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ZIONS Feri of Cysts Presene ALLEGHENY, PA., JANUARY 1, 1900 No. 1 ly VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER FALLEN FROM GRACE VERSUS COLLAPSED More evident does it become, daily, that our Lord’s declaration, “Babylon ig fallen!” does not signify the outward collapse of “Churchianity;” but that nominal “Christendom” has fallen from divine favor ;—just as the fall of national Judaism from divine favor, at the rejection and crucifixion of Messiah at his first presence, meant not the collapse at the moment of that religio-political system. The collapse of Judaism came after it had been fallen from divine favor for 37 years, vic., in A. D. 69-70: and during that interim God's true people, “Israelites indeed,” were called out by the voice of the Gospel Iispensation, And just so now, the collapse of nominal Christianity, “Christendom” or “Babylon,” is not to be expected until a. D. 1914. though fallen from favor since 1878. The collapse will be sudden and awful when it does come: and while only the few realize the fallen-from-grace condition of Babylon in the present, none will be ignorant of her collapse when it comes. But to know then will be too late so far as the little flock of overcomers 1s concerned ;—they are all called now, during the interim, “Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues”—punishment.—Rey. 18:2-4. The collapse of Babylon is graphically described by the Revelator as like the casting of a great millstone into the sea, saying, “Thus [suddenly], with violence shall that great city, Babylon, be thrown down and be found no moive at all.” Her sudden destruction is described as a great conflagration, and the declaration is made that it is hecause “the hour of her judgment [krisis]” will have come, that she will thus suffer overthrow or “plagues.” “Therefore shall her plagues come in one day [prophetic time is a day for a year], death and mourning and famine, and she shall be utterly burned with fire. for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.” Whoever are worthy the name, “my people,” will hear and obey the Lord's voice and come out of Babylon and “receive not of her plagues;” because their obedience m fleeing out as soon as they see Babylon’s real condition will prove that they were never in real accord with her sins. Those who remain after secing Babylon and her blasphemous doctrines in the light now shining are reckoned as endorsing the blasphemies and deserving the “plagues” most thoroughlv—as much or more than the “tare” class of Babylonians. because they have greater light. Many err in not fleeing promptly when first they realize the true condition of affairs. Some say,—I will use my office or influence in Babylon, and then obey the Lord after I have gathered some of the “wheat.” They forget that obedience is better than all else in divine estimation—better even than sacrifice. Are they wiser than God that they may even for a month advantageously or safely ignore his Word? Later on they find that even the “tare” class consider them as having for a time at least “dissembled” and misrepresented their own faith as well ag misrepresented the faith of the denomination which they had agreed to uphold, Their rujffluence which at first might have been powerful for the truth becomes vitiated by reason of their neglect to obey God's voice—by their attempt to guide themselves and to lean to their own understanding. Others say, I am tree from Babylon in spirit, God knows! [2553} Although my name is still on the denominational rolls, I take no interest in her affairs—my sympathies are all with the truth, and I rarely attend other meetings. But is this right— to he half out and half in Babylon? Js this the obedience required of an “overcomer” and pleasing and acceptable to God? Surely not. He publicly entered into a covenant with the denomination when he joined it, and he should faithfully live up to all the conditions of that covenant until he as publicly renounces cr cancels his membership. Others say, I merely retain my membership in the church and sing in the choir, ete., for the sake of peace in my family . otherwise I would speedily withdraw. But is this “overcoming,” or being overcome? The latter, surely: it is a balancing of regard for God and his Word, with regard for husband or wife or children or friends and their wishes. Thus the Lord tests us, whether we love houses, lands, reputation, friends. hushand. wife or children, more than him! We should be prompt to obey and thus to show that to us God’s will is superior to every other consideration. Additionally. we once said to a dear brother who made such a remark as the above: Brother, excuse the illustration. but it may help you to see your position on this question in its true light if I tell you of a matter which, it seems to me. aptly Wlustrates your position in a way you have not thus far thought of it. Jt is this: In Chicago. at one of the great butchering establishments (perhaps at all) they have a trained bullock whose duty it is to decoy the cattle that are ready for slaughter. The bewildered eattle are naturally fearful of harm and would be difficult to drive to the butchering spot. but with the decoy bull they are easily led. He gallops up to the herd tossing his head and tail as a friendly greeting and then, wheeling around, he becomes their leader and gallops off along the narrow passage where they can go only single file. He knows well his business, and when near the killing place he steps aside into a little space provided for him alone, while the herd push one another along to their slaughter. Now, dear brother (we remarked), you and others in the nominal churches, who know better and who merely sing, or preach, or hold some petty “office,” or merely help to count another one on the reports of Babylon’s prosperity or to give another dollar to her millions, are like the decoy bull—using your knowledge and influence to the injury and bondage of others who, seeking the right way of true liberty and life, are looking to you for counsel and being misled by your example. The brother in question at once thankfully acknowledged the force of the illustration, and requested that some of the free “Withdrawal Letters” and tracts to accompany them be sent him for his use in getting free and setting a worthy example to others, THE FEDERATION OF BABYLON “Christendom” was united in the dark ages, and the results were terrible, every way. The more truth and reformation came in, the more did “Christendom” split up. Had the reform continued, and had the light of truth shined still more clearly, the result would have been that split after split would have occurred, until each individual Christian would have stood free, and all denominationalism would have perished. This would be the ideal condition; for all the unions of the past and present are unscriptural and tend to impede the Christian’s progress, They are mechanicai unions, and not (3-4)