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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