The Watchtower, August 1, 1918

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Vol XXXIX

BROOKLYN, N. Y., AUGUST 1, 1918

No. 15

OUR DELIVERANCE DRAWETH NIGH!

''The night is far spent, the day is at hand; let us therefore cast off (he

of hght." -Hamuli* 12:12.

icorfcs of darkness, and let us ynt on the, artuor

We can see only one way in which the Apostle could have

said in his day that the night was far spent. He evidently recognized

the period of time since sin had entered the world as a

time of darkness, of night. In proportion as man became

alienated from God, the darkness became more intense. As sin

abounded, many could not see what was right and what was

wrong. This condition still prevails. So far have they fallen

from the likeness of their Creator that their minds are benighted

. The Apostle says that because men did not choose

"to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a

reprobate mind." (Romans 1:28) Their minds became darkened

, unable to distinguish right from wrong.

St, Paul tells us that all this is what we might expect

from a reign of sin — a reign of darkness. Satan's opposition

to God made him a leader of those men who wmild not have

God's way; and all down the centuries these have been the

majority. In their fallen condition their minds were perverted,

and they became an easy prey to the wiles of the great adversary

. This darkness, which the Apostle styles night, has been

a period of six thousand years. Now, however, we realize that

we are in the dawning of a new dispensation. Darkness is giving

place to light in matters relating not only to the church,

but aUo to the world. If it was true in the day of the Apostle

that the night was far spent, how much more forceful is the

expression in our day!

SURELY ALL SHOULD BE AWAKE NOW!

The light of the glorious Sun of Righteousness is even now

breaking over the lull -tops. It cannot shine upon the whole

world until all the members of the church of Christ are glorified

and exalted to power in the Messianic Kingdom. Then the

darkness of sin, ignorance, superstition and wrong-doing will

be dispersed.

In the verse preceding our text the Apostle points out to

the Church at Rome great responsibility saying: "Knowing

the time, that now.it is high time to awake out of sleep; for

now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." But

how much more significant are these words to ua of today, than

to them! The Christian is to realize that the whole world has

been asleep, in a sort of stupor respecting the highest, best and

noblest things. When the child of God gets his eyes partially

opened, he begins to weigh and measure matters after a different

fashion from that of his previous course. As his eyes open

still more widely, everything takes on a new aspect. He is

able more than ever before to estimate rightly the value of

things of this life and finds them not worthy to be compared

with the glorious things which belong to the life eternal. He

sees that for six thousand years the world has been groaning

under the bondage of sin and Satan, but that the blessed

morning of the great Sabbath of hallowed rest and refreshment

is about to dawn.

As the Christian realizes all this, he should feel disposed to

arouse himself, shake himself thoroughly from the dust of ignorance

, superstition, blindness and sordidness, and to live

more fully in harmony with the glorious hopes which he now

entertains — living for the new era, the new dispensation. Instructed

more fully from the Word of God, he will not expect

his salvation, his deliverance, except in connection with the

second presence — the parousia — of our Lord Jesus and the establishment

of his kingdom. He will see a new force, beauty

and meaning in the words of the Apostle Peter: "Wherefore,

gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and set your hope

perfectly on the grace that is to be brought unto you at the

revelation of Jesus Christ."— 1 Peter 1:13, R. V.

EEIGN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS AT THE DOOR

The thought of the second presence of the Lord was continually

before the Apostles ; and our Lord evidently designed

that it should be a constant incentive to the members of his

church throughout the entire age. This undoubtedly, was one

reason why he did not particularly explain the length of time

that would intervene before the setting up of the kingdom.

From God's standpoint it would be a short interval; and even

from the human standpoint it would be short to each individual

, who would have only the few remaining years of his life

wherein to make ready for the glorious things of the future;

and "in death there is no remembrance."

As St. Paul looked back and perceived that in his day about

4178 years of the reign of Bin and gross darkness, upon the

world" had passed, he could realize that truly the night was

far spent, that the blessed day of deliverance was drawing

nigh. And now we, who live in the dawn of this great day,

are most highly favored by the Lord. We can see the particulars

regarding this time, which were obscure in the Apostle's

time. We are standing at the very threshold of the Golden

Age! As soon as the harvest of this Gospel age shall be gathered

, the work of change, the transformation from the reign

of evil to the reign of righteousness, will take place; and it

is nigh, even at the door. Surely it is now high time that all

who are truly the Lord's should awake out of sleep, cast off

all "the works of darkness." and put on the "whelp armour or

God that Ave shall be aide to withstand in the evil d:iy."-

Kphesians 0:13.

"ARMOR OF LIGHT" ESPECIALLY NEEDED TODAY

Whatever will not stand the fullest investigation in the

light of this day of Christ, whatever will not win approval in

the new dispensation now coming in, should be promptly renounced

by all who hope for the Tx>rd's favor as his children, as

disciples of Christ. If we really are Christ's we belong to the

new era, not to the old. We should therefore live in accordance

with our citizenship and with our responsibility to the prince of

light and in opposition to the prince of darkness.

We are forewarned by the Apostle that this period of time

in which the change from the dominion of the "prince of this

world" to that of the prince of glory takes place, will be an

especially "evil day" — a period in which all the children of

light will be crucially tested. It is a day that is to "try every

man's work, of what sort it is." It is to be a day of fiery

trial, through which only the gold, silver and precious stones

w r ill pass unscathed, in which all the wood, hay and stubble

of error, sin, human tradition and falsehood will be entirely

destroyed. We are even now in the fires of this day, in the

time when the wood, hay and stubble are being consumed ;

when higher criticism, evolution, Christian science, hypnotism

(whether known under its own name or whether called mind

cures), etc., are devouring as a flame all the faith structure of

those children of God who have not continued faithful to the

Lord, and who, therefore, have not been kept by his power,

through the Word and through his providences.

"WALK AS CHILDREN OP LI0HT"

All who are truly the Lord's should "walk honestly, as in

the day." We are not yet fully in the day; but we belong to

the day, and are therefore to live as nearly as possible up to

the perfect standards of the future. So to live will mean selfdenial

. It will mean that we shall be misunderstood by the

world and all who have its spirit. It will mean that we shall

be thought foolish, that we shall be considered enemies — not

so much by those who are in gross darkness as by those who

profess to be the Lord's people, to be children of the light, but

who really prefer darkness and error to light and truth.

We are inclined to lay special stress on the word, "honestly

," used by the Apostle, and believe that he used it advisedly

and in a particular sense. As we look about us today, we see

that dishonesty is very prevalent. Not merely in the world,

where we expect to find a certain amount of duplicity, misrepresentation

and deception, and to see people passing for

what they are not, do we find this kind of dishonesty very prevalent

, but amongst professing Christians. We have even

known professed ministers of the Gospel to boast of their dishonesty

— to declare that they never have believed the creed

which they have professed to believe and which they have

vowed that they would teach. Intelligent ministers of all denominations

are preaching what they do not believe, standing

for creeds and confessions of faith which misrepresent their

own sentiments. They are acting dishonestly; they are searing

their consciences; they are putting themselves into conditions

where they cannot make progress into the light of truth ; for

surely God does not purpose to have dishonest people in his

elect Church, If these do not very quickly change and become

honest, they will certainly have their portion with the hypocrites

; for it is the hypocrites who are dishonest.

HONESTY A BASIC TRAIT OF CHARACTER

Christians, above all other people in the world, should be

honest and sincere in their professions. They should be honest

in their dealings with their neighbors, with their brethren,

and especially in their confessions respecting their Crod and

their faith. This test must be met by every one who names

the name of Christ. Those who love the favor of men more

than the favor of God, who would rather confess and profess

a lie than to espouse an unpopular cause — even when they

know it is God's cause — will be given up to their He. Such

are surely proving themselves unfit for the kingdom, unfit to

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THE WATCH TOWER

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reign with Christ, whatever else they may eventually attain,

if later through stripes and humiliation they take the proper

course.

This was the very essence of the Apostle's declaration in

his second letter to the church at Thessalonica, when he

spoke prophetically of this piesent "evil day," and the great

trial that would at this time come upon the church. He declared

of those who would prove unfaithful that God would

"send them strong delusions that they should believe the lie"

— 'because they were not honest — because they did not obey the

truth in the love of it, but acted deceitful, hypocritically. He

says of these that God will send them delusions in order "that

they may be condemned" — not damned, as in the common version

of the Bible — that they may be condemned to suffer the

consequences of their dishonorable and disloyal course. They

will come to the place where they will be greatly humiliated

before those whose esteem and favor they have so sought to

retain. They will be seen by all in their true garb, stripped

of their cloak of hypocrisy.

Great will be their shame and humiliation then. Through

tribulation and in difficulty must they retrace their steps if

they would attain eternal life, would come back to the favor

of God and of their fellows. But it will be a great blessing if

they are restored and led into the way of life, even through

very severe chastisements and afflictions. We may well rejoice

that so soon all error, dishonesty and fraud, of whatever

nature, will be exposed and dethroned, and that truth and

righteousness will be enthroned in their place.

STABS TWINKLING IN THE NIGHT

But there has not been utter darkness at any time through

all this long reign of evil — not the blackness of night.

Throughout the past six thousand years there have been certain

lights — like stars in the night-time. I>uring the Jewish

dispensation, the Law Covenant as a moon reflected the light of

the glorious Sun of Righteousness, later to dawn upon the

dark world. Our lord Jesus, when he came, was the bright

star that heralded the coming morning; for his sacrificial work

made the morning possible and ensured its dawning.

Throughout the Gospel age true Christians have been lights

shining in a dark place. The light that now shines from the

Lord's true people is not appreciated by the world in general;

for it is a spiritual light. The light of the law given by

Moses to the Jews was one which the world could better understand

. It was an earthly light; for it gave earthly rewards

and earthly punishments* The world cannot understand

the light-bearers of the Gospel age. They say: "If

these were children of God, and he were really caring for them,

he would not permit them to have so many difficulties and

have such a hard time as they apparently have. They do not

have any easier time than the world, whom they call sinners;

and often their lot seems harder. How is this a manifestation

of the Lord's special favor?"

But the Word of our God makes all this plain to those who

trust in him. There we learn that this is not the time to receive

the rewaxxl. While those who live a holy life do not have

a very peaceable time as respects their outward circumstances

and surroundings, nevertheless the peace of God is within, ruling

in their hearts. It is a peace that is wholly independent

of outward conditions.

We know that our own righteousness is but as filthy rags.

We know that our depravities, while covered by the robe of

our Savior's righteousness, must gradually be purged away,

or we could never be fit for the kingdom. All this we see; but

the world and worldly Christians do not see it. So we must

not expect to be understood until the new age with its blessed

light is ushered in and all the vapors of darkness are dispelled

. Then the vail of unbelief and ignorance will be removed

from the eyes of all. Meantime^ we have a responsibility

which those who cannot see do not have, and we could

not excuse in ourselves the manner of life which seems reasonable

or excusable in others. We know a better way. How

thankful we should be that the Lord has graciously opened our

ears to the melodies of heaven, which none others can hear !

This "armor of light" which we wear is composed of various

pieces, each one of which is essential to our proper protection,

especially in this "evil day." First we wear the robe of Christ's

righteousness, "the wedding garment." Then, under the other

figure, we wear the "armor of righteousness," the "armor of

light," which represents not only our standing in Christ, but

our spiritual attainments in him. W T e are to have on the

"breastplate of righteousness," and must carry "the shield of

fai£h." We must have "our feet shod with the preparation of

the gospel of peace." We must surely wear also "the helmet,"

the covering of our intellect from the assaults of this "evil

day"; for we need this protection now as never before. We

must also have "our loins girt about with truth." We cannot

serve acceptably and effectively if girded to service with the

girdle of error and dishonest profession. We must have truth

in both doctrine and practise, in both head and heart.

We do not understand that either the putting on of the

Christian armor or the putting off of the works of darkness

is an instantaneous matter. We should put these dark works

off as rapidly as possible, however — as rapidly as we are able

to see our imperfections and defects. A Christian who has had

twenty years' experience ought to be able to do much better

than one w T ho has just started in the way — who has but just

begun to scrutinize his conduct — his thoughts, words and doings

. It seems to take some longer to make this transfer than

others. We are all endeavoring, if we are faithful, to put

off the works of darkness altogether, and to put on securely

the whole armor, seeking day by day to put on more and more

kindness, gentleness, meekness, humility, love.

TH£ TRIUMPH OP 3^0VE

In the chapter preceding the one from which our text in

taken, St. Paul has been giving some wholesome counsel concerning

the proper course of the Lord's people in the everyday

duties of life. His advice seems to cover a wide range

of the little vexatious cares and trials that every one must

meet, and to instruct us how to triumph in them through the

mighty power of love. He evidently thought of the thin veneer

of worldly politeness which often covers deep-seated selfishness,

and showed that the politeness and kindness of manner manifested

by the Lord's people should be only the genuine article.

He say3: "Let love be without dissimulation [pretense, hypocrisy

]. Abhor that which is evil [all shams and insincere

pretensions] ; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned

one to another; in honor preferring one another." He

remembered the temptations and vexations of life, of our business

relations and intercourse with the world and of its natural

tendency to engross time, energy and thought.

The Apostle also remembered the poverty and losses of

some of the Lord's dear people, and counselled sympathy and

hospitality — "distributing to the necessity of the saints, given

to hospitality." He tells us that we should "rejoice with them

that rejoice, and weep with them that weep" ; that we should

"mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate" ;

that we should "be not wise in our own conceits"; that we

should "bless them that persecute" us, and "recompense no

man evil for evil"; that we should "provide things honest in

the sight of all men" — not only the brethren, but the world

also. Thinking of the numerous trials of patient endurance

arising from contact with those of undisciplined hearts, he

urged, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably

with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but

rather give place to wrath [get out of its way, do not allow it

to overtake you] ; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I

will repay, saith the Lord." Therefore, "if thine enemy hunger

, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing.

thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." You will make him

ashamed of his conduct as he sees its contrast with yours.

Further, he says, "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome

evil with good." I>o not allow the trials and annoyances, or

the misunderstandings which sometimes bring us acute pain,

to make you sour or vindictive or cold or unsympathetic; nor

the more favorable or prosperous circumstances to make you

proud or highnxinded or wise in your own conceits; for the

Lord may try us in both ways as tests of character.

He also reminds us that we should be law-abiding citizens,

"rendering to all their dues ; tribute to whom tribute is due ;

custom to whom custom; fear [respectful deference or submission

] to whom fear; honor to whom honor/' Finally, he

declares that if there be any other commandment, it is briefly

summed up in the one word — love. He urges that we be diligent

in the cultivation of this supreme quality of character —

this all-embracing grace — '"knowing the season," knowing that

the time is short in which to build up ourselves in this Godlike

and Christ-like character. We surely have not a moment

to lose if we desire to be approved of our God.

If the Apostle could say to the saints of his day that "now

it is high time to awake out of sleep," with how much greater

force do his words apply in these closing days of this Gospel

age! In the clear light of unfolding time-prophecy, we see

that we are now living at the very end of the reign of sin

and death ; that the night of Borrow, pain and tears is almost

over; that the glorification of the last members of the Christ

body is very soon to be completed. Yes, beloved, "the night is

far spent" [about ended] and the glorious day of deliverance

and blessing is *at hand. Even now the first faint streaks of

dawn appear. Then let us cast away every encumbrance, everything

that would hinder us in the slightest degree in running

•successfully our glorious race. Let us press on with renewed

vigor, looking neither to the right nor to the left, but keeping

our eyes "fixed on the glory of tbe prize," and soon, please God,

the victory shall be ours!

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EVERLASTING BLESSINGS

"In the Lord Jehovah trusting, everlasting strength have wo;

He himself our sun, our glory, everlasting light shall he;

Everlasting life is ours, purchased by the life laid down;

And our heads, oft bowed and weary, everlasting joy shall

crown.

"We shall dwell with Christ forever, when the shadows iiee

away,

In the everlasting glory of the everlasting day.

Unto thee, beloved Savior, everlasting thanks belong,

Everlasting adoration, everlasting praise and song."

JOSEPH AND HIS BRETHREN

"Come near to m-e, 1 pray you, . . , lie not gnrrvd

do urn my father hither. 1

Wnat story in all the writings of all the nations compares

in simple pathos with that of Joseph and his brethren! Who

can read this tale of ancient time and far-off land without

tears starting to the eye! Yet this fragment of Hebrew history

is not only a beautiful story, but also a possible prototype

of things soon to come, wherein the joyous tears of mil*

lions of people may bring home to the hearts of all true Christians

the same, yes, greater heights of joy than that which

moved the hearts of the first israelitish family. When the

whole Israel of God, the true Israel, draw near together, "seeing

eye to eye" throughout the length and the breadth of the

earth, the final drama of the Gospel age will have reached its

climax, preparatory to the grand ingathering into the glories

of the kingdom.

The story of Joseph's reunion with his brethren finds its

setting at a time when "the famine was sore in the land/'

There had been seven years of plenteous harvest, and food for

all had been gathered in Egypt; but the brethren of Joseph

were dwelling in a land where such provision had not been

made. Already there had been two years of famine, and in*

the five years to come it seemed impossible for any one to survive

the dearth of bread.

These facts may have been designed to picture circumstances

in the present time. Joseph's brethren, dwelling with their

father Jacob in the land of Canaan, had all professed faith

in God, and had dwelt in abundance. Now, too, God's children

have had an abundance of spiritual food, the Word of God, up

to the time of the closing of the door of membership in the

bride of Christ — at or about the Passover of 1918. Abundantly

did the rain, the present truth, come down from heaven : the

truth of God descended from the spiritual heavens upon all believers

everywhere. Suddenly, about Passover, certain divinely

permitted circumstances stopped the rains from heaven; and

then the famine set in, a sore famine for the hearing of the

Word of God. The only real spiritual food anywhere is that

within the storehouse of the anti typical Joseph— Christ, Head

and body, on both sides the vail ; and the only way to obtain

this food is by meeting the conditions set down by Christ.

BENJAMIN, TYPE OF THE GBEAT COMPANY

In the picture Cod seems to be depicted in two offices; as

Pharaoh, king over Joseph (the little flock}, and as Jacob,

father of Joseph and of Benjamin (the great company) and

of the other brothers (the professedly justified), including Judab

, a class of believers not spirit-begotten but specially loving

toward Benjamin, the great company. {Genesis 44:14-34) If

we apply the picture to our dav, the time may be regarded as

between a year and a half and two years after the spiritual

famine period began (about April, 1918), or October, 1910, to

June, 1920. The countries typify, not places but conditions of

the classes involved. Joseph in kingly power represents Christ,

Head and body, partly beyond and partly this side the vail,

also in kingly power. (Psalm 149:5-9) Canaan pictures the

condition of professed relationship to God; while Egypt appears

to represent in some respects the kingdom conditions

since the closing of the door to the high calling. As in all pictures

of this kind, not every detail may be expected to apply.

In any interpretation of this nature it must always be understood

as tentative, until actual experience has proven or disproven

the correctness of the application.

The picture relates to the approaching ingathering of the

great company and other believers into present truth. (Jeremiah

40:7-12) The Greater than Joseph has been recognized

as bringing about changes since 1874, but he has not been

known as Christ; nor have the body or feet members still

this side the vail been known. "And when Joseph [Christ]

came home, they brought him the present [consecration!

which was in their hand [power] into the house, and bowed

themselves to him to the earth" — worshiped Christ the Head,

in their trouble and distress. — Genesis 43:26.

During Christ's presence he has been searching, judging,

the hearts of believers as to their vital relationship to our

Father: "And he asked them of their welfare [religiously]

and said, Is your father [our Father] well [Is it well with you

toward our Father], the old man [the Ancient of Daysl of

whom ye spake [preached]? Is he in good health Ta living

reality* to youl? Then they answered, Thy servant our father

Haste, and hring

nor angry with yourselves. . ..

" — Genesis 45:4, 5, 13.

is in good health [It is well with us toward him]. He is yet

alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance

[worshiped Christ the Head]."— Genesis 43:27, 28.

Christ, Head and body, has considered the great company

(Benjamin) very favorably, and has often spoken of God's

graciousness to them: "And he lifted up his eyes, and saw

his brother Benjamin [the great company], hi3 mother's son

[both children of the Covenant of Grace], and said: Is this

your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? [All believers

have m prayer to Christ made special mention of the

spirit- begotten great company]. And he said, God be gTacious

[show special grace and favor] unto thee, my son." —

Genesis 43:29.

MILLIONS SOON TO EEOEIVE THE TRUTH

The time will soon have come for the blessing of the great

company. The feet members of Christ will yearn in love for

the revealment of themselves to the spiritually-minded, but not

altogether faithful Christians, soon to be released from blindness

and from religious bondage. This class will be the little

brother Benjamin of the Joseph class. The two classes started

together as babes and children in Christ. It will be in troublous

times ; but the tears of the little flock will be the tears of

a holy joy, shed in the secret place, the Holy: "And Joseph

made haste, for his bowels [heart affections] did yearn upon

his brother [the little flock w T ill yearn over those dear to them

and coming soon by millions into the truth], and he sought

where to weep, and entered into his [secret] chamber and wept

there."— Genesis 43:30.

"And he washed his face [the priesthood may; not show

signs of weeping], and went out ami refrained himself, and

said, Set on bread [present

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THE WATCH TOWER

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pany, are to be blameless: "He [the great company] with

whom it [the cup, the spirit of the Word] is found shall be

my [Christ's] servant [Revelation 7:15]; and ye [once persecutors

] shall be blameless" — after a Millennial age repentance

and cleansing.— Genesis 44:10; Leviticus 10:26-28,

ALL CHRISTIANS NOW ON JUDGMENT

In verses 14-34 Judah represents a specially loving and

zealous class among the professedly justified believers, such a

class as might, through a good heart condition, become in the

earthly phase of the kingdom sons of the ancient worthies and

gain life with them on some spirit plane* — Ezekiel 46:16, 17.

It becomes a time of judgment for all the brothers of

Joseph ; for he says : "Wot ye not that such a man as I can

certainly make trial?" (Genesis 44:15, margin) The brothers

then acknowledge their wrong-doing toward Joseph : " And Judah

said, What shall we say unto my lord? [What can sinful

nominal Christianity say?] What ehall we apeak? Or

how shall we clear ourselves? [They cannot clear themselves

of the charge of persecuting God's elect and of much other

evil-doing]. God hath found out the iniquity of thy servants

[through the interpretations of Revelation and ^zekiel and

through churchianity's manifest persecution of men of God] ;

behold, we are my lord'3 [Chrises] servants, both we and he

also [the great company] with whom the cup is found." —

Genesis 44:16.

"And he [Joseph, representing Christ] said, God forbid that

I should do so [only the spirit-begotten can be servants on the

heavenly plane] ; tout the man [great company] in whose hand

the cup [spiritual things] is found, he shall be my servant;

and as for you [the professedly justified], get you up in peace

unto your father [in the earthly phase of the kingdom]. Then

Judah, [a specially noble class of mere believers] came near

unto him [drew especially near to Christ], and said, O my

lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's

ears, and let not thine anger burn [as in the troublous days

here spoken of] against thy servant; for thou [Christ] art

even as Pharaoh" — all should honor the Son even as they honor

the Father. — Genesis 44:17, 18.

FUTUBE WOBK OF THE GBEAT COMPANY

In Judah's recital (44:19-34) are the following words:

"We have a father [our Father], an old man [the Ancient of

I>ays], and a child of his old age [the great company], a little

one [babes, children, little ones in Christ] ; and hi3 brother

[the Christ, Head and body] is dead [as dead, outcast as sinners

to other believers], and he alone [the great company

alone, as it seems to the Judah class] is left of his mother

[the Covenant of Grace], and his father [our Father] loveth

him. [How tenderly does God love all his spirit-begotten children

!] If he should leave his father, his father would die [a

figure of the Father's great love for the great company class] .

And thou [Christ] sai&st unto thy servants, "Except your

youngest brother come down with you [learn the present truth

at the divinely foreknown time], ye shall see my face no

more" — no kingdom favor can come to the now professedly

justified unless the great company gain the knowledge and

character development necessary for its coming great work. —

Genesis 44:20-23.

"My father said unto us, Ye know that my wife [the Covenant

of Grace] bare me two sons [the little flock and the great

company], and one [the Christ, Head and body] went out

from me [so it seems to all other believers], and I said, Surely

he is torn to pieces la living sacrifice] and I saw him no more

[so it seems to other believers, who have never been able to

discern the mystery of Christ in us]." (Genesis 44:27, 28}

"His life [our Father's life, through spirit-begetting] is bound

up in the lad's life Ithe great company has its spiritual life

direct from God]. How shall I [noble, but not wholly consecrated

believers] go up to my father [approach unto God]

and the lad be not with me?" — Believers depend greatly on the

great company for spiritual assistance. — Genesis 44:34.

MANIFESTATION OF THE BODY OF CHEIST

The divinely appointed time has now about come for the

mystery, the great secret of God, "hidden from ages and from

generations/' to be completely and finally finished, and for the

great company and all other believers to see who are the members

of the body of Christ. As the narrative proceeds: "Then

Joseph [Christ, Head and body, including the body members

still this side the vail] could not refrain himself before them

all [the time will have finally come, possibly at about thetime

before mentioned] and he cried, Cause every man [of

the Egyptians, worldly churchists] to go out from me!" [In

the final fall of ecclesiasticism, wherein the false followers of

Christ will be detached from the real. {Jeremiah 23:3!): K/* 1

kiel 24:21}] And there stood no man [worldling] with him

[the Christ] when he made himself known unto his brethren.

[when the truth cornea to the great company and to other believers

as to who are the real feet members of Christ, whom

they had Bold into Egyptian bondage and oppression]. "And

he wept aloud [a great outburst of repressed love on the part

of the body members] ; and the Egyptians and the house ot

Pharaoh heard" — it will be manifest even to the worldlings

who have gone out. — Genesis 45:2.

"And Joseph [through the Christ, body members] said unto

his brethren [it will be made known to all believers] 1 am

Joseph [these hitherto despised and cast out ones are the true

body of Christ] ; doth my father yet live [is our Father a living

reality to you] ? And his brethren [mere believers] could

not answer him [former persecutors could have nothing to

say] ; for they were troubled [margin, terrified] at his presence

" — in deep trouble because of Christ's second presence and

especially because of their treatment of his feet members. —

Genesis 45:3.

"And Joseph [through the feet members] said unto his

brethren, Come near to me, 1 pray you [draw near to Christ in

renewed consecration]. And they came near. And he said

[through the feet members still on earth], 1 am Joseph [the

true members of Christ] your brother [all believers are brethren

on one plane or another], whom ye sold into Egypt" —

whom ye as believers persecuted. — Genesis 45:4,

"Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves

[do not weep or gnash your teeth in self-reproach and useless

regrets] that ye sold me into Egypt [ostracised, misrepresented

, persecuted the feet members] ; for God did send me

before you to preserve life" — without the help of the feet members

the great company and other believers would die religiously

in the stress of troublous times. — Genesis 45:5.

"For these two years [possibly from the spring of 1918

to the winter of 1919 or spring of 1920] hath the famine [for

the truth] been in the land [among professing Christians] ;

and yet there are five years [to the Bpring of 1925, to the

resurrection of the ancient worthies] in the which there shall

neither be earing nor harvest" — no general religions work for

the world can be done. — Gen, 45:0.

FEET MEMBERS LIKE POLISHED BRASS

"And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity

in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance

[first from the bondage of a fallen ecclesiasticism], So now it

was not you that sent me [the suffering body members] hither

[to the time and conditions mentioned] but God ['the cup that

my Father hath poured'] ; and he hath made me a father to

Pharaoh [Genesis 41:38-45], and lord of all his house ['all

power in heaven and earth 5 ] and a ruler throughout all the

land of Egypt" — 'lord of lords.' — Genesis 45:7, 8.

"Haste ye [the time is short for reconsecration before the

Gospel age ends] ; and go up to my father [reconsecrate yourselves

] and say unto him Lthank God for the truth revealed],

Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all

Egypt [all the world]. Come down unto me ['thy kingdom

come'], tarry not [the time for the kingdom is at hand]. And

■thou [mere believers and great company, and God with them]

shalt dwell in the land of Goshen [a specially favored condition

in the world], and thou shalt be near unto me Unto

Christ, Head and body, including those still in the ilesh], then

and thy children, and thy children's children [all whom you

have taught to believe in the Lord] and thy docks and thy

herds [animals represent the individuals as to the flesh], and

all that thou hast [everything wholly consecrated to Christ].

And there will I [Christ, Head and body nourish thee [mere

believers and great company, with present truth] for yet

there are five years [1919 or 1920 to 1924 or 1925] of famine

[of the truth to the people generally]; lest thou and thy

household [of faith] and all that thou hast, come to poverty"

— spiritually. — Genesis 45:9-11.

"And behold your eyes [eyes of understanding, anointed

with the word of truth] see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin

[spiritual understanding of the great company], that

it is my mouth [the body members in the flesh are Christ's

mouthpiece — 'in Christ's stead we beseech you, Be ye reconciled

to God 5 ] that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my

father [thankfully acknowledge to our Father] of all my glory

in Egypt [not least of all, Christ's glorious victory over apostate

ecclesiasticism], and of all that ye have seen; and ye

•shall haste and bring down my father hither [in your consecrated

hearts]. And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck

and wept [the blessing of knowledge of present truth and of

full reconciliation to God will come to the spirit-begotten great

company, as well as loving fellowship with the body members

of Christ on earth]: and Keniamin [the gre;it nuiipiirv] wept

upon his neck" — great joy of the great company over the revealment

to them "of the Christ in the flesh.— Genesis 45:12-14.

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THE WATCH TOWER

(232-233)

"Moreover, he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them

[enjoyed the mutual spirit of true reconciliation with all believers

] ; and after that he talked with them" — [the feet members

will teach present truth directly or indirectly through

preaching and through print to the great company, and through

them to all believers during the brief period of opportunity

after the fail of ecclesiastic-ism].— Genesis 45:lo.

That it wa3 Pastor Russell's belief that there should come a

time when the body members on earth should become manifest,

or show forth the truth to everyone, is apparent from the following

extract from The Watch Tower of 1916, page 344, in

comment on Revelation 1:15: "In the end of the age, the feet

members of the body of Christ will be illuminated by the truth

and will shine forth as polished brass."

DIVERSITIES OF OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

11 And there are diversities of operations; but it is the same God which worheth all in all** — 1 Corinthians 12:6.

Now, as at all times, there is a variety of operations

of the holy Spirit. This Spirit is holy or divine

power, the power of God. It is an invisible power, which

manifests itself in many different ways. God is a Spirit Being

, powerful, yet invisible to human sight. Likewise the

angels are powerful, invisible beings, and manifest themselves

by their works, their operations. The only way by which spirit

beings may become visible to humankind is by the performance

of a miracle. The spirit must assume a material body for the

purpose of manifestation to human eyes.

During the ages preceding the Gospel age holy spirit 'beings

manifested themselves at various times to godly men and

women, to deliver messages from the Lord. In the initiatory

stages of the Christian church, also, in the days of the apostles

, there were angelic manifestations to God's people. But

after the apostles died and the church became established,

these manifestations ceased, having accomplished their designed

end. It is noticeable that whatever angelic manifestations and

revelations have been received since that time have always been

misrepresentations, deceptions, leading many away from the revealed

truth of the Scriptures. At a time when the canon

of Scripture was almost completed, the Apostle Paul put the

church especially on guard on this point, declaring that the

Word of God is sufficient, "that the man 6f God may be perfect

, thoroughly furnished unto every good work," and warning

that in the latter times "some would depart from the faith,

giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons." — 2

Timothy 3:13 17 ; 1 Timothy 4:1.

The Apostle is very sweeping in his statement of the allsufficiency

of the written Word, saying, "All Scripture given

by inspiration of God is profitable for doctrines, for reproof,

for correction, for instruction in righteousness." There was

no need for further revelations. And he said: "But though

we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you

than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed

." (Galatians 1:6-9) Evil spirits, fallen angels, have

certain powers of manifestation which they received originally

from God, but which they have misused. Very many have

been deceived by these angels into thinking they were receiving

revelations from the Lord; for they often speak in the name of

the Lord, transforming themselves, outwardly, into angels of

light, as the Apostle forewarned. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

(See also our pamphlet on "Spiritism is Demonism") To listen

to any of these revelations, whispering* in the ear, or impressions

upon the mind, is indeed very dangerous. Every mental

impression should be tested by the Word of God, written for

our guidance. Whatever will not stand this crucial test should

at once be rejected. The delusions of today along this line

are very subtle, the deluded apostles of the fallen spirits being

transformed as apostles of light. God's Spirit always operates

in full harmony with his written Word.

SPIRIT'S OPERATION IN DIFFERENT AGES

Every perfect creature made in God's image and likeness is

possessed of the holy Spirit. Before his fall Adam had the

holy Spirit — the holy mind or disposition implanted by the

Creator in the heart of this perfect man. The prophets of old

had the holy Spirit, and on certain occasions were operated

upon directly by this Spirit, or power of God, to write and

speak words that often they did not themselves understand.

(Ezekiel 20:49; 1 Peter 1:10-12) In this sense they had

God's holy mind to the extent that they sought to do God's holy

will; but the operation of the power of God upon them when

they received divine messages was mechanical.

Comparing the Spirit's operation in the persons of the

prophets before Christ with its operation in the apostles during

our Lord's ministry, we see that some of the same things

were done by the prophets, though not everything. In some

instances sleeping ones were awakened from death by the

prophets; leprosy was healed by Elisha; the widow's cruse

of oil was supplied by Elijah; bitter waters were healed. In

all these instances the miracles were wrought in the divine

name, by the holy Spirit, or power, of God.

When our Lord Jesus was in the world, the power which

he communicated to his disciples was a measure of his own

power, his own spirit. After his resurrection, he breathed

upon them and Baid: "Receive ye the holy Spirit." In this

instance there may have been a communication of a measure

of power at the time, or it may have been a forceful way of

telling them that they were in a few days to receive this power

, this holy Spirit, in a special way, after he had ascended

to heaven to appear for them. At any rate it is not to be confused

with the operation of the holy Spirit at Pentecost.

The communication of the holy Spirit in the outpouring

at Pentecost was something altogether new, different from any

previous manifestation of divine power. The holy Spirit as it

came upon the church at this time was from the Father. The

{Father had directly recognized them as sons. The Lord Jesus

was indeed the agent in bestowing this blessing, but he declared

that it was from the Father. He had previously told

them to tarry at Jerusalem until they were endued with power

from on high — until they should receive "the promise of the

Father." (Luke 24:49) Some of the outward manifestations

of the holy Spirit at this time and its after results were the

same as when Jesus himself had communicated the holy power

to them during his ministry.

But a manifestation of the holy Spirit might mean one

thing at one time and another thing at another time. In the

ease of the prophets of old, the outward manifestation was

given in order that the people might notice and therefore give

the more earnest heed to the message; and the purpose seema

to have been the same when our Lord sent forth the disciples,

the twelve, and the seventy, in his name — that his message

that the kingdom was at hand might be carried all over the

country, for the purpose of awakening people to the fact that

Messiah had come. After Pentecost, the message of the disciples

was that this same Jesus whom the Jews had crucified had

been raised from the dead. With great power they gave witness

to this fact.

The same holy Spirit now operated for a different purpose,

to convict the Jews and lead them to Christy This same holy

■Spirit will also operate in the future when it will be poured

out upon all flesh. Its operation will be manifested in enlightenment

of the mind, in assistance and instruction, in gradually

healing the nations — mentally, morally and physically.

BEGETTING OF THE SPIRIT DIFFERENT FROM ALL

But the special feature of the holy Spirit's operation during

this present age is different from any other. It consists of a

begetting of a new nature, and is accompanied by a supernatural

illumination of the heart and the mind, enabling one to

grasp spiritual truths, to see into the deep things of God, never

seen before. The new mind is small in its beginning, but

must grow day by day, feeding upon the Word of God, becoming

more and more able to appreciate and assimilate the things

of the Spirit, which the natural man perceiveth not. The embryo

new creature, the babe in Christ, must grow in grace,

in God's favor and in spiritual strength, becoming more like

Christ in character, more fixed and established in the truth

as it i-s in Christ Jesus.

In John 7:39 we read, "The holy Spirit was not yet given,

because Jesus was not yet glorified." The Father could not

give this spirit of sonship to any until Jesus had been crucified

, had arisen and had ascended into heaven, the Moat Holy,

to present his sacrificial merit on behalf of those who would

be of the church; in other words, after he had deposited his

merit in the Father's hands for the benefit of all of this class ;

for none could receive the spirit of sonship save through the

Redeemer.

During this Gospel age, some have had the blessed privilege

of thus receiving the Spirit, of becoming Bona of God, on &

spiritual plane; and if this class continue faithful to their

covenant with the Lord, they shall be bom beings of the divine

nature. Such an offer was never before made, and never will

be repeated. This class receive special instruction and guidance

from the Father through Christ for the high position to

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THE WATCH TOWER

Brooklyn, N. Y.

which they have been called. No longer, as in the apostles'

day, do the spirit-begotten receive miraculous gifts of the

Spirit ; for these are no longer needed. But they have the

fruits of the Spirit, which have remained, and which are far

more important than were the gifts. These fruits are to be

developed in their characters by study of the Word, by prayer

and by painstaking effort day by day.

The new creatures in Christ are the anointed class. The

anointing and the begetting result from the same operation of

the holy Spirit. The begetting represents our individual start

in the new life. The anointing represents our coming into the

body of Christ. When we present ourselves in consecration

and are accepted, we are at once begotten of the holy Spirit

and inducted into the body, coming thus under the anointing

which flows from the great Head, Christ Jesus. The one operation

of the spirit begins the individual work and also the new

relationship as one of the anointed company, or body of Christ.

The various fruits of the Spirit which must be developed

as we go on in the new life are the most desirable that could

be imagined. They are enumerated by the Apostles Paul and

Peter in somewhat different phraseology. St. Paul specifies

these fruits as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness

, faith, meekness, self-control. The Apostle Peter lists them

as faith, fortitude, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness,

brotherly love, and lastly the 'broad general love that covers

all men even our enemies. This list is very comprehensive

and includes all the fruits of the holy Spirit. If we bear these

fruits richly, aboundingly, he says, we shall never fall, but

shall have abundant entrance into Christ's kingdom.

DEGREES OF SPIRIT'S MAHIFESTATION

hi considering the fruits of the holy Spirit as given in

the Word, we must suppose that all of these are fully developed

in any being who is in the likeness of God and has been

tested and proven, the difference on the different planes of

life being not in kind but in degree, according to the capacity.

Mankind have lost the image and likeness of God to a very

large degree. Hence in a natural man of today those qualities

are lacking which would have been present had he remained

perfect. The members of the Gospel church are put through

manifold trying experiences designed under divine blessing and

assistance to develop these very qualities; for as they are, if

faithful, to be exalted to the very highest plane of being, they

must develop these spirit-fruits to the highest degree; and supernatural

illumination is granted them in order thai they may

be able to successfully accomplish this.

While we remain in the imperfect tabernacle, the flesh, we

cannot manifest these precious fruits perfectly, because the

flesh is unable adequately to show forth the sentiments of the

new heart, the new mind. Sin has so marred the human brain

that it will not perfectly respond to the holy mind within.

For this reason the robe of Christ's imputed righteousness must;

be supplied to cover our need until our earthly course is finished

VARYING DEGREES OF GLORY

Considering the restitution of the world in the age just before

us, we see that God has set aside the thousand years of

Messiah's kingdom for tne purpose of instructing mankind and

of bringing them back to full perfection of mind and morals.

This bringing of men back to the image of God will mean that

they will become sons of God, and will then possess all the

fruits and graces of the holy Spirit that the church must now

develop. What, then, will he the difference between these different

classes? We answer that as we have stated above, the

difference will be one of quality and of quantity, not of kind.

The operation of the holy Spirit in human conditions would

necessarily be limited; for men will be sons of God on the

human plane. Similarly, the manifestations of spirit-fruits in

angels would correspond to their plane of being.

To illustrate these various differences, we might take some

of the precious jewels We might let the emerald represent

human perfection, the topaz angelic perfection, and the diamond

divine perfection. These are all precious, all beautiful.

Each is perfect on its own plane, but their planes are different

one from another. The diamond emits the greatest degree of

light. Thus it will be with the divine nature. The Lord has

promised that the faithful church shall have the very highest

glory and honor — immortality. Hence she will manifest all

the glorious attributes of perfect character in the highest degree

of any of Jehovah's intelligent creatures.

But all of the sons of God, on whatever plane, will have

God's holy Spirit. None others will be permitted to continue

their existence beyond the final test to follow the Millennium.

God will have a glorious universe throughout the ages of

eternity; and from every inhabited world peeans of praise shall

rewound, to be taken up and repeated by every loving, loyal

heart in every part of Jehovah's boundless domain. Existence

will be sublime in that glad day, for which all other days

have been made; and the most glorious heritage of all will

be the heritage of the Christ of God.

CHRISTIAN GIVING

[The last two paragraphs of this article were reprinted from Vol. VI Studies in the Scriptures, p. 343, The remainder was

reprinted from article entitled, "Will a Man Rob God; Yet Ye Have Robbed Me," published in issue of June 15, 1890. Please

see the articles named. 1

CONQUERING EVIL

SEPTEMBER 8. — EPHESIANS 5:11-18.

LThe first seven paragraphs of this article, as originally published in August, 1918, were reprinted from article entitled,

"The Sin of Covetousness," published in issue of July 15, 1898. Paragraphs 8 to 11 inclusive were reprinted from article entitled

, "Aha,b's Sin— -Covetousness Murder," published in issue of September 15, 1915. The remainder of the article was reprinted

from article entitled, "Awake Thou That Sleepest and Arise," published in issue of March 1, 1902. Please see the articles

named. 1

WINNING THE WORLD TO CHRIST

September 15. — Matthew 5:13-10, 28: Acts 10:9-15.

return of christ tlik only hope of the world two thoughts forming the basis of the theory that the world must be

converted during the gospel age — commission of the church— disciples to be gathered out of all nations--

the gospel to be preached world-wide as a witness to the people — this portion of the work finished.

"Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation."— Nark 16:1.">.

From time to time we have demonstrated that there is no been the cord which has drawn hundreds of noble lives to selfhope

whatever of general world-blessing through Christ along

the lines commonly held by Christian people; that is, the conversion

of the world by present-da.y missionary efforts. We

herewith review this subject, not with the purpose of casting

disrespect upon all missionaries, but in order to demonstrate

afresh the fact that this world-conversion-through-foreignmissions

delusion is doing positive and serious harm to the

Lord's true people by leading to false expectations and, consequently

, to misdirected efforts.

Foreign missions were undertaken with two convictions, one

correct, the other false: (1) The correct, scriptural conviction

that the only name by which any can be saved is the name

of Jesus — faith in his sacrificial dearth, and obedience and devotion

to him; (2) The false, unscriptural conviction that there

is no hope for any who die in ignorance of the only name

whereby we must be saved. These intertwined theories have

■sacrifice, especially during the first half of the nineteenth century

. They have been the cord also which has drawn, and still

draws, millions on millions of money from sympathetic purses.

And we need not wonder if the money has in turn drawn some

into the missionary work simply for an honorable and easy living

swoo oi ONnoa Koiiovan

We are not objecting to the sacrifice of noble lives and of

consecrated money, however; for we firmly believe that lives

and money given with sincerity have been ^leasinsr to the Lord,

even though given under some serious and discreditable misapprehensions

of the divine character and of the plan for

human salvation. But we hold that this mixture of truth and

error is very injurious to the people of God, in that it diverts

their hearts and their efforts away from the truth, away from

Bible study, away from growth in knowledge and in the graces

f6304]

August 1, 1918

THE WATCH TOWER

(238 239)

of the holy Spirit. Moreover, it inculcates instead the thought

that the chief object of life for all Christians should be the

snatching fellow creatures from the hands of an angry God

intent upon hurling them into eternal torment at the hands of

demons; or, if not this, the making and contributing of money

to pay the expenses of those who do the snatching.

As a result Christian people "have no time" to study the

Father's Word, no time to study the divine plan, no time to

cultivate their own hearts. They often say to themselves, and

sometimes unguardedly to others: 'Bible study? Nonsense!

We already know enough when we know that millions of human

beings are going down to hell. By and by we hustlers

who have been 1 less careful for our own spiritual development

and for Bible study, but more on fire and burdened for souls,

will have brighter crowns than will these hair-splitting Bible

students, if indeed they are not rejected from heaven entirely.'

But with the advance of intelligence a reaction from so unreasonable

a position was bound to come; and it has come.

People in general no longer believe in the horrible devil-god of

the past, seeking for any possible pretext for the torture of

;is many as possible of his creatures. Reason is asserting itsolf

; and man no longer poses as the sinner's only friend to

save him from a malicious God. Any such proposition is too

absurd for the enlightenment of the twentieth century.

But men will have theories; for these are still, as ever, the

basis of action, the rudder of human effort. It has become evident

to all thinkers that one or the other of the strands of the

original mission-cord is false, unreliable, rotten. Question:

Which of the two strands will they reject?

We answer that the true one will be rejected and the false

one retained. Men will continue to believe that all hope ends

with death; and they will reject the inspired declaration that

faith in Christ is the only hope, and his the only name. They

have already concluded, and are becoming more and more convinced

, that although the name of Jesus is a good rallying cry,

especially when missionary contributions are called for, yet

it is not the only name for salvation. They have concluded,

but do not care to declare it in so many words, that education

and civilization are, rather, the only names for salvation. And

at home and abroad the term salvation is more and more coming

to mean, not a personal relationship to him who is the light

of the world and in whom alone is life everlasting, but social

progress, municipal and national reform — social uplift. Thus

lias the false idea of missions and of their conversion of the

world led God's people farther and farther awfey from his

Word, which in their zeal without knowledge they reject,

MISSIONS TO SUCCEED DURING THE MILLENNIUM

To those who are rightly instructed on the subject by God's

Word, who lean not to their own understanding, but who daily

search the Scriptures to be thereby taught of God, the utter

failure of missions to convert the world to even the imperfect

conditions which prevail throughout Christendom is faithstrengthening

. This failure demonstrates beyond question the

truth of the Scripture teachings that God is not yet attempting

the conversion and salvation of mankind, but is leaving

that great work for the future, to be accomplished by the Messianic

kingdom, when it shall be established in power and great

glory during the Millennium, It corroborates fully the Bible

declaration that the present work of God is the election of a

church which, when polished, finished and glorified with her

Ix>rd and Head, shall by and by bless -all the families of the

earth as Abraham's seed. (Galatians 3:8, 16. 29} Then will

be fulfilled the petition of our Lord's prayer: "Thy kingdom

rome ; thy will be done on earth as it is done in heaven."

Many students of the Bible derive a wrong thought from

our Lord's commission to his disciples just before his ascension.

That commission divides itself into three parts: (1) Making

disciples of all nations; (2) baptizing them ; and (3) teaching

them. (Matthew 28: Id, 20) The Greek word which in the

Authorized Version is rendered teach in verse 19 is altogether

different from that so rendered in verse 20. (See margin

) The former Greek word signifies to proselyte or make

disciples ; the latter, to instruct. Thus it will be seen that a

wrong thought is derived from this text by those who interpret

it to mean: 'Go and convert all nations.' This is not the

thought; but rather, *Go ye and gather converts from all nations

, and baptize and teach these converts.'

This view is in accord with our Master's declaration on

other occasions, when he testified that the world would not

be converted at his second coming, but quite the reverse. It

is also in harmony with his statement in Matthew 24:14:

"This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world

for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

A FRUITFUL SOURCE Or ERROR

Whoever gets the wrong thought respecting the commission

of the church is apt to take the wrong course in his endeavor

to comply with IU Those who have concluded that the Lord

designed the conversion of the world during the Gospel age are

led to various subterfuges, in both mind and conduct, in oTder

to attempt to carry out the commission which they have misunderstood

. This is leading some at the present time to ignore

the Scriptural definition of the terms of membership in

Christ's kingdom — to lower the standard of both faith and

conduct, in order to admit a larger proportion of the human

family and to convince themselves and others, if possible, that

the world is growing better and is being converted.

Furthermore, some not only have concluded that the preaching

of the cross of Christ and faith in the redemption is unnecessary

, but have even gone beyond this and have claimed that

even an historical knowledge of Christ is unnecessary, that

heathen religions are to be esteemed as part of the preaching

of the Gospel, and that the heathen obedience to their own religious

customs is to be esteemed as obedience to the Gospel.

Thus more or less false views of the church's commission are

leading astray many who see no hope in any other way of ever

attaining to that which our Lord commissioned nearly nineteen

centuries ago, and which otherwise they would feel has so far

failed most miserably and can never be accomplished.

On the other hand we hold that, rightly read and understood

, the commission has been fulfilled ; that the message of

Christ and the Messianic kingdom haB been proclaimed, directly

…