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JUNS
I,
1916
THE
WATCH
TOWER
(169-179)
identified
more
or
less
with
hate,
resentment,
anger,
malice?
If
lovely,
it
may
pass
on.
If
not,
it
must
be
immediately
ex
pelled,
not
permitted
to
go
further,
to
do
harm
to
ourselves
and
to
others.
(4)
Is
it
repuLallle?
This
cannot
mean:
Is
the
thing
well
spoken
of
by
the
world?
For
the
Apostle
himself
and
our
Lord
Jesus
were
reviled
by
the
world,
who
said
all
man
ner
of
evil
against
them
falsely.
The
word
reputable
here
must
be
taken
to
mean
that
which
would
be
thought
well
of
by
all
reputable
people,
if
they
knew
and
understood
every
thing
connected
with
the
thought.
(5)
Has
the
thought
any
virtue,
or
is
it
in
any
sense
of
the
word
praiseworthy?
If
so,
it
may
be
admitted.
If
not,
it
should
be
repelled;
for
even
if
it
be
blameless
otherwise,
that
fact
that
it
is
not
of
any
value
is
a
reason
for
its
re-
jection.
We
have
no
time
and
no
place
for
things
that
are
merely
not
b3d.
'Ve
desire
to
have
in
our
hearts
and
our
minds
things
that
are
positively
good,
helpful,
beneficial
in
some
way.
Otherwise,
the
thought
should
be
repelled
as
a
mere
cum
be
reI'
of
the
ground
of
our
hearts,
of
Our
minds,
needed
for
profitable
things.
Much
novel
reading
is
of
this
character-not
evil,
but
not
advantageous,
not
upbuilding.
Whatever
we
may
be
naturally,
the
people
of
God
who
follow
the
instructions
of
the
divine
Word
surely
become
noble
people,
helpful
people,
possessed
of
the
spirit
of
a
sound
mind;
and
these
things
will
be
only
a
part
of
their
prepara
tion
for
the
kingdom
and
for
the
great
work
then
to
be
en
trusted
to
them
as
the
servants
of
God
under
their
Redeemer
and
Head.
HARVEST
GATHERINGS
AND
SIFTINGS
[Reprint
of
article
which
appeared
in
is,lle
of
July
Iii.
1906.
whic'h
please
spe.l
THE
SCOPE
OF
THE
ABRAHAMIC
COVENANT
Question.-Which
is
the
greater,
the
Abrahamic
Covenant
or
the
New
Covenant?
Answer.-The
Abrahamic
Covenant
is
an
all-embracing
arrangement.
Everything
that
God
has
done
and
will
yet
do
for
our
race
is
included
in
that
Abrahamic
Covenant.
The
Law
Covenant
of
Israel
was
added
to
this
Covenant
"because
of
transgression."
Although
only
a
typical
arrangement,
nevertheless
the
Law
Covenant
developed
a
certain
faithful
class,
to
be
made
"prince;;;
in
all
the
earth"
during
the
Ylil
lennial
age.
This
Covenant
was
represented
by
Hagar;
and
her
son
Ishmael
represented
the
nation
of
Israel.
(Galatian'!
4
:21-31)
The
Christ,
the
new
creation
class,
was
represented
in
Isaac,
Sarah's
son.
Sarah,
Abraham's
first
wife,
repre
sented
that
part
of
the
Abrahamic
Covenant
which
pertained
to
the
spiritual
seed,
the
new
creation,
that
which
we
some
times
speak
of
as
the
Sarah
Covenant.
This
Sarah
Covenant
-the
Grace
Covenant,
the
Covenant
of
Sacrifice
(Psalm
50:
5)
-brings
forth
the
Isaac
class,
the
church,
Head
and
body.
Even
as
Isaac
was
not
born
after
the
flesh
in
the
ordinary
sense
(Abraham
and
Sarah
being
too
old
naturally),
but
was
a
special
creation,
so
with
The
Christ
company,
the
church.
This
"Isaac"
clas'!
is
developed
as
a
distinctly
new
creation,
formed
from
members
of
the
fallen
human
race.
The
divine
invitation
to
these
is
to
present
their
bodies
living
sacrifices.
Tht'y
sacrifice
their
human
nature
that
they
may
attain
with
their
Head,
the
anti
typical
"Isaac,"
the
divine
nature-some
thing
never
befme
offered.
After
this
new
creation
is
com
pleted,
the
blessing
indicated
in
God's
Promise
to
Abraham
will
reach
all
the
families
of
the
earth.
It
will
reach
them,
first
through
the
"Isaac"
seed,
the
new
creation,
and
secondly,
through
the
Ancient
Worthies,
developed
in
the
ages
preceding
this
age,
under
God's
typical
arrangements.
All
kindreds
and
families
of
the
earth
will
be
blessed
bv
the
privilege
or
opportunity
to
become
children
of
Abraham,
children
of
God,
whom
Abraham
represented
in
a
figure.
"1
have
made
thee
a
father
of
many
nations
(Genesis
17:
5;
Romans
4:
17),
said
the
Lord
to
Abraham-"In
becoming
thy
seed
shall
all
the
nations
of
the
earth
bless
themselves."
These
will
be
blessed
under
the
New
Covenant,
an
arrangement
whereby
the
Abrahamic
Covenant
will
be
fulfilled
as
relates
to
Israel
and
to
all.
The
Abrahamic
Covenant,
then,
embraces
all
the
other
Covenants,
those
Covenants
being
merely
different
features
of
God's
arrangements
by
which
the
work
implied
in
the
great
Abrahamic
Covenant
or
promise
is
to
be
accomplished.
As
we
have
elsewhere
previously
shown,
Abraham
took
another
wife,
after
the
death
of
Sarah-Keturah.
By
her
he
had
many
sons
and
daughters.
Thus
the
New
Covenant
is
typed
and
its
grand
work
of
bringing
many
to
life-:o
"the
liberty
of
the
song
of
God."-Roman~
H:IH.
~l.
r
,
CL.
XXXVII
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
JUNE
15,
1916
HOW
THE
GREAT
APOSTASY
WILL
BE
OVERRULED
~o.
1~
"They
rl'cI'i11ed
not
the
love
of
the
truth,
that
they
might
be
saved.
And
for
this
cause
God
sendeth
them
a
'Working
of
errO'r,
that
they
should
believe
a
lie
j
that
they
aU
might
be
judged
who
believed
not
the
truth,
but
had
pkasure
in
unrighteousness."-2
Thessalonians
2:
10-12.
Rev.
Vel'.
The
Bible
helps
of
our
day
are
so
numerous
and
aecessible,
Again
the
Master
declared
in
Revelation,
when
telling
us
and
the
words
in
the
original
Scriptures
translated
Hell,
so
about
the
consummation
of
the
Gospel
age
and
in
the
inaugura
clearly
shown
in
these
helps,
that
there
is
no
reason
why
an
tion
of
the
age
to
follow,
that
at
that
time
Satan
should
be
honest
student
of
the
Word
of
God
may
not
see
clearly
what
the
bound
for
a
thousand
years,
that
he
should
deceive
the
nations
Bible
teaches
on
this
subject.
We
are
not
to
lay
upon
our
God
no
more
until
the
thousand
years
were
finished-thus
intimat
the
responsibility
for
the
erroneous
thought
on
the
subject
of
ing
that
prior
to
that
time
the
people
of
the
world
had
been
future
punishment;
for
he
is
not
the
Author
of
sin
or
dark-
deceived
by
him
right
along.
Satan
started
his
lies
very
ness
or
error
in
any
form.
All
his
work
is
perfect;
he
is
"right-
early.
His
first
great
lie
was
told
to
our
:Mother
Eve,
away
eous
altogether,"
his
name
is
LOVE.
Such
being
the
case
he
back
in
Eden.
(Genesis
3:4,
5;
2
Corinthhns
1l:3)
The
lie
wow.ld
never
create
any
being
to
torture
it
forever.
Nor
does
that
he
told
to
Mother
Eve
he
has
ever
sime
very
assiduously
the
responsibility
for
doctrinal
error
rest
entirely
upon
hu-
propagated;
namely,
"Ye
shall
not
surely
die"-God
has
de
manity,
who
have
no
doubt
been
more
ignorant
than
wilful
in
c~ived
you;
nobody
dies;
what
is
called
death
is
only
the
drop
respeet
to
this
error
of
doctrine,
though
there
seems
to
have
pmg.
of
~he
mortal
body
as
of
~
worn-out
dres~;
merely
the
been
a
measure
of
wilfulness
on
the
part
of
mankind.
passmg
m.to
another
form
~f
hfe-a
mo,:,e
deSIrable
chang~.
The
Apostle
Paul,
in
the
first
chapter
of
Romans,
de-
But
t~e
BIble
has
all
the
whIle
been
assurIng
us
that
death
IS
dares
that
when
men
knew
God,
they
worshiped
him
not
as
a.
realIty,
that
death
means
death.
God,
and
did
not
wish
to
retain
the
knowledge
of
him
in
their
SIN'S
RAPID
DEVELOPMEN'r
UP
TO
THE
FLOOD
minds,
but
willingly
departed
from
him.
(Romans
1:
18-28)
There
is
an
irreconcilable
conflict
between
the
words
of
This
s,~n:,e
Apos~le
elsewh~re
assur~s
us
that
"the
~od
of
th~s
Satan
and
the
declaration
of
God.
But
God
has
permitted
man
world,
the
prmce
of
thIS
world,
Satan,
who
fell
from
hIS
to
a
large
extent
to
go
his
own
way,
just
as
St.
Paul
inti
holy
estate
and
became
the
adversary
of
God
through
unholy
mates
in
Romans
already
cited.
Mankind
did
not
desire
to
ambition,
has
blinded
the
mind~
of
mankind.
(2
Corinthians
retain
God
in
their
knowledge,
so
for
a
time
he
has
permitted
4:4;
John
12:31;
14:30)
He
IS
the
great
deceIver,
of
whom
them
to
work
all
manner
of
uncleanness.
(Romans
1:28-32)
the
Lord
said,
"He
was
a
murderer
from
the
beginning
[of
But
while
he
has
allowed
the
world
liberty
in
regard
to
their
man's
creation]
and
abode
not
in
the
truth,
because
there
is
no
own
wills,
nevertheless
he
has
not
ab3ndoned
them.
From
the
truth
in
him.
When
he
speaketh
a
lie,
he
speaketh
of
his
own;
beginning
God
has
purposed
that
in
due
time,
after
mankind
for
he
is
a
liar
and
the
father
of
it."-John
8:44.
have
learned
the
needed
lesson,
they
shall
be
delivered
from
sin
[5909]
June 1, 1916 THE identified more or less with hate, resentment, anger, malice? If lovely, it may pass on. If not, it must be immediately expelled, not permitted to go further, to do harm to ourselves and to others. (4) Is it reputable? This cannot mean: Is the thing well spoken of by the world? For the Apostle himself and our Lord Jesus were reviled by the world, who said all manner of evil against them falsely. The word reputable here must be taken to mean that which would be thought well of by all reputable people, if they knew and understood everything connected with the thought. (5) Has the thought any virtue, or is it in any sense of the word praiseworthy? If so, it may be admitted. If not, it should be repelled; for even if it be blameless otherwise, that fact that it is not of any value is a reason for its re WATCH TOWER (169-179) jection. We have no time and no place for things that are merely not bad. We desire to have in our hearts and our minds things that are positively good, helpful, beneficial in some way. Otherwise, the thought should be repelled as a mere cumberer of the ground of our hearts, of our minds, needed for profitable things. Much novel reading is of this character—not evil, but not advantageous, not upbuilding, Whatever we may be naturally, the people of God who follow the instructions of the divine Word surely become noble people, helpful people, possessed of the spirit of a sound mind; and these things will be only a part of their preparation for the kingdom and for the great work then to be entrusted to them as the servants of God under their Redeemer and Head. HARVEST GATHERINGS AND SIFTINGS {Reprint of article which appeared in issue of July 15, 1906. which please see.] THE SCOPE OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT Question.—Which is the greater, the Abrahamic Covenant or the New Covenant? Answer.—The Abrahamic Covenant is an all-embracing arrangement. Everything that God has done and will yet do for our race is included in that Abrahamic Covenant. The Law Covenant of Israel was added to this Covenant ‘‘because of transgression.” Although only a typical arrangement, nevertheless the Law Covenant developed a certain faithful class, to be made “princes in all the earth” during the Millennial age. This Covenant was represented by Hagar; and her son Ishmael represented the nation of Israel. (Galatians 4:21-31) The Christ, the new creation class, was represented in Isaac, Sarah’s son. Sarah, Abraham’s first wife, represented that part of the Abrahamic Covenant which pertained to the spiritual seed, the new creation, that which we sometimes speak of as the Sarah Covenant. This Sarah Covenant —the Grace Covenant, the Covenant of Sacrifice (Psalm 50:5) —brings forth the Isaac class, the church, Head and body. Even as Isaac was not born after the flesh in the ordinary sense (Abraham and Sarah being too old naturally), but was a special creation, so with The Christ company, the church. This “Isaac” class is developed as a distinctly new creation, formed from members of the fallen human race. The divine invitation to these is to present their bodies living sacrifices. They sacrifice their human nature that they may attain with Vout. XAXXVIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., JUNE 15, 1916 their Head, the antitypical “Isaac,” the divine nature—something never before offered. After this new creation is completed, the blessing indicated in God’s Promise to Abraham will reach all the families of the earth. It will reach them, first through the “Isaac” seed, the new creation, and secondly, through the Ancient Worthies, developed in the ages preceding this age, under God’s typical arrangements. All kindreds and families of the earth will be blessed by the privilege or opportunity to become children of Abraham, children of God, whom Abraham represented in a figure. ‘“‘T have made thee a father of many nations (Genesis 17:5; Romans 4:17), said the Lord to Abraham—‘In becoming thy seed shall all the nations of the earth bless themselves.” These will be blessed under the New Covenant, an arrangement whereby the Abrahamic Covenant will be fulfilled as relates to Israel and to all. The Abrahamic Covenant, then, embraces all the other Covenants, those Covenants being merely different features of God’s arrangements by which the work implied in the great Abrahamic Covenant or promise is to be accomplished. As we have elsewhere previously shown, Abraham took another wife, after the death of Sarah—Keturah. By her he had many sons and daughters. Thus the New Covenant is typed and its grand work of bringing many to life—‘o “the liberty of the sons of God.”—Romans 8:19, 2]. No. 12 HOW THE GREAT APOSTASY WILL BE OVERRULED > “They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God sendeth them a working of error, that they should believe a lie; that they all might be judged who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”—2 Thessalonians 2:10-12. The Bible helps of our day are so numerous and accessible, and the words in the original Scriptures translated Hell, so clearly shown in these helps, that there is no reason why an honest student of the Word of God may not see clearly what the Bible teaches on this subject. We are not to lay upon our God the responsibility for the erroneous thought on the subject of future punishment; for he is not the Author of sin or darkness or error in any form. All his work is perfect; he is “righteous altogether,” his name is LOVE. Such being the case he would never create any being to torture it forever. Nor does the responsibility for doctrinal error rest entirely upon humanity, who have no doubt been more ignorant than wilful in respect to this error of doctrine, though there seems to have been a measure of wilfulness on the part of mankind. The Apostle Paul, in the first chapter of Romans, declares that when men knew God, they worshiped him not as God, and did not wish to retain the knowledge of him in their minds, but willingly departed from him. (Romans 1:18-28) This same Apostle elsewhere assures us that “the god of this world,” “the prince of this world,” Satan, who fell from his holy estate and became the adversary of God through unholy ambition, has blinded the minds of mankind. (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:31; 14:30) He is the great deceiver, of whom the Lord said, “He was a murderer from the beginning [of man’s creation] and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own; for he is a liar and the father of it.’—John 8:44. Rev. Ver. Again the Master declared in Revelation, when telling us about the consummation of the Gospel age and in the inauguration of the age to follow, that at that time Satan should be bound for a thousand years, that he should deceive the nations no more until the thousand years were finished—thus intimating that prior to that time the people of the world had been deceived by him right along. Satan started his lies very early. His first great lie was told to our Mother Eve, away back in Eden. (Genesis 3:4, 5; 2 Corinthians 11:3) The lie that he told to Mother Eve he has ever since very assiduously propagated; namely, “Ye shall not surely die’—-God has deceived you; nobody dies; what is called death is only the dropping of the mortal body as of a worn-out dress; merely the passing into another form of life—a more desirable change. But the Bible has all the while been assuring us that death is a reality, that death means death. SIN’S RAPID DEVELOPMENT UP TO THE FLOOD There is an irreconcilable conflict between the words of Satan and the declaration of God. But God has permitted man to a large extent to go his own way, just as St. Paul intimates in Romans, already cited. Mankind did not desire to retain God in their knowledge, so for a time he has permitted them to work all manner of uncleanness. (Romans 1:28-32) But while he has allowed the world liberty in regard to their own wills, nevertheless he has not abandoned them. From the beginning God has purposed that in due time, after mankind have learned the needed lesson, they shall be delivered from sin [5909]
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