Publication date
12/1/12
Volume
33
Number
23
The WatchTower
The Retributive Character of Divine Law
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1912/23/1912-23-1.html
 
 
 
INTERESTING 
QUESTIONS 
CAN 
ANY 
OF 
THE 
GREAT 
OOMPANY 
BE 
OF 
THE 
RESTITU· 
TION 
CLASS? 
Question.-Can 
any 
of 
the 
great 
company 
become 
members 
of 
the 
restitution 
class? 
Answer.-We 
understand 
that 
the 
terms 
under 
which 
any 
are 
begottf'n 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
are 
that 
they 
renounce, 
give 
up, 
the 
human 
nature. 
\Vhen 
God 
ac('epts 
their 
consecration 
and 
takes 
such 
into 
covenant 
relationship 
with 
himself, 
he 
indicates 
that 
relationship 
by 
begetting 
them 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
The 
only 
class 
into 
whi('h 
these 
can 
come 
for 
future 
life 
is 
that 
of 
spirit 
or 
heavenly 
beings. 
If 
they 
live 
up 
to 
all 
the 
terms 
and 
conditions 
of 
their 
sa('rifice, 
then 
they 
will 
have 
the 
very 
fullest 
blessing 
whi('h 
God 
has 
provided 
for 
the 
loyal 
and 
to 
which 
he 
has 
called 
thf'm. 
But 
for 
those 
who 
fail 
to 
live 
up 
to 
the 
highest 
standard-that 
of 
walking 
in 
the 
footsteps 
of 
Jesus­ 
the 
arrangement 
seems 
to 
be 
that 
they 
shall 
at 
least 
prove 
themselves 
loyal, 
even 
if 
not 
to 
the 
same 
degree 
as 
their 
brethren. 
This 
loyalty 
will 
be 
tcsted 
in 
the 
great 
time 
of 
trouble 
through 
which 
the 
great 
company 
will 
go. 
Then 
if 
they 
fail 
to 
prove 
their 
loyalty, 
apparcntly 
they 
will 
lose 
that 
life 
in 
the 
seconrl 
death. 
But 
if 
they 
give 
up 
the 
earthly 
life 
and 
manifest 
loyalty 
to 
the 
Lord, 
even 
though 
they 
may 
never 
give 
it 
up 
willingly, 
but 
merely 
when 
brought 
to 
straits, 
then 
they 
will 
have 
life 
on 
the 
spirit 
plane. 
The 
merit 
of 
Christ, 
which 
has 
been 
under 
embargo, 
as 
it 
were, 
must 
all 
be 
released 
before 
the 
restitution 
work 
can 
begin. 
J 
n 
other 
words, 
thf' 
little 
flock 
must 
have 
been 
"changed" 
and 
the 
great 
company 
must 
have 
suffered 
destruction 
of 
the 
flesh, 
before 
the 
merit 
can 
again 
be 
free 
in 
the 
hands 
of 
Justice, 
ready 
to 
be 
given 
to 
the 
world 
in 
restitution. 
Therefore, 
our 
answer 
would 
be, 
\Ve 
cannot 
expect 
the 
Spirit­ 
begotten 
ones 
to 
pass 
through 
the 
time 
of 
trouble 
in 
the 
end 
of 
this 
age 
and 
to 
live 
on 
during 
the 
Millennial 
age; 
for 
they 
belong 
to 
the 
church 
of 
the 
first-born, 
all 
of 
whom 
must 
be 
born 
before 
the 
after-borns 
can 
be 
brought 
forth. 
The 
after­ 
born 
will 
he 
the 
world 
in 
the 
restitution. 
FIFTH 
SUNDAY 
OONVENTIONS 
Question.-Are 
Fifth 
Sunday 
conventions 
advantageous? 
Answer.-We 
are 
perplexed 
how 
to 
answcr 
this 
question, 
and 
must 
leave 
the 
answering 
of 
it 
to 
each 
class 
for 
itself, 
without 
any 
particular 
advice 
even. 
From 
some 
we 
have 
heard 
good 
reports 
with 
blessings 
secured. 
From 
others 
we 
have 
1'1'­ 
ports 
to 
the 
contrary. 
Those 
who 
have 
had 
practical 
experi­ 
ence 
with 
these 
conventions 
should 
decide 
for 
themselves. 
We 
have 
had 
no 
experience 
in 
this 
direction. 
HOW 
TREAT 
"THE 
MENACE" 
Question.-How 
should 
the 
\V 
ATCH 
TOWER 
rellderg 
treat 
"The 
Mena('e?" 
Answer.-This 
is 
a 
free 
country 
and 
everyone 
has 
a 
right 
to 
follow 
that 
course 
which 
he 
believes 
will 
be 
most 
to 
the 
Lord's 
glory 
and 
most 
to 
the 
advancement 
and 
the 
good 
of 
his 
fcllow-men. 
The 
Editor 
of 
"Thc 
Menaee" 
is 
merely 
exprpising 
his 
rights. 
As 
for 
the 
WATCH 
TOWER, 
it 
pursues 
a 
different 
course 
without 
criticising 
others. 
Perhaps 
the 
Lord 
may 
have 
a 
work 
for 
"The 
Menace" 
for 
all 
we 
know. 
Our 
judgment 
is 
that 
his 
work 
for 
us 
is 
in 
a 
different 
direction 
and 
we 
exhort 
all 
the 
WATCH 
TOWER 
readcrs 
to 
reserve 
all 
their 
might 
and 
physical 
strength 
for 
the 
promulgation 
of 
the 
truth 
as 
the 
Lord 
has 
been 
granting 
us 
to 
see 
it 
within 
the 
last 
forty 
years 
in 
the 
WATCH 
TOWER. 
It 
is 
our 
mission 
to 
preach 
the 
Word 
-the 
Gospel 
of 
the 
kingdom. 
We 
cannot 
do 
all 
that 
we 
would 
in 
this 
direction, 
and 
hence 
have 
no 
time 
to 
devote 
to 
other 
matters, 
political, 
social, 
etc. 
TRULY 
Beautiful 
hands 
are 
they 
that 
do 
The 
work 
of 
the 
noble, 
good 
and 
true, 
Busy 
for 
them 
the 
long 
day 
through; 
Beautiful 
faces-they 
that 
wear 
BEAUTIFUL 
The 
light 
of 
a 
pleasing 
spirit 
there, 
It 
matters 
little 
if 
dark 
or 
fair; 
And 
truly 
beautiful 
in 
God's 
sight, 
Are 
the 
precious 
souls 
who 
love 
the 
right. 
VOL. 
XXXIII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
DECEMBER 
1, 
1912 
No. 
23 
LOVE 
NOT 
THE 
WORLD 
"Love 
not 
the 
world, 
neither 
the 
things 
that 
are 
in 
the 
WO'I'ld. 
If 
any 
man 
love 
the 
world, 
the 
love 
of 
the 
Father 
is 
not 
in 
him."-1 
John 
2:15. 
In 
the 
text, 
"Love 
not 
the 
world," 
we 
do 
not 
understand 
he 
would 
care 
for 
his 
soldiers 
and 
have 
them 
well 
dressed_ 
the 
term 
"world" 
to 
mean 
either 
the 
human 
race 
or 
the 
planet 
80me 
of 
our 
great 
captwins 
of 
industry 
have 
done 
the 
world 
on 
which 
we 
live. 
The 
thought 
of 
the 
text 
seems 
to 
be 
more 
good 
service, 
and 
incidentally 
have 
blessed 
many, 
while 
cany­ 
particularly 
the 
present 
order 
of 
things, 
for 
the 
Greek 
word 
ing 
out 
their 
own 
designs. 
here 
translwted 
world 
is 
kosmos, 
signifying 
arrangement. 
We 
SELFISHNESS 
THE 
SPIRIT 
OF 
THE 
WOBLD 
are 
to 
appreciate 
the 
beauties 
of 
nature. 
\Ve 
are 
to 
love 
the 
hu- 
If 
all 
of 
the 
great 
worldly 
enterprises 
were 
undertaken 
man 
family, 
whom 
God 
also 
loves, 
though 
not 
in 
the 
sense 
in 
with 
a 
view 
to 
the 
betterment 
of 
mankind, 
the 
spirit 
of 
these 
which 
he 
loves 
the 
church 
of 
Christ. 
\Ve 
read, 
"God 
so 
loved 
the 
would 
not 
be 
selfish. 
We 
know, 
indeed, 
that 
much 
is 
done 
world 
that 
he 
gave 
his 
Only 
Begotten 
Son, 
that 
whosoever 
be- 
to 
help 
those 
who 
are 
needy, 
and 
that 
where 
there 
is 
a 
lieveth 
in 
him 
should 
not 
perish, 
but 
have 
everlasting 
life."- 
motive 
of 
this 
k'ind, 
it 
is 
often 
misinterpreted 
and 
misjUdged 
John 
3: 
16. 
to 
be 
selfish. 
But 
"the 
Lord 
looketh 
on 
the 
heart." 
(1 
Sam. 
8t. 
John 
cannot 
therefore 
be 
understood 
to 
refer 
to 
the 
16:7) 
Those 
who 
have 
the 
selfish 
heaTt, 
the 
selfish 
intentions, 
world 
of 
mankind, 
when 
he 
says, 
"Love 
not 
the 
world." 
For 
will 
continue 
to 
love 
the 
things 
of 
the 
world. 
In 
proportion 
them 
we 
should 
have 
sympathy 
similar 
to 
that 
which 
the 
as 
such 
may 
be 
shown 
that 
there 
is 
a 
new 
order 
of 
affairs 
Heavenly 
Father 
has 
for 
the 
fallen 
race. 
The 
Scriptures 
coming. 
in 
that 
proportion 
the 
selfish-minded 
will 
not 
be 
in 
inform 
us 
that 
the 
present 
order, 
or 
arrangement, 
of 
things 
sympathy 
with 
the 
change 
of 
dispensation. 
on 
earth 
is 
entirely 
out 
of 
harmony 
with 
God's 
will, 
or 
pur- 
If 
a 
man 
,conducts 
a 
large 
enterprise 
for 
the 
benefit 
of 
pose; 
fOT 
the 
world 
is 
ruled 
by 
selfishness. 
The 
divine 
those 
who 
would 
have 
opportunity 
to 
share 
such 
blessings, 
arrangement 
is 
that 
love 
shall 
be 
the 
rule 
among 
God's 
crea- 
that 
man 
would 
rejoice 
that 
there 
is 
a 
betteT 
time 
coming. 
tures. 
"God 
is 
love 
. 
. 
. 
. 
. 
He 
that 
dwelleth 
in 
love 
dwelleth 
A 
man 
who 
would 
truly 
rejoice 
to 
have 
a 
better 
arrangement 
in 
God."-1 
John 
4:8, 
16. 
of 
affairs, 
would 
not 
have 
the 
spirit 
that 
dominates 
in 
the 
The 
world 
operates 
along 
linps 
different 
from 
those 
of 
love. 
present 
order 
of 
things. 
He 
would 
have 
the 
8pirit 
of 
Uod, 
Each 
one 
strives 
selfishly 
to 
heap 
together 
treasure 
for 
him- 
the 
Spirit 
of 
love, 
the 
spirit 
that 
will 
dominate 
the 
new 
order 
self, 
even 
if 
meantime 
his 
neighbor 
goes 
destitute. 
Many 
live 
of 
things, 
that 
will 
control 
during 
the 
thousand 
years 
of 
in 
luxury, 
while 
realizing 
that 
there 
are 
others 
who 
lack 
the 
Christ's 
reign. 
necessities 
of 
life. 
Many 
seek 
for 
power 
to 
control 
men, 
no,t 
Many 
are 
in 
the 
attitude 
of 
mind 
which 
would 
say, 
"My 
with 
the 
thought 
of 
their 
uplift, 
but 
with 
a 
view 
to 
using 
employer 
is 
rich. 
Whenever 
I 
get 
the 
opportunity 
to 
help 
them 
for 
selfish 
ends 
and 
motives. 
This 
spirit 
of 
selfishness 
myself 
to 
soone 
of 
his 
money, 
I 
will 
do 
so 
and 
get 
as 
much 
belongs 
to 
the 
present 
order 
of 
things. 
We 
see 
it 
in 
opera- 
a,s 
possible." 
Such 
people 
love 
the 
present 
order 
of 
things, 
tion 
everywhere. 
whether 
they 
be 
rich 
or 
poor. 
A 
great 
many 
poor 
love 
the 
The 
spirit 
of 
the 
world 
lays 
hold 
of 
all 
the 
forces 
of 
nature 
things 
of 
this 
world, 
and 
hope 
some 
day 
to 
get 
their 
share. 
and 
seeks 
to 
control 
these, 
to 
adapt 
them 
to 
its 
own 
selfish 
There 
are 
people 
who 
say, 
"Oh, 
I 
do 
not 
love 
the 
world 
interests. 
It 
is 
true 
that 
much 
good 
has 
resulted 
indirectly 
and 
its 
selfish 
spirit! 
From 
the 
crown 
of 
my 
head 
to 
the 
from 
this 
spirit 
of 
selfishness. 
For 
instance, 
a 
man 
with 
a 
sales 
of 
my 
feet 
I 
am 
opposed 
to 
it. 
Sometimes 
I 
say 
to 
my 
great 
amount 
of 
the 
vain-glorious 
spirit 
may 
for 
his 
own 
husband, 
'This 
is 
a 
very 
selfish 
world, 
John.' 
Then 
he 
replies, 
selfish 
purposes 
benefit 
others. 
A 
general 
might 
have 
so 
much 
'Yes, 
Mary, 
it 
is. 
Everywhere 
people 
are 
seeking 
for 
every­ 
pride 
in 
his 
service 
that 
in 
order 
to 
win 
praise 
for 
himself 
thing 
that 
will 
gratify 
self 
and 
selfish 
desires. 
But 
while 
(363-370) 
[5138] 
INTERESTING QUESTIONS CAN ANY OF THE GREAT COMPANY BE OF THE RESTITU. TION CLASS? Question.—Can any of the great company become members of the restitution class? Answer.—We understand that the terms under which any are begotten of the holy Spirit are that they renounce, give up, the human nature. When God accepts their consecration and takes such into covenant relationship with himself, he indicates that relationship by begetting them of the holy Spirit. The only class into which these can come for future life is that of spirit or heavenly beings. If they live up to all the terms and conditions of their sacrifice, then they will have the very fullest blessing which God has provided for the loyal and to which he has called them. But for those who fail to live up to the highest standard—that of walking in the footsteps of Jesus— the arrangement seems to be that they shall at least prove themselves loyal, even if not to the same degree as their brethren. This loyalty will be tested in the great time of trouble through which the great company will go. Then if they fail to prove their loyalty, apparently they will lose that life in the second death. But if they give up the earthly life and manifest loyalty to the Lord, even though they may never give it up willingly, but merely when brought to straits, then they will have life on the spirit plane. The merit of Christ, which has been under embargo, as it were, must all be released before the restitution work can begin. In other words, the little flock must have been “changed” and the great company must have suffered destruction of the flesh, before the merit can again be free in the hands of Justice, ready to be given to the world in restitution. Therefore, our answer would be, We cannot expect the Spiritbegotten ones to pass through the time of trouble in the end of this age and to live on during the Millennial age; for they belong to the church of the first-born, all of whom must be born before the after-borns can be brought forth. The afterborn will be the world in the restitution. FIFTH SUNDAY CONVENTIONS Question.—Are Fifth Sunday conventions advantageous? Answer.—We are perplexed how to answer this question, and must leave the answering of it to each class for itself, without any particular advice even. From some we have heard good reports with blessings secured. From others we have reports to the contrary. Those who have had practical experience with these conventions should decide for themselves. We have had no experience in this direction. HOW TREAT ‘‘THE MENACE’’ Question—How should the WatcH Tower readers treat “The Menace?” Answer.—This is a free country and everyone has a right to follow that course which he believes will be most to the Lord’s glory and most to the advancement and the good of his fellow-men. The Editor of “The Menace” is merely exercising his rights. As for the Warcu Tower, it pursues a different course without criticising others. Perhaps the Lord may have a work for “The Menace” for all we know. Our judgment is that his work for us is in a different direction and we exhort all the Watcn Tower readers to reserve all their might and physical strength for the promulgation of the truth as the Lord has been granting us to see it within the last forty years in the Watcu Tower. It is our mission to preach the Word —the Gospel of the kingdom. We cannot do all that we would in this direction, and hence have no time to devote to other matters, political, social, etc. TRULY BEAUTIFUL Beautiful hands are they that do The work of the noble, good and true, Busy for them the long day through; Beautiful faces—they that wear Vou. XXXII BROOKLYN, N. Y., DECEMBER 1, 1912 The light of a pleasing spirit there, It matters little if dark or fair; And truly beautiful in God’s sight, Are the precious souls who love the right. No. 23 LOVE NOT THE WORLD “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”—1 John 2:15, In the text, “Love not the world,” we do not understand the term “world” to mean either the human race or the planet on which we live. The thought of the text seems to be more particularly the present order of things, for the Greek word here translated world is kosmos, signifying arrangement, We are to appreciate the beauties of nature. We are to love the human family, whom God also loves, though not in the sense in which he loves the church of Christ. We read, “God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”— John 3:16. St. John cannot therefore be understood to refer to the world of mankind, when he says, “Love not the world.” For them we should have sympathy similar to that which the Heavenly Father has for the fallen race. The Scriptures inform us that the present order, or arrangement, of things on earth is entirely out of harmony with God’s will, or purpose; for the world is ruled by selfishness, The divine arrangement is that love shall be the rule among God’s creatures. “God is love..... He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God.”——1 John 4:8, 16, The world operates along lines different from those of love. Each one strives selfishly to heap together treasure for himself, even if meantime his neighbor goes destitute. Many live in luxury, while realizing that there are others who lack the necessities of life. Many seek for power to control men, not with the thought of their uplift, but with a view to using them for selfish ends and motives. ‘This spirit of selfishness belongs to the present order of things. We see it in operation everywhere. The spirit of the world Jays hold of all the forces of nature and seeks to control these, to adapt them to its own selfish interests. It is true that much good has resulted indirectly from this spirit of selfishness. For instance, a man with a great amount of the vain-glorious spirit may for his own selfish purposes benefit others. A general might have so much pride in his service that in order to win praise for himself (363-370) he would care for his soldiers and have them well dressed. Some of our great captains of industry have done the world good service, and incidentally have blessed many, while carrying out their own designs. SELFISHNESS THE SPIRIT OF THE WORLD If all of the great worldly enterprises were undertaken with a view to the betterment of mankind, the spirit of these would not be selfish, We know, indeed, that much is done to help those who are needy, and that where there is a motive of this kind, it is often misinterpreted and misjudged to be selfish. But “the Lord looketh on the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7) Those who have the selfish heart, the selfish intentions, will continue to love the things of the world. In proportion as such may be shown that there is a new order of affairs coming, in that proportion the selfish-minded will not be in sympathy with the change of dispensation. If a man conducts a large enterprise for the benefit of those who would have opportunity to share such blessings, that man would rejoice that there is a better time coming. A man who would truly rejoice to have a better arrangement of affairs, would not have the spirit that dominates in the present order of things. He would have the Spirit of God, the Spirit of love, the spirit that will dominate the new order of things, that will control during the thousand years of Christ’s reign. Many are in the attitude of mind which would say, “My employer is rich, Whenever I get the opportunity to help myself to some of his money, I will do so and get as much as possible.” Such people love the present order of things, whether they be rich or poor. A great many poor love the things of this world, and hope some day to get their share. There are people who say, “Oh, I do not love the world and its selfish spirit! From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet I am opposed to it. Sometimes I say to my husband, ‘This is a very selfish world, John.’ Then he replies, ‘Yes, Mary, it is. Everywhere people are seeking for everything that will gratify self and selfish desires. But while [6138]

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