(84-85) this was given at the institution of the Law Covenant at Mount Sinai. God directed the children of Israel through Moses, to purify themselves three days, saymg that on the morning of the third day he would make a covenant with them through Moses as their mediator. On the third day, amdist a great convulsion of the elements, the covenant was made. This eircumstance foretold that Messiah’s kingdom would be inaugurated in the morning of the third thousand-year day. Moses vividly describes the events accompanying the institution of the Law Covenant. There was a great fire in Mount Sinai. A blackness settled down over the mountain, darkness and tempest, the sounding of trumpets, the voice of words; and so terrible was the sight and the sound that the people of Israel entreated that such should not be repeated to them. Even Moses said: “I do exeeedingly fear and quake.”—Exodus 19:1-19. We are now well into the morning of the third thousandyear day. There is great darkness and blackness over the nations and kingdoms of the earth. The shaking is in progress. Kingdoms and governments are being shaker. The financial powers are shaken. The ecclesiastical elements are shaken. The temptations and trials that have come to the world of mankind must be met by those of the elrurch yet in the flesh. The Lord has promised the faithful, however, that he will not suffer them to be tempted above their ability to endure; but that with each temptation or trial he will provide a way to escape —1 Corinthians 10:13. In the picture made at Mount Sinai, and mentioned by the apostie, only the things of earth were shaken; but now, he says that God will “shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” This means that al! things pertaining to the governmental institutions of the earth and all the ecclesiastical systems and those who are of the truly consecrated shall be shaken, “that those things which cannot be shaken [out] may remain.” Clearly, the apostle states that the purpose of this shaking is not merely to shake out the disapproved, but to make manifest who are approved of the Lord, who are accounted worthy. Absolutely certain it is that the kingdom class cannot be shaken out, for the reason that if they could be shaken they eguld not be of the kingdom. This time of testing is the same to which the Lord Jesus referred when he said that he would send forth his messengers to gather out of his kingdom all things that offend and them which do iniquity. (Matthew 13:41) Tt is the time of final testing for the church; and this testing will make known who are faithful and loyal; all others will be shaken out. ADMONITION FOR PREPAREDNESS The evidence about us everywhere shows that the institutions of this world are going to pieces. Seeing, then, that this is “the end of all things,” we should expect a shaking in the church; and if there should be no shaking, there might be reason for doubt as to the nearness of the Lord’s kingdom. Instead of these trials bringing to us discouragement, let us look up and lift up our heads, beeause our deliverance draweth nigh. eTTo be forewarned means to be forearmed. The apostle admonishes those who are to engage in this fight and who are looking for entrance into the kingdom to take heed, fully fortifying themselves against this time of great testing. Knowing that some will become discouraged, faint-hearted. hang down their hands and be weak in their knees, the apostle said: “Lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.” The consecrated, being forewarned of the dangers besetting their pathway, are to take heed to the course they pursue and to be of good courage. WAR OR PEACE ONE OF THE TESTS All of Christendom so-called is at war. The ecclesiastical systems are involved. Based upon the apostle’s reasoning that the church must encounter similar trials, we should expect a disturbance of the peace in the ecclesia of the Lord, the purpose of such disturbance being to make manifest who are loyal to the Lord and his way of action; and to shake out all others. To this end the apostle says: “Follow peace with all, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” In the eeclesias there are often some who are of a contentious spirit, who insist on having their way; and failing in this, seek to bring about strife and confusion. This often results in disruptions of the little classes, and many are surprised and astounded that those claiming consecration should take such a course. But we should not be surprised. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fire among you to try you, as though some strange thing had happened unto you.” (1 Peter 4:12—Diagiott) Plainly, those who provoke difficulties and THE WATCH TOWER Brooxiyn, N. Y. indulge in atrife will sooner or later be shaken out, unless they mend their course. Further we read: “Looking diligently, lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.” In this time of shaking, the heart condition of every one is being thoroughly tested. If there is any root of bitterness in the heart against any one else, and particularly against any of the brethren, the shaking will make it manifest. And if that root of bitterness is cultivated, it will quickly cause the one having it to be shaken out and te go inte outer darkness. The apostle makes it clear that in order to have a full assurance of faith and a knowledge of the mystery of God, the Father, and of Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, it 18 necessary not only to put out bitterness but that the hearts of the approved must be united closely together in love. ~—Colossians 2:1-3. SOWERS OF DISCORD AMONG BRETHREN “God hath set the members in the body as it pleaseth him.” The Father, through the Son, is executing his great plan. The Master of the harvest is attending to his business, and he knows exactly what to do, Any attempt on our part to assume a place that the Lord has not selected for us would necessarily result in his disapproval, would show a wrong condition of heart and would manifest a spirit of disloyalty, and subject such an one to such a severe shaking that might result in his being shaken out. Some who have been much favored of the Lord and given many opportunities of service, not being able to have their own will carried out with reference to the harvest work and the mauner of conducting it, have deemed it their duty to go about the ecelesias and stir up strife and seek to draw away followers after themselves. We are not surprised that such a thing should take place. The Apostle Paul plainly warned against this. He first admonishes each elder to take heed to himself. He foretells that after his departure grievous wolves would enter, not sparing the flock, and then pointedly adds: ‘Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” (Acts 20:28-30} Brother Russell, seemingly in prophetic language in approximately his last message to the chureh, repeated this warning. (2. ’16, p. 327-—“The Hour of Temptation”) We now observe its fulfilment; and instead of being surprised at it, we mark it as a part of the great shaking mentioned in our text. With deep regret we here mention that the practice of some is to go about the classes and at first, by soft and smooth speech, assure the dear sheep that they have deeply the interest of the Lord’s work at heart; and then suddenly they bring a tirade against the work as the Lord is conducting it through the channel that he has used for the past forty years. Some of the dear sheep become very much disturbed, and some are shaken out. This in another evidence of the great shaking now in progress. It would seem that any one who is loyal to the Lord and his cause and the brethren would not seek to disrupt his work; at least, if they could not see eye to eye with the manner in whieh it is being conducted, the proper spirit would prompt such to remain quiet or quietly to withdraw. Any other spirit would not seem to be the spirit of the Master, What should be our attitude toward those who thus disturb the Lord’s little ones? St. Paul answers: “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine whieh ye have learned; and avoid them.” (Romans 16:17, 18) Should those who manifest a wrong spirit be the majority of an ecclesia. what, then, should he the attitude of the minority? To this the apostle answers: “From such withdraw thyself.”"—1 Tim. 6:3-5. Let us see to it, dear brethren, that we do not indulge in strife. Whatsoever another may do, let us follow the apostle’s admonition to live in peace and pursue a course of holiness, without which we sha!] not be permitted to see the Lord. We should manifest our disapproval of those who show a wrong spirit by calmly and quietly withdrawing ourselves. Let us refrain from indulging in aerimonious debate or discussion. “I will keep my mouth with a bridle while the wicked is before me.” (Psalm 39:1) Jt matters little who is in the majority here. The question with each one of us should be, Am I heeding the instructions of the Lord and his inspired apostles? Let us keep uppermost in our mind at all times that we are now approaching the inauguration of the kingdom. We sce that the prophetic words of the apostle are being. fulfilled; and it behooves us to run patiently, to he of calm and sober mind, watchful and prayerful, permitting nothing to swerve us from the right course or to Civert our attention from the great prize of entering and participating in the kingdom. Our Lord, speaking of this time says: “The Son of Man [6224]
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