 
Ah! 
more 
and 
more 
do 
we 
realize 
the 
mean- 
Ours. 
It 
is 
for 
us 
to 
do 
with 
our 
might 
what 
our 
hands 
ing 
of 
the 
Apostle's 
words, 
when 
he 
declares, 
"We 
wrestle 
find 
to 
do, 
and 
to 
leave 
all 
results 
in 
the 
divine 
care, 
know- 
not 
with 
flesh 
and 
blood, 
but 
with 
wicked 
spirits 
in 
high 
ing 
that 
our 
Lord 
is 
too 
wise 
to 
err, 
and 
that 
his 
love 
for 
positions."-Eph. 
6:12. 
all 
of 
his 
dear 
people 
is 
far 
more 
intense 
than 
ours, 
and 
The 
contest 
is 
so 
unequal 
that 
if 
we 
did 
not 
have 
the 
that 
nothing 
in 
their 
interest, 
for 
their 
correction 
in 
right- 
supervision 
and 
protection 
of 
our 
Lord 
through 
his 
various 
eousness, 
etc., 
will 
be 
left 
undone. 
agencies, 
we 
would 
surely 
be 
deceived 
and 
thwarted 
in 
every 
It 
is 
ours, 
therefore, 
to 
do 
our 
part 
and 
leave 
the 
remaindl'r 
dirertion. 
As 
it 
is, 
in 
the 
light 
of 
our 
Lamp, 
the 
Word 
of 
with 
him. 
We 
cannot 
share 
the 
sentiments 
of 
our 
opponents 
God, 
we 
know 
what 
to 
expect 
j 
that 
for 
the 
harvest 
testing, 
that 
the 
Lord 
has 
allowed 
the 
harvest 
work 
to 
progress 
thirty· 
which 
begins 
with 
the 
house 
of 
God 
and 
extends 
to 
the 
four 
years 
along 
wrong 
lines, 
and 
now 
wishes 
three 
or 
four 
nominal 
systems 
and 
the 
world, 
there 
will 
be 
a 
relaxing 
of 
self-appointed 
brethren 
to 
take 
dirertion 
of 
affairs 
and 
say 
the 
divine 
restraints 
upon 
the 
evil 
spirits, 
permitting 
their 
what 
should 
and 
what 
should 
not 
appear 
in 
the 
columns 
of 
greater 
activity 
and 
correspondingly 
more 
and 
more 
severe 
this 
Journal, 
etc. 
This 
very 
same 
thought, 
as 
some 
of 
Our 
tests 
upon 
all 
mankind. 
We 
remember 
our 
Lord's 
words, 
readers 
know, 
has 
twice 
in 
the 
past 
Il'd 
to 
conspiraries 
on 
to 
the 
effect 
that 
the 
deceptions 
would 
ultimately 
prove 
so 
the 
part 
of 
misguided 
brethren 
to 
turn 
the 
rhannel 
of 
the 
severe 
that 
they 
would 
"deceive, 
if 
it 
were 
possible, 
the 
strl'am 
of 
truth 
more 
to 
their 
pleasement. 
As 
those 
efforts 
very 
elect." 
It 
will 
not 
be 
possible, 
because 
for 
this 
class 
failed, 
so, 
we 
believe, 
other 
efforts, 
of 
a 
slightly 
modified 
the 
Lord 
will 
provide 
special 
protection, 
special 
warnings, 
form, 
will 
fail. 
These 
endeavors 
l'anse 
us 
sorrow 
of 
heart 
special 
assistances. 
We 
note 
the 
Apostle's 
remark 
that 
if 
indel'd, 
but 
in 
no 
sense 
or 
degree 
shake 
our 
confidenre 
in 
the 
it 
began 
first 
with 
us, 
what 
will 
the 
end 
be 
upon 
those 
who 
Lord 
and 
his 
perfect 
mastery 
of 
the 
situation 
and 
the 
carry- 
obey 
not 
the 
Gospel' 
"If 
the 
righteous 
scarcely 
be 
saved, 
ing 
out 
of 
the 
harvest 
work. 
Our 
sorrow 
is 
for 
the 
deluded 
where 
shall 
the 
ungodly 
and 
the 
sinner 
appear7 
"-1 
Pet. 
4: 
18. 
brethren 
whom 
the 
adversary 
thus 
sifts 
out. 
It 
is 
not 
for 
While 
the 
report 
shows 
progress 
in 
the 
work 
accomplished 
us 
to 
question 
the 
methods 
of 
divine 
wistlom, 
but 
rather 
to 
in 
extending 
the 
truth 
to 
others, 
our 
chief 
cause 
for 
rejoic- 
remember 
that 
"The 
Lord 
knoweth 
them 
that 
are 
his." 
W 
(' 
ing 
lies 
in 
the 
fart 
that 
a 
deep 
work 
of 
grace 
seems 
to 
be 
may 
esteem 
brethren 
too 
highly 
or 
insnfficiently, 
but 
thl' 
Lord 
in 
progress 
in 
many 
places; 
we 
believe 
very 
generally 
through- 
knows 
the 
heart 
and 
makes 
no 
mistake. 
Then, 
too, 
each 
of 
out 
all 
the 
harvest 
work, 
considered 
as 
a 
whole. 
We 
are 
the 
called 
ones 
has 
a 
will 
of 
his 
own. 
It 
is 
not 
our 
flesh 
able 
to 
form, 
we 
think, 
fairly 
good 
estimates 
along 
these 
that 
is 
being 
tested, 
but 
our 
wills; 
hence 
the 
neressity 
for 
lines 
from 
the 
phraseology 
of 
the 
letters 
we 
receive 
and 
also 
watching 
our 
hearts 
and 
keeping 
very 
humble; 
otherwise 
pride 
from 
the 
reports 
made 
to 
us 
by 
the 
"pIlgrims." 
The 
spirit 
Or 
ambition 
may 
enter 
and 
in 
a 
few 
months, 
or 
even 
a 
few 
of 
brotherhood, 
the 
spirit 
of 
love, 
seems 
to 
be 
increasing, 
even 
days, 
or 
hours 
or 
moments 
might 
work 
havoc 
to 
all 
our 
char- 
as 
the 
revprse 
spirit 
is 
increasing 
and 
manifest 
in 
the 
world-a 
acter 
development, 
from 
the 
Lord's 
viewpoint. 
spirit 
of 
strife, 
envy, 
evil-speaking 
and 
hatred. 
Ah! 
how 
carefully 
we 
shoulil 
heed 
the 
words, 
"Keep 
thy 
We 
have 
been 
pleased 
to 
note 
the 
remarkable 
progress 
heart 
with 
all 
diligence 
(thy 
will, 
thy 
affections), 
for 
out 
of 
it 
made 
by 
some 
dear 
friends 
who 
have 
come 
into 
the 
light 
are 
the 
issues 
of 
life' 
'-life 
eternal 
or 
death 
eternal.-Prov. 
of 
present 
truth 
recently. 
The 
rapidity 
with 
which 
they 
4: 
23. 
grasp 
the 
outline 
of 
the 
plan 
in 
many 
details, 
and 
the 
zeal 
We 
have 
some 
very 
important 
and 
very 
interesting 
things 
with 
which 
they 
undertake 
to 
"let 
their 
light 
shine," 
and 
to 
present 
to 
you 
respecting 
the 
grand 
outlook 
for 
the 
work 
to 
bring 
their 
thoughts 
and 
words 
and 
doings 
into 
line 
there- 
in 
1909, 
but 
that 
properly 
belongs 
to 
the 
"View" 
of 
our 
with, 
are 
evidences 
of 
the 
power 
of 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
truth 
next 
issue, 
and 
we 
must 
not 
trench 
upon 
it 
here. 
Suffice 
to 
working 
in 
them, 
and 
are 
gratifying 
indeed. 
But 
alas! 
a 
say 
that 
it 
contains 
wonderful 
hopes 
and 
prospects, 
under 
the 
faithful 
"View" 
from 
the 
Watch 
Tower 
reminds 
us 
of 
the 
Lord's 
continued 
guidance, 
and 
your 
continued 
cooperation. 
[42931 
(371-372) tion and the still further success they are expecting is all the result of their finding out a method by which it might appear to them that they had circumvented the divine mandate. Thus they would seem to triumph over God and be able to work their orgies in defiance of his power. Here would be the sublime test, which would demonstrate not only the gross wickedness of those of them who for centuries had defied God and righteousness and injured humanity, but it would be the supreme test also upon that other company of the fallen angels who, we are assuming, are sick of sin, abstaining from it and longing for divine mercy and reconciliation. The breaking loose of such evil spirits and the resulting pandemonium would imply amongst them a climacteric test, the decision in which would be final. It not only seems to me that no such tests would be possible for those demons during the Millennium, when nothing shall hurt or destroy, but it also seems incongruous to me to suppose that there would be any hope for those who are in a devilish attitude now after having witnessed the fall and its terrible consequences, and the goodness of God manifested in Jesus’ death and resurrection and the faithfulness of his followers in being baptized into his death. ALLEGHENY, PA., DECEMBER 15, 1908 Vou. XXIX ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, I am not urging this matter, dear brother, merely explaining the matter as it appears to my mind. In doing this I, of course, wish to thoroughly arouse the Lord’s people in due time, to put them on guard, to forewarn and forearm. And incidentally, we know not but that we are forewarning and forearming those of the demons who have turned their faces again towards God and his righteousness. It is far from our thought to terrify the Lord’s people or others. Rather we point them to the only sure place of safety, and admonish them that in abiding therein they need have no fear. The vow we have recently suggested is a finger pointing in the right direction—to the fullest imaginable degree of conseeration to the Lord and his service, and to love for the brethren and to separateness from sin. These, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, need fear no evil. The Lord will be their refuge and habitation, and no evil can come near that dwelling-place. In a word, those who are living as closely as possible to the Lord in faith and obedience and knowledge are absolutely safe and need fear none of the powers of darkness. We believe that all others are unsafe propositions, as they are distant from this safe habitation. No. 24 WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY’S REPORT DECEMBER 1, 1907, TO DECEMBER 1, 1908. For many years the work of the Society has shown phenomenal progress, our last report being the best of alJ—an astonishment even to the most hopeful. Of course, in the face of the financial depression, we had not the courage to hope that the present year would even nearly come up to last year’s remarkable showing. We are confident, therefore, dear brethren, that you will be overwhelmed with surprise to learn that, notwithstanding the adverse conditions to which the panic led, the present year not only shows as favorably as last year, but shows a great improvement. We may well rejoice with one another and give to our Lord all the praise. Surely without him we could do nothing, in the face of the opposition which we continually meet from the world, from the flesh, and, above all, from our great adversary, who works in and through the blinded children of disobedience. Ah! more and more do we realize the meaning of the Apostle’s words, when he declares, ‘‘We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with wicked spirits in high positions.’’—Eph. 6:12. The contest is so unequal that if we did not have the supervision and protection of our Lord through his various agencies, we would surely be deceived and thwarted in every direction. As it is, in the light of our Lamp, the Word of God, we know what to expect; that for the harvest testing, which begins with the house of God and extends to the nominal systems and the world, there will be a relaxing of the divine restraints upon the evil spirits, permitting their greater activity and correspondingly more and more severe tests upon all mankind. We remember our Lord’s words, to the effect that the deceptions would ultimately prove so severe that they would ‘‘deceive, if it were possible, the very elect.’’ It will not be possible, because for this class the Lord will provide special protection, special warnings, special assistances. We note the Apostle’s remark that if it began first with us, what will the end be upon those who obey not the Gospel? ‘‘If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?’’—1 Pet. 4:18. While the report shows progress in the work accomplished in extending the truth to others, our chief cause for rejoicing lies in the fact that a deep work of grace seems to be in progress in many places; we believe very generally throughout all the harvest work, considered as a whole. We are able to form, we think, fairly good estimates along these lines from the phraseology of the letters we receive and also from the reports made to us by the ‘‘pilgrims.’’ The spirit of brotherhood, the spirit of love, seems to be increasing, even as the reverse spirit is increasing and manifest in the world—a spirit of strife, envy, evil-speaking and hatred. We have been pleased to note the remarkable progress made by some dear friends who have come into the light of present truth recently. The rapidity with which they grasp the outline of the plan in many details, and the zeal with which they undertake to ‘‘let their light shine,’’ and to bring their thoughts and words and doings into line therewith, are evidences of the power of the spirit of the truth working in them, and are gratifying indeed. But alas! a faithful ‘‘View’’ from the Watch Tower reminds us of the fact that the harvest time is not alone for gathering the wheat from the fields, but a time also for threshing and winnowing it, for the separation of the chaff from the wheat, that the latter may be ready for the garner. We should, perhaps, expect that the remaining years of the harvest will be conspicuously marked in this manner. While we expect a large ingathering of ripened grain, we must also expect that the flail of trial and testing will fall heavily, swiftly and repeatedly upon the wheat, that it may be thoroughly threshed, that every grain may be thoroughly separated from the hull or chaff. Results may sometimes be very disappointing as we find ourselves mistaken in our estimates; as we find some fall whom we had no doubt would stand firmly with us to the end of the journey and enter the garner of the kingdom. However, the work is the Lord’s, and not ours. It is for us to do with our might what our hands find to do, and to leave all results in the divine care, knowing that our Lord is too wise to err, and that his love for all of his dear people is far more intense than ours, and that nothing in their interest, for their correction in righteousness, et¢., will be left undone. It is ours, therefore, to do our part and leave the remainder with him. We cannot share the sentiments of our opponents that the Lord has allowed the harvest work to progress thirtyfour years along wrong lines, and now wishes three or four self-appointed brethren to take direction of affairs and say what should and what should not appear in the columns of this Journal, etc. This very same thought, as some of our readers know, has twice in the past Jed to conspiracies on the part of misguided brethren to turn the channel of the stream of truth more to their pleasement. As those efforts failed, so, we believe, other efforts, of a slightly modified form, will fail, These endeavors cause us sorrow of heart indeed, but in no sense or degree shake our confidence in the Lord and his perfect mastery of the situation and the carrying out of the harvest work. Our sorrow is for the deluded brethren whom the adversary thus sifts out. It is not for us to question the methods of divine wisdom, but rather to remember that ‘‘The Lord knoweth them that are his.’’ We may esteem brethren too highly or insufficiently, but the Lord knows the heart and makes no mistake. Then, too, each of the called ones has a will of his own. It is not our flesh that is being tested, but our wills; hence the necessity for watching our hearts and keeping very humble; otherwise pride or ambition may enter and in a few months, or even a few days, or hours or moments might work havoc to all our character development, from the Lord’s viewpoint. Ah! how carefully we should heed the words, ‘‘Keep thy heart with all diligence (thy will, thy affections), for out of it are the issues of life’’—life eternal or death eternal—Prov. 4:23. We have some very important and very interesting things to present to you respecting the grand outlook for the work in 1909, but that properly belongs to the ‘‘View’’ of our next issue, and we must not trench upon it here. Suffice to say that it contains wonderful hopes and prospects, under the Lord’s continued guidance, and your continued codperation. [4293]

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