Publication date
10/15/16
Volume
37
Number
20
The WatchTower
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../literature/watchtower/1916/20/1916-20-1.html
 
 
VOL. 
XXXVII 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
OCTOBER 
15, 
1916 
WHAT 
WE 
PREACH 
AND 
TEACH 
No. 
20 
"For 
I 
determined 
not 
to 
know 
anything 
among 
you, 
SCWe 
Jesus 
Christ, 
and 
him 
erucified."-1 
Corinthians 
2 
:2. 
At 
no 
time 
in 
the 
church's 
history 
has 
our 
great 
adversary 
be 
blamed 
for 
rejecting 
the 
old 
theory 
that 
God 
first 
made 
a 
bef'n 
so 
active 
in 
multiplying 
false 
doctrines 
and 
in 
diverting 
roasting 
Hell, 
and 
then 
made 
a 
race, 
knowing 
that 
all 
would 
attention 
from 
the 
truth 
by 
introducing 
unprofitable 
and 
spend 
an 
awful 
eternity 
there, 
eXe'f'pt 
the 
few 
who 
would 
hear 
irrelevant 
questions 
as 
at 
present. 
Just 
when 
the 
exaltation 
of 
Christ 
and 
become 
saints. 
This 
blasphemy 
against 
our 
and 
glory 
of 
the 
church 
are 
soon 
to 
be 
accomplished, 
and 
when 
Creator's 
holy 
name 
needs 
to 
be 
rebuked. 
The 
pl>ople 
need 
to 
the 
faithful 
are 
about 
to 
be 
received 
into 
the 
joy 
of 
their 
be 
taught 
what 
the 
educated 
clergy 
and 
laity 
already 
know­ 
Lord, 
every 
device 
is 
resorted 
to, 
to 
beguile 
them 
of 
their 
that 
the 
only 
Hebrew 
word 
translated 
"hell" 
is 
SHEOL, 
and 
reward 
and 
to 
frustrate 
this 
feature 
of 
the 
divine 
plan. 
To 
that 
its 
Grl'ek 
equivalent 
is 
HADES, 
and 
that 
neither 
word 
rC'ally 
frustrate 
any 
part 
of 
the 
divine 
plan 
is 
impossible: 
signifies 
a 
place 
of 
torment, 
but 
the 
tomb, 
the 
grave, 
the 
state 
God 
has 
purposed 
to 
take 
out 
from 
among 
men 
a 
Little 
Flock, 
of 
unconsciousness, 
in 
which 
both 
good 
and 
bad 
must 
remain 
"n, 
people 
for 
his 
name," 
a 
royal 
priesthood; 
and 
such 
a 
after 
death 
until 
the 
resurrection, 
which 
is 
to 
follow 
the 
company 
is 
assuredly 
being 
gathered; 
but 
whether 
all 
of 
those 
second 
coming 
of 
the 
Redeemer. 
now 
in 
the 
race 
for 
the 
prize 
will 
surely 
be 
of 
that 
number, 
The 
literature 
of 
the 
WATCH 
TowF.R 
BIBLE 
AND 
TRACT 
is 
still 
an 
open 
question. 
Take 
hf'ed, 
beloved, 
that 
no 
m 
1n 
SOCIETY 
has 
helped 
thousands 
along 
this 
line. 
as 
we 
go 
into 
take 
thy 
crown. 
(Revelation 
3: 
11) 
If 
any 
come 
short 
of 
their 
details 
of 
explanation 
of 
the 
parables, 
dark 
sayings 
and 
privileges 
and 
prove 
unworthy 
of 
the 
inheritance, 
there 
are 
symboJi.sms 
of 
the 
Bible, 
which 
other 
Bible 
teachers 
do 
not 
others 
who 
will 
fill 
their 
places. 
find 
time 
for, 
with 
their 
many 
and 
varied 
cares 
connected 
We 
be,eech 
you, 
brethren, 
a, 
you 
value 
the 
glorious 
hope 
with 
modern 
church 
activity. 
In 
a 
word, 
the 
work 
of 
our 
set 
before 
you 
in 
the 
Gospel, 
that 
you 
give 
no 
heed 
to 
seduc· 
Society 
is 
conducted 
on 
the 
belief 
that 
the 
Bible 
is 
divinely 
ing 
spirit, 
and 
doctrines 
of 
devils. 
a, 
the 
Apostle 
terms 
them 
inspired, 
and 
that 
we 
are 
now 
living 
in 
the 
wonderful 
day, 
(I 
Timothy 
4: 
I 
); 
but 
that, 
with 
fixedness 
of 
purpose, 
you 
mentioned 
by 
the 
prophets, 
when 
"the 
wise 
shall 
undersbnd." 
apply 
yourselve, 
to 
the 
one 
thing 
to 
which 
you 
are 
called 
and 
when 
they 
sh.all 
receive 
"meat 
in 
due 
season" 
from 
Go(l's 
are 
privileged 
to 
do 
as 
prospective 
members 
of 
that 
royal 
wonderful 
Book. 
By 
the 
''wise'' 
we 
mean, 
of 
course, 
those 
who 
priesthood. 
Let 
us 
never 
forget 
that 
we 
are 
a 
"peculiar 
are 
wise 
toward 
God, 
not 
the 
worldly-wise. 
people." 
separate 
from 
the 
great 
body 
of 
nominal 
Christians, 
OUR 
VIEWS 
OF 
THE 
MILLENNIUM 
as 
well 
as 
from 
the 
world, 
having 
higher 
hopes, 
aims 
and 
If 
our 
underEtanding 
of 
the 
Bible's 
teaching 
is 
correct, 
we 
ambitions 
and 
favored 
with 
a 
clearer 
insight 
into 
the 
deep 
arc 
on 
the 
threshold 
of 
the 
Millennium. 
And 
this 
fact 
ex- 
things 
of 
God, 
having 
been 
called 
out 
of 
our 
former 
darkness 
plains 
not 
only 
the 
progress 
of 
invention 
and 
natural 
science, 
into 
his 
marvelous 
light. 
And 
if 
thus 
separate 
from 
the 
world 
but 
also 
the 
finishing 
of 
the 
mystery 
respecting 
God's 
gracious 
and 
from 
Christians 
who 
partake 
largely 
of 
the 
spirit 
of 
the 
purposes 
for 
our 
race, 
foretold 
in 
the 
Bible 
in 
symbols 
and 
world, 
what 
wonder 
if 
we 
find 
them 
all 
out 
of 
harmony 
with 
types. 
However, 
our 
expectations 
of 
the 
Millennium 
are 
us, 
and 
either 
ignoring 
or 
opposing 
us! 
along 
different 
lines 
than 
some 
might 
suppose. 
We 
find 
no 
OPPOSITION 
TO 
BE 
EXPECTED 
Scriptures 
to 
teach 
that 
the 
world 
will 
be 
converted 
by 
our 
Such 
opposition 
is 
to 
be 
expected 
and 
will, 
doubtless, 
con- 
commendable 
missionary 
efforts 
or 
any 
other 
efforts. 
To 
11'> 
tinue 
until 
we 
finish 
our 
course 
in 
death. 
To 
submit 
patiently 
the 
Bible 
teaches 
that 
the 
conwrsion 
of 
the 
world 
will 
follow 
to 
thi, 
opposition 
is 
to 
sacrifice 
our 
own 
natural 
preferences 
the 
second 
advent 
of 
our 
Redeemer 
to 
gather 
his 
elect 
church 
fOT 
the 
friend,hip 
and 
the 
pleasures 
of 
the 
present 
life, 
and 
to 
(the 
saints 
out 
of 
all 
denominations), 
that 
they. 
changed 
to 
endure 
hardne,s 
as 
good 
soldiers 
for 
the 
truth's 
sake, 
in 
what· 
the 
spirit 
nature, 
may 
be, 
under 
their 
Lord 
and 
Head, 
the 
I'veI' 
Shapl' 
that 
hardness 
may 
come, 
in 
our 
effort 
to 
do 
the 
teachers, 
guides 
and 
helpers 
of 
the 
remaindpr 
of 
the 
race- 
Lord's 
will 
and 
work 
of 
advancing 
the 
interests 
of 
his 
king· 
those 
now 
dead 
as 
well 
as 
the 
living 
nations-to 
uplift 
all 
the 
dom. 
This 
is 
what 
is 
meant 
by 
the 
presenting 
of 
our 
bodies 
willing 
and 
obedient 
from 
sin 
and 
death 
to 
perfection 
and 
living 
sacrifices 
in 
the 
divine 
service. 
To 
be 
really 
in 
this 
everlasting 
life 
on 
earth, 
which 
will 
then, 
during 
those 
timl's 
service 
involves, 
First. 
the 
careful 
and 
continual 
study 
of 
of 
resUtution, 
become 
Paradise 
restored. 
God's 
plan; 
Second, 
the 
imbibing 
of 
its 
spirit; 
leading, 
Statistics 
agree 
that 
the 
Millennium 
is 
not 
wming 
by 
the 
Thirdly, 
to 
an 
enthusia,tic 
zeal 
for 
its 
accomplishment, 
and 
conversion 
of 
the 
heathen; 
for 
there 
are 
twice 
as 
many 
today 
to 
aC'tivity 
to 
the 
extent 
of 
ability 
in 
its 
service, 
at 
whatever 
as 
there 
were 
a 
century 
ago, 
notwithstanding 
all 
our 
mis- 
cast 
or 
sacrifice 
it 
may 
require. 
sionary 
efforts. 
On 
the 
contr.ary, 
we 
mmt 
agree 
that 
the 
If 
we 
are 
faithful 
in 
this 
service 
we 
have 
no 
time, 
nor 
have 
signs 
of 
the 
time9 
presage 
the 
near 
approach 
of 
the 
culmina- 
\\'1' 
the 
disposition, 
to 
give 
heed 
either 
to 
false 
doctrines 
or 
tion 
of 
the 
great 
"time 
of 
trouble 
such 
as 
never 
was 
since 
to 
other 
themes 
whic'h 
have 
no 
bearing 
on 
the 
one 
thing 
to 
there 
was 
a 
nation," 
by 
which, 
the 
Scriptures 
assure 
us, 
Mes­ 
which 
we 
have 
solemnly 
dedicated 
our 
lives. 
Our 
time 
is 
not 
siah's 
kingdom 
will 
be 
ushered 
in, 
to 
"bless 
all 
the 
families 
our 
own 
if 
we 
have 
dedicated 
all 
to 
God; 
.and 
consequently, 
of 
the 
earth." 
we 
have 
none 
to 
spare 
for 
the 
investigation 
of 
fanciful 
false 
SCRIPTURAL 
TERMS 
AND 
SCRIPTUR.A.L 
ORDINATION 
theories, 
built 
upon 
other 
foundations 
than 
that 
laid 
down 
in 
Perhaps 
we 
should 
explain 
that 
we 
do 
not 
recognize 
as 
thl' 
Scriptures. 
~either 
have 
we 
time 
to 
devote 
to 
the 
ideas 
Biblical 
the 
terms 
"clergy" 
and 
"laity," 
nor 
the 
titles 
and 
pursuit» 
which 
engross 
the 
world's 
attention, 
many 
of 
"Reverend," 
"Doctor 
of 
Divinity," 
and 
other 
similar 
appella- 
wll1('h 
are 
harm!('ss 
in 
them,elves, 
but 
would 
be 
harmful 
to 
tions 
now 
in 
vogue. 
This, 
however, 
does 
not 
lead 
us 
to 
dis- 
u, 
if 
we 
were 
to 
allow 
tlH'm 
to 
occupy 
consecrated 
time 
and 
fellowship 
those 
who 
differ 
from 
Ug. 
We 
u,e 
the 
Scriptural 
divprt 
our 
attention 
from 
the 
one 
thing 
we 
ought 
to 
be 
doing. 
terms 
"Pastor" 
"Evangeliot" 
"Teacher" 
"Elder" 
"Deacon" 
The 
A 
po,tlc 
warns 
us 
to 
"shun 
profane 
babblings, 
for 
they 
will 
etc., 
and 
recognize 
that 
ail' 
of 
God's 
c~nsecrated 
people 
a;e 
in('rease 
unto 
more 
ungodliness"; 
but 
adds, 
"Study 
to 
show 
ministers-that 
is, 
servants--each 
authorized 
to 
serVe 
his 
thyself 
approved 
unto 
God, 
a 
workman 
that 
needeth 
not 
to 
be 
brethren 
as 
his 
talent 
mwy 
permit 
and 
as 
the 
brethren 
may 
ashamed, 
rightly 
dividing 
the 
word 
of 
truth." 
"Teach 
no 
desire. 
As 
for 
ordination, 
we 
cannot 
accept 
as 
Scriptural 
the 
othl'r 
doctrine; 
neither 
give 
heed 
to 
fables 
and 
endless 
theory 
of 
the 
"Apostolic 
Succession," 
and 
that 
the 
specific 
genealogiC's. 
which 
minister 
questions 
rather 
than 
godly 
edify. 
power 
or 
authority 
comes 
from 
men 
to 
men. 
We 
hold 
that 
the 
ing 
"hich 
is 
in 
faith."-2 
Timothy 
2: 
15, 
16; 
1 
Timothy 
anointing 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit 
alone 
gives 
the 
power 
and 
the 
I: 
3, 
4. 
authority 
to 
understand 
and 
explain 
the 
Scriptures. 
NOT 
HIGHER 
CRITICISM 
NOR 
EVOLUTION 
Ours 
is 
not 
the 
gospel 
of 
the 
Higher 
Critics 
and 
Evolu- 
HOW 
ERRORS 
OF 
THE 
pAST 
CREPT 
IN 
tioni,ts. 
We 
cheerfully 
accord 
these 
friends 
of 
a 
modern 
The 
Editor 
is 
being 
attacked 
at 
present 
by 
.about 
one· 
gospel 
their 
liberty 
to 
believe 
as 
they 
think 
proper, 
remind· 
fourth 
of 
all 
the 
ministers 
of 
the 
world, 
simply 
because 
we 
inO' 
them, 
however, 
of 
the 
warning 
words 
of 
the 
Apostle 
Paul 
preach 
the 
Bible 
message 
voiced 
by 
the 
angel 
at 
the 
birth 
of 
in"Galatians 
1 
:6-!). 
Our 
own 
faith 
is 
firmly 
planted 
on 
the 
Jesus: 
"Behold, 
I 
bring 
you 
gQOd 
tidings 
of 
great 
joy, 
which 
Bible 
as 
the 
only 
divine 
revelation 
of 
the 
will 
and 
plan 
of 
shall 
be 
unto 
ALL 
PEOPLE!" 
(Luke 
2: 
10, 
11) 
That 
good 
our 
Creator. 
But 
this 
does 
not 
mean 
that 
we 
believe 
the 
Bible 
message 
of 
God's 
love 
and 
of 
his 
merci.ful 
provision 
in 
Jesus' 
to 
teach 
all 
that 
our 
well-meaning 
forefathers 
of 
the 
dark 
ages 
death 
for 
the 
sins 
of 
the 
whole 
world 
began 
to 
be 
lost 
sight 
supposed 
were 
its 
doctrines. 
'Ve 
find 
that 
they 
burned 
one 
of 
in 
the 
close 
of 
the 
second 
century. 
The 
doctrine 
of 
another 
at 
the 
stake 
for 
disbelieving 
things 
that 
the 
Bible 
"Apostolic 
Succession" 
led 
the 
people 
of 
that 
time 
to 
respect 
does 
not 
teach. 
the 
bishops 
as 
successors 
to 
the 
divinely-ordained 
twelve-St. 
The 
growing 
scepticism 
of 
today 
regarding 
God 
and 
the 
Paul, 
and 
not 
Matthias, 
taking 
the 
place 
of 
Judas. 
Bible, 
we 
find, 
i, 
generally 
the 
outgrowth 
of 
a 
misunderstand· 
It 
is 
not 
to 
be 
wondered 
at, 
that 
at 
a 
time 
when 
ability 
to 
ing 
of 
the 
Bible's 
teaching 
respecting 
Hell. 
No 
sane 
man 
can 
read 
was 
not 
general, 
when 
Bibles 
were 
few 
and 
expensive, 
(307-308) 
[5970] 
Vou. XXXVII BROOKLYN, N. Y., OCTOBER 15, 1916 No. 20 WHAT WE PREACH AND TEACH “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.”—1 Corinthians 2:2. At no time in the church’s history has our great adversary been so active in multiplying false doctrines and in diverting attention from the truth by introducing unprofitable and irrelevant questions as at present, Just when the exaltation and glory of the church are soon to be accomplished, and when the faithful are about to be received into the joy of their Lord, every device is resorted to, to beguile them of their reward and to frustrate this feature of the divine plan. To really frustrate any part of the divine plan is impossible: God has purposed to take out from among men a Little Flock, “a people for his name,” a royal priesthood; and such a company is assuredly being gathered; but whether all of those now in the race for the prize will surely be of that number, is still an open question. Take heed, beloved, that no min take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11) If any come short of their privileges and prove unworthy of the inheritance, there are others who will fill their places. We beseech you, brethren, as you value the glorious hope set before you in the Gospel, that you give no heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, as the Apostle terms them (1 Timothy 4:1); but that, with fixedness of purpose, you apply yourselves to the one thing to which you are called and are privileged to do as prospective members of that royal priesthood. Let us never forget that we are a “peculiar people.” separate from the great body of nominal Christians, as well as from the world, having higher hopes, aims and ambitions and favored with a clearer insight into the deep things of God, having been called out of our former darkness into his marvelous light. And if thus separate from the world and from Christians who partake largely of the spirit of the world, what wonder if we find them all out of harmony with us, and either ignoring or opposing us! OPPOSITION TO BE EXPECTED Such opposition is to be expected and will, doubtless, continue until we finish our course in death. To submit patiently to this opposition is to sacrifice our own natural preferences for the friendship and the pleasures of the present life, and to endure hardness as good soldiers for the truth’s sake, in whatever shape that hardness may come, in our effort to do the Lord’s will and work of advancing the interests of his kingdom. This is what is meant by the presenting of our bodies living sacrifices in the divine service. To be really in this service involves, First, the careful and continua] study of God’s plan; Second, the imbibing of its spirit; leading, Thirdly, to an enthusiastic zeal for its accomplishment, and to activity to the extent of ability in its service, at whatever cost or sacrifice it may require. If we are faithful in this service we have no time, nor have we the disposition, to give heed either to false doctrines or to other themes which have no bearing on the one thing to which we have solemnly dedicated our lives. Our time is not our own if we have dedicated all to God; and consequently, we have none to spare for the investigation of fanciful false theories, built upon other foundations than that laid down in the Scriptures. Neither have we time to devote to the ideas and pursuits which engross the world’s attention, many of wiuch are harmless in themselves, but would be harmful to us if we were to allow them to occupy consecrated time and divert our attention from the one thing we ought to be doing. The Apostle warns us to “shun profane babblings, for they will increase unto more ungodliness”; but adds, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” “Teach no other doctrine; neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith.”—2 Timothy 2:15, 16; 1 Timothy 1:3, 4. NOT HIGHER CRITICISM NOR EVOLUTION Ours is not the gospel of the Higher Critics and Evolutionists. We cheerfully accord these friends of a modern gospel their liberty to believe as they think proper, reminding them, however, of the warning words of the Apostle Paul in Galatians 1:6-9. Our own faith is firmly planted on the Bible as the only divine revelation of the will and plan of our Creator. But this does not mean that we believe the Bible to teach all that our well-meaning forefathers of the dark ages supposed were its doctrines. We find that they burned one another at the stake for disbelieving things that the Bible does not teach. The growing scepticism of today regarding God and the Bible, we find, is generally the outgrowth of a misunderstanding of the Bible’s teaching respecting Hell. No sane man can (307-308) be blamed for rejecting the old theory that God first made a roasting Hell, and then made a race, knowing that all would spend an awful eternity there, except the few who would hear ef Christ and become saints. This blasphemy against our Creator’s holy name needs to be rebuked. The people need to be taught what the educated clergy and laity already know— that the only Hebrew word translated “hell” is SHEOL, and that its Greek equivalent is HADES, and that neither word signifies a place of torment, but the tomb, the grave, the state of unconsciousness, in which both good and bad must remain after death until the resurrection, which is to follow the second coming of the Redeemer. The literature of the Warcu Tower BiIBLe AND TRACT Sociery has helped thousands along this line. as we go into details of explanation of the parables, dark sayings and symbolisms of the Bible, which other Bible teachers do not find time for, with their many and varied cares connected with modern church activity. In a word, the work of our Society is conducted on the belief that the Bible is divinely inspired, and that we are now living in the wonderful day, mentioned by the prophets, when “the wise shall understand,” when they shall receive “meat in due season” from God’s wonderful Book. By the “wise” we mean, of course, those who are wise toward God, not the worldly-wise. OUR VIEWS OF THE MILLENNIUM If our understanding of the Bible’s teaching is correct, we are on the threshold of the Millennium. And this fact explains not only the progress of invention and natural science, but also the finishing of the mystery respecting God’s gracious purposes for our race, foretold in the Bible in symbols and types. However, our expectations of the Millennium are along different lines than some might suppose. We find no Scriptures to teach that the world will be converted by our commendable missionary efforts or any other efforts. To us the Bible teaches that the conversion of the world will follow the second advent of our Redeemer to gather his elect church (the saints out of all denominations), that they, changed to the spirit nature, may be, under their Lord and Head, the teachers, guides and helpers of the remainder of the race— those now dead as well as the living nations—to uplift all the willing and obedient from sin and death to perfection and everlasting life on earth, which will then, during those times of restitution, become Paradise restored. Statistics agree that the Millennium is not coming by the conversion of the heathen; for there are twice as many today as there were a century ago, notwithstanding all our missionary efforts. On the contrary, we must agree that the signs of the times presage the near approach of the culmination of the great “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation,” by which, the Scriptures assure us, Messiah’s kingdom will be ushered in, to “bless all the families of the earth.” SCRIPTURAL TERMS AND SCRIPTURAL ORDINATION Perhaps we should explain that we do not recognize as Biblical the terms “clergy” and “laity,’ nor the titles “Reverend,” “Doctor of Divinity,” and other similar appellations now in vogue. This, however, does not lead us to disfellowship those who differ from us. We use the Scriptural terms “Pastor,” “Evangelist,” ‘Teacher,’ “Elder,” “Deacon,” etc., and recognize that all of God’s consecrated people are ministers—that is, servants—each authorized to serve his brethren as his talent may permit and as the brethren may desire. As for ordination, we cannot accept as Scriptural the theory of the “Apostolic Succession,” and that the specific power or authority comes from men to men, We hold that the anointing of the holy Spirit alone gives the power and the authority to understand and explain the Scriptures, HOW ERRORS OF THE PAST CREPT IN The Editor is being attacked at present by about onefourth of all the ministers of the world, simply because we preach the Bible message voiced by the angel at the birth of Jesus: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be unto ALL PEOPLE!” (Luke 2:10, 11) That good message of God’s love and of his merciful provision in Jesus’ death for the sins of the whole world began to be lost sight of in the close of the second century. The doctrine of “Apostolic Succession” led the people of that time to respect the bishops as successors to the divinely-ordained twelve—St. Paul, and not Matthias, taking the place of Judas, It is not to be wondered at, that at a time when ability to read was not general, when Bibles were few and expensive, [5970]

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