Government (1928)
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CHAPTER I. NECESSITY
CHAPTER II. SUPREMACY
CHAPTER III. PROMISED
CHAPTER IV. PREPARATION
CHAPTER V. IDENTITY AND QUALIFICATIONS
CHAPTER VI. BEGINNING
CHAPTER VII. PROCLAMATION
CHAPTER VIII. THEOCRACY
CHAPTER IX. SERVANTS
CHAPTER X. ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER XI. BENEFITS
CHAPTER XII. MOUNTAINS
GOVERNMENT
The indisputable evidence showing that the peoples of earth shall have a righteous government and explaining the manner of its establishment.
By J. F. Rutherford
Author of
Reconciliation
Creation
The Harp of God
Deliverance
Where are the Dead?
etc.
1,330,000 Edition
Publishers
International Bible Students Association
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society
Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A.
London, Toronto, Melbourne, Cape Town, Berne, Magdeburg, etc.
To the
GREAT GOVERNOR
OF THE UNIVERSE
Who Doeth All Things Well
This Book Is Dedicated
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2: 6) “Say among the nations that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.” — Psalm 96: 10.
Copyrighted 1928 by
J. F. Rutherford
Made in U. S. A.
FOREWORD
THE combined testimony of the world’s greatest statesmen is that the governments of earth not only are imperfect, but generally are corrupt. For centuries men have struggled to establish a good government that would satisfy the desires of the honest. Now it is admitted that all efforts have failed to accomplish such result. There is a reason. Of course Jehovah foreknew and foretold the futile efforts of man. The time is now ripe for the mind of man to be turned to the sober and candid examination of God’s plan for the establishment of a righteous government on earth which will fulfil the legitimate desires of all. What is set forth in the following pages is not the expressed opinion of man. The facts are plainly stated as they exist. Jehovah’s Word is given as authority, which shows the reason for present conditions and outlines the complete remedy for human ills. All men and women of every language and tongue should take the keenest interest in good government. This book will enlighten you because it contains the truth.
THE AUTHOR
PREFACE
IF YOU have ever been interested in politics, this book will hold your attention. If you desire to see a government that will assure to the people peace, prosperity and happiness, this book will be a joy to your heart. The most complete proof and argument on good government ever written is contained in this book. This extravagant statement is made advisedly, because the proof is from God’s infallible Record, which is now made clear in the light of present-day fulfilled prophecy. It is refreshing and heart-cheering to read it. It is most highly recommended to the people. We confidently expect that its publication will do much good.
THE PUBLISHER
Government
CHAPTER I. NECESSITY
THE year 1914 marked the turning point in the affairs of men. Since then, as never before, the people have appreciated the necessity for a stable government. Prior to that date the peoples of the leading nations had been induced to believe that all war was about done. The argument advanced was that commercial interests of the peoples of the various nations were such that no one nation would dare to go to war with another nation. Suddenly, in 1914, the fires of war were lighted; and within a period of time, incredibly short, millions of men were upon the battlefields slaying each other. Just why they were there no one was able to explain to them.
In previous times wars were made between tribes about some real or supposed injury; or between communities because of some religious difference; or between peoples relative to the possession of territory. In the war of 1914 all the leading nations of the earth called Christendom participated, and that without knowing just why. Some of the nations did not actually engage in fighting, but they suffered almost as much as those that did. That was unlike any other war in the history of man.
Every part of every nation involved was required to do its bit. Men and women went to the front. The men fought while the women drove motor cars, served canteens and nursed the sick and wounded. Fighting was carried on under the ground, on top of the ground, under the sea, on the sea, and in the air; and that continued until millions of men poured out their life-blood. At home men and women together manufactured guns, ammunition, airplanes and other instruments of warfare. The food supply of the various governments was taken over by those in authority, and the peoples were limited in their use of food. Even the babies did their little bit, because their food must be restricted in order that the men at the front might be better supplied. The people were compelled to bring their money and exchange it for the paper obligations of their respective governments. The young men were by law compelled to go to the front and slay their fellow men, while the property of various ones was commandeered for use in war. It was literally a war in which 'nation arose against nation, and kingdom against kingdom'. For four years it raged with indescribable fury; and then in 1918 the fighting suddenly ceased, and no people or nation had gained a decided victory, and no one was able to state just why the fighting ceased.
Nearly nineteen hundred years prior to the beginning of that World War the terrible conflict was foretold in prophecy. A prophecy can be understood when it is fulfilled and the physical facts fit the prophetic words. The great prophecy uttered by Jesus of Nazareth in 33 A. D. was fulfilled from 1914 to 1918. When the smoke of that war had cleared somewhat, then the sober-minded people began to consider the reason for and the meaning of that war. They are learning something and will continue to learn and will profit by their investigations.
A democracy is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. The slogan of the World War was: "The war will make the world safe for democracy." That slogan was adopted and energetically used to induce the people to fight. To that battle-cry the peoples of the nations responded. And why? Because they had a great desire for a government that would be administered for and in the interests of the people. They realized the necessity for a stable government in which the rights of the people might be safeguarded.
The peoples of every nation now well know that the 'democracy' slogan was a misleading one. The war did not make the world safe for democracy. It did not result in the betterment of any people or nation under the sun. Let it be conceded, for the sake of the argument, that the men responsible for the war and its prosecution did the best they could, still all must agree that the result of the war was and is unsatisfactory. Nearly a decade after the war the leading statesmen of the world freely express their disappointment at the result. Ramsay MacDonald, a member of the British Parliament, voices the sentiment of many other men when he says:
There is no settlement in Europe. There is no peace in Europe. Governments can do nothing. They are afraid to do anything and they stand by and allow things to go from bad to worse.
Soberly viewing the situation existing long after the war, Mr. Lloyd George said:
A new chapter opens in the history of Europe and the world, with a climax of horror such as mankind has never yet witnessed.
Instead of the war’s making the world safe for democracy many of the nations are now ruled by military dictators and the people have no voice in the government. Many of the governments are very harsh and cruel and rule with an oppressive hand. Probably the most benighted and cruel governments are to be found among the little Balkan states. Some of these governments, contrary to the law of God and to the rights of men, have adopted a state religion compelling certain forms of worship. If any citizen who loves God and desires to tell the people of God’s love and kindness toward men makes attempt to teach the same he is at once arrested and thrown into prison. The cruel prison-keepers beat the prisoners with clubs and otherwise ill-treat and abuse them. The accused is not permitted to have a trial by a jury of his countrymen, but is haled before a military court and summarily dealt with. He is punished, not for having done any wrong or injury to his fellow man, but because he has expressed his desire to enlighten his fellow man and to bring him some help. He is punished because the truth that he would tell interferes with the machinations of the oppressive government under which he must live. The people and officials of the more liberal nations are shocked at the cruel and unusual punishment inflicted because of man’s belief and teaching, but they are powerless to render any aid. Each one of these fanatic governments claims the right to punish any one within its borders who dares differ with the state religion concerning the interpretation of God’s Word.
Contemporary with the war and thereafter revolutions broke out which really were expressions of the people of a desire for a better and more liberal government. Moved by a selfish desire the revolutionists have usually made the condition of the people worse, rather than better. Bolshevism rules some nations and people, which is especially a protest against the government under which they have heretofore lived. All who calmly and soberly view developments well know that bolshevism can never result in a satisfactory government of the people. Bolshevism is doomed to certain and complete failure. The same must be said of communism. Such radical movements for the establishment of a government of the people can never bring peace, prosperity and happiness to the peoples of the nations. Many other nations of the world greatly fear bolshevism, and properly so. Any form of government that denies the rights and privileges of some and shows special favors to others is certain to end in disaster. Monarchies have been harsh, cruel and oppressive of the people, but bolshevism and communism are even worse. No government can bring happiness to the people unless it is founded upon honesty and administered in righteousness.
It is said that the government of the United States of America comes nearest of any on earth to being an ideal government. No honest man understanding the conditions in the United States can claim that it is a satisfactory government. True its founders declared that all men are endowed with the inalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; but this ideal has never been realized by the people. True also that the founders of that government said that all just powers of government are derived from the consent of the people; but now the consent of the people is neither asked nor obtained. For some years after it was founded, there was an attempt to carry into effect the announced principles of government; but never has it succeeded. The fundamental laws of the land declare that the people shall have freedom of speech, the right of peaceable assembly, the liberty of conscience without coercion, and the privilege to worship God according to the dictates of each one's conscience. These rules of action are ideal, but they are denied daily by those who have and exercise the power of government. The officials of the United States government take a solemn oath to safeguard and protect the interests of the people; but such oath is repeatedly violated by the officials, both high and low.
The three primary branches of the government of the United States are the legislative, the executive, and the judicial. It is well known that fraud and corruption are rampant in every one of these branches. It is true that there are honest men in all these branches of government doing the best they know how; but the honest ones do not predominate, because the dishonest ones control affairs. A member of the United States senate publicly exclaims:
The most important question before the American people is to take the government out of the hands of boodlers, grafters and lobbyists and place its control in the hands of the people.
The public charge goes unchallenged that a high official in the president's cabinet vigorously enforces the liquor prohibition law against some who are caught, while this same high official himself reaps fabulous sums of money from illegitimate handling of intoxicating liquors. There are two classes who indulge in the violation of the law, to wit, the caught and the uncaught. The weaker ones are caught and examples made of them for show. The stronger and more influential are not caught because there is no desire that they shall be hindered in their wrongful course. It is manifest that the ways of government officials in this respect are not equal.
New York American, April 24, 1928
In the same president's cabinet another official, whose duty under the law is to ferret out and punish crime, is vigorous and active in the punishment of men who dare exercise their constitutional rights in the freedom of speech, while the same official himself has his hands covered with corruption from bribes received by him that noted criminals might go unpunished. The ways of the government officials in this regard are unequal.
Another cabinet official, sworn to protect and safeguard the property interests of the people, enters into a conspiracy with wicked profiteers to wrongfully deprive the people of their property; and for this he receives large bribes. The ways of this department are unequal.
Conscienceless profiteers by fraud acquire fabulous sums of money, a portion of which they use to corrupt the voters and officials to the end that they may continue to carry on their wicked work. These corrupt and wicked men are really the power of government behind the scenes. The power of government therefore is in the hands of a few men whose god is money. They control conscienceless politicians who pose as statesmen and they are aided and supported in so doing by an organization called the church, and particularly by its clergymen. The government founded as a democracy has been turned into an oligarchy because the supreme power of government now is wielded by these few. The power of these few men has been made doubly strong following the World War. Great corporations called trusts, owned and controlled by a few unscrupulous men, crush out honest commerce, corrupt public officials, and use the so-called organized Christian religion as a screen behind which they carry on their wicked works. The common people suffer, pay the bills, and in vain cry for relief. A member of the United States senate in 1928 in a public address says:
Trusts multiply and the president of the United States does not choose to interfere; monopoly grows fat and the president does not choose to act; combinations are formed and arrogantly pursue their methods under the protection of the government and the president chooses to approve.
The ways of this government are not equal.
To carry on the World War the tax burden of the people was greatly increased. The cost of living was also much increased. Since the war the tax burden has continued and increased, and the cost of living has grown none the less. The reckless administration of the people’s affairs is carried on at great cost and expense with no adequate return to them therefor. A few are favored while the major portion of the people suffer. In this the ways of the government are not equal.
The United States patent office is open to the public. Its records may be inspected by any citizen. Those records disclose that machines have been invented and patented by the use of which the great power produced by the waves of the ocean could be harnessed and made to produce all the heat, light and power the people might require and that at a very low cost. But these machines have been suppressed and not put in use. What would it mean to the people to have such in operation? It would mean that there would be no further need for men to spend their days and nights deep down under the earth digging coal. It would mean that there would be no coal strikes resulting in the starvation of families while millions of other people suffer for the necessity of fuel. It would mean greater contentment for the people and employment of men on top of the earth tilling the soil that food might be produced cheaper for the people in general. It would mean, further, that the gigantic corporations that manufacture gas and electricity and rob the people for the use thereof would have to go out of business or else furnish the people fuel, light and power at a reasonable price. It would mean that the army of men who shovel coal to produce the heat to operate the machines of commerce, would find more congenial employment and more peace and happiness in life. It would mean that the women who stand over the cook-stoves would no longer suffer from intense heat while cooking the family meals. The use of these machines to harness the power of the ocean would mean that all the people could have their homes heated and lighted with electricity, and that at a very cheap rate.
Why are not these machines employed to harness the power to produce these things for man? Because the great and selfish corporate interests that own and operate the coal fields and the oil wells and the gas factories and the electric light plants have such a tremendous influence and power that they can suppress them. And the people suffer.
It is well known that there is a patented device whereby automobiles can be cheaply operated with the use of a very small amount of gasoline, and others that can be operated without gasoline. These inventions have been thrown into the ash-heap because the owners and operators of the great oil companies have succeeded in suppressing them that their own selfish interests might be furthered. The people suffer as a result.
Some time ago there was brought to light an invention by which telegrams can be transmitted over wires very cheaply. The invention permits the transmission of messages over the same wire in opposite directions at the same time and at the rate of approximately a thousand words a minute. To prove that this invention was practical a line of telegraph wires was constructed over a distance of more than one hundred miles and the appliance put in operation. It was exceedingly satisfactory. The invention, however, if employed, would revolutionize the cost of telegraphy; and the great corporations that now control this method of transmission would be deprived of some of their ill-got gains. They had the power and influence to suppress the use and operation of this invention. And the people suffer as a result.
The government issues a patent to the inventor for these inventions and then stands by and sees a few selfish men deprive the people of the benefits therefrom. In this the ways of the government are not equal.
A member of the president's cabinet accepts a bribe to commit a wrongful act. The bribe-giver attempts to wrongfully influence a jury to bring about an acquittal of the wrong-doer. Referring to this on February 26, 1928, Arthur Brisbane, a well-known writer in the public press, says:
A certain rich man, accused of bribing a cabinet officer, is convicted of tampering with a jury and sentenced to six months in jail. The average citizen reads the news and says, "Nonsense, they'll never put HIM in jail." Next day's newspaper announces that the prosperous gentleman plans a trip to Europe, assured by good lawyers he need not worry about the jail for a year, if ever. Had he been poor and convicted of stealing an overcoat, he would be in Jail now, and stay more than six months.
The natural resources of the United States of America make it the richest country under the sun. Its broad and fertile fields produce food sufficient to feed the peoples of earth. Much of the soil, however, is idle and not tilled. In February, 1928, a resolution was introduced in the United States house of representatives looking to the relief of the unemployed. At that time it was reported that four million persons in the United States were without employment. There is sufficient land to employ every one of them if conditions were made half-way favorable to compensate them for labor. The selfish, cruel profiteers make it impossible for many to till the soil and even make a living. These great trusts loan money upon the land at a usurious rate. They manipulate the price of the marketable products so that the producer is unable to market his crops at any reasonable price, and is therefore unable to pay the interest on his mortgage; and he loses the land. He becomes discouraged and seeks some other way of making a living. The corporations get the land, and then those who till it become serfs and not owners. The government does not aid the producer. In this the ways of the government are unequal.
A few honest men in Congress attempt to pass a law providing for the irrigation and reclamation of other lands. The opening of such lands to occupancy and cultivation would make it possible for an army of men to engage in farming. Big Business with its ill-got gains controls the legislative body and has power to prevent the enactment of the irrigation and reclamation scheme; and the people suffer as a result.
New York American, April 24, 1928
Every four years in the United States the people are called upon to select a president. There are two major political parties that put candidates into the field. Both of these parties are controlled by the favored and selfish interests. Candidates for both these parties are named by Big Business, often secretly behind closed doors; and the convention of the people is manipulated thereafter to cause their election. The voters go to the polls and vote; but Big Business wins, regardless of who is elected. Then the government is carried on by and in the interest of a few and against the interests of the majority. It is anything but a democracy.
These are some of the unsatisfactory conditions that exist in the United States of America. There are many more and worse conditions existing. It may be conceded, as claimed, that the United States is the best government on earth. If that is true and it is so unsatisfactory, what can be said for the governments that are less favorable to the interests of the people?
Without a doubt the British is the strongest government on earth. Among its ruling class there are able men, but these men are imperfect and are influenced and moved like other men. The government is not satisfactory to the British at home. The government is less satisfactory to the people of many of the colonies that go to make up the empire. India is a land ruled by the British government. It is a vast country of a million eight hundred thousand square miles, with a population of upward of three hundred million people. India has never had a satisfactory government. Its people have never been united. The caste system that exists in that land has always produced a wide breach between the rulers and the ruled. Some of the upper caste have started movements for self-government and for freedom from the British empire. This is one of the problems with which the British government has to deal. The British have not established and never can establish a satisfactory government in India. If the British should withdraw and commit all the powers of government to the Indians themselves, the upper caste would grind and oppress the lower strata.
At home the British government has had a great army of unemployed since the war. Many have been the strikes and other expressions of discontent against the government. It can not be said that either the home or the foreign parts of the government are satisfactory.
The peoples of the world are familiar with the conditions existing to some extent at least in their respective governments. Let the entire list be canvassed, from the least to the greatest, and not one government under the sun will be found that is ideal and satisfactory even to the majority of the people under that government. These things are not here said for the purpose of producing discontent; but it is merely a mild statement of the plain facts, that thoughtful men might consider what is the cause and what, if any, is the remedy. If we would deal honestly with ourselves and with our fellow man we shall want to acquaint ourselves with the real facts and dispassionately consider what may be done for the betterment of mankind.
Disarmament
The World War wrought such terrible havoc that the people were anxious to adopt a method that would prevent another great war. Men upon whom the responsibility rested to do something concluded that a league or compact of the principal nations of the world would accomplish the desired result. The league was formed. Many nations entered into that compact, while others declined to enter it; and an effort has been put forth to establish such a relationship between the nations that all controversies may be settled without war. The League of Nations has not bettered the world. It can not better the governments, and it can not prevent war. It has never succeeded in establishing ideal conditions amongst the people on earth, and can not.
Acting in accord with the announced purpose of the League of Nations, conferences have been held looking to the disarmament of the various nations and countries and thus to make war impossible. The United States did not openly enter the League of Nations, but did in conference agree to the destruction of its battleships to the value of five hundred million dollars which had been paid for by the people. Now, after the League has been in existence for nearly a decade, the United States congress has before it a program to expend seven hundred fifty million dollars to construct a more powerful navy than it has ever before had. It is also spending millions of dollars in the construction of fleets of airships that can engage in a warfare of destruction from the air. The disarmament movement has practically collapsed.
Other nations both of Europe and of the Orient are constantly increasing the power of their armies, navies and air fleets. Years after the World War ceased and after the formation of the League of Nations the various nations remain armed, despite the haranguing by the politicians. Big Business will not permit disarmament. A leading magazine writer, discussing the Geneva Conference looking to disarmament and prevention of war, well says:
In theory all the delegates were gathered together to carry out the will of their people. But in fact they could do nothing because the big bosses, for their own reasons, as a result of their own bargains, were agreed that nothing should be done. The hope of Europe for disarmament was denied because the protocol was contrary to the material interests of one great power.
The preparation for another great war continues and the people suffer under the burden. The continued preparation for war is a certain indication that the nations expect to indulge in more war. The man who carries a gun is certain to use it upon what he considers a sufficient provocation. Nations are composed of men all of like passions; and when governments are controlled by selfish and ambitious men and these men arm the governments, the arms are put into use whenever the selfish interests think that they are necessary. The facts show that long after the formation of the League of Nations and the disarmament conferences have been held these conferences have become abortive and the preparation for war goes on. The rulers of the world are in perplexity and in fear of what the future will bring. Some sincere men in public life who would love to see the people in a better condition are at their wits' end as to what can be done. Expressions by some of these, quoted below, are concurred in by millions of thoughtful persons.
We are living in a kind of fool's paradise. Under the slogan of preparedness the militarists everywhere are again precipitating a deluge of war.—Fred B. Smith.
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.
The next war will last but a few days; with the air and gas attacks which have been planned by headquarters' staffs, London and Paris will be wiped out in a night.—W. L. Warden, of the London Mail.
I think it is certain that if there be another such war civilization will never recover from it.—Viscount Grey.
I am afraid that unless something intervenes there may be in the world again a catastrophe, but not like the last one. The next war may well destroy civilization unless something or somebody does something.—Lloyd George.
Need of Government
Upon the earth there are divers and numerous nations, small and great. All of the people of all of these nations are made of one blood. The rights of all should be equal. The privileges enjoyed by the people are unequal in each and every government of earth. If there were a world democracy, and men were perfect, the world would be safe for democracy, and then the privileges of all peoples would be equal. It is well known that they are unequal.
Why should the people of Germany fight against the people of America? Or the English fight against the French? And why should people of one nation engage in a deadly conflict against the people of another nation? Is there any just cause or excuse for so doing?
The respective governments of these various nations establish an imaginary line or boundary and endeavor to keep the people of each nation within such boundary. If one journeys from one country to another, he must obtain the consent of the government under which he lives and the approval of the government to which he goes. The government controls the people, and not the people the government.
If a dispute arises between the governing powers or nations, the people or subjects are called upon to bear arms against their fellow man of the other government. Patriotism is invoked to induce the people to fight against each other. Patriotism is wrongfully invoked. Patriotism means love of country and love for the people of that country. Love means an unselfish desire to do good and an effort to put that desire into action. True patriotism therefore should lead the people to endeavor to help each other; and if true patriotism were invoked, there would be no deadly wars between peoples. The peoples being all made of one blood and made to dwell upon the earth, if all were moved by true patriotism they would be unselfishly trying to help each other instead of trying to kill each other. It is the demagogue who waves his arms and appeals to the people to show their patriotism by going to war and slaying each other. As a rule those who make the most noise about patriotism never go to war themselves but slink behind to profit by the spoils at home. When the boys who bear the brunt of the battle return scarred and maimed for life, the profiteers and patriotism-howlers forget these faithful citizens, furnish them with no relief but permit them to drag out a miserable existence during the remainder of their days. True patriotism should at least provide aid, comfort and support for those who have been incapacitated by reason of the performance of service which they have been compelled to perform.
Every thoughtful person sees that after thousands of years of effort on the part of men to establish ideal governments civilization is now about to collapse. Such is the expressed view of the leading statesmen of the world. The peoples of earth have reached a point of dire extremity. That extremity seems to be necessary to cause the people to carefully and earnestly consider the reason for the unsatisfactory conditions and to seek a true remedy. The present condition of civilization compels all thoughtful persons to agree that there is a great need for a stable and just government of the peoples of earth.
A just government is one that is founded in honesty and unselfishly administered in righteousness. The ways of such government must be equal toward all. All honest persons must agree that such a government is of paramount necessity if the peoples of earth are to enjoy peace, prosperity, life, liberty and happiness. In such a government the supreme governing power must center in and be exercised by one who is honest, just and kind.
If the peoples of earth are to receive and enjoy the greatest possible benefits from their government, their minds must find just cause to readily assent to the honesty and righteousness of the governing power exercised over them. When the people see that the governor is righteous and true and is ruling in righteousness, then the inhabitants will learn to do right and to dwell together in peace. It must be conceded by all that the governors of this world have not been satisfactory to man in the past and are not satisfactory at the present.
The purpose here is to prove from indisputable evidence that the supreme governing power exercised over the nations of the world in the past six thousand years has been unrighteous; that the time has come for a great change; and that the beginning of that time of change is marked by the year 1914; that hereafter the governing power over the peoples of earth shall be exercised by One in whom resides supremacy ; and that that governing power shall be exercised in righteousness for the benefit of the people.
Some reading the foregoing will say the statement is fantastic because what is and has been, will ever continue to be. To such the answer is: Up to this time man has failed to establish a righteous government on earth ; the governments of the world are now sick unto death ; there must be a reason for such condition, and man should attempt to ascertain that reason. It will therefore be worth your while to examine the evidence following and then determine whether or not there is hope for a better government for mankind and an early realization of that hope. If there is reason for such hope, then every honest person should desire to know it. The necessity for an honest and righteous government must be conceded by all. There is a certainty of a righteous government's being established on earth, and it is to the interest of each one to calmly and dispassionately examine the evidence bearing thereupon, for his own benefit and for the benefit of his fellow creatures.
CHAPTER II. SUPREMACY
JEHOVAH God is supreme. From him proceeds all rightful authority. (Rom. 13: 1) His Word is true. (John 17:17) He is the great First Cause and is the Creator of heaven and earth. (Isa. 42:5) He made the earth by his power. (Jer. 10:12) He is the Almighty God, which means that there is no limitation to his power. (Gen. 17:1-3; 35:11) He is therefore the Most High above all.—Ps. 91: 1; Eph. 4: 10.
Jehovah God is just. He deals justly and his determinations are always right. (Ps. 89: 14) "He is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he." (Deut. 32: 4) He is a just and mighty God besides whom there is none other. (Isa. 45: 21) Being absolutely just he can do no wrong and therefore could not show special favor to some at the expense and rights of others. In him there is no partiality.—James 3: 17.
Jehovah God is wise. His wisdom is perfect. In wisdom he created the heavens and the earth and all things therein. (Pss. 104: 10-24; 136: 5; Prov. 3: 19) He is the source of wisdom.—Prov. 2: 6, 7.
Jehovah God is love. (1 John 4: 16) Perfect unselfishness is expressed in all his actions. In God is found the complete expression of unselfishness. God hates that which is evil, and particularly pride, lies, a false witness, and the hand that sheds innocent blood, and that which is oppressive. (Prov. 6:16-19; Ps. 97:10) All the ways of the Lord God are true and right. All of his ways are equal. (Ps. 33:4) “His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever. He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the Lord is gracious and full of compassion.”—Ps. 111:3, 4.
The four primary attributes of Jehovah God are, therefore: power, justice, wisdom and love. These attributes always operate in exact harmony and for the ultimate benefit of all of his creation.
The supreme power of control over the governments of earth always has been invisible to man and always will be. The entire organization is termed “world”. There is an invisible part of the world, and there is a visible part; and the invisible exercises the supreme power. “World” means men organized into forms of government under the supervision of an invisible overlord, which overlord exercises the power of control. A spirit being is not visible to human eyes. (John 3:6) Jehovah God is the great Spirit invisible to human eyes. (2 Cor. 3:17; 1 Tim. 6:16) While Jehovah God is supreme, and in him dwells all rightful power and authority, yet from time to time he delegates power and authority to his creatures. Such delegated power, to be properly used and exercised, must be exercised in harmony with the will of Jehovah God. If exercised contrary to the will of God it is wrongfully exercised. These unalterable truths stated in the foregoing paragraphs must be considered in connection with the cause of unsatisfactory governments of earth and the remedy therefor.
God created man, whom he called Adam, a perfect creature. That perfect man's invisible ruler was Jehovah God, his Creator. To that man God gave dominion over the earth and over its animal creation. By accepting these favors and blessings there was an implied covenant on the part of man to be obedient to God's commandments. Jehovah God appointed an overlord for man, to wit, his son Lucifer, a spirit creature invisible to man, and designated in the Scriptures as one of the "morning stars". (Job 38:7) Jehovah God delegated to Lucifer the power and authority over perfect man to be man's overlord; but that delegated power and authority, to be rightfully exercised, must be exercised in strict harmony with God's will, and the governor must be loyal to Jehovah God. The divine arrangement required man to be obedient to God's laws and also required Lucifer to be obedient thereto. Both Lucifer and perfect man knew that such was required of them. Both knew that God had announced the penalty of death to be inflicted upon man should he wilfully violate God's law. (Gen. 2:17) Lucifer had an ambitious desire to have man all to himself that he might receive the homage and worship from man and that he might be like unto and equal to the Most High. He represented to Eve that the stated death penalty for a violation of God's law was not true. He induced Eve to violate that law. Through Eve Adam was led to violate God's law. This wrongful act called down upon Adam the penalty of death. God must be consistent and vindicate his own law. By the wrongful act of Lucifer and man's violation of God's law man was alienated and separated from God. (Gen. 3:3-19) Man therefore lost his dominion and his right to life and was expelled from his perfect home. Thereafter Lucifer was designated by four names, Dragon, Satan, Serpent and Devil, which names signify that he is a devourer, the enemy and opposer of God, a liar and deceiver, and the slanderer of God and all who try to do right.—Rev. 20: 1-3.
When one has a throne, that signifies that he is invested with certain power and authority. It is written concerning Lucifer, who has since been called Satan the Devil: “'For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds: I will be like the Most High.'' (Isa. 14: 13, 14) This scripture proves that Lucifer had a throne and was therefore clothed with certain power and authority. Having received this power and authority from Jehovah God he would continue to exercise it until deprived thereof by him who granted it. The Scriptures further prove that his authority was over man, who was then in Eden the garden of God, and that such authority was delegated by Jehovah. “'Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou was perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.''—Ezek. 28: 14, 15.
These scriptures prove that all supreme power resides in Jehovah God; that God delegated to Lucifer the power and authority as overlord of man; that Lucifer was and is invisible to man; that Lucifer
afterward became Satan and is designated under that and the other names applied to him; and that he would continue to exercise his delegated power and authority until God withdraws or takes it away from him.
To be sure God could have withdrawn all power and authority from Satan immediately upon his deflection and not have permitted him to further influence man. His wisdom directed otherwise. Man had willingly turned away from his great loving Creator and had lost his right to live and his right to dominion. Would man now seek to return to God's favor, or would he prefer to yield to the influence of Satan? The great issue from that time forward became: Who is supreme, Jehovah God or Satan the Devil? God would give man the opportunity to choose between himself, the Righteous One, and Satan, the Evil One. Adam chose to yield to Satan the Devil. All of his children were born in sin and shapen in iniquity and therefore alienated from God by reason of Adam's wrongful act. (Ps. 51:5; Rom. 5:12) Some of Adam's descendants, however, chose to obey and serve God. Abel, Enoch and Noah were of those who thus desired righteousness. The majority of men Satan led in the way of opposition to God.
Now the question is, Who is responsible for the governments of men that have existed and now exist upon the earth? That question can best be answered by a brief examination of the leading governments that have been upon earth. The facts show that with but two exceptions none of these have been God's governments and that the invisible control over them has been exercised by Satan the Devil. It is true that at all times there have been a few men who have desired to be obedient to God, but these have always been decidedly in the minority. Satan by fraud and deception has led many to believe that at least part of the governments of this world have been God's governments, and hence to charge Jehovah God with the responsibility therefor. Seeing that God is the possessor of almighty power, that he is just and right, that his wisdom is perfect, that he is love, it follows that any government which God would establish would be consistent with himself, because God can not be inconsistent, nor can he deny himself. (Mal. 3:6) If the facts show that the governments have been founded and conducted contrary to God's way, then that of itself would be proof that God is not responsible for such governments and that he is not the author thereof.
Governments
Strictly speaking, a prince is the son of a monarch or potentate or king. Adam was not a king, but he was the son of the great God; and Adam was therefore a prince. He was given dominion over all the earthly works of God's hand, but the title of king was not bestowed upon Adam. That title is properly applied to one having rulership over his fellow creatures. Adam was not given rulership over his fellow creatures. No one prior to the flood is designated in the Scriptures by the title of king.
God permitted man to choose his own course. Satan and his emissaries corrupted almost all the people of earth and at the time of the flood the wickedness of man was great in the earth and every imagination of his heart was only evil continually. The one exception at that time was Noah and the immediate members of his household.—Gen. 6:1-10.
After the flood the people who dwelt on the plains of Shinar were organized into a city or government, and over them Nimrod was made king. That was the beginning of earthly governments. (Gen. 10:10) The name of that kingdom or government was Babylon. It was the organization of men into a form of government created and built up in defiance of God, and upon it God showed his disapproval. (Gen. 11:1-9) This alone proves that the invisible ruler of that kingdom or government was Satan the Devil and that Satan is the one who inspired its organization. Satan put Nimrod before the people as one greater than Jehovah God; and he was hailed by the people as “Nimrod, the mighty hunter before the Lord”. (Gen. 10:9) This proves that Jehovah was named among the people, but he was named in derision and was counted less than Nimrod. Under the supervision and direction of Satan, Nimrod, in defiance of the law of God’s covenant, slew animals and defiled the earth with their blood and thereby gained for himself a great name. (Gen. 9:3-5) Doubtless Satan saw to it that the people were made acquainted with the fact that Nimrod was going in a way contrary to God’s covenant and that God could not prevent him from so doing. Nimrod was therefore given a name greater than that of Jehovah; hence he is called “the mighty hunter before the Lord”. The word before in this sentence has the meaning of superior to. Nimrod’s fame was such that he was made king. That was the beginning of kingdoms or governments on earth with Satan as the invisible overlord.
The spirit of rulership then began to grow in the minds of men, and other companies of people were organized into cities or governments each having a king. (Gen. 14:1-9) That Satan the Devil was the invisible overlord of those governments is made plain by the fact that the people indulged in devil worship. They worshiped the Devil and the fallen angels and objects set up by the evil one.
Early in the history of man following the flood the government of Egypt was organized. The influence and power of that nation grew until it dominated the other kingdoms of the earth. Egypt was the first world power; that is to say, it was the first earthly government that exercised superior power over all the other governments of the earth. The invisible ruler of Egypt was Satan, and Egypt was therefore his organization. This is made certain by the fact that the government did not recognize and serve Jehovah God. When the king was in trouble he called upon magicians to aid him. (Gen. 41:8) God showed his favor to the Egyptians through his servant Joseph, and at that time the king was kind to Joseph. The government of Egypt did not recognize and worship Jehovah as God. When Joseph was dead there arose another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph nor served God. (Exod. 1:8) The Egyptians oppressed those who claimed to serve God. When God sent Moses to make request of the king of Egypt that the Israelites be permitted to depart, the king of Egypt said to him: "'Who is the Lord [Jehovah], that I should obey his voice?'" (Exod. 5:2) This alone is proof conclusive that Egypt was under the invisible influence and control of Satan the Devil and that it was Satan's organization. Then God slew all the first-born of the Egyptians and destroyed Egypt's army. This is further proof that the government of Egypt was Satan's government. In fact Egypt, being the first world power, symbolically stands for the Devil's organization through all the ages.
Assyria was a nation or government which grew until it became a dominant world power. It followed second in order. Satan was the invisible god or ruling power over that nation. The king and others of the government worshiped Nisroch, an idol set up as the representative of the Devil. The king of Assyria reproached and openly defied Almighty God. He brought a great army and stationed it before the walls of Jerusalem and threatened the Jews because they worshiped and served Jehovah God and because they would not pledge allegiance unto the Assyrian king. Then God slew the Assyrian army: "And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp of the Assyrians an hundred fourscore and five thousand: and when they arose early in the morning, behold, they were all dead corpses. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, and went and returned, and dwelt at Nineveh. And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword." (2 Kings 19:35-37) This is also proof that the Assyrian government was not Jehovah's government but was set up as Satan's organization and existed under his supervision and control.
Babylon, although being the first government organized by Satan, was not the first world power. It was third in the list of world powers. That Babylon was set up as Satan’s government from its inception is shown from the Scriptures; that it continued to be Satan’s organization, over which he was the invisible overlord, is further shown by the facts that the king of Babylon worshiped images and compelled the people so to do. (Dan. 3:1-6) Belshazzar the king of Babylon reproached God and worshiped the Devil and devil images.—Dan. 5:3, 4.
Then followed the world power of Medo-Persia, which also had for its invisible overlord or ruler Satan the Devil, who was assisted by his aides the evil spirits. (Esther 1:13; Dan. 10:13) The next world power in order of time was Greece, the invisible overlord and ruler of which was Satan the Devil. The people ignored Jehovah God and worshiped images and many false gods, of which Satan the Devil was the chief. —Dan. 10:20; Joel 3:6; Acts 17:16.
Then followed the government or world power of Rome, which was an idolatrous government, the invisible god or overlord of which was Satan the Devil. Rome was the power that dominated the nations of the earth when Jesus the Son of God was on earth. It was at that time that Satan laid claim to rulership of all the kingdoms of earth, and that claim Jesus did not dispute. (Matt. 4:8, 9) Furthermore, Jesus referred to Satan as the “ruler of this world”. (John 12:31; 14:30, Rotherham) In corroboration of this, Paul wrote under inspiration and said that Satan is the god (invisible ruler) of the nations and kingdoms of this world.—2 Cor. 4:3, 4.
In all of these world powers, nations and governments, there appear three distinctive elements as the visible rulers or representatives of the invisible overlord. These three are the commercial, the political, and the religious classes. The controllers of commerce, who hold the greater amount of material wealth, claim and enjoy special privileges. They exercise a controlling influence. Their love for money is greater than their love for righteousness and justice. They have been at all times exceedingly selfish. Active men must be provided to conduct the affairs of government. These have been designated by the title of professional politicians or statesmen. They have at all times yielded to the power and influence of the holders of wealth and have become the representatives of the classes rather than of the people.
Man is so constituted that he will worship; and Satan, knowing this, has at all times seen to it that a state religion or formalistic worship was established amongst the people. The leaders in the religious system have been known as priests or clergymen. They being the weaker, the stronger power has seen to it that the religious element has kept in step with the commercial power; and even many religionists that started to follow in the way of righteousness yielded to the influence of Satan, exercised through the holders of greater material wealth, and have fallen easy preys of the Devil's government. Therefore it is written in truth: "For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim. 6:10) That such things proceed from Satan the Devil is further made manifest by the admonition given to the lover of righteousness, thus:
"But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness."—1 Tim. 6:11.
What was true in the days of Jesus and Paul is true of and concerning all governments of this world. Satan has been the invisible overlord or ruler of all of such governments. Had Jehovah God, by exercising his supreme power, supervised and controlled the governments of the world, those governments would have been administered wisely, justly, and in righteousness, and unselfishly for the benefit of the people. The fact that the history of all of these world governments shows that great injustice has been practised against the people, that the governments have not been wisely administered, that special favors have been shown to a few while the major portion have been downtrodden and oppressed, proves that the invisible ruler of these nations has been Satan the Evil One.
Exceptions
The Scriptures disclose two exceptions to the Satanic control of the governments that have existed on the earth. At all times God has had some men on earth who have believed on his name and who have worshiped and served him. Among these are Abel the son of Adam, Enoch, Noah and Abraham. While Satan was the god or invisible overlord of Babylon and coexisting governments, there was at that time a people over whom Melchizedek was king or ruler. Melchizedek was different from all other kings of his time. He was the king of Salem, which means "king of peace". He is called "king of righteousness", which shows that he was counted righteous in God's eyes because he believed and served Jehovah God. Melchizedek was not subject to the king of Babel or any other contemporary monarch. He was "priest of the Most High God", which shows that he exercised whatsoever authority he had by the direction of Jehovah God.—Gen. 14:18; Heb. 7:2.
Abraham believed God and obeyed him. Four allied earthly kings, of which Satan was the overlord, seized Lot the son of Abraham's brother and carried him away. Abraham had three hundred eighteen personal servants; and he took these, together with his three neighbors, and pursued these four victory-flushed kings, engaged them in battle, and defeated them. He rescued Lot and brought him back, together with all his goods and the members of his household. It was on that occasion that Melchizedek ministered unto Abraham and blessed him and said: "Blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand." (Gen. 14:20) This is proof that Melchizedek was righteous in God's eyes and that Jehovah God gave Abraham the victory. If God is supreme in power, and Melchizedek was priest of the Most High God, why did not Melchizedek exercise his divinely-given power and overthrow the kings over which the Devil ruled? The answer is that it was not God's due time or purpose to then destroy Satan's power. God provided the kingship of Melchizedek as a picture or type foreshadowing the time coming when he would take control of all earth's affairs through his King or Chief Officer.
Here in the Scripture we have the first suggestion that God would anoint a King to rule over this earth, whose kingdom would not be any part of Satan’s organization. It is the Apostle Paul who tells us that Melchizedek holds this typical significance, being “made like unto the Son of God”, Jesus Christ, God’s anointed King. (Heb. 7:3) Melchizedek had no successor either as priest or as king. The priesthood of the children of Israel and their kings were not of the Melchizedek order. His was a higher rank than the Hebrew kings and priests, and this is proven by the fact that Abraham paid tithes unto Melchizedek and received blessings at his hand.—Heb. 7:1-21; Zech. 6:13.
The natural descendants of Abraham were organized into a government. This was the other exception to the organization over which Satan has been the god. Abraham was never styled a king, however. He is called a patriarch, which means a forefather or parent. (Heb. 7:4) Abraham recognized Melchizedek as a priest or officer and servant of the Most High God and therefore paid tithes unto him. Abraham did not mimic the kings or rulers round about him but recognized Jehovah God as his ruler. He observed that God rebuked and reproved earthly monarchs because they were under the direction of Satan. He believed that the day would come when the Most High God would set up a kingdom of righteousness on earth, and by faith seeing that day when God’s anointed One would reign he rejoiced.—John 8:56.
By the hand of Moses God delivered the natural descendants of Abraham from Egypt and brought them to the foot of Mount Sinai and there organized them into a nation. Jehovah God was their ruler. God called the Israelites Jeshurun, which means upright nation, because they were God's people chosen for himself and for his own good purposes. "He [Jehovah God] was king in Jeshurun."—Deut. 33: 5.
In Egypt God made a covenant with the Israelites, and when he led them to Mount Sinai he confirmed and inaugurated that covenant. At that time he said to them: "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation."—Exod. 19: 5, 6.
For a time the Israelites obeyed Jehovah God and he led them and blessed them and there was no strange god among them. Then "Jeshurun", once upright before God, became evil and forsook God and fell away to the Devil. "They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger. They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee."—Deut. 32: 16-18.
The people of Israel ceased to be God's people and were cast away from him. From that time Satan was the god or invisible ruler of the entire world and all the peoples and nations thereof. Every nation and government on earth since then has been dominated by the subtle and wicked influence of Satan. This is true, even though few people know that fact. It is also true that in all these nations there have been a few men of good intention who have striven to better their fellow man and whose efforts have failed. The kingdoms and governments of this world have been cruel, harsh and oppressive upon the people. Every government of the world has thus been dominated by Satan, even though the rulers and the people did not understand or believe it. He has blinded the minds of the people to God and turned their minds away from the Lord God and has thus continued to hold control over the nations of the earth. One of the strongest proofs that this statement is true is the fact that evil has been rampant in all these governments. It could not be truly said of any of these governments that such is an upright government in which there is no evil. The very best government of the world is far from upright.
Recently ex-Emperor Wilhelm of Germany has said of and concerning the government of the United States of America that 'it stands at the head of the list of governments, which place it has gained through its ideals, and therefore the American government is master of the world'. At the very same time a member of the United States senate, who is on the inside and who speaks knowingly, has this to say about the United States government:
The government is in the hands of boodlers, grafters and lobbyists; that the individual rights of the people are disregarded and trampled upon; that a system of wicked espionage is carried on; that the homes and places of business of citizens are daily invaded in violation of the fundamental law of the land; that power is concentrated in the hands of a few to the detriment of the people; that the selfish and powerful interests employ the forces of the government to build up special privileges and circumscribe the individual's opportunity; that in 1921 the president of the United States was selected by a few selfish men or their representatives who consorted with Harry M. Daugherty, who formulated and executed a conspiracy of robbery and theft of the property of the people; that Andrew J. Mellon, one of the richest men in America, was made the head of the United States treasury and ex-officio chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, and in that position of power has exercised a controlling influence over the financial policies of the nation and credits of the people; that the law forbids the appointment of a man to the position of head of the treasury department who is engaged in trade; that contrary to this law Mellon was appointed and at that time was a director in sixty-eight great banks, railroads, and business corporations, almost every line of human endeavor from the control of the aluminum trust to the manufacture of whiskey; that it was Mellon who with his kinsman organized the scheme to raise two million dollars to corrupt the voters in the election of a United States senator; that Albert B. Fall was at the same time at the head of the Interior department of the government; that the president of the United States signed an illegal order turning the oil that belonged to the people over to Fall; that Fall accepted bribes from conspirators, did their bidding, and corruptly transferred to them vast oil fields which belonged to the people; that corrupt lobbyists maintained their offices in the national capitol, openly advertised their influence, and carried on a propaganda to deceive and corrupt the legislative body and to mislead and misrepresent the people; and that by the wrongful enactment of laws and by the manipulation of the law the people who produce are required to sell their products in a market fixed by the special and selfish interests, the commercial power, and to buy what they need at unnatural and unjust prices.
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