Publication date
1/15/18
Volume
39
Number
2
The WatchTower
Are the Adversaries increasing in Power
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1918/2/1918-2-1.html
 
 
 
 
(15-19) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKI.YK, 
N. 
Y. 
time 
learned 
of 
the 
difficulties 
at 
headquarters 
and 
were 
be­ 
ginning 
to 
make 
inquiry. 
I 
fully 
realized 
the 
possibility 
of 
this 
action 
on 
my 
part 
being 
misconstrued 
as 
"taking 
a 
side" 
and, 
therefore, 
added 
my 
name 
very 
reluctantly 
after 
assur­ 
ances 
that 
the 
paper 
would 
he 
lIsel[ 
in 
aeeordanee 
with 
my 
understanding, 
viz., 
to 
satisfy 
inquiring 
friends. 
Following 
the 
circulation 
of 
this 
resolution 
my 
friendly 
attitude 
toward 
all 
the 
brethren 
concerned 
was 
called 
in 
ques­ 
tion. 
Immediately 
the 
unwisdom 
of 
my 
course 
beeame 
ap­ 
parent, 
and 
I 
saw 
that, 
if 
my 
efforts 
as 
a 
peacemaker 
were 
to 
have 
further 
weight, 
it 
would 
be 
necessary 
to 
undo 
what 
I 
seemingly 
had 
done 
in 
signing 
the 
resolution. 
This 
I 
attempted 
in 
the 
letter 
written 
July 
26th, 
afterward 
published. 
But 
step­ 
ping 
from 
one 
"side" 
back 
to 
neutral 
ground 
was 
a 
difficult 
matter; 
in 
fact, 
I 
now 
realize 
that 
I 
overstepped 
to 
the 
other 
"side." 
It 
was 
in 
this 
position 
that, 
out 
of 
sympathy 
for 
those 
who 
I 
believed 
had 
been 
made 
the 
objects 
of 
undeserved 
pub­ 
licity, 
I 
signed 
an 
open 
letter 
to 
the 
friends 
attending 
the 
Bos­ 
ton 
convention. 
When 
I 
discerned, 
after 
convention, 
that 
this 
action 
made 
me 
equally 
as 
incapable 
of 
restoring 
harmony 
as 
I 
had 
been 
after 
signing 
the 
resolution, 
I 
quietly 
withdrew, 
deeming 
it 
best 
to 
nmke 
no 
further 
I3ltatement 
at 
that 
thl1l'. 
I'he 
U,l' 
(,f 
my 
H'l 
me 
in 
any 
publieation,; 
oon(~rning 
the 
eon­ 
troversy 
issued 
since 
the 
Boston 
convention 
has 
been 
entirely 
without 
my 
previous 
knowledge 
and 
consent. 
In 
the 
early 
part 
of 
August, 
t'he 
final 
endeavor 
to 
el3ltah­ 
lish 
peace 
proved 
of 
no 
avail. 
::\Iy 
heart 
ached 
to 
tllink 
thnt 
brethren, 
respected 
and 
loved 
for 
their 
work's 
sake. 
'shoultl 
have 
been 
held 
up 
before 
the 
friends 
all 
over 
the 
world 
in 
a 
way 
which 
to 
them 
seemed 
unwarranted. 
I 
pleaded 
with 
them 
to 
follorw 
the 
course 
of 
our 
Master 
and 
suffa!' 
glaaly 
W!hs.tever 
bitter 
experiences 
the 
heavenly 
Thther 
permitted, 
not 
even 
desiring 
to 
retaliate 
or 
justify 
themselves; 
but 
to 
commit 
their 
eause 
to 
him 
that 
judgeth 
righteously. 
Wbat 
an 
opportunity 
to 
exhibit 
the 
spirit 
which 
we 
all 
have 
been 
striVIng 
to 
cultivate--the 
spirit 
of 
forbearance 
wit)l 
one 
an­ 
other, 
the 
spirit 
of 
brotherly 
love! 
Preferring 
n<lt 
to 
sub­ 
mit 
to 
what 
they 
called 
an 
injustice, 
the 
four 
hrethren 
choee 
to 
leave 
the 
home. 
Here 
I 
rested 
the 
case 
with 
the 
Lord. 
Meantime 
I 
have 
watched 
dcvelopments. 
Looking 
back, 
it 
is 
now 
quite 
evidcnt 
that 
the 
Lord 
was 
pleased 
to 
permit 
the 
very 
condition 
which 
many 
of 
us 
tried 
earnestly 
to 
avert. 
But 
why 
should 
our 
loving 
Father 
take 
pleasure 
in 
that 
which 
has 
caused 
such 
widespread 
perplexity 
and 
sorrow? 
Surely 
he 
has 
no 
desire 
to 
injure 
those 
who 
are 
truly 
his. 
Bear­ 
ing 
in 
mind 
that 
we 
are 
in 
the 
closing 
hours 
of 
our 
trial 
time, 
the 
reason 
for 
such 
treatment 
at 
the 
hands 
of 
thc 
Judge 
of 
all 
the 
earth 
is 
obvious: 
"The 
Lord 
your 
God 
doth 
prove 
you, 
to 
know 
whethpr 
ye 
love 
the 
Lord 
your 
God 
with 
all 
your 
heart." 
If 
we 
love 
our 
God 
supremely, 
we 
will 
love 
everyone 
who 
is 
begott<>n 
of 
him-ewry 
one 
who 
is 
a 
partaker 
of 
his 
Spirit. 
Moved 
hy 
the 
spirit 
of 
love, 
we 
will 
devote 
all 
our 
energies 
to 
provoking 
one 
another 
to 
love 
ann 
good 
works. 
Remembering 
that 
"the 
Lord 
will 
judg(' 
his 
people," 
we 
will 
be 
content 
to 
wait 
for 
the 
expression 
of 
his 
approval 
or 
disapproval. 
Aecording 
to 
all 
indications, 
the 
blessing 
of 
the 
Lord 
con­ 
tinues 
increasingly, 
with 
those 
who 
are 
striving 
to 
"show 
forth 
his 
praises," 
including 
the 
brethren 
at 
Brooklyn 
who 
are 
endeavoring 
to 
direct 
the 
activities 
of 
the 
SOCIETY. 
Believing 
that 
they 
have 
been 
faithful 
to 
the 
divine 
commission, 
"to 
proclaim 
the 
acc('ptable 
year 
of 
the 
Lord, 
and 
the 
day 
of 
ven­ 
geance 
of 
our 
QQd," 
I 
am 
glad 
to 
cooperate 
heartily 
with. 
them. 
Our 
opportunities 
for 
service 
may 
be 
limited 
or 
great 
in 
mitnber. 
Let 
us 
be 
faithful 
even 
in 
the 
least; 
for 
this 
will 
determine 
our 
worthiness 
of 
greater 
responsibility 
"in 
t,hat 
day." 
Some 
have 
asked 
whether 
1 
would 
be 
a 
candidate 
for 
any 
office 
in 
connection 
with 
the 
SoCIETY'S 
work 
during 
the 
com­ 
ing 
yea\'. 
Recognizing 
that 
the 
Lord 
himself 
is 
interested 
in 
the 
appointment 
of 
those 
who 
shall 
help 
in 
the 
"perfecting 
of 
the 
saints 
for 
the 
work 
of 
the 
ministry," 
I 
hesitate 
to 
pIM'" 
myself 
as 
one 
eligible. 
The 
desire 
of 
mv 
heart 
is 
to 
do 
his 
bidding, 
whatever 
that 
may 
be. 
• 
Your 
brother 
in 
Christ. 
ANllRF;W 
N. 
PmRSON. 
APPRECIATES 
THE 
"POINT" 
OF 
THE 
SWORD 
Editorial 
Committee, 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER. 
DF.AR 
BBETHRE..~:- 
Inadvertently 
and 
without 
due 
thought 
and 
consideration 
I 
aflh:ed 
my 
name 
to 
the 
circular 
letter 
which 
I 
understood 
was 
circulated 
quite 
widely 
amongst 
the 
friends 
and 
sent 
out 
with 
one 
of 
the 
publirations 
of 
the 
opposition. 
I 
desire 
now 
to 
go 
on 
record 
as 
repudiating 
absolutely, 
and 
having 
no 
sympathy 
with, 
the 
proposition 
contained 
in 
circular 
letter 
referred 
to 
on 
page 
367 
of 
Dec. 
1 
st 
WATCH 
TOWER. 
I 
am 
not 
in 
opposition 
to 
the 
Lord, 
the 
SOCmTY, 
nor 
Brother 
Rutherford, 
and 
do 
not 
wish 
to 
be. 
On 
the 
contrary, 
I 
lbelieve 
the 
voice 
of 
the 
Lord 
was 
expressed 
in 
the 
election 
last 
Ja·nu­ 
ary. 
I 
believe 
it 
was 
expressed 
in 
the 
voice 
of 
the 
church 
in 
the 
vote 
taken 
Nov. 
21st, 
last, 
and 
that 
it 
will 
be 
expressed 
in 
the 
election 
of 
the 
Shareholders 
of 
the 
SOCIETY 
this 
Januarv. 
I 
am 
fully 
in 
harmony 
with 
the 
"Point 
of 
the 
Sword"":­ 
Volume 
VII-and 
I 
believe 
it 
to 
be 
"meat 
in 
due 
season" 
fur­ 
nished 
by 
the 
Lord 
to 
his 
hungry 
sheep 
during 
the 
present 
time. 
May 
it 
prove 
as 
much 
of 
a 
blessing 
to 
all 
as 
it 
has 
be~n 
to 
me! 
May 
the 
Lord 
continue 
to 
bless 
your 
efforts. 
den): 
brethren. 
to 
8erve 
the 
interests 
of 
his 
people 
and 
give 
you 
a 
due 
reward 
is 
the 
prayer 
of 
Your 
brother 
in 
the 
One 
Hope, 
A. 
E. 
BURGESS. 
OVERWHELMED 
IN 
BEADING 
IT 
DF..AR 
FELLOW 
SFJWANTS:- 
I 
am 
sending 
you 
sixty 
cents 
for 
the 
Seventh 
Volume 
of 
SCRIPTURE 
STUDIES. 
Please 
pardon 
me 
for 
not 
sending 
it 
sooner. 
I 
have 
been.. 
simply 
overwhelmed 
in 
reading 
it, 
and 
it 
has 
been 
so 
interestmg, 
that 
I 
just 
could 
not 
spare 
the 
time 
to 
write 
you 
a 
little 
lettcr 
until 
now. 
Your 
brother 
in 
Christ, 
J. 
A. 
HEUDSPETH.-Tpxtls. 
VOL. 
XXXIX 
BROOKLYX, 
X. 
Y., 
,TANUARY 
Hi, 
lfnS 
XO.2 
ARE 
THE 
ADVERSARIES 
INCREASING 
IN 
POWER 
"Forasmuch 
then 
as 
Christ 
ha-8 
suffered 
for 
us 
i1l- 
the 
flesh., 
arm 
yourselves 
Hkewise 
with 
the 
same 
mind."-1 
Peter 
4: 
1. 
Why 
should 
anyone 
arm 
llimself 
unless 
he 
expected 
to 
U(1l1 
provided 
redemption 
of 
mallkind 
from 
dpnth 
throu"h 
thp 
meet 
an 
enemy 
in 
combat? 
This 
seems 
to 
be 
the 
thought 
blood 
of 
Jesus, 
his 
beloved 
Son. 
He 
further 
foreordained 
of 
the 
Apostle 
expressed 
in 
the 
text. 
Thc 
entire 
chapter 
and 
provided 
that 
bl'enme 
of 
Ids 
fnll 
ohpdienre 
to 
the 
d,iviH(' 
evidently 
relates 
to 
the 
end 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age. 
It 
is 
in 
the 
will 
a.nd 
pro/lram, 
.Jesus 
should 
he 
exalten 
above 
all 
other 
nature 
of 
a 
warning 
against 
adversaries. 
"But", 
says 
St. 
rrpatures 
(.Tehovah 
alone 
f'xeepterl) 
and 
that 
he 
should 
lw 
Paul, 
"it 
is 
not 
worldly 
warfare 
that 
we 
are 
waging; 
the 
Head 
over 
the 
new 
creation, 
which 
new 
creation 
should 
weapons 
with 
w!Jieh 
'we 
fight 
are 
not 
human 
weapons, 
hut 
orrupy 
the 
most 
exalted 
position 
amongst 
the 
creatures 
of 
are 
mighty 
through 
God 
in 
overthrowing 
strong 
fortifications." 
.Tehovah. 
This 
new 
creation 
is 
referred 
to 
by 
,Tehovah 
under 
(2 
Corinthians 
10:3, 
4, 
'Veymouth.) 
Thus 
it 
is 
seen 
thllt 
the 
t.itle 
of 
"the 
seed 
of 
the 
woman." 
Satan 
is 
mentioned 
it 
is 
the 
new 
creature 
that 
must 
arm 
preparatory 
to 
the 
final 
as 
"the 
sf'rpent." 
At 
the 
time 
of 
Adam's 
condemnation 
,Ie­ 
conflict. 
hovah 
declared 
that 
in 
his 
own 
due 
time 
"the 
s~d 
of 
the 
The 
new 
creation 
had 
its 
heginning 
at 
the 
bapti~m 
of 
woman 
should 
hrui,.;e 
the 
serpent's 
lwad." 
In 
God's 
dne 
time 
Jesus 
in 
the 
Jordan. 
T'hen 
and 
there 
he 
was 
begotten 
to 
he 
will 
use 
that 
"seed" 
to 
UJlllo 
all 
the 
wrong 
and 
wickedness 
the 
divine 
nature. 
The 
progressive 
development 
of 
the 
mem- 
resulting 
from 
Lucifer's 
disloyalty. 
It 
seems 
reasonable 
to 
bers 
of 
the 
new 
ereation 
has 
continued 
from 
Pentecost 
until 
conclllrle 
that 
Satan 
understood 
that 
God 
would 
develop 
this 
now, 
and 
the 
eviden~ 
is 
cumulative 
that 
its 
completion 
is 
"seed", 
and 
that 
it 
is 
the 
purpose 
of 
JellOvah 
to 
bring 
to 
near 
at 
hand. 
All 
those 
who 
will 
ultimately 
be 
of 
this 
class 
naught, 
through 
this 
"seed," 
all 
the 
~('l]('mes 
ann 
pfTorts 
of 
must 
be 
of 
one 
mind-the 
mind 
of 
Christ. 
All 
the 
members 
Satau, 
that 
God 
intends 
to 
give 
to 
the 
"~eerl" 
t.he 
kingdom 
thereof 
must 
meet 
the 
same 
adversaries 
anrl 
have 
eombatB 
which 
Satap 
UsurlH'd, 
HeHre 
Satan 
seeks 
to 
resist 
the 
dl'- 
oJ 
a. 
similar 
nature. 
velopment 
of 
the 
",eell" 
and, 
if 
po~sihl(', 
t.o 
dest.roy 
it, 
and 
THE 
DIVINE 
PLAN 
to 
keep 
the 
homan 
rare 
under 
his 
control. 
Jehovah 
foreknew 
that 
Adam 
would 
disobey 
him 
and 
that 
The 
Prophet 
of 
the 
Lord 
(2ech. 
3:1-10) 
givps 
us 
a 
brief 
all 
of 
his 
progeny 
would 
suffer 
sickness, 
sorrow 
UJld 
death. 
picture 
of 
the 
staging 
and 
unfolding 
of 
the 
great 
Drama 
re­ 
rn 
the 
exercise 
of 
his 
loving 
kindness 
and 
perfect 
wisdom, 
lating 
to 
the 
preparation 
and 
development 
of 
the 
new 
creation 
[6198] 
(15-19) time learned of the difficulties at headquarters and were beginning to make inquiry. I fully realized the pessibility of this action on my part being misconstrued as “taking a side” and, therefore, added my name very reluctantly after assurances that the paper would be used in accordance with my understanding, viz., to satisfy inquiring friends. Following the circulation of this resolution my friendly attitude toward all the brethren concerned was called in question. Immediately the unwisdom of my course became apparent, and I saw that, if my efforts as a peacemaker were to have further weight, it would be necessary to undo what I seemingly had done in signing the resolution, This I attempted in the letter written July 26th, afterward published. But stepping from one “side” back to neutral ground was a difficult matter; in fact, I now realize that I overstepped to the other “side.” It was in this position that, out of sympathy for those who I believed had been made the objects of undeserved publicity, I signed an open letter to the friends attending fhe Boston convention. When I discerned, after convention, that this action made me equally as incapable of restoring harmony as T had been after signing the resolution, I quietly withdrew, deeming it best to make no further statement at that time. he use of my name in any publications concerning the controversy issued since the Boston convention has been entirely without my previous knowledge and consent. In the early part of August, the final endeavor to establish peace proved of no avail. My heart ached to think that brethren, respected and loved for their work’s sake, “should have been held up before the friends all over the world in a way which to them seemed unwarranted. I pleaded with them to follow the course of our Master and suffer glaaly whatever bitter experiences the heavenly Father permitted, not even desiring to retaliate or justify themselves; but to commit their cause to him that judgeth righteously. What an opportunity to exhibit the spirit which we al} have been striving to cultivate—the spirit of forbearance with one another, the spirit of brotherly love! Preferring ndt to submit to what they called an injustice, the four brethren chose to leave the home. Here I rested the case with the Lord. Meantime I have watched developments. Looking back, it is now quite evident that the Lord was pleased to permit the very condition which many of us tried earnestly to avert. But why should our loving Father take pleasure in that which has caused such widespread perplexity and sorrow? Surely he hag no desire to injure those who are truly his. Bearing in mind that we are in the closing hours of our trial time, the reason for such treatment at the hands of the Judge of all the earth is obvious: “The Lord your God doth prove you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart.” If we love our God supremely, we will love every one who is begotten of him—-every one who is a partaker of his Spirit. Moved hy the spirit of love, we will devote all our energies to provoking one another to love and good works. Remembering that “the Lord will judge his people,” we Vou. XXXIX THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. ¥., JANUARY 15, 1918 Brooxtiyn, N. Y. will be content to wait for the expression of his approval or disapproval. According to all indjcations, the blessing of the Lord continues increasingly, with those who are striving to “show forth his praises,” including the brethren at Brooklyn who are endeavoring to direct the activities of the SocreTy. Believing that they have been faithful to the divine commission, “to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God,” I am glad to coiperate heartily with them. Our opportunities for service may be limited or great in number. Let us be faithful even in the least; for this will determine our worthiness of greater responsibility “in that ay. Some have asked whether I would be a candidate for any office in connection with the Sociery’s work during the coming year. Recognizing that the Lord himself is interested in the appointment of those who shall help in the “perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry,” I hesitate to place myself as one eligible. The desire of my heart is to do his bidding, whatever that may be. Your brother in Christ. Anprew N. Pierson. APPRECIATES THE ‘‘POINT’’ OF THE SWORD Editorial Committee, Toe Watcn Tower. Dear BRETHREN :— Inadvertently and without due thought and consideration I affixed my name to the circular letter which 1 understood was cireulated quite widely amongst the friends and sent out with one of the publications of the opposition. I desire now to go on record as repudiating absolutely, and having no sympathy with, the proposition contained in circular letter referred to on page 367 of Dec. 1st Warcn Tower. I am not in opposition to the Lord, the Socrrry, nor Brother Rutherford, and do not wish to be. On the contrary, I believe the voice of the Lord was expressed in the election last January. I believe it was expressed in the voice of the church in the vote taken Nov. 21st, last, and that it will be expressed in the election of the Shareholders of the Socrery this January. I am fully in harmony with the “Point of the Sword”’— Volume VII—and I believe it to be “meat in due season” furnished by the Lord to his hungry sheep during the present time. May it prove as much of a blessing to all as it has been to me! May the Lord continue to bless your efforts, dear brethren. to serve the interests of his people and give you a due reward is the prayer of Your brother in the One Hope, A. E. Bugcsss. OVERWHELMED IN READING IT Drak FELLow Servants :— I am sending you sixty cents for the Seventh Volume of Scrrprure Srupres. Please pardon me for not sending it sooner. I have been, simply overwhelmed in reading it, and it has been so interesting, that I just could not spare the time to write you a little letter until now. Your brother in Christ, J. A, Heopspern.—tTexas. No, 2 “ARE THE ADVERSARIES INCREASING IN POWE “Forasmuch then as Christ has suffered for ua in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind.”-—-1 Peter 4:1. Why should anyone arm himself unless he expected to meet an enemy in combat? This seems to be the thought of the Apostle expressed in the text. The entire chapter evidently relates to the end of the Gospel age. It is in the nature of a warning against adversaries. “But”, says St. Paul, ‘it is not worldly warfare that we are waging; the weapons with which ~we fight are not human weapons, but are mighty through God in overthrowing strong fortifications.” (2 Corinthians 10:3, 4, Weymouth.) Thus it is seen that it is the new creature that must arm preparatory to the final conflict. The new creation had its beginning at the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Then and there he was begotten to the divine nature. The progressive development of the members of the new creation has continued from Pentecost until now, and the evidence is cumulative that its completion is near at hand. All those who will ultimately be of this class must be of one mind—the mind of Christ. All the members thereof must meet the same adversaries and have combats of a similar nature. THE DIVINE PLAN Jehovah foreknew that Adam would disobey him and that all of his progeny would suffer sickness, sorrow and death. In the exercise of his loving kindness and perfect wisdom, God provided redemption of mankind from death through the blood of Jesus, his beloved Son. He further foreordained and provided that because of his full obedience to the divine will and program, Jesus should be exalted above all other creatures (Jehovah alone excepted) and that he should be Head over the new creation, which new creation should occupy the most exalted position amongst the creatures of Jehovah. This new creation is referred to by Jehovah under the title of “the seed of the woman.” Satan is mentioned as “the serpent.” At the time of Adam’s condemnation Jehovah declared that in his own due time “the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent’s head.’ In God’s due time he will use that “seed” to undo all the wrong and wickedness resulting from Lucifer’s disloyalty. It seems reasonable to conclude that Satan understood that God would develop this “seed”, and that it is the purpose of Jehovah to bring to nanght, through this “seed,” all the schemes and efforts of Satan, that God intends to give to the “seed” the kingdom which Satan usurped. Hence Satan seeks to resist the development of the “seed” and, if possible, to destroy it, and to keep the homan race under his control. The Prophet of the Lord (Zech. 3:1-10) gives us a brief picture of the staging and unfolding of the great Drama relating to the preparation and development of the new creation [6198]

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