The Watchtower, October 1, 1934
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THE KINGDOM PRAISE PERIOD
This nine day service period, September 29 to October 7 inclusive, begins the new service year of 1934-1935. It will be earth-wide in its scope, and it is expected that more lands where some of Jehovah's witnesses or Jonadabs are located will receive a witness during this period than during any previous like period. In the English-speaking countries Jehovah's witnesses and the Jonadabs will specialize on placing the new booklet, Righteous Ruler. In countries of another language the branch office in charge will duly announce the booklet to be distributed there. And, important don’t forget reporting your work for the period, promptly at the close thereof, to the respective office having supervision over the witness in your part of the field.
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Jehovah’s blessing has been markedly upon the use of the portable transcription machine. He has plainly manifested that this machine meets the need of the hour, when the enemy, under Gog, is seeking to curtail the use of the radio by God's anointed and when the people’s ears are eager to hear, not man’s message, but God’s. The transcription machine has increased the power of Jehovah’s witnesses afield to preach His truth manyfold, so that the desire for the literature is stimulated and study classes of many interested hearers are being formed. Besides more than 600 sum machines in the United States alone, great numbers are now being effectively used in countries near and afar. For more information, write the Society.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING
Pursuant to the provision of law and the charter of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, notice is hereby given that the annual business meeting of the said Society will be held at Pittsburgh, North Side (formerly Allegheny), Pennsylvania, at 10 o’clock a.m., Wednesday, October 31, 1931, at which the usual annual business will be transacted.
VOL. LV OCTOBER 1, 1934 No. 19
THE CRUCIBLE
"If it he so, our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." – Dan. 3:17, 18.
PART 1
JEHOVAH permitted Daniel and other faithful men to be carried away captive to Babylon for the purpose of there giving a testimony to the name of the Most High and looking forward to the vindication of his name. The terms of the controversy raised by Satan’s challenge would necessarily require such faithful witnesses to be subjected to very severe trials and that while passing through such trials those witnesses must have and exhibit full faith and confidence in God. Knowing that whatsoever things were written in the divine record aforetime were there recorded and preserved for the comfort and assurance of the remnant now on earth, with confidence we examine the divine record made concerning the three Hebrew children in the crucible, and we may expect to find therein comfort and assurance, that those who in this day are wholly devoted to God may have hope.
2 Daniel, by the grace of Jehovah, had interpreted Nebuchadnezzar’s forgotten dream, and which interpretation now made known to the remnant discloses to them what constitutes Satan’s invisible organization, as well as his visible, and by what means Jehovah will destroy that wicked organization. (Dan. 2:19-45; see The Watchtower, 1930, pages 227-233, 243-248) Nebuchadnezzar, after receiving the interpretation of his dream, fell upon his face and worshiped Daniel, thus foreshadowing the Greater Daniel, Christ Jesus, interpreting the purpose of Jehovah, and the worship of him by those who are devoted to God and to Christ Jesus.
3 Time and again in the Scriptures it is written, “And they shall know that I am Jehovah.” The Devil had defamed Jehovah’s name, but now God had made the Devil’s representative see some light: “The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.” (Dan. 2:47) That caused Nebuchadnezzar to acknowledge that Jehovah is God. It was the beginning of the vindication of Jehovah’s name, which Babylon had defamed by destroying Jerusalem. At this point Daniel is used to picture Jesus Christ at the time he is sent forth to “judge and make war”. The name “Daniel” means “God’s judge”; which high position is filled by Christ Jesus. (John 5:22) This record, together with what follows in Daniel the third chapter, shows that this prophecy applies to the “day of Jehovah”, in which day his holy name must be vindicated. The World War and attending conditions marked the beginning of the fulfilment of the great prophecy uttered by Jesus in Matthew twenty-four. The fulfilment of that prophecy shows that the time had arrived for the ‘Stone cut out of the mountain without hands’, described in Daniel’s prophecy, to move into action against Satan’s organization, which in Daniel’s prophecy was pictured by the dreadful image. What King Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel in acknowledgment of the supremacy of Jehovah was thus proved true by what came to pass in 1914 and thereafter. During the time from 1914 to 1918 there was a measure of admission by the Devil’s organization that the same is true. Nebuchadnezzar ‘made Daniel a great man and ruler in Babylon and placed him over the wise men of Babylon’. (Dan. 2:4S) Such in a measure foreshadowed the coming exaltation of Christ Jesus at the time. God enthrones him and when Jesus takes Satan and casts him out of heaven. – Ps. 2: 6-9; Rev. 12:1-9.
4 Daniel was mindful of his brethren who had been carried away captive with him, and he then and there made request in their behalf: “Then Daniel requested of the king, and he set Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego over the affairs of the province of Babylon: but Daniel sat in the gate of the king.” (Dan. 2:49) This finds a parallel in the present time when Jesus Christ at the. temple gathers to himself his faithful ones and shares the honor and privilege of the kingdom with them. In harmony with the will of God Christ Jesus gathers these faithful ones into the temple, clothes them with the garments of salvation and covers them with the robe of righteousness, and invites them into his joy, which is the vindication of Jehovah’s name. To them is then committed the testimony of Jesus Christ.
5 It appears that Daniel’s three friends, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego represented the remnant who are Jehovah’s witnesses, for the reasons following: Their Hebrew names were Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. (Dan. 1:6) "The prince of the eunuchs gave [them] names” according to the Babylonian tongue. To Hananiah he gave the name Shadrach; to Mishael, the name of Meshach ; and to Azariah, the, name of Abed-nego. (Dan. 1:7) The Babylonian name "Shadrach” means “decree of the moon god”. The Hebrew name “Hananiah” means “whom Jehovah has graciously given” or “Jehovah hath been gracious” or “Jehovah has favored”. “Meshach” means “guest of the king”, or “ram”, the name of the sun god. His Hebrew name “Mishael” means “who is like God”. The Babylonian name “Abed-nego” means “servant of Nego” (that is, of Nebo, the god Mercury). His Hebrew name "Azariah” means “helped by Jehovah”. The Babylonian names given to these three faithful Hebrew persons evidently were names of some of the nephilim who had for a long while operated with Satan in ruling the world. It would be like Satan to want to perpetuate the names of these under- officers in his organization amongst men on the earth. Those three faithfid Hebrew men were "children of Judah”, or Judeans. (Dan. 1:6) They had connection with the royal family of David, since it is recorded they were “of the king's seed, and of the [other] princes”. (Dan. 1:3) This strongly supports the conclusion that those three faithful men represented God's remnant now on earth who as the sons of God have been invited into and taken into the covenant for the kingdom and are companions of Jesus Christ, the Greater Daniel, and whom the Devil seeks to entrap and destroy. – Dan. 2:17, 18.
6 Doubtless these three faithful Hebrews had rendered assistance to Daniel in connection with the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and for that reason Daniel made request of Nebuchadnezzar to grant to these three brethren of his some place in his kingdom. They were in the class of the “wise men”, and therefore had been in danger of losing their lives, together with Daniel, and their prayers had been to Jehovah that he would manifest his favor in giving wisdom and power to Daniel to the vindication of His name. This furnished the occasion for Daniel to be a witness for Jehovah before the king of Babylon and therefore to tell the day of the vengeance of our God. and also the good news of the setting up of Jehovah’s kingdom through The Stone, Christ Jesus. (Dan. 2:27-30) The three Hebrews above mentioned, at the request of Daniel, were given certain duties to perform in the government of Babylon. They were in Satan’s world but were no part of it. God permitted them to be there that they might serve as witnesses for him; thus they pictured the company of God’s remnant today on earth who are in the world but are no part of it and who are given certain duties to perform as Jehovah’s witnesses and to proclaim the message of the vengeance of our God, calling attention of the people to the vindication of Jehovah’s name by and through Christ Jesus. Daniel sat at the court of the king. (R.V., margin) He pictured Christ Jesus, who, as the Greater Daniel, sits in Jehovah’s palace, temple or court and thus fills the position that brings him in close communion with the great Emperor of the universe, Jehovah God. (Hah. 2:20; Mal. 3:1) As Daniel and his three Hebrew brethren were in the world of Babylon bearing testimony to the name and power of Jehovah, even so now Christ Jesus and the remnant are ‘in the midst of the enemy’, bearing testimony to the name of Jehovah. – Rev. 12:17; Ps. 110:2.
7 Nebuchadnezzar pictured regal power which sometimes is used for good, when diligently engaged in doing the will of God, and at other times is used to represent the Devil hypocritically using his power in a. wicked manner. The third chapter of Daniel as compared with the last two verses in the second chapter of Daniel's prophecy notes such a change. “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits; he set it. up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.” (Dan. 3:1) This opining of the third chapter shows Nebuchadnezzar acting particularly as the representative of the Devil, because he now violates God’s law, to wit: ‘Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything. Thou shall not bow down thyself to them nor serve them; for I am the Lord [Jehovah] thy God. I am a jealous God.’ – Ex. 20:4-6.
8 The image of gold made by Nebuchadnezzar, and described in the foregoing, pictures the entire organization of Satan, both visible and invisible. Being of gold would indicate that this organization under Satan included the spirit creatures that formed the original invisible organization of Lucifer, which spirit creatures joined Satan in his rebellion, and are otherwise mentioned in the Scriptures, when they materialized as nephilim, and as angels which “bear rule over all the earth”. (Gen. 6:4, A.R.V.; Dan. 2:39) The image here described compares with the terrible image seen in Nebuchadnezzar's dream, as recorded in the second chapter of Daniel’s prophecy, and may have been suggested to Nebuchadnezzar’s mind by that dream. The Babylonian cubit was twenty-one inches; hence that image was 105 feet tall and 10 1/2 feet broad. Being ten times as high as it was broad would well picture the loftiness of Satan’s organization in its invisible parts, and compares with Nebuchadnezzar's dream of the big tree in the midst of the earth, “the height thereof reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof to the end of all the earth.”–Dan. 4:10, 11.
9 The image was set up in the plain of Dura, which was the central or key part of all the empire of Babylon. “Dura" means “circle” or "enclosed place”. Doubtless this plain was a part of the plain of Shinar where Nimrod, under the direction of the Devil, built Babylon. (Gen. 11:2) The colossal image above described could be seen from all parts of the plain. It therefore pictured the manner in which Satan sets tip his organization over the earth and man. Evidently the golden statue was so located in the king's land for his pleasure and convenience, it being near the capital city and the palace. It was the place for mass worship by the officials of the Babylonian government, and hence pictured Satan’s official organization both invisible and visible.
10 Keeping always in mind the issue raised by Satan’s defiance we may be fully assured that everything Satan does is for the purpose of supporting his side of the controversy and to bring reproach upon God and to turn men away from the Most High. Keeping this great issue in mind enables us to locate the time of the fulfilment of Daniel’s prophecy relative to the great image of gold erected in the plain of Dura. “Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” (Dan. 3:2) This verse of the prophecy describes a gathering together or assembly of the officials of the nation, to wit, the political, religious, commercial, judicial, and the law-enforcement element, or strong-arm squad. It was a matter of world importance, because Babylon was then the world power. The “image” was set up on the “plain of Dura” in 606 B.C., and Satan’s world has continued since; but from and after 1918 Satan lays special stress on his organization because he knows that his time is short before the great battle of Armageddon is fought. It was about 1918 that he began to assemble or “gather together” the official element of the whole earth to use them in due time in the battle, and in doing this he uses the three “frogs”, as described in Revelation 16:13,14. Satan’s purpose is to turn all mankind, including the true worshipers of Jehovah, away from the true God and to the worship of creatures or the work of creatures’ hands, or else to destroy them. The League of Nations is therefore brought into existence by Satan, and was set up in the year 1919, and his religious ‘nobles’ on the earth then with uplifted “holy hands” hailed it as the expression of God’s kingdom on earth, and now say of it: ‘The League of Nations is the only light there is.’ Thus the Federation of Churches declare that Satan's organization produces the only light that there is, and thereby deny Jehovah God and his kingdom and the great King, who is the light of the world. The great golden image erected in the plain of Dura therefore pictured the entire organization of Satan; and the League of Nations is Satan’s dummy son, which causes to shine the only light that Satan's agents now have on earth.
11 The king Nebuchadnezzar set a day for the dedication of the golden image which he had caused to be set up. "Whatever local or tribal gods were worshiped in the various sections of the Babylonian empire, these for the time must be set aside and, according to the command of the king, there must be one common deity, higher power or authority which all must worship, and the king Nebuchadnezzar must be the dictator of that authority. The golden image was dedicated to the Devil, being produced by his authority. It certainly was not dedicated to Jehovah God, the God of Daniel and his three Hebrew companions. It was a creature- made thing and was the greatest religious effort that Babylon or Satan’s organization had ever put forth to control the peoples of earth up to that time. The miniature dedication took place at the assembly of the officials of Babylon, but the real and greater dedication takes place after the ‘birth of the man child, that is, the beginning of the kingdom of God, in 1914, when Christ Jesus was placed upon his throne and sent forth to rule. The beginning of the kingdom was a challenge to Satan’s organization. The greater dedication to the image of gold; that is to say, Satan’s organization, is approximately at the time the two great signs or wonders appear in the heavens, as mentioned in Revelation the twelfth chapter. The two ‘signs’, or ‘wonders’, symbolically represented God’s organization and Satan’s organization in opposition; hence all the official element of Satan’s organization on earth must take their stand for one or the other of these organizations, and thus clearly identify themselves. Jehu, as the servant of God, had forced the identification one way, and now Nebuchadnezzar, as the servant and representative of the. Devil, forces the identification in the very opposite way. In both instances those who stood faithful to God took their stand on God’s side and the enemies of God took their stand on the side of the Devil and his organization. The purpose of the Devil in forcing the identification after the ‘birth of the man child’ is that he might “get” or destroy Jehovah’s witnesses; and this is shown by his act of setting up the golden image that he might “get” or destroy Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. Since 1918 Jehovah's witnesses have been bearing testimony to the kingdom, and Satan’s determination is to destroy them ; and he organizes a conspiracy into which he draws his officers, the purpose of which is to cut off Jehovah’s witnesses from being a nation. (Ps. 83:1-5) Both in setting up the golden image in Babylon, and in the greater dedication since 1914, Satan is endeavoring to show that he is the ‘god of the world’ and his right to rule must continue.
12 Not even the faithful followers of Christ Jesus saw this “image of gold”, that is, Satan’s organization, until after 1921. It was at the Cedar Point assembly of the followers of Christ Jesus in the year 1922 that the Resolution or “Challenge” there sent forth by Jehovah's witnesses definitely mentioned Satan's organization. It must have been about that time that the “golden image” or Satan’s organization antitypically was forced to be dedicated to the modern world and its rulers. Even today there are not many in the world aside from the anointed who sec or discern Satan’s organization. The three principal elements constituting the ruling power in earth are what today are called “yes men” and assemble and bow before the Devil’s organization, as described as follows: “Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were, gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.”–Dan. 3:3.
13 The Devil had tried to hide from “Christendom” knowledge even of the existence of himself, and also the fact of the existence of his organization. By this means he expected to entrap them all. Now Jehovah causes Satan’s organization to be brought to light, and causes his own witnesses to give testimony concerning the same, particularly as a warning to all people of good will, and as a notice and warning to the nations of the earth in general. To offset Jehovah’s purpose Satan brings forth his organization, pictured by the golden image, as a thing to be worshiped, adored and served. Satan is thereby thrust into the open and becomes bold through his earthly agents in declaring his production, the League of Nations, as representing his earthly organization as a thing to which all people should give allegiance.
14 Even though Jehovah by his strong “right aim”, Christ Jesus, did cast Satan and his organization out of heaven about 1911, yet he did not destroy that organization at that time, but has suffered or permitted it to remain to serve his own purpose, including just such a fiery test as that which now conics upon his people, as pictured by the fiery test that came upon the three faithful Hebrews. That test here and now involves the faithful remnant on the earth. After 1918 all the leaders and prominent ones of the earth were forced to stand before Satan’s organization. All who were in the world must stand before this image of Satan’s organization regardless of whether they are “not of the world” even though in the world. All are in the world, and the attempt is to force everybody to stand before the Devil’s organization. In 1922, when the attention of God’s faithful witnesses on earth began to be called to the fact of the existence of Satan’s powerful organization, the faithful then began to take their “stand” before Satan’s organization, but against it and definitely on the side of Jehovah, which is pictured by the three Hebrews in Babylon who took their stand definitely on Jehovah’s side. At. the same time those of Satan’s official organization on earth, and all whom they influenced and controlled, began to take their stand before the “image” and on the side of Satan, and have continued thus to do.
15 Now the three “frogs” of Revelation sixteen, and particularly the “false prophet” frog, as the herald of Satan, begin to bellow forth the message of Satan, just as the herald cried out in Babylon: “To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages.” (Dan. 3:4) The “herald” there would well picture the “loudspeakers” or earthly mouthpieces of Satan’s organization who say just what Satan directs them to say. The message delivered by the “herald” was directed, as the scripture says, to “people, nations and languages”, which means specifically to the rulers of the people, nations and languages. Such rulers were at that very time present, standing in front of the golden image, because they had been assembled by the king for that purpose. Their people whom they represented, and for whom they stood, were back home and out of sight of the image and out of reach of the sound of the music. The king knew that his faithful rulers were submissive and obedient to his commandment, and as rulers of his organization he would expect them to keep the people in subjection. Now the command of Satan’s “herald” is, since 1918, to the visible rulers of the world, and they are expected to obey and keep the people in subjection to their commands; and the rulers put forth their strongest endeavors to do so.
16 A kind of hypnotic mass was performed on the plain of Dura before that image; and so now likewise the “hypnotic mass” is performed by Satan and his representatives on the earth before his organization. The Devil’s organization is threatened with complete downfall, and, sensing this danger, he assembles his representatives, and his herald cries out to the peoples of the world, even as Nebuchadnezzar’s herald cried out, to wit: “That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, Hute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, yc fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.” (Dan. 3: 5) A pleasant, outwardly agreeable and soothing tone is given on this occasion of mass worship, pictured by the use of the concert orchestra, which would have a tendency to awe and soothe the worshipers. Even so after Satan was east out of heaven he attempted to soothe, awe and muse a worshipful feeling amongst his earthly representatives that they might reverentially bow before him and his organized power. The dedication of Satan’s organization after it was cast out of heaven would give rebirth or recovery and reconstruction of that organization which had received such a dreadful jolt when Christ threw it out of heaven and down to the earth.
17 Following the ‘birth of the man child’, that is to say, the birth or beginning of the kingdom, Christ Jesus the King did east Satan out of heaven, and there was great rejoicing in heaven, doubtless accompanied by exquisite and incomparable music, because it is written concerning the same: “Rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them.” The “last trump” of God was then sounding and ‘there were heard the voices of harpers harping with their harps, and they sung as it were a new song’. (Rev, 14:2,3) Satan always tries to imitate God, because Satan is a mimic god; lienee he tries to have the dedication of his organization accompanied by music.
15 Knowing that he must keep all honest ones in the dark, and being the archdeceiver, the Devil would try to have the manifestation and dedication of his organization and his worship carried on as joyfully amongst the people as possible. Even though it is a time of great “woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea” which the Devil himself has brought upon the people, yet he would have his religious representatives, the clergy, explain to the people that such woe is punishment sent upon them by Jehovah God, and hence if they wanted to have joy and pleasure they must look to Satan and his organization for the same.
19 As Nebuchadnezzar the representative of Satan had a great band of music to perform on the plain of Dura at the dedication of the golden image, so now the Devil would have a manifestation of his organization attended by that which would soothe the people into silence and hypnotize them and cause them to strike an attitude of formal worship. So the Devil produced a great band composed of many musical instruments. Of those instruments that arc employed by Satan in his optimism-spreading, nationalism in spiring, dream-producing music-makers to produce cheer and enforced worship, are these: The League of Nations multitoned horn, the Disarmament cornet, the Economic Monetary (Conference flute, the “New Deal” harp, the technocracy sackbut, the National Economy League psaltery, the “back-to-the-church” musical saw, the “holy year” saxophone, the peace pact dulcimer, the big navy bass horn, and a multitude of other wind-jamming instruments, bones, sticks, and drums of up-to-date, and all jazz instruments, operated to the dedication of the Devil’s organization; and the whole thing makes a terrible noise. Every tune played by this orchestra is out of harmony with the music of God’s kingdom, but in modern times the people, as a general rule, willingly take to jazz. For fear the song of the kingdom might be heard Satan commands that Ids agents, and particularly the clergy of the religious part of his organization, shall have the exclusive use of the radio by which to instruct the people in matters of religious worship. Then he puts the Roman Catholic hierarchy, and their so-called “priests”, and the misnamed “Protestant” preachers and the Jewish rabbis in the lead and causes them to shout to the people: ‘Follow the light back to our god [meaning, of course, Satan, the god of this world] ; this is the only light there is.’ The preachers now openly deny God's Word, substitute “science so called” for the same, and expect to control the people by their jazz. The deluded ones fall down and worship before the Devil’s organization. But not so with those who serve God. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego refused to fall down before the image of gold; and the remnant of God on earth now refuse to fall down before any part of Satan's organization and worship it.
20 Who caused the image to be set up? The scripture reads: “Ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.” So it is the king that erected the image, and it is the king that commands the worship; and the king represents the Devil. Therefore the question is: Shall we be submissive to the higher powers, meaning, of course, the king and his official family? To refuse to obey the king's command would be a challenge to the king’s supremacy and to the legitimacy of the image erected by hint. That would mean, then, that (he king is the one who determines what and when the people shall worship, and that his power is supreme, and that the people must hear, obey and worship whatsoever the king commands them to obey and worship. Applying the picture, then, to the present time, it means that the Devil would compel all the people of earth to worship him and his organization either directly or indirectly, and to thus reproach the name of Jehovah, the great Being, who is supreme above all. The question of supremacy is brought to the fore, and Satan boldly claims that he is supreme; therefore everyone is forced to take his stand either on the side of the Devil or on the side of Jehovah and his kingdom. The visible part of Satan’s organization today insist that the power of the state is supreme and that everyone must be submissive thereto regardless of whether the rule promulgated is contrary to God's law or not.
21 There was no effort on the part of King Nebuchadnezzar to render good and blessings to the people. The primary thing was to cause the people to obey him in matters of worship; and in doing this he was fully supported by all the officials of his realm. It is even so today with the Devil and his representatives. As it was declared by the king’s messenger on the plain of Dura, so now the visible messengers of the Devil declare: “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.” (Dan. 3: 6) Anyone refusing to fall down and worship would thereby declare that some other ruler is supreme and hence worthy to be worshiped in spirit and in truth, and that the king’s image is fraudulent and a counterfeit. So it was in Nebuchadnezzar's time, and even so it is today. Those who refuse to join with the religious combine and worship in the place and in the manner the Devil’s organization has arranged are considered to be enemies of the nation and worthy to be destroyed, which was symbolized by the casting of the three Hebrews into the fiery furnace. Those who now stand firm for God and his kingdom and worship Jehovah in spirit and in truth and refuse to compromise with any part of Satan’s organization thereby declare that this worldly organization ruled by Satan and his agents is a fraudulent, counterfeit thing operating to the reproach of Jehovah's name.
22 Why should the decree of Nebuchadnezzar consign to the crucible or fiery furnace all who refused to bow down to the image". Not for the purpose of purifying or refining them or making them better, but for the sole purpose of destroying them. Such is the policy also pursued by Satan and his representatives today. The king of Babylon did roast Ahab in the fire, and now the Devil’s crowd would roast anyone in the fire who does not obey them. (Jer. 29:21, 22) The furnace employed by Nebuchadnezzar was made to destroy the creature; so now the purpose of Satan is to destroy. But Satan and his agents can only “kill the body’’. God’s faithful witnesses know this, and they know that the furnace or fiery crucible is employed for the purpose of breaking down their integrity toward God and thus to lead them to complete destruction. By the grace of the Lord God they remain true and faithful to Jehovah, and he saves them.
23 The furnace of Nebuchadnezzar, therefore, foreshadowed the hot and crucial tests or conditions of natural discomfort, such as threats upon the lives of the Lord’s faithful ones, bodily assaults upon them by the strong-arm squad, incarceration of the faithful in prisons, newspaper “roasts”, abuse by the clergy, decrees unjustly entered and enforced by the law department of Satan’s organization, and the public branding of all of Jehovah's witnesses as enemies and as the offscouring of the earth. All such crucial or fiery treatment Jehovah permits to come upon his people now to test their integrity. The enemy attempts to destroy Jehovah’s witnesses, and may succeed in killing the organism of some, but God’s promised protection is to those who remain faithful to him. The Word of God makes it sure that he will have some of the remnant on earth at the final show-down and, even though some of them may be killed by the Devil’s crowd, the remnant as a class will survive and persist. It must be expected that the hottest part of this fire, or crucible experience, will be just prior to the battle of Armageddon. It may even appear that the case of Jehovah’s witnesses is all cooked up when Gog and his hordes will have invaded the land of Jehovah’s people to spoil them, but God will furnish the protection. The act of Gog will cause the Lord's fury to come up into his face, and then shall follow the destruction of the enemy, to the vindication of Jehovah’s name. – Ezek. 38: 8-18; 39:1-4.
24 The Devil with his visible officers on the plain of Dura swept everyone into line and caused them to bow down, the only exception being the faithful Judeans. “Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.” (Dan. 3:7) Every man then holding a job owed his position and salary to the king; hence selfishness of such men and the fear of a creature induced all of them to worship in the Devil’s appointed manner. The Devil gave the king Nebuchadnezzar his power; hence the king represented the Devil.
23 In like conditions now existing the official element of the world, religious, political and commercial, do the king’s bidding, for they owe everything they have or expect to have to the visible organized power; and hence they bow down to the Devil’s organization, who has given his beastly power to his representatives that rule on the earth, and all of these continue now to shout out: ‘Who is like unto the beast [these great rulers]? and who is able to make war with them?’ (Lev. 13:2-4) And the rulers and their immediate supporters continue to chant: ‘The earth is ours, and we will rule it.’
24 The three faithful Judeans, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego, refused to fall down and worship the image; hence they were accused of breaking the law; and it was the priestly or religious class that did the accusing of these faithful men: “Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.” (Dan. 3:8) Having in mind that Daniel wrote this record at a time when the term “Chaldean” had come to have a restricted meaning throws light upon this prophecy as to the accusers. The term “Chaldean”, instead of applying to the people of a certain province, was made to identify a certain class of men serving the king. Daniel, though a Jew, was made master of the “astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers” by the king. (Dan. 5:11) It was necessary for those composing that class to learn the language of the Chaldeans. (Dan. 1:4) The Chaldeans were the learned class, and doubtless all of the priests were required to be of that class, just as the priests of the. Roman Catholic,· hierarchy today are required to be of the learned class. Those learned men were priests, magicians, astrologers, scientists, and soothsayers, and they were the ones that accused the three faithful Hebrews. Those accusers correspond to the modern- time clergy class, the learned Chaldeans, priests and soothsayers, so-called “scientists”, who hate the faithful witnesses of Jehovah because these witnesses tell the truth and sing Jehovah’s praise. It is this priestly or clergy class that today, operating behind the screens, cause the arrest, persecution and imprisonment of Jehovah’s witnesses. The word “accused” used in the foregoing text also translates two Hebrew words, to wit: akal, meaning to “eat up” or “devour”, and kerats, meaning a “bit”; hence literally meaning “to ehew up” (figuratively) by slandering or false accusations. According to Rotherham marginal reading the text says: “Did eat their pieces of.”–Dan. 3:8,
27 The action of the wicked accusers against the three Hebrew men finds a parallel in the present time. Today it is the clergy that bring accusations against Jehovah’s witnesses and that incite the political officials to take action against them. In Canada it was the clergy that filed accusations with the Canadian radio commission demanding that the message of the truth be excluded from the air. In the United States it is the clergy that bring all manner of false accusation against Jehovah’s witnesses and use every known wrongful means to induce the Federal radio commission to prevent the message of truth from being broadcast by radio. It is the clergy, beaded by the pope, of every nation of “Christendom” that today make false accusation against Jehovah’s witnesses and that thereby cause Jehovah’s witnesses to be hated of all nations for the reason they are witnesses to the name of Jehovah and his King. (Matt. 24:9) With words of flattery these clergymen appear before the political ruling element and say to them: ‘O rulers, live for ever.’ (Dan. 3:9) Thus they appear to be loyal and looking for the best interests of the country, when they arc doing the very worst thing for the peoples’ interests.
28 These modern “Chaldeans”, or learned clergymen, arc sticklers for law enforcement whenever that serves their purpose. It was so in Nebuchadnezzar’s day, and it is so now; hence this prophecy: “Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of music, shall fall down and worship the golden image.”–Dan. 3:10.
29 These accusers invoke laws made by creatures which are both selfish and God-defying and ignore and spurn the law made by the Creator, whose name alone is Jehovah. With fraudulent and pious faces they strike an attitude of great disgust concerning Jehovah's witnesses and insist on their punishment because such witnesses are calling attention to Jehovah and his kingdom and because these faithful ones refuse to compromise with any part of Satan’s organization.
30 The Chaldeans who brought accusation were coerced by fear of men to do so, also by a selfish desire to make themselves appear as exceedingly good; hence they sought the punishment of all those who did not then bow down; and likewise now they seek the punishment of those who do not bow down to Satan’s organization. The clergy claim to want what is “within the law”, that is to say, the law of men, but they disregard the law of God. The Chaldeans repeated before the king the substance of his decree and then pointed out the faithful Judeans who refused to obey his decree: “And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace. There are certain Jews, whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” – Dan. 3:11, 12.
31 The Chaldeans wanted to “get” those Jews, because they hated them and they hated the favors which the Jews had enjoyed up to that time. They made it appear that such Judeans were ungrateful to the king. Even so today the clergy bring to the attention of the law-enforcement bodies that Jehovah's witnesses are ungrateful and are violators of the law of the land, even by faithfully performing the law of God.
32 Nebuchadnezzar himself had found these Hebrews, including Daniel, to be “ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm” in matters of learning and wisdom. (Dan. 1:20) Likewise today the political rulers well know that Jehovah’s witnesses are ten times better informed and wiser concerning the Word of God than all the clergy in the land, but, notwithstanding this, they all conclude that they must hang together, fearing that otherwise they might hang separately.
33 As the clergy accused the three Hebrews in Daniel's time, even so now that same class accuse Jehovah's witnesses, saying: “These men, O king, have not regarded thee [nor the law of the land]; they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” Jehovah’s witnesses do not serve the Devil, nor regard the things demanded by Satan’s organization which contravene God’s law. They will have Jehovah first, last, and all the time. Since the time of the Detroit convention, in 1928, when the Declaration was issued against Satan and in favor of Jehovah, these faithful witnesses laid the responsibility for the present world distress at Satan’s door, where it properly belongs. They refuse to have any part in the devilish formalism of worldly worship. They serve and worship Jehovah God. They know that the religious elements sacrifice hypocritically and when they do sacrifice they do it to devils, and hence Jehovah's witnesses refuse to have anything in common with them. The remnant know that they cannot receive the Lord’s protection unless they are faithful to him. They cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table and of the Devil’s table at the same time. – 1 Cor. 10:20,21.
34 It is true that Jehovah’s witnesses refuse to have any part in the so-called “holy year” fiasco, because they know that God has not authorized the Roman Catholic organization, or any other organization, to proclaim a holy year. They refuse to conform to the political religions promulgated and practiced by the earthly, worldly leaders, and hence they do not bow down to the image of gold. Unwilling to compromise with the Devil, and to bring reproach upon Jehovah’s name, the faithful remnant hate the Devil’s gilded organization, represented by the golden image, because God hates it. (Prov. 6:16) Jehovah’s witnesses are for God and his kingdom, and gladly say: “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. I hate and abhor lying; but thy law do I love.” (Ps. 119:128, 163) Satan’s powers, including his visible agents, reproach Jehovah’s name. Jehovah hates them, and those who are on Jehovah’s side likewise hate them. “Do not 1 hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred; I count them mine enemies.” – Ps. 139:21, 22.
35 In 1929 the Lord made clearly to appear to his people who constitute “the higher powers’’, and since then they have been enabled to see clearly that the faithful ones must obey Jehovah and Christ Jesus, who are “the higher powers’’, and make no compromise with the wicked organization that rules the world, and which powers are not ordained of God. Jehovah’s witnesses have no inclination to violate any law of the land, and will not do so when that law is in harmony with God’s law; but they will be guided by God's law and obey his law and trust wholly in him, regardless of results. For this reason the clergy continuously and persistently accuse Jehovah’s witnesses before the political ruling power of the world; and this they do because they are in a conspiracy, led by Satan’s agent Gog, to bring about the destruction of Jehovah’s witnesses. – Ps. 83:2-5.
36 What took place before Nebuchadnezzar in the plain of Dura foreshadowed the wrath of the Devil in this day against Jehovah’s witnesses. (Lev. 12:17) The king then was angry, and so now the Devil is exceedingly angry. “Then Nebuchadnezzar, in his rage and fury, commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego. Then they brought these men before the king.’’ (Dan. 3:13) Evidently Nebuchadnezzar used his strong-arm squad to bring in the three faithful Hebrews before him. So likewise today, wherever Jehovah's witness's are brought before the courts it is Satan who is behind the move, and his purpose is to break the courage of Jehovah’s witnesses and to eau.se them to fail to maintain their integrity toward God. It is the strong-arm squad that hales these faithful ones into court. The great issue raised by Satan's challenge to Jehovah is the question that is now being fought out. The Devil expects now to use pressure on Jehovah’s witnesses to cause them to forsake the path of integrity and thus to make it appear that any creature that serves Jehovah God is prompted by selfishness or what the creature may get out of it from God. Jehovah now shows these truths to his remnant that they may receive comfort and know that they are pursuing the right course, and, continuing therein, they may have strong hope that they will win. What, then, does the Word of God foretell will be the final outcome to those who are and who will be in the crucible or fiery test?
(To be continued)
QUESTIONS FOR STUDY
¶ 1. Account for the severe trials to which God's faithful witnesses in the past were subjected, and for the preservation of record thereof to the present time.
¶ 2. What was foreshadowed by Daniel's interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar's forgotten dream, followed by Nebuchadnezzar's response thereto?
¶ 3. Apply Daniel 2:47.
¶ 4, 5. How does Daniel 2:49 find fulfilment? Whom did Daniel's three Hebrew friends here named prophetically represent? How? Why were they given Babylonian names?
¶ 6. Explain the three Hebrew names close association with Daniel, and Daniel's position in relationship to the king.
¶ 7. Point out the prophetic position of Nebuchadnezzar. How is this shown in Daniel 3:1?
¶ 8, 9. What was pictured in the dimensions of the image, its being of gold, and its being set up in the plain of Dura?
¶ 10-12. Show whether the procedure recorded in verses 2 and 3 served the purpose of its author, and whether as a prophecy it has been in course of fulfilment.
¶ 13, 14. By what means had the Devil expected to entrap "Christendom"? To what extent has he succeeded, and why?
¶ 15, 16. Show that the tactics (verses 4, 5) used in Nebuchadnezzar's day are employed in the Devil's organization today, and with what measure of success.
¶ 17-19. Compare the occasion here described with Revelation 11:2, 3, to show that Satan is the mimic god.
¶ 20, 21. Who set up the image? What important question was brought to the fore, and what did this mean to all who faced the alternative declared in verse 6? Apply the prophetic picture.
¶ 22, 23. Compare the furnace used by Nebuchadnezzar with that which it foreshadowed; also the purpose then and that now, and the outcome of the test involved.
¶ 24, 25. Account for the fact that Satan then and now should so readily find willing instruments to do his bidding.
¶ 26-29. Identify the Chaldeans, ancient and modern, and, with illustration, point out the correspondency in their course of action and in their qualification for such procedure.
¶ 30-33. Point out the purpose in reminding the king as in verses 10-12, and compare the method employed by the "class then with that used now for accomplishing their purpose. Apply Daniel 1:20.
¶ 34, 35. Was the charge brought against these three men a statement of fact? What motive prompted the accusation? and how does it compare in this regard with the complaint presented by the "Chaldeans" and other representatives of the "ruler" in these days? Account for the stand taken by these three men, and for that taken by those whom they prophetically represented.
¶ 36. Show that verse 13 presents a prophetic picture.
PURPOSE OF GATHERING THE SAINTS
IN HIS book, the Bible, is presented the purpose of the Almighty Creator in gathering out from among the peoples of earth, during a long period of time, a company of individuals who now stand forth and move in united action as Jehovah's witnesses.
The period of time occupied for the selection of the members of the body of Christ, called “saints’’, embraces the time from Pentecost, A.D. 33, to the setting up of God’s kingdom. That period of time is properly called the Christian era or period of sacrifice, because it is the time of the selection and development of the true Christians who were taken into the covenant with God by sacrifice. Nearing the end of that period the time comes for bringing these faithful ones out from, and separating them from, the denominational church systems and gathering them unto God. When that time arrives Jehovah commands: “Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.’’–Ps. 50:5.
Who are the saints within the meaning of this text? Manifestly those who are wholly devoted to God and are therefore godly creatures. It is that class spoken of by the prophet when he said: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Ps. 116:15) Not everyone who makes a covenant by sacrifice proves faithful, and hence not everyone making a covenant by sacrifice is embraced within the class that is ‘the people taken out for His name’. Only the faithful ones are the saints of God, and it is of such that Jehovah speaks in Psalm 50: 5. “Saints” does not mean those whom the clergy have canonized, and to whom many ignorantly pray; nor does the term apply to those ordinarily called holy, but to those only who arc in Christ Jesus by begetting, adoption and anointing. It could not embrace those such as Jews according to the flesh who were, brought into the covenant with God by the sacrifice of animals and fowls, but means those who are in the covenant by sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
From the Scriptures it appears that the gathering is done at Jehovah’s command and by the Lord Jesus together with his holy angels. “The mighty God, even the Lord, hath spoken, and called the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence. . . . He shall call to the, heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.” (Ps. 50:1-4) Clearly the gathering of the saints unto Jehovah takes place when the Lord Jesus comes to the temple and puts his professed people to the test. The approved ones arc gathered unto the Lord by being brought into the temple condition and builded up as a part of God’s organization, Zion.
The prophet indicates the time when the gathering of the saints would begin. In the above text it is stated: "The mighty God ... hath spoken . . . from the rising of the sun.” The Lord Jesus spoke of the manner of his return and likened it unto the sun rising in the cast. Jesus spoke a parable to the effect that the true saints and the false representatives of the Lord would grow’ together in the same field (the world) until the time of the harvest, which time would mark his second presence (Matt. 13: 39) Many consecrated ones were in denominational church systems called “Babylon” until that time. They were looking for the second coming of the Lord.
The prophet foretold the sentiments of their hearts when he wrote: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”– Ps. 126:1-3.
The prophet of God says: “He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth.” Jehovah is spoken of as “him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice”. (Ps. 68:33) His great executive officer in the heavens is Christ Jesus. Jehovah calls upon him to begin the work of gathering his saints together. This harmonizes with the beginning of the Lord’s presence at the temple, from 1918 onward. He calls to earth; that is to say, he turns his attention to things on the earth and issues his command for the gathering. In gathering unto himself the remnant and those with whom he had been angry and turning his anger away from them in 1919, as foretold in Isaiah 12:1, Jehovah there began the fulfilment of the prophecy of Psalm 50:5. Thereafter the Lord began gathering God’s faithful remnant by sending forth his angels to gather the elect from the four winds and from one end of heaven to the other. (Matt. 24:31) The “four winds” and “heaven” seem to be used symbolically to testify to the fact that the gathering is a universal one from all parts of the land where there arc those who are devoted to God. He has called the true Christians out from all church denominations and all connection with Satan’s organization and gathered them together in the bonds of truth, in the temple.
The purpose of the gathering is stated to be “that he may judge his people”. (Ps. 50:4) “Judgment must begin at the house of God.” (1 Pet. 4:17) Jesus spoke a parable concerning his return and the taking of account with those to whom he had committed the kingdom interests. (Matt. 25:14-30) Manifestly then the purpose is to bring his people together and give them such knowledge of God’s purpose that they might be judged and tested. Mark how the physical facts fit the prophetic words. During the period of time from about 1875 to 1918 Christ, the great Messenger of heaven, he who is Priest of the Most High God, w’as preparing the way before Jehovah; and then, the preparation thereof being accomplished, he suddenly or promptly’ comes to his temple. (Mal. 3:1) The temple is made up of the anointed ones of God. (2 Cor. G:16) He comes for the purpose of judgment, that the approved ones may offer unto the Lord an offering (service of praise) in righteousness. He makes clear the truth to those gathered ones that they may continue to offer sacrifices of praise unto the Lord and to do this in harmony with his will. The Lord sits as a refiner to try, test and refine those whom the sons of Levi foreshadowed. – Mal. 3:1-3.
During the period of time elapsing from Pentecost until the second coming of the Lord many persons have heard the gospel of truth and believed and made a consecration to do the will of God. These have been reconciled and fully justified and taken into the covenant by sacrifice. Not all of such have remained faithful unto the Lord, however. In fact, the greater number have been unfaithful to God. The chief responsibility for such unfaithfulness lies at the door of the clergy. The people have looked to the clergy as their spiritual advisers. These men claiming to represent God and to speak with authority, the people for a long while received their statements as true. The clergy have led the people in the wrong way.
Not only have the clergy participated in the politics of this evil world, but they have resorted to all the wicked tricks of politics. They have schemed for position and advantage and have used their high and influential office as clergymen to accomplish their selfish purposes. The politics of this world are under the supervision and control of Satan, its god. (2 Cor. 4:4) The clergy have allied themselves with the god of this world and have induced great numbers of Christians to do the same thing.
Jesus in plain phrase stated that his kingdom is not of this world, but that his kingdom was future from the time he was on earth and that it would be set up only at his second coming and the taking of his power. (John 18: 36) The clergy were not content to be the followers of Jesus, but have run ahead of the Lord and claimed it to be their commission and duty to set up the Lord’s kingdom on earth in advance of God’s time. To this end they have opened their doors and their arms and welcomed to their fold the profiteers, the politicians and the oppressors of the people. They have brought in these powerful men to the end that their church systems might be more powerful and more influential. These profiteers and oppressors have become the principal ones in their flocks, wielding the power and influence of the organization. One error of the clergy led to another until, fearing to oppose the powerful and influential ones of their congregations, they have repudiated the Bible and have told the people to believe anything that they wanted to believe, just so they remained in the chureh organization.
The clergy have advocated war and urged the people to engage in the wholesale murder of their fellow creatures. They have used their church edifices as recruiting stations. They have gone so far in their blasphemous course that they have told the young men to enlist in the war and that if they should die upon the battlefield their death there would be a guarantee that they would be taken immediately to heaven and counted in as a part of the great sacrifice of our Lord.
The influence of the clergy has led the great mass of professing Christians away from full devotion to the Lord and has caused them to mix with the world. To the people they have misrepresented the truth and have opposed God’s witnesses in an effort to give the people the truth. By threats and coercion the clergy have held back a great many timid church people from hearing the truth. So desperate have they been that they have willfully misrepresented God's purpose and have, influenced their parishioners to close their eyes and ears to the hearing of the message of truth. When God’s command came to gather together his saints who had made a covenant with him by sacrifice the clergy used all their power and influence to prevent such gathering. They have succeeded in turning millions away from the Lord and his service.
To be sure, the clergy are not of those who are gathered unto the Lord. Nor are those consecrated ones who have permitted themselves to be held back from God and his truth by the influence of the clergy, of the class that is gathered unto the Lord. Those so-called Christians who love God and have been held back by reason of the influence of the clergy or held as "prisoners”, within the meaning of the Scriptures (Pss. 79:11; 102:20), have cried unto the Lord. Under their covenant by sacrifice they are appointed to a sacrificial death; but, having been held back from faithfulness by the influence of their prison-keepers, the clergy, the time comes when they cry unto the Lord. Concerning this the prophet says: "Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die.” (Ps. 79:11) God hears their cries and the time comes for him to release them. – Ps. 102: 19, 20.
All who have been taken into the covenant by sacrifice have been offered the great privilege of being witnesses to the majesty and loving-kindness of God and to the outworking of his great purpose for the reconciliation of man. Of and concerning himself, the chief One, Jesus said: "To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18:37) What is true of Jesus applies to all those who are taken into the covenant by sacrifice. Each one of such not only is granted the privilege of hearing the truth, but is offered the opportunity to be a witness to the truth.. The only way whereby such can be true, loyal and faithful unto God is to be witnesses to the truth as opportunity affords. The Lord sees to it that such have opportunities. A witness is one who gives testimony. The testimony concerning God and his purpose for the vindication of his holy name and for the reconciliation of man must be given, and it is his will to have it given by his anointed when they are gathered together to the temple during the second presence of the Lord.
SING unto JEHOVAH
a new song: sing unto JEHOVAH, all the earth. Declare his glory among the rations, his Marvellous works among all the peoples. For great is JEHOVAH, end greatly to be praised honor and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe unto JEHOVAH, ye kindreds of the peoples, ascribe unto JEHOVAH glory and strength. Say among the nations, JEHOVAH reigneth: the world also is established that it cannot be moved. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth. – David.
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