Publication date
6/15/13
Volume
34
Number
12
The WatchTower
"Your Redemption Draweth Nigh"
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1913/12/1913-12-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
JUNE 
I, 
1913 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(175·180) 
a 
mISSIonary 
in 
China 
for 
many 
years, 
and 
am 
now 
on 
fur­ 
lough, 
most 
of 
which 
will 
be 
spent 
in 
Travancore, 
India. 
May 
I 
ask 
an 
interest 
in 
your 
prayers 
for 
future 
guidance' 
With 
thanks 
in 
anticipation, 
believe 
me 
to 
remain, 
Yours 
very 
sincerely. 
Travancore, 
India. 
REJOICING 
IN 
TRIBULATIOX 
DEAR 
BROTHER 
RUSSELL:- 
Greeting'" 
in 
His 
name 
I 
Your 
good 
and 
encouraging 
letter 
of 
17th 
in 
st. 
received 
and 
very 
much 
appreciated. 
While 
we 
suffered 
much 
loss 
of 
goods, 
we 
did, 
and 
still 
do, 
and 
intend 
always 
to 
cling 
closely 
to 
Rom. 
8: 
28. 
Yes, 
we 
were 
in 
perfect 
peace. 
The 
flood 
of 
water 
did 
not 
reach 
our 
second 
floor 
by 
18 
inches; 
and 
though 
our 
neighbors 
left 
their 
homes 
and 
went 
to 
the 
hills, 
we 
stayed 
where 
we 
were 
(up­ 
stairs) 
seven 
days 
and 
eight 
nights, 
having 
plenty 
to 
eat 
and 
drink 
(thanks 
to 
your 
advice 
as 
to 
food 
for 
time 
of 
trouble). 
We 
went 
to 
bed 
every 
night 
and 
slept 
soundly. 
While 
some 
of 
those 
of 
the 
world 
noted 
and 
commented 
on 
our 
peace, 
others 
said 
it 
was 
wicked 
to 
take 
things 
so 
calmly 
and 
serenely 
while 
they 
(the 
world) 
were 
so 
worried 
and 
so 
many 
were 
losing 
their 
goods. 
Your 
brother 
and 
sister 
by 
his 
grace, 
MR. 
AND 
MRS. 
J. 
L. 
DILLr.-Ohio. 
BEREAN 
LESSONS 
AND 
TESTIMONY 
MEETINGS 
We 
have 
requested 
the 
traveling 
pilgrims 
to 
do 
what 
they 
can 
to 
assist 
the 
different 
classes 
with 
whom 
they 
meet 
to 
III 
proper 
appreciation 
of 
the 
great 
value 
of 
Berean 
study 
classes 
and 
testimony 
meeting. 
While 
we 
have 
advised 
these 
and 
described 
their 
successful 
operation 
and 
method 
in 
SCRIPTURlil 
8TUDIES, 
Vol. 
VI., 
some 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
seem 
not 
to 
fully 
a 
ppreciate 
them. 
We 
believe 
this 
is 
because 
they 
have 
never 
seen 
them 
in 
proper 
operation. 
With 
good 
Berean 
study 
classes 
and 
testimony 
meetings 
rightly 
conducted, 
the 
I. 
B. 
S. 
A. 
classes 
will 
surely 
be 
prosperous 
in 
spiritual 
things­ 
whether 
they 
have 
any 
preaching 
or 
not. 
The 
Pilgrim 
Brethren 
are 
selected 
with 
care, 
and 
with 
the 
thought 
that 
they 
are 
well 
rounded 
out 
in 
Christian 
experience 
and 
along 
the 
lines 
of 
the 
Berean 
studies 
and 
in 
leading 
testimony 
meetings. 
It 
is 
our 
thought, 
therefore, 
that 
if 
a 
Pilgrim 
visits 
a 
place 
where 
such 
meetings 
are 
not 
held, 
he 
cannot 
do 
the 
friends 
a 
better 
service 
than 
to 
give 
them 
a 
sample 
of 
how 
such 
meetings 
should 
be 
conducted 
to 
be 
interesting 
and 
profitable-along 
the 
lines 
indicated 
in 
Vol. 
VI. 
In 
places 
where 
such 
meetings 
are 
already 
in 
vogue, 
and 
are 
successful 
and 
well 
attended 
by 
the 
interested, 
sample 
meetings 
by 
the 
pilgrims 
would 
not 
be 
so 
necessary. 
Never­ 
theless, 
we 
have 
suggested 
to 
them 
that 
where 
they 
serve 
a 
class 
more 
than 
one 
evening, 
and 
one 
of 
those 
is 
the 
regular 
testimony 
meeting 
evening, 
it 
will 
be 
well 
for 
them 
to 
con· 
duct 
the 
testimony 
meeting 
along 
the 
lines 
of 
VoL 
VI., 
clos 
ing 
in 
an 
hour, 
and 
then 
taking 
an 
extra 
half-hour 
for 
a 
heart· 
to-heart 
talk 
along 
the 
lines 
which 
the 
time, 
plaee 
and 
cireum· 
stances 
may 
suggest 
to 
them 
as 
most 
helpful 
to 
the 
class. 
We 
have 
urged 
all 
the 
dear 
brethren 
who 
do 
public 
speaking 
to 
confine 
their 
discourse 
to 
sixty 
minutes-and 
surely 
not 
to 
exceed 
seventy 
minutes-and 
that 
if 
for 
any 
reason 
they 
speak 
longer 
than 
this, 
they 
will 
kindly 
explain 
to 
us 
the 
par­ 
ticular 
reasons 
therefor. 
This 
is 
not 
done 
to 
hamper 
the 
brethren, 
but 
because 
uni­ 
formly 
long 
discourses 
are 
too 
strenuous 
for 
the 
pUblic, 
and 
therefore 
apt 
to 
hinder 
the 
canse 
we 
all 
wish 
to 
serve. 
Excep­ 
tions 
to 
this 
are 
made 
in 
the 
case 
of 
the 
two 
or 
three 
brethren 
who 
are 
generally 
used 
to 
open 
a 
series 
of 
meetings; 
for 
a 
special 
endeavor 
is 
then 
made 
to 
bring 
out 
an 
audience 
and 
a 
little 
extra 
time 
may 
he 
necessary, 
and 
in 
the 
case 
of 
espe­ 
cially 
interesting 
speakers, 
a 
long 
discourse 
may 
be 
wise. 
The 
average 
speaker, 
however, 
can 
accomplish 
more 
good 
in 
an 
hour 
than 
in 
two 
hours. 
In 
these 
and 
in 
all 
suggestions 
and 
regulations, 
dear 
friends, 
be 
assured 
that 
our 
aim, 
object, 
motive, 
is 
the 
Lord's 
glorv 
and 
the 
blessing 
of 
his 
people. 
' 
. 
IN 
PASTURES 
GREEN 
"In 
pastures 
green' 
Not 
always; 
sometimes 
he 
Who 
knoweth 
best 
in 
kindness 
leadeth 
me 
In 
weary 
ways, 
where 
heavy 
shadows 
be. 
Out 
of 
the 
sunshine, 
warm 
and 
soft 
and 
bright, 
Out 
of 
the 
sunshine 
into 
darkest 
night; 
I 
oft 
would 
faint 
with 
terror 
and 
with 
fright, 
Only 
for 
this-I 
know 
he 
holds 
my 
hand; 
So, 
whether 
in 
the 
green 
or 
desert 
land, 
I 
trust, 
although 
I 
may 
not 
understand. 
"And 
by 
still 
waters~ 
No, 
not 
always 
so; 
Ofttimes 
the 
heavy 
tempests 
ronnd 
me 
blow, 
And 
a 
'er 
my 
soul 
the 
waves 
and 
billows 
go. 
But 
when 
the 
storm 
beats 
loudest, 
and 
I 
cry 
Aloud 
for 
help, 
the 
Master 
standeth 
by, 
And 
whispers 
to 
my 
soul, 
'La, 
it 
is 
I!' 
Above 
the 
tempest 
wild 
I 
hear 
him 
say, 
'Beyond 
this 
darkness 
lies 
the 
perfect 
day; 
In 
every 
path 
of 
thine 
I 
lead 
the 
way.' 
" 
VOL. 
XXXIV 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JUNE 
15, 
]913 
"YOUR 
REDEMPTION 
DRA 
WETH 
NIGH" 
No. 
12 
"Corne, 
my 
people, 
enter 
thou 
into 
thy 
chambers, 
and 
shut 
thydoors 
about 
thee; 
hide 
thyself 
as 
it 
were 
for 
a 
little 
moment, 
until 
the 
indignation 
be 
overpast. 
For, 
behold, 
the 
Lord 
cometh 
out 
of 
his 
place 
to 
punish 
the 
inhahitants 
of 
the 
earth 
for 
their 
iniquity; 
the 
earth 
also 
shall 
disclose 
her 
blood, 
and 
shall 
no 
more 
cover 
her 
slain.' 
'-Isaiah 
26 
:20, 
2l. 
[This 
article, 
excepting 
the 
paragraphs 
printed 
below, 
was 
a 
reprint 
of 
article 
entitled, 
"Corne, 
My 
People," 
publishl'd 
in 
i~sue 
March 
15, 
1895, 
which 
please 
see.] 
Speaking 
of 
the 
trouble 
at 
the 
end 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age, 
our 
The 
day 
of 
trouble 
is 
called 
the 
day 
of 
.Jehovah. 
We 
rend 
Lord 
said, 
"Watch 
ye, 
therefore, 
and 
pray 
always, 
that 
ye 
that" 
In 
thnt 
day 
his 
fect 
shnll 
stnnd 
upon 
the 
Mount 
of 
may 
be 
accounted 
worthy 
to 
escape 
all 
these 
things 
that 
shall 
Olives," 
and 
that 
there 
shall 
be 
a 
great 
earthquakc.-Zech. 
come 
to 
pass, 
and 
to 
stand 
before 
the 
Son 
of 
Man." 
(Lukp, 
14 
:4. 
21: 
36) 
Again 
(vs. 
28) 
He 
said, 
"When 
these 
things 
begin 
to 
While 
God 
has 
done 
nothing 
for 
mankind 
during 
the 
past 
come 
to 
pass, 
then 
look 
up, 
and 
lift 
up 
your 
heads; 
for 
your 
six 
thousand 
years, 
but 
hns 
rested 
so 
far 
ns 
nny 
work 
of 
redemption 
draweth 
nigh." 
"My 
people, 
enter 
thou 
into 
thy 
rpstitution 
is 
concerned, 
yet 
in 
Romc 
instances 
he 
hns 
inter- 
chambers, 
and 
shut 
thy 
doors." 
fered 
to 
prevent 
the 
sprend 
of 
evil, 
aR 
in 
the 
cnse 
of 
thl' 
How 
much 
trouble 
there 
will 
be 
in 
our 
passing 
into 
the 
Amalekites 
and 
of 
the 
Sodomites. 
The 
Scriptures 
seem 
to 
secret" 
chambers," 
in 
passing 
unto 
the 
Lord, 
we 
do 
not 
know. 
indicate 
that 
in 
the 
end 
of 
this 
age 
he 
will 
intervpn" 
in 
the' 
ret 
when 
this 
trouble 
comes, 
there 
will 
be 
such 
a 
blessing 
affairs 
of 
mankind, 
and 
execute 
justice 
in 
the 
time 
of 
trouble. 
from 
the 
Lord 
that 
those 
who 
go 
through 
it 
will 
be 
able 
to 
In 
the 
Scriptures, 
justice 
is 
representerl 
as 
calling 
for 
rejoice 
in 
tribulation. 
Whatever 
their 
experiences 
will 
be, 
retribution. 
The 
hlood 
of 
the 
murderers' 
victims 
is 
said 
to 
these 
will 
be 
joyful 
in 
that 
they 
will 
have 
the 
thought 
of 
being 
cry 
for 
vengeance. 
Whether 
the 
sin 
has 
hcen 
literal 
murder, 
forever 
with 
the 
Lord. 
We 
can 
rejoice 
even 
as 
did 
St. 
or 
has 
been 
some 
injustice 
whi('h 
has 
led 
to 
crime 
or 
suicide, 
Stephen. 
.Justice 
will 
require 
of 
humanity 
this 
m\1('h 
of 
rctribution 
on 
RETRIBUTION 
FOR 
WILFUL 
SIN 
this 
score. 
.Tusti('e 
rlemamls 
thnt 
the 
('hilarl'n 
of 
Adnm 
shall 
Verse 
21 
scems 
to 
refer 
to 
the 
operation 
of 
the 
principle 
suffer. 
The 
('hurch 
of 
Christ 
is 
a 
separate 
class, 
taken 
out 
from 
of 
.iusti('e 
in 
God's 
judgments 
upon 
the 
world. 
The 
heavenly 
the 
world 
[,nd 
having 
their 
sins 
forgiven. 
Th"v 
are 
upholdcrs 
Father 
stanrls 
for 
justice, 
and 
he 
has 
appointed 
that 
all 
of 
his 
of 
truth 
a 
ria 
rightcousnl'ss. 
. 
mercy 
shall 
hc 
exer('ised 
through 
the 
Lord 
.Tesus 
Christ. 
Our 
But 
this 
time 
of 
trouhl" 
coming 
npon 
the 
world 
will 
be 
tlJe 
Lord 
will 
be 
specially 
identified 
with 
the 
trouble 
upon 
the 
time 
whl'n 
justice 
will 
[Tet 
its 
(lnl'". 
"a 
to 
STll';jk. 
.Tnsti('l' 
will 
nations, 
but 
it 
will 
not 
be 
so 
much 
his 
work 
as 
the 
Father's. 
take 
its 
"pound 
of 
flesh." 
It 
will 
l'(~quite 
for 
the 
more 
or- 
[5255] 
JUNE 1, 1913 a missionary in China for many years, and am now on furlough, most of which will be spent in Travancore, India. May I ask an interest in your prayers for future guidance? With thanks in anticipation, believe me to remain, Yours very sincerely. .—Travancore, India. REJOICING IN TRIBULATION Dear BROTHER RUSSELL :-— Greeting in His name! ‘Your good and encouraging letter of 17th inst. received and very much appreciated. While we suffered much loss of goods, we did, and still do, and intend always to cling closely to Rom. 8:28. Yes, we BEREAN LESSONS AND We have requested the traveling pilgrims to do what they ean to assist the different classes with whom they meet to a proper appreciation of the great value of Berean study classes and testimony meeting. While we have advised these and described their suecessful operation and method in Scripture Srupizs, Vol. VI., some of the dear friends seem not to fully appreciate them. We believe this is because they have never seen them in proper operation, With good Berean study classes and testimony meetings rightly conducted, the I. B. 8. A. classes will surely be prosperous in spiritual things— whether they have any preaching or not. The Pilgrim Brethren are selected with care, and with the thought that they are well rounded out in Christian experience and along the lines of the Berean studies and in leading testimony meetings. It is our thought, therefore, that if a Pilgrim visits a place where such meetings are not held, he cannot do the friends a better service than to give them a sample of how such meetings should be conducted to be interesting and profitable—along the lines indicated in Vol. VI. In places where such meetings are already in vogue, and are successful and well attended by the interested, sample meetings by the pilgrims would not be so necessary. Nevertheless, we have suggested to them that where they serve a IN ‘In pastures green? Not always; sometimes he Who knoweth best in kindness leadeth me In weary ways, where heavy shadows be. Out of the sunshine, warm and soft and bright, Out of the sunshine into darkest night; I oft would faint with terror and with fright, Only for this—I know he holds my hand; So, whether in the green or desert land, I trust, although I may not understand. THE WATCH TOWER (175-180) were in perfect peace. The flood of water did not reach our second floor by 18 inches; and though our neighbors left their homes and went to the hills, we stayed where we were (upstairs) seven days and eight nights, having plenty to eat and drink (thanks to your advice as to food for time of trouble). We went to bed every night and slept soundly. While some of those of the world noted and commented On our peace, others said it was wicked to take things so calmly and serenely while they (the world) were so worried and so many were losing their goods. Your brother and sister by his grace, Mr. anp Mrs. J. L. Diuur.—Ohio. TESTIMONY MEETINGS class more than one evening, and one of those is the regular testimony meeting evening, it will be well for them to conduet the testimony meeting along the lines of Vol. VI., closing in an hour, and then taking an extra half-hour for a heartto-heart talk along the lines which the time, place and circumstances may suggest to them as most helpful to the elass. We have urged all the dear brethren who do public speaking to confine their discourse to sixty minutes—and surely not to exceed seventy minutes—and that if for any reason they speak longer than this, they will kindly explain to us the particular reasons therefor. This is not done to hamper the brethren, but because uniformly long discourses are too strenuous for the public, and therefore apt to hinder the cause we all wish to serve. Exceptions to this are made in the case of the two or three brethren who are generally used to open a series of mectings; for a special endeavor is then made to bring out an audience and a little extra time may be necessary, and in the case of especially interesting speakers, a long discourse may be wise. The average speaker, however, can accomplish more good in an hour than in two hours. In these and in all suggestions and regulations, dear friends, be assured that our aim, object, motive, is the Lord’s glory and the blessing of his people. PASTURES GREEN ‘‘And by still waters? No, not always so; Ofttimes the heavy tempests round me blow, And o’er my soul the waves and billows go. But when the storm beats loudest, and I ery Aloud for help, the Master standeth by, And whispers to my soul, ‘Lo, it is I!’ Above the tempest wild I hear him say, ‘Beyond this darkness lies the perfect day; In every path of thine I lead the way.’ ’’ Vou. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 15, 1913 “YOUR REDEMPTION DRAWETH NIGH” No. 12 ‘*Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thydoors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast. For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity; the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.’’—Isaiah 26:20, 21. [This article, excepting the paragraphs printed below, was a reprint of article entitled, ‘‘Come, My People,’’ published in issue March 15, 1895, which please see. ] Speaking of the trouble at the end of the Gospel age, our Lord said, ‘‘ Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’’ (Luke 21:36) Again (vs. 28) He said, ‘‘ When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.’’ ‘‘My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors.’’ How much trouble there will be in our passing into the secret ‘‘chambers,’’ in passing unto the Lord, we do not know. Yet when this trouble comes, there will be such a blessing from the Lord that those who go through it will be able to rejoice in tribulation. Whatever their experiences will he, these will be joyful in that they will have the thought of being forever with the Lord. We can rejoice even as did St. Stephen. RETRIBUTION FOR WILFUL SIN Verse 21 seems to refer to the operation of the principle of justice in God’s judgments upon the world. The heavenly Father stands for justice, and he has appointed that all of his mercy shall be exercised through the Lord Jesus Christ. Our Lord will be specially identified with the trouble upon the nations, but it will not be so much his work as the Father’s. The day of trouble is called the day of Jehovah. We read that ‘(In that day his feet shall stand upon the Mount of Olives,’’? and that there shall be a great earthquake.—Zech. 14:4. While God has done nothing for mankind during the past six thonsand years, but has rested so far as any work of restitution is concerned, yet in some instances he has interfered to prevent the spread of evil, as in the case of the Amalekites and of the Sodomites. The Seriptures seem to indieate that in the end of this age he will intervene in the affairs of mankind, and execute justice in the time of trouble. In the Scriptures, justice is represented as ealling for retribution. The blood of the murderers’ victims is said to ery for vengeance. Whether the sin has heen literal murder, or has been some injustice which has led to crime or suicide, Justice will require of humanity this much of retribution on this score. Justice demands that the children of Adam shall suffer. The church of Christ is a separate class, taken out from the world and having their sins forgiven. They are upholders of truth and righteousness. But this time of trouble coming upon the world will be the time when justice will get its dues. eo to sneak. Justice will take its ‘‘pound of flesh.’’ Jt will requite for the more or [5255]

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