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ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
ALLEGHENY,
PA.
tion
and
the
still
further
success
they
are
expecting
is
all
the
result
of
their
finding
out
a
method
by
which
it
might
appear
to
them
that
they
had
circumvented
the
divine
mandate.
Thus
they
would
seem
to
triumph
over
God
and
be
able
to
worlt
their
orgies
in
defiance
of
his
power.
Here
would
be
the
sublime
test,
which
would
demonstrate
not
only
the
gross
wickedness
of
those
of
them
who
for
cen·
turies
had
defied
God
and
righteousness
and
injured
humanity,
but
it
woula
be
the
supreme
test
also
upon
that
other
company
of
the
fallen
angels
who,
we
are
assuming,
are
sick
of
sin,
abstaining
from
it
and
longing
for
divine
mercy
and
recon
ciliation.
The
breaking
loose
of
such
evil
spirits
and
the
resulting
pandemonium
would
imply
amongst
them
a
climac
teric
test,
the
decision
in
which
would
be
final.
It
not
only
seems
to
me
that
no
such
tests
would
be
possible
for
those
demons
during
the
Millennium,
when
nothing
shall
hurt
or
destroy,
but
it
also
seems
incongruous
to
me
to
suppose
that
there
would
be
any
hope
for
those
who
are
in
a
devilish
atti·
tude
now
after
having
witnessed
the
fall
and
its
terrible
con
sequences,
and
the
goodness
of
God
manifested
in
Jesus'
death
and
resurrection
and
the
faithfulness
of
his
followers
in
being
baptized
into
his
death.
I
am
not
urging
this
matter,
dear
brother,
merely
ex
plaining
the
matter
as
it
appears
to
my
mind.
In
doing
this
I,
of
course,
wish
to
thoroughly
arouse
the
Lord's
people
in
due
time,
to
put
them
on
guard,
to
forewarn
and
forearm.
And
incidentally,
we
know
not
but
that
we
are
forewarning
and
forearming
those
of
the
demons
who
have
turned
their
faces
again
towards
God
and
his
righteousness.
It
is
far
from
our
thought
to
terrify
the
Lord's
people
or
others.
Rather
we
point
them
to
the
only
sure
place
of
safety,
and
admonish
them
that
in
abiding
therein
they
need
have
no
fear.
The
vow
we
have
recently
suggested
is
a
finger
pointing
in
the
right
direction-to
the
fullest
imaginable
degree
of
conse·
cration
to
the
Lord
and
his
service,
and
to
love
for
the
brethren
and
to
separateness
from
sin.
These,
abiding
under
the
shadow
of
the
Almighty,
need
fear
no
evil.
The
Lord
will
be
their
refuge
and
habitation,
and
no
evil
can
come
near
that
dwelling-place.
In
a
word,
those
who
are
living
as
closely
as
possible
to
the
Lord
in
faith
and
obedience
and
knowledge
are
abso·
lutely
safe
and
need
fear
none
of
the
powers
of
darkness.
We
believe
that
all
others
are
unsafe
propositions,
as
they
are
distant
from
this
safe
habitation.
VOL.
XXIX
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
DECEMBER
15,1908
WATCH
TOWER
BIBLE
AND
TRACT
SOCIETY'S
REPORT
No.
24
DECEMBER
1,
1907,
TO
DECEMBER
1,
1908.
For
many
years
the
work
of
the
Society
has
shown
phE!'
fact
that
the
harvest
time
is
not
alone
for
gathering
the
nomenal
progress,
our
last
report
being
the
best
of
all-an
wheat
from
the
fields,
but
a
time
also
for
threshing
and
astonishment
even
to
the
most
hopeful.
Of
course,
in
the
winnowing
it,
for
the
separation
of
the
chaff
from
the
wheat,
face
of
the
financIal
depression,
we
had
not
the
courage
that
the
latter
may
be
ready
for
the
garner.
We
should,
to
hope
that
the
present
year
would
even
nearly
come
up
perhaps,
expeet
that
the
remaining
years
of
the
harvest
will
to
last
year's
remarkable
showing.
We
are
confident,
there·
be
consp.icuously
marked
in
this
manner.
While
we
expect
fore,
dear
brethren,
that
you
will
be
overwhelmed
with
sur·
a
large
ingathering
of
ripened
grain,
we
must
also
expect
prise
to
learn
that,
notwithstanding
the
adverse
conditions
that
the
flail
of
trial
and
testing
will
fall
heavily,
swiftly
to
which
the
panic
led,
the
present
year
not
only
shows
as
and
repeatedly
upon
the
wheat,
that
it
may
be
thoroughly
favorably
as
last
year,
but
shows
a
great
improvement.
We
threshed,
that
every
grain
may
be
thoroughly
separated
from
may
well
rejoice
with
one
another
and
give
to
our
Lord
the
hull
or
chaff.
Results
may
sometimes
be
very
disappoint-
all
the
praise.
Surely
without
him
we
could
do
nothing,
ing
as
we
find
ourselves
mistaken
in
our
estimates;
as
we
in
the
fure
of
the
opposition
which
we
continually
meet
from
find
some
fall
whom
we
had
no
doubt
would
stand
firmly
the
world,
from
the
flesh,
and,
above
all,
from
our
great
with
us
to
the
end
of
the
journey
and
enter
the
garner
of
adversary,
who
works
in
and
through
the
blinded
children
the
kingdom.
However,
the
work
is
the
Lord's,
and
not
of
disobedience.
Ah!
more
and
more
do
we
realize
the
mean-
Ours.
It
is
for
us
to
do
with
our
might
what
our
hands
ing
of
the
Apostle's
words,
when
he
declares,
"We
wrestle
find
to
do,
and
to
leave
all
results
in
the
divine
care,
know-
not
with
flesh
and
blood,
but
with
wicked
spirits
in
high
ing
that
our
Lord
is
too
wise
to
err,
and
that
his
love
for
positions."-Eph.
6:12.
all
of
his
dear
people
is
far
more
intense
than
ours,
and
The
contest
is
so
unequal
that
if
we
did
not
have
the
that
nothing
in
their
interest,
for
their
correction
in
right-
supervision
and
protection
of
our
Lord
through
his
various
eousness,
etc.,
will
be
left
undone.
agencies,
we
would
surely
be
deceived
and
thwarted
in
every
It
is
ours,
therefore,
to
do
our
part
and
leave
the
remaindl'r
dirertion.
As
it
is,
in
the
light
of
our
Lamp,
the
Word
of
with
him.
We
cannot
share
the
sentiments
of
our
opponents
God,
we
know
what
to
expect
j
that
for
the
harvest
testing,
that
the
Lord
has
allowed
the
harvest
work
to
progress
thirty·
which
begins
with
the
house
of
God
and
extends
to
the
four
years
along
wrong
lines,
and
now
wishes
three
or
four
nominal
systems
and
the
world,
there
will
be
a
relaxing
of
self-appointed
brethren
to
take
dirertion
of
affairs
and
say
the
divine
restraints
upon
the
evil
spirits,
permitting
their
what
should
and
what
should
not
appear
in
the
columns
of
greater
activity
and
correspondingly
more
and
more
severe
this
Journal,
etc.
This
very
same
thought,
as
some
of
Our
tests
upon
all
mankind.
We
remember
our
Lord's
words,
readers
know,
has
twice
in
the
past
Il'd
to
conspiraries
on
to
the
effect
that
the
deceptions
would
ultimately
prove
so
the
part
of
misguided
brethren
to
turn
the
rhannel
of
the
severe
that
they
would
"deceive,
if
it
were
possible,
the
strl'am
of
truth
more
to
their
pleasement.
As
those
efforts
very
elect."
It
will
not
be
possible,
because
for
this
class
failed,
so,
we
believe,
other
efforts,
of
a
slightly
modified
the
Lord
will
provide
special
protection,
special
warnings,
form,
will
fail.
These
endeavors
l'anse
us
sorrow
of
heart
special
assistances.
We
note
the
Apostle's
remark
that
if
indel'd,
but
in
no
sense
or
degree
shake
our
confidenre
in
the
it
began
first
with
us,
what
will
the
end
be
upon
those
who
Lord
and
his
perfect
mastery
of
the
situation
and
the
carry-
obey
not
the
Gospel'
"If
the
righteous
scarcely
be
saved,
ing
out
of
the
harvest
work.
Our
sorrow
is
for
the
deluded
where
shall
the
ungodly
and
the
sinner
appear7
"-1
Pet.
4:
18.
brethren
whom
the
adversary
thus
sifts
out.
It
is
not
for
While
the
report
shows
progress
in
the
work
accomplished
us
to
question
the
methods
of
divine
wistlom,
but
rather
to
in
extending
the
truth
to
others,
our
chief
cause
for
rejoic-
remember
that
"The
Lord
knoweth
them
that
are
his."
W
('
ing
lies
in
the
fart
that
a
deep
work
of
grace
seems
to
be
may
esteem
brethren
too
highly
or
insnfficiently,
but
thl'
Lord
in
progress
in
many
places;
we
believe
very
generally
through-
knows
the
heart
and
makes
no
mistake.
Then,
too,
each
of
out
all
the
harvest
work,
considered
as
a
whole.
We
are
the
called
ones
has
a
will
of
his
own.
It
is
not
our
flesh
able
to
form,
we
think,
fairly
good
estimates
along
these
that
is
being
tested,
but
our
wills;
hence
the
neressity
for
lines
from
the
phraseology
of
the
letters
we
receive
and
also
watching
our
hearts
and
keeping
very
humble;
otherwise
pride
from
the
reports
made
to
us
by
the
"pIlgrims."
The
spirit
Or
ambition
may
enter
and
in
a
few
months,
or
even
a
few
of
brotherhood,
the
spirit
of
love,
seems
to
be
increasing,
even
days,
or
hours
or
moments
might
work
havoc
to
all
our
char-
as
the
revprse
spirit
is
increasing
and
manifest
in
the
world-a
acter
development,
from
the
Lord's
viewpoint.
spirit
of
strife,
envy,
evil-speaking
and
hatred.
Ah!
how
carefully
we
shoulil
heed
the
words,
"Keep
thy
We
have
been
pleased
to
note
the
remarkable
progress
heart
with
all
diligence
(thy
will,
thy
affections),
for
out
of
it
made
by
some
dear
friends
who
have
come
into
the
light
are
the
issues
of
life'
'-life
eternal
or
death
eternal.-Prov.
of
present
truth
recently.
The
rapidity
with
which
they
4:
23.
grasp
the
outline
of
the
plan
in
many
details,
and
the
zeal
We
have
some
very
important
and
very
interesting
things
with
which
they
undertake
to
"let
their
light
shine,"
and
to
present
to
you
respecting
the
grand
outlook
for
the
work
to
bring
their
thoughts
and
words
and
doings
into
line
there-
in
1909,
but
that
properly
belongs
to
the
"View"
of
our
with,
are
evidences
of
the
power
of
the
spirit
of
the
truth
next
issue,
and
we
must
not
trench
upon
it
here.
Suffice
to
working
in
them,
and
are
gratifying
indeed.
But
alas!
a
say
that
it
contains
wonderful
hopes
and
prospects,
under
the
faithful
"View"
from
the
Watch
Tower
reminds
us
of
the
Lord's
continued
guidance,
and
your
continued
cooperation.
[42931
(371-372) tion and the still further success they are expecting is all the result of their finding out a method by which it might appear to them that they had circumvented the divine mandate. Thus they would seem to triumph over God and be able to work their orgies in defiance of his power. Here would be the sublime test, which would demonstrate not only the gross wickedness of those of them who for centuries had defied God and righteousness and injured humanity, but it would be the supreme test also upon that other company of the fallen angels who, we are assuming, are sick of sin, abstaining from it and longing for divine mercy and reconciliation. The breaking loose of such evil spirits and the resulting pandemonium would imply amongst them a climacteric test, the decision in which would be final. It not only seems to me that no such tests would be possible for those demons during the Millennium, when nothing shall hurt or destroy, but it also seems incongruous to me to suppose that there would be any hope for those who are in a devilish attitude now after having witnessed the fall and its terrible consequences, and the goodness of God manifested in Jesus’ death and resurrection and the faithfulness of his followers in being baptized into his death. ALLEGHENY, PA., DECEMBER 15, 1908 Vou. XXIX ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, I am not urging this matter, dear brother, merely explaining the matter as it appears to my mind. In doing this I, of course, wish to thoroughly arouse the Lord’s people in due time, to put them on guard, to forewarn and forearm. And incidentally, we know not but that we are forewarning and forearming those of the demons who have turned their faces again towards God and his righteousness. It is far from our thought to terrify the Lord’s people or others. Rather we point them to the only sure place of safety, and admonish them that in abiding therein they need have no fear. The vow we have recently suggested is a finger pointing in the right direction—to the fullest imaginable degree of conseeration to the Lord and his service, and to love for the brethren and to separateness from sin. These, abiding under the shadow of the Almighty, need fear no evil. The Lord will be their refuge and habitation, and no evil can come near that dwelling-place. In a word, those who are living as closely as possible to the Lord in faith and obedience and knowledge are absolutely safe and need fear none of the powers of darkness. We believe that all others are unsafe propositions, as they are distant from this safe habitation. No. 24 WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY’S REPORT DECEMBER 1, 1907, TO DECEMBER 1, 1908. For many years the work of the Society has shown phenomenal progress, our last report being the best of alJ—an astonishment even to the most hopeful. Of course, in the face of the financial depression, we had not the courage to hope that the present year would even nearly come up to last year’s remarkable showing. We are confident, therefore, dear brethren, that you will be overwhelmed with surprise to learn that, notwithstanding the adverse conditions to which the panic led, the present year not only shows as favorably as last year, but shows a great improvement. We may well rejoice with one another and give to our Lord all the praise. Surely without him we could do nothing, in the face of the opposition which we continually meet from the world, from the flesh, and, above all, from our great adversary, who works in and through the blinded children of disobedience. Ah! more and more do we realize the meaning of the Apostle’s words, when he declares, ‘‘We wrestle not with flesh and blood, but with wicked spirits in high positions.’’—Eph. 6:12. The contest is so unequal that if we did not have the supervision and protection of our Lord through his various agencies, we would surely be deceived and thwarted in every direction. As it is, in the light of our Lamp, the Word of God, we know what to expect; that for the harvest testing, which begins with the house of God and extends to the nominal systems and the world, there will be a relaxing of the divine restraints upon the evil spirits, permitting their greater activity and correspondingly more and more severe tests upon all mankind. We remember our Lord’s words, to the effect that the deceptions would ultimately prove so severe that they would ‘‘deceive, if it were possible, the very elect.’’ It will not be possible, because for this class the Lord will provide special protection, special warnings, special assistances. We note the Apostle’s remark that if it began first with us, what will the end be upon those who obey not the Gospel? ‘‘If the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?’’—1 Pet. 4:18. While the report shows progress in the work accomplished in extending the truth to others, our chief cause for rejoicing lies in the fact that a deep work of grace seems to be in progress in many places; we believe very generally throughout all the harvest work, considered as a whole. We are able to form, we think, fairly good estimates along these lines from the phraseology of the letters we receive and also from the reports made to us by the ‘‘pilgrims.’’ The spirit of brotherhood, the spirit of love, seems to be increasing, even as the reverse spirit is increasing and manifest in the world—a spirit of strife, envy, evil-speaking and hatred. We have been pleased to note the remarkable progress made by some dear friends who have come into the light of present truth recently. The rapidity with which they grasp the outline of the plan in many details, and the zeal with which they undertake to ‘‘let their light shine,’’ and to bring their thoughts and words and doings into line therewith, are evidences of the power of the spirit of the truth working in them, and are gratifying indeed. But alas! a faithful ‘‘View’’ from the Watch Tower reminds us of the fact that the harvest time is not alone for gathering the wheat from the fields, but a time also for threshing and winnowing it, for the separation of the chaff from the wheat, that the latter may be ready for the garner. We should, perhaps, expect that the remaining years of the harvest will be conspicuously marked in this manner. While we expect a large ingathering of ripened grain, we must also expect that the flail of trial and testing will fall heavily, swiftly and repeatedly upon the wheat, that it may be thoroughly threshed, that every grain may be thoroughly separated from the hull or chaff. Results may sometimes be very disappointing as we find ourselves mistaken in our estimates; as we find some fall whom we had no doubt would stand firmly with us to the end of the journey and enter the garner of the kingdom. However, the work is the Lord’s, and not ours. It is for us to do with our might what our hands find to do, and to leave all results in the divine care, knowing that our Lord is too wise to err, and that his love for all of his dear people is far more intense than ours, and that nothing in their interest, for their correction in righteousness, et¢., will be left undone. It is ours, therefore, to do our part and leave the remainder with him. We cannot share the sentiments of our opponents that the Lord has allowed the harvest work to progress thirtyfour years along wrong lines, and now wishes three or four self-appointed brethren to take direction of affairs and say what should and what should not appear in the columns of this Journal, etc. This very same thought, as some of our readers know, has twice in the past Jed to conspiracies on the part of misguided brethren to turn the channel of the stream of truth more to their pleasement. As those efforts failed, so, we believe, other efforts, of a slightly modified form, will fail, These endeavors cause us sorrow of heart indeed, but in no sense or degree shake our confidence in the Lord and his perfect mastery of the situation and the carrying out of the harvest work. Our sorrow is for the deluded brethren whom the adversary thus sifts out. It is not for us to question the methods of divine wisdom, but rather to remember that ‘‘The Lord knoweth them that are his.’’ We may esteem brethren too highly or insufficiently, but the Lord knows the heart and makes no mistake. Then, too, each of the called ones has a will of his own. It is not our flesh that is being tested, but our wills; hence the necessity for watching our hearts and keeping very humble; otherwise pride or ambition may enter and in a few months, or even a few days, or hours or moments might work havoc to all our character development, from the Lord’s viewpoint. Ah! how carefully we should heed the words, ‘‘Keep thy heart with all diligence (thy will, thy affections), for out of it are the issues of life’’—life eternal or death eternal—Prov. 4:23. We have some very important and very interesting things to present to you respecting the grand outlook for the work in 1909, but that properly belongs to the ‘‘View’’ of our next issue, and we must not trench upon it here. Suffice to say that it contains wonderful hopes and prospects, under the Lord’s continued guidance, and your continued codperation. [4293]
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