Publication date
4/1/18
Volume
39
Number
7
The WatchTower
Our safe refuge
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1918/7/1918-7-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
(94--82) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BaOOI<I,YN, 
N. 
Y. 
has 
caused 
them 
to 
moralize 
a.long 
the 
right 
lines, 
and 
ha.s 
opened 
their 
eyes 
to 
the 
absurdity, 
and 
in 
some 
instances, 
the 
cruelty 
of 
certain 
old-fashioned 
dogma.tic 
theologia.ne. 
FROM 
MERCANTILE 
AND 
FINANOIAL 
TIMES.-N. 
Y. 
CO. 
that 
they 
saw 
a 
field 
opening 
to 
them 
for 
the 
tea.ching 
of 
the 
Bible 
through 
the 
medium 
of 
moving 
pictures. 
They 
organized 
the 
Mena 
Film 
Oompany 
for 
that 
purpose. 
r::;uch 
was 
their 
privileoge. 
They 
believe 
the 
Lord's 
blessing 
has 
been 
upon 
their 
undertaking. 
If 
so, 
then 
all 
Christians 
~hould 
rejoice 
with 
them. 
Anything 
that 
turns 
the 
people 
away 
from 
error 
and 
teaches 
them 
the 
truth 
is 
to 
be 
commended. 
The 
Mena 
Film 
Company 
has 
produeed 
a 
picture 
different 
from 
any 
that 
is 
shown 
in 
any 
of 
the 
theatres 
throughout 
the 
world. 
The 
picture 
discloses 
the 
perfect 
man 
and 
woman 
in 
Eden, 
and 
the 
temptation 
of 
Mother 
Eve 
by 
Lucifer. 
Many 
eJrisodes 
ftTl' 
then 
presented 
showing 
how 
Satan, 
from 
the 
time 
of 
Eden 
until 
now, 
has 
sought 
to 
thwart 
God's 
purposes 
and 
how, 
ultimately, 
Satan 
will 
be 
overthrown, 
and 
how 
restitution 
blessings 
will 
then 
come 
to 
ma.nkind. 
Surely 
every 
true 
Chris­ 
tian 
rejoices 
to 
have 
the 
people 
receive 
the 
message 
of 
Truth 
relating 
to 
God's 
great 
plan. 
We 
cannot 
helieve 
that 
Sa.tan 
would 
wish 
this 
picture 
shown, 
,because 
it 
exposes 
his 
nefa.rious 
methOds 
and 
his 
ultimate 
downfall. 
We 
must 
conclude, 
then, 
that 
the 
Lord 
would 
·be 
pleased 
to 
have 
it 
shown 
; 
,because 
it 
shows 
the 
ultimate 
triumph 
of 
truth 
and 
righteousness. 
JU'st 
how 
much 
good 
will 
be 
acquired 
by 
the 
public 
who 
have 
no 
knowledge 
of 
the 
Bible, 
we 
do 
not 
know; 
but 
it 
may 
be 
that 
the 
Lord 
desires 
to 
use 
this 
for 
lJhe 
purpose 
of 
turning 
the 
minds 
of 
the 
people 
back 
to 
the 
Bible. 
The 
clergy 
have 
turned 
their 
minds 
away 
from 
it 
and 
offer 
them 
no 
hope. 
The 
world 
is 
in 
grea-t 
distress. 
If 
the 
Lord 
is 
pleased 
to 
bless 
the 
efforts 
of 
these 
brethren 
of 
the 
Mena 
Film 
Company, 
then 
we 
will 
rejoice 
with 
them. 
IN 
RE 
THE 
MENA 
FILM 
From 
time 
to 
time 
we 
receive 
letters 
concerning 
the 
Mena 
Film 
Company; 
and 
some 
of 
the 
dear 
friends 
seem 
to 
~is­ 
understand 
the 
a.ttitude 
of 
the 
Society 
toward 
that 
orga.nlza­ 
tion. 
We 
have 
heretofore 
published 
in 
THE 
W 
ATCH 
T0'Y~""B 
the 
Society's 
position, 
but 
we 
now 
repeat 
that 
the 
Men 
a 
FIlm 
Company 
is 
a 
separate 
and 
distinct 
organization 
from 
the 
'V 
ATCH 
TOWER 
BIBLE 
AND 
TRACT 
SOCIErY. 
Our 
Society 
has 
nothing 
whatsoever 
to 
do 
with 
the 
work 
of 
the 
Mena 
:Film 
Company. 
We 
have 
no 
money 
invested 
in 
it 
now, 
nor 
have 
we 
had 
anything 
to 
do 
with 
this 
work 
in 
the 
pa.st. 
This 
does 
not 
mean 
that 
we 
are 
antagonistic 
to 
the 
Mena 
li'ilm 
Company 
and 
would, 
therefore, 
want 
to 
do 
it 
injury 
.. 
It 
is 
not 
our 
province 
to 
do 
injury 
to 
anyone. 
We 
have 
no 
In­ 
terest 
in 
the 
ra.ilroads 
of 
the 
land; 
yet 
we 
would 
not 
want 
to 
do 
injury 
to 
any 
railroad 
company. 
Investments 
in 
rail­ 
road 
securities 
arc 
for 
purely 
selfish 
purposes. 
Investments 
which 
are 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
teaching 
the 
Bible 
surely 
arc 
much 
more 
comnwndable. 
The 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BIBLE 
AND 
TRACT 
SOCIETY 
we 
believe 
was 
specially 
organized 
under 
the 
Lord's 
direction 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
doing 
the 
harvest 
work 
of 
the 
gospel 
age, 
and 
noth­ 
ing 
else. 
'l'housands 
of 
Ohristian 
people, 
realizing 
this 
to 
be 
the 
mission 
of 
the 
Society, 
have.gladly 
contributed 
their 
time 
and 
money 
and 
have 
joined 
with 
it 
in 
such 
work. 
We 
do 
not 
believe 
that 
any 
other 
organization 
in 
the 
wor,ld 
has 
been 
used 
or 
is 
now 
,being 
used 
to 
do 
harvest 
work; 
hence 
all 
of 
our 
time, 
energy 
and 
money 
is 
spent 
in 
that 
'behalf. 
We 
do 
not 
believe 
it 
to 
be 
plea,sing 
to 
the 
Lord 
far 
us 
to 
engage 
in 
any 
other 
.work 
except 
that 
supervised 
by 
the 
Society. 
More 
than 
a 
year 
ago 
certain 
consecrated 
,brethren 
believed 
newspaper 
may 
say 
to 
the 
contrary. 
Needless 
to 
say 
that 
we 
rejoice 
that 
Much 
is 
the 
case, 
because 
we 
recognize 
in 
thill 
SOOIETY 
a 
great 
force 
for 
good. 
Through 
its 
instrumentality 
the 
Bible 
today 
is 
read 
by 
more 
people 
and 
read 
more 
in­ 
telligently, 
than 
ever 
before. 
It 
has 
made 
people 
think, 
it 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
KINGDOM 
NEWS 
The 
evidences 
daily 
increase 
that 
the 
"dark 
night" 
is 
fast 
settling 
down. 
The 
new 
dispensation 
is 
eoming 
in. 
It 
seems 
appropriate, 
therefore, 
to 
announce 
the 
kingdom, 
and 
to 
call 
the 
people's 
attention 
to 
the 
fact 
that 
millions 
now 
living 
on 
earth 
may 
never 
die, 
because 
the 
"times 
of 
restitution" 
will 
soon 
begin. 
The 
Soeiety 
is 
issuing 
a 
statement 
which 
ex­ 
plains 
the 
opposition 
manifested 
against 
the 
message 
of 
the 
seventh 
volume, 
how 
it 
came 
to 
be 
suppressed, 
and 
the 
clergy's 
responsibility 
in 
connection 
therewith. 
A 
full 
explanation 
such 
as 
the 
friends 
and 
the 
public 
desire 
is 
given 
in 
clear 
terms. 
We 
are 
shipping 
the 
classes 
a 
supply 
of 
these 
papers 
for 
gen­ 
eral 
circulation, 
in 
about 
the 
same 
quantity 
as 
was 
ordered 
for 
the 
No. 
99 
B. 
S. 
M. 
distribution. 
These 
papers 
are 
re­ 
leased 
for 
distribution 
immediately 
you 
receive 
them, 
and 
we 
pray 
the 
l,onl's 
hless.ing- 
upon 
the 
united 
efforts 
of 
the 
friends 
in 
this 
proclamation 
of 
our 
present 
position. 
Shipments 
will 
begin 
to 
be 
made 
within 
a 
few 
days. 
YEAR'S 
MOTTO 
FULL 
OF 
MEANING 
Many 
recent 
letters 
from 
friends 
throughout 
the 
country 
tell 
of 
the 
special 
help 
and 
comfort 
the 
1918 
Year 
Text 
has 
given 
them 
at 
this 
time: 
"The 
end 
of 
all 
things 
is 
at 
hand: 
Be 
ye 
therefore 
sober 
and 
watch 
unto 
prayer; 
and 
above 
all 
things 
have 
fervent 
love 
among 
yourselves." 
(1 
Peter 
4:7, 
8) 
We 
still 
have 
a 
small 
quantity 
of 
these 
mottoes, 
also 
postcards 
bearing 
this 
text, 
which 
the 
friends 
may 
have 
at 
half 
p"ice 
while 
they 
last. 
The 
mottoes, 
5c 
each; 
the 
postcards 
IOc 
per 
dozen, 
postpaid. 
VOL. 
XXXIX 
BROOKLYN, 
X. 
Y., 
APRIL 
1, 
1918 
~o. 
7 
OUR 
SAFE 
REFUGE 
"Come, 
my 
people. 
enter 
thou 
into 
thy 
chambers, 
and 
shut 
thy 
doors 
about 
thee" 
hide 
thyself 
a.~ 
it 
were 
for 
a 
little 
moment 
until 
the 
indi,gnation 
be 
o't'erpast. 
For, 
behold, 
the 
Lonl 
cometh 
out 
of 
his 
place 
to 
punish 
the 
inhabi- 
tants 
of 
the 
earth 
for 
their 
iniquity,' 
the 
"arth 
also 
slulll 
disclose 
her 
blood, 
and 
shall 
no 
more 
cover 
her 
s7.ain."~Isaiah 
26:20, 
21. 
While 
standing 
upon 
the 
watch 
tower 
and 
b~holding 
thE' 
redeeming 
mankind. 
Believing 
this, 
it 
means 
that 
man 
must 
terrible 
storm 
that 
i, 
raging, 
the 
sea 
and 
the 
waves 
roaring, 
take 
the 
further 
step 
of 
a 
full 
surrender 
of 
his 
own 
will 
lashing 
with 
fury 
the 
more 
stable 
places 
of 
society; 
while 
to 
do 
the 
will 
of 
GOd-a 
full 
and 
complete 
consecration 
to 
hearing 
the 
rumbling 
thunder 
of 
'the 
near 
approaching 
earth- 
thc 
Lord. 
It 
means, 
further, 
full 
heart 
obedience 
to 
the 
will 
quake 
and 
beholding 
in 
the 
distance 
occasional 
flashes 
of 
of 
God 
by 
daiV 
taking 
up 
his 
cross 
and 
following 
in 
the 
destructive 
lire, 
what 
a 
wonderful 
privilege 
to 
be 
numbered 
footsteps 
of 
Jesus, 
and 
thus 
continuing 
faithful, 
even 
unto 
among 
the 
people 
of 
God 
and 
to 
know 
that 
we 
are 
absolutely 
dea-th. 
As 
the 
Psalmist 
c-xpresses 
it, 
the 
thought 
of 
"my 
secure 
from 
all 
harm!' 
Who 
can 
enjoy 
such 
a 
privilege 
as 
people" 
includes 
only 
those 
who 
have 
made 
a 
covenant 
with 
this? 
Jehovah, 
through 
his 
'Vord, 
answers, 
"My 
people." 
God 
by 
saCJrifice. 
(Psalm 
50:5) 
It 
includes 
all 
such 
COli- 
What 
does 
it 
mean 
to 
be 
of 
the 
people 
of 
God 
1 
What 
secrated 
and 
faithful 
children 
of 
God, 
however 
young 
or 
old, 
are 
the 
requirements? 
Ah, 
it 
means 
much 
m.ore 
than 
many 
weak 
or 
strong, 
they 
may 
be, 
who 
possess 
a 
pure 
heart, 
firmly 
think 
it 
means-mnch 
more, 
both 
on 
man's 
part 
and 
on 
and 
resolutely 
fixed, 
and 
loyally 
obedient 
unto 
the 
heavenly 
God's 
part. 
On 
the 
part 
of 
man 
it 
means 
1I0t 
merely 
the 
Father. 
naming 
of 
the 
name 
of 
Christ 
and 
being 
fl 
member 
of 
some 
WHO 
OONSTITUTE 
GOD'S 
PEOPLE 
organization 
which 
claim, 
to 
be 
Christian. 
It 
means 
on 
On 
the 
part 
of 
God 
it 
means 
that 
he 
has 
accepted 
us 
at 
man's 
part 
that 
he 
must 
recognize 
himself 
to 
be 
born 
a 
sinner 
consecration 
through 
the 
merit 
of 
his 
beloved 
Son, 
Jesus, 
and 
and 
in 
need 
of 
a 
savior; 
he 
must 
recognize 
that 
Jesus 
Christ, 
that 
he 
has 
begotten 
us 
anew 
to 
a 
hope 
of 
life, 
reserved 
in 
by 
the 
grace 
of 
God, 
died 
and 
rose 
again 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
heaven 
for 
those 
who 
are 
kept 
by 
his 
power, 
through 
faith, 
[6228] 
(94-82) newspaper may say to the contrary. Needless to say that we rejoice that such is the case, because we recognize in this Sooirry a great force for good. Through its instrumentality the Bible today is read by more people and read more intelligently, than ever before. It has made people think, it THE WATCH TOWER Brooxuyn, N. Y. has caused them to moralize along the right lines, and has opened their eyes to the absurdity, and in some instances, the cruelty of certain old-fashioned dogmatic theologians. FroM MERCANTILE AND FINANOIAL TIMES.—N, Y. IN RE THE MENA FILM CO. From time to time we receive letters concerning the Mena Film Company; and some of the dear friends seem to misunderstand the attitude of the Society toward that organization. We have heretofore published in THe Watcu ‘TowER the Society’s position, but we now repeat that the Mena Film Company is a separate and distinct organization from the WarcH ToweRk Bipte anp Tract Socrery. Our Society has nothing whatsoever to do with the work of the Mena Film Company. We have no money invested in it now, nor have we had anything to do with this work in the past. This does not mean that we are antagonistic to the Mena Film Company and would, therefore, want to do it injury. It is not our province to do injury to any one. We have no interest in the railroads of the land; yet we would not want to do injury to any railroad company. investments in railroad securities are for purely selfish purposes. Investments which are for the purpose of teaching the Bible surely are much more commendable. The Warcr Towrr BisLe anp Tract Sociery we believe was specially organized under the Lord’s direction for the purpose of doing the harvest work of the gospel age, and nothing else. Thousands of Christian people, realizing this to he the mission of the Society, have gladly contributed their time and money and have joined with it in such work. We do not believe that any other organization in the world has been used or is now being used to do harvest work; hence all of our time, energy and money is spent in that behalf. We do not believe it to be pleasing to the Lord for us to engage in any other work except that supervised by the Society. More than a year ago certain consecrated brethren believed that they saw a field opening to them for the teaching of the Bible through the medium of moving pictures. They organized the Mena Film Company for that purpose. Such was their privilege. They believe the Lord’s blessing has been upon their undertaking. If so, then all Christians should rejoice with them. Anything that turns the people away from error and teaches them the truth is to be commended. The Mena Film Company has produced a picture different from any that is shown in any of the theatres throughout the world. ‘Ihe picture discloses the perfect man and woman in Eden, and the temptdtion of Mother Eve by Lucifer. Many episodes are then presented showing how Satan, from the time of Eden until now, has sought to thwart God’s purposes and how, ultimately, Satan will be overthrown, and how restitution blessings will then come to mankind. Surely every true Christian rejoices to have the people receive the message of Truth relating to God’s great plan. We cannot believe that Satan would wish this picture shown, because it exposes his nefarious methods and his ultimate downfall. We must conelude, then, that the Lord would be pleased to have it shown; because it shows the ultimate triumph of truth and righteousness. Just how much good will be acquired by the public who have no knowledge of the Bible, we do not know; but it may he that the Lord desires to use this for the purpose of turning the minds of the people back to the Bible. The clergy have turned their minds away from it and offer them no hope. The world is in great distress. If the Lord is pleased to bless the efforts of these brethren of the Mena Film Company, then we will rejoice with them. KINGDOM NEWS The evidences daily increase that the “dark night” is fast settling down. The new dispensation is coming in. It seems appropriate, therefore, to announce the kingdom, and to call the people’s attention to the fact that millions now living on earth may never die, because the “times of restitution” will soon begin. The Society is issuing a statement which explains the opposition manifested against the message of the seventh volume, how it came to be suppressed, and the clergy’s responsibility in connection therewith. A full explanation such as the friends and the publie desire is given in clear terms. We are shipping the classes a supply of these papers for general circulation, in about the same quantity as waa ordered for the No. 99 B, S. M. distribution. These papers are released for distribution immediately you receive them, and we pray the Lord’s blessing upon the united efforts of the friends in this proclamation of our present position. Shipments will begin to be made within a few days. YEAR’S MOTTO FULL OF MEANING Many recent letters from friends throughout the country tell of the special help and comfort the 1918 Year Text has given them at this time: “The end of aj] things is at hand: Be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer; and above all things have fervent love among yourselves.” (1 Peter 4:7, 8) We still have a small quantity of these mottoes, also postcards bearing this text, which the friends may have at half price while they last. The mottoes, 5¢ each; the postcards 10¢ per dozen, postpaid. Vou. XXXIX~ OUR SAFE REFUGE BROOKLYN, N. Y., APRIL 1, 1918 No. 7 “Come, my people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee; hide thyself as it were for a little moment until the indignation be overpast. tants of the earth for their iniquity; the For, behold, the Lord cometh out of hig place to punish the inhabi carth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.’—Isaiah 26:20, 21. While standing upon the watch tower and beholding the terrible storm that is raging, the sea and the waves roaring, lashing with fury the more stable places of society; while hearing the rumbling thunder of ‘the near approaching earthquake and beholding in the distance occasional flashes of destructive fire, what a wonderful privilege to be numbered among the people of God and to know that we are absolutely secure from all harm! Who can enjoy such a privilege as this? Jehovah, through his Word, answers, “My people.” What does it mean to be of the people of God? What are the requirements? Ah, it means much more than many think it means—much more, both on man’s part and on God’s part. On the part of man it means not merely the naming of the name of Christ and being a member of some organization which claims to be Christian. It means on man’s part that he must recognize himself to be born a sinner and in need of a savior; he must recognize that Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, died and rose again for the purpose of redeeming mankind. Believing this, it means that man must take the further step of a full surrender of his own will to do the will of God—a full and complete consecration to the Lord. It means, further, full heart obedience to the will of God by daily taking up his cross and following in the footsteps of Jesus, and thus continuing faithful, even unto death, As the Psalmist expresses it, the thought of “my people” includes only those who have made a covenant with God by sacrifice. (Psalm 50:5) It includes all such consecrated and faithful children of God, however young or old, weak or strong, they may be, who possess a pure heart, firmly and resolutely fixed, and loyally obedient unto the heavenly Father. WHO CONSTITUTE GOD'S PEOPLE On the part of God it means that he has accepted us at consecration through the merit of his beloved Son, Jesus, and that he has begotten us anew to a hope of life, reserved in heaven for those who are kept by his power, through faith, [6228]

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