Publication date
4/1/14
Volume
35
Number
7
The WatchTower
Jehovah's Character Manifested in His Great Plan of the Ages
/../literature/watchtower/1914/7/1914-7-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
MARCH 
IS. 
1914 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(95'99) 
the 
blessing 
you 
have 
received 
from 
these 
Bible 
Helps, 
and 
ar­ 
range 
to 
sell 
or 
loan 
him 
one 
of 
them. 
If 
the 
brother 
has 
some 
ability, 
he 
might 
do 
good 
by 
hold­ 
ing 
little 
question 
meetings 
while 
eating 
lunch. 
The 
answers 
should 
always 
be 
brief 
and 
to 
the 
point. 
To 
be 
helpful, 
such 
questions 
should 
be 
on 
the 
more 
simple 
features 
of 
the 
plan; 
deep 
questions 
woulu 
choke 
those 
who 
are 
spiritual 
babes. 
For 
instance, 
the 
conversation 
might 
be 
turned 
to 
the 
sub­ 
ject 
of 
heH. 
The 
brother 
could 
insist 
that 
there 
is 
not 
single 
passage 
in 
the 
Bible 
where 
the 
word 
means 
place 
of 
endless 
misery, 
and 
the 
only 
places 
seemingly 
teaching 
so 
are 
very 
highly 
figurative 
passages. 
Then 
say, 
"I 
have 
little 
book 
in 
which 
every 
passage 
in 
the 
Bible 
where 
the 
word 
hell 
occurs 
is 
explained. 
will 
bring 
it 
here 
tomorrow 
and 
read 
you 
couple 
of 
wonuerful 
paragraphs 
in 
it." 
This 
will 
probably 
bring 
them 
together 
the 
next 
uay; 
and 
by 
promising 
to 
consider 
further 
questions 
the 
third 
day, 
one 
might 
have 
regular 
little 
lunch-time 
class. 
Of 
course, 
the 
majority 
will 
tire 
of 
it, 
but 
few 
may 
stick. 
In 
the 
larger 
towns 
and 
cities 
the 
truth-hungry 
might 
be 
advertised 
for. 
Some 
city-dailies 
will 
allow 
it 
among 
the 
mis­ 
cellaneous 
religious 
advertisements; 
but 
in 
each 
case, 
judgment 
will 
have 
to 
be 
exercised 
as 
to 
where 
it 
should 
be 
placed, 
and 
how 
frequently 
inserted. 
The 
following 
is 
suggested 
as 
an 
advertisement: 
'Those 
who 
want 
to 
believe 
the 
Bible 
but 
have 
never 
yet 
found 
in 
it 
anything 
as 
satisfying 
and 
reasonable 
as 
they 
would 
expect 
God 
to 
give, 
are 
invited 
to 
send 
their 
names 
and 
ad- 
dresses 
to 
P. 
O. 
Box 
---. 
This 
is 
no 
scheme, 
but 
simply 
an 
effort 
to 
bring 
real 
religious 
satisfaction 
to 
those 
who 
feel 
their 
faith 
is 
shaking." 
Let 
some 
able, 
consecrated 
brother 
call 
upon 
those 
who 
re­ 
spond, 
and 
either 
sell 
or 
loan 
them 
"The 
Divine 
Plan 
of 
the 
Ages. 
He 
might 
first 
tell 
them 
of 
the 
blessing 
he 
is 
getting 
from 
the 
Word 
of 
God 
now, 
in 
contrast 
to 
the 
former 
condi· 
tions. 
He 
might 
call 
again, 
from 
time 
to 
time, 
to 
see 
what 
progress 
they 
are 
making, 
if 
the 
interest 
warrants. 
Sisters 
should 
call 
on 
the 
ladies 
who 
reply. 
find 
that 
the 
brethren 
are 
not 
sufficiently 
alert 
to 
the 
op­ 
portunities 
among 
the 
foreigners 
in 
their 
town. 
If 
there 
be 
Greek 
confectioners 
in 
your 
town, 
send 
for 
half 
dozen 
Greek 
tracts 
to 
give 
them. 
The 
same 
might 
apply 
to 
Chinese 
in 
the 
laundries, 
Italians 
at 
fruit-stands 
and 
in 
street 
gangs, 
etc. 
"The 
Bible 
Students' 
Monthly," 
on 
,. 
What 
is 
Baptism 
1" 
is 
specially 
good 
where 
Brother 
Russell 
has 
been 
misrepresented 
very 
much, 
because 
of 
the 
article 
by 
Prof. 
Ellis 
and 
letter 
by 
Rev. 
T. 
S. 
Thompson, 
endorsing 
him 
anu 
his 
work. 
The 
Brethren 
sometimes 
forget 
that 
they 
are 
able 
to 
do 
more 
than 
merely 
circulate 
yearly 
Voluntel>r 
literature. 
Often 
special 
tract 
will 
fit 
in 
very 
well 
with 
local 
conditions, 
if 
circulated 
at 
the 
psychological 
time. 
Every 
day 
makes 
me 
more 
desirous 
for 
the 
time 
when 
our 
service 
will 
not 
be 
limited 
by 
the 
wl'ak, 
imperfect 
body 
in 
,,-hich 
we 
no" 
dwell. 
am 
glad 
that 
day 
is 
so 
neal'. 
remain, 
with 
Christian 
love, 
on 
Joruan 
'5 
Banks, 
B. 
H. 
BARTON. 
VOL. 
XXXV 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
APRIL 
1, 
1914 
--- 
-------~ 
---------_.~-~---~---- 
JEHOVAH'S 
CHARACTER 
MANIFESTED 
IN 
HIS 
GREAT 
PLAN 
OF 
THE 
AGES 
No.7 
Why 
was 
Jesus 
Christ 
called 
upon 
to 
suffer 
and 
die' 
Could 
not 
the 
great 
God 
have 
accomplished 
the 
salvation 
of 
humanity 
in 
some 
other 
way, 
without 
the 
agony 
and 
death 
of 
his 
Son' 
These 
arc 
questions 
which 
often 
present 
themseh-es 
to 
the 
thoughtful 
student 
of 
Gou's 
Word, 
and 
which 
can 
be 
answered 
very 
satisfactorily. 
God 
cou!ll 
have 
arranged 
the 
matter 
very 
differently; 
He 
is 
not 
an 
unresourceful 
God. 
He 
is 
an 
all-wise 
God, 
an 
all-powerful 
God. 
We 
can 
see, 
for 
instance, 
that 
God 
could 
ha\"e 
decreed 
that 
Adam 
should 
be 
excluded 
from 
the 
(j;ullen 
of 
Ellen 
for 
time, 
and 
that 
after 
he 
had 
suffered 
some­ 
what 
for 
his 
disobedience, 
and 
had 
thereby 
learned 
lesson, 
he 
should 
then 
he 
restored 
to 
fayor. 
By 
that 
experience 
Adam 
~\'Ould, 
no 
doubt, 
ha\"e 
been 
taught 
very 
goorl 
lesson. 
So 
all 
of 
Adam's 
children 
might 
have 
unrlergone 
some 
penalty, 
some 
purging 
experiences, 
whereby 
they 
might 
have 
profited, 
and 
then 
have 
come 
back 
again 
into 
harmony 
with 
God. 
But 
the 
wisdom 
of 
God 
is 
mighty 
deep, 
and 
he 
has 
gTeat 
and 
,rise 
plan! 
He 
had 
purposerl 
that 
all 
of 
his 
intelli­ 
gent 
creatures-angels, 
cherubim, 
seraphim, 
and 
humans-who 
would 
gain 
etel'llal 
life. 
must 
be 
absolutely 
loyal 
to 
him, 
and 
hence 
that 
they 
shoulrl 
all 
he 
tested 
in 
respect 
to 
their 
loyalty. 
They 
must 
all 
be 
tried 
and 
tested 
characters. 
It 
was 
his 
pur­ 
pose, 
therefore, 
that 
all 
his 
intelligent 
creatures 
in 
heaven 
and 
on 
earth 
should 
he 
brought 
to 
perceive 
his 
goodness 
and 
worthi­ 
ness 
of 
all 
praise, 
that 
they 
might 
be 
able 
to 
exclaim 
from 
the 
heart: 
"Blessing 
and 
honor 
and 
might 
be 
unto 
him 
that 
sitteth 
upon 
the 
throne 
... 
foreYer! 
'l'hose 
who 
prove 
their 
loyalty 
to 
the 
Creator 
shall 
live 
ever­ 
lastingly. 
Those 
who 
will 
not 
prove 
their 
loyalty 
shall 
die­ 
go 
into 
absolute 
extinction. 
Up 
to 
the 
time 
man 
was 
created, 
(jod 
had 
not 
made 
Imo,m 
this 
feature 
of 
his 
plan. 
He 
then 
declared 
that 
death 
should 
be 
the 
penalty 
for 
sin, 
in 
order 
that 
all 
might 
know 
the 
law 
of 
his 
government-that 
only 
the 
right­ 
eous 
shall 
1iVl', 
and 
that 
all 
sinners 
shall 
eventually 
be 
destroyed. 
Henr~e 
God 
arranged 
beforehand 
that 
man's 
sin, 
which 
he 
fore­ 
kIlCW, 
should 
bring 
upon 
Auam 
and 
his 
posterity 
the 
extreme 
renalty 
of 
his 
law. 
Many 
would 
not 
have 
chosen 
sin 
if 
they 
had 
known 
its 
sure 
results, 
and 
had 
been 
born 
with 
perfect 
ability 
to 
choose 
the 
right. 
But 
God 
purposed 
that 
Adam's 
posterity 
should 
come 
into 
the 
world 
under 
fallen 
conditions, 
as 
the 
result 
of 
his 
disobedience. 
He 
purposed 
to 
make 
manifest 
here 
on 
the 
planet 
Earth 
what 
is 
the 
natural 
tendency 
and 
certain 
outcome 
of 
sin. 
Sin's 
tendency 
is 
always 
downward; 
and 
not 
only 
so, 
but 
it 
aggregates 
itself, 
and 
leads 
to 
ruin 
and 
death. 
God 
designed 
that 
this 
great 
lesson 
of 
the 
evil 
results 
of 
sin 
should 
be 
witnessed 
by 
the 
angels 
also, 
who 
before 
the 
creation 
and 
fall 
of 
man 
were 
surrounded 
by 
such 
conditions 
as 
presented 
no 
special 
temptation 
to 
sin. 
TEMPTATION 
COMES 
TO 
THE 
ANGELS 
God 
desirl's 
the 
worship 
of 
only 
such 
as 
worship 
him 
in 
spirit 
and 
in 
truth. 
Any 
who 
will 
not 
worship 
from 
this 
motive 
shall 
eventually 
be 
destroyed. 
We 
see 
that 
Goll 
allowell 
sin 
not 
only 
to 
enter 
the 
world 
through 
the 
machinations 
of 
Satan, 
but 
to 
be 
source 
of 
temptation 
to 
the 
angels. 
We 
see 
how 
all 
the 
angels 
became 
exposed 
to 
]It'culiar 
temptation 
in 
connection 
with 
fallen 
mankind. 
(Genesis 
6:1-5; 
Jude 
6) 
'Ve 
believe 
that 
Satan 
instigated 
this 
tl'mptation, 
as 
he 
did 
the 
temptation 
of 
Mother 
Eve. 
He 
himself 
was 
the 
first 
tranll­ 
gressor. 
Some 
of 
the 
angelic 
host 
surcumbed 
to 
this 
temptation, 
an,l 
some 
remaiued 
loyal 
to 
God. 
So 
we 
know 
that 
all 
the 
angels 
of 
heaven 
were 
subjC'cted 
to 
great 
test 
as 
to 
their 
obedience 
to 
their 
Creator. 
All 
those 
angels 
,\"ho 
arc 
in 
harmony 
with 
Gorl, 
accordillg 
to 
the 
Bible, 
have 
stood 
their 
test. 
These, 
we 
understand 
the 
Scriptures 
to 
teaeh, 
haye 
been 
granted 
the 
re­ 
ward 
of 
everlasting 
life, 
because 
thry 
proved 
faithful 
allll 
obcclient 
and 
demonstrated 
their 
loyalty. 
Those 
who 
fell 
wpre 
bOl1l1rl 
in 
chains 
of 
darkness 
unto 
the 
jndgment 
of 
the 
g'l'eat 
day-now 
present, 
we 
believe. 
GOD'S 
ECONOMICAL 
PLAN 
Man 
has 
for 
six 
thollsand 
years 
borne 
th(~ 
IH'nalty, 
"Dying, 
thou 
shalt 
die' 
'-the 
pellalty 
whieh 
thl' 
Bihle 
(leelares 
to 
he 
the 
wages 
of 
sin-death 
and 
all 
the 
weaknesses 
anu 
(lepravities 
of 
mind 
and 
of 
body 
which 
arc 
its 
aceompaniments. 
But 
God 
purposes 
that 
all 
shall 
have 
full 
opportunity 
of 
recovery 
from 
this 
condition 
of 
sin 
and 
death; 
anll 
the 
provision 
for 
lIIan's 
recovery 
has 
been 
made 
in 
Christ. 
This 
provision 
is 
the 
most 
economical 
one 
that 
could 
have 
been 
arranged. 
If 
thousand 
perfect 
men 
had 
sinned, 
it 
would 
have 
required 
thousanu 
per­ 
fect 
men 
to 
redeem 
them-one 
retlremer 
for 
each 
sinner. 
"An 
eye 
for 
an 
eye, 
tooth 
for 
tooth," 
a. 
man's 
life 
for 
man's 
life, 
is 
the 
requirement 
of 
Gou's 
law.-Exodus 
21 
:23-25; 
Deut. 
9: 
21. 
Before 
the 
creation 
of 
our 
first 
parents 
God 
had 
arranged 
that 
only 
one 
man 
should 
have 
the 
opportunity 
to 
fall 
and 
to 
be 
sentenced 
to 
death, 
that 
tlllls 
only 
one 
man 
would 
be 
re­ 
quired 
as 
Redeemer. 
This 
divine 
arrangement 
was 
most 
eeonomical 
because 
it 
will 
bring 
all 
the 
masses 
of 
humanity 
hark 
to 
life 
at 
the 
cost 
of 
but 
one 
human 
life 
as 
the 
redemp­ 
tion-price. 
No 
fallen 
man 
could 
be 
a. 
ransom, 
corresponding 
price, 
for 
the 
perfect 
man 
Adam. 
Therefore 
God 
purposed 
from 
the 
very 
beginning 
that 
his 
only 
begotten 
Son, 
the 
first­ 
born 
of 
all 
creation, 
should 
become 
man's 
Redeemer 
and 
that 
in 
order 
to 
become 
the 
Redeemer 
he 
should 
become 
man. 
The 
death 
of 
an 
angel 
could 
not 
have 
redeemed 
man. 
Divine 
justice 
required 
that 
perfect 
human 
life'must 
be 
given 
for 
perfect 
human 
life. 
And 
God, 
knowing 
all 
this, 
sent 
his 
Son 
to 
[5429] 
MARCH 15, I914 the blessing you have received from these Bible Helps, and arrange to sell or loan him one of them. If the brother has some ability, he might do good by holding little question meetings while eating lunch. The answers should always be brief and to the point. To be helpful, such questions should be on the more simple features of the plan; deep questions would choke those who are spiritual babes. For instance, the conversation might be turncd to the subject of hel. The brother could insist that there is not a single passage in the Bible where the w ord means a place of endless misery, and the only places seemingly teaching so are very highly figurative passages. Then say, ‘‘I have a little book in which every passage in the Bible where the word hell oeeurs is explained. I will bring it here tomorrow and read you a couple of wonderful paragraphs in it.’’ This will probably bring them together the next day; and by promising to consider further questions the third day, one might have a regular little lunch-time class. Of course, the majority will tire of it, but a few may stick. In the larger towns and cities the truth-hungry might be advertised for. Some city-dailies will allow it among the miscellaneous religious advertisements; but in each case, judgment will have to be exercised as to where it should be placed, and how frequently inserted. The following is suggested as an advertisement: “‘Those who want to believe the Bible but have never yet found in it anything as satisfying and reasonable as they would expect God to give, are invited to send their names and ad VOL. AXXV THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y., APRIL 1, Apis No. 7 (95-99) dresses to P. O. Box This is no scheme, but simply an effort to bring real religious satisfaction to those who feel their faith is shaking.’’ Let some able, consecrated brother call upon those who respond, and either sell or loan them ‘‘The Divine Plan of the Ages.’’ He might first tell them of the blessing he is getting from the Word of God now, in contrast to the former conditions. He might call again, from time to time, to see what progress they are making, if the interest warrants. Sisters should call on the ladies who reply. I find that the brethren are not sufficiently alert to the opportunities among the foreigners in their town. If there be Greek confectioners in your town, send for a half dozen Greck tracts to give them. The same might apply to Chinese in the laundries, Italians at fruit-stands and in street gangs, ete. ‘«The Bible Students’ Monthly,’’ on ‘‘ What is Baptism?’’ is specially good where Brother Russell has been misrepresented very much, because of the article by Prof. Ellis and letter by Rev. T. S. Thompson, endorsing him and his work. The Brethren somctimes forget that they are able to do more than merely circulate yearly Volunteer literature. Often a special traet will fit in very well with local conditions, if cireulated at the psychological time. Every day makes me more desirous for the time when our service will not be limited by the weak, imperfect body in which we now dwell. I am glad that day is so near. I remain, with Christian love, on Jordan’s Banks, B. H. Barton. "JEHOVAH'S CHARACTER. MANIFESTED IN HIS ‘GREAT. PLAN OF THE AGES Why was Jesus Christ called upon to suffer and die? Could not the great God have accomplished the salvation of humanity in some other way, without the agony and death of his Son? These are questions which often present themselves to the thoughtful student of God’s Word, and which can be answered very satisfactorily. God could have arranged the matter very differently; He is not an unresourceful God. He is an all-wise God, an all-powerful God. We can see, for instance, that God could have decreed that Adam should be exeluded from the iarden of Eden for a time, and that after he had suffered somewhat for his disobedience, and had thereby learned a lesson, he should then be restored to favor. By that experience Adam would, no doubt, have been taught a very good lesson. So all of Adam’s children might have undergone some penalty, some purging experiences, whereby they might have profited, and then have come back again into harmony with God. But the wisdom of God is a mighty deep, and he has a great and wise plan! He had purposed that all of his intelligent creatures—angels, cherubim, seraphim, and humans—who would gain eternal life, must be absolutely loyal to him, and hence that they should all be tested in respect to their loyalty. They must all be tried and tested characters. It was his purpose, therefore, that all his intelligent creatures in heaven and on earth should be brought to perceive his goodness and worthiness of all praise, that they might be able to exclaim from the heart: ‘‘Blessing and honor and might be unto him that sitteth upon the throne ... forever!’’ Those who prove their loyalty to the Creator shall live everlastingly. Those who will not prove their loyalty shall die— go into absolute extinction. Up to the time man was created, God had not made known this feature of his plan. He then declared that death should be the penalty for sin, in order that all might know the law of his government—that only the righteous shall live, and that all sinners shall eventually be destroyed. Hence God arranged beforehand that man’s sin, which he foreknew, should bring upon Adam and his posterity the extreme penalty of his law. Many would not have chosen sin if they had known its sure results, and had been born with perfect ability to choose the right. But God purposed that Adam’s posterity should come into the world under fallen conditions, as the result of his disobedience. He purposed to make manifest here on the planet Earth what is the natural tendency and certain outeome of sin. Sin’s tendency is always downward; and not only so, but it aggregates itsclf, and leads to ruin and death. God designed that this great lesson of the evil results of sin should be witnessed by the angels also, who before the creation and fall of man were surrounded by such conditions as presented no special temptation to sin. TEMPTATION COMES TO THE ANGELS God desires the worship of only such as worship him in spirit and in truth. Any who will not worship from this motive shall eventually be destroyed. We sce that God allowed sin not only to enter the world through the machinations of Satan, but to be a source of temptation to the angels. We see how all the angels became exposed to a peculiar temptation in connection with fallen mankind. (Genesis 6:1-5; Jude 6) We helieve that Satan instigated this temptation, as he did the temptation of Mother Eve. He himself was the first transgressor. Some of the angelic host succumbed to this temptation, and some remained loyal to God. So we know that all the angels of heaven were subjected to a great test as to their obedience to their Creator. Al! those angels who are in harmony with God, according to the Bible, have stood their test. These, we understand the Scriptures to teach, have been granted the reward of everlasting life, because they proved faithful and obedient and demonstrated their loyalty. Those who fell were hound in chains of darkness unto the judgment of the great day—now present, we believe. GOD'S ECONOMICAL PLAN Man has for six thousand years horue the penalty, ‘‘ Dying, thou shalt die’’—the penalty which the Bible dcelares to he the wages of sin—death and all the weaknesses and depravities of mind and of body which are its accompaniments. But God purposes that all shall have a full opportunity of recovery from this condition of sin and death; and the provision for man’s recovery has been made in Christ. This provision is the most economical one that could have been arranged. If a thousand perfect men had sinned, it would have required a thousand perfeet men to redeem them—one redeemer for cach sinner. ‘‘An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,’’ a man’s life for a man’s life, is the requirement of God’s law.—Exodus 21:23-25; Deut. 19:21, Before the creation of our first parents God had arranged that only one man should have the opportunity to fall and to be sentenced to death, that thus only one man would be required as a Redeemer. This divine arrangement was most economical because it will bring all the masses of humanity hack to life at the cost of but one human life as the redemption-price. No fallen man could be a ransom, a corresponding price, for the perfect man Adam. Therefore God purposed from the very beginning that his only begotten Son, the firstborn of all creation, should become man’s Redeemer and that in order to hecome the Redeemer he should become a man. The death of an angel could not have redeemed man. Divine justice required that a perfect human life must be given for a perfect human life. And God, knowing all this, sent his Son to [5429]

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