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VOL.
XXXVII
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
FEBRUARY
15,
1916
No.4
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
It
would
lippear
that
our
nation
is
entering
the
danger
cede
to
our
wishes
may
be
brought
to
the
snapping-point.
zone
as
respects
the
great
war-conflagration
of
Europe.
The
Their
friendly
relationships
sundered,
what
would
there
be
to
war
fever
seems
to
spread.
Our
President,
who
has
been
so
restrain
the
Germans
from
going
any
length
they
might
please
staunch
a
friend
of
peace,
is
manifestly
being
influenced
by
in
what
they
recognize
as
a
war
for
their
very
existence
as
a
the
prevalent
spirit
of
pride
and
the
demand
that
American
nation?
The
result
might
be
to
give
every
submarine
com-
rights
shall
brook
no
interference.
Our
President's
peace
mander
liberty
to
sink
any
and
every
thing
bearing
the
flag
policy
has
been
changed
to
a
preparedness
policy.
And
what
of
Germany's
enemies.
Moreover,
the
animosity
undoubtedly
could
preparedness
mean
except
that,
if
we
had
the
largest
would
extend
to
the
American
flag.
Furthermore,
if
not
re-
navy,
the
Government
sooner
or
later
would
become
more
sented,
it
would
be
considered
as
more
or
less
of
an
injustice,
proud
and
arrogant
and
wish
to
dictate
conditions
to
other
on
the
part
of
many
Americans
whose
sympathies
must
nations,
and
thus
plunge
us
into
war?
naturally
go,
to
some
extent,
with
their
blood
toward
their
From
our
viewpoint,
the
United
States
has
a
very
respect-
kinsmen
across
the
water,
waging
battle
for
existence
against
able
navy,
abundantly
sufficient
for
its
own
home
defenses-
a
combined
world
in
arms.
especially
when
supplemented
with
the
laying
of
ocean
mines
To
Bible
students
we
merely
suggest
that,
if
the
worst
and
with
port
fortifications,
if
any
of
the
latter
be
lacking.
should
happen,
we
should
remember
that
God
is
at
the
h!'lm,
What
has
America
to
fear?
Do
Great
Britain
and
Germany,
and
that
thus
he
will
allow
human
pride
and
wrath
to
further
France,
or
all
of
them
together,
wish
to
destroy
their
best
work
out
the
great
troubles
incident
to
the
"Battle
of
Arma-
customer,
from
whose
trade
they
make
their
largest
profits?
geddon"
and
the
inauguration
of
Messiah's
kingdom.
Let
us
Nonsense!
All
the
great
countries
of
Europe
are
anxious
for
remember
Jesus'
words,
applicable
to
the
present
time,
"When
our
friendship,
and
all
of
them
should
have
it,
with
our
in-
these
things
begin
to
come
to
pass,
then
look
up,
and
lift
up
fluence
exerted
in
the
interests
of
their
peace
and
welfare.
your
heads;
for
your
redemption
draweth
nigh.,,_Luke
21
:28.
Imagine
an
army
of
a
million
men
crossing
the
Atlantic
BITTERNESS
AND
PASSION
INCREASE
ocean!
Imagine
the
number
of
ships
required!
Remember
In
STUDIES
IN
THE
SCRIPTURES,
Vol.
IV.,
we
have
clearly
that
the
largest
vessels
can
barely
carry
coal
enough
to
bring
pointed
out
the
things
now
transpiring,
and
the
worse
condi-
them
properly
across
the
ocean
without
replenisihment.
\Vho
tions
yet
to
come.
\Ve
have
said
in
so
many
words
that
this
~an
i~agine
the.
inability
of
the
United
States
to
meet
any
great
time
of
trouble
will
manifest
fully
that
the
civilization
lllvadmg
army,
If
we
had
no
navy
at
all?
of
our
day,
of
which
we
have
so
greatly
boasted,
is
merely
We
are
not
di~puting
that
it
would
be
a
policy
of
rea-
skin
deep-merely
a
veneer.
Already
we
have
seen
manifesta
s?nll;~le
wor.ldly
.wlsdom
to
be
pre~ared.
for
any.
rea.sonable
tions
of
this
in
various
quarters,
and
our
understanding
~f
hablhty
of
lllvaSlOn.
We
are
not
dlsputmg
that
It
might
be,
the
Bible
teaching
is
that
these
matters,
so
deplorable,
Will
in
some
respects~
a
wise
policy
to
enroll
the
youth
of
the
grow
from
bad
to
worse.
National
animosities
will
become
land
and
to
reqUire
all
to
spend
two
weeks
every
summer
in
personal
animosities
until,
as
the
Bible
foretold,
there
will
be
camp
life.
This
would
be
both
a
recreation
and
an
educa-
no
peace
to
him
that
goes
out.
nor
to
him
that
comes
in.
tion,
and
with
the
inculcation
of
the
thought
that
they
are
a
because
"every
man's
hand
will
be
against
his
neighbor."
peace
army,
and
not
an
army
of
aggression,
the
influence
(Ezekiel
38:21)
Our
Savior,
in
describing
these
matters,
pro-
might
be
favorable.
phetically
declares,
"Unless
those
days
should
be
cut
short,
no
VIEWS
OF
BIBLE
STUDENTS
flesh
would
survive."
(Matthew
24:22)
But
we
are
glad
that
The
foregoing
is
what
we
might
call
a
worldly
view
of
he
also
gi~es
us
the
.assu.rance
that
because
of
the
elect
(him-
the
situation.
Bible
students,
looking
from
the
standpoint
se.If
and
hiS
church
m,
~m~do~
power
ll;nd
glory)
those
days
of
the
Word
of
God,
see
clearly
that
the
present
great
war
Will
be
cut
short-MeSSiah
s
klllgd~m
Will
.b~
set
up.
,
in
Europe
will,
according
to
prophecy,
so
utterly
wreck
all
But
we
are
not
to
exp~ct
the
lllterposltlOn
of
the
Lord
s
the
participating
nations
that
they
will
have
no
strength
for
p~wer
to
stop
the
grea~
time
o~
troubl~,
such
as
never
was
further
combat
no
gold
reserves
called
war-chests,
for
mili-
smce
there
was
a
natIOn,
untIl
mankmd
shall
have
be~n
tary
purposes.
"
greatly
hu.mbl~d
to
the
dust
and
shall
call
up~n.
the
Lon~
III
War-smitten,
bankrupted,
discouraged,
the
nations
will
be
great
trepidatIOn.
We
are
far
from
that
conditIOn.
of
thmgs
many
years
in
repairing
the
terrible
losses
they
are
now
in-
now.
Now
the
G~~mans
pray
to
God
that
h~
Will
destr~y
flicting
upon
each
other.
Moreover,
the
Bible
assures
us
that
Eng~and.
And
BrItish
prayers.
go
up
for
the
vlc~ory
of
their
with
the
crisis
of
their
trouble,
coming
through
revolution
ar~les
and
t~~
do~nfa~l
of
their
foes.
And
so.
With
t~e
otl~er
and
anarchy,
the
world
will
be
saved
from
its
own
madness
natIOns
partIclpa~lllg
III
~he
war;
each
pr~Ylllg
aT~am.st
Its
by
the
establishment
of
Messiah's
kingdom.
"He
shall
make
foes;
each
~xpectlllg
God
s
favor
and
blessm~.
\\
111
It
not
war
to
cease
unto
the
ends
of
the
earth."
(Psalm
46:9)
The
be
a
very
different
~tory
and
Will.
not
ve.ry
dlff~rent
prayers
war-mad
nations
will
"beat
their
swords
into
plowshares,
and
ascend
when
all
natIOns
shall
reahze
the~r
~Illdomg
an~.
that
their
spears
into
prunino-
hooks
.
.
.
.
and
learn
war
no
the
only
suc~or
they.
~an
hop~
!or
from
any
quarter,
,\Ill
be.
more."-Isa.
2:4;
Micah
4~3.
through
the
lllt~rposltlO.n
of
dlvIn.!'
power
to
.stav
the
anarchy
But
of
course
we
cannot
expect
others
than
Bible
students
of
tl~at
awful
time
~lllch
the
Bible
symbohcall.v
calls
a
de-
to
see
matters
from
this
viewpoint.
Thev
must
wait
for
the
,:ourmg
fire,
and
which
our
creeds
have
all
mIStaken
to
be
.
h'
h·
h
ht!'ral
fire'
actu,al
expenences
w
ICh
we
foresee
t
roug'h
t
e
telescope
of
.
RESPONSIBILITY
OF
THE
PREACHERS
GodFsaiTI':;dto
see
from
the
Bible
standpoint,
yet
wishing
to
The
~ollowing
extra.cts
from
the
AI
ethodist
Times
purpor:
carrv
forward
his
policy
which
so
far
has
been
so
verv
suc-
to
be
faithful
translatIOns
of
.some
German
~ermons.
recent!)
cessful
our
worthy
Pre~ident
now
seems
in
great
dan;;'er
of
preached:
The:,e
sermons
remllld
us
of
the
mfatu~tlOn
unto
being
~isled
by
his
past
successes
in
the
field
of
dipl;mal'Y.
p~rsec~tlOn
which
once
was
gene~al
bet\~e!'n
the
v~no~s
seets.
He
is
greatly
endangering,
not
only
the
peace
of
our
own
\\
~
l~'ld
hoped
that
all
such
blttern('.~~
and
a~nmo.
y
w~re
land,
but
the
breaking
of
all
restraints
of
war
throughout
t~lllg-s
of
the
pa.st,
yet
here
they
ar('
III
.all
theIr
evil
~ahg-
the
world
by
insisting
that
Germany
shall
declare
that
she
mty.
Rev
..
\VIlliam
Bur?e~s.
the
Methodist
represe~~atIve
at
transgressed
the
laws
of
warfare
in
destroying
the
Lusitania.
Rome,
furmshes
the
quotatIOns
referr('d
to
as
follows.
Germany's
plea
is
that
the
submarines,
recognized
and
used
NO
COM~RO~SE
WITH
HELL
.
bv
all
nations,
bring
in
a
new
question
as
respects
intern
a-
.
"~astor.
Zoe-bel,
~peak.lIJg
III
the
gr.eat
Lutheran
chur.ch.
1TI
tional
law
in
dealing
with
life.
To
maintain
the
respect
and
LeIpSIC,
s8:
ld
:
'It
IS
thiS
deep
conSClOusne~s
of
our
mlS~lOn
good
will
of
the
United
States,
Germany
has
offered
to
pay
th.at
permits
us
to
cong~atulate
oursl'lves.
and
rest
content
for
the
lives
of
American
citizens
lost
on
the
Lu~itania
and
With
a
heart
full
of
gratItude.
when
our
guns
beat
down
thl'
has
given
assurances
of
her
intention
to
hereafter
abstain
from
children
of
Satan,
and
.w~en
our
marvelous
submarines-in-
sinking
passenger
vessels,
even
though
they
carry
munitions
struments
to
execute
dlvllle
vengeallee-s('~d
to
th!'
bottom
of
war;
unless
the
passengers
all
be
given
first
a
full,
fair
of.
the
se~
thousands
of
th~
non-ele·et.
\\
I'
ml!st
fight.
the
chance
of
safely
leaving
the
captured
vessel.
The
attainment
wlckecl
~Ith
every
means
I~
ou~
power;
th.!'lr
suffenng~
of
such
a
concession
is
a
great
honor
to
President
Wilson'8
should
give
us
pleasure;
their
cnes
of
despair
sho.uld
J.lot
diplomacy.
We
greatly
fear
that
he
is
about
to
wreck
the
move
German
hearts.
There
ought
to
be
n?
compromise
With
entire
matter
by
insisting
that
the
German
Empire
shall
say
hell,
no
mercy
for
the
servants
of
S'ltan-In
other
words,
no
"We
eonfess
that
we
were
naughty."
,
pity
for.
the
English.
Fre,?ch.
and.
Rus~ia~s,
nor
indeed
for
Our
President
threatens
that
if
Germany
does
not
acknowl-
any
natIOn
that
has
sold
Itself
to
the
d.evil.
They
have
all
edge
that
she
did
wrong,
he
will
undertake
to
punish
her
by
been
condemned
to
death
by
a
divine
decree.'''
breaking
off
friendly
relations
between
the
two
governments,
A
WORK
OF
CHARITY
etc.
We
see
nothing
to
be
gained
by
his
course,
but
much
to
"Professor
Rh('inold
Seeby.
who
teaches
theology
in
the
be
endangered.
Germany's
friendship
and
willingness
to
con-
Berlin
University,
preaching
in
the
cathr>dral
of
the
city,
[5852]
Vou. XXXVIT BROOKLYN, N. Y., FEBRUARY 15, 1916 No. 4 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER It would appear that our nation is entering the danger zone as respects the great war-conflagration of Europe. The war fever seems to spread. Our President, who has been so staunch a friend of peace, is manifestly being influenced by the prevalent spirit of pride and the demand that American rights shall brook no interference, Our President’s peace policy has been changed to a preparedness policy. And what could preparedness mean except that, if we had the largest navy, the Government sooner or later would become more proud and arrogant and wish to dictate conditions to other nations, and thus plunge us into war? From our viewpoint, the United States has a very respectable navy, abundantly sufficient for its own home defenses— especially when supplemented with the laying of ocean mines and with port fortifications, if any of the latter be lacking. What has America to fear? Do Great Britain and Germany, France, or all of them together, wish to destroy their best customer, from whose trade they make their largest profits? Nonsense! All the great countries of Europe are anxious for our friendship, and all of them should have it, with our influence exerted in the interests of their peace and welfare. Imagine an army of a million men crossing the Atlantic ocean! Imagine the number of ships required! Remember that the largest vessels can barely carry coal enough to bring them properly across the ocean without replenishment, Who can imagine the inability of the United States to meet any invading army, if we had no navy at all? We are not disputing that it would be a policy of reasonable worldly wisdom to be prepared for any reasonable liability of invasion. We are not disputing that it might be, in some respects, a wise policy to enroll the youth of the land and to require all to spend two weeks every summer in camp life. This would be both a recreation and an education, and with the inculcation of the thought that they are a peace army, and not an army of aggression, the influence might be favorable. VIEWS OF BIBLE STUDENTS The foregoing is what we might call a worldly view of the situation. Bible students, looking from the standpoint of the Word of God, see clearly that the present great war in Europe will, according to prophecy, so utterly wreck all the participating nations that they will have no strength for further combat, no gold reserves, called war-chests, for military purposes. War-smitten, bankrupted, discouraged, the nations will be many years in repairing the terrible losses they are now inflicting upon each other. Moreover, the Bible assures us that with the crisis of their trouble, coming through revolution and anarchy, the world will be saved from its own madness by the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom. “He shall make war to cease unto the ends of the earth.” (Psalm 46:9) The war-mad nations will ‘‘beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks .... and learn war no more.”—Isa. 2:4; Micah 4:3. But of course we cannot expect others than Bible students to see matters from this viewpoint. ‘hey must wait for the actual experiences which we foresee through the telescope of God’s Word. Failing to see from the Bible standpoint, yet wishing to carry forward his policy, which so far has been so very successful, our worthy President now seems in great danger of being misled by his past successes in the field of diplomacy. He is greatly endangering, not only the peace of our own land, but the breaking of all restraints of war throughout the world by insisting that Germany shall declare that she transgressed the laws of warfare in destroying the Lusitania. Germany’s plea is that the submarines, recognized and used by all nations, bring in a new question as respects international law in dealing with life. To maintain the respect and good will of the United States, Germany has offered to pay for the lives of American citizens lost on the Lusitania and has given assurances of her intention to hereafter abstain from sinking passenger vessels, even though they carry munitions of war; unless the passengers all be given first a full, fair chance of safely leaving the captured vessel. The attainment of such a concession is a great honor to President Wilson’s diplomacy. We greatly fear that he is about to wreck the entire matter by insisting that the German Empire shall say, “We confess that we were naughty.” Our President threatens that if Germany does not acknowledge that she did wrong, he will undertake to punish her by breaking off friendly relations between the two governments, etc. We see nothing to be gained by his course, but much to be endangered. Germany’s friendship and willingness to con (51-52) cede to our wishes may be brought to the snapping-point. Their friendly relationships sundered, what would there be to restrain the Germans from going any length they might please in what they recognize as a war for their very existence as a nation? The result might be to give every submarine commander liberty to sink any and every thing bearing the flag of Germany’s enemies. Moreover, the animosity undoubtedly would extend to the American flag. Furthermore, if not resented, it would be considered as more or less of an injustice, on the part of many Americans whose sympathies must naturally go, to some extent, with their blood toward their kinsmen across the water, waging battle for existence against a combined world in arms, To Bible students we merely suggest that, if the worst should happen, we should remember that God is at the helm, and that thus he will allow human pride and wrath to further work out the great troubles incident to the “Battle of Armageddon” and the inauguration of Messiah’s kingdom. Let us remember Jesus’ words, applicable to the present time, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.’’--—-Luke 21:28, BITTERNESS AND PASSION INCREASE In StupIes IN THE SCRIPTURES, Vol. IV., we have clearly pointed out the things now transpiring, and the worse conditions yet to come. We have said in so many words that this great time of trouble will manifest fully that the civilization of our day, of which we have so greatly boasted, is merely skin deep—merely a veneer. Already we have seen manifesta tions of this in various quarters, and our understanding of the Bible teaching is that these matters, so deplorable, will grow from bad to worse. National animosities will become personal animosities until, as the Bible foretold, there will be no peace to him that goes out, nor to him that comes in, because “every man’s hand will be against his neighbor.” (Ezekiel 38:21) Our Savior, in describing these matters, prophetically declares, “Unless those days should be cut short, no flesh would survive.” (Matthew 24:22) But we are glad that he also gives us the assurance that because of the elect (himself and his church in kingdom power and glory) those days will be cut short—Messiah’s kingdom will be set up. But we are not to expect the interposition of the Lord’s power to stop the great time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, until mankind shall have been greatly humbled to the dust and shall call upon the Lord in great trepidation. We are far from that condition of things now. Now the Germans pray to God that he will destroy England. And British prayers go up for the victory of their armies and the downfall of their foes. And so with the other nations participating in the war; each praying against its foes; each expecting God’s favor and blessing. Will it not be a very different story and will not very different prayers ascend when all nations shall realize their undoing and that the only succor they can hope for from any quarter, will be. through the interposition of divine power to stav the anarchy of that awful time which the Bible symbolically calls a devouring fire, and which our creeds have all mistaken to be literal fire? RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PREACHERS The following extracts from the Methodist Times purport to be faithful translations of some Gernian sermons recently preached. These sermons remind us of the infatuation unto persecution which once was general between the various sects. We had hoped that all such bitterness and acrimony were things of the past, yet here they are in all their evil malignity. Rev. William Burgess, the Methodist representative at Rome, furnishes the quotations referred to as follows: NO COMPROMISE WITH HELL “Pastor Zoebel, speaking in the great Lutheran church in Leipsic, said: ‘It is this deep consciousness of our mission that permits us to congratulate ourselves, and rest content with a heart full of gratitude, when our guns beat down the children of Satan, and when our marvelous submarines—instruments to execute divine vengeance—send to the bottom of the sea thousands of the non-elect. We must fight the wicked with every means in our power; their sufferings should give us pleasure; their crics of despair should not move German hearts. There ought to be no compromise with hell, no mercy for the servants of Satan—in other words, no pity for the English, French. and Russians, nor indeed for any nation that has sold itself to the devil. They have all been condemned to death by a divine decree.’ ” A WORK OF CHARITY “Professor Rheinold Seeby, who teaches theology in the Berlin University, preaching in the cathedral of the city, [5852]
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