Fesruary 15, 1904 for good to those who love the Lord. We must all die to win our heavenly prizes beyond the veil. The Elijah class this side the veil must and will be vanquished, but the apparent defeat only hastens the kingdom glories, powers and blessings promised. “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a erown of life.” GO TELL IT TO JESUS The disciples of John knew where to go with the message —where to_find sympathy and consolation in respect to their loss. There is a lesson for us in this. To whom shall we go with trials, difficulties, sorrows, troubles, disappointments? The Lord invites us to come to him with everything which is too heavy for ourselves, with every care. He cares for us and will grant the blessing to trusting souls. Doubtless those who went to Jesus became his disciples, and thus their trials in connection with their leader and teacher brought them into closer knowledge and fellowship with the great Teacher. And Vou. XXV ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, PA., MARCH 1, 1904 (63-67) so it will be doubtless with those whu are the friends of the Lord’s people at the present time: the vengeance of the antitypical Jezebel upon the antitypical Elijah will move their friends and associates to still greater love and interest, and will be the means of attracting more closely to the Lord the great company. OUR GOLDEN TEXT Those who prepared the lesson evidently did not sce that John the Baptist belongs to a separate class of the saved from those addressed in the text. No promise was made to John of a crown of life. That promise belongs to us, the Gospel church—called chosen, and faithful. John, however, will have a great blessing, for we mark again our Lord’s words, ‘There hath not arisen a greater prophet than John the Baptist—and yet I say unto you that the least in the kingdom is greater than he.” No. 5 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER ‘“‘WARS AND RUMORS OF WARS’’ In using the above words (Matt. 24:6) our Lord indicated by their connection that the mere fact of war should prove nothing to his people respecting the consummation of the age. They were to be otherwise guided in their discernment of the signs of the times. Whatever therefore we have to say respecting wars is based on some knowledge of the divine plan, aside from these frequently occurring disturbances. Our expectations respecting a war have been realized. We based that expectation not on any private information, nor on prophecy, but upon the thought that unless war intervened to prolong the commercial prosperity of Christendom a great financial depression would be sure to come speedily; and because we could not see time enough for such a depression and a recovery from it and a subsequent depression, all before October, 1914, when prophecy teaches us to expect the great climax of earth’s troubles. We have in the Scriptures what we think is clear testimony respecting that date, but no particulars or dates for the intervening time. It is not our intention to enter upon the role of prophet to any degree, but merely to give below what seems to us rather likely to be the trend of events —giving also the reasons for our expectations. The present outlook is that the success of the Japanese over the Russians thus early in their war will prolong the conflict and quite probably draw into it many other civilized nations. The Russian character is badly damaged by the fall, and, as a result, haughtiness, pride and contempt for others, are among the unenviable characteristics of their ruling classes,—and the peace-loving Czar is under their control. This will make it doubly difficult for Russia, as a great nation, to accept defeat at the hands of a small nation like Japan, which they have scarcely been willing to acknowledge as civilized, or in any degree a factor in the world’s affairs. It would, we believe, be wisdom on Russia’s part to propose terms for peace; but remembering the proverb, “Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall,” we incline to think that Russia will blunder into a prolonged war, disastrous to her prestige, finances, etc. Meantime Great Britain is seemingly disposed to use the opportunity of Russia’s distraction to add Thibet-China to her empire, either directly or as a suzerainty. Thibet is a rich country, adjoins India on the east, and its people are peaceable —unskilled in modern warfare and could easily he subjugated if no European nation interfered—and Russia alone could or would interfere. The present, therefore, is England’s auspicious moment for satisfying her “land-hunger”—for opening up a new market for the products of civilization. Turkey will be restless, too, when she sees her chief opponent, Russia, busy afar off. France, Russia’s ally, will feel keenly for Russia, and were it not for the alliance between Great Britain and Japan she most surely would back her ally and send her powerful fleet against the Japanese. She well knows, however, that this would bring England to the assistance of Japan, and that the British fleet is the most powerful in the world. Still, pride and “honor” are powerful factors with the French, who are a very excitable people, and there is no knowing when she may conclude that ‘French honor” demands her participation in the war. The German Emperor, we may be sure, could scarcely remain quiet at such an auspicious moment as the present one for “cutting a dash” that would bring himself and Germany into prominence before the world. He will probably seek to befriend Russia, his powerful neighbor on the east, to secure her friendship and also to, if possible, break the tie now uniting France and Russia. Thus Germany and France may yet vie with each other for Russia’s friendship and may both be led into the war. Even the United States may become involved, improbable as that may at present appear. If the Great Powers of Europe become involved, as above suggested, it would be very difficult for this nation to remain neutral. The seed for trouble is already planted in the “Note” sent by the American Secretary of State to the Great Powers, proposing that the war be limited so as not to involve the independence of China. The “Note” is simple enough and well intentioned, and beneficent, and has been generally assented to, but it may not be lived up to by all, and the United States may yet feel “honor-bound” to insist on the terms of that agreement, and this may mean participation in war. We do not say that the foregoing will take place, nor that it is likely to occur: we are merely outlining bare possibilities. Nevertheless, there is something behind it worth considering; because the Scriptures seem to imply some sort of a general war preceding or connected with the great time of trouble— anarehy—with which this age will close and usher in the Millennial period. For instance, Joel (3:9-16) calls on all the nations to prepare for war; to beat plowshares and pruninghooks into swords and spears, to cause pursuits of agriculture to give place to pursuits of war, and for even the weak among the nations to feign strength. The connection shows this to be at about the present time, and mentions that the “harvest” is ripe (also Rev. 14:15-20) and the Lord’s holy ones as about to “eome down.” This may be fulfilled in the anarchy in which “every man’s hand shall be against his neighbor,” but we incline to expect its fulfilment in a general and worldwide call to arms. Another reason why we incline to expect a general war is, that at present the nations are so strong that a successful anarchous uprising against them would be little short of a miracle. But such a general war would increase taxation and breed general discontent alarmingly and quickly, causing the seeds of Socialist propaganda to shoot up and blossom and bring forth red-handed anarchy speedily. The credit of the nations would be weakened also by their increased debts; money would become proportionately scarce and interest rates proportionately higher, with corresponding effects influencing the general welfare and prosperity of Christendom. ANOTHER FACTOR—RELIGIOUS AMBITIONS It may appear strange to consider religious ambitions a factor provocative of war; but it is true, nevertheless, that misguided emotions, supposedly religious, have been potent factors in many wars. Just now the apathy of the public of Christendom on religious subjects is noted as a result of the love of money and the cares of business. All the more those of religious proclivities are looking for another issue more popular than personal repentance, faith in the precious blood and consecration to divine service. They have been seeking it in “social uplift” schemes which have been more or less successful; and now the “civilization” of the uttermost parts of the earth is the popular scheme amongst them. They tell us that the conversion of the world is merely a question of dollars and cents, but do not explain to us why it is that the lands of dollars and cents are the lands of discontent and murder and suicide, etc., more than others. As an evidence of this spirit of aggression “for Christ’s sake,” note the following: [3327]
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