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~IARCH
I,
1918
THE
WATCn
TOWER
(7~
84)
represent
it
or
the
International
Bible
Students
Association
or
the
Peoples
Pulpit
Association.
'rhe
eviJent
purpose
of
the
two
named
and
those
associated
witll
them
is
to
cause
divi
sion
amouw;t
the
brethren.
"l'ow
1
beseech
you,
brethren,
mark
them
which
cause
divisions
and
offences,
contrary
to
thc
doctrine
which
ye
haVl'
learncrl;
alld
avoi,l
them.
For
tlwy
that
al'l'
such
serve
1I0t
our
Lord
Jesus
Christ.,
but
their
own
belly'
and
by
good
words
and
fair
speeches
,Ieceive
the
hearts
of
th~
simple."
(Romans
16:
17,
HI)
"These
six
things
doth
the
Lord
hate;
yea,
seven
are
llll
ahom
i
nation
unto
him:
A
proud
look,
a
lying
tongue,
an,1
hands
that
shed
illnocellt
blood,
an
heart
that
deviseth
wicked
imaginations,
feet
that
be
swift
in
running
to
misehid,
a
flllse
witness
that
speaketh
lips.
and
he
that
80\\"l'th
di~eord
lUIIOllg
hrl'thren."
To
avoid
such
does
IIOt
mean
to
treat
them
nnkindly,
but
it
,ioes
mean
to
refuse
to
fellowship
such
in
the
spirit
of
tl]('
Lord.
Leave
their
judgment
entirely
to
him
who
judgeth
all
.
-
--
----
.~~=-
things
righteously.
Again
Brother
I1ussell's
words
in
the
artiCle
above
mentioned
are
applieable:
"If
he
has
different
views,
do
not
pers{'cllte
him-do
not
follow
the
style
of
the
dark
ages,
but
follow
the
proper
eourse
of
letting
him
'flock
to
himself,'
or
with
as
many
as
pref,'r
to
view
matters
as
he
views
them.
We
have
not
given
such
strong
advice
heretofore;
bllt
we
perceive
that
many
of
the
<lear
sheep
are
be,jug
troll
bled,
hindered
of
deveiopment,
and
imposed
upon.
W
('
see
that
proportionately
such
elders
and
deacons
are
growing
more
bold,
and
hence
the
need
is
the
greater
that
all
who
have
the
right
spirit,
and
who
realize
that
under
the
Lord's
guidance
in
our
study
of
the
'Divine
Plan
of
the
Ages,'
we
have
not
been
following
'cunningly
devised
fables,'
should
now
take
a
positive
starid
for
the
good
of
thelllselw,s,
for
the
good
of
the
leaders
who
manifest
a
wrong
spirit,
and
for
the
good
of
the
pulJlic,
who
are
inquiring
for
t.he
way
of
the
Lord
as
never
before."
YOLo
XXXIX
BHOOKLYN,
~.
Y.,
l\IAHCII
15,
1915
====-=--===.
---.
-·-----.o·----·--~,,--.-.
__
-_~=__-_-
_c_.==o_==
THE
GREAT
SHAKIN
G
NOW
IN
PROGRESS
Xu.
()
"II'I/i)~e
'C'uicc
then
shook
the
earthj
bllt
nrl/"
hr,
hath
T"'()rnised,
!1Ii/illff.
ret
on<:e
more
I
shllk!"
not
till'
r'{/l'th
(J1I1:1.
bllt
rtl.m
heaven.
And
this
ll:ord.
Yet
on('e
lnU1'C,
signifieth
the
n;fl/ol"ing
of
those
tilillflS
th"t
rIre
shaken.
'"
of
things
that
are
made,
that
thosc
tjz'ngs
wjzich
cannot
be
shnken
may
,"('rn"lin."--Ilehrew"
1:!:2ti,
27.
Why
should
there
be
so
many
trying
experiences
in
the
illg
pn'parC'd
a
LettC'r
thillg
for
the
Gospel
chureh.
But.
when
church
at
this
time~
is
a
qnestion
often
asked.
A
Scriptural
the
church
is
perfected,
thl'n
these
faithful
ones
of
oltl
shaH
consideration
of
the
period
in
which
we
are
living
clearly
an-
come
into
their
reward.
swC'rs
this
quC'stion.
And
we
believe
all
~\'ho.
,,'ill
thus
pra):er-
WRITTEN
AFORETIME
FOR
OUR
ADMONITION
fully
and
earefully
examine
the
matter
.w1ll,
mstead
of
havmg
Why
did
the
LorJ
cause
the
apostle
to
rC''Drd
these
events
their
faith
shaken
by
reason
of
the
tnals
that
are
no:"
l~pon
so
mueh
in
uetaiH
Because
they
are
experiences
typical
of
the
Lord's
people,
have
it
greatly
strengthened.
ThIS
IS
a
the
experiences
that
should
come
to
the
members
of
the
church.
time
when
all
~he
co.nsccrated
should
.have
con~dent
assurance
Those
trying
things
demonstrated
the
loyalty
of
the
Illell
of
of
thcir
standmg
With
the
Lord.
Smce
makmg
a
c.onsecra-
old,
and.
prove
that
those
who
enter
into
the
king\iom
must
tion,
our
hope
has
been
for
an.
abundant
ent;ance
~nto
th~
possess
a
like
lo)'alty.
These
faithful
worthies
were
l'anse.
king,lom
of
our
Lord.
and
SavIOr
Jes.us,
Ch~lst.
Co?fiden~
crated,
but
they
had
no
opportunity
to
obtain
membership
in
assurance
of
t~e
estabhs~ment
of
Me.ssl~h
s
klllgdom
.1S
that
the
heavenly
phase
of
the
kingdolll;
for
tlw
rallsOlll
,;ae'ritke
condition
of
mmd
resultmK
from
bel1evmg
th~
teaclllngs
of
was
not
yet
giv('n.
the
Scriptures
upon
the
subJect.
These
teach~ngs
arc
elear,
The
apostle's
argument
beginning
with
the
twelfth
chapter
eogent
and
convincing;
so
tha!.,
thoroughly
relY1~g
upon
.them,
shQWS
conclusively
that
the
elel"enth
ehapter
was
written
for
all
doubt
of
an
early
esta
bhshment
of
the
klllgdom
IS
re-
the
very
purpose
of
encouraging
Christians
in
their
trying
moved.
.
.
.
experiences.
There
he
says
in
substance:
"Take
into
con-
I~ach
one
who
will
enter
the
.klllgdom
must
have
h!s
faIth
sideration
the
great
trial
through
whieh
the
prophets
and
faith
thoroughly
tested.
This
t~st
WIll
demonstrate
who
1S
loyal
ful
worthies
passed;
and
having
in
mind
the
promise
of
memo
and
who
is
not.
To
be
faIthful
means
not
only
to
know
the
bership
in
the
heavenly
kingdom,
let
those
experiences
te
a
truth
and
rely
upon
it.
but
to
be
loyal
to
the
Lord-to
Jehovall,
stimulus
to
you
to
endure
cheerfully
whatsoever
the
Lord
is
to
Christ
Jesus,
to
the
c~use
of
t~uth
and
to
the
brethr~n.
pleased
to
give
you;
having
in
mind
also
the
Lord
Jesus,
who
Loyalty
to
the
very
core
WIll
be
reqUlr~d
of
those
who
e~ter
m.
was
the
author
and
who
will
be
the
finisher
of
your
faith,
who
In
('hapters
eleven,
twelve
and
thuteen
of
t~e
~p1stle
to
rejoiced
greatly
in
the
prize
set
before
him
and
endured
all
the
Hebrews
the
apostle
pr.esents
the
most
~onvmclllg
argu-
hardships
and
persecutions
gladly.
Take
these
into
eonsid
ment-
concerning
the
C'stabhshment
of
the
kmgdom
and
the
("ration,
therefore,
lest
vou
!le;;ome
wearied
'and
faint
in
your
conditions
to
prevail
immediately.
prec~ding
tha~
ev~n~.
.
I1J
minds.
You
have
not
yet
resisted
to
the
end;
but
you
must
the
eleventh
chapter
he
.defines.
faIth,
w1thout
,,:hlch
1t.
IS
Im-
thus
resist
in
order
to
prove
your
loyalty
to
the
Lord."
possible
even
to
be
conSIdered
m
the
class
that
IS
runnmg
for
What
an
encouragement
to
Christians
at
this
time,
who
the
prize
of
the
kingdom.
He
defines
the
elements
of
faIth,
may
be
undergoing
severe
trials
and
tribulations!
There
is
a
which,
when
once
acq~Iired,
lead
to
confident
assurance
an.d
disposition,
w:hen
severely
t('ste(1,
to
draw
hack
and
give
up
loyalty.
B~inning
wltm.
Abel,
the
fin;t
ma.d)·r
to
sln'd
hI>;
the
fight.
Not
Infrequently
one
will
say:
"I
wonder
why
bloo,1
for
the
cause
of
nghteousness,
the
aI~ostle
enumerates
the
Lord
permits
me
to
have
such
severc
trials.
Why
does
the
many
o~
that
array
of
strong
.characters,
whleh
reaches
down
('hurch
have
to
endure
81Wh
trying
C'xpe-ri",n('es
now?"
To
this
to
and
mcludes
John
t~e
Baptist,
the
last
and
greatest
of
the
the
apostle
answers
in
substance.:
'You
have
forgotten
that
prophets.
Th~
cro,,:nmg
vlrtu.e
of
each
of
these
.approved
the
Lord
disciplines
his
called
ones,
and
that
he
puts
them
ones,
~hat
whIch
gamed
for
111m
a
g?od
report
helore
God,
through
the
necessary
trials
for
that
purpose.
He
does
this
was
h1S
loyalty
to
the
Lord
and
to
rl~hte0.usnpss.
It
.would
because
he
loves
his
children.'
It
is
added
then
that
if
we
appear
that
the
very
purpose.
of
the
lust.orlcal
re~ord
~n
the
endure
this
discipline
cheerfully,
Go;]
deals
with
us
as
his
eleventh
chapter
of
Hehrews
IS
to
establ1sh
oefillltely
m
the
sons.
To
emphasize
the
matter
he
says
that
if
we
are
without
mind
of
tho
Christian
the
fact
that
the
fixed
law
of
Jehovah
this
discipline
we
should
have
cause
t8
be
alarmed.
It
would
approves
only
those
who
a:e
fully
loyal
at
heart;
and
the
be
an
evidence
that
we
were
not
sons.
In
other
phrase,
trying
further
fact
that
to
prove
himself
loyal
he
mllst
endure
~any
experiences
are
indispensable
to
all
those
who
eome
into
the
trying
experiences.
He
must
fight
against
the
foes.
of
nght-
kingdom.
eousness,
and
·he
must
fight
loyally
to
the
end.
Apphell
to
the
fully
consecrated
Christian,
these
principles
prove
that
only
INAUGURATION
OF
MESSIAH'S
KINGDOM
AT
HAND
the
truly
loyal
at
heart
will
be
able
to
stand
the
great
shak-
"But,"
one
ask~,
"""hy
Rre
these
trials
mt>re
severe
.just
ing
that
precedes
the
establishment
of
the
kingdom.
now~"
The
apostl~
alll!wers
that
que~tion,
sayin~,
."Ye
are
The
apostle
waxes
eloquent
when
he
describes
the
virtues
come
unto
Mount
ZlOn,
and
unto
th~
elty
of
the
hvmg
God,
and
achievements
of
the
faithful
ancient
worthies.
He
tells
the
heavenly
Jerusalem,
and
to
an
mnumerable
company
of
us
that
time
would
fail
him
to
tell
of
Gideon
Barak
Samson
angels,
to
the
general
assembly
and
church
of
the
flrst·born,
J~phtha,
David
and
other
prophets,
who
by'
reason'
of
thei;
which
ar~
~ritten.
in
heaven,
and
to
God
the
Judge
of
all,
and
faith
and
loyalty
subdued
kingrloms;
wrought
righteousness;
t~
the
sp1nts
of
Just
men
made
perfect,
and
to
Jesus
t~e
t,ne-
fought
with
wild
beasts'
quenche,1
the
violence
of
fire'
turned
dlUtor
ef
the
new
eovenant,
and
to
the
blood
of
sprmkling
armies
to
flight;
endured
mockings
and
scourgings,
bo'nds
and
th~t
sp'eaketh
better
things
than
that
of
Abel
.....
w~ose
imprisonments;
wandere<1
about
in
sheepskins
and
goatskins,
vOIce
tnen
shook
the
earth;
but
now
he
hath
promIsed,
saymg,
being
destitute,
aftlicted,
tormented;
were
stoned,
sawn
asunder,
Yet
once.
more
I
shake
not
the
earth
on,ly,
but
also
heaven."
and
slain
with
the
sword,
of
whom
the
world
was
not
worthy.
In
brIef,
we
are
told
that
when
the
feet
members
of
the
All
this
they
did
that
th~y
might
obtain
a
better
resurrection.
church
approach.
the
inaugu:ation
of
.the
kingd~m
ther.e
will
But
they
have
not
yet
received
the
thing
promised,
God
hav-
be
a
great
shakmg
and
testmg.
A
pIcture
or
IllustratIon
of
[6223]
Maren 1, 1918 THE represent it or the International Bible Students Association or the Peoples Pulpit Association. The evident purpose of the two named and those associated with them is to cause division amongst the brethren. ‘Now I heseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” (Romans 16:17, 18) “These six things doth the Lord hate; yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innoecut blood, an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that. soweth discord among brethren.” To avoid such does not mean to treat them unkindly, but it does mean to refuse to fellowship such in the spirit of the Lord. Leave their judgment entirely to him who judgeth all Von. XXX1X THE WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N. Y.. MARCI 15, 1918 REAT SHAKING NOW IN PROGRESS _ (79. 84) things righteously. Again Brother Russell’s words in the article above mentioned are applicable: “If he has different views, do not persecute him—do not follow the style of the dark ages, but follow the proper course of letting him ‘fiock to himself,’ or with as many as prefer to view matters as he views them. We have not given such strong advice heretofore; but we perceive that many of the dear sheep are being troubled, hindered of development, and imposed upon. We see that proportionately sneh elders and deacons are growing more bold, and hence the need is the greater that all who have the right spirit, and who realize that under the Lord’s guidance in our study of the ‘Divine Plan of the Ages,’ we have not been following ‘cunningly devised fables,’ should now take a positive stand for the good of themselves, far the good of the leaders who manifest a wrong spirit, and for the good of the public, who are inquiring for the way of the Lord as never before.” “Whose voice then shook the earth; but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more 1 shake not the earth only. but also heaven. And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the remoring of those things that ure shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remuin.’-—Hebrews 12:26, 27. Why should there be se many trying experiences in the church at this time? is a question often asked. A Scriptural consideration of the period in which we are living clearly answers this question. And we believe al] who will thus prayerfully and carefully examine the matter will, instead of having their faith shaken by reason of the trials that are now upon the Lord’s people, have it greatly strengthened. This is a time when all the consecrated should have confident assurance of their standing with the Lord. Since making a consecration, our hope has been for an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Confident assurance of the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom is that condition of mind resulting from believing the teachings of the Scriptures upon the subject. These teachings are clear, cogent and eonvincing; so that, thoroughly relying upon them, all doubt of an early establishment of the kingdom is removed. Fach one who will enter the kingdom must have his faith thoroughly tested. This test will demonstrate who is loyal and who is not. To be faithful means not only to know the truth and rely upon it, but to be loyal to the Lord—to Jehovah, to Christ Jesus, to the cause of truth and to the brethren. Loyalty to the very core will be required of those who enter in. In chapters eleven, twelve and thirteen of the epistle to the Hebrews the apostle presents the most convincing argnment concerning the establishment of the kingdom and the conditions to prevail immediately preceding that event. In the eleventh chapter he defines faith, without which it is impossible even to be considered in the class that is running for the prize of the kingdom. He defines the elements of faith, which, when once acquired, lead to eonfident assurance and loyalty. Beginning with Abel, the first martyr to shed his blood for the cause of righteousness, the apostle enumerates many of that array of strong characters, which reaches down to and includes John the Baptist, the last and greatest of the prophets, The crowning virtue of each of these approved ones, that which gained for him a good report hefore God, was his loyalty to the Lord and to righteousness. It would appear that the very purpose of the historical record in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews is to establish definitely in the mind of the Christian the fact that the fixed law of Jehovah approves only those who are fully loyal at heart; and the further fact that to prove himself loyal he must endure many trying experiences. He must fight against the foes of righteousness, and-he must fight loyally to the end. Applied to the fully consecrated Christian, these principles prove that only ‘the truly loyal at heart will be able to stand the great shaking that precedes the establishment of the kingdom. The apostle waxes eloquent when he describes the virtues and achievements of the faithful ancient worthies. He tells us that time would fail him to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David and other prophets, who by reason of their faith and loyalty subdued kingdoms; wrought righteousness; fought with wild beasts; quenched the violence of fire; turned armies to flight; endured mockings and seourgings, bonds and imprisonments; wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; were stoned, sawn asunder, and slain with the sword; of whom the world was not worthy. All this they did that they might obtain a better resurrection. But they have not yet received the thing promised, God hav ing prepared a Letter thing for the Gospel church. But when the church is perfected, then these faithful ones of old shall come into their reward. WRITTEN AFORETIME FOR OUR ADMONITION Why did the Lord cause the apostle to reeord these events so much in detail? Because they are experiences typical of the experiences that should come to the members of the church. Those trying things demonstrated the loyalty of the men of old, and. prove that those who enter into the kingdom must possess a like loyalty. These faithful worthies were consecrated, but they had no opportunity to obtain membership in the heavenly phase of the kingdom; for the ransom sacrifice was not yet given. The apostle’s argument beginning with the twelfth chapter shews conclusively that the eleventh chapter was written for the very purpose of encouraging Christians in their trying experiences. There he says in substance: “Take into consideration the great trial through which the prophets and faithful worthies passed; and having in mind the promise of membership in the heavenly kingdom, let those experiences ke a stimulus to you to endure cheerfully whatsoever the Lord is pleased to give you; having in mind also the Lord Jesus, who was the author and who will be the finisher of your faith, who rejoiced greatly in the prize set before him and endured all hardships and persecutions gladly. Take these into consideration, therefore, Jest you become wearied and faint in your minds, You have not yet resisted to the end; but you must thus resist in order to prove your loyalty to the Lord.” What an encouragement to Christians at this time, who may be undergoing severe trials and tribulations! There is a disposition, when severely testea, to draw back and give up the fight. Not infrequently one will say: “I wonder why the Lord permits me to have such severe trials. Why does the church have to endure such trying experiences now?” To this the apostle answers in substance: ‘You have forgotten that the Lord disciplines his called ones, and that he puts them through the necessary trials for that purpose. He does this because he loves his children.’ It is added then that if we endure this discipline cheerfully, God deals with us as his sons. To emphasize the matter he says that if we are without this discipline we should have cause te be alarmed. It would be an evidence that we were not sons. In other phrase, trying experiences are indispensable to all those who come into the kingdom. INAUGURATION OF MESSIAH’S KINGDOM AT HAND “But,” one asks, “why are these trials mere severe just now?” The apostle answers that question, saying, “Ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel... . whose voice then shook the earth; but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” In brief, we are told that when the feet members of the church approach the inauguration of the kingdom there will be a great shaking and testing. A picture or illustration of 16223]
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