Jehovah (1934)
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CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
JEHOVAH
The revelation, of the KING OF ETERNITY involving his name, his covenants, his memorial, and his Vindicator; disclosing why all persons who get life everlasting must love, joyfully obey, and serve Him.
By J. F. Rutherford
Author of
CREATION, DELIVERANCE, RECONCILIATION, GOVERNMENT, PROPHECY, LIGHT
and other books
First printing 1,000,000 copies
Publishers
WATCH TOWER Bible and Tract Society
International Bible Students Association
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.A. also London, Toronto, Strathfield, Cape Town, Berne, Magdeburg, and in other countries.
JEHOVAH
CHAPTER I
JEHOVAH GOD is the owner of the universe. He made the heavens and the earth, and all things are at his disposal. “The Lord God made the earth and the heavens.’’ (Gen. 2:4) “Lo! unto Jehovah thy God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens; the earth with all that is therein.” (Deut. 10:14, Rotherham) ‘‘The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world, and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them.” (Ps. 89:11) “Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the work of thy hands.” (Ps. 102:25) “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.” (Ps. 24:1) “I am Jehovah, that is my name.” (Isa. 42:8, A.R.V.) “Thus saith Jehovah, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, Jehovah of hosts: I am the first, and I am the last; and besides me there is no God. ”—Isa. 44:6, American Revised Version.
Jehovah God is the unselfish One, because “God is love”. (1 John 4:16) Love means unselfish devotion to righteousness. “For righteous is Jehovah, righteousness he loveth, the upright shall behold his face.” (Ps. 11:7, Roth.) “O Jehovah! in the heavens is thy lovingkindness, thy faithfulness as far as the fleecy clouds: thy righteousness is like mighty mountains, and thy just decrees are a great resounding deep; man and beast thou savest, O Jehovah! How precious thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the sons of men under the shadow of thy wings seek refuge.” (Ps. 36: 5-7, Roth.) In the Scriptures “father” means lifegiver, and Jehovah God is the Life-giver to all who live forever. “One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Eph. 4:6) All creatures that get life everlasting must receive it from Jehovah God through his chosen One. Life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ.—Rom. 6:23.
Jehovah the immortal One is “from everlasting to everlasting”. (Ps. 90: 2) He has revealed himself to his creatures by his name Jehovah, meaning his purpose toward his creatures; by his name God, meaning the Creator of all things; by his name Almighty, meaning that he is all-powerful and nothing can successfully resist him; and by his name Most High, meaning that he is the supreme One above all. His name has been defamed before all creation. In due time he will vindicate his name for the good of all creation. His Vindicator is his chosen, anointed, beloved One who executes his judgment.
The covenants of Jehovah God manifest his purpose and reveal the manner of carrying out his purpose. Because his name and his covenants are so vitally important to man consideration thereof is given in the pages following. His name and his covenants are inseparably linked together. The carrying out of his covenants will be a vindication of his name, and the opening of the way for mankind to gain everlasting life, and will bring everlasting peace and joy to those that live on the earth.
The present-day visible rulers of this world are woefully deceived. They think they have the right to rule the people. They possess no such right. God, “whose name alone is Jehovah,” is the “King of eternity”. (Ps. 83:18; Jer. 10:10, margin) All just power and authority reside in him. The time is at hand when all must know that Jehovah is God, and that “to the intent that the living may know that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will”. (Dan. 4:17) When God took away from the nation of Israel all authority to rule, which he did in the year 606 B.C., he said: “It shall be no more, until he come whose right it is; and I will give it him.” (Ezek. 21:27) He “whose right it is” has come. The great question now before living creatures is, Who is supreme? and who shall rule or control the world? The proper consideration of this question involves the name and the covenants of Jehovah, to the intent that men of intelligence may choose whom they will serve.
Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Chief Executive Officer of Jehovah, the Redeemer of man, and the world’s rightful Ruler. Satan the Devil is the wicked one, the opposer of God, and man’s greatest enemy. For centuries Satan has been the invisible overlord or controller of the world. There must be a change from Satan’s rule to that by Jesus Christ. That change is impending and will take place within this generation.
WORLD
There is first here given the Scriptural definition of “world”, and then the proof that Satan controls the world, and why a change of world control must shortly come to pass. “World” means the peoples of earth organized into forms of government, under the supervision of an invisible power or overlord. In the Bible the word “heaven” is used to represent the invisible part of that rule, while “earth”, as there used, means the visible power that rules, and it is “heaven” and “earth” together which constitute the “world”. The ‘people of good will’ herein mentioned are those who have an honest and sincere desire to see justice and righteousness prevail, and hence they desire that the will of God may be done on earth as well as in heaven.
Jehovah God created the earth and put perfect man upon it, and made the spirit creature Lucifer the invisible overlord of the earth. Associated with Lucifer were many spirit creatures or angels forming a part of his immediate organization. Lucifer rebelled against Jehovah God, in which rebellion his host of angels joined, and man was led into lawlessness and sentenced to death. Since the entire human race sprang from that one man after he had sinned and was sentenced to death, all mankind have been born imperfect. (Rom. 5:12) God changed the name of Lucifer to that of Devil, Satan, Serpent, and Dragon, and since then Satan and his host of wicked angels have controlled the world.
Satan defied Jehovah God to put on earth men that would be faithful and true to God. That challenge God accepted. (Job 1:8-12; 2:1-6) Although sentenced to death, Satan and his wicked angels have been permitted to continue for a definite period of time unhindered in the prosecution of their wicked work, God abiding his own due time to take action against them. As the human race increased on the earth, other angels which had been wholly devoted to God materialized in human form and were induced by Satan and his wicked angels to mingle with humankind and marry the daughters of men, and from that union there came forth an unusual offspring. There followed a period of great wickedness in the earth, and God announced his purpose to destroy the “world that then was” by a flood. That time in the Scriptures is called “Noah’s day”, because Noah was a righteous man and remained true to God. — Gen. 6:1-8; 1 Pet. 3:19, 20.
Jehovah God then told Noah to build an ark in which he would find refuge for himself and the immediate members of his household. Noah did as commanded, and then there came upon the world the deluge or great flood which destroyed all flesh. That destruction of all flesh was a type foreshadowing the destruction of the present wicked world. The saving of a few persons who found refuge in the ark pictured or foreshadowed the millions of people of good will who will be carried through the battle of the great day of God Almighty soon to be fought. A knowledge of the truth of and concerning these things is now of most vital importance to all persons of good will; hence that message is now declared as a notice and warning to all such people.
In the flood God destroyed all flesh, but he did not destroy the Devil and the other wicked spirits, but permitted them to continue to exercise power and influence over humankind until God’s due time to take action. Why did not God then destroy the Devil? Jehovah’s answer to that question is found in the Bible, at Exodus 9:16, in these words: “But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they [my witnesses] may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Leeser) But the day of final reckoning must come, and in that day Satan and his power will be completely destroyed and there will be a complete change in the rulership of the world.
After the flood the human race multiplied in the earth and then men began to organize themselves into governments, the first organization being under the leadership of Nimrod, (Gen. 10:8-10) In that government and in every government from then till now three elements have constituted the visible ruling power, to wit, religion, polities and commerce. During all that time Satan the Devil has exercised his subtle power over the men of the nations, defrauded and deceived them, and led them away from the true God. But in all the centuries past God has had a few men on earth who have remained true and faithful to him, and such men he has caused to be his witnesses in the earth.
Then Jehovah organized the people of Israel into a nation for himself and used that nation to foreshadow and foretell his purpose toward the human race. For some time that nation was faithful to God, but in the course of time the rulers and people fell under the V/'ily influence of the Devil, turning away from God, and then that nation was completely destroyed. Israel was a type foreshadowing "Christendom”. The nations of earth now called "Christendom” began to serve Jehovah, but in the course of time those nations fell away from the true worship of God, yielded to the seductive influence of Satan, and became corrupt, and God’s decree is that they shall be completely destroyed at Armageddon, even as Israel was destroyed.
Satan, the wily and subtle foe, in order to deceive man, has caused the people to be kept in ignorance of himself and his work, his agents even denying that Satan exists at all. The question which you must determine now is whether you will believe and accept the word of man or believe and accept the truth of the Bible, which is God’s Word. This message is addressed to those who believe that the Bible is the Word of God; and it will be a comfort to them, but not to others. Now the world is in great distress; the rulers in every nation under the sun are in very great perplexity. They sense disaster ahead, but do not know the reason why, nor will they give heed to the Bible truth of and concerning the same. Many religious leaders have said that the present trouble upon the world is a punishment from God, whereas the Scriptures plainly state that Satan the Devil is the one causing the great distress and woe now upon the people. Therefore it is written: “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Rev. 12:12) Why has Satan brought this great woe upon the nations of earth?
SEED
At the beginning of Satan’s rebellion Jehovah God promised that he would produce a “Seed” that would in due time rule the world in righteousness, destroy Satan and his organization, and bring blessings of peace, prosperity and life to all the peoples and nations of the earth that would do justice and righteousness. (Gen. 3:15) That promised “Seed” or Ruler is Christ Jesus, the beloved Son of God. Concerning him it is written: “The government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty [Ruler], The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, ... The zeal of [Jehovah] of hosts will perform this.” (Isa. 9: 6,7) Thus Christ Jesus is identified as earth’s rightful ruler, by and through whom the human race must receive the desired blessings.
In A.D. 33 the man Jesus, after having delivered God’s message of truth to Israel, was killed by Satan’s agents. God then raised Jesus out of death and gave him life divine and made him the most exalted one in the universe and appointed him to the office of King or Ruler of the world. Jesus was required to wait, however, until God’s due time for him to assume his rulership. (Ps. 110:1) When on the earth Jesus declared that he must go away and receive the kingdom and that he would then come again and set up the kingdom; and for that reason he taught Christians to pray: ‘Thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth.
In answer to the question as to what would be the proof of his coming and his kingdom Jesus stated that the world war would mark the beginning of his operations concerning the world. That world war came in 1914 in fulfilment of the prophecy uttered by Jesus. It was in that year that Jehovah God installed Jesus and commissioned him to rule the world. (Ps. 2: 6-12) Christ Jesus is a spirit now, and cannot be seen by human eyes. As Satan has long been the invisible ruler over the world, henee unseen by men, so now his rule must cease and Christ Jesus becomes the invisible ruler and controller of the world. Jehovah God has for centuries suffered or permitted Satan to be the invisible ruler; but now that time limit is up and the end of Satan’s world has come, and the time for Christ Jesus to take over the affairs of the world; and just before he begins the administration of blessings he will destroy the wicked ruler of this world and all who support that wicked ruler.—Heb. 2:14; 1 John 3: 8.
Satan knows that it is only a short time until Armageddon, which will be the final fight by Satan and his angels on one side and Christ Jesus and his angels on the other side, and, knowing this, Satan brings great woe upon the world, his purpose being to turn the people away from the true God and cause their destruction. This is further supported by the words of Jesus, who said that at the end of the world there would be great distress upon earth, with perplexity, and men’s hearts failing them because of things they sense coming upon the world. (Luke 21: 25, 26) This is exactly the condition that we see today. The great change from unrighteous to righteous rule or control of the world is impending.
Seeing the great danger of world collapse, earthly rulers organized the League of Nations as a substitute for God’s kingdom, and the religious element of the world hails that League of Nations as “the political expression of God’s kingdom on earth”; which claim is wholly false. Today an organization in America known as “The League of Nations Association, Inc.”, by its president, has issued an appeal to the people to support the League of Nations, and which appeal among other things says: “In a world as dark as this, why blow out the only light there is?” meaning that the League of Nations is the only hope of the world. Let the people be warned that the League of Nations is the product of Satan, brought forth to deceive the people and blind them to the truth concerning God’s kingdom. The League of Nations is absolutely certain to go down with the other parts of Satan’s organization. God foreknew and foretold this confederacy of nations, and concerning it by his prophet he said: ‘Associate yourselves together, 0 ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces.... Bind yourselves together, and ye shall be broken in pieces. Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought.’—Isa. 8:9,10.
In giving his answer concerning the evidence proving the end of the world Jesus referred to the League of Nations as that “abomination that maketh desolate’’, because it assumes to take the place of God’s kingdom. He said to his followers: ‘When ye shall see the abomination of desolation [which is the League of Nations] stand in the holy place, then flee to God’s kingdom.’ (Matt. 24:15,16) Jesus gives this warning because the League of Nations is Satan’s scheme to blind the people to the truth. All who seek refuge in the League of Nations will come to disaster. God’s kingdom under Christ is the only hope of the human race, and refuge will be found only in God’s organization.
For more than 1800 years the Israelites were God’s typical people, and it is expressly stated in the Bible that what came to pass in connection with that nation foreshadowed what shall come to pass at the end of the world, where we now are. The nation of Israel began to function while domiciled in Egypt, and there the people of Israel pictured or represented the peoples now on earth who are on the side of God and Christ and who desire to see righteousness control and oppression end. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, represented or stood for Satan, the god or invisible ruler of the wicked world. Pharaoh and the officers of his government heaped great oppression upon the Israelites. — Ex. 1: 8-22; 2:23-25.
Jehovah God sent Moses and Aaron to Egypt to be witnesses to his name and power. Moses was a type of Christ Jesus, while Aaron was a type of Jehovah’s witnesses working under the direction of Christ Jesus. God commanded Moses and Aaron to go before Pharaoh and demand that his people Israel be permitted to serve and worship God in the way that Jehovah had appointed for them. Pharaoh refused to grant that request. Then God commanded Moses to bring plagues upon Egypt, that the rulers and the people might be informed and warned that Jehovah is the Almighty God and that his commandments must be obeyed. In all there were ten plagues that befell Egypt. The ninth plague was that of great darkness over all the land of Egypt except that part where God’s chosen people were, and there the Israelites had complete light, which was a special favor from Jehovah,
Now at the end of the world Jehovah has sent Christ Jesus, the Greater Moses, and has sent forth his witnesses, pictured by Aaron, and commanded that his testimony must be given to the rulers of the world and to the people that Jehovah is the Supreme One and that his people shall be permitted without interference to worship and serve God in the way he has appointed for them. In the year 1919 the religious, political and commercial elements of “Christendom” set up the League of Nations in opposition to God’s kingdom under Christ, and since then all these visible rulers have vigorously opposed Jehovah’s witnesses. At the command of the Lord his witnesses have served notice and warning upon the rulers that the world has ended, and that the kingdom of God is at hand, and have demanded of the rulers that God’s people be permitted without interference to serve and worship him in the manner Jehovah has appointed for them. The serving of such notice and warning constitutes the fulfilment of the nine plagues of Egypt; which nine prophetic plagues have been fulfilled upon the rulers of the world. (See pages 55-94)
As the ninth plague on Egypt was great darkness, just so now the rulers of the world arc in great darkness as to God’s purpose, because they refuse to heed God’s truth. This is particularly shown by the fact that the League of Nations is openly claimed to be the only light that now shines on earth. The only exception to this great darkness is that those persons who have taken their stand on the side of God and his kingdom are now enjoying the light of the Word of God and by it are directed in the right course. At the conclusion of the ninth plague upon Egypt Pharaoh said to Moses and Aaron: ‘Be gone and see me no more.’ Even so now after the ninth antitypical plague has been served upon the rulers of the world, they have in effect said to Jehovah’s witnesses: ‘Be gone and let us have no more to do with you. ’ Pharaoh defied Jehovah God. The rulers of the world are now doing the same thing. They oppose Jehovah’s witnesses and spurn God’s warning, and they reject God and his kingdom.
After this, and in harmony with the will of God as he has commanded, Jehovah’s witnesses will give no further notice and warning to the rulers of the world, but must now bring to the attention of the people of good will the message of notice and warning concerning Armageddon and God’s kingdom, even as Moses and Aaron gave special instruction to the Israelites just before the tenth plague came upon Egypt.
The firstborn of Egypt under their law constituted a specially favored class; and hence in the prophetic picture the firstborn represented the present visible ruling element of the earth. The tenth and last plague which God sent upon Egypt was this: He sent his angel throughout the land of Egypt and slew every one of the firstborn of the Egyptians, but gave protection to the firstborn of the Israelites because they obeyed his commandment, showing faith in man’s Redeemer.
The Israelites immediately left Egypt and were pursued by Pharoah and his official organization, all of which were destroyed in the sea. That foreshadowed or pictured Armageddon, which will mean the complete destruction of Satan’s rule of this world, both visible and invisible.—Rev. 16:13-16; 19:19-20: 3.
WARNING NOTICE
The Scriptures reveal that God never takes advantage of the ignorance of anyone, but always gives notice and warning before taking action to vindicate his name. Mark this, that he caused Noah to testify to men and angels of his purpose to destroy the world before he brought the flood, which destroyed the world. He caused Moses and Aaron to give full notice and warning to Egypt, and then came the destruction of that world power. He caused Jesus to give fair notice and warning to the rebellious nation of Israel; and then followed the destruction of that nation. Now Jehovah has caused his witnesses to give full and fair notice and warning to the rulers of this world; and when this witness work is completed there shall quickly follow the complete destruction of the world. The flood, the destruction of Egypt, and the fall of Jerusalem brought great trouble upon the people, but Jesus declares that Armageddon shall bring upon the world the greatest tribulation ever known, and that it will be the last. (Matt. 24:14, 21, 22) Hence we may know that the impending battle of Armageddon will be the final and complete execution of Jehovah’s judgment against the wicked, both invisible and visible.
Armageddon will not be fought between men of the nations of earth. Armageddon is the ‘battle of the great day of God Almighty’, in which Christ Jesus and his angels will fight against Satan and his wicked host, and Christ will be completely victorious. Mark now the words of the record in 2 Peter 3, to wit: ‘In the last days shall come those who will deny and scoff at the kingdom of God, and for this they willingly are ignorant of the truth, that by the word of God the heavens and earth that were of old, constituting the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished; but the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto destruction against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.. . . Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens, being on fire, shall be dissolved, and the elements [visible ruling powers] shall melt with fervent heat.’ —2 Pet. 3:3-7, 12.
Those inspired words recorded in the Bible tell what shall shortly come upon the world, making a complete end of Satan’s rule, thus clearing the way for the righteous rule of Christ Jesus. Continuing the apostle says: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Pet. 3:13) This marks the complete change of world control, the “new heavens” being the Christ or invisible rule, and the “new earth” meaning those faithful men of old from Abel to John the Baptist, who being resurrected as perfect men shall become the visible rulers in the earth; and that rule shall be one of righteousness.—Ps. 45:16; Isa. 32:1; Heb. 11:4-35.
In Revelation 21 the new rule of the world is symbolically called “the holy city” or organization, and is described as coming down from God out of heaven, which holy and righteous rule under Christ shall bring the greatest blessings to the people. Exercising his supreme power by and through Christ Jesus, Jehovah the great God of the universe will then bless all the people who obey his righteous law. “And 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 said, Behold, I make all things new: . . . for these words are true and faithful.”—Rev. 21:4, 5.
The so-called “holy year” has failed to bring the promised peace and prosperity, and that failure should of itself convince the people of good will that God did not authorize the year 1933 to be called a holy year, nor will he answer the prayers of men who try to make it a holy year. Upon earth there is now no peace, and poverty continues to stalk hideously through the land. Jehovah’s witnesses have no controversy with men. Their only purpose is to be obedient to God’s commandment to tell the message of truth. As he has commanded this message to be delivered, by his grace they will do it, regardless of opposition; and when they have thus done, their responsibility ends and the people’s begins. All human schemes to recover the world are certain to fail. The world is sick unto death, and it is going to die. There may be a temporary period of prosperity, but it will be very brief. Jehovah’s decree is that there shall be a complete change of world control, and for this reason the old world must perish.
In the terrible disaster that shall soon come upon the present world all who oppose God will die and will find no possible way of escape. (Jer. 25:33-36) Money, property and worldly influence will not avail anyone to buy protection or relief in that time of great trouble. Concerning the same it is written in God’s Word: “The land shall be utterly emptied, and utterly spoiled: for the Lord hath spoken this word. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof, because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” (Isa. 24:3, 5) The everlasting covenant here mentioned is God’s covenant concerning the sanctity of life. (Gen. 9:1-11) Every nation on earth has grossly violated and willfully broken that covenant by causing the unnecessary and untimely death of human creatures. Examples of such needless bloodstains upon the record of America are the cruel treatment to which the Indians have been subjected, and the wanton slaughter of animals; and which was done chiefly because of greed for gain. The commercial and political elements of the earth have unjustly oppressed and killed millions of human creatures, and the religious element has connived at and condoned such wrongful deeds. God will balance the books at Armageddon.
The people are here warned of a wicked conspiracy formed by Satan, and in which conspiracy there are joined the international bankers, the unfaithful clergy, and the conscienceless politicians, among the purposes of which conspiracy are these: To put America into the League of Nations, control the money and all other property, rule the people by the hand of their one- man dictator, destroy the freedom of speech and press, and stop the true worship of God and Christ.
But be of good courage! The hand of Almighty God at Armageddon will smite all these enemies to the dust!
What, then, is the hope of the nations of the earth? Jehovah God points to Christ Jesus, the new Ruler of the world, and says: ‘Behold my servant, in whom my soul is pleased. He shall show righteous judgment to the nations, and in his name shall the nations hope.’ (Matt. 12:18-21) Having been warned, men are at liberty to join whatsoever organization they may wish; but let the people of good will who desire to see righteousness, peace, prosperity and life everlasting on the earth take their stand wholly on the side of God and his kingdom. There is no place of safety anywhere else. To take your stand on Jehovah’s side you do not need to join any human organization, but in the privacy of your home devote yourself to God and his kingdom under Christ. Be diligent to study the Word of truth and learn the way of righteousness. Avoid all controversies and strifes. If riots and revolutions come, keep away from them. Deal honestly and justly with your fellow man, and worship and obey the Almighty God. There are on earth today millions of people of good will who desire to know and to do what is right, and those who follow the instructions given to them in the Word of God may be hid in the time of the great tribulation, and be carried through it safely, and then live for ever on the earth and never die. (Zeph. 2: 2, 3) Hence it can be truly said, “Millions now living will never die.”—John 8:51.
Jesus said: “All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth.” (John 5: 28, 29) In Acts 24:15 it is written: “There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.” The general resurrection of dead mankind covers the period of the thousand years of Christ’s kingdom, and within that period all in their graves will be brought forth and given a trial for life. Human perfection and eternal life on earth will be given to the obedient ones. The earth will be made glorious and a fit place for perfected man to live. “Jehovah preserveth all them that love him; but all the wicked will he destroy.”
CHAPTER II
HIS NAME.
JEHOVAH sent Jesus to earth more than 1900 years ago to then do a preparatory work looking to the ultimate vindication of the name of the Most High. Jesus, therefore, came in the name of Jehovah and as his duly accredited representative. Jesus testified: “I am come in my Father’s name.” (John 5:43) Jesus was sent as a witness and must bear testimony to the truth of and concerning Jehovah’s name and purpose. When the man Jesus was thirty years of age Jehovah anointed him to be ruler of the world. When asked by the Roman governor, "Art thou a king?” Jesus replied: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” (John 18: 37) During the three and one-half years in which he bore testimony to the truth before men Jesus emphasized the great truth that "the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. In this statement he referred to himself as Jehovah’s chosen and anointed one to rule, and which rule, when in full operation, is from heaven, because Christ Jesus, now divine, will ever be invisible to human eyes.
At the conclusion of his earthly ministry Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt of an ass and presented himself as King. The common people hailed him as king, crying out, "Hosanna to the son of David! ” (Matt. 21: 1-9) The clergy class and their allies rejected Jesus. Shortly thereafter Jesus directed his disciples to prepare for the celebration of the passover. On the fourteenth day of Nisan, as required by the law, Jesus and his disciples celebrated the passover. On that occasion and immediately following the passover Jesus instituted the memorial of his death, which took place on the same day: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it: for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”—Matt. 26:26-29.
Jesus told his disciples that he must go away, but that he would come again and receive them unto himself. (John 14:1-4) He invited these faithful disciples to share with him in his kingdom. (Luke 22:28-30) Why Jesus kept the passover feast, and why he emphasized the fact of his own death and that of his coming kingdom, could not be clearly understood until the return of the Lord according to the promise made to his disciples. Jesus Christ was crucified on a tree as though he were a sinner; on the third day thereafter Jehovah raised him from the dead.
Why did not Jesus begin his reign 1900 years ago? Why should he come the second time? These questions can now be answered according to the Scriptures and understood by those who devote themselves to Jehovah. The answers thereto may be summed up in a few words, to wit: Jesus is the chosen One to carry out Jehovah’s purpose, the chief or primary part thereof being the vindication of Jehovah’s name, and the secondary part being the redemption, deliverance and salvation of the human race who will come to know, love and serve Jehovah. By his rebellion and wicked challenge Satan had put in issue the supremacy and the name of Jehovah God.
Jehovah’s name was exalted by all intelligent creatures prior to the rebellion of Lucifer. All knew and delighted in His illustrious fame and honorable reputation. All knew that Jehovah was and is the source of life and that he is the unselfish Giver of every good and perfect gift. Such was the proper and happy state existing in the universe until lawlessness found a place in the heart of the creature whom Jehovah had made lord over a part of his organization. Coveting that which had not been given to him Lucifer exalted himself, defied the Most High, and received for himself the title of Satan, and God set a time limit for the continuation of Satan, at which time limit the wicked one must end. (Jer. 51:13) For centuries the name of Jehovah has been reproached, dishonored and made infamous by Satan and by his host of wicked angels and wieked men. The crisis has come, and from this time forth and for evermore the name of Jehovah shall be exalted. The wicked shall perish, and all who receive life everlasting must know and obey and honor and joyfully serve him whose name alone is Jehovah. His illustrious fame and honorable reputation must find a place in the mind of every creature that lives. He has taken out from amongst the nations of earth a people for his name, and to them is given the privilege of now proclaiming his great and honorable name.
Centuries ago God began to bring his name before fallen men. He revealed to Moses his name Jehovah; then to Egypt Jehovah ‘went to redeem unto himself a people and to make him a name*. (2 Sam. 7:23) God did not bodily appear in Egypt, but he sent Moses as his servant, and thus Jehovah appeared there in a representative capacity. Egypt was a type of the world, and Pharaoh its ruler was a type of Satan, the god of this wicked world. Moses was a type of Christ Jesus, the great Prophet and Servant by whom Jehovah redeems a people for himself and causes the name of the Most High to be put in the right place in the mind of all intelligent creatures.
In his due time Jehovah will cause all of his creatures to know his name and its meaning and to have in memory the time when he first revealed his name to man as Jehovah; and that memorable time dales from the time of his going to Egypt. A memorial marks a day or time certain when some great thing is done and which is to be ever afterwards remembered. Among the great things performed by Jehovah by his servant Moses were these: The revelation of His name, the making of the law covenant, the destruction of Pharaoh’s organization, and the deliverance of the Israelites from that oppressive organization. The pivotal point of these great events was the slaying of the passover lamb, because it pointed to the One whom God had ordained should be the vindicator of his great and holy name. All the things performed in Egypt by man as God’s representative and servant were incidental to the vindication of Jehovah’s name, which is the all-important thing. For this reason Jehovah said to Moses; “This is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” (Ex. 3:15, A.R.V.) Because the slaying and eating of the paschal lamb pointed to Jesus, the Vindicator, Jehovah said to Moses: “And this day shall be unto you for a memorial, and ye shall keep it a feast to Jehovah: throughout your generations ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.”—Ex. 12:14, A.R.V.
When the time came for the fulfilment of the type by the death of Jesus Christ he said to his disciples concerning the bread which he broke in their presence and asked them to eat; “This is [represents] my body, which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19) The time must come, as Jesus knew, when his true followers must and would understand that his faithfulness unto death, and his death in the place and stead of the sinner, were not merely to furnish the redemptive price for man, but also to prove his own qualifications to be the vindicator of Jehovah’s name. Being thus perfected, Christ Jesus became Jehovah’s “high priest for ever”, the executioner of Satan and his organization, and the vindicator of Jehovah’s name and “the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him”. (Heb. 2:14; 5: 6-10) The greatest thing to be kept in memory is the name of Jehovah, and Paul intimated that at the coming of Jesus to the temple this important truth would be clearly understood. (1 Cor. 11: 26) * By partaking of the “Lord’s supper” until the coming of Christ Jesus to the temple of Jehovah his faithful disciples have shown forth the Lord’s death; but now these faithful ones gathered by the Lord Jesus unto himself are ‘drinking the fruit of the vine with him new’, and all are rejoicing and praising the name of Jehovah and must do so for ever. “Thy name, O Lord, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O Lord, throughout all generations.”—Ps. 135:13.
COVENANTS—LAW AND NEW
Jehovah God made the law covenant by Moses as the mediator for Israel while in Egypt and at the time of the slaying of the paschal lamb. The inauguration of the law covenant took place in the season of Pentecost, or about fifty days after the Israelites were brought out of Egypt and had come to Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb).—Ex. 19:1.
* See pages 109-116.
The making of the new covenant was marked by the death of Jesus, the antitypical passover lamb, on the fourteenth day of Nisan, A.D. 33. The inauguration of the new covenant is marked by the final outpouring of the holy spirit “upon all flesh”. (Joel 2:28, 29; Acts 2:16-18) The “Lord’s supper” as a memorial of his death, instituted in A.D. 33, and for centuries thereafter observed by his faithful followers, calls attention to the making of the new testament or new covenant and keeps the same in memory. ‘1 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” (Matt. 26:28) “After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”— 1 Cor. 11: 25.
From and after the year 1919 (A.D.), and particularly from 1922, until Jehovah’s witnesses pass from the earth, the “Lord’s supper” not only calls attention to the death of Jesus the Redeemer and Vindicator, but also directs attention to the inauguration of the new covenant, which covenant operates to the vindication of Jehovah’s name.
CONSPIRACY
Satan and all of his earthly representatives, meaning Pharaoh and his subjects who obeyed him, had formed a conspiracy to destroy the Israelites and to thus prevent them from being a nation. (Ex. 1:15,16; 2:23, 24) God heard the cries of the Israelites, and the law covenant made by him for Israel was an assurance in type that for Jehovah’s name’s sake that people would be brought forth and preserved. The Abrahamic covenant was involved, because Jehovah had given his word that he would bring forth a seed; and now Jehovah had respect to his covenant with Abraham.—Ex. 2:24, 25; 6:4, 5.
At the time of the making of the new covenant Satan and his crowd, including his earthly priests and clergymen, conspired to destroy Jesus. (Matt. 21:38) In carrying out this conspiracy Jesus, the antitypical lamb of God, was slain, but Jehovah preserved the ones with whom his new covenant was made. (John 17:11-15; Phil. 2: 9-11) At the inauguration of the new covenant again a conspiracy is formed by Satan and his crowd, including his Roman Catholic hierarchy and other religionists, to kill those who faithfully praise the name of Jehovah and to thereby “cut them off from being a [holy] nation”, and overt acts were and are now being committed in furtherance of that wicked conspiracy. (Ps. 83:1-18; 1 Pet. 2: 9,10; Zech. 13:7-9) Jehovah has preserved his faithful and hidden ones who are in the covenant, because they are under the shadow of his wing and have been selected for his purpose; and, they continuing faithful, he will preserve them for ever.—Pss. 91:1-4; 145:20; Isa. 54: 17; 42:6, 7.
VENGEANCE
Jehovah expressed his vengeance against Satan’s organization by slaying the firstborn of Egypt at the time the paschal lamb was killed. At the death of Jesus, the antitypical passover lamb, the firstborn of antitypical Egypt, that is to say, of this world, did not die. The reason therefor now clearly appears and shows that the time is rapidly approaching when the firstborn of antitypical Egypt must die. As the blood of the passover lamb sprinkled on the doorposts of the houses in Egypt signified life and preservation to those who remained inside the house and under the protection of that blood-sign, so these trusting in the precious blood of Christ Jesus, and who have been in and who remain in the new covenant, have this added assurance of life and preservation; hence the “Lord’s supper” properly celebrated by such for centuries past has ‘shown forth the Lord’s death till he come’ and has been a guarantee of their preservation.
Now, however, the Lord has come, and his shed blood in a marked degree bespeaks that this is the day of Jehovah’s vengeance and destruction of Satan’s firstborn of this world. It is the day of God’s vengeance; hence all who properly celebrate the Lord’s supper now must certainly show their consistency by proclaiming the day of the vengeance of our God against the enemy’s firstborn who are not under the blood. This must be done in fulfilment of the divinely given commandment: “Proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.” (Isa. 61:2) As Aaron acted as the mouthpiece and proclaimer for Moses (who was a type of Christ Jesus) in proclaiming the vengeance of God against Pharaoh and his organization, even so now those in the covenant with Christ Jesus must likewise proclaim the vengeance of God against Satan’s firstborn and all of his organization, because they “have the testimony of Jesus Christ” and keep God’s commandment. (Ex. 4:22, 23; Rev. 12:17) Those who would partake of the Memorial supper and then fail or refuse to obey the commandments to be Jehovah’s witnesses would thereby partake unworthily: “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.”—1 Cor. 11:29.
SHEPHERDS
The Egyptians hated shepherds, and for that reason refused to eat with the Hebrews, such being an abomination unto the Egyptians. (Gen. 43: 32; 46; 34) When Jehovah's time came to make a name for himself in Egypt he sent a shepherd down there to deliver his testimony, to lead out the people from Egypt and to act as the law covenant’s mediator. Satan and his earthly crowd hate the servants of Jehovah God who bring the divinely provided food to His flock and thus act in the capacity of undershepherds, which hatred is especially made manifest in this present day.
At the time of the making of the new covenant, and also at the time of the inauguration thereof, Jehovah God sends the “good shepherd”, the “chief shepherd”, Christ Jesus, and both Christ Jesus and those to whom he commits the work of carrying the divinely provided food to the people, who hunger for righteousness, are wickedly hated by Satan and all his earthly priests, clergymen and dupes. (John 10:11; 1 Pet. 5:2-4) This is further proof that those who are with Christ Jesus at the temple must bear and do bear or carry the fruits of the kingdom, that is to say, the life-giving truths of God’s Word, to those in the world who have the hearing ear, and at the same time declare God’s vengeance against the enemy and his organization, and that such faithful ones will be and are hated and persecuted by Satan and his servants. The Roman Catholic hierarchy and others of like stripe now manifest their wickedness and hatred against Jehovah’s witnesses because these witnesses speak that which is to the honor of the name of Jehovah God and the Lord Jesus Christ.—John 15:19-23.
The shepherd Moses was in the mount of Horeb (Sinai) when Jehovah drew him aside by attracting him to the burning bush and there spoke to him and directed Moses to go to Egypt and to deliver the testimony of God to Pharaoh. It was in that mountain at that time that Jehovah referred to the inauguration of the law covenant when he, addressing Moses, said: “Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain.” (Ex. 3:1-12) Jehovah made the new covenant at the death of Jesus, and now he discloses to his faithful ones at the temple that the new covenant is inaugurated at Mount Zion, where the 144,000 followers of Christ Jesus are gathered by Christ Jesus unto himself. (Rev. 14:1-3) The faithful remnant now celebrate the Lord’s supper at Mount Zion, that is, in Jehovah God’s organization, rejoicing at the inauguration of the new covenant, and they continue to proclaim the name of Jehovah.—Heb. 12: 22-25.
THE LAND
God’s covenant with Abraham is the unconditional promise, and which promise is irrevocable, that Jehovah will carry into operation his purpose to bless all the families of the earth through his seed. (Gen. 12:3; 22:18) Satan for a long while has been god or ruler over the earth, but Jehovah’s purpose is that Satan’s rule now must for ever end, and Jehovah takes over the earth and its fullness for himself and gives all this to his beloved Son. To Abraham Jehovah said: “For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever.” (Gen. 13:15) In this prophetic statement made to Abraham by Jehovah Abraham represented God, while his seed referred to His Christ. (Gal. 3:16-29) Now he whose right it is to rule has come, and Jehovah God has installed him, Christ Jesus, upon his throne, and he has begun his rule. (Ezek. 21:27; Pss. 2:6; 110:2) Jehovah will now completely and for ever deprive Satan and his crowd of every part of the earth and will completely fulfil his word addressed to his Beloved, the Seed, to wit: ‘‘Ask of me, and I shall give thee the [nations] for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Ps. 2:8, 9) Christ Jesus is therefore the rightful possessor of all the earth.
There is no Scriptural reason to conclude that the man Abraham and his descendants will inherit the earth. God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled in miniature and in a typical manner, but the greater fulfilment is to those of Jehovah’s organization. The earth is Jehovah’s, and the fullness thereof. (Ps. 24:1) The overlordship of the earth now belongs to Christ Jesus, the Seed of Abraham, whose right it is to rule, because Jehovah has given it to him. Christ Jesus is Jehovah’s heir of all things, and those of his royal house are joint-heirs with him. (Rom. 8:16, 17) When God said to Abraham, ‘I will give unto thee and unto thy seed after thee the land,’ clearly the meaning thereof is that Abraham in type was given the land and his Seed, the Christ, will possess it for ever.
Of and concerning his faithful and obedient followers Christ Jesus spoke, saying: ‘‘Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matt. 5:5) In 1914 Jehovah gave to Jesus the whole earth and the right to rule the same. Later Jesus gathered unto himself the faithful and brought them into the temple, and those of the remnant who continue faithful to the end shall participate in this great and marvelous gift. Christ Jesus is now at the temple in the kingdom with his followers and, to be sure, it is a time of rejoicing, pictured by the ‘drinking of the wine new with him in his Father’s kingdom’. Jehovah has therefore fulfilled his promise to give all the land to the seed of Abraham, that is, to Christ Jesus; and the “meek” mentioned by the Lord who shall inherit the land, being the teachable and obedient ones, that is to say, the faithful members of his body, these inherit the earth with him for ever.
Nor is there any Scriptural reason to conclude that Abraham and the other faithful men of old shall ever be changed from human to spirit creatures, as was once thought. Their position, as the Scriptures clearly show, will be that of “princes in all the earth”, that is to say, the visible governors of earth, the direct representatives of Christ to whom God has given the earth as his inheritance, and as such princes they will rule under Christ and rule in righteousness. (Ps. 2:6-8; Isa. 32:1) The faithful remnant now taught of Jehovah God see that the kingdom is here, that righteousness in the earth must and will shortly be in full control, all of which will constitute a vindication of Jehovah’s name, and therefore these faithful ones rejoice and sing the praises of Jehovah and declare his mighty doings amongst the people. The meeting of the faithful remnant with the new princes in the earth will be a joyful one, and they are looking forward to it with joyful anticipation.—Ps. 45:16.
MOSES
When Moses was a young man he fled from Egypt. Later he became the keeper of the flock of his father- in-law Jethro. While herding the flock at the base of Mount Horeb he saw a miracle performed. A flame of fire enveloped a bush, and yet the bush was not burned. It was then that the Most High revealed his name Jehovah to Moses. There Jehovah began to disclose his purpose to vindicate his holy name. He ordered Moses to return to Egypt, there to serve notice on Pharaoh and then to lead the Israelites out of Egypt and bring them to Mount Horeb to worship Him. The Scriptures do not disclose that the Israelites in Egypt were crying unto Jehovah, but that they were crying against their oppressors and Jehovah heard them. He said to Moses: “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt. ’ ’—Ex. 3: 9, 10.
Moses feared that the people of Israel would not believe that he was sent by Jehovah God: “And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.’’ (Ex. 4:1) Thereupon Jehovah gave Moses the power to perform three signs or miracles, “that they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.” (Ex. 4:5) The three signs or miracles were these: (1) The turning of Moses’ rod into a serpent; (2) the leprous hand; and (3) the turning of water into blood. Each one of these signs carried a message or proclamation that was ‘a voice, or testimony, from Jehovah’ making known his purpose to vindicate his name. Probably Moses did not understand that purpose; but he had great faith and obeyed Jehovah, and by so doing received Jehovah God’s approval.
In sending Moses to Egypt and using him in connection with the Israelites Jehovah used certain things and creatures which symbolically represent greater things to come. Moses represented Christ Jesus at times. God caused Moses to write: ‘ ‘ The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.” (Deut. 18:15) Confirming this Jesus said: “Moses . . . wrote of me,” (John 5:46) Jesus so taught his disciples, and Peter testified accordingly that Moses was a type of Christ Jesus. (Acts 3:22) In some parts of the picture made by Jehovah Moses represented, not Christ Jesus the Head, but the followers of Christ in the covenant with Jehovah, and particularly those on earth at the second coming of Christ.
Pharaoh and his organized world power pictured or represented Satan and bis cruel organization. It was in Egypt, the symbol of Satan’s world, that the Israelites, God’s chosen people, were domiciled, having been sent there by Jehovah that his purpose might be carried out. The Israelites primarily represented Jehovah’s chosen people in Christ, and secondly all of those who take their stand on the side of Jehovah God and who maintain their integrity toward him. It has been in these latter days, at the present time, that the Almighty God has revealed his name Jehovah and caused his people to understand the significance thereof. This he has done at the time of sending Christ
Jesus to Ids temple to judge and deliver his own people and to judge and destroy Satan’s organization. The fulfilment of the prophecy which Jehovah has revealed to his people is good reason for them to expect to find that the three signs performed by Moses have been wrought by Christ Jesus, the Greater-than-Moses, and that the understanding thereof may now by the grace of the Lord be had by the temple class. If so, such is a further proof that Jehovah has sent Christ Jesus to his temple for judgment and that judgment is now in progress.
THE SIGNS
The three signs Moses performed before the Israelites, and in this Aaron was associated with him. Two of those signs were performed before Pharaoh. Jehovah would first supply the evidence and convince the Israelites that he had sent Moses to them, and then he would also give proof to Pharaoh as a warning to him and his organization. Both the Israelites and Pharaoh must know that Jehovah is the Almighty God. Both the people of Jehovah and those of Satan’s organization must now be informed that Jehovah is God. The first sign was the rod of Moses which was thrown to the ground and became a serpent. As a herder of sheep Moses carried a shepherd’s rod. This was used in connection with the first sign. (Ex. 3:1) “And the Lord said unto him. What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand: That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee. ’ ’—Ex. 4: 2-5.
The time had come for Jehovah to send his deliverer to Egypt to make for Himself a name. He had selected Moses for this purpose to deliver his testimony to the Israelites, and Moses had raised the question as to whether or not the Israelites would hear him and believe that the Lord had appeared unto him. The fulfilment of this prophetic picture began in A.D. 1914. The time had then come for Jehovah to send forth his beloved Son, whom Moses pictured, to make for himself, Jehovah, a name. It was then that he placed Christ Jesus his King upon his holy hill in Zion. (Ps. 2:6) It was then that he sent him forth to rule amongst the enemy. “The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” (Ps. 110:2) That was the appropriate time for Jehovah to propound the question to the Christ: “What is that in thine hand?”
Moses held a shepherd’s rod in his hand. The shepherd’s rod of Moses could be used as a weapon against beastly and human enemies. It was a rod that could be used as a scepter. (Ezek. 19:14) Concerning his second coming as Judge and King, Christ Jesus said: ‘When the Lord shall come in his glory, and all his holy angels with him, then will he sit upon his throne of glory,’ and that would be the time that he would as a shepherd divide the sheep from the goats. (Matt. 25: 31-46) He began his reign in 1914, but it was in 1918 when he came to the temple for judgment and for the separation of the “sheep” and “goats”. He is sent to shepherd the nations, and his rod appears then to be “a rod of iron”, (Ps. 2:9) Concerning the “birth of The Nation”, or beginning of the Kingdom, it is written: “And she brought forth a son, a man child, who was about to shepherd all the nations with a scepter of iron.” (Rev. 12:5, Hath.) These scriptures prove that the rod or scepter is a symbol of authority and power which Jehovah has delegated to Christ Jesus and to be used to carry out Jehovah’s purpose.
Referring now to the picture: At the command of Jehovah Moses cast his rod on the ground. This could not mean the casting away or letting go of all power and authority by Jehovah or by Christ Jesus that wickedness might run riot. Long before Moses performed this sign Satan, who possessed the power to rule, had rebelled against Jehovah and had challenged Jehovah to put on earth men who would maintain their integrity toward God. The wicked one thereafter continued to operate in heaven as well as on earth. (Job 1: 6, 7) Satan in this picture made at Egypt is represented by Pharaoh who was then opposing God’s power. Moses represented Christ Jesus; and, at the end of the time of Satan’s rule without interference, Christ is sent forth to begin his reign. It would be inconsistent for Christ Jesus then to let go his power and authority to rule and at the same time fulfil Jehovah’s commandment, to wit, “Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” On the contrary, the casting of the rod to the ground or earth by Moses pictured the projecting or extending of the active power of Christ Jesus to things pertaining to the earth. Thus he did when the war in heaven took place and the casting of Satan and his angels down to the earth. (Rev. 12:7-10) Thereby Christ Jesus made all of his enemies his footstool, that is to say, confined them to the earth and its vicinity.
No longer are there any enemies in heaven; and now there is but one center of disturbance, to wit, the earth, where Christ Jesus keeps a watchful eye upon the enemy and by his power holds the enemy in restraint until God’s due time for the enemy and his organization to be destroyed. Casting the rod to the earth or ground had nothing to do with the permission of evil or wickedness which began long before the picture was made in Egypt. The ‘voice of the sign’ speaks a message relating to the coming of the Greater-than- Moses to deliver God’s creatures, and this is done centuries after wickedness has been in the world.
Immediately after Moses cast his rod to the ground “it became a serpent”. It was the rod that became the serpent when it reached the ground or earth. The serpent is a symbol of evil, but not always a symbol of wickedness. The power and authority of Jehovah delegated to his beloved Son now takes on the form of evil to the things pertaining to the earth, that is to say, to Satan’s organization, which is now confined to the earth. Evil is that which is hurtful and brings distress, adversity, affliction and sorrow upon the one against whom it is used. Jehovah God exercises his power to inflict punishment or to enforce his judgment, and such results in evil or that which hurts the wrongdoer; but that evil is righteously used. Jehovah says: “I form the light [for the righteous], and create darkness [for the wicked, my enemies]; I make peace [Roth.: prosperity] [for the remnant], and create evil [for Satan and his organization]. I the Lord do all these things.” (Isa. 45:7; see also Pss. 97:11; 82: 5-7; 107:10; Jude 13; also The Watchtower, 1930, pages 131, 147) All wrongdoing or wickedness results in evil to someone, but not all evil is wrong. When Jesus punishes his enemies, that is evil administered in righteousness. The Scriptures therefore support the conclusion that the casting of the rod to the ground and its becoming a serpent foreshadowed the extension of Jesus’ power and authority and activities to the earth, which become serpent-like or hurtful to Satan’s organization.
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