SEMI-MONTHLY.
VOL. XXII.
JANUARY 1, 1901.
No. 1.
CONTENTS
Views from the Watch Tower........................
3
Salutations, Greetings and Good
Wishes......................................
3
The Spiritual Health of the Lord's
Flock.......................................
6
Pressing Toward the Mark..........................
6
What is the Great Mark of Character
Set Before Us by Our Lord?..................
8
Christ the Magnet—"I will Draw
All Men".................................... 11
"The Hour is Come"............................ 11
The Prince of this World...................... 13
"What Think Ye of Christ?"........................ 14
Items: Home Embellishments, etc...................
2
THIS journal is set for the defence 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 Pet. 1:19; 1 Tim. 2:6.) Building up on this sure foundation the gold, silver and precious stones (1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Pet. 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."—Eph. 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. Its attitude is not dogmatical, 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 this Temple, through which, when finished, God's blessings shall come "to all people," and they find access to him.—1 Cor. 3:16,17; Eph. 2:20-22; Gen. 28:14; Gal. 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.—Rev. 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 thatcometh into the world," "in due time."—Heb. 2:9; John 1:9; 1 Tim. 2:5,6.
That the Hope of the Church is that she may be like her Lord, "see him as he is," be "partaker of the divine nature," and share his glory as his joint-heir.—1 John 3:2; John 17:24; Rom. 8:17; 2 Pet. 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 the kings and priests of the next age.—Eph. 4:12; Matt. 24:14; Rev. 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; Isa. 35.
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
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WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
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SPECIAL
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR, AS FOLLOWS:—
Those of the interested who, by reason of old age, or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for the TOWER will be supplied FREE, if they send a Postal Card each December, stating their case and requesting the paper. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually.
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PLEASE ACCEPT OUR THANKS FOR YOUR KIND LETTERS.
It rejoices us greatly to hear from so many of you. We received 1856 letters and cards during the last week of 1900. Please accept WATCH TOWER articles as our replies. We send postal card or letter receipts for all Money Orders, etc., received: so if you do not receive such acknowledgement within two weeks apply for a duplicate Money Order and repeat letter-order.
The mention, in our Nov. 15 issue, of the motto and text cards for home decoration brought us a flood of orders, for which we were only partially prepared. More mottoes are on their way to us from London, and all orders will be filled as quickly as possible. We are glad to think that these good words, meeting the eyes of your families will continually exercise a silent yet potent influence for good.
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ABOUT RENEWING YOUR Z.W.T. SUBSCRIPTION.
We want all interested in "present truth" on our lists, that thus they may share with us the spiritual food now being dispensed by our present Lord. We do not urge you to renew, tho we will be glad to have you continue with us: all we feel it proper to do is to make our terms so reasonable as to leave no valid excuse for any to go without this spiritual food if he has an appetite for it. If you cannot conveniently send the cash you may have it on credit, and should you never be able to pay you can have the debt canceled upon request.
r2751 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER.r2753 PRESSING TOWARD THE MARK.
r2757 CHRIST THE MAGNET—"I WILL DRAW ALL MEN."
r2755 "WHAT THINK YE OF CHRIST?"
SEMI-MONTHLY.
VOL. XXII.
JANUARY 15, 1901.
No. 2.
CONTENTS
Which Is the True Gospel?......................... 19
Various Theories Found Wanting................ 20
But One Stands the Tests of Scripture
and Reason.................................. 22
What Say the Scriptures About Hell?............... 25
Erroneous Theories Exposed.................... 26
Hell in English, Hebrew and Greek............. 26
The Rich Man and Lazarus...................... 35
The Sheep and the Goats........................... 37
Everlasting Punishment............................ 39
The Lake of Fire and Brimstone................ 40
Parabolic and Symbolic Figures................ 42
Forgivable and Unpardonable Sins.................. 46
Future Retribution............................ 46
Let Honesty and Truth Prevail................. 48
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS
—ADDRESS TO—
WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY,
"BIBLE HOUSE," 610, 612, 614 ARCH ST., ALLEGHENY, PA., U.S.A.
SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, $1.00 A YEAR IN ADVANCE.
MONEY MAY BE SENT BY EXPRESS, N.Y. DRAFT, MONEY ORDER, OR REGISTERED.
FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES BY FOREIGN MONEY ORDERS, ONLY.
SPECIAL
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR, AS FOLLOWS:—
Those of the interested who, by reason of old age, or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for the TOWER will be supplied FREE, if they send a Postal Card each December, stating their case and requesting the paper. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually.
ENTERED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL MATTER AT ALLEGHENY, PA., POST OFFICE.
BRITISH BRANCH NO. 131 GIPSY LANE, FOREST GATE,
LONDON EAST, ENGLAND.
THIS ISSUE IS A DOUBLE ONE—32 PAGES.
NONE TOO POOR TO HAVE THIS JOURNAL REGULARLY.
IF A developed child of God, you are interested in Bible study; and if so you cannot afford to deprive yourself of the helping hand God has provided for all such through the semi-monthly visits of this journal. If obliged to ask for it on credit, do so; if never able to pay you need not fear offending us. We will cancel the debt at any time on request. If you have no prospect of being able to pay, then say so as above and have it free—paid for out of a fund provided by loving "brethren" who desire thus to assist you and serve the Lord. Write at once and be sure to RENEW each December.
WRITE your name and full address very plainly at the head of your letter sheet if it is not printed there;—giving street and number. And do this on every letter. Write your order on a separate sheet from your letter,—or on a separate page.
Address business communications to our Society as above, and personal or doctrinal queries to the Editor at same address.
OUR Society's object is—The Promulgation of Christian Knowledge: to the intent that the Lord's people may be sanctified by the Truth—the only genuine and acceptable sanctification. Everyone willing is invited to share this service as a true soldier of the cross. Ammunition in the form of tracts will be supplied free to all who will promise to use the same faithfully and judiciously. Write for samples free.
"FOOD FOR THINKING CHRISTIANS."
A Pamphlet by this title by the Editor of this journal, but now out of print, is much more than replaced by the MILLENNIAL DAWN series, mentioned below. These volumes are invaluable aids to Bible study. They are sold at cost, and loaned to those too poor to purchase, who will promise a careful reading and to return them.
r2759 WHICH IS THE TRUE GOSPEL?r2759 WHAT SAY THE SCRIPTURES CONCERNING HELL?
r2759 PARABLE OF THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS.
r2759 EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT.
r2759 FORGIVABLE AND UNPARDONABLE SINS.