The Watchtower, September 15, 1924
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Vol. XLV
Semi-Monthly
Anno Mundi 6052—Sept. 15, 1924
CONTENTS
' ROCK OF AGES
Other foundation can ’i no m.an lay
■■'A RANSOM FOR ALLz^»tej
Civilization Doomed....................................
Commerce Turned into Greed for Gain “Thou Shalt Not Kill” Ignored. ..........
Prominent Men Sense Impending Doom. Reason for Christendom’s Doom.............
The Promised Kingdom.......................
Jesus’ Words Have Had Fulfilment.. ..... Present Outlook One of Anxiety.............
Could Have Prevented Trouble..........
Why Millions Will Never Die...................
Prayer-Meeting Text Comments..............
The Parable of the Sower......................
The Stilling of the Storm......................
Letters from Afield...................................
Pittsburgh Convention ............................
.276 .277 .278 .279 .280
“I w<U stand upon my watch and will set my fuot upon the Tower, and will uatch to see what He will lay unto me, and what answer I shall make to them that oppose me.”—Habakkuk 2:1.
QWTB&T.S
THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION
THIS journal is one of the prime factors or instruments in the system of Bible instruction, or “Seminary Extension”, now being presented in all parts of the civilized world by the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, chartered A. D. 1884, “For the Promotion of Christian Knowledge”. It not only serves as a class room where Bible students may meet in the study of the divine Word but also as a channel of communication through which they may be reached with announcements of the Society’s conventions and of the coining of its traveling representatives, styled "Pilgrims”, and refreshed with reports of its conventions.
Our “Berean Lessons” are topical rehearsals or reviews of our Society’s published Studies most entertainingly arranged, and very helpful to all who would merit the only honorary degree which the Society accords, viz., Verbi Dei Minister (V. D. M.), which translated into English is Minister of God’s Word. Our treatment of the International Sunday School Lessons is specially for the older Bible students and teachers. By some this feature is considered indispensable.
This journal stands firmly for the defense of the only true foundation of the Christian’s hope now being so generally repudiated •—redemption through the precious blood of “the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself a ransom, [a corresponding price, a substitute] for all”. (1 Peter 1:19; 1 Timothy 2 : 6) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Corinthians 3: 1115; 2 Peter 1:5-11) of the Word of God, its further mission is to “make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery which. . .has been hid in God, ... to the intent that now might be made known by the church the manifold wisdom of God”—“which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed”.—Ephesians 3:5-9,10.
It stands free from all parties, sects and creeds of men, while it seeks more and more to bring its every utterance into fullest subjection to the will of God in Christ, as expressed in the holy Scriptures. It is thus free to declare boldly whatsoever the Lord hath spoken—according to the divine wisdom granted unto us to understand his utterances. Its attitude is not dogmatic, but confident; for we know whereof we affirm, treading with implicit faith upon the sure promises of God. It is held as a trust, to be used only in his service; hence our decisions relative to what may and what may not appear in its columns must be according to our judgment of his good pleasure, the teaching of his Word, for the upbuilding of his people in grace and knowledge. And we not only invite but urge our readers to prove all its utterances by the infallible Word to which reference is constantly made to facilitate such testing.
TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH
That the church is “the temple of the living God”, peculiarly “his workmanship”; that its construction has been in progress throughout the gospel age—ever since Christ became the world’s Redeemer and the Chief Corner Stone of his temple, through which, when finished, God’s blessing shall come “to all people”, and they find access to him.—1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Ephesians 2:20-22; Genesis 28 :14 ; Galatians 3 : 29.
That meantime the chiseling, shaping, and polishing of consecrated believers in Christ’s atonement for sin, progresses; and when the last of these “living stones”, “elect and precious,” shall have been made ready, the great Master Workman will bring all together in the first resurrection ; and the temple shall be filled with his glory, and be the meeting place between God and men throughout the Millennium.—Revelation 15 : 5-8,
That the basis of hope, for the church and the world, lies in the fact that “Jesus Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man,” “a ransom for all,” and will be “the true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world”, “in due time”.-— Hebrews 2:9; John 1: 9; 1 Timothy 2:5, 6.
That the hope of the church is that she may be like her Lord, “see him as he is,” be “partakers of the divine nature’,’ and share his glory as his joint-heir.—1 John 3:2; John 17:24; Romans 8:17; 2 Peter 1:4.
That the present mission of the church is the perfecting of the saints for the future work of service; to develop in herself every grace; to be God’s witness to the world; and to prepare to be kings and priests in the next age.—Ephesians 4:12; Matthew 24: 14 ; Revelation 1:6; 20:6.
That the hope for the world lies in the blessings of knowledge and opportunity to be brought to all by Christ’s Millennial kingdom, the restitution of all that was lost in Adam, to all the willing and obedient, at the hands of their Redeemer and his glorified church, when all the wilfully wicked will be destroyed.—Acts 3 :19-23; Isaiah 35.
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WATCH TOWER.BIBLE &TRACT SOCIETY
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Editorial Committee: This journal is published under the supervision of an editorial committee, at least three of whom have read and approved as truth each and every article appearing in these columns. The names of the editorial committee are: J. F. Rutherford, W. E. Van Amburgh, J. Hbmery, R. H. Barber, C. E. Stewart. Terms to the Lord’s Poor: All Bible students who, by reason of old age or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this journal, will be supplied free if they send a postal card each May stating their case and requesting such provision. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Berean studies.________________________________
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Entered as Second Class Matter at Brooklyn, N.Y. Postoffice., Act of March 3rd 1879.
ADDITIONAL MEMORIAL REPORTS
Since the additional Memorial Report appeared In the August 15th issue of The Watch Tower, we have received reports from the Ukrainian brethren, totalling 848. Other reports total 125. Of these the following cities reported twenty or more persons participating:
Ukrainian Ecclesias Winnipeg, Man
Chicago, Ill.
Wakaw, Sask., Can
Novoselica, Czecho-Slovakia
Bila Cerkva, Czecho-Slovakia
Polyana Kob., Czecho-Slovakia
Cleveland, Ohio
New York, N. Y
Detroit, Mich.,
Akron, Ohio,
Pleasant Home, Man., Can
West Selkirk, Man., Can.,
Veliki Lucki, Czecho-Slovakia
Philadelphia, Pa.,
Sturgis, Sask., Can.,
Omitted from Former Report Duluth, Minnesota, (English)
Grand Total to date . . . 63,669
N. B.—The grand total includes all reports of classes where less than twenty participated.
PITTSBURGH CONVENTION
Following the annual meeting of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society there will be a convention of Bible Students at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 31 to November 2, inclusive. A number of the Pilgrim brethren will take part in the program; and on Sunday, November 2, a public address will be given by Brother Rutherford in the Syria Mosque. Other sessions of the convention will be held in Memorial Hall, Fifth Avenue and Bigelow Boulevard. For further particulars concerning accommodations, etc., please address C. H. Stewart, Secretary, 317 Grace Street, Mt Washington Sta., Pittsburgh, Pa.
AND HERALD OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE
Vol. XLV Septembeb 15, 1924 No. IS
CIVILIZATION DOOMED
but—Millions Now Living Will Never Die
TRUE civilization is the very antithesis of barbarism. The name properly stands for education, culture, refinement, and truth. There is a civilization in name only. It is veneered, while underneath exists barbarism in its most malignant form. True civilization can be founded and builded only upon truth, justice, and righteousness, with love as the moving cause.
During the 2,000 years past there has gradually developed what we call civilization. It has made quick and rapid growth during the past half century. It has been the boast of many nations and peoples of earth.
The commerce of the world has brought the peoples t>f the nations into closer proximity with each other, increased education and science, and developed culture. It has performed its part in the present civilization.
Politics has organized the peoples into forms of government with a few governing the masses, and has enacted many wholesome laws which have been enforced when convenient. It has performed a part in modern civilization.
The religion of Jesus Christ was founded and organized in purity. Elevated above the sordid things of earth, it has been the beacon light on the mountain top to guide the honest searcher for truth over the morass into pleasant paths that lead to endless life and happiness. This true religion of Christ has had a savory influence upon men and, for a time, performed its part in civilization.
COMMERCE TURNED INTO GREED FOR GAIN
Greed for gain and power turned legitimate commerce into wicked profiteering. The commercial giants traffic in human bloood as they do in the inanimate products of the earth.
Ambition for power and influence has caused politicians to juggle with the rights of the people, prove unfaithful to their constituency, and use public office for private gain.
The desire for bodily ease and comfort, the desire to be approved by men rather than have the approval of God, an ambition for the establishment of the Lord’s kingdom on earth before due time, and contrary to his way—these have caused the clergy to fall to the seductive influence of Satan, to become unfaithful to God and to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to form a part of present civilization.
It is said that war is a relic of barbarism; and this is true. It has been said that commerce would so unite the peoples of earth that wars will no more be known; and yet in 1914 commerce produced the greatest and most devastating war of all time.
It was claimed that education and science would prevent war; and yet education and science have been employed to make war more diabolical and fiendish than he barbarians ever dreamed of. The leading nations of Christendom encourage their scientists to produce the most deadly instruments of war. Recently several of the so-called civilized nations were contestants in the acquisition of a “death ray” by which it is claimed a great city like London might be wiped out in a night. This is a product of modern civilization.
“THOU SHALT NOT KILL” IGNORED
Jesus Christ is the great Prince of Peace. He said: “Thou shalt not kill.” He taught his disciples and his followers to refrain completely from the use of carnal weapons. Yet the clergy, who claim to be teachers of his doctrines, have sanctified war and made it a holy thing. They have delighted to have their portraits and statues exhibited side by side with those of bloody warriors. They have hailed the greatest warriors as the greatest heroes of all time. When the world War came they acted as recruiting officers, turned their church buildings into recruiting offices; yea, they even accepted money for their work of preaching young men into the trenches, and told them if they died on the battlefield they would go straight to heaven. The money which the clergy received for this work was saturated with human blood.
The clergy have admitted into their church organizations the greedy profiteers and the faithless politicians, and have made them the principal of their flock. The clergy were taught by the Lord that Satan is the god of this evil world; yet they have willingly become a part of it. They have failed to defend the poor and the fatherless, and have delivered them into the hands of the greedy, wicked ones to serve as targets for the war. They have dealt unjustly with the afflicted and needy, and have indulged in the wicked persecution of the meek and lowly followers of the Prince of Peace, who dare to tell the truth; and they have caused the arrest, imprisonment and death of such.
The people have lost faith in their political leaders because they see that these are in the control of the wicked profiteers. They have lost faith in their clergy because they observe the Modernists, claiming to be representatives of the Lord and at the same time denying God’s Word, and denying the blood of Jesus as the great redemptive price of man. They mark the Fundamentalists, who claim to believe the Bible, and yet unite with wicked profiteers and politicians in their effort to foist upon mankind the League of Nations, which they hail as the “political expression of God’s kingdom on earth.”
PROMINENT MEN SENSE IMPENDING DOOM
Millions are out of employment without homes and without means of support for themselves and loved ones. With confidence in their leaders gone, with no visible means of betterment, without God and without hope in the world, countless millions are turning to the rankest radicalism. Because of these conditions the rulers of earth are in fear and trembling. With distress and perplexity they view the situation. Some of the most profound thinkers of the present time express themselves in no uncertain terms:
“Before the war people often supposed that ours was a Christian culture. The war has revealed us to ourselves. Civilization is Pagan.”—Dr. Bernard I. Bell.
“Airplanes, poison gas, and hatred mixed together are spelling the doom of civilization. America is preparing for war on a scale so colossal that it has no parallel in the history of the world. Our civilization will perish unless we strive for international peace.”—Frederick J. Libby.
“We have come to the crossroads and no one knows the way out.”—H. G. Wells.
“The future is very dark. We have reached the twilight of civilization.”—Dr. H. L. Brailsford.
“No man unless he is drunk with optimism can deny that the world is very sick, and it may be a sickness unto death.” —Sir Philip Gibbs.
“The United States is preparing for war that would tax us to the utmost in man-power resources.”—Secretary of War Weeks.
“You responded to Europe’s need in 1917. The work is only half done; and if not completed, civilization is doomed within this generation to a catastrophe such as the world has never known.” “Force is the only thing that rules in the world. Unless you stamp out that conviction civilization is doomed upon this earth.”—Lloyd George.
THE REASON FOR CHRISTENDOM’S DOOM
These great men of the world see the storm of fire and blood irresistibly sweeping on to the destruction of human institutions; but they assign no cause, and are at a loss for an adequate remedy. Hence their perplexity and distress. Jehovah knew the end from the beginning. He foresaw this dreadful day, and through his prophet foretold it. He pictured how the blackness of fear would be upon the faces of all the governing elements. With the voice of authority he speaks to them through his prophet, thus: “Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people; let the earth hear, and all that is therein: the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the Lord is upon all nations, . . . For it is the day of the Lord’s vengeance.”—Isaiah 34: 1, 2, 8.
But why should Jehovah manifest his displeasure and vengeance against the nations of earth? The answer is that Satan’s empire has reached its full in wickedness, and it must fall before the onward and triumphant march of the Prince of Peace.
The only nation on earth organized and controlled by Jehovah was the nation of Israel. He made it a typical nation. He gave that nation a perfect code of laws, and promised them that he would grant life to them if they kept those laws. He warned them against disobedience. They failed to keep the law, were disobedient to him; and he executed his decree of punishment against that nation.
Lucifer, who because of his disobedience became Satan, the Devil, without hindrance from Jehovah overreached the nations round about and organized them. He exercised his baneful influence over Israel; and that nation fell a victim and was overthrown in the year 606 B. C. There it was that God declared that he would not interrupt the reign of the Gentiles under the supermind of Satan “until he should come whose right it is” and to him, the Righteous One, would God give the power, as well as the right, to rule. The period of the Gentile Times was to continue for 2.520 years, beginning in 606 B. C., and necessarily would end in 1914. There the Gentile dominion legally ended; and then and there he whose right it is to reign assumed such authority. It was in that year that civilization, so-called, reached the zenith of its glory; and in that same year its disintegration began.
Prior to that time men with honest desires put forth their best efforts to establish a righteous government. But being imperfect, their power and influence were nullified in a large degree by forces of evil; and Satan succeeded in keeping all the nations subject to his own invisible power. He has completely dominated the three ruling factors of the earth, and has truly been the god of this world; namely, civilization so-called.
THE PROMISED KINGDOM
Long centuries ago, through his holy prophets, God promised a kingdom of righteousness which would rid the earth of the oppressor and his wicked methods. He promised a coming seed, or ruler, through whom these blessings should flow out to humankind. Concerning that ruler he said, through his prophet: “The government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6, 7) Of that coming blessed kingdom all prophets wrote and the Psalmist sang; and the godly ones looked forward with eagerness to that happy time.
When Jesus of Nazareth was on earth he taught his disciples in corroboration of the words of the prophets. The burden of his speech was the coming of that blessed kingdom. They were familiar with the teachings of the prophets; and hearing again and again the words of the Master concerning that kingdom, they inquired of him in these words: “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the proof of thy presence and of the end of the world?”—Matthew 24: 3.
The disciples knew that Satan, the evil one, was the prince or invisible ruler; for Jesus had told them so. They knew that there is enmity between the seed of promise, the Messiah, and Satan and his seed. They knew that God had said that in due time the seed of promise should bruise Satan’s head. They knew that the prophets had written of the coming day of God’s vengeance upon Satan’s empire, and that this vengeance would be expressed through the one chosen to be the King, the Prince of Peace. It therefore necessarily follows that, when the world should end, and the kingdom of righteousness be set up, if the powers in control did not willingly submit to the great Prince and Ruler of righteousness, God’s vengeance would be expressed against the wicked systems.
It is, therefore, important first to determine definitely the time of the end of the world, the Lord’s presence, and the time for him to take unto himself his power to reign, in order that we may properly understand the time when God would express his vengeance against the ruler of darkness and against his organization.
The vengeance of God is not against the rank and file of humanity, but against the ruling factors. The Lord, through the Apostle, expressly states that the creation, mankind in general, are groaning and travailing in pain, waiting for the manifestation of his loving kindness through his kingdom. Let it be understood then that God’s vengeance is against entrenched wickedness in high places, and that this vengeance is to be expressed when the old world legally ends. Now as to the answer of Jesus to the question propounded: “What shall be the proof of thy presence and of the end of the world?”
Jesus answered: “The nations will become angry, and God’s wrath is come.” “Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” (Revelation 11:18; Matthew 24:7) Without doubt the nations here embrace those that would claim to be Christian nations, those that claim to be the authors and producers of modern civilization, about which there has been so much boasting. Exactly in harmony thereto the great World War began August 1, 1914, affecting every nation of Christendom either directly ot indirectly.
Jesus then said that the World War would be quickly followed by famine and pestilence, earthquakes and revolutions in various parts of the earth. These things have been literally fulfilled since 1914. Millions fell victims to the great famines of Russia and other European countries. The great Spanish influenza, a pestilence such as the earth has never known, destroyed more lives in twelve months than the World War had done in four years. There have been more literal earthquakes since 1914 than known in all the history of man; and revolutions, which began in 1918, have spread from one country to another.
JESUS’ WORDS HAVE HAD FULFILMENT
The words of Jesus foretelling that which would mark the end of the world were spoken prophetically. Prophecy means to foretell the happening of future events; and when those things foretold have exactly transpired, then we may know that such is a fulfilment of prophecy. A fulfilled prophecy we call physical facts. The physical facts beyond doubt prove that the old world ended in 1914. The things above mentioned, war, famine, pestilence, etc., Jesus said would mark the beginning of trouble at the end of the world. The inference is that there would be much more to follow. Then he spoke of the persecution of Christians. During that World War the persecution of humble and faithful followers of Jesus started in Germany, spread to England, to Canada and to America; and the records show that a more relentless persecution was never indulged in by human beings. This persecution of Christians was inspired and carried on by clergymen and their allies in polities and profiteering.
Jesus declared that at the same time there would be a great falling away from the faith; and it a well-known fact that during the past ten years there has arisen the greatest apostacy ever known amongst the clergy. The Modernists have assumed a bold position, denying the Word of God, denying the fall of man and the redemption by Christ Jesus, and teaching instead the doctrine of evolution, which is destructive of faith in God’s Word. They have engaged in controversy with the Fundamentalists, who claim to believe the Bible, yet who in truth and in fact deny the teachings of Jesus, his kingdom and the blessings it will bring.
Jesus furthermore said that the return of the Jews to Palestine would be an evidence corroborative of his presence and the end of the world. It was in 1918 that the Jews, acting under authority granted by world powers, took control of Palestine and began to lay in Palestine the foundation of a government of the Jews, by the Jews, and for the Jews.
Jesus stated as a further evidence of his presence and the end of the -world that there would be “upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea [restless humanity’] and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.” (Luke 21:25, 2G) This testimony of fulfilled prophecy is complete proof of the end of the world.
By 1918 fulfilled prophecy had so definitely settled the matter of the end of the world that there could be no doubt about it. Every Christian should have known that, and particularly the clergy, who claim to be teachers of Christianity. When these facts were called to the attention of the clergy, and they were reminded that these evidenced the end of the world, and that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, instead of receiving the testimony they scoffed at the proofs. The Lord had foretold that this would be an additional evidence of the end. Speaking through his inspired Apostle, he said: “There shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise [proof] of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3: 3, 4) The Apostle then adds that for this reason they are willingly ignorant concerning the end of the world. In other words, they did not want to know that the world had ended; for it interfered with their selfish desires. Even politicians and statesmen of the world saw that the old world has passed; they plainly said so. At the Paris conference it was announced: “The old world is ended. We must build a new.”
That was the opportunity of the clergy, not only to know, but to call attention of the people to the teachings of God’s Word; to show them that the time had come for the Prince of Peace to reign, that the kingdom of heaven, for which they had prayed, was at hand, that the kingdom of God is the only remedy for their multitudinous ills. In this the clergy failed; yea, they went even further; for when the profiteers and politicians brought forth a League of Nations, manifestly the product of the devil, to keep mankind in subjection to him, the clergy with one accord hailed it as “the political expression of God’s kingdom on earth” and urged the people to join it. Herein they were guilty of blasphemy, as the Prophet had foretold; for while assuming to be teachers of God’s Word they declared that a man-made institution, superinduced and managed by Satan, represented the kingdom of God. They should have known that God, through his prophet, had plainly stated that a combination such as the League of Nations could never stand.
This warning God plainly gave through his prophet in these words: “Associate yourselves, 0 ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word and it shall not stand.”—Isaiah 8: 9,10.
Upon the clergy rested a greater responsibility because of their fiduciary relationship to the Lord. They had assumed to teach his Word and to instruct the people in the way that they should go. There is nothing in the Scriptures that authorizes the clergy to participate in politics or to advocate war. On the contrary the Lord admonished them to keep themselves separate from the world. (2 Corinthians 6:15-18) It is a fact well-known to the people that the clergy have not done this, but have indulged in politics and have advocated war. In a speech before the Democratic National Convention in New York city in June, Mr. Bryan said, in substance: “What the people need more than anything else is to get nearer to God and to follow the Prince of Peace.” If the clergy would tell the people as much, they would do much to better conditions.
PRESENT OUTLOOK ONE OF ANXIETY
Six years have passed since the war. All thinking people admit that conditions are worse today than at any time before or since the war. Democracy has practically perished from the earth. The leading nations of Europe are governed by dictators. The value of their money has gradually depreciated. The unemployed are so many that they are without number. The people are oppressed with burdensome taxes, not only to defray expenses of the World War, but to make extensive preparations for another war. Science and education are called into action, and every conceivable power and means possible are used in a further preparation for war. Truly did Mr. Lloyd George say:
“Force is the only thing that rules in the world. Unless you stamp out that conviction, civilization is doomed upon this earth.”
In America there is great unrest, perplexity and distress. The soldier boys, who were forced to war by the profiteers and politicians aided and abetted by faithless preachers, have been cast aside, scorned and neglected. They bore the heat and burden of the day, while profiteers and politicians corrupted and indulged themselves in the nation’s wealth. The soldiers are not in a happy mood.
The farmers, who produced the material wealth of the nation, are the victims of profiteers and conscienceless politicians. Their faith in the Bible has waned, and their confidence in the clergy gone. They are in anything but a happy mood.
In this land, which was founded as a home of religious liberty, there now threatens a great religious war. In the campaign just opened, this issue will be fought and will produce a worse rather than a better condition amongst mankind. Corruption in high places is freely admitted. In the language of a noted politician, “There is a saturnalia of corruption now.” In every branch of the government, in business, in politics and amongst the churches, selfishness is predominant. Individual selfishness has been crystalized into laws, and these are enforced at the whims of the interests. Indeed, selfishness has gone to seed, and the time for the harvest of blood and fire is due.
The vhole creation is trembling upon the brink of a volcano. There seems to be an unseen and sinister power that is goading the people on to desperation. Indeed this is true and was foretold by the Lord: “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of (lod Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watchcth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon.”—Revelation 16 : 13-16.
The book of Revelation is written in symbolic language. “Spirits” are symbolic of doctrines. Hence the teachings or doctrines of devils are here mentioned; and these doctrines and teachings go forth from the mouth of the “dragon”, the “beast”, and the “false prophet”. The “dragon” is one of the names applied to the devil bent on destroying God’s people. The “beast” is the title applied to the governing factors of the earth, made up of big business, big politicians, and big preachers. “False prophet” is the title applied to ecclesiastical teachers, who claim to be the prophets of God, yet are the prophets of Baal, teaching false doctrines to deceive the people. These three with one accord join in the message that the present order is by divine right; that war is holy and should be indulged in; that the people should patriotically support war whether right or wrong; that thoge who fail to heed these doctrines will suffer eternally in a hell-fire of brimstone. These false teachings, false doctrines, and false misrepresentations of the interests of the people, are goading them on to the great battle of Armageddon, a time of trouble such as the world has never known.
COULD HAVE PREVENTED TROUBLE
The clergy, having claimed to represent the Lord and assumed his name, are called in the Scriptures by the title gods or mighty ones to judge amongst the people. It would be understood, of course, that when the world ends, which is now an established fact, the time of God’s judgment upon the nations and upon the gods or mighty ones composing the ruling factors of the nations, would take place. Of that time the Prophet says: “God stand-eth in the congregation of the mighty: he judgeth amongst the gods [chief ones in ecclesiasticism].” To these he says: “How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked ? [This they have done.] Defend the poor and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and needy; rid them out of the hand of the wicked.” (This they have failed to do.)—Psalm 82 :1-4.
The great events happening since 1914 in fulfilment of the prophetic words of Jesus were sufficient to awaken the clergy throughout the earth to the fact that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. But they have not heeded this testimony; and of them God’s prophet continues to speak thus: “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are out of course.” This is exactly the condition of the world today as foretold by the prophets, and as seen by the statesmen of the world just quoted; and yet the clergy are seemingly oblivious to it.
The Scriptures make it plain that had the clergy been faithful and told the people the meaning of these things, God would have spared the nations called Christendom from the impending national disaster. For this reason the clergy stand reprehensible before God for the great trouble that is ahead.—Jeremiah 18:8,9; 23:21, 22.
Instead of heeding the words of the Lord and teaching the people the truth the clergy turn their churches into recruiting stations and preach the boys into the trenches; and for this reason God’s prophet says to them: “In thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.” (Jeremiah 2: 34) It was the principal ones of their flock with whom they conspired and acted to carry on the war. It is they, and the principal of their flock, who oppressed the poor. It is they who have called themselves shepherds, but who have fed themselves and let the flock starve for the hearing of the Word of the Lord.
“Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds, Woe be to the shepherds of Israel [spiritual Israel—Christendom] that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool; ye kill them that are fed; but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered because there is no shepherd: and they became meat to all the beasts of the field when they were scattered.” “Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.” Therefore, says the Lord to them: “Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.”—Ezekiel 34: 1-5,10; Jeremiah 25: 34, 35.
Thus God expresses his righteous indignation against a wicked system that has paraded before men in his name and has been used to oppress poor, unfortunate humanity. The Lord Jesus, looking to this great expression of indignation upon the ruling factors after failing to hear the testimony of fulfilled prophecy, said: “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:21,22) This prophecy is a quotation from the book of Daniel, which says: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Daniel 12:1) This definitely identifies the trouble that will overthrow civilization with the standing forth of the Prince of Peace for the blessing of mankind.
Again, God’s prophet expresses it in no uncertain terms when he describes how big business, in big combines, deal with the people and bring forth their great exhibition of science, invention and education, and use it to oppress mankind, until the trouble storm breaks over the heads of the people. Describing that trouble he says: “Their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.”—Psalm 107: 26-30.
I speak not with any spirit of vindictiveness against the clergy. I speak the truth in love. Would now that the clergy might awaken to the importance of the hour, and bend every faculty with which they are endowed in making known to the people that Satan’s empire is at an end; that the Lord Jesus is here; that the kingdom of heaven is at hand! If they would do this, they might save themselves and do a valiant service to the people, and retrieve some of their wrong and be to some extent an honor to the Lord.
WHY MILLIONS WILL NEVER DIE
But let the people take courage. The darkness that now enshrouds the world shortly will be lifted; and the Sun of righteousness, with healing in his beams, will shine into the minds and hearts of those who desire the blessings which God has in store for them. There is a reason for this, and the reason assigned in the Scriptures I now here give.
God created the earth for man’s habitation. He created it not in vain; and the earth abideth forever. (Isaiah 45: 12,18; Ecclesiastes 1:4) He intends for the earth to be inhabited with a happy, obedient race of mankind. He created the first man perfect, and put man on earth for that purpose. Because of disobedience Adam was sentenced to death. By inheritance all of his children were born imperfect, and are therefore sinners. (Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:12) God has created no man since, but has permitted man to exercise his powers of propagation; and thus there has been brought upon earth millions of people who have lived awhile and died.
Looking forward to a time when opportunity for life would be given to all thes''. Jehovah made this promise to Abraham, to wit: “In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3; 22:18-22; Galatians 3: 8, 16, 27, 29) Jehovah could not set as.de the judgment against man, but he could make provis on for its satisfaction. Therefore he could consistently promise, as he did in these words: “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death; 0 death, I will be thy plagues; 0 grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.”—Hosea 13 : 14.
In the course of time God sent his beloved Son into the earth. Jesus came that the people might have l.fe, and have it more abundantly. (John 10: 10) He cams to give himself a ransom, according to God’s promise. (Matthew 20: 28) He died upon the cross and rose from the dead, providing the great redemptive price for man. His death must result beneficially for all, in this, that every man must be brought to a knowledge of the truth and have the opportunity to know and accept the Lord. (1 Timothy 2: 3-6; Hebrews 2:9) The seed of promise, through whom the blessing is to come, is the Christ. (Galatians 3:16,27-29) The Christ is composed of Jesus, the Head, and his body members designated the Church, that is to say, his true and faithful followers even unto death. These constitute the new invisible ruling powers, or new heavens.
When Jesus was about to leave the earth he told his followers that he would return for them, that they should be with him. (John 14:1-4) That time is at hand. The setting up of the Lord’s kingdom and its operation is for the purpose of giving the living an opportunity for life, and for the awakening of the dead out of the tomb that they may have an opportunity for life. Jesus comes “to judge the living and the dead.” This means to try them and to give the obedient ones life. It is manifest that this scripture must be fulfilled at some time. The proof shows that the old world has ended. The Lord is here. The greatest crisis of the ages is now reached because of this fact.
The nations are all mustering their forces for the great conflict foretold; for God purposes to overthrow Satan’s organization through his beloved Son, Christ Jesus. This great time of trouble the Lord has promised to cut short in order that many human beings might be saved; and when the storm has spent its fury and the peaceful smile of the Lord is turned to the peoples of earth, then shall they be glad because they have come to their haven of rest. Now it is appropriate for the Christians to “say among the nations, that the Lord Teigneth; the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved; he shall judge the people righteously.” (Psalm 96: 10) The Lord will establish a civilization that shall never be moved. Then the Lord will minister to the obedient ones peace, prosperity, liberty, happiness and life everlasting.
The old heavens and old earth mean the invisible ruling power of Satan and the visible civilization, so-called, of earth. The apostle Peter after describing this as passing away in a fiery time of trouble, adds: “Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:13) The Revelator, in beautiful poetic phrase, describes the new heaven and new earth and the blessings that will come to mankind: “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away: and there was no more sea.” (Revelation 21:1) New heaven here means Christ, the Messiah, the invisible ruling power. The earth is a symbolical expression of the earthly phase of Christ’s kingdom, of society organized on earth on a righteous basis.
Then God will bless the people. “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne «iid, Behold, I make all things new.”—Revelation 21: 4, 5.
Assured of the fact that we are standing now in the presence of the Lord at the beginning of his reign, and certain of the fact that the kingdom of heaven is at hand, and that we are standing at the portals of the. Golden Age, it is with confidence that we announce that millions now living will never die.—John 8:51; 11: 2G.
PRAYER-MEETING
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"Affliction shall not rise up the second time”—Nahum 1:9.
NUMEROUS are the afflictions that have come upon the peoples of earth; too numerous are they to mention. Among the things that afflict mankind are ignorance, superstition, bigotry, bossism, and conscienceless profiteers, who deal in human rights and traffic in human blood with the same boldness and deliberation that they do with the chattel products of the open market. Another affliction is the deceitful, professional politician, who claims to represent the rights of the people while looking after private interests. Added to these are the unfaithful preachers, who claim to represent the Lord and to tell the people what is for their good, while in fact they represent the devil and walk hand in hand with his other wicked representatives. These three are the ruling factors of the earth, and are the seed of the oppressor.
To these afflictions are added poverty, famine, pestilence and war, anguish, distress, tribulation, trouble, sorrow, sickness, disease and death—all the outgrowth of sin. For centuries the people have eaten their bread in affliction, during which time they have shed tears of bitterness sufficient to float the navies of the world. They have groaned, and still groan, in pain and oppression, waiting for relief, but knowing not how and when it will come. Thanks be to God, relief is in sight; and the Christian can know and appreciate this fact.
The real Christian must have perfect love, which means love for God, for Christ Jesus, for his kingdom of righteousness, and a keen desire to see the people uplifted and blessed. Where is the man with love in his heart that would not haste to bring relief to his suffering fellow creature, if such be possible? Were you ever in
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prison, suffering indignities unjustly heaped upon you and anxiously waiting for some word from your friends that would bring hope and relief? The whole human family is now in the prison-house of affliction and death. In a short time the great and righteous One will relieve them.
The Lord commands his ambassadors now to bring this good news to the people, thus to comfort those that mourn. This good news must be preached to all the world for a witness. The people should now be told of the kingdom, and that all those who render themselves in obedience to it shall be relieved of their distress and oppression and restored to lasting peace and happiness and life. They should be comforted by the Scriptural assurance that the Lord, having made all things new, will never again permit affliction to rise. The long, dark night of sin and death will have furnished sufficient experience for mankind. There will be no occasion for it to rise again; and we have the sure word of the Lord that it shall not rise up the second time.
Let each soldier of the cross keep in mind now the suffering condition of humanity, and his great privilege to bring to them the news of early relief. Let no soldier of the cross now falter, but go forward in the strength of the Lord and rejoice in the privilege of doing good to his fellow creature by informing him of early and complete deliverance. Happy will be the people when they know that never again shall they enter the prison-house, nor suffer the afflictions heaped upon them by the great oppressor. Happy will they be indeed when they know that they can forever bask in the sunshine of the Lord and dwell together with their loved ones without fear. It will bring joy to their hearts to know that then each one can have his own home, without fear of being ejected by a heartless landlord; that he can sit under his own vine and fig tree, and enjoy the fruits thereof. Thrice happy will he be when he knows that his great King will give him a perfect government, a happy home, and endless life in unspeakable joy.
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"The kingdom of God is .. . in power.”—1 Corinthians J): 20.
OWES is one of the divine attributes. The power of Jehovah knows no limitation. This attribute works always in harmony with justice, wisdom, and love. The Lord Jesus Christ is the great King of kings. To him Jehovah has committed his kingdom, with all power in heaven and on earth. For centuries the Word of the Lord has gone forth to inform those who have the hearing ear concerning the kingdom. Few have heard and believed; and a less number, through the power of Christ Jesus, have been overcomers. The latter shall be with Christ Jesus in the kingdom. Christ and his 144,000 body members will constitute the kingdom; for it is written: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers; even as I received of my Father.”—Revelation 2: 26, 27.
For centuries the kingdom of righteousness has been made prominent only by word. Now the time is come when the kingdom shall be made known, not by word only, but by the exercise of power. It will still the storms of human passion, and bring calmness, peace and contentment to the people. The power of the kingdom will open the prison-house of death, that contains the countless millions, and will send forth the prisoners, as it is written: “I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”—Isaiah 42: 6, 7.
This divine power shall be exercised to open the ears of the people, that they may hear the jubilee message; and to open their blind eyes, that they may see and appreciate the love of God and his Christ. It will be exercised to lead the human race over the highway of holiness whereby they shall be cleansed from all iniquity. In love this righteous power shall be exercised until every living creature imbibes the spirit of the kingdom, until every obedient one is restored, and until everything that breathes shall join together in the hallelujah chorus, singing praises to God and his beloved Son, Christ Jesus.
To his faithful ambassadors Christ the King now gives command to tell this good news to the groaning creation, that their hearts may receive comfort now. Happy is the man who now hears the jubilee sound. Thrice happy is he who tells it to his fellow creature; for he makes himself happy, makes the hearer happy, and glorifies his Lord.
The zeal peculiar to the Lord’s house will cause every Christian to exercise his faculties, with which the Lord has endowed him, to proclaim the justice, wisdom, love, and power of Jehovah and of the King of kings.
THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER
---October 19---Mark 4:1-20---
RESPONSIBILITY OF HEARERS IS SHOWN—PARABLE APPLIES DURING GOSPEL AGE—COMPLETE FULFILMENT IN OUR DAY—YIELD DETERMINES HEART CONDITION.
“The sower soweth the word.”—Mark
THE Parable of the Sower, one of Jesus’ best known parables, was spoken after Jesus had had a very busy forenoon in Capernaum, teaching the people. In the afternoon, probably quite tired in body, and desiring a little time of refreshment, he went to the lake side. But the people crowded round him there. Matthew says (chapter 13: 2) : “Great multitudes were gathered together unto him.” They still wanted to hear what he had to say; and he was not unmindful either of their desire or of his opportunity. Obtaining the use of a fishing boat, he spoke from it to the whole multitude as they stood on the shore. Travelers have reported that there are places on the lake shore where it is easy for one to speak from a boat and to be heard by a great number of people standing around on the shore.
2Jesus’ manner was always so unusual and interesting, and his appearance so striking, and the authority by which he spoke so contrary to that with which they were accustomed, that the multitude was attracted to him, even though the many cared but little to conform their lives to his teaching. It was not our Lord’s purpose to be interesting, but to speak the truths in which hi® message of the kingdom of heaven was conveyed. But he always made his message interesting; there was never a teacher like him. In this the Lord set an example for his disciples, and for all who should afterwards be privileged to speak for him. It is comparatively easy to attract attention to oneself by peculiarity of mannerism, or to be interesting by specialty of knowledge; but he who speaks for the Lord must absolutely cut out all purpose of attracting attention to himself. Failing to do this, such will speak for himself; he cannot speak as an oracle of God. Also merely interesting matter must be deleted ; knowledge must always be made subsidiary to the main purpose of conveying truth to the hearers’ hearts, that it may administer grace unto the hearers.—Ephesians 4: 29.
RESPONSIBILITY OF HEARERS IS SHOWN
3Jesus took the occasion for an opportunity of making the people realize their responsibility in hearing his words. He therefore spoke the Parable of the Sower with the immediate purpose of showing the relationship between nature in the field and in the human heart in order to bring home to them their responsibility towards God. He spoke of the sower and the seed, of some seed being wasted, and of that which fell on the good ground producing various degrees of fruitfulness.
4The illustration would be familiar. They had seen many a sower broadcast his seed. Nowadays almost everyone knows something of the field life of Palestine. The fields there are not like those in western Europe, in England, and are the antitheses of the great wheat-fields of the United States and Canada. The farmer of Palestine has only small plots of land upon which he sows his seed. Little plowing is needed; sometimes only the surface needs turning over. There will be thorn bushes in the little plot, and frequently there is little attempt made to clear them away. Often the rocky surface shows itself, for there is not enough soil on tile hillside to cover the rocks; and frequently a footpath goes alongside or even right across the field.
5Some seed, said Jesus, fell on the roadside, and the fowls came and picked it up; some fell on stony places and sprang up, but, because there was no depth of earth, when the sun came up it was scorched and withered away; some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked the seed; some, of course, fell into good ground and brought forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Our Lord added: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.’’ (Mark 4:9) The Lord did not always exhort the people. He told the truth and let it do its work, thus laying the responsibility upon them. Truth heard is always a test of character. Kightly received it builds up; received unwel-comely, it hurts; despised, it damages.
6 After Jesus had thus spoken, the disciples asked him why he spoke to the people in parables; for this was not his manner when speaking to them. He told them the reason. He spoke thus that Isaiah’s prophecy might be fulfilled; for Isaiah had said that a message would be given to God’s people which would apparently make them see, but would not bring understanding. He quoted Isaiah 6:9, 10: “And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”—Matthew 13:14, 15.
PARABLE APPLIES DURING GOSPEL AGE
’Jesus explained to his disciples what his parable had meant. He who receives seed by the wayside is he who hears something of the kingdom but does not appreciate the value of what he hears; and Satan’s emissaries come and take the word of truth from him. He who receives seed into stony places is one who hears the word, receives it with joy and endures for a time; but when persecution comes or tribulation, he finds ground for offense. He who receives seed into thorny ground is one who hears and understands something of the word, but who allows the cares of this world or the deceitfulness of riches to choke the word; and he becomes unfruitful. He who receives seed into good ground hears the word and understands it, and appreciating it conforms his life to it. He brings forth fruit unto God thirtyfold, sixtyfold, or one hundredfold. Here are lessons both for the hearer and for those who have the privilege of being messengers for God, as Jesus was.
8The parable has had its application all down the age; for it applies to the work of the kingdom of heaven in its first or embryonic phase, the time between the two advents, when the disciples of Jesus are developing full fruition of character. But all who have heard the word of the kingdom, whether in that phase or in the later one, which is now being proclaimed and which tells of the establishment of the kingdom in power, have been brought into the responsibility of the parable; and everyone should examine himself. But as there are now more of the Lord’s consecrated people alive than at any other time, and as there is consequently much more preaching of the word of the kingdom new than at any other time, and therefore there are more hearers of the message of the kingdom than at any previous time, it is apparent that the parable must have special force now.
COMPLETE FULFILMENT IN OUR DAY
9The parable cannot be fully understood apart from its prophetic connection and Jesus’ application. Our Lord said that in his preaching and in the differing reception of his message Isaiah’s prophecy was being fulfilled. But it is certain in this case, as in so many others, that the fulfilment by Jesus was in miziature only; it was not the complete fulfilment. Our Lord’s first advent in the flesh was to his own people, and prophecies were fulfilled in him so that Israel according to the flesh could be brought into judgment by the truth. Isaiah’s prophecy distinctly shows that it could receive its fulfilment only when the Lord comes to his temple, and is manifested in his glory. As this was not fulfilled by our Lord’s coming in the weakness of the flesh and in the limitation of humanity, apparently it refers to the time when he comes in power and glory, speaking not as then with his own voice, and in the limitation of his circumstances, but through the many voices of the faithful in Christ Jesus at the time of his second advent.
10This time of judgment when the Lord has come to his temple is now manifested to those of his true disciples, the Isaiah class. These, like Isaiah, have said in response to the call, “Here am I, send me.” It follows, then, that there must be a timely application of this parable now; and no doubt this is why the Lord “starred” this passage, calling particular attention to it by saying, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
“The parable of the sower and the seed is not a lesson illustrating the patience of the husbandman waiting for the growth of his seed, as given in James 5: 7, but is of what happens to the seed and of the responsibility of those who hear. It is not an uncommon experience that, when the truth has been heard for the first time, some unexpected cumstances have arisen which have presented opportunities for temporal advantage. Often it is thought that this new thing, the truth, can wait a little while. Attention is diverted, if only for a little time; and, lo, the desire for the truth has been snatched away 1 The disposition of the heart has been turned, and it may not again be ready for the truth. Here is a lesson of personal responsibility. If a man hears something which would help him he should make iniquiry; how much more so when he hears that which bears evidence of being a message of the kingdom. He who declines to make inquiry, or who lacks energy or desire, will probably soon discover that his opportunity of truth has gone. One cannot but see that many in these days of sharp temptation allow truth to be snatched from them. We do well to take heed how we hear; for the responsibility is upon us. There are yet wayside hearers!
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