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JULY
IS.
1910
THE
WATCH
TOWER
(237-243)
the
body
of
Christ
shall
be
complete-when
the
"elect"
number
shall
be
full-we
understand
there
will
be
no
additions
to
it,
just
as
there
will
be
no
deficiency
in
that
Body
when
it
shall
be
glorified.
This
nature
of
glory,
honor
and
immortality
of
the
kingdom
plane
seems
to
appertain
only
to
the
Father,
to
the
Son
and
to
the
"bride,
the
Lamb's
wife."
We
know
of
nothing
in
the
Scriptures
nor
in
analogy
that
would
imply
that
it
could
be
shared
by
any
others
at
any
time;
but
of
course
what
God
has
not
clearly
revealed
we
may
not
know
of
a
certainty.
\Ve
may
be
sure
of
one
thing,
however,
and
that
is
that
Christ
will
always
be
"Head
over
the
church
which
is
his
body";
that
he
will
always
be
Head
over
all
things.
Another
thing
we
may
be
quite
sure
of
is
that
the
church
thus
honored
by
the
Father
as
members
of
The
Christ
will
have
still
other
glories;
as
the
Apostle
declares,
"that
in
the
ages
to
come,
God
might
show
the
exceeding
riches
of
his
grace
in
his
kindness
toward
us
through
Christ"
(Eph.
2:
6,
7)
,
implying
not
only
that
the
glory
of
Christ
is
to
be
perpetual,
but
that
the
glory
of
the
church
is
also
to
be
perpetual-not
confined
to
the
Millennial
age.
DOES
THE
DEGREE
OF
SUFFERING
DETERMINE
THE
DEGREE
OF
REWARD?
\Ve
agree
that
our
Lord's
statement
respecting
John
the
Baptist,
"He
that
is
least
in
the
kingdom
of
heaven
is
greater
than
he"
(Luke
7
:28),
applies
to
the
entire
class
of
ancient
worthies;
and
further,
that
it
refers
not
merely
to
the
earthly
status
of
the
Gospel
church
as
being
superior,
but
marks
the
church
as
a
superior
class
in
the
future.
This
question
might
arise:
In
view
of
the
statement
of
the
Apostle
James.
"Take,
my
brethren.
the
prophets,
as
an
example
of
suffering
affliction
and
of
patience"
(Jas.
5:
10).
and
in
view
also
of
our
Lord's
words
referring
to
the
sutt'er
ing
of
the
church,
"So
persecuted
they
the
prophets
which
were
before
you,"
and
also
of
the
detailed
statement
of
these
sufferings
of
the
ancient
worthies
furnished
us
by
the
Apostle
Paul
(Hebrews
11),
what
should
we
say
as
to
the
degree
of
their
sufferings
in
comparison
with
those
of
the
church
ana
the
reward
that
would
justly
be
due
them
as
compared
with
the
reward
of
the
church?
THE
GOSPEL
AGE
THE
"ACCEPTABLE
DAY"
FOR
SACRIFICES
We
answer
that
if
the
Lord
intends
to
reward
his
people
in
proportion
to
their
suffering,
some
of
us
seemingly
will
get
a
very
sIT.all
reward.
\Ve
have
neither
been
stoned
to
death,
nor
sawn
asunder,
nor
have
we
wandered
in
sheepskins
and
goatskins;
nor
have
we
been
without
any
place
to
lay
our
head.
\Ve
might
say,
however,
that
some
of
our
sufIer
ings
may
be
of
a
different
kind
from
theirs:
It
is
possible
to
endure
figurative
scorching
or
stoning,
and
to
have
our
names
cast
out
as
evil,
etc.
But
on
the
whole
we
cannot
say
that,
so
far
as
merit
is
concerned
in
the
matter
of
suffering,
there
is
any
advantage
that
the
church
can
claim
over
the
ancient
worthies
even
among
those
of
our
number
who,
in
the
early
church,
were
burned
as
torches
by
Nero.
It
would
seem
that
we
must
make
allowance
for
divine
"election";
that
it
pleased
God
to
call
us
with
this
high
calling.
During
the
Millennial
age
even
some
may
perhaps
become
as
loyal
to
the
principles
of
righteousness
as
any
of
the
ancient
worthies
or
any
of
the
church,
and
yet
not
be
rewarded
with
either
their
distinction
or
ours.
\Ve
are
favor<>d,
we
believe.
only
in
that
we
live
at
this
particular
time
of
blessing-"the
acceptable
day
of
the
Lord"-in
which
the
Lord
is
ready
and
willing
to
accept
our
sacrifices;
and
this
acceptable
day
could
not
begin
until
our
Lord
Jesus
had
made
his
sacrifice
and
opened
up
"the
new
and
living
way,"
whereby
we
might
follow
in
his
steps.
John
the
Baptist
had
a
very
honorable
work
to
perform,
but
that
work
was
to
be
accomplished
before
our
Lord's
death
and
before
the
opening
of
this
"acceptable
day."
Therefore
he
could
not
be
of
the
Gospel
age
church
and
did
not
come
under
our
"high
caIling"-joint-heirship
with
our
Lord
in
the
kingdom
of
heaven.
ATTENDING
NOMINAL
CHURCH
SERVICES
\V
e
infer
that
our
suggestion
relative
to
attendance
at
nominal
church
services
was
not
fully
grasped
by
some
of
our
readers.
\'i'
e
had
no
thought
to
encourage
membership
in
any
human
institution.
\Ve
had
no
thought
to
encourage
i.n
any
manner
these
institutions.
\Ve
merely
wished
to
suggest
that
some
d<>ar
friends,
in
our
judgment,
incline
to
go
to
an
extreme
in
that
thev
f<>ar
to
set
foot
inside
nominal
church
edifices.
Our
thought
is
that
these
should
be
recognized
as
g-athering
places
of
those
who
profess
some
knowledge
of
and
some
love
for
our
Savior-the
world's
Savior.
\Vhile
we
cannot
agree
with
all
that
they
stipulate
in
their
creeds,
we
(an
sympathize
with
them
in
the
sense
that
we
realize
how
they
got
into
the
darkness
and
bondage
they
are
in,
because
we
were
once
in
the
same
ourselves.
lNe
have
reason
to
believe
that
some
of
them
are
as
honest
as
were
we.
Our
suggstion
is
that
while
the
first
duty
of
the
Lord's
people
who
are
in
the
light
is
to
"forget
not
the
assembling
of
themselves
together";
while
it
is
their
duty
to
"build
one
another
up
in
the
most
holy
faith"
and
to
"grow
in
grace"
themselves;
while,
therefore,
it
is
thcir
duty
to
attend
to
their
own
spiritual
nourishment
by
Scripture
study,
etc.,
nevertheless
there
may
be
times
when
nothing
more
important
or
more
pressing
or
more
opportune
would
present
than
a
visit
to
some
prayermeeting'
or
other
meeting
of
Christian
friends
of
the
nominal
systems.
Our
suggestion
was
not
so
much
that
nominal
churches
should
be
attended,
but
rather
that
none
of
us
should
feel
afraid
to
attend
one
if
favorable
opportunity
offered.
peradventure
we
might
there
find
some
trnth-hungry,
and
some
good
might
be
accomplished.
These
remarks
are
speciallv
applicable
to
such
as
have
husbands
or
wives
who
would
desire
their
company
occasionally.
and
be
willing
in
return
to
accompany
them
to
Bible
StudentR
m<>etings.
VOL.
XXXI
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
A
liGUST
1,
1910
No.
16
MEMBERS
OF
CHRIST'S
HOUSEHOLD
The
church
of
Christ
is
an
aggregation
of
individuals
which
discerns
in
his
church
what
we
may
perhaps
partially
discern,
may
he
viewed
from
different
standpoints.
In
the
"Divine
Plan
but
could
not
definitely
determine
and
would
not
be
allowed
to
of
the
Ages"
we
show
on
a
chart
the
Gospel
age
and
its
various
specify.
He
sees,
he
determincs,
which
are
the
fully
conse
united
elements.
Above
the
line
of
consecration
are
two
classes,
crated.
and
which
are
not
fully
consecrated.
We
could
aseer
representing
the
great
company
and
the
little
flock.
Below
the
tain
that
condition
only
by
inquiry
of
the
individual,
and
even
line
of
consecration
there
is
another
class
shown,
the
justified,
then
if
he
chose
to
misrepresent
his
position
and
to
claim
that
who
do
not
go
on
to
complete
their
justification
by
consecration.
he
is
a
come
crated
believer,
we
should
not
be
in
a
position
Under
the
line
or
plane
of
justification
is
shown
another
c1ass-
to
judge
him
or
decide
against
his
expression.
except
his
fruit
hangers-on,
denominated
hypocrites.
In
the
further
develop-
age
betray
his
words;
as
the
Lord
says,
"By
their
fruits
shall
ment
of
the
chart
we
show
these
last
two
classes-the
justified,
ye
know
them"-not
merely
by
their
professions,
but
by
their
who
do
not
go
on
to
consecration,
and
the
"tares"
or
hypocrites
fruits.
But
aside
from
any
fruits
that
would
be
injurious,
we
-both
as
falling
away
in
this
day
of
trouble,
called
the
time
are
to
accept
the
profession
of
all
who
claim
to
be
believers
of
the
harvest.
being
separated
from
the
spiritual
classes,
the
and
consecrated.
Hence,
if
there
is
an
election
in
the
church,
little
flock
and
the
great
company.
in
which
only
the
consecrated
would
be
invited
to
participate
However,
during
the
Gospel
age,
the
"wheat"
and
the
"tares"
-and
if
there
are
any
whose
outward
conduct
is
moral
and
who
grow
together,
and
together
they
represent
the
kingdom
of
God,
make
profpssion
of
being
consecrated-it
would
not
be
within
as
the
Lord
Jesus
shows
in
the
parable.
(Matthew
13)
In
our
province
to
sit
in
judgment
upon
them
and
condemn
them
other
words,
God
speaks
of
the
church
as
a
whole,
including
in
and
say
that
they
are
not
of
the
church.
Rather
we
should
be
the
appellation
the
baser
adherents
as
well
as
the
fully
eonse-
obligated
to
accept
their
vote
the
same
as
any
other.
crated.
THOSE
WHO
CONSTITUTE
THE
CHURCH
OF
THE
PRESENT
This
is
shown
again
in
Revelation,
where
the
Lord
addresses
TIME
the
Laodicean
church,
"Be
zealous,
therefore,
and
repent.
Be-
In
a
complimentary
sense
all
believers
in
Christ,
who
are
hold.
I
stand
at
the
door
and
knock."
(Rev.
3:
19,
20)
He
approaching
the
Lord
and
who
have
turned
from
the
world
and
thus
indicates
that
from
his
viewpoint,
which
is
all
wisdom,
he
have
professed
to
have
fellowship
with
God's
consecrated
people
V-61
[4653]
Jury 15, 1910 the body of Christ shall be complete—when the “elect” number shall be full—we understand there will be no additions to it, Just as there will be no deficiency in that Body when it shall be glorified. This nature of glory, honor and immortality of the kingdom plane seems to appertain only to the Father, to the Son and to the “bride, the Lamb’s wife.” We know of nothing in the Scriptures nor in analogy that would imply that it could be shared by any others at any time; but of course what God has not clearly revealed we may not know of a certainty. We may be sure of one thing, however, and that is that Christ will always be “Head over the church which is his body”; that he will always be Head over all things. Another thing we may be quite sure of is that the church thus honored by the Father as members of The Christ will have still other glories; as the Apostle declares, “that in the ages to come, God might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ” (Eph. 2:6,7), implying not only that the glory of Christ is to be perpetual, but that the glory of the church is also to be perpetual—not confined to the Millennial age. DOES THE DEGREE OF SUFFERING DETERMINE THE DEGREE OF REWARD? We agree that our Lord’s statement respecting John the Baptist, “He that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Luke 7:28), applies to the entire class of ancient worthies; and further, that it refers not merely to the earthly status of the Gospel church as being superior, but marks the church as a superior class in the future. This question might arise: In view of the statement of the Apostle James, “Take, my brethren, the prophets, as an example of suffering affliction and of patience” (Jas. 5:10). and in view also of our Lord’s words referring to the suffering of the church, “So persecuted they the prophets which were before you,” and also of the detailed statement of these sufferings of the ancient worthies furnished us by the Apostle Paul (Hebrews 11), what should we say as to the degree of ATTENDING NOMINAL We infer that our suggestion relative to attendance at nominal chureh services was not fully grasped by some of our readers. We had no thought to encourage membership in any human institution. We had no thought to encourage in any manner these institutions. We merely wished to suggest that some dear friends, in our judgment, incline to go to an extreme in that they fear to set foot inside nominal church edifices. Our thought is that these should be recognized as gathering places of those who profess some knowledge of and some love for our Savior—the world’s Savior. While we cannot agree with all that they stipulate in their creeds, we can sympathize with them in the sense that we realize how they got into the darkness and bondage they are in, because we were once in the same ourselves. We have reason to believe that some of them are as honest as were we. Our suggstion is that while the first duty of the Lord’s THE WATCH TOWER (237-243) their sufferings in comparison with those of the church ana the reward that would justly be due them as compared with the reward of the church? THE GOSPEL AGE THE ‘‘ACCEPTABLE DAY’’ FOR SACRIFICES We answer that if the Lord intends to reward his people in proportion to their suffering, some of us seemingly will get a very small reward. We have neither been stoned to death, nor sawn asunder, nor have we wandered in sheepskins and goatskins; nor have we been without any place to lay our head. We might say, however, that some of our sufferings may be of a different kind from theirs: It is possible to endure figurative scorching or stoning, and to have our names cast out as evil, etc. But on the whole we cannot say that, so far as merit is concerned in the matter of suffering, there is any advantage that the church can claim over the ancient worthies even among those of our number who, in the early church, were burned as torches by Nero. It would seem that we must make allowance for divine “election”; that it pleased God to call us with this high calling. During the Millennial age even some may perhaps become as loyal to the principles of righteousness as any of the ancient worthies or any of the church, and yet not be rewarded with either their distinction or ours. We are favored, we believe, only in that we live at this particular time of blessing—‘the acceptable day of the Lord”—in which the Lord is ready and willing to accept our sacrifices; and this acceptable day could not begin until our Lord Jesus had made his sacrifice and opened up “the new and living way,” whereby we might follow in his steps. John the Baptist had a very honorable work to perform, but that work was to be accomplished before our Lord’s death and before the opening of this ‘‘acceptable day.” Therefore he could not be of the Gospel age church and did not come under our “high calling’—joint-heirship with our Lord in the kingdom of heaven. CHURCH SERVICES people who are in the light is to “forget not the assembling of themselves together”; while it is their duty to ‘‘build one another up in the most holy faith” and to “grow in grace” themselves; while, therefore, it is their duty to attend to their own spiritual nourishment by Scripture study, etc., nevertheless there may be times when nothing more important or more pressing or more opportune would present than a visit to some prayermeeting or other meeting of Christian friends of the nominal systems. Our suggestion was not so much that nominal churches should be attended, but rather that none of us should feel afraid to attend one if favorable opportunity offered, peradventure we might there find some truth-hungry, and some good might be accomplished. These remarks are specially applicable to such as have husbands or wives who would desire their company occasionally, and be willing in return to accompany them to Bible Students meetings. Vou. XXXT BROOKLYN, N. Y., AUGUST 1, 1910 No. 16 MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S HOUSEHOLD The church of Christ is an aggregation of individuals which may he viewed from different standpoints, In the “Divine Plan of the Ages” we show on a chart the Gospel age and its various united elements. Above the line of consecration are two classes, representing the great company and the little flock. Below the line of consecration there is another class shown, the justified, who do not go on to complete their justification by consecration. Under the line or plane of justification is shown another class— hangers-on, denominated hypocrites. In the further development of the chart we show these last two classes—the justified, who do not go on to consecration, and the “tares” or hypocrites —both as falling away in this day of trouble, called the time of the harvest, being separated from the spiritual classes, the little flock and the great company. However, during the Gospel age, the “wheat” and the “tares” grow together, and together they represent the kingdom of God, as the Lord Jesus shows in the parable. (Matthew 13) In other words, God speaks of the church as a whole, including in the appellation the baser adherents as well as the fully consecrated, This is shown again in Revelation, where the Lord addresses the Laodicean church, “Be zealous, therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” (Rev. 3:19, 20) He thus indicates that from his viewpoint, which is all wisdom, he vV—61 discerns in his church what we may perhaps partially discern, but could not definitely determine and would not be allowed to specify. He sees, he determines, which are the fully conseerated, and which are not fully consecrated. We could ascertain that condition only by inquiry of the individual, and even then if he chose to misrepresent his position and to claim that he is a consecrated believer, we should not be in a position to judge him or decide against his expression, except his fruitage betray his words; as the Lord says, “By their fruits shall ye know them”—not merely by their professions, but by their fruits. But aside from any fruits that would be injurious, we are to accept the profession of all who claim to be believers and consecrated. Hence, if there is an election in the church, in which only the consecrated would be invited to participate -——and if there are any whose outward conduct is moral and who make profession of being consecrated—it would not be within our province to sit in judgment upon them and condemn them and say that they are not of the church. Rather we should be obligated to accept their vote the same ag any other. THOSE WHO CONSTITUTE THE CHURCH OF THE PRESENT In a complimentary sense all believers in Christ, who are approaching the Lord and who have turned from the world and have professed to have fellowship with God’s consecrated people [4653]
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