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THE
WATCH
TOWER
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.
is
symbolic.
It
may
refer
to
social
upheaval
and
combustion,
political
troubles,
fianncial
troubles,
and
also
some
great
physical
manifestations
of
divine
power
in
connection
with
the
time
of
trouble.
But
all
this
is
only
suppositionary.,
We
are
expecting
a
change;
and
if
this
change
shall
be
accompanied
by
physical
disturbances,
now
is
the
time
for
them
to
be
coming.
For
the
Lord
says,
"They
shall
not
hurt
nor
destroy
in
all
my
holy
mountain'
'-kingdom.
'l'he
supposition
that
there
would
be
catastrophe
then
\yould
be
out
of
harmony
with
this
prophecy.
Rather,
the
appropriate
time,
if
there
are
to
be
such
calamities
and
changes,
physical
or
electrical,
would
seem
to
be
just
now-just
at
the
time
when,
as
the
Lord
forewarned,
there
is
to
be
"a
time
of
trouble
such
as
never
was
since
there
was
a
nation'
'-at
the
time,
apparently,
when
the
"four
winds,"
the
fallen
angels,
will
become
loose.
All
of
these
things
together
will
constitute
the
"time
of
trouble
such
as
never
was."
And
from
this
time
of
trouble,
"Watch
ye,
therefore,
and
pray
always,
that
ye
may
be
accounted
worthy
to
escape."
Watch
that
ye
may
"escape
all
these
things
that
shall
come
to
pass,
and
to
stand
before
the
Son
of
Man.'
'-Luke
21:
36.
ARE
SUICIDES
MORALLY
RESPONSIBLE?
Question.-Please
give
the
correet
idea
as
to
the
end
of
one
who
commits
suicide.
Will
he
be
punished
for
it~
Or
is
death
his
punislnnent?
Ans,ver.-The
theory
that
suiei<les
are
hopelessly
lost
was
formulated
dming
the
dark
ages.
The
thought
was
that
self
11l1lrder,
heing
a
sin
committed
as
a
lnst
aet,
indicated
a
mind
and
heart
out
of
accord
with
God
'5
arrangement
to
the
last
moment
of
life.
The
thought
that
dcath
ends
all
hope
clinched
the
theory
that
eternal
torment
is
the
wages
of
suicide.
This,
lI"e
b<'!ie~e,
is
thoroughly
wrong'
in
eyery
way.
The
proper
view
according
to
the
Bible
is
this:
(1)
Adam
was
disobedient,
was
sentenced
to
death.
Thus
his
raee
was
born
under
unfavorable
conditions,
mental,
moral
and
physical;
in
degeneracy,
some
more,
some
less;
some
in
very
poor
physical
health,
some
of
very
low
moral
status,
some
with
very
weak
mental
powers.
A
suicide
often
has
all
three
of
tlH'se
inducing
eauses
as
provocations
to
such
an
act.
Snrel~'
he
\\'as
either
mentally
weak
or
uninformed,
ignorant;
else
he
\vonlel
not
take
his
own
life.
His
trouhle,
then,
was
weaknpss
of
mind
amI
ju<lgment
caused
by
Adam's
trans
gression.
Ill'
,vas
a
sharer
of
Adam's
penalty-the
death
penalty;
aud
\,hen
he
<lied-no
matter
how-he
came
fully
uIl(ler
the
efl'pet
of
that
penalty-nothing
more.
Eternal
torment
is
not
in
any
way
intimated
in
the
death
penalty.
"'fhe
soul
that
silllwth,
it
shall
die."
(2)
God
ha<l
merey
upon
Adam,
not
in
the
way
of
abro
gating
the
decision
of
th<~
divine
comt
and
clearing
the
guilty
one,
hut
in
another
\Yay-by
providing
redemption
through
the
death
of
Christ.
.J
esus'
death,
by
divine
appointment,
is
to
cover
the
sin
of
Adam-not
only
his
original
transgression
and
its
penalty,
but
all
the
transgressions
of
his
children,
the
world,
which
have
resulted
from
his
mental,
moral
and
physical
impairment.
(3)
This
provision
of
God
includes
not
only
mental
sick
npss,
hut
moral
sickness
and
physical
sickness.
All
mankind
are
rpdcemed
hy
the
precious
blood
of
Christ.
(4)
The
rc(lrmption
of
the
world
implies
its
eventual
re
lease
from
the
eondpmnation
of
death.
The
time
divinely
ap
pointed
for
thr
rplease
of
all
is
the
thousand
years
of
Christ's
reign-the
Millennium.
All
mankind
will
then
be
liberated
frorn
the
original
condrmnation,
and
will
he
granted
a
full
opportunity
for
the
recovery
of
all
that
was
lost.
The
mental
ly
sick,
thr
morally
sick,
and
the
physically
decrepit-all
will
have
opportunity
for
a
full
return
to
human
perfection.
(5)
The
only
exceptions
to
this
rule
of
restoration
to
Adam's
original
perfection
will
be
those
who
during
this
Gospel
age-from
the
death
of
Christ
to
his
second
coming
are
called
out
of
the
world,
invited
to
become
new
creatures
in
Christ,
and
made
associates
with
J
psus,
sharers
in
his
exaltation
to
the
divine
nature
and
in
his
office.
These
are
,justified
(reckoned
perfed)
by
faith
in
Christ's
redemptive
sacrifice,
and
then
given
the
opportunity
to
present
themselves
as
living
sacrifices.-Homans
12:
1.
(6)
As
Christians,
during
this
Gospel
age,
might
sin
wil
fully
and
thus
forfeit
all
relationship
to
God
and
die
the
second
death,
so
in
the
coming
age,
during
the
Millennium,
the
world
in
general,
after
having
been
brought
to
an
accurate
knowledge
of
the
truth,
may
by
wilful
sin
forfeit
all
relation
ship
to
God,
and
die
the
second
death.
(7)
In
thus
declaring
that
not
only
the
sins
of
the
church
class,
but
the
sins
of
the
whole
world,
are
covered
by
God's
arrangement
through
the
saerifice
of
Christ,
we
are
not
to
be
understood
as
meaning
that
the
sinner
is
exempted
from
all
punishment.
On
the
contrary,
each
one
has
a
responsibility
for
his
own
actions,
even
if
he
has
hut
imperfect
knowledge.
His
responsihility,
as
Jesus
pointed
out,
is
in
proportion
to
his
knowledge.
The
Master
dedured
that
he
that
knows
his
Master's
will,
and
does
it
not,
shall
be
punished
with
many
stripes-severe
pllnishment;
and
he
who
knows
less
of
his
Master's
will,
and
does
it
not,
shall
be
punished
with
fewer
stripes--Iess
punish
ment.
Sometimes
those
stripes,
or
punishments,
come
in
the
present
life.
With
the
church
class
it
is
uniformly
so.
But
often
the
punishments
are
not
meted
out
in
the
present
life;
however,
they
will
be
administered
justly
in
the
life
to
come.
So
the
A
postle
declares,
"Some
men's
sins
are
open
before
hand,
going
before
to
judgment;
and
some
they
follow
after."
-1
Timothy
5:24.
(8)
Along
the
above
lines,
we
would
not
be
inclined
to
hope
that
any
suicide
could
be
a
member
of
the
glorified
church
of
Christ,
but,
at
most,
a
part
of
the
world-to
have
trial
with
the
remainder
of
the
world
for
life
or
death
ever
lasting
under
the
favorable
conditions
of
Messiah's
kingdom.
However,
even
upon
this
point
we
may
not
dogmatize,
remem
bering
that
some,
apparently
saintly,
have
been
permitted
of
the
Lord
to
lose
their
reason
to
a
greater
extent
than
some
of
the
world
who
have
committed
suicide.
VOL.
XXXIV
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
OCTOBER
1,
1913
No.
19
THE
RACE-COURSE
OF
THE
AGE-ITS
"CLOUD
OF
WITNESSES"
"Wherefore.
seeing
we
also
are
compassed
about
with
so
great
a
cloud
of
witnesses,
let
us
lay
aside
every
weight
and
the
sin
which
doth
so
easily
beset
us,
and
let
us
run
with
patience
the
race
that
is
set
before
us.
"-Hebrews
12
:1.
The
opening
words
of
this
text
direct
our
minds
back
to
it
should
have
a
strong
influence
upon
you.
These
ancient
the
preceding
context,
as
though
St.
Paul
were
saying,
In
worthies,
through
the
achievements
of
their
lives,
are
looking
view
of
the
great
things
accomplished
by
these
faithful
char-
down
upon
you.
aeters
of
tIl('
past,
,vho
manifested
such
faith
and
confidence
The
fact
that
the
ancient
worthies
were
even
then
dead
in
God
that
they
were
willing
to
deny
themselves
all
earthly
need
not
detract
from
the
Apostle's
figure
of
speech.
This
rights
and
privileges-seeing
that
we
arc
thus
encompassed
style
of
expression
is
commonly
used
by
us
all.
As
an
illus-
with
so
great
a
cloud
of
witllcsses-martyrs-let
the
inspira-
tration,
we
recall
that
on
one
occasion
Napoleon
addressed
tion
of
their
example
spur
us
to
the
greatest
faithfulness
in
his
army
saying,
"My
men,
thirty
centuries
look
down
upon
running
our
race.
you!
'
,
While,
stri0tly
speaking,
centuries
cannot
look
down,
The
Apostle
speaks
of
the
ancient
worthies
as
a
"cloud
yet
in
one
sense
of
the
word
they
can;
for
we
can
look
back
of
witnessps."
He
does
not
use
the
word
witnesses
in
the
into
the
past
and
realize
matters
that
are
thirty
centuries
old
sense
in
which
it
is
used
often
today--in
the
sense
of
on-
and
more.
lookers.
Originally,
the
word
witness'
was
used
in
the
sense
The
Apostle
wishes
us
to
remember
that
this
"cloud
of
of
a
witness
to
the
truth,
or
a
martyr.
Therefore,
the
text
witnesses"
is
surrounding
us,
and
that
therefore
we
should
would
seem
to
mean:
Seeing
that
you
have
many
surround-
rim
this
race
faithfully.
While
those
nohle
charartrrs
will
ing
you
of
those
\"hose
lives
testified
to
the
truth-martyrs,
not
ohtain
the
prize
for
whic.h
we
are
running,
they
are,
who
were
cut
off
from
home
privileges
and
from
life
itself-
nevertheless,
to
have
a
prize.
As
we
recall
how
faithfully
they
[5318]
(287-291) is symbolic. It may refer to social upheaval and combustion, political troubles, fianncial troubles, and also some great physical manifestations of divine power in connection with the time of trouble. But all this is only suppositionary.. We are expecting a change; and if this change shall be accompanied by physical disturbances, now is the time for them to be coming. For the Lord says, ‘‘They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain’’—kingdom. The supposition that there would be catastrophe then would be out of harmony with this prophecy. Rather, the appropriate time, if there are to be THE WATCH TOWER Brooxtyn, N. Y. such calamities and changes, physical or electrical, would seem to be just now-——just at the time when, as the Lord forewarned, there is to be ‘‘a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation’’—at the time, apparently, when the ‘‘four winds,’’ the fallen angels, will become loose. All of these things together will constitute the ‘‘time of trouble such as never was.’’ And from this time of trouble, ‘‘Watch ye, therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape.’’ Watch that ye may ‘‘eseape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.’’—Luke 21:36. ARE SUICIDES MORALLY RESPONSIBLE? Question.—Please give the correct idea as to the end of one who commits suicide. Will he be punished for it? Or is death his punishment? Answer.—The theory that suicides are hopelessly lost was formulated during the dark ages. The thought was that selfmurder, being a sin committed as a Jast act, indicated a mind and heart out of accord with God’s arrangement to the last moment of life. The thought that death ends all hope elinched the theory that eternal torment is the wages of suicide. This, we believe, is thoroughly wrong in every way. The proper view according to the Bible is this: (1) Adam was disobedient, was sentenced to death. Thus his race was born under unfavorable conditions, mental, moral and physical; in degeneracy, some more, some less; some in very poor physical health, some of very low moral status, some with very weak mental powers. A suicide often has all three of these inducing eauses as provocations to such an act. Surely he was either mentally weak or uninformed, ignorant; else he would not take his own life. His trouble, then, was weakness of mind and judgment eaused by Adam’s transgression. H{e was a sharer of Adam’s penalty—the death penalty; and when he died—no matter how—he came fully under the effeet of that penalty—nothing more. Eternal torment is not in any way intimated in the death penalty. ‘“‘The soul that sinneth, it shall die.’?’ (2) God had merey upon Adam, not in the way of abrogating the decision of the divine court and clearing the guilty one, but in another way—by providing redemption through the death of Christ. Jesus’ death, by divine appointment, is to cover the sin of Adam—not only his original transgression and its penalty, but all the transgressions of his children, the world, which have resulted from his mental, moral and physical impairment. (3) This provision of God includes not only mental sickness, but moral sickness and physical sickness. All mankind are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. (4) The redemption of the world implies its eventual release from the condemnation of death. The time divinely appointed for the release of all is the thousand years of Christ’s reign—the Millennium. All mankind will then be liberated from the original condemnation, and will be granted a full opportunity for the recovery of all that was lost. The mentally sick, the morally sick, and the physically decrepit—all will have opportunity for a full return to human perfection. Vout. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCTOBER 1, 1918 (5) The only exceptions to this rule of restoration to Adam’s original perfection will be those who during this Gospel age—from the death of Christ to his sceond coming— are called out of the world, invited to become new creatures in Christ, and made associates with Jesus, sharers in his exaltation to the divine nature and in his office. These are justified (reckoned perfect) by faith in Christ’s redemptive sacrifice, and then given the opportunity to present themselves as living sacrifices—Romans 12:1. (6) As Christians, during this Gospel age, might sin wilfully and thus forfeit all relationship to God and die the second death, so in the coming age, during the Millennium, the world in general, after having been brought to an accurate knowledge of the truth, may by wilful sin forfeit all relationship to God, and die the second death. (7) In thus declaring that not only the sins of the church class, but the sins of the whole world, are covered by God’s arrangement through the sacrifice of Christ, we are not to be understood as meaning that the sinner is exempted from all punishment. On the contrary, each one has a responsibility for his own actions, even if he has but imperfect knowledge. His responsibility, as Jesus pointed out, is in proportion to his knowledge. The Master declared that he that knows his Master’s will, and does it not, shall be punished with many stripes—sevcre punishment; and he who knows less of his Master’s will, and does it not, shall be punished with fewer stripes—-less punishment. Sometimes those stripes, or punishments, come in the present life. With the chureh class it is uniformly so. But often the punishments are not meted out in the present life; however, they will be administered justly in the life to come. So the Apostle declares, ‘‘Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some they follow after.’’ —1 Timothy 5:24. (8) Along the above lines, we would not be inclined to hope that any suicide could be a member of the glorified church of Christ, but, at most, a part of the world—to have trial with the remainder of the world for life or death everlasting under the favorable conditions of Messiah’s kingdom. However, even upon this point we may not dogmatize, rementbering that some, apparently saintly, have been permitted of the Lord to lose their reason to a greater extent than some of the world who have committed suicide. No. 19 THE RACE-COURSE OF THE AGE—ITS “CLOUD OF WITNESSES” ‘‘ Wherefore, seeing we also are ecompassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.’’—Hebrews 12:1. The opening words of this text direct our minds back to the preceding context, as though St. Paul were saying, In view of the great things accomplished by these faithful characters of the past, who manifested such faith and confidence in God that they were willing to deny themselves all earthly rights and privileges—seeing that we are thus encompassed with so great a cloud of witnesses—martyrs—let the inspiration of their example spur us to the greatest faithfulness in Tunning our race. The Apostle speaks of the ancient worthies as a ‘‘cloud of witnesses.’’ He does not use the word witnesses in the sense in which it is used often today—-in the sense of onlookers. Originally, the word witness was used in the sense of a witness to the truth, or a martyr. Therefore, the text would seem to mean: Secing that you have many surrounding you of those whose lives testified to the truth—martyrs, who were cut off from home privileges and from life itself— it should have a strong influence upon you. These ancient worthies, through the achievements of their lives, are looking down upon you. The fact that the ancient worthies were even then dead need not detract from the Apostle’s figure of speech. This style of expression is commonly used by us all. As an illustration, we recall that on one occasion Napoleon addressed his army saying, ‘‘My men, thirty centuries look down upon you!’’ While, strictly speaking, centuries cannot look down, yet in one sense of the word they can; for we can look back into the past and realize matters that are thirty centuries old and more. The Apostle wishes us to remember that this ‘‘cloud of witnesses’’ is surrounding us, and that therefore we should run this race faithfully, While those noble characters will not obtain the prize for which we are running, they arc, nevertheless, to have a prize, As we recall how faithfully they [5318]
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