Publication date
7/1/15
Volume
36
Number
13
The WatchTower
View From The Watch Tower
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1915/13/1915-13-1.html
 
 
JUN~ 
IS, 
1915 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(195-196) 
fore 
thy 
servant 
an 
understanding 
heart 
to 
judge 
thy 
people 
[to 
administer 
justice 
to 
them], 
that 
I 
may 
discern 
between 
good 
and 
bad; 
for 
who 
is 
able 
to 
judge 
this 
thy 
so 
great 
a 
people'" 
Is 
it 
any 
wonder 
that 
we 
read 
further 
that 
in 
the 
dream 
the 
Lord 
manifested 
his 
good 
pleasure 
at 
this 
request: 
"And 
God 
said 
unto 
him, 
Because 
thou 
hast 
asked 
this 
thing, 
and 
hast 
not 
asked 
for 
thyself 
long 
life; 
neither 
has 
asked 
riches 
for 
thyself, 
nor 
hast 
asked 
the 
life 
of 
thine 
enemies; 
but 
hast 
asked 
for 
thyself 
understanding 
to 
discern 
judgment 
[justice]; 
therefore, 
I 
have 
done 
according 
to 
thy 
words: 
10, 
I 
have 
given 
thee 
a 
wise 
and 
an 
understanding 
heart; 
so 
that 
there 
was 
none 
like 
thee 
before 
thee, 
neither 
after 
thee 
shall 
any 
arise 
like 
unto 
thee. 
And 
I 
have 
also 
given 
thee 
that 
which 
thou 
hast 
not 
asked, 
both 
riches, 
and 
honor: 
so 
that 
there 
shall 
not 
be 
any 
among 
the 
kings 
like 
unto 
thee, 
all 
thy 
days." 
"I 
knelt 
before 
thy 
gracious 
throne, 
And 
asked 
for 
peace 
with 
suppliant 
knee; 
And 
peace 
was 
given: 
not 
peace 
alone, 
But 
love, 
and 
joy, 
and 
ecstasy." 
VOL. 
XXXVI 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
JULY 
1, 
1915 
VIEWS 
FROM 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
No. 
13 
THE 
FIRE 
OF 
THIS 
DAY 
of 
colleges 
and 
nearly 
all 
the 
great 
ministers 
of 
the 
various 
Prayers 
that 
God 
would 
stop 
the 
great 
European 
war 
have 
churches 
have 
completely 
lost 
faith 
in 
the 
Bible? 
Do 
we 
not 
not 
been 
answered. 
On 
the 
contrary, 
as 
pointed 
out 
in 
these 
see 
that 
the 
greater 
enlightenment 
of 
our 
time 
is 
making 
the 
columns 
nearly 
a 
year 
ago, 
the 
entire 
world 
is 
involved 
and 
creeds 
of 
all 
denominations 
ridiculous, 
absurd, 
to 
their 
own 
distressed. 
The 
Bible 
predictions 
that 
the 
armies 
of 
all 
upholders 
and 
to 
all 
mankind? 
Do 
we 
not 
see 
that 
those 
who 
nations 
would 
be 
gathered 
to 
the 
valley 
of 
Jehoshaphat 
is 
have 
abandoned 
the 
Bible 
have 
prllictically 
nothing 
left-­ 
proving 
true. 
(Joel 
3:9-14) 
The 
Valley 
of 
Jehoshaphat 
is 
the 
merely 
their 
own 
guesswork? 
Do 
we 
not 
see 
that 
the 
guess­ 
name 
of 
the 
cemetery 
outside 
the 
walls 
of 
Jerusalem, 
and 
the 
work 
of 
evolutionists 
is 
already 
proving 
unsatisfactory 
to 
prophecy 
signified 
that 
the 
armies 
of 
all 
nations 
would 
be 
them, 
and 
that 
they 
are 
losing 
all 
faith 
in 
a 
personal 
God, 
gathered 
as 
Gne 
vast 
cemetery. 
With 
a 
battle 
front 
of 
over 
and 
merely 
assuming 
the 
possi'bility 
of 
an 
immortality 
of 
sixteen 
hundred 
miles, 
and 
with 
all 
kinds 
of 
infernal 
ma- 
which 
they 
have 
no 
proofs 
and 
of 
the 
character 
of 
which 
they 
chinery, 
the 
flower 
of 
Europe's 
manhood 
goes 
down 
to 
death. 
have 
only 
speculation? 
Ah, 
as 
the 
Apostle 
indicated, 
those 
All 
the 
participating 
nations 
are 
regretfUl, 
for 
each 
had 
who 
have 
the 
faith, 
the 
character 
structure 
represented 
by 
the 
hoped 
for 
greater 
successes 
than 
yet 
achieved. 
The 
Bible 
indi- 
gold, 
silver 
and 
precious 
stones 
of 
divine 
revelation-these 
cates 
great 
disappointment 
of 
all 
nations-no 
great 
viclory 
alone 
have 
an 
anchorage 
of 
soul 
sure 
and 
steadfast 
which 
for 
any, 
but 
on 
the 
contrary, 
humiliation 
and 
impoverishment. 
enters 
into 
that 
within 
the 
veil, 
'and 
fastens 
for 
support 
to 
Already 
the 
bonds 
of 
all 
the 
warring 
powers 
are 
greatly 
depre- 
the 
merit 
of 
the 
sacrificial 
death 
of 
the 
great 
Redeemer 
who, 
cia 
ted. 
All 
national 
debts 
are 
so 
heavy 
that 
many 
thoughtful 
"by 
the 
grace 
of 
God, 
tasted 
death 
for 
every 
man," 
and 
who 
people 
are 
expecting 
that 
a 
result 
of 
the 
war 
will 
be 
repudia- 
by 
the 
grace 
of 
God 
is 
to 
be 
the 
great 
King 
whose 
kingdoill 
tion 
of 
all 
national 
debts, 
as 
well 
as 
social 
revolution. 
Great 
will 
deliver 
Adam 
and 
his 
race 
from 
sin, 
death, 
ignorance, 
victories 
and 
final 
achievement 
console 
the 
people 
for 
great 
superstition, 
into 
the 
liberty 
of 
the 
children 
of 
God. 
losses; 
and 
similarly, 
great. 
national 
disasters 
in 
the 
face 
of 
a 
THE 
LORD'S 
BRETHREN 
NOT 
IN 
DARKNESS 
successful 
foe, 
tend 
to 
cement 
the 
national 
spirit; 
but 
with 
a 
Present 
conditions 
are 
very 
favorable 
for 
the 
spread 
of 
terrible 
war, 
with 
heavy 
losses, 
peace 
will 
mean 
discontent, 
the 
truth. 
Everywhere 
the 
public 
are 
thinking 
more 
than 
revolution 
and, 
according 
to 
the 
Bible, 
ultJimate 
anarchy. 
However 
respecting 
religious 
things, 
and 
wondering 
what 
it 
means 
consoling 
the 
thought 
given 
us 
by 
the 
words 
of 
Jesus, 
that 
that 
great 
nations, 
each 
purporting 
to 
be 
Christ's 
kingdom, 
for 
the 
elect's 
sake 
these 
day,s 
shall 
be 
shortened, 
but 
that 
should 
be 
so 
locked 
in 
deadly 
strife. 
Their 
perplexity 
and 
otherwise 
the 
entire 
human 
family 
would 
be 
obliterated 
as 
questions 
furnish 
excellent 
opportunity 
for 
explaining 
the 
the 
reign 
of 
selfishness 
and 
enmity 
would 
progress! 
Bible 
hopes 
and 
teachings. 
They 
are 
ready 
as 
never 
before 
Thanks 
be 
to 
God 
that 
we 
know 
who 
the 
elect 
are-Jesus 
for 
the 
message 
that 
these 
kingdoms 
are 
deceived 
into 
thinking 
and 
his 
saintly 
followers 
glorified! 
Thanks 
be 
to 
God 
that 
themselves 
Christ's 
kingdoms, 
whereas 
the 
Bible 
calls 
them 
we 
can 
have 
confidence 
that 
these 
will 
constitute 
the 
kingdom 
"kingdoms 
of 
this 
world" 
and 
Gentile 
kingdoms. 
They 
are 
of 
God's 
dear 
Son, 
and 
be 
backed 
by 
all 
the 
power 
of 
heaven 
ready 
for 
the 
message 
that 
Messiah's 
kingdom 
is 
to 
furnish 
in 
the 
establishment 
of 
the 
reign 
of 
righteousness! 
Thanks 
be 
the 
remedy 
for 
all 
the 
ills 
of 
the 
world 
by 
uplifting 
mankind 
to 
God 
that 
we 
can 
have 
full 
confidence 
in 
the 
divine 
promises 
out 
of 
ignorance. 
superstition, 
sin 
and 
death. 
They 
are 
ready 
to 
the 
effect 
that 
the 
outcome 
of 
Messiah's 
reign 
will 
be 
"peace 
for 
the 
information 
that 
although 
Christ 
was 
eighteen 
hundred 
on 
earth 
and 
good 
will 
toward 
men" 
in 
a 
world-wide 
Eden! 
years 
ago 
declared 
worthy 
to 
become 
the 
King 
he 
has 
not 
Thanks 
be 
to 
God 
that 
we 
can 
trust 
his 
promise 
that 
Messiah's 
yet 
taken 
office 
in 
the 
full 
sense 
of 
the 
word, 
but 
is 
waiting 
kingdom 
will 
be 
successful 
in 
the 
complete 
uplift 
of 
the 
fallen 
for 
the 
completion 
of 
the 
church, 
which 
has 
been 
in 
process 
race 
out 
of 
sin 
and 
death-back 
to 
the 
image 
and 
likeness 
of 
of 
calling 
and 
disciplining 
and 
polishing 
for 
more 
than 
God 
for 
whosoever 
will! 
Thanks 
be 
to 
God 
that 
after 
all 
eighteen 
hundred 
years. 
They 
are 
ready 
for 
the 
message 
that 
shall 
have 
had 
full 
opportunity 
for 
such 
recovery, 
all 
wilfully 
Christ 
is 
now 
taking 
to 
himself 
his 
great 
power 
and 
beginning 
wicked 
will 
be 
utterly 
destroyed 
in 
the 
second 
death! 
his 
reign, 
and 
that 
the 
present 
disturbance 
of 
Europe 
is 
what 
Thus 
far 
we 
are 
told 
the 
war 
is 
not 
deeply 
felt 
nor 
deeply 
i,s 
described 
in 
Revelation 
as 
the 
nations 
being 
angry, 
and 
impressed 
upon 
the 
average 
non-combatants. 
In 
all 
the 
God's 
wrath 
having 
come, 
etc.-Rev. 
11: 
18. 
warring 
countries 
business 
is 
fairly 
good. 
Money 
is 
kept 
in 
In 
view 
of 
these 
favorable 
factors, 
we 
perceive 
our 
privilege 
circulation 
by 
the 
manufacture 
of 
munitions 
of 
war 
and 
mili- 
in 
continuing 
to 
give 
no 
uncertain 
sound 
upon 
the 
silver 
tary 
equipment 
and 
supplies. 
Thus 
far 
the 
chief 
brunt 
falls 
trumpets 
of 
.Jubilee. 
Apparently 
many 
of 
God's 
servants 
are 
upon 
the 
soldiers 
in 
the 
ranks 
and 
upon 
the 
bereaved 
widows 
being 
sealed 
in 
their 
foreheads 
with 
this 
knowledge, 
this 
pres­ 
and 
orphans. 
The 
chief 
eVIdences 
of 
war, 
except 
on 
the 
scenes 
ent 
truth, 
as 
the 
Scriptures 
predicted: 
"Ye 
brethren 
are 
not 
of 
strife, 
are 
the 
numbers 
of 
men 
everywhere 
in 
military 
uni- 
in 
darkness 
that 
that 
day 
should 
overtake 
you 
as 
a 
thief" 
form, 
and 
the 
numbers 
of 
women 
wearing 
mourning. 
However, 
(I 
Thessalonians 
5:4), 
though 
it 
shall 
come 
upon 
the 
whole 
as 
credit 
depreciates 
and 
gold 
becomes 
more 
scarce, 
the 
prices 
world 
as 
a 
thief 
and 
a 
snare. 
As 
the 
Savior 
said, 
perplexities 
of 
commodities 
of 
every 
sort 
will 
advance, 
wages 
in 
Europe 
are 
causing 
the 
hearts 
of 
men 
to 
fail 
for 
,fear 
and 
for 
looking 
will 
be 
forced 
upward, 
with 
a,ccompanying 
labor 
troubles, 
after 
the 
things 
coming 
upon 
the 
world. 
still 
future. 
but 
be­ 
leading 
on 
to 
the 
foretold 
great 
earthquake-revolution 
(Rev. 
cause 
of 
the 
sealing 
in 
our 
foreheads-the 
clear 
intellectual 
16: 
18); 
leading 
on 
still 
further 
to 
the 
predicted 
fire 
which 
is 
knowledge-the 
,servants 
of 
God 
may, 
as 
Jesus 
suggested, 
be 
to 
consume 
every 
vestige 
of 
present 
civilizatJion-not 
a 
literal 
lifting 
up 
their 
heads 
and 
rejoicing, 
realizing 
from 
present 
fire, 
but 
anarchy. 
developments 
that 
their 
deliverance 
draweth 
nigh-that 
the 
This 
fire 
has 
alrea;;ly 
begun 
as 
respects 
religious 
faith. 
resurrection 
of 
the 
church 
and 
her 
glorious 
establishment 
as 
Hearken 
to 
the 
Apostle 
Paul, 
"The 
fire 
of 
that 
day 
shall 
try 
Messiah's 
bride 
in 
the 
kingdom, 
are 
near 
at 
hand, 
even 
at 
the 
every 
man's 
work 
of 
what 
sort 
it 
is." 
It 
will 
prove 
who 
have 
door. 
builded 
character 
and 
faith 
with 
the 
gaM, 
silver 
and 
precious 
WINDS 
OF 
WAR 
LET 
LOOSE 
stones 
of 
divine 
promises. 
and 
who 
have 
builded 
their 
hopes 
How 
plainly 
now 
we 
can 
see 
what 
we 
saw 
less 
distinctly 
with 
the 
wood. 
hay 
and 
stuhble 
of 
human 
tradition. 
The 
in 
the 
pa,st-that 
the 
winds 
of 
war 
have 
been 
held 
back 
for 
latter, 
the 
Apostle 
declares. 
wiII 
be 
utterly 
burned 
or 
destroyed 
approx,jmately 
forty 
years 
to 
give 
opportunity 
for 
the 
sealing 
hy 
the 
symbolic 
fire 
of 
this 
day. 
while 
the 
former 
class 
of 
of 
thi' 
servants 
of 
God 
in 
their 
foreheads, 
for 
the 
spread 
of 
fai,th 
alone 
will 
be 
abll' 
to 
withstand 
that 
fiery 
time. 
Do 
we 
true 
Bible 
study 
all 
over 
the 
world. 
in 
all 
languag-es. 
Any 
onl' 
not 
already 
see 
this? 
Do 
we 
not 
see 
that 
the 
great 
professors 
thinking 
of 
the 
present 
war 
as 
being 
suddenly 
thrust 
upon 
[5715] 
Jung 15, 1915 fore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people [to administer justice to them], that I may discern between good and bad; for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” Is it any wonder that we read further that in the dream the Lord manifested his good pleasure at this request: “And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither has asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment [justice]; therefore, I have done according to thy words: lo, THE WATCH TOWER (195-196) I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches, and honor: so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days. “T knelt before thy gracious throne, And asked for peace with suppliant knee; And peace was given: not peace alone, But love, and joy, and ecstasy.” Vout. XXXVI BROOKLYN, N. Y., JULY 1, 1915 No. 13 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER THE FIRE OF THIS DAY Prayers that God would stop the great European war have not been answered. On the contrary, as pointed out in these columns nearly a year ago, the entire world is involved and distressed. ‘the Bible predictions that the armies of all nations would be gathered to the valley of Jehoshaphat is proving true. (Joel 3:9-14) The Valley of Jehoshaphat is the name of the cemetery outside the walls of Jerusalem, and the prophecy signified that the armies of all nations would be gathered as one vast cemetery. With a battle front of over sixteen hundred miles, and with all kinds of infernal machinery, the flower of Europe’s manhood goes down to death. All the participating nations are regretful, for each had hoped for greater successes than yet achieved. The Bible indicates great disappointment of all nations—no great victory for any, but on the contrary, humiliation and impoverishment. Already the bonds of all the warring powers are greatly depreciated. All national debts are so heavy that many thoughtful people are expecting that a result of the war will be repudiation of all national debts, as well as social revolution. Great victories and final achievement console the people for great losses; and similarly, great national disasters in the face of a successful foe, tend to cement the national spirit; but with a terrible war, with heavy losses, peace will mean discontent, revolution and, according to the Bible, ultimate anarchy. How consoling the thought given us by the words of Jesus, that for the elect’s sake these days shall be shortened, but that otherwise the entire human family would be obliterated as the reign of selfishness and enmity would progress! Thanks be to God that we know who the elect are—Jesus and his saintly followers glorified! Thanks be to God that we can have confidence that these will constitute the kingdom of God’s dear Son, and be backed by all the power of heaven in the establishment of the reign of righteousness! Thanks be to God that we can have full confidence in the divine promises to the effect that the outcome of Messiah’s reign will be “peace on earth and good will toward men” in a world-wide Eden! Thanks be to God that we can trust his promise that Messiah’s kingdom will be successful in the complete uplift of the fallen race out of sin and death—back to the image and likeness of God for whosoever will! Thanks be to God that after all shall have had full opportunity for such recovery, all wilfully wicked will be utterly destroyed in the second death! Thus far we are told the war is not deeply felt nor deeply impressed upon the average non-combatants. In all the warring countries business is fairly good. Money is kept in circulation by the manufacture of munitions of war and military equipment and supplies. Thus far the chief brunt falls upon the soldiers in the ranks and upon the bereaved widows and orphans. The chief evidences of war, except on the scenes of strife, are the numbers of men everywhere in military uniform, and the numbers of women wearing mourning. However, as credit depreciates and gold becomes more scarce, the prices of commodities of every sort will advance, wages in Hurope will be forced upward, with accompanying labor troubles, leading on to the foretold great earthquake—revolution (Rev. 16:18); leading on still further to the predicted fire which is to consume every vestige of present civilization—not a literal fire, but anarchy. This fire has already begun as respects religious faith. Hearken to the Apostle Paul, “The fire of that day shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.’ It will prove who have builded character and faith with the gold, silver and precious stones of divine promises, and who have builded their hopes with the wood, hay and stubble of human tradition. The latter, the Apostle declares, will be utterly burned or destroyed by the symbolic fire of this day, while the former class of faith alone will be able to withstand that fiery time. Do we not already see this? Do we not see that the great professors of colleges and nearly all the great ministers of the various churches have completely lost faith in the Bible? Do we not see that the greater enlightenment of our time is making the creeds of all denominations ridiculous, absurd, to their own upholders and to all mankind? Do we not see that those who have abandoned the Bible have practically nothing left— merely their own guesswork? Do we not see that the guesswork of evolutionists is already proving unsatisfactory to them, and that they are losing all faith in a personal God, and merely assuming the possibility of an immortality of which they have no proofs and of the character of which they have only speculation? Ah, as the Apostle indicated, those who have the faith, the character structure represented by the gold, silver and precious stones of divine revelation—these alone have an anchorage of soul sure and steadfast which enters into that within the veil, and fastens for support to the merit of the sacrificial death of the great Redeemer who, “by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,” and who by the grace of God is to be the great King whose kingdom will deliver Adam and his race from sin, death, ignorance, superstition, into the liberty of the children of God. THE LORD’S BRETHREN NOT IN DARKNESS Present conditions are very favorable for the spread of the truth. Everywhere the public are thinking more than ever respecting religious things, and wondering what it means that great nations, each purporting to be Christ’s kingdom, should be so locked in deadly strife. Their perplexity and questions furnish excellent opportunity for explaining the Bible hopes and teachings. They are ready as never before for the message that these kingdoms are deceived into thinking themselves Christ’s kingdoms, whereas the Bible calls them “kingdoms of this world” and Gentile kingdoms, ‘hey are ready for the message that Messiah’s kingdom is to furnish the remedy for all the ills of the world by uplifting mankind out of ignorance, superstition, sin and death. They are ready for the information that although Christ was eighteen hundred years ago declared worthy to become the King he has not yet taken office in the full sense of the word, but is waiting for the completion of the church, which has been in process of calling and disciplining and polishing for more than eighteen hundred years. ‘They are ready for the message that Christ is now taking to himself his great power and beginning his reign, and that the present disturbance of Europe is what is described in Revelation as the nations being angry, and God’s wrath having come, etc.—Rev. 11:18. In view of these favorable factors, we perceive our privilege in continuing to give no uncertain sound upon the silver trumpets of Jubilee. Apparently many of God’s servants are being sealed in their foreheads with this knowledge, this present truth, as the Scriptures predicted: ‘Ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief” (1 Thessalonians 5:4), though it shall come upon the whole world as a thief and a snare. As the Savior said, perplexities are causing the hearts of men to fail for fear and for looking after the things coming upon the world, still future, but because of the sealing in our foreheads—the clear intellectual knowledge—the servants of God may, as Jesus suggested, be lifting up their heads and rejoicing, realizing from present developments that their deliverance draweth nigh—that the resurrection of the church and her glorious establishment as Messiah’s bride in the kingdom, are near at hand, even at the door. WINDS OF WAR LET LOOSE How plainly now we can see what we saw less distinctly in the past—that the winds of war have been held back for approximately forty years to give opportunity for the sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads, for the spread of true Bible study all over the world, in all languages, Any one thinking of the present war as being suddenly thrust upon [5715]

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