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/17
£1
T
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II
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0
IV
E
R
IhOOKI,YN,
N.
Y.
the
liberty,
sir,
to
present
you
my
warmest
felicitations
for
the
work
you
have
undertaken,
which
consists
in
giving
to
our
associates
spiritual
meat
in
harmony
with
their
faith
and
be·
lief.
I
would
gladly
reimburse
the
expenses
you
have
made
for
the
services
rendet:ed
to
my
son,
who
is
very
well
pleased
with
THE
\\'ATCH
TOWER
and
MILLENNlAL
DAw;o;.
Our
cor-
respondence
with
Switzerland
1I0t
heing
allowed,
I
send
this
to
my
aforesaid
son
in
Germany,
who
will
transmit
it
to
you,
Please
believe,
sir,
in
my
deep
g-ratitllde
and
accept
my
Christian
greetings.
,J
OSEPII
S],;RVIAs.
President
of
the
Temperance
Society.-Belgium.
YOLo
XXXVII
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
JULY
1,
1916
SIGNS
OF
THE
PRESENCE
OF
THE
KING
No.
13
"Hut
lcho
may
abide
the
day
of
his
comingf
A.nd
who
shall
stan,d
!/;hen
he
appearethf
for
he
is
like
a
refiner's
fire
and
like
fullers'
soap."-Malachi
3
:2.
The
I\OlC1,
of
the
l'lophl't
"ilen
ill
our
tcxt
refer
to
the
of
these
are
living
now,
at
the
elm.e
of
the.age;
and
these
rnll~t
elose
of
the
present
Gospel
age.
0
It
is
the
same
day
prophesied
go
through
"the
great
tribulation"
and
must
wash
their
soiled
by
the
Apostle
Paul
when
he
declared,
"The
fire
of
that
day
robes
and
make
them
white
in
the
blood
of
the
Lamb.
shall
try
every
man's
work
of
what
sort
it
is."
(l
Corinth-
(Revelation
7:9·17)
They
will
have
a
blessed
portion
attcr
ians
3
:,,13)
It
is
the
day
of
which
the
Apostle
Peter
wrote
their
purification,
but
far
less
glorious
than
that
to
which
so
graphically
when
he
said
that
in
the
great
day
of
the
they
were
called.
Lord
the
heavens
should
be
on
fire
and
the
elements
should
The
Apostle
Paul
in
his
writings
lays
spccial
emphasis
melt
with
fervent
heat,
and
that
the
earth
and
all
the
works
upon
the
fundamental
importance
of
corrcct
doctrinal
teaeh-
therein
should
be
burned
up.
(2
Peter
3:10)
It
is
the
day
ing.
It
made
no
difference
whether
PauloI'
Apollos
or
even
of
which
the
Prophet
Zephaniah
spoke
when
he
said
that
in
an
angel
from
heaven
taught
anything,
it
must
be
in
harmony
the
great
day
of
the
Lord
all
the
earth
should
be
devoured
with
the
foundation
doctrines
which
had
been
given
them
by
with
the
fire
of
ODd's
jealousy.
(Zephaniah
3:
8)
Isaiah,
the
Lord.
(Galatians
1
:6-12)
He
assured
the
church,
that
Jeremiah,
and
many
of
the
faithful
prophets
of
God
prophe·
what
he
had
taught
them
was
from
God,
and
that
even
If
an
sied
of
this
day.
The
Prophet
Daniel
was
instructed
by
the
angel
should
bring
them
another
Gospel,
it
would
be
a
proot
angel
of
the
Lord
that
in
that
day
there
should
be
a
"time
that
such
angel
had
deflected
from
loyalty
to
the
Lord.
That
of
trouble
such
as
never
was
since
there
was
a
nation."
(Dan·
Jesus
Christ
died
to
secure
the
redemption-price
for
Adam
iel
12:
1
)
Our
Lord
Jesus
himself
verified
this
prophecy,
and
and
his
race
is
the
foundation
doctrine
of
the
church,
which
added
that
never
afterwards
should
there
be
such
a
time.-
was
received
from
Jesus
himself
and
from
his
faithful
mouth-
:\fatthew
24
:21,
22.
piece
and
which
was
shown
in
the
divinely
given
types
of
the
The
Scriptures
call
this
day
"the
day
of
the
Lord,"
"the
law.
Whoever
taught
this
fundamental
truth
faithfully
was
day
of
Jehovah,"
"the
day
of
God,"
"the
day
of
Christ,"
"the
a
real
help
to
the
people
of
God.
Yet
even
such
a
t~acher
day
of
vengeance,"
"that
great
and
notable
day,"
etc.
It
is
might
help
them
to
build,
even
.on
this
proper
foundatIOn,
a
the
day
in
which
the
old
order
is
to
perish
and
the
glorious
faith
and
character
structure
whIch
would
not
stand
the
tests
new
order
is
to
be
ushered
in.
In
foretelling
this
day,
both
of
the
great
day
of
the
Lord;
for
the
fire
of
that
day
would
the
prophets
and
the
apostles
speak
of
the
class
which
will
surely
prove
the
nature
of
this
structure.
Consequently,
stand
in
this
day
when
all
others
shall
fall.
St.
Paul
says
both
teacher
and
pupil
would
suffer
loss
and
be
saved
only
that
everything
which
can
be
shaken
down
will
be;
and
that
"as
through
fire."
only
the
kingdom
which
will
then
be
set
up,
and
which
can-
INVULNERABILITY
OF
THE
TRUTH
not
be
shake~,
will
remain..
(Hebrews
12
:25·29)
The
~res~nt
This
prophecy
o~
our
text
is
s~ill
~n
process
of
fulfilment.
order
of
sOCIety-the
nomlllal
church
systems,
finanCIal
In-
The
"refiner's
fire"
IS
even
now
dOlllO'
ItS
work,
and
thousands
~titutions,
political
institutions-all-,vill
go
down.
and
tens
of
thousands
are
falling
~b
about
us.
The
Proph-
During
the
Gospel
age
many
who
have
not
been
Christians
et's
query
is
very
pertinent
at
this
time.
We
see
that
the
have
associated
themselves
with
the
church.
The
civilized
false
teachings
which
have
come
down
during
these
many
world
of
today
call
themselves
"Christians,"
in
contradistinc-
centuries
since
the
apostles
fell
asleep
have
made
humanity
tion
to
the
nations
which
they
call
"heathen,"
though
from
incapable
of
reasoning
correctly
on
religious
subjects.
In
the
the
Scriptural
standpoint
they
are
all
heathen~entiles.
past
we
have
had
our
own
experiences
along
this
line.
When-
Among
all
these
various
nations
we
find
many
religions,
whose
ever
anything
religious
was
mentioned
we
seemed
to
lose
our
devotee~
claim
that
they
have
consecrated
themselves
to
God.
common
sense.
Now
we
have
lost
our
fear
of
the
dread
pen-
But
the
touch-stone
by
which
these
claims
may
be
tested
is
altv
of
usinO'
our
reason.
We
have
corne
back
to
the
teach-
the
Word
of
God.
See
Galatians
1
:6-9.
To
the
true
church
ings
of
Jesu~
and
the
apostles,
and
we
find
them
grand
and
of
Christ
alone
will
God
give
the
Messianic
kingdom.
beautiful.
Some
who
really
have
Christ
and
his
work
of
sacrifice
as
their
Those
who
have
been
teaching
errors
will
soon
be
ashamed
foundation
will
be
saved,
but
at
the
expense
of
all
their
works,
(Isaiah
66:5)
while
the
fire
of
this
day
will
only
manifcst
their
character-structure,
which
the
"fire"
of
this
day
will
the
truth
to
alI.
Now
power,
no
tongue,
no
pen,
can
succcss·
consume.
The
tare
class
in
the
nominal
churche~
will
be
fully
contradict
the
truth,
the
great
divine
plan
of
the
ages.
bundled
and
"burned,"
not
as
individuals,
but
as
professed
It
is
strong
before
its
enemies
and
befoTe
all
who
make
as-
Christians;
that
is
to
say,
their
professions
will
be
seen
to
be
saults
upon
it
and
ere
long
the
folly
of
its
foes
shall
be
made
without
foundation.
They
will
come
to
see
how
grossly
in
known
to
th~
whole
world.
"There
shall
be
weeping
and
error
they
were-how
far
rcmoved
from
the
truth.
gnashing
of
teeth."
"SAVED
AS
THROUGH
FIRE"
SIGNIFICANCE
OF
THE
PRESENCE
OF
THE
KING
The
ones
who
are
upon
the
Rock
Christ
Jesus,
the
only
true
The
coming
of
the
King
to
possess
his
kingdom
will
mean
a
Foundation,
are
those
who
have
accepted
Jesus
as
their
personal
as
well
as
a
national
and
a
church
examination,
judg-
ransom-sacrifice,
and
have
consecrated
themsclves
wholly
to
ment
and
treatment.
It
will
mean,
when
the
kingdom
is
fully
God
through
him.
All
these
have
been
"called
in
one
hope
inaugurated,
the
suppression
of
vice
in
a
manner
and
to
a
de·
of
their
calling."
(Ephesians
4:
4)
Many
of
these
will
fail
gree
never
attempted
by
any
earthly
reformer.
There
will
be
to
make
their
calling
and
election
sure
and
will
suffer
great
no
license
to
do
evil
in
any
form.
The
only
liberty
granted
loss.
They
did
not
build
properly
upon
this
Foundation,
will
be
liberty
to
do
right.
It
is
no
wonder
that
so
few
ex-
Christ,
a
structure
of
gold.
silver
and
precions
stones
of
truth
perience
joy
at
the
proclamation
of
the
return
of
earth's
right.
and
of
whole-hearted
loyalty
to
the
Lord.
They
will
suffer
ful
King
to
reign.
To
many
it
will
mean
the
loss
of
their
the
loss
of
the
kingdom,
and
through
much
tribulation
will
present
advantage
over
their
fello\'\'lIlen.
To
many
it
will
take
a
lower
place,
before
the
throne--not
rulers,
but
honor-
mean
the
prohibition
and
cutting
off
of
sins
now
indulged
in
able
servants
of
the
ruling
class.
All
who
have
been
begotten
and
enjoyed.
of
the
holy
Spirit
must,
as
we
have
shown
elsewhere,
either
Nevertheless,
hath
the
King
and
the
kingdom
are
not
only
be
born
upon
the
spirit
plane
or
lose
life
aUogether.
Those
corning,
but
are
here;
and
the
present
troubles
and
shakings
who
prove
wholly
faithful
will
be
born
divine
beings.
Thosc
in
church
and
state,
and
the
general
awakening
of
the
people
not
whoIly
faithful,
and
who
miss
the
great
"prize,"
though
arf'
the
results
of
influences
emanating
from
that
King
and
not
denying
the
Lord
that
bough.t
them,
will
be
born
spirit
kingdom.
Though
men
know
it
not,
it
is
the
smiting
of
the
beings
of
a
lower
order.
kingdom
of
God
that
is
even
now
preparing
for
the
wreck
The
tribulations
which
characterize
the
end
of
this
age
of
all
the
kingdoms
of
the
earth,
that
the
way
may
be
opened
will
thoroughly
awaken
these
careless
ones.
Certain
special
for
the
establishment
of
righteousness
in
the
world,
that
men's
tribulations,
we
understand,
have
come
to
those
who
were
of
hearts
may
be
humbled
and
prepared
for
the
rig-hteous
govern.
this
class
all
through
the
age.
But
apparently
a
large
number
ment
which
is
to
take
cont,rol
of
earth.
Worldly
men
cannot
[6916]
(195-196) THE the liberty, sir, to present you my warmest felicitations for the work you have undertaken, which consists in giving to our associates spiritual meat in harmony with their faith and belief. I would gladly reimburse the expenses you have made for the services rendered to my son, who is very well pleased with THE Watcu ToweR and MILLENNIAL Dawn. Our cor WATCH TOWER Brookiyn, N.Y. respondence with Switzerland not being allowed, I send this to my aforesaid son in Germany, who will transmit it to you. Please believe, sir, in my deep gratitude and accept my Christian greetings. JOSEPH SERVIAS. President of the Temperance Society.—Belgium. Vou. XXXVII BROOKLYN, N. Y., JULY 1, 1916 No. 13 SIGNS OF THE PRESENCE OF THE KING “But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.”—Malachi 3:2, The words of the Prophet given in our text refer to the close of the present Gospel age. It is the same day prophesied by the Apostle Paul when he declared, “The fire of that day shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.” (1 Corinthians 3713) It is the day of which the Apostle Peter wrote so graphically when he said that in the great day of the Lord the heavens should be on fire and the elements should melt with fervent heat, and that the earth and all the works therein should be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10) It is the day of which the Prophet Zephaniah spoke when he said that in the great day of the Lord all the earth should be devoured with the fire of God’s jealousy. (Zephaniah 3:8) Isaiah, Jeremiah, and many of the faithful prophets of God prophesied of this day. The Prophet Daniel was instructed by the angel of the Lord that in that day there should be a “time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.” (Daniel 12:1) Our Lord Jesus himself verified this prophecy, and added that never afterwards should there be such a time.— Matthew 24:21, 22. The Scriptures call this day “the day of the Lord,” “the day of Jehovah,” “the day of God,” “the day of Christ,” “the day of vengeance,” “that great and notable day,” ete. It is the day in which the old order is to perish and the glorious new order is to be ushered in. In foretelling this day, both the prophets and the apostles speak of the class which will stand in this day when all others shall fall. St. Paul says that everything which can be shaken down will be; and that only the kingdom which will then be set up, and which cannot be shaken, will remain. (Hebrews 12:25-29) The present order of society—the nominal church systems, financial institutions, political institutions—all—will go down. During the Gospel age many who have not been Christians have associated themselves with the church. The civilized world of today call themselves “Christians,” in contradistinction to the nations which they call “heathen,” though from the Scriptural standpoint they are all heathen—Gentiles. Among all these various nations we find many religions, whose devotees claim that they have consecrated themselves to God. But the touch-stone by which these claims may be tested is the Word of God. See Galatians 1:6-9. To the true church of Christ alone will God give the Messianic kingdom. Some who really have Christ and his work of sacrifice as their foundation will be saved, but at the expense of all their works, their character-structure, which the “fire” of this day will consume, The tare class in the nominal churches will be bundled and “burned,” not as individuals, but as professed Christians; that is to say, their professions will be seen to be without foundation. They will come to see how grossly in error they were—how far removed from the truth. “SAVED AS THROUGH FIRE”’ The ones who are upon the Rock Christ Jesus, the only true Foundation, are those who have accepted Jesus as their ransom-sacrifice. and have consecrated themselves wholly to God through him. All these have been “called in one hope of their calling.” (Ephesians 4:4) Many of these will fail to make their calling and election sure and will suffer great loss. They did not build properly upon this Foundation, Christ, a structure of gold, silver and precious stones of truth and of whole-hearted loyalty to the Lord. They will suffer the loss of the kingdom, and through much tribulation will take a lower place, before the throne—not rulers, but honorable servants of the ruling class. All who have been begotten of the holy Spirit must, as we have shown elsewhere, either be born upon the spirit plane or lose life altogether. Those who prove wholly faithful will be born divine beings. Those not wholly faithful, and who miss the great “prize,” though not denying the Lord that bought them, will be born spirit beings of a lower order. The tribulations which characterize the end of this age will thoroughly awaken these careless ones. Certain special tribulations, we understand, have come to those who were of this class all through the age. But apparently a large number of these are living now, at the close of the age; and these must go through “the great tribulation” and must wash their soiled robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:9-17) They will have a blessed portion aiter their purification, but far less glorious than that to which they were called. The Apostle Paul in his writings lays special emphasis upon the fundamental importance of correct doctrinal teaching. It made no difference whether Paul or Apollos or even an angel from heaven taught anything, it must be in harmony with the foundation doctrines which had been given them by the Lord. (Galatians 1:6-12) He assured the church that what he had taught them was from God, and that even if an angel should bring them another Gospel, it would be a proot that such angel had deflected from loyalty to the Lord. That Jesus Christ died to secure the redemption-price for Adam and his race is the foundation doctrine of the church, which was received from Jesus himself and from his faithful mouthpiece and which was shown in the divinely given types of the law. Whoever taught this fundamental truth faithfully was a real help to the people of God. Yet even such a teacher might help them to build, even on this proper foundation, a faith and character structure which would not stand the tests of the great day of the Lord; for the fire of that day would surely prove the nature of this structure. Consequently, both teacher and pupil would suffer loss and be saved only “as through fire.” INVULNERABILITY OF THE TRUTH This prophecy of our text is still in process of fulfilment. The “refiner’s fire” is even now doing its work, and thousands and tens of thousands are falling all about us. The Prophet’s query is very pertinent at this time. We see that the false teachings which have come down during these many centuries since the apostles fell asleep have made humanity incapable of reasoning correctly on religious subjects. In the past we have had our own experiences along this line. Whenever anything religious was mentioned we seemed to lose our common sense. Now we have lost our fear of the dread penalty of using our reason. We have come back to the teachings of Jesus and the apostles, and we find them grand and beautiful. Those who have been teaching errors will soon be ashamed (Isaiah 66:5), while the fire of this day will only manifest the truth to all. Now power, no tongue, no pen, can successfully contradict the truth, the great divine plan of the ages. It is strong before its enemies and before all who make assaults upon it, and ere long the folly of its foes shall be made known to the whole world. “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” SIGNIFICANCE OF THE PRESENCE OF THE KING The coming of the King to possess his kingdom will mean a personal as well as a national and a church examination, judgment and treatment. It will mean, when the kingdom is fully inaugurated, the suppression of vice in a manner and to a degree never attempted by any earthly reformer. There will be no license to do evil in any form. The only liberty granted will be liberty to do right. It is no wonder that so few experience joy at the proclamation of the return of earth’s rightful King to reign. To many it will mean the loss of their present advantage over their fellowmen. To many it will mean the prohibition and cutting off of sins now indulged in and enjoyed. Nevertheless, hoth the King and the kingdom are not only coming, but are here; and the present troubles and shakings in church and state, and the general awakening of the people are the results of influences emanating from that King and kingdom. Though men know it not, it is the smiting of the kingdom of God that is even now preparing for the wreck of all the kingdoms of the earth, that the way may be opened for the establishment of righteousness in the world, that men’s hearts may be humbled and prepared for the righteous government which is to take contro] of earth, Worldly men cannot [6916]
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