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DECEMBER
I.
15106
ZION'S
WATCH
TOWER
ELEVEN
APPEARANCES
AT
MOST
For
forty
days
our
Lord
was
with
his
disciples
before
his
ascension,
yet
he
revealed
himself
to
them,
according
to
the
records,
not
more
than
eleven
times
in
all-and
some
of
these
instances
are
probably
duplications.
His
interviews
with
the
disciples
lasted
but
for
a
few
moments
each,
and
were
surrounded
by
circumstances
and
conditions
which
said
to
them
in
thunder
tones
that
a
great
change
had
occurred
to
him-that
he
was
no
longer
the
same
being,
although
he
evidently
had
the
same
loving
interest
ill
them
as
before.
He
was
still
their
Lord
and
Master,
this
same
Jesus,
although
no
longer
Jesus
in
the
flesh.
He
was"
the
IJord,
that
spirit,"
a
"quickening
spirit."
To
bring
the
matter
more
clearly
before
our
minds
let
us
note
the
records
covering
these
mani
festations
or
appearances,
as
follows:
ON
THE
DAY
OF
THlr
RESURRECTION
(1)
Sunday
morning
early-to
Mary
Magdalene-near
the
sepulchre
at
Jerusalem.-Mark
16:9;
John
20:11-18.
(2)
Sunday
morning-to
the
women
returning
from
the
sepulchre-near
Jerusalem.-Matt.
28
:9,
10.
(3)
Sunday-to
Simon
Peter
alone-near
Jerusalem.
Luke
24:34.
(4)
Sunday
afternoon-to
the
two
disciples
going
to
Em
maus-between
Jerusalem
and
Emmaus.-Luke
24:13-21.
(5)
Sunday
evening-to
the
apostles
excepting
Thomas
at
Jerusalem.-John
20:19-25.
the
matter:
one
may
have
counted
from
the
time
the
first
gun
was
fired,
another
from
a
period
of
the
general
engage
ment,
or
what
not.
No
one
thinks
of
questioning
the
fact
that
there
was
a
battle
of
Waterloo
because
of
these
divergent
statements
respecting
the
time
it
began.
So
with
the
matter
of
our
Lord's
resurrection,
the
fact
that
the
different
records
of
it
are
not
in
the
same
language
militates
nothing
against
the
fact
as
a
fact.
All
agree
that
the
resurrection
took
place
on
the
first-
day
of
the
week
(Sunday)
following
the
Pass
over,
early
in
the
morning.
Mary
Magdalene
and
the
other
Mary,
the
mother
of
James
the
Less
and
of
Joses,
were
there
(Matt.
27
:56),
and
Mark
and
Luke
tell
us
that
shortly
after
ward
came
Salome
the
mother
of
John,
Joanna
the
wife
of
Chuza,
and
other
women,
who
brought
spices
for
a
more
thorough
embalming
of
the
Lord's
body
than
was
possible
on
the
night
of
our
Lord's
burial,
on
account
of
the
late
ness
of
the
hour
and
the
approach
of
the
Passover.
The
earthquake
had
already
rolled
away
the
stone,
the
sentries
had
fled
in
terror
from
the
manifestation
of
the
angel's
presence-they
fled
to
the
high
priest,
who
probably
had
engaged
to
be
their
paymaster-having
them
detailed
for
a
special
police
duty
by
Pilate.
But
the
angel,
so
terrible
to
those
out
of
harmony
with
the
Lord,
spoke
graciously
to
those
who
were
his
friends,
assuring
them
that
Jesus
was
risen,
and
directing
them
to
go
quickly
and
tell
his
disciples,
also
assuring
them
that
Jesus
would
go
into
Galilee,
and
inti
mating
a
general
meeting
of
his
friends
there,
which
later
took
place.
En
route
they
met
Jesus,
who
sent
the
same
message
to
his
disciples.
Seemingly
the
Lord
recognized
that
woman
can
exercise
faith
more
readily
than
can
man,
and
here
he
used
them
as
his
servants
and
mouthpieces
to
bear
his
message-to
prepare
his
disciples,
to
assist
them
more
readily
to
accept
the
truth
of
hIS
resurrection.
Meantime
the
affrighted
guard
fled
and
told
the
circumstances
to
the
prominent
elders
who
had
set
them
their
task
and
who
were
probably
special
enemies
of
our
Lord.
They
were
assured
that
their
work
would
be
considered
satisfactory
if
they
would
keep
the
facts
to
themselves
or
report
that
Jesus'
disciples
had
stolen
the
corpse.
They
gave
them
a
hand
some
present
for
their
cooperation
in
this
matter
and
assured
them
of
protection
should
their
conduct
ever
be
called
in
question.
All
five
of
these
were
on
the
first
day,
the
resurrection
day,
the
remaining
six
appearances
being
scattered
through
the
remaining
thirty-nine
days
of
our
Lord's
presence,
as
fol
lows:
THE
NEXT
SUNDAY-THE
EIGHTH
DAY
(6)
Sunday
evening,
a
week
after
the
resurrection-to
the
apostles,
Thomas
being
present-at
Jerusalem.-John
20
:26-29.
Following
this
was
a
long
interval
apparently
in
which
there
was
no
appearance
whatever,
and
the
disciples,
dis
couraged,
perplexed,
resolved
to
go
back
to
their
homes
in
Galilee
and
there
to
reengage
in
the
fishing
business,
con
sidering
that
the
Lord
and
his
mission
had
been
a
failure.
Our
Lord
evidently
expected
just
such
a
process
of
reason
ing
on
their
part,
and
his
delay
was
undoubtedly
to
help
them
over
the
difficulty
and
to
start
them
afresh
as
servants
of
the
kingdom
of
God
on
a
higher
and
still
grander
plane
than
their
previous
ministries
had
been-under
the
ministra
tion
of
the
holy
Spirit.
APPEARANCES
IN
GALILEE
Quite
probably
three
weeks
intervened
without
the
slight
est
communication.
Meantime
the
apostles
had
reengaged
in
the
fishing
business,
when
our
Lord
appeared
to
them
on
the
shores
of
Galilee.
(7)
As
a
stranger
on
the
shore
.Tesus
called
to
seven
ot
his
disciples
who
were
fishing.-J
ohn
21:
1-13.
(8)
Shortly
after
the
manifestation
on
the
shores
of
Galilee
Jesus
appeared
to
the
eleven
disciples
on
a
mountain
in
Galilee.-Matt.
28:
16-20.
(9)
Very
shortly
after
this
he
again
appeared
to
a
gen
eral
company
of
his
followers
gathered
together
by
previous
appointment,
"above
500
brethren
at
once'
'-in
Galilee.
1
Cor.
15:6.
LAST
APPEARANCES
IN
JERUSALEJII
(10)
At
the
close
of
the
forty
days
our
Lord
appeared
to
the
Apostle
James
only,
probably
at
Jerusalem.-1
Cor.
15:7.
(11)
At
the
end
of
the
forty
days
our
Lord
appeared
to
all
of
the
apostles
at
the
time
of
his
ascension.
This
was
at
the
Mount
of
Olives.-Luke
24:
50,
51;
Acts
1:
6-9.
It
was
years
after
this
that
Paul
wrote,
"Last
of
all
he
was
seen
by
me
also,
as
of
one
born
before
the
time."
He
was
seen
of
the
other
apostles
as
the
gardener,
as
a
stranger,
as
the
Crucified
One,
etc.,
etc.
but
when
Paul,
the
last
of
the
apostles,
saw
him
it
was
not
so,
but
as
we
shall
see
him
by
and
by
when
we
are
changed
to
his
likeness-he
saw
him
as
one
of
premature
birth.
The
church
of
the
first-born
are
at
the
resurrection
changed
to
be
like
their
Lord
and
see
him
as
hI.'
is.
Any
special
revelation
of
the
Lord
might
have
been
withheld
from
the
Apostle
Paul
until
the
same
time
except
that
it
was
necessary
that
the
apostles
should
be
"witnesses,"
testifiers
to
the
fact
that
Christ
had
not
only
died
but
had
also
risen
from
the
dead;
and
in
order
that
Paul
as
an
Apostle
might
thus
testify
he
was
granted
the
vision
of
the
glorified
one.
He
saw
him
as
we
shall
see
him
in
that
he
saw
him
in
the
brightness
of
his
excellent
glory
and
not
as
the
others,
veiled
in
the
flesh.
Thank
God
that
the
time
is
not
far
distant
when,
those
who
sleep
in
Jesus
having
been
changed
to
his
image,
we
who
are
alive
and
remain
shall
also
be
changed,
in
a
moment,
in
the
twin
kling
of
an
eye,
to
be
made
like
him,
to
see
him
as
he
is,
to
share
his
glory.
Not
all
in
the
same
moment,
but
each
in
his
own
moment,
changed
instantly-until
gradually,
thus
being
changed
by
passing
from
death
to
life,
the
full
number
of
the
very
elect
shall
be
completed
and
the
reign
of
glory
shall
begin.
VOL.
XXVII
ALLEGHENY,
P
A.,
DECEMBER
15,
1906
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.
24
NEW
MOTIVES
AND
METHODS
IN
FOREIGN
MISSIONS
As
general
doubt
begins
to
overshadow
the
Bible
and
its
teachings,
many
intelligent
people
begin
to
wonder
whether
or
not
there
is
any
future
life.
Decrying
the
Bible
as
the
work
of
man,
all
higher
critics
and
evolutionists
are
thrown
upon
the
resources
of
their
own
judgment
respecting
the
future,
and
they
are
very
conscious
that
their
intelligence
on
the
subject
is
a
large
blank-a
guess.
Rejection
of
the
doctrine
of
eternal
torment
as
the
punishment
for
sin,
and
the
supposition
that
that
doctrine
is
taught
in
the
Scrip
tures,
was
the
foundation
for
their
scepticism,
which
now
has
spread
so
that
their
entire
faith
has
been
undermined,
and
what
Jesus
said
of
the
Samaritans
of
old
is
true
of
them,
"Ye
believe
ye
know
not
what.
"-J
ohn
4:
22.
The
religious
instincts
of
man
lead
him
to
some
kind
of
worship,
and
a
desire
to
serve
his
God
in
some
manner,
whether
that
god
be
a
stick
or
a
stone
or
the
sun
or
the
true
God.
Hf'Jlce
Christian
people
of
various
shades
of
faith
and
doubt
have
during
the
past
century
contributed
liberally
for
mission
work
under
the
stimulating
thought
that
the
poor
heathpn
were
going
into
death
at
the
rate
of
90,000
a
day
without
a
knowledge
of
the
only
name
given
under
heaven
and
amongst
men
whereby
men
must
be
saved.
But
now
as
doubts
become
confirmed
and
faith
weakens
there
is
a
slacken-
[3905]
DECEMBER 1, 1906 the matter: one may have counted from the time the first gun was fired, another from a period of the general engagement, or what not. No one thinks of questioning the fact that there was a battle of Waterloo because of these divergent statements respecting the time it began. So with the matter of our Lord’s resurrection, the fact that the different records of it are not in the same language militates nothing against the fact as a fact. All agree that the resurrection took place on the first day of the week (Sunday) following the Passover, early in the morning. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, the mother of James the Less and of Joses, were there (Matt. 27:56), and Mark and Luke tell us that shortly afterward came Salome the mother of John, Joanna the wife of Chuza, and other women, who brought spices for a more thorough embalming of the Lord’s body than was possible on the night of our Lord’s burial, on account of the lateness of the hour and the approach of the Passover. The earthquake had already rolled away the stone, the sentries had fled in terror from the manifestation of the angel’s presence—they fled to the high priest, who probably had engaged to be their paymaster—having them detailed for a special police duty by Pilate. But the angel, so terrible to those out of harmony with the Lord, spoke graciously to those who were his friends, assuring them that Jesus was risen, and directing them to go quickly and tell his disciples, also assuring them that Jesus would go into Galilee, and intimating a general meeting of his friends there, which later took place. En route they met Jesus, who sent the same message to his disciples. Seemingly the Lord recognized that woman can exercise faith more readily than can man, and here he used them as his servants and mouthpieces to bear his _message—to prepare his disciples, to assist them more readily to accept the truth of his resurrection, Meantime the affrighted guard fled and told the circumstances to the prominent elders who had set them their task and who were probably special enemies of our Lord. They were assured that their work would be considered satisfactory if they would keep the facts to themselves or report that Jesus’ disciples had stolen the corpse. They gave them a handsome present for their codperation in this matter and assured them of protection should their conduct ever be called in question. ELEVEN APPEARANCES AT MOST For forty days our Lord was with his disciples before his ascension, yet he revealed himself to them, according to the records, not more than eleven times in all—and some of these instances are probably duplications. His interviews with the disciples lasted but for a few moments cach, and were surrounded by circumstances and conditions which said to them in thunder tones that a great change had occurred to him—that he was no longer the same being, although he evidently had the same loving interest in them as before. He was still their Lord and Master, this same Jesus, although no longer Jesus in the flesh, He was ‘‘the Lord, that spirit,’’ a ‘‘quickening spirit.’? To bring the matter more clearly before our minds let us note the records covering these manifestations or appearances, as follows: ON THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION (1) Sunday morning early—to Mary Magdalene—near the sepulchre at Jerusalem—Mark 16:9; John 20:11-18. (2) Sunday morning—to the women returning from the sepulchre—near Jerusalem.—Matt. 28:9, 10. (3) Sunday—to Simon Peter alone~—near Jerusalem.— Luke 24:34. (4) Sunday afternoon—to the two disciples going to Emmaus—between Jerusalem and Emmaus.—Luke 24:13-21. (5) Sunday evening—to the apostles excepting Thomas— at Jerusalem.—John 20:19-25. ZION’S WATCH TOWER Vou. XXVIT ALLEGHENY, PA., DECEMBER 15, 1906 (383-387) All five of these were on the first day, the resurrection day, the remaining six appearances being scattered through the remaining thirty-nine days of our Lord’s presence, as follows: THE NEXT SUNDAY—THE EIGHTH DAY (6) Sunday evening, a week after the resurrection—to the apostles, Thomas being present—at Jerusalem.—John 20 :26-29. Following this was a long interval apparently in which there was no appearance whatever, and the disciples, discouraged, perplexed, resolved to go back to their homes in Galilee and there to reéngage in the fishing business, considering that the Lord and his mission had been a failure. Our Lord evidently expected just such a process of reasoning on their part, and his delay was undoubtedly to help them over the difficulty and to start them afresh as servants of the kingdom of God on a higher and still grander plane than their previous ministries had been—under the ministration of the holy Spirit. APPEARANCES IN GALILEE Quite probably three weeks intervened without the slightest communication. Meantime the apostles had reéngaged in the fishing business, when our Lord appeared to them on the shores of Galilee. (7) As a stranger on the shore Jesus called to seven of his disciples who were fishing—John 21:1-13. (8) Shortly after the manifestation on the shores of Galilee Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples on a mountain in Galilee.—Matt. 28:16-20. (9) Very shortly after this he again appeared to a general company of his followers gathered together by previous appointment, ‘‘above 500 brethren at once’’—in Galilee.— 1 Cor. 15:6. LAST APPEARANCES IN JERUSALEM (10) At the close of the forty days our Lord appeared to the Apostle James only, probably at Jerusalem.—1 Cor. 15:7. (11) At the end of the forty days our Lord appeared to all of the apostles at the time of his ascension. This was at the Mount of Olives—Luke 24:50, 51; Acts 1:6-9. It was years after this that Paul wrote, ‘‘Last of all he was seen by me also, as of one born before the time.’’ He was seen of the other apostles as the gardener, as a stranger, as the Crucified One, etc., etc. but when Paul, the last of the apostles, saw him it was not so, but as we shall see him by and by when we are changed to his likeness—he saw him as one of premature birth. The church of the first-born are at the resurrection changed to be like their I.ord and see him as he is. Any special revelation of the Lord might have been withheld from the Apostle Paul until the same time except that it was necessary that the apostles should be ‘‘witnesses,’’ testifiers to the fact that Christ had not only died but had also risen from the dead; and in order that Paul as an Apostle might thus testify he was granted the vision of the glorified one. He saw him as we shall see him in that he saw him in the brightness of his excellent glory and not as the others, veiled in the flesh. Thank God that the time is not far distant when, those who sleep in Jesus having been changed to his image, we who are alive and remain shall also be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, to be made like him, to see him as he is, to share his glory. Not all in the same moment, but each in his own moment, changed instantly—until gradually, thus being changed by passing from death to life, the full number of the very elect shall be completed and the reign of glory shall begin. No. 24 VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER NEW MOTIVES AND METHODS IN FOREIGN MISSIONS | As general doubt begins to overshadow the Bible and its teachings, many intelligent people begin to wonder whether or not there is any future life. Decrying the Bible as the work of man, all higher critics and evolutionists are thrown upon the resources of their own judgment respecting the future, and they are very conscious that their intelligence on the subject is a large blank—a guess. Rejection of the doctrine of eternal torment as the punishment for sin, and the supposition that that doctrine is taught in the Scriptures, was the foundation for their scepticism, which now has spread so that their entire faith has been undermined, and what Jesus said of the Samaritans of old is true of them, “Ye believe ye know not what.’’—John 4:22. The religious instincts of man lead him to some kind of worship, aud a desire to serve his God in some manner, whether that god be a stick or a stone or the sun or the true God. Hence Christian people of various shades of faith and doubt, have during the past century contributed liberally for mission work under the stimulating thought that the poor heathen were going into death at the rate of 90,000 a day without a knowledge of the only name given under heaven and amongst men whereby men must be saved. But now as doubts become confirmed and faith weakens there is a slacken [3905]
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