Kiadás dátuma
1917. 10. 01.
Kötet
38
Szám
19
Az Őrtorony
The concluding work of the Harvest
Az eredeti angol nyelvű Őrtorony folyóiratok
../literature/watchtower/1917/19/1917-19-2.html
OCTOBU 
I, 
1917 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(292-293) 
Now 
we 
have 
come 
to 
another 
step 
in. 
the 
plI.thwa.y 
of 
present 
truth; 
and 
the 
quesbion 
that 
confronts 
the 
peoplp 
of 
God 
is, 
Are 
we 
ready 
for 
it? 
In 
1875, 
when 
Brother 
Russell 
learned 
of 
the 
presence 
of 
our 
Lord, 
b'e 
immediately 
saw 
from 
Revelation 
14: 
14, 
16 
that 
the 
work 
which 
the 
Lord 
would 
have 
his 
people 
to 
do 
is 
to 
reap 
the 
harvest 
of 
ripened 
wheat. 
(1vIatt. 
13: 
39) 
The 
Lord 
has 
been 
pleased 
to 
remove 
Brother 
Russell 
from 
the 
earthly 
stage 
of 
action; 
and 
now 
the 
great 
Shepherd 
of 
the 
sheep 
has 
called 
our 
a.ttention 
in 
unmis­ 
takable 
terms 
to 
the 
fact 
that 
he 
has 
a 
work 
for 
the 
ehurch 
yet 
in 
the 
flesh, 
following 
the 
harvesting 
of 
the 
wheat, 
a 
work 
wbich 
is 
described 
in 
detail 
in 
Rev. 
14: 
17, 
19, 
as 
the 
harvest­ 
ing 
of 
tbe 
vine 
of 
the 
earth. 
This 
work 
is 
doubtless 
the 
same 
as 
tbat 
descrihed 
in 
:Matt. 
13: 
40, 
43. 
It 
is 
a 
work 
of 
exposing 
to 
all 
the 
world 
the 
unrighteousness 
of 
the 
ecclesiastical 
sys­ 
tems, 
their 
acts 
and 
their 
unholy 
alliances 
with 
the 
beastly 
governments 
of 
the 
present 
evil 
order 
of 
things. 
It 
also 
seems 
to 
relate 
to 
the 
gathering 
out 
from 
a.mongst 
God's 
professed 
consecrated 
people 
of 
all 
offending 
ones.-Matthew 
13:41. 
THE 
LAST 
WO:RX 
OF 
THE 
OHURCH 
If 
any 
of 
us 
have 
come 
to 
this 
hour 
expecting 
that 
the 
last 
work 
of 
the 
church 
in 
the 
flesh 
would 
be 
one 
of 
quiet, 
pleasing, 
easy 
triumph, 
void 
of 
severe 
and 
fiery 
trials, 
then 
surely 
we 
have 
misread 
our 
Bibles 
and 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIP­ 
TURES 
and 
the 
pages 
of 
history. 
Never 
before 
were 
there 
so 
many 
indications 
as 
now 
that 
the 
church 
is 
in 
the 
great 
enemy's 
territory 
undergoing 
final 
and 
crucial 
testing, 
with 
still 
more 
in 
front 
of 
her. 
She 
must 
continue 
her 
fight 
to 
the 
end, 
amidst 
graver 
perils 
than 
any 
she 
has 
encountered 
for 
a 
long 
time. 
To 
accomplish 
the 
work 
now 
at 
hand 
the 
Lord 
will 
use 
such 
instruments 
as 
he 
has 
provided. 
He 
has 
placed 
an 
instrument 
within 
the 
reach 
of 
everyone 
of 
the 
Elijah 
class 
who 
desires 
to 
have 
a 
part 
in 
setting 
the 
nominal 
heavens 
on 
fire. 
The 
instruIVent 
is 
the 
Seventh 
Volume 
of 
SCRIPTURE 
STUDIES, 
and 
other 
kindred 
truths 
which 
the 
Lord 
has 
been 
providing 
for 
the 
church. 
In 
Revelation 
22: 
10 
he 
tells 
us, 
"Make 
no 
secret 
of 
the 
predictions 
contained 
in 
this 
book; 
for 
the 
time 
for 
their 
fulfilment 
is 
now 
close 
at 
hand." 
The 
church 
is 
now 
in 
a 
time 
of 
severe 
trial 
and 
testing. 
Many 
things 
are 
arising 
that 
have 
a 
tendency 
to 
cause 
doubt. 
The 
church 
needs 
comfort 
and 
encouragement. 
There 
is 
nothing 
that 
will 
give 
her 
so 
much 
encouragement 
and 
comfort 
as 
to 
engage 
intelligently 
and 
enthusiastically 
in 
the 
harvest 
work, 
with 
the 
instruments 
which 
the 
Lord 
has 
provided 
for 
that 
work 
at 
.this 
time. 
Concerning 
the 
.seventh 
Volume, 
Brother 
RUSllell 
said: 
"It 
will 
probably 
be 
given 
to 
the 
church 
in 
a 
time 
of 
direst 
need, 
for 
her 
comfort 
and 
encouragement." 
.Again 
he 
said, 
"It 
will 
be 
for 
the 
purpose 
of 
enabling 
the 
church 
to 
stand 
after 
first 
having 
been 
developed." 
He 
pointed 
out 
that 
the 
book 
would 
be 
an 
explanation 
of 
Revela­ 
tion 
and 
Ezekiel. 
Can 
we 
ever 
look 
for 
another 
explanation 
of 
Revelation 
such 
as 
we 
now 
possess, 
with 
748 
extracts 
from 
Brother 
Russell's 
pen 
and 
thousands 
of 
Scripture 
references 
confirming 
the 
same! 
Brother 
Russell 
replied 
to 
a 
question 
concerning 
the 
Seventh 
Volume, 
"If 
the 
Lord 
shows 
me 
the 
key, 
I 
will 
write 
the 
Seventh 
Volume; 
if 
he 
shows 
the 
key 
to 
someone 
else, 
he 
can 
write 
it." 
Brother 
Russell 
himself 
is 
the 
key, 
and 
his 
modesty 
and 
humility 
prevented 
him 
from 
seeing 
it. 
He 
is 
the 
prominent 
figure 
foreshadowed 
both 
in 
Revelation 
and 
Ezekiel. 
TID! 
PElOrY 
Explaining 
the 
parable 
of 
the 
Penny 
(Matthew 
20:1-16), 
Brother 
Russell 
set 
forth 
in 
SCRlPTURE 
STUDII!lB, 
Vol. 
III, 
page 
223, 
that 
the 
penny 
ia 
"Kingdom 
honors!' 
·In 
PAlm 
149: 
5-9 
we 
read, 
"Let 
the 
saints 
be 
joyful 
in 
glory; 
let 
them 
sing 
aloud 
upon 
their 
beds; 
let 
the 
high 
praises 
of 
God 
be 
in 
their 
mou,ths 
and 
a 
two-edged 
sword 
in 
their 
hand; 
to 
execute 
vengeance 
upon 
the 
heathen 
and 
punisllment 
upon 
the 
people; 
to 
bind 
their 
kings 
with 
chalns 
and 
their 
nobles 
with 
fetters 
of 
iron; 
to 
execute 
upon 
them 
the 
judgment 
written; 
this 
honor 
ha,ve 
all 
the 
saints." 
Commenting 
upon 
this 
Psalm, 
Brother 
Russell 
stated 
that 
the 
''honor'' 
here 
referred 
to 
would 
be 
conferred 
upon 
the 
saints 
on 
this 
side 
of 
the 
veil; 
that 
the 
sword, 
likewiae, 
would 
be 
used 
by 
the 
saints 
on 
this 
side 
the 
veil. 
It 
is 
a 
grea.t 
and 
wondeI'iul 
honor 
to 
have 
part 
in 
wield­ 
ing 
the 
sword 
now 
(the 
message 
of 
truth) 
that 
is 
binding 
the 
kings, 
rulers, 
nobles 
and 
systems 
of 
this 
world. 
Everyone 
who 
joyfully 
receives 
and 
uses 
the 
"point" 
of 
the 
sword, 
to 
..,.qt, 
the 
Seventh 
Volume 
(Ezek. 
21: 
14, 
15), 
thus 
receives 
"Kingdom 
Honors"-The 
Penny. 
For 
many 
years 
we 
hayE' 
been 
promised 
the 
Seventh 
Volume. 
All 
have 
looked 
for 
it, 
expeciinl3' 
the 
last 
coming 
into 
the 
truth 
would 
be 
classed 
equally 
WIth 
the 
first 
in 
receiving 
it. 
[6149] 
END 
OF 
JEWISH 
HARVEST 
Just 
before 
his 
C'rucifixion 
Jesus 
was 
asked 
by 
his 
disciples 
three 
questions 
in 
one, 
namely: 
(I) 
When 
shall 
the 
temple 
be 
destroyed? 
(2) 
What 
would 
be 
the 
proof 
of 
his 
presence 
and 
(3) 
of 
the 
end 
of 
tbe 
age? 
These 
questions 
he 
answered. 
(::\fatthew 
24: 
3-35) 
The 
historical 
facts 
show: 
(I) 
the 
destruction 
of 
Jerusalem, 
A. 
D. 
70; 
(2) 
the 
complete 
subjuga­ 
tion 
()If 
Judea, 
A. 
D. 
73, 
and 
(3) 
the 
depopulation 
of 
Palestine, 
A. 
D. 
135. 
Thus 
it 
follows 
that 
therf> 
were 
three 
different 
endings 
relative 
to 
the 
Jewish 
polity. 
Which 
one 
of 
these 
did 
the 
Lord 
intend 
should 
be 
our 
guide 
in 
the' 
harvest 
parallel 
s 
! 
Jesus 
declared, 
"The 
harvest 
is 
the 
end 
of 
the 
age." 
(Matthew 
13:39) 
Therefore 
we 
must 
find 
that 
when 
the 
harvest 
ended, 
the 
age 
is 
ended. 
He 
could 
not 
have 
meant 
A. 
D. 
70 
and 
its 
parallel 
date, 
1915, 
as 
markJing 
the 
end 
of 
the 
harvest, 
because 
the 
harvest 
did 
not 
end 
there. 
It 
is 
still 
going 
on. 
He 
could 
not 
have 
meant 
A. 
D. 
135 
and 
the 
parallel 
date, 
1980, 
for 
the 
reason 
that 
SUell 
a 
conclusion 
would 
entirely 
destroy 
the 
parallel 
with 
rcference 
to 
the 
harvest. 
In 
giving 
his 
answer 
with 
reference 
to 
the 
end 
of 
the 
age, 
Jesus 
said, 
"Let 
them 
which 
are 
in 
Judea 
flee 
to 
the 
mountains." 
Judea 
more 
particularlr 
types 
Ba~ylon. 
The 
date 
of 
the 
fall 
of 
JUdea, 
therefore, 
IS 
of 
great 
Importance. 
In 
Volume 
7, 
S1:UDIES 
1:<1 
THE 
SCRIPTURES, 
pages 
23 
and 
24, 
we 
have 
collected 
seven 
histoJ'lical 
autborities 
definitely 
es­ 
tablishing 
the 
fact 
that 
Judea's 
fall 
occurred 
on 
the 
first 
day 
of 
the 
Feast 
of 
the 
Passover 
(.April 
15) 
.A. 
D. 
73, 
which 
was 
exactly 
forty 
years 
after 
Pentecost, 
the 
beginning 
of 
the 
Jewish 
harvest, 
therefore 
marking 
the 
close 
of 
the 
Jewish 
harvest 
in 
A. 
D. 
73. 
GOSPEL 
AGE 
HARVEST 
The 
proof 
heretofore 
published 
in 
STUDIES 
IN 
THE 
SCRIP­ 
TURES 
definitely 
estlllb~ishes 
the 
second 
presence 
of 
our 
Lord 
since 
1874. 
Correspondingly, 
the 
three 
and 
a 
half 
years 
following 
would 
be 
a 
period 
of 
preparation 
for 
the 
harvest 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age, 
exactly 
as 
such 
preparation 
was 
made 
for 
the 
harvest 
of 
the 
J 
e"lish 
age, 
and 
would 
consequently 
mark 
the 
beginning 
of 
the 
harvest 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age 
in 
1878. 
Likewise, 
the 
proof 
heretofore 
pUblished 
defi,nitely 
es­ 
tablishes 
the 
resurrection 
of 
the 
sleepmg 
saints 
in 
A. 
D. 
1878. 
(See 
Rev. 
14: 
13 
comments 
in 
Vol. 
7) 
St. 
Paul 
clearly 
es­ 
tablishes 
the 
fact 
that 
none 
could 
be 
gathered 
into 
the 
heavenly 
garner 
of 
the 
Lord 
in 
the 
harvest 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age 
until 
after 
the 
awakening 
of 
the 
saints, 
saying, 
"For 
this 
we 
say 
unto 
you 
by 
the 
Word 
of 
the 
Lord, 
that 
we 
which 
are 
alive 
and 
remain 
unto 
the 
coming 
of 
the 
Lord 
shall 
not 
pre­ 
cede 
them 
which 
are 
asleep; 
for 
the 
Lord 
himself 
shall 
descend 
from 
heaven 
with 
a 
shout 
and 
with 
tbe 
voice 
of 
the 
archangel 
and 
with 
the 
trump 
of 
God, 
and 
tbe 
dead 
in 
Christ 
shall 
rise 
first."-1 
Thessalonians 
4: 
15, 
16. 
Immediately 
following 
the 
announcement 
in 
Rev. 
14: 
13, 
"Blessed 
are 
the 
dead 
which 
die 
in 
the 
Lord 
from 
henceforth," 
we 
read 
(Verse 
14) 
"and 
behold 
a 
white 
cloud, 
and 
upon 
the 
cloud 
I 
saw 
one 
sitting 
like 
unto 
the 
Son 
of 
Man, 
having 
on 
his 
head 
a 
golden 
crown 
and 
in 
his 
hand 
a 
sharp 
sickle." 
Thus 
is 
described 
the 
second 
presence 
of 
our 
Lord 
as 
the 
great 
Chief 
Reaper, 
at 
the 
beginning 
of 
the 
harvest 
in 
1878. 
The 
15th 
verse 
of 
that 
same 
chapter 
refers 
to 
the 
Great 
Pyra­ 
mid, 
the 
measurements 
of 
which 
confirm 
the 
Bible 
teacMng 
that 
1878 
marked 
the 
beginning 
of 
the 
harvest 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age. 
The 
parallel, 
therefore, 
would 
establish 
definitely 
that 
th£' 
harvest 
would 
close 
forty 
years 
thereafter; 
to 
wit, 
in 
the 
spring 
of 
A. 
D. 
1918. 
If 
this 
be 
true, 
and 
the 
evidence 
is 
very 
conclusive 
that 
it 
is 
true, 
then 
we 
have 
only 
a 
few 
month~ 
in 
which 
to 
labor 
before 
the 
great 
night 
settles 
down 
when 
no 
man 
can 
work. 
in 
the 
name 
of 
Jesus 
Christ, 
for 
the 
remission 
of 
sins; 
and 
ye 
shall 
receive 
the 
gift 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit. 
For 
the 
promise 
is 
unto 
you 
and 
to 
your 
children 
and 
to 
all 
that 
are 
afar 
off, 
even 
as 
mallY 
as 
the 
Lord 
our 
God 
shall 
call."-Acts 
2:37-39. 
Here, 
for 
the 
fir~t 
time, 
the 
caB 
went 
forth 
to 
enter 
the 
race 
for 
the 
prize 
of 
heavenly 
glory, 
and 
on 
that 
same 
day 
about 
three 
thousand 
responded 
to 
the 
call. 
pJ'lior 
thereto 
there 
was 
no 
garner. 
Not 
even 
the 
Apostles 
could 
receive 
tbe 
holy 
Spirit 
until 
that 
day. 
This 
would 
seem 
to 
establish 
b('yond 
question 
of 
doubt 
that 
the 
.Jewisb 
harvest 
began 
at 
Pentecost. 
This 
conclusion 
in 
no 
wise 
interferes 
with 
our 
cbronology, 
but 
instead 
confirms 
it. 
The 
year 
1914 
markl'd 
the 
end 
of 
the 
Gentile 
times, 
but 
<lid 
not 
mark 
the 
end 
of 
the 
harvest 
of 
the 
Gospel 
age. 
Many 
have 
consecrated 
and 
given 
evidence 
of 
spirit-begetting 
since 
1914, 
which 
is 
the 
best 
evidence 
that 
the 
harvest 
is 
not 
yet 
closed. 
Ocrosgr 1, 1917 THE in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the holy Spirit. For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.”—Acts 2:37-39. Here, for the first time, the call went forth toe enter the race for the prize of heavenly glory, and on that same day about three thousand responded to the call. Prior thereto there was no garner. Not even the Apostles could receive the holy Spirit until that day. This would seem to establish beyond question of doubt that the Jewish harvest began at Pentecost. This conclusion in no wise interferes with our chronology, but instead confirms it. The year 1914 marked the end of the Gentile times, but did not mark the end of the harvest of the Gospel age. Many have consecrated and given evidence of spirit-begetting since 1914, which is the best evidence that the harvest is not yet closed. END OF JEWISH HARVEST Just before his crucifixion Jesus was asked by his disciples three questions in one, namely: (1) When shall the temple be destroyed? (2) What would be the proof of his presence and (3) of the end of the age? These questions he answered. (Matthew 24:3-35) The historical facts show: (1) the destruction of Jerusalem, A. D. 70; (2) the complete subjugation of Judea, A. D. 73, and (3) the depopulation of Palestine, A. D. 135. Thus it follows that there were three different endings relative to the Jewish polity. Which one of these did the Lord intend should be our guide in the harvest parallels? Jesus declared, “The harvest is the end of the age.” (Matthew 13:39) Therefore we must find that when the harvest ended, the age is ended. He could not have meant A. D. 70 and its parallel date, 1915, as marking the end of the harvest, because the harvest did not end there. It is still going on. He could not have meant A, D. 135 and the parallel date, 1980, for the reason that such a conclusion would entirely destroy the parallel with reference to the harvest. In giving his answer with reference to the end of the age, Jesus said, “Let them which are in Judea flee to the mountains.” Judea more particularly types Babylon. The date of the fall of Judea, therefore, is of great importance. In Volume 7, STUDIFS IN THE SCRIPTURES, pages 23 and 24, we have collected seven historical authorities definitely éstablishing the fact that Judea’s fall occurred on the first day of the Feast of the Passover (April 15) A. D. 73, which was exactly forty years after Pentecost, the beginning of the Jewish harvest, therefore marking the close of the Jewish harvest in A, D. 73. GOSPEL AGE HARVEST The proof heretofore published in SrupIEs EIN THE ScnriPTuRES definitely establishes the second presence of our Lord since 1874, Correspondingly, the three and a half years following would be a period of preparation for the harvest of the Gospel age, exactly as such preparation was made for the harvest of the Jewish age, and would consequently mark the beginning of the harvest of the Gospel age in 1878. Likewise, the proof heretofore published definitely establishes the resurrection of the sleeping saints in A. D. 1878. (See Rev. 14:13 comments in Vol. 7) St. Paul clearly establishes the fact that none could be gathered into the heavenly garner of the Lord in the harvest of the Gospel age until aiter the awakening of the saints, saying, “For this we say unto you by the Word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep; for the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first.”—-1 Thessalonians 4:15, 16. Immediately following the announcement in Rev. 14:18, “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth,” we read (Verse 14) “and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud I saw one sitting like unto the Son of Man, having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle.” Thus ig described the second presence of our Lord as the great Chief Reaper, at the beginning of the harvest in 1878. The 15th verse of that same chapter refers to the Great Pyramid, the measurements of which confirm the Bible teaching that 1878 marked the beginning of the harvest of the Gospel age. The parallel, therefore, would establish definitely that the harvest would close forty years thereafter; to wit, in the spring of A. D. 1918. If this be true, and the evidence is very conclusive that it is true, then we have only a few months in which to labor before the great night settles down when no man can work, WATCH TOWER (292-293) Now we have come to another step ine the pathway of present truth; and the question that confronts the people of God is, Are we ready for it? In 1875, when Brother Russell learned of the presence of our Lord, he immediately saw from Revelation 14:14, 16 that the work which the Lord would have his people to do is to reap the harvest of ripened wheat. (Matt. 13:39) The Lord has been pleased to remove Brother Russell from the earthly stage of action; and now the great Shepherd of the sheep has called our attention in unmistakable terms to the fact that he has a work for the church yet in the flesh, following the harvesting of the wheat, a work which is described in detail in Rev, 14:17, 19, as the harvesting of the vine of the earth. This work is doubtless the same as that described in Matt. 13:40, 43. It is a work of exposing to all the world the unrighteousness of the ecclesiastical systems, their acts and their unholy alliances with the beastly governments of the present evil order of things. It also seems to relate to the gathering out from amongst God’s professed consecrated people of all offending ones.—Matthew 13:41. THE LAST WORK OF THE CHURCH If any of us have come to this hour expecting that the last work of the church in the flesh would be one of quiet, pleasing, easy triumph, void of severe and fiery trials, then surely we have misread our Bibles and STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES and the pages of history. Never before were there so many indications as now that the church is in the great enemy’s territory undergoing fina} and crucial testing, with still more in front of her. She must continue her fight to the end, amidst graver perils than any she has encountered for a long time. To accomplish the work now at hand the Lord will use such instruments as he has provided. He has placed an instrument within the reach of every one of the Elijah class who desires to have a part in setting the nominal heavens on fire. The inatrurygent is the Seventh Volume of Scrirrure Srupigs, and other kindred truths which the Lord has been providing for the church. In Revelation 22:10 he tells us, “Make no secret of the predictions contained in this book; for the time for their fulfilment is now close at hand.” The church is now in a time of severe trial and testing. Many things are arising that have a tendency to cause doubt. The church needs comfort and encouragement. There is nothing that will give her so much encouragement and comfort as to engage intelligently and enthusiastically in the harvest work, with the instruments which the Lord has provided for that work at this time. Concerning the Seventh Volume, Brother Russell said: “It will probably be given to the church in a time of direst need, for her comfort and encouragement.” Again he said, “It will be for the purpose of enabling the church to stand after first having been developed.” He pointed out that the book would be an explanation of Revelation and Ezekiel. Can we ever look for another explanation of Revelation such as we now possess, with 743 extracts from Brother Russeli’s pen and thousands of Scripture references confirming the same? Brother Russell replied to a question concerning the Seventh Volume, “If the Lord shows me the key, I will write the Seventh Volume; if he shows the key to someone else, he can write it.” Brother Russell himself is the key, and his modesty and humility prevented him from seeing it. He is the prominent figure foreshadowed both in Revelation and Ezekiel. THE PENNY Explaining the parable of the Penny (Matthew 20:1-16), Brother Russell set forth in Sogrerurs Stupies, Vol. III, page 223, that the penny is “Kingdom honors.” In Psalm 149:5-9 we read, “Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds; let the high praises of God be in their mouths and a two-edged sword in their hand; to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishment upon the people; to bind their kings with chains and their noblea with fetters of iron; to execute upon them the judgment written; this honor have all the saints.” Commenting upon this Psalm, Brother Russell stated that the “honor” here referred to would be conferred upon the sainta on this side of the veil; that the sword, likewise, would be used by the saints on this side the veil. It is a great and wonderful honor to have part in wielding the sword now (the message of truth) that is binding the kings, rulers, nobles and systems of this world. Everyone who joyfully receives and uses the “point” of the sword, to wit, the Seventh Volume (Ezek. 21:14, 15), thus receives “Kingdom Honors”—The Penny. For many years we have been promised the Seventh Volume. All have jooked for it, expecting the last coming into the truth would be classed equally with the first in receiving it. [6149]

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