Publication date
4/15/15
Volume
36
Number
8
The WatchTower
The Sum of All Graces
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1915/8/1915-8-2.html
 
APRII, 
15, 
1915 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(118-120) 
:a.bling 
us 
to 
triumph 
over 
them. 
Falling 
into 
temptation 
does 
not 
mean 
falling 
in 
temptation-falling 
when 
tempted. 
But 
when 
one 
is 
temporarily 
overcome, 
whether 
it 
be 
a 
yielding 
to 
a 
temptation 
of 
the 
flesh 
or 
whether 
it 
be 
a 
wilfulness 
of 
spirit, 
or 
mind, 
has 
much 
to 
do 
with 
the 
nature 
and 
degree 
of 
the 
sin. 
We 
may 
not 
always 
be 
able 
to 
triumph 
fully, 
completely, 
according 
to 
the 
flesh, 
but 
the 
will 
must 
be 
loyal. 
We 
must 
triumph 
in 
the 
mind, 
otherwise 
we 
shall 
not 
be 
overcomers. 
This 
ove.rcoming 
is 
a 
gradual 
work, 
progressing 
throughout 
our 
Christian 
course, 
from 
the 
moment 
of 
consecration 
down 
to 
the 
conclusion 
of 
life. 
But 
the 
text 
apparently 
takes 
hold 
of 
the 
conclusion, 
rather 
than 
the 
beginning 
or 
the 
middle 
of 
the 
work, 
and 
implies 
that 
the 
individual 
has 
at 
the 
end 
of 
the 
trial, 
the 
end 
of 
his 
race-course, 
this 
overcoming 
degree 
of 
righteousness, 
so 
that 
he 
may 
be 
classed 
as 
an 
overcomer. 
Such 
an 
overcomer 
will 
be 
clothed 
in 
white 
raiment. 
WHITE 
RAIMENT 
LOANED 
TO 
US 
The 
Scriptures 
give 
us 
to 
understand 
that 
at 
the 
very 
be­ 
ginning 
of 
our 
Christian 
experience, 
we 
figuratively 
are 
clothed 
in 
white 
raiment. 
This 
white 
raiment 
represents 
justification 
-we 
are 
justified 
freely 
from 
all 
things. 
It 
is 
a 
robe 
without 
a 
spot. 
It 
is 
sometimes 
spoken 
of 
as 
Christ's 
robe 
of 
right­ 
eousness, 
because 
it 
comes 
to 
us 
through 
Christ. 
It 
is 
to 
be 
had 
only 
through 
him. 
He 
is 
able 
to 
impute 
to 
us, 
to 
loan 
to 
us, 
grant 
to 
us 
temporarily, 
this 
robe. 
It 
is 
spoken 
of 
as 
the 
wedding 
garment. 
At 
an 
oriental 
wedding, 
a 
wedr1ing 
gar­ 
ment 
of 
white 
linen 
was 
used 
to 
cover 
over 
the 
clothing 
worn 
by 
each 
guest. 
It 
was 
loaned 
to 
the 
guest 
at 
the 
wedding 
by 
the 
host, 
when 
he 
appeared 
at 
the 
wedding-feast. 
White 
linen 
signifies 
purity. 
So 
when 
Christ 
gives 
us 
the 
11se 
of 
his 
merit, 
it 
is 
as 
a 
white 
garment 
to 
cover 
our 
imper­ 
fection~. 
It 
is 
an 
imputation 
of 
his 
righteousness, 
which 
is 
to 
us 
justification. 
"iVe 
are 
exhorted 
to 
keep 
our 
garments 
un­ 
spotted 
from 
the 
world. 
The 
imputation 
of 
righteousness 
gin'll 
us, 
we 
are 
to 
preserve, 
to 
maintain. 
But 
we 
cannot 
fully 
maintain 
it 
of 
ourselves. 
Our 
tongues 
may 
sometimes 
say 
things 
that 
we 
wish 
they 
had 
not 
said, 
and 
our 
hands 
may 
sometimes 
do 
things 
we 
would 
not 
desire. 
Hence, 
God 
has 
providerl 
a 
way 
by 
which 
our 
blemishes 
or 
transgressions 
may 
be 
eradicaterl-those 
not 
wilful. 
This 
,,-ay 
is 
our 
daily 
appli­ 
cation 
for 
the 
cleansing 
of 
these 
unwilling 
transgressions, 
through 
the 
precious 
blood. 
Thus 
we 
keep 
our 
garments 
un­ 
spotted 
from 
the 
world. 
Thus 
our 
justification, 
our 
while 
robe, 
is 
maintained-should 
be 
maintained. 
WHITE 
RAIMENT 
OUR 
OWN 
But 
it 
is 
not 
sufficient 
that 
we 
have 
the 
imputation 
of 
our 
Savior's 
righteousness. 
'l'his 
imputation 
is 
only 
a 
temporary 
arrangement. 
We 
need 
to 
come 
to 
the 
place 
where 
we 
shall 
have 
a 
righteousness 
of 
our 
own. 
Our 
flesh 
is 
imperfect; 
as 
St. 
Paul 
says, 
we 
cannot 
do 
the 
things 
which 
we 
would. 
In 
spite 
of 
our 
best 
endeavors 
things 
are 
bound 
to 
go 
more 
or 
less 
wrong. 
But 
we 
are 
to 
prove 
onrselves 
overcomers-"more 
than 
conf]nerors." 
The 
Lord 
has 
arranged 
that 
at 
the 
conclu­ 
sion 
of 
our 
trial, 
at 
the 
end 
of 
the 
present 
life, 
all 
the 
over­ 
comers 
shall 
receive 
the 
new 
body. 
This 
new 
body 
will 
be 
a 
body 
of 
actnal 
purity. 
Thus, 
as 
the 
Apostle 
says, 
we 
shall 
"be 
clothed 
upon 
with 
our 
house 
which 
is 
from 
heaven." 
So 
our 
raiment 
will 
be 
changed 
from 
a 
garment 
of 
imputed 
per­ 
fection, 
our 
justification 
by 
faith, 
to 
that 
which 
I'l'presents 
actual 
perfection. 
At 
the 
resurrection 
we 
shall 
receive 
that 
body 
of 
inherent 
purity, 
without 
blemish, 
without 
spot, 
which 
is 
here 
pictured 
as 
"white 
raiment." 
"BROUGHT 
BEFORE 
THE 
KING" 
Furthermore, 
we 
read 
of 
each 
of 
these 
that 
the 
Lorcl 
"will 
not 
blot 
out 
his 
name 
out 
of 
the 
book 
of 
life," 
in 
which 
are 
written 
the 
names 
of 
all 
those 
who 
become 
truly 
the 
Lord's 
people, 
those 
who 
have 
mar1e 
with 
the 
Lord 
"a' 
covenant 
by 
sacrifice," 
all 
who 
renounce 
their 
wms, 
who 
present 
their 
bodies 
a 
living 
sacrifice. 
The 
name 
of 
each 
of 
the~e 
is 
recorded, 
en­ 
tered 
in 
the 
Lamb's 
book 
of 
life, 
when 
he 
starts 
to 
live 
the 
new 
life, 
and 
to 
demonstrate 
his 
loyalty. 
Just 
as 
these 
are 
clothed 
upon 
with 
the 
robe 
of 
Christ's 
rig'hteousness 
in 
ad­ 
vance 
of 
being 
actually 
tested, 
so 
their 
names 
are 
written 
in 
that 
book 
in 
auvauee 
of 
being 
actually 
tested. 
If 
they 
do 
not 
remain 
faithful, 
their 
names 
will 
be 
blotted 
out 
of 
that 
book 
of 
life. 
But 
if 
they 
are 
faithful 
their 
names 
will 
Dot 
be 
blotted 
out 
of 
the 
book 
ot" 
life; 
and 
they 
will 
attain 
all 
those 
glorious 
things 
which 
are 
promised 
to 
those 
who 
love 
him 
supremely. 
-Revelation 
21: 
7. 
More 
than 
this, 
the 
Lord 
says, 
"I 
will 
confess 
their 
names 
before 
my 
father 
and 
before 
his 
angels." 
The 
intimation 
here 
is 
that 
the 
overcomers 
will 
have 
such 
characters 
that 
the 
Lord 
will 
not 
be 
ashamed 
of 
them, 
but 
will 
be 
pleased 
to 
own 
them 
in 
the 
presence 
of 
the 
Father 
and 
the 
holy 
angels. 
We 
are 
to 
be 
"changed 
from 
glory 
to 
glory," 
into 
the 
likeness 
of 
our 
Lord. 
(2 
Corinthians 
3: 
IS) 
In 
the 
end, 
these 
overcomers 
win 
each 
be 
so 
grandly 
developed 
that 
the 
Lord 
will 
not 
be 
ashamed 
to 
confess 
any 
of 
them 
and 
to 
say, 
Here 
is 
one 
of 
my 
follow­ 
ers. 
Here 
is 
another. 
They 
have 
walked 
in 
my 
footsteps 
and 
have 
overcome. 
But 
he 
will 
be 
ashamed 
of 
any 
who 
are 
ashamed 
of 
him. 
Of 
such 
he 
says, 
"'Vhoso,'~er 
shall 
be 
ashamed 
of 
me 
and 
of 
my 
words, 
of 
him 
shall 
the 
Son 
of 
Han 
be 
ashamed, 
when 
he 
sllal! 
come 
in 
his 
o-,vn 
glory 
aild 
in 
his 
Father's, 
and 
of 
the 
holy 
angels."- 
Luke 
9: 
25. 
It 
is 
IlOt 
a 
matter 
of 
fa\'oritism, 
but 
of 
charadrr-,levc]op­ 
ment. 
If 
they 
will 
not 
endure 
to 
the 
end, 
if 
they 
do 
not 
prove 
overcomers, 
tht·y 
will 
not 
be 
fit 
for 
the 
kingdom 
al1Li 
associa­ 
tion 
with 
their 
Lord. 
This 
brings 
up 
the 
thought 
that 
tbere 
is 
another 
class 
men­ 
tioned 
in 
the 
Bible-the 
great 
company 
class. 
as 
in 
contr'l5t 
to 
the 
little 
flock-or 
the 
antitvnieal 
Levite 
clnss 
as 
in 
ccnrrast 
to 
the 
anti 
typical 
priestly 
class: 
The 
great 
company 
hat! 
their 
names 
written 
in 
the 
LamL's 
book 
(If 
life, 
but 
they 
'were 
not 
overcomers 
in 
the 
truest 
sense. 
'rIlev 
did 
not 
staild 
IJ.ithf\ll. 
Because 
of 
not 
proving 
faithful, 
tlley 
will 
not 
be 
confes"ed 
before 
the 
Father 
and 
the 
holy 
angels 
in 
the 
same 
sense 
as 
the 
bride 
class. 
It 
is 
stated 
that 
the 
bride 
will 
be 
prepented 
hefore 
the 
Father, 
amI 
that 
"the 
virgins, 
her 
companions" 
(Psalm 
4,;]: 
13-15) 
will 
be 
there 
also-but 
the 
latter 
will 
not 
be 
confessed 
as 
the 
])ri,1e 
class. 
"'e 
will 
not 
sav 
that 
tlleir 
names 
will 
1)0 
blotted 
out 
of 
the 
Lamb's 
book 
of 
hfe. 
Their 
nallles 
JIlay 
re­ 
main. 
But 
those 
who 
go 
into 
the 
second 
death 
will 
surely 
have 
their 
names 
blotted 
out 
of 
the 
book; 
they 
will 
be 
de­ 
stroyed 
with 
everlasting 
destruction 
from 
the 
presence 
of 
the 
Lord. 
ROBES 
WASHED 
IN 
"THE 
GREAT 
TRIBULATION" 
The 
great 
company 
will 
not 
have 
the 
"abundant 
entrance" 
granted 
the 
little 
flock. 
And 
the 
same 
distinction 
obtains 
be­ 
tween 
these 
two 
classes 
in 
connection 
with 
'the 
white 
raiment. 
"'hile 
all 
receive 
the 
r:Jbe 
of 
Christ's 
'impute,] 
l'ighte(lu~ness, 
some 
of 
them 
do 
not 
keep 
their 
garments 
"unspotted 
from 
the 
world." 
Their 
white 
raiment 
becomes 
spotted 
ano 
soiled. 
be­ 
dl'aaaled 
bv 
eontaet 
with 
the 
earth. 
Their 
justiJi('ation. 
or 
rob~"'of 
Christ's 
righteousness, 
becomes 
unpresentable. 
When 
a 
spot 
comes 
upon 
it, 
insteau 
of 
having 
the 
spot 
cleansed 
away 
at 
once, 
they 
al10w 
it 
to 
remain, 
and 
the 
spots 
accumulate 
nntil 
their 
garment 
becomes 
qui'e 
soilerl. 
Then 
at 
the 
con,'lusion 
of 
their 
course, 
when 
the 
examination 
11ay 
COllJe8. 
their 
robe 
is 
found 
to 
be 
spotted-yet 
they 
wear 
it 
stil1. 
They 
are 
not 
r11­ 
vested 
of 
that 
robe 
of 
justification. 
They 
have 
not 
ahandoned 
the 
Lord 
and 
he 
has 
not 
ahalliloned 
them. 
But 
they 
have 
failed 
to 
use 
the 
means 
which 
the 
Lord 
provi 
. 
.1ed 
for 
their 
cleansing. 
In 
the 
RevPlation 
this 
class 
is 
spoken 
of 
as 
"a 
great 
multi­ 
tude"-the 
great 
company. 
'Ve 
are 
told 
that 
they 
"will 
come 
up 
out 
of 
the 
great 
trihn1ation, 
and 
will 
wash 
their 
1'(1)(". 
alld 
make 
them 
white 
in 
the 
blood 
of 
the 
Lamb." 
Instead 
of 
doing 
a 
cleallsing 
work 
day 
by 
day, 
maintaining 
their 
jusWlcation 
with 
God 
and 
being 
ready 
for 
the 
change 
(hy 
I!lean~ 
of 
th<3ir 
faithfulness) 
they 
are, 
on 
the 
contrary, 
fOllnrl 
of 
him 
as 
un­ 
worthy 
of 
this 
chief 
place. 
Thf'ir 
rohes 
will 
not 
be 
takell 
from 
them, 
bnt 
the~' 
will 
be 
oblige,l 
to 
suffer 
grf'at 
tribulation:], 
,,,ith 
the 
view 
to 
making 
them 
rearly 
to 
wash 
a11<1 
make 
their 
"o],es 
white 
in 
the 
blood 
of 
cleansing, 
so 
that 
thl'Y, 
also, 
win 
lJe 
clothed 
in 
white 
and 
in 
their 
resnrreetioll 
bodies 
will 
be 
pure. 
Bllt 
they 
will 
attain 
this 
only 
1,y 
pasi>ing 
through 
"the 
great 
trihulation."-See 
Revelation 
7: 
9-14. 
RETURNING 
TO 
BUSINESS 
Some 
of 
our 
dear 
readers 
very 
commendably 
arranged 
their 
cerned. 
They 
are, 
properly, 
looking 
about 
them 
to 
see 
tlla 
lead· 
!affairs 
some 
time 
ago 
so 
as 
to 
give 
their 
entire 
time 
to 
the 
ings 
of 
the 
Lord's 
providence 
in 
respect 
to 
th(>ir 
futme 
opera­ 
harvest 
work, 
not 
anticipating 
the 
prolongation 
of 
the 
harvest 
tions. 
Will 
they 
plnnge 
into 
bnsiness 
so 
deeply 
as 
to 
ha?e 
-the 
gleaning 
work. 
the 
burning 
of 
the 
tares. 
the 
threshing 
little 
time 
for 
spiritn:.ll 
things¥ 
Will 
they 
become 
i<1:mtifid 
of 
the 
wheat, 
etc. 
Moreover, 
many 
of 
them 
used 
in 
the 
har· 
with 
some 
kind 
of 
speculation, 
and, 
perhaps, 
get 
others 
in­ 
vest 
work 
nearly 
all 
of 
their 
surplus 
of 
this 
world's 
goods- 
valved 
in 
what 
ultimately 
would 
be 
a 
loss 
¥ 
Or 
will 
tLey 
look 
striving 
to 
lay 
up 
treasure 
in 
heaven. 
Some 
of 
these 
dear 
for 
something 
to 
do 
in 
a 
quiet 
way 
that 
will 
ena],]e 
them 
tm 
brethren 
ani! 
sisters 
have 
nearly 
or 
quite 
gone 
to 
the 
limit 
of 
meet 
expenses, 
possibly 
being 
able 
to 
continue 
to 
SOHle 
deg"ree 
their 
possibilities, 
as 
far 
as 
present 
arrangements 
are 
con- 
in 
the 
gleaning 
work 
of 
the 
harvest' 
The 
lattar 
is 
our 
expecta· 
[5669] 
Aprit, 15, 1915 abling us to triumph over them, Falling into temptation does not mean falling in temptation—falling when tempted. But when one is temporarily overcome, whether it be a yielding to a temptation of the flesh or whether it be a wilfulness of spirit, or mind, has much to do with the nature and degree of the sin. We may not always be able to triumph fully, completely, according to the flesh, but the will must be loyal. We must triumph in the mind, otherwise we shall not be overcomers. This overcoming is a gradual work, progressing throughout our Christian course, from the moment of consecration down to the conclusion of life. But the text apparently takes hold of the conclusion, rather than the beginning or the middle of the work, and implies that the individual has at the end of the trial, the end of his race-course, this overcoming degree of righteousness, so that he may be classed as an overcomer. Such an overcomer will be clothed in white raiment. WHITE RAIMENT LOANED TO US The Scriptures give us to understand that at the very beginning of our Christian experience, we figuratively are clothed in white raiment. This white raiment represents justification —we are justified freely from all things. It is a robe without a spot. lt is sometimes spoken of as Christ’s robe of righteousness, because it comes to us through Christ. It is to be had only through him. We is able to impute to us, to loan to us, grant to us temporarily, this robe. It is spoken of as the wedding garment. At an oriental wedding, a wedding garment of white linen was used to cover over the clothing worn by each guest. It was loaned to the guest at the wedding by the host, when he appeared at the wedding-feast. White linen signifies purity. So when Christ gives us the use of his merit, it is as a white garment to cover our imperfections. It is an imputation of his righteousness, which is to us justification. We are exhorted to keep our garments unspotted from the world. The imputation of righteousness given us, we are to preserve, to maintain. But we cannot fully maintain it of ourselves. Our tongues may sometimes say things that we wish they had not said, and our hands may sometimes do things we would not desire. Hence, God has provided a way by which our blemishes or transgressions may be eradieated—those not wilful. This way is our daily application for the cleansing of these unwilling transgressions, through the precious blood. Thus we keep our garments unspotted from the world. Thus our justification, our while robe, is maintained—should be maintained. WHITE RAIMENT OUR CWN But it is not sufficient that we have the imputation of our Savior’s righteousness. This imputation is only a temporary arrangement. We need to come to the place where we shall have a righteousness of our own. Our flesh is imperfect; as St. Paul says, we cannot do the things which we would. In spite of our best endeavors things are bound to go more or less wrong. But we are to prove ourselves overcomers—‘more than conquerors.” The Lord has arranged that at the conclusion of our trial, at the end of the present life, all the overcomers shall receive the new body. This new body will be a body of actual purity. Thus, as the Apostle savs, we shall] “be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven.” So our raiment will be changed from a garment of imputed perfection, our justifieation by faith, to that which represents actual perfection. At the resurrection we shall receive that body of inherent purity, without blemish, without spot, which is here pictured as “white raiment.” ‘‘BROUGHT EEFORE THE KING’’ Furthermore, we read of each of these that the Lord “will not blot out his name out of the book of life,” in which are written the names of all those who become truly the Lord’s people, those who have made with the Lord “a covenant by sacrifice,” all who renounce their wills, who present their bodies a living sacrifice. The name of each of these is recorded, entered in the Lamb’s book of life, when he starts to live the new life, and to demonstrate his loyalty. Just as these are clothed upon with the robe of Christ’s righteousness in advance of being actually tested, so their names are written in that book in advange of being actually tested. If they do not RETURNING Some of our dear readers very commendably arranged their affairs some time ago so as to give their entire time to the harvest work, not anticipating the prolongation of the harvest —the gleaning work, the burning of the tares, the threshing of the wheat, ete. Moreover, many of them used in the harvest work nearly all of their surplus of this world’s goods— striving to lay up treasure in heaven. Some of these dear brethren and sisters have nearly or quite gone to the limit of their possibilities, as far as present arrangements are con THE WATCH TOWER (118-120) remain faithful, their names will be blotted out of that book of life. But if they are faithful their names will not be blotted out of the book of life; and they will attain all those glorious things which are promised to those who love him supremely. —Revelation 21:7. More than this, the Lord says, “I will confess their names before my father and before his angels.” The intimation here is that the overeomers will have such characters that the Lord will not be ashamed of them, but will be pleased to own them in the presence of the Father and the holy angels. We are to be “changed from glory to glory,” into the likeness of our Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18) In the end, these overeomers will each be so grandly developed that the Lord will not be ashamed to confess any of them and to say, Here is one of my followers. Here is another. They have walked in my footsteps and have overcome. But he will be ashamed of any who are ashamed of him. Of such he says, “Whosoover shali be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of Mian be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory aud in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.”’—Luke 9:26. It is not a matter of favoritism, but of character-development. If they will not endure to the end, if they do not prove overcomers, they will not be fit for the kingdom and association with their Lord. This brings wp the thought that there is another class mentioned in the Bible—the great company class, as in contrast to the little flock—or the antitypical Levite class as in ecntrast to the antitypical priestly class. The great company had their names written in the Lamb’s book of life, but they were not overcomers in the truest sense. They did not stand faithful. Because of not proving faithful, they will not be confessed before the Father and the holy angels in the saine sense as the bride class. It is stated that the bride will be presented hefore the Father, and that “the virgins, her companicns” (Psalm 45: 18-15) will be there also—but the latter will not he confessed as the bride class. We will not say that their names will be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life. Their names may remain. But those who go into the second death will surely have their names blotted out of the book; they will be destroyed with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. ROBES WASHED IN ‘‘THE GREAT TRIBULATION’’ The great company will not have the “abundant entrance” granted the little flock. And the same distinction obtains hetween these two classes in connection with ‘the white raiment. While all receive the robe of Christ’s imputed righteousness, some of them do not keep their garments “unspotted from the world.” Their white raiment becomes spotted and soiied, bedraggled by contact with the earth. Their justification, or robe of Christ’s righteousness, becomes unpresentable, When a spot comes upon it, instead of having the spot cleansed away at once, they allow it to remain, and the spots accumulate until their garment becomes quite soiled. Then at the conclusion of their course, when the examination day comes, their robe is found to be spotted—yet they wear it still. They are not divested of that robe of justification. They have not abandoned the Lord and he has not abandoned them. But they have failed to use the means which the Lord provided for their cleansing. In the Revelation this class is spoken of as “a great multitude”—the great company. We are told that they “will come up out of the great tribulation, and will wash their robes, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Tnstead of doing a cleansing work day by day, maintaining their justification with God and being ready for the change (by means cf their faithfulness) they are, on the contrary, found of him as unworthy of this chief place. Their robes will not be taken from them, but thev will be obliged to suffer great tribulations, with the view to making them ready to wash and make their ches white in the blood of cleansing, so that they, also, will be clothed in white and in their resurrection bodies will be pure. But they will attain this only by passing through “the great tribulation.”—See Revelation 7:9-14, TO BUSINESS cerned. They are, properly, looking about them to see the leadings of the Lord’s providence in respect to their future operations. Will they plunge into business so deeply as to have little time for spiritual things? Will they become identified with some kind of speculation, and, perhaps, get others involved in what ultimately would be a loss? Or will they look for something to do in a quiet way that will enable them to meet expenses, possibly being able to continue to some degree in the gleaning work of the harvest? The latter is our expecta [56693

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