The Watchtower, June 15, 1936
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“JEHOVAH’S PRAISE” TESTIMONY
The midsummer testimony period, August 1-9, is designated “Jehovah’s Praise”. This will be an excellent time for as many as can to arrange to take their vacation, thereby to be able to devote as much time as possible to this privilege than which none is higher or grander, Jehovah’s praise. That all his devoted ones may begin at once to plan and arrange therefor it is here stated that the feature of this testimony period will be the offering bound in a special wrapper Books One, Two and Three of Vindication, on contribution of 50c. Vindication, with its full statement on the work of ‘the man with the inkhorn’ and the Jehu-Jonadab picture, etc., should prove excellent material to place following the recent wide distribution of the book Riches. It will also be proper to offer in combination with the above three books the two books Light with the book Prophecy, all on a $1.00 contribution. ‘‘Praise ye Jehovah.” Due reports of your praise efforts should be made, to the Brooklyn head office direct if you are not under Branch supervision. Distribution of the above book offers will continue throughout the entire month of August.
VACATION
Factory and Office Closed—July 25-August 9
The factory and office at Brooklyn will be closed from July 25 to August 9 inclusive. During those two weeks the Bethel family will have the opportunity to take part in the field privileges with all other kingdom publishers. No shipments of literature can be made to anyone during that time. Please get your orders in to the Brooklyn office sufficiently ahead for handling and filling before the above date, and make certain thereby that you will not run short of literature supplies timing the month of August. Bear in mind the special testimony period at that time.
Orders cannot be filled during vacation period, as no one will be here to answer letters, but all mail will have immediate attention on the reopening of the factory on August 10.
TRANSCRIPTION MACHINES AND SOUND CARS
The Society constructs and assembles portable transcription machines at our own factory at 117 Adams St., Brooklyn, N. Y. These machines are spring-wound, and operated from a 6-volt wet-cell battery. Every machine is furnished complete with the battery and a battery charger, so that it can be kept up to its full strength. This machine can be offered at $100, complete, to brethren in the United States.
The sound car equipment includes the above and, additionally, a power amplifier and a horn with mountings for the top of your car. The entire sound car equipment with microphone attachment can lie had for $175. Write to the Society for details.
Vol. LVII
June 15, 1936
No. 12
OBADIAH
PART 1
When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.”—Ps. 102:16.
JEHOVAH caused his glory to begin to be made manifest to his servants after he had sent his Messenger, Christ Jesus, straightway to the temple. The Chief One of Jehovah’s capital organization is Christ Jesus, and he. appears at the temple as the representative of Jehovah, and thus he builds up Zion. All power in heaven and in earth having been committed by Jehovah to the Lord Jesus, the appearing of Jesus at the temple and the building up of Zion is in fact the appearing of Jehovah and the shining forth is Jehovah’s glory. Jesus Christ is the express image of Jehovah, and the glory of Jehovah is made to appear by and through Christ Jesus. At the temple Christ Jesus is accompanied by his retinue of angels, who serve him and do his bidding, as he the great Judge sits upon his throne of glory. (Matt. 25: 31) The time is the day of judgment, which judgment begins at the house of God, and which pertains particularly to those who are in a covenant to do the will of God, whether that covenant be actual or by implication. It was at the coming of the Lord to the temple that the unfolding of the prophecies began, and those who are received and made a part of the temple organization, or Zion, sec and appreciate the prophecies as the Lord unfolds them. Those who are in a covenant to do the will of God but whom the Lord finds to be unfaithful when he appears and judges at the temple do not sec or understand the fulfillment of the prophecies. For that reason there are those who claim to be in the truth but who fail to see present truth and hence doubt that there is really any evidence of the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such persons find themselves trying to locate themselves by reason of chronology, and, being unable to do so, they lose what little light they once possessed. Had such persons been unselfishly looking to the faithful performance of the covenant which they had made, and to the vindication of Jehovah’s name, doubtless they would have laid hold on the promises and clearly discerned and appreciated the prophecies.
2 Those who have not been approved and received into the temple even raise objections to The Watchtower, saying that it is only the expression of the opinion of man and therefore cannot be relied upon. Others, who have had a desire to shine in the eyes of men, make remarks of this nature, to wit: ‘‘The Watchtower does not contain sufficient information to enable me to prepare from it a discourse for the friends.” Being complainers, murmurers and faultfinders, both of the objectors here named are in the same class. (Jude 1G) The Watchtower does not attempt the expression of the opinion of any man concerning prophecy, but in the language of the Scriptures continues to declare that prophecy is not of private interpretation. (2 Pet. 1:20) Since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple as the representative of his Father he causes to be brought to the attention of those who love him the physical facts showing fulfillment of prophecy, and, setting these facts alongside the words of the prophecy, those who love God are enabled to see how such facts fit the prophecy and thus show the fulfillment thereof. Being wholly devoted to Jehovah, such are not concerned about chronology, but accept what the Lord clearly reveals, and that is usually after the date under consideration is past. They are not speculating as to the time when they are going to get off the earth and be taken to heaven. They have engaged to serve Jehovah for ever, and fully appreciate the fact that it is not for the creature to determine or even attempt to determine just when his service on the earth may cease and when he may be transferred to heavenly realms. The chief objective of the faithful servant class is to serve Jehovah and his kingdom, knowing full well that the Lord is directing their course and will bring about the result according to his holy will. Whether Armageddon is one year or many years in the future is not material to the faithful servant class. These faithful ones have entered into the joy of the Lord, which is the vindication of Jehovah’s name, and, knowing that Armageddon will vindicate Jehovah’s name, the faithful servant class are perfectly willing to wait on the Lord and continue loyally and faithfully serving him. These faithful ones are in the Lord’s organization, and by the grace of the Lord they delight to remain there for ever, and the place of service they do not even care to choose. They well know that God assigns all members to a place in the body as it pleases him and doubtless assigns all in his organization to a place, and that he requires of each and every one full obedience and faithfulness.
3 The faithful servants of the Lord do not fret themselves concerning the others who fail to do their duty. Each servant stands or falls to his master, and therefore the faithful one is deeply concerned about proving his own integrity and he knows that he cannot succeed in doing so by finding fault with others who appear to fail or who do fail to faithfully perform. It is entirely proper for the brethren to point out to one another the great privilege of serving God and his kingdom and to urge one another to do all he can to magnify the name of Jehovah, but such admonition should always be given in kindness and never by way of harsh criticism. All at the temple will be in exact harmony and will dwell together and work together in peace to the glory of God, which means the forgetting of self and the magnifying of the name of Jehovah. “In his temple doth every one speak of his [Jehovah’s] glory.”—Ps. 29:9.
4 These faithful ones deeply appreciate the loving- kindness of God in causing his prophecies to be written centuries ago for the special benefit of his faithful servants now on the earth. As those prophecies are unfolded by the Lord each one of the temple receives the same joyfully. They know that prophecy docs not proceed from men, but from God, and is made clear in these last days that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished and prepared for all good work.— 2 Tini. 3: 1G, 17.
5 All prophecy having the same objective, that is to say, the vindication of Jehovah’s name, the same physical facts fulfill different prophecies. It may appear, therefore, that physical facts are often repeated in The Watchtower, and the critical ones will say and do say: “The Watchtower continues to speak about the same thing.” The answer to that is, that the Lord God was pleased to treat the same matter in a number of different prophecies, his purpose manifestly being to furnish an abundant amount of corroborative testimony for the aid, comfort and hope of the remnant.
6 Among the prophecies Jehovah caused to be written is that of Obadiah, and according to His fixed rule that prophecy was written for the understanding of the remnant and for the aid and comfort of such class, and for that reason it is to be expected that the Lord will give the remnant an understanding of the prophecy of Obadiah in these last days. The prophecy of Obadiah clearly is present truth, which is received by the remnant with great joy. It foretells the doom of the religionists, that is, the men who have organized and carried on a work in the name of the Lord yet who have defamed the name of Jehovah for these many centuries past. The prophecy discloses the present duty and work of the faithful witnesses of Jehovah in exposing the duplicity and hypocrisy of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and other clergy allied with that wicked organization, which for years have ruled the people in an arrogant and scornful manner. Those religionists have claimed to be heirs of God's promise and his favored ones, but they have ignored God’s Word and employed their own selfish schemes and have advanced their own selfish doctrines in an effort to accomplish their wicked end. It is certain that the understanding of this prophecy at the present crisis will be a real comfort to the faithful witnesses of Jehovah. The prophecy is therefore considered in minute detail.
7 The name Obadiah means “serving Jehovah” or “servant of Jehovah”; which shows that the prophecy is for the servant class of Jehovah. The understanding is particularly for the remnant class and must be proclaimed within the hearing of all persons of good will, and this must be done before the wrath of Jehovah falls upon the wicked, hypocritical religionists. The identity of Obadiah is uncertain. It is not certain whether the prophet, the writer of the prophecy, actually bore that name Obadiah or used the name Obadiah as an appropriate title for the prophecy. This is very interesting for the reason it suggests that in the fulfillment of this prophecy the personal identity of those who compose the servant class, whom Obadiah pictured, is neither necessary nor important. This excludes the reason and opportunity for personal shining and adulation. To be sure, the Lord Jesus, who is the head of the servant class, is always definitely identified; but as to the persons who are made members of that servant class, their identity is not at all important except for their own special benefit. This is exactly as we should expert it to be in this day. There is no occasion, then, to give any special honor to any man or men. The special adulation and honoring of men is for the past, and at the present time it finds, or at least should find, no place amongst God's people. This further explains also that some of those once of the servant class may fall away and hence a change in the personnel of the servant body be made, but the purpose and the work of the servant class are never altered. There is no individual of the servant class who is so very important that he must be set up on a pedestal. What counts with the Lord is faithfulness in the performance of duty. Those who remain of the servant class must be dependable; and if some become unreliable they will be quickly set aside, but this would in no wise affect the result concerning the work and the purpose of the servant class.
8 As to the time when this unidentified Obadiah lived and prophesied, it is not definitely fixed by the Scriptures. It is uncertain as to whether the prophecy was written before or after the fall of Jerusalem at the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, but the application of the prophecy is not at all uncertain. That is the important time and matter. The name as well as the prophecy of Obadiah itself indicates clearly that it applies to and is fulfilled in the time when God has raised up his servant class and brought them into the temple, which is after he (Jehovah) has returned to Zion and by his chief officer, Christ Jesus, has built up Zion and appeared in his glory, which is from and after the year A.D. 1918. It appears from the facts and the prophecy itself that its fulfillment began after the second outpouring of the holy spirit: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. ’’—Joel 2: 28, 29.
9 Jehovah gave his servant and prophet a vision: “The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord God concerning Edom, We have heard a rumour from the Lord, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.’’ (Verse 1) The class pictured by Obadiah is doubtless the same as 1he watchman whom God foretold by his prophet Isaiah: “The burden [load, thing lifted up] of Dumah” [meaning “silence’’; as stated by Jeremiah: “The Lord our God hath put us to silence’’ (Jer. 8:14,15)]. “He [the prisoner class, those under restraint] calleth to me out of Seir [that is, meaning “rough”, like a satyr or goat, the Devil], Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, The morning cometh, and also the night; if ye will inquire, inquire ye; return, come [again].”—Isa. 21:11,12.
10 Mount Seir was the country of the Edomites, which pictured the political and hypocritical religions leaders who claim the birthright to the kingdom but who are in truth and in fact the representatives of the Devil. The watchman mentioned is Jehovah’s anointed witnesses, who must be constantly on the watch in behalf of the interests of the kingdom of God under Christ and sec to it that they do not compromise with any part of Satan’s organization. The watchmen or servant class must be blind to everything except the kingdom of God and its interests. (Isa. 42:19) That class must hear the Word of God at his mouth and be diligent to proclaim it in the presence and hearing of others who have an car to hear. “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. ’ ’—Ezek. 33: 7.
11 The watchman class is made up of those who are not to hold their peace and say nothing because of fear of the enemy or hope for some favor from the enemy. “I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night; ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. ’ ’—Isa. 62 : 6.
12 Recently when some who had been occupying positions of more than ordinary importance in the Society’s organization and work in the land of Germany were put on trial, charged with having attempted to carry on God’s work contrary to the laws of the German government, there was a complete failure on the part of those thus charged to observe the above commandment of the Lord. Not only did those men fail to mention the name of Jehovah and of his kingdom and King, Christ Jesus, -which they had agreed to serve and to obey, but, on the contrary, they compromised with the enemy by saying that they had done nothing to further the interests of the kingdom of God contrary to the laws of Germany. A copy of the testimony taken before the court that tried these cases at Halle contains the following, and the quotations are taken from that court record, and, without finding it necessary to mention any names, we call, as that record did, the ones charged by the term “defendant”. One of these defendants testified before the court, using these words: “We did everything in our power to avoid any action against the decree [of Germany forbidding the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom] because we believed, and today still believe, that the government [of Germany] docs not intend to rob the individual Christian of his faith, that religious freedom exists, and that things would develop in such a way that it would be possible for the individual Christian to worship his God. It is my conviction that the only way to obtain results is through negotiations with the government, and I have asked the friends not to do anything which would interfere with these negotiations. All information issued was according to the foregoing.”
13 Clearly the language here quoted is equivalent to saying, We must ask some earthly power as to whether or not we shall worship and serve Almighty God. At that same court trial held at Halle December 17, 1935, another one of the Society’s representatives who was charged with violating the German decree testified in his own behalf, and the following is quoted from the official record:
“Question by chairman of the court: ‘Did you consider it permissible to further faithfully stand together to carry on a work?’
“Answer by defendant: ‘I would consider that a violation of the law.’
“Question by chairman of the court: ‘Was anything said about all remaining true to the faith?’ To which defendant made this answer: ‘This was not spoken of. . . . We rather tried to hinder an organized holding together of the friends in the faith. The various officers [of the Society] had no right to organize and encourage such.’
“Question by attorney: ‘At the conferences which took place in Magdeburg between the service directors, was it there said that the various individuals should seek to find a means of existence and at the same time should be illegally active?’ Answer by defendant: ‘No, on the contrary. I suggested on one occasion that such gentlemen who had been active should cease their activity.’ ”
14 The above quotations of the testimony of the defendants were entirely contrary to what God’s Word commands and directly contrary to what the Society holds must be done and what those representatives had been instructed that they should do. Such words show a compromise with the enemy. Those who are faithful to God and his kingdom must obey his commandments regardless of what any earthly power may decree or command. No one can prove faithful to God and maintain his integrity toward God and at the same time compromise with the enemy by failing or refusing to serve God by reason of fear of the enemies of God and his kingdom. Lukewarmness is an abomination in the sight of God. (Rev. 3:16) Jehovah’s witnesses love him, and they prove this by their boldness in bearing testimony to the truth in the day of judgment. (1 John 4:17,18) The judges trying the above eases must have clearly seen the attitude of compromise, and defendants received no consideration at their hands. It would be inconsistent for the Society to do anything in their behalf, after they have proved unfaithful to the Lord under stress.
15 In contrast with the testimony given by the aforementioned representatives in Germany a number of faithful witnesses of Jehovah in that land have demonstrated their faithfulness, boldness and firmness in the declaration of the truth at all times, and, by the grace of the Lord, they continue to give testimony in the name of Jehovah and bis King regardless of persecution. As an example of the determination of many of the faithful ones in Germany to stand firm, the following incident is quoted, which is taken from a report received from that country: “In one concentration camp there are 600 of Jehovah’s witnesses. Every day they are called out and mistreated, then the official calls out and says: ‘Bible Students or Jehovah’s witnesses, step forward. How many of you will remain Jehovah’s witnesses?’ Every one raised their hands, thus testifying for the Lord and his kingdom.’’ There are many such faithful and loyal brethren in that land. In Germany 2,894 of Jehovah’s witnesses have been imprisoned, many of whom are still in prison. Many of such hesitate not to testify to the truth and stand firm for the Lord and his kingdom. In no other way can one be faithful to the Lord. The experience concerning Daniel, Meshach, Shadrach and Abed-nego, as recorded in the Bible, is an example of the proper attitude of one who is in a covenant to do God’s will. All the faithful will follow the same course. Jehovah is able to sustain his witnesses, and nothing can come to them except by his permission. Such faithful ones have the assurance that the Lord is directing their way. (Prov. 3: 5, 6) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”—Rom. 8:28.
16 The experiences recorded concerning Job prove that Jehovah permits severe tests to come upon his people that they may have opportunity to prove their devotion to and integrity toward God. If one compromises with the enemy and suffers from that, such suffering avails nothing. If one suffers because of his faithfulness to the Lord, happy is he, because that suffering is like the suffering that came upon Christ Jesus. “But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”— 1 Pet. 4:13.
17 The faithful are now rejoicing in the Lord that they are permitted to fill up some of the sufferings of Christ left over. (Col. 1:24) Attention is called to these things, not for the mere purpose of criticizing anyone, but that those who are subjected to the test may see and have in mind what is the proper course for one who has undertaken to do the will of God. Many of the brethren in New Jersey have been subjected to similar experiences and in the face of all such persecution have stood firm and immovable for the Lord and his kingdom. “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us.” (2 Tim. 2:11, 12) Each one must determine which side he is on and prove his position by the constant and faithful course of action taken.
18 Referring to those who find occasion to say before the brethren: “The. Watchtower contains nothing but the opinion of a man; we have been mistaken in the past, and why not understand that The Watchtower is now mistaken?” Such persons should remember that The Watchtower sets out the words of God's prophet and alongside that prophecy sets down the physical facts well known to all, that each one who is of the temple class may readily decide what is and what is not in fulfillment of the prophecy.
19 Now, concerning the prophecy of Obadiah, note that this statement is made: “Thus saith the Lord God.” Obadiah’s uttered words are therefore not a dream or a hallucination or a man’s guess or opinion, but the sure and unfailing Word of Jehovah God. The purpose of the prophecy is to enlighten the remnant of God’s people now on the earth that they might stand strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Likewise The Watchtower emphasizes the Word of God and not the guess or opinion of man. God and Christ Jesus are the teachers, and the anointed do not need the aid of some self-constituted wise exegete. To such anointed ones this scripture applies: “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”—1 John 2:27.
20 The Lord God gave Obadiah his word “concerning Edom”. The nickname of Esau was Edom: “Esau, who is Edom.” (Gen. 36:1) The name means “red” and is a reminder of Esau’s failure to appreciate God’s favor toward him concerning the Abrahamic birthright, which Esau sold for the paltry sum of a mess of pottage, that his selfish appetite might be appeased. “And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom [that is to say, Red (margin)].” (Gen. 25:30) In this prophecy of Obadiah the term Edom must of necessity apply first to the offspring of Esau, together with the country or place which they inhabited, and in fulfillment thereof to a people once in line for the Abrahamic birthright.
21 Unlike Jacob’s descendants, the offspring of Esau or Edom was not pure Semitic stock, for the reason that Esau married outside of Abraham’s family relation. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan, the cursed one. (Gen. 9: 25) “Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan ; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Ahohbamah the daughter of Anah, the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite; and Bashemath, Ishmael’s daughter, sister of Nebajoth.” (Gen. 26:2,3) Ishmael was a son of Abraham by Hagar, an Egyptian woman, and was therefore a descendant of 11am. (Gen. 16:1) Ishmael’s daughter Bashemath was one of the wives of Esau. ‘And Ishmael took his wife out of the land of Egypt.’ (Gen. 21:21) All of Esau’s children were of a mixed blood, and therefore, all Edomites were children of an improper union of Esau with Hamitic women. It was therefore impossible for the Edomites to be God’s holy nation. Esau was a brother of Jacob, a grandson of Abraham. The father and mother of Jacob and Esau were Isaac and Rebecca. Esau was the firstborn and apparently had the first claim to the Abrahamic birthright, but it was the will of God that it should be otherwise. (Gen. 22:18; 25:23-26) The descendants of Esau, that is, the Edomites, must therefore represent a class of perrons who are apparently the firstborn and in line for the kingdom.
22 The following definition is published in the book Government, page 283: ‘‘The name Edom represents that which is opposed to the Lord. It has the same meaning as ‘Esau’, and therefore refers to the organization of Satan, the most reprehensible element of which is ecclesiasticism.” Here enlarging upon that definition, that it may be made more specific, it is stated that Esau or Edom more specifically stands for and represents that class of men who have organized and carried on religion in the name of God and Christ, but who in truth and in fact have been and are the representatives of the Devil, and hence a part of the Devil’s organization. That clearly shows that antitypical Edomites are made up of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their clergy allies who have used the Word of God for a selfish purpose. The miniature or first fulfillment of this part of the prophecy of Obadiah was in the clergy of the time when Jesus was on the earth. The priests and Pharisees of that time claimed to be children of Abraham, and hence in line for the kingdom blessings that were promised to Abraham, but Jesus told them that they were the sons of the Devil. (John 8:13,37-44) Those hypocritical men were the ones who rejected the Stone, Christ Jesus, upon which God has builded his church, and to whom Christ Jesus said: ‘‘Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken ; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.” (Matt. 21:43-45) The counterpart of the priests and Pharisees of that day are the clergy of the present time, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy.
23 Edom, the offspring of Esau, therefore clearly stands for the official religious representatives of the Devil, to wit, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their allies, the other clergy. Today Protestantism is dead; which was pictured by the young lion slain by Samson. Those clergymen who organized and carried on the so-called ‘‘Protestant religion” are joined together with the Roman Catholic Hierarchy; and it has been true since the World War, at which time and since this combined crowd has sought the death of the true followers of Christ Jesus. The clergy of the Catholic and so-called “Protestant” organizations are vigorously working together at this day to destroy the true followers of the Lord. As the Edomites sought to Kill Jesus when he was on the earth (John 8:37-44), so the modern-day Edomites seek to bring about the death of the members of Christ now on the earth, and therefore they ‘thus do unto the Lord Jesus himself’ in this day ; and because these are his faithful followers he counts them as a part of himself. While this article is being prepared the clergy of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, and the so-called “Protestant” clergy, are attempting to frame mischief by law by causing bills to be introduced in the New Jersey Legislature, and in other state legislatures, making it a crime for anyone to refuse to salute the flag or to write or publish anything setting forth the reason why a Christian cannot salute a flag and thereby attribute salvation to men. Otherwise stated, the clergy seek the destruction of Jehovah’s witnesses because they insist that a true follower of Christ Jesus must obey God rather than men. (Acts 5:29) The clergy are the antitypical Edomites and are the most deceptive and reprehensible part of Satan’s visible organization.
24 The Abrahamic birthright privileges were claimed by the clergy because they have always claimed to be the ones favored of God. Jehovah foreknew that they would be unfaithful and would fall away completely to the Devil, and therefore he foretold such in this prophecy concerning the Edomites. The Abrahamic birthright privileges as held out to and claimed by the clergy, Jesus foretold would be taken away from them because they failed to bring forth the fruits (the truth) of the kingdom. It is only the clergy that have tried to compete with Jehovah’s true saints for the kingdom privileges. This corresponds exactly with Esau’s rivalry toward Jacob for the birthright of his father. Esau tried to kill Jacob, and the antitypical Edomites likewise now try to kill and destroy Jehovah’s true witnesses, pictured by Jacob. At verse seven of Obadiah's prophecy it is stated that the Edomites entered into a conspiracy against the true followers of Christ. That same verse also refers to the two other elements of Satan’s organization, which form “the principal of the flock’’, all of which are falsely called “Christians’’. In the modern fulfillment of the prophecy the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their so-called “Protestant” allied clergymen lead in a conspiracy against God’s “hidden ones”, whom he has selected to be members of his holy nation. The “principal of the flock” have joined in this conspiracy and are now this day committing overt acts against the people of God, and against his kingdom. The modern Edomites are therefore clearly identified and located by the Word of God and the indisputable physical facts, all of which exactly fit the words of the prophecy.
JUDGMENT TIDINGS
25 The prophecy indicates that it is a specific class of persons, and not just one person, that hear the “rumour”, or “tidings”. “We have heard a rumour [(R.V.) tidings] from the Lord.” (Verse 1) It is God's servant class, to whom the kingdom interests on earth are committed, that hear these judgment tidings from the Lord. They being devoted to the Lord, their ears are attuned to the good news that proceeds from the Lord. Others do not have their cars so attuned, and because they are on the side of the enemy they do not hear, and therefore know nothing, about the judgment of the Lord. Continuing the prophet says: “An ambassador is sent among the heathen [the nations (A.R.)].” The Hebrew word used here for “ambassador” is tzeer, and means one who is constrained by a principle, or God’s rule of action, and is therefore engaged in a pressing or urgent service. Mindful of his privilege and obligation, the ambassador is on the alert to faithfully perform the service assigned to him. Whose ambassador? It is the messenger or ambassador of the Lord, for the reason that the Devil would not stir up his own nations against Edom, whom the Devil has employed so well against God’s faithful people. The prophecy suggests that the ambassador is a heavenly messenger or angel, one of the “seven stars” in the right hand of Jesus Christ, the same as the angel of Revelation 8: 3-5, and 16:12: “The sixth angel poured out his vial . . . that the way of the kings of the cast might be prepared.” The angel of Revelation 19:17-21 assembles God’s army against the “beast”, the “false prophet” and the “kings”, but not against the old “whore”, of which Edom is the most prominent part.
26 After perceiving the call of the ambassador or angel of the Lord, then those composing the Lord’s remnant on earth, his witnesses, like their prototype Obadiah, take up the judgment tidings and herald the same to others, both inside and outside of the remnant class. They speak to each other of the Lord’s judgments and tell others who have the hearing ear of the judgments of the Lord. Note that the ambassador is not sent to the Devil’s army, but sent to the members of God’s organization on earth, who are found scattered amongst the nations but who are no part of the nations of this world. Jehovah is calling or summoning his own people. It is Christ Jesus and his army that do the treading of Edom and Bozrah.
27 The Lord’s ambassador or messenger brings these tidings: “Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle.” The angelic army of Christ Jesus, or hosts of heaven, to which God's remnant on earth must now be attached, is commanded to arise for battle against the enemy. The prophecy of Obadiah is fully corroborated by God’s prophecy by the mouth of Jeremiah: “For I have sworn by myself, saith the Lord, that Bozrah shall become a desolation, a reproach, a waste, and a curse; and all the cities thereof shall be perpetual wastes.” —Jer. 49: 13.
28 The day of battle is nigh, and Jehovah makes known the purpose toward antitypical Esau: “For I will bring the calamity of Esau upon him, the time that I will visit him. ... I have made Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, and be shall not be able to hide himself.” (Jer. 49: 8,10) For many years the Esau class, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, has carried on its wicked work and apparently in secret, and in fact in secret to many persons, and thereby many millions have been deceived. The wicked institution has turned the Word of God upside down by teaching exactly opposite, to the true meaning of the Word of God. To that wicked organization Jehovah says: “Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us? and who knoweth us? Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?”—Isa. 29:15,16.
29 That hypocritical and devilish crowd have said and continue to say: “We have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves.” But the Lord says to them: “The hail [hard, solid truths] shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters [flood of God's truth] shall overflow the hiding place.” (Isa. 28:15-17) That the Lord says he will do in his “judgment time”. Such is not the battle of Armageddon, because in that scourge of Armageddon Jehovah by Christ Jesus and his army will completely annihilate all of the enemy. When Jehovah says here, “Arise ye,’’ it means to battle “against her’’, the enemy. This battle spoken of is now in progress, and is a battle of truth against entrenched lies. It is a battle between Jehovah’s witnesses on one side and hypocritical religionists, particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, on the other, and takes place just preceding and preliminary to “the battle of that great day of God Almighty”.
30 Note now the corroborative proof given by the prophet: “And I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel [spiritual Israel; Jehovah’s faithful witnesses]: and they [Jehovah’s witnesses] shall do in Edom according to mine anger, and according to my fury; and they [the Edomites] shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord God.” (Ezek. 25:14) In further corroborative proof see verse 18 of Obadiah’s prophecy. It is the Edomites, the religionists, and particularly the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, that now make war upon Jehovah’s witnesses, and this they do under the command of the held marshal of Satan. Jehovah’s witnesses must fight with the sword of the spirit, that is, the Word of God, firmly and boldly declaring the truth which exposes and uncovers the hiding place of the lies of the modern Edomites.
31 We should expect the Devil to use every subtle means at his command to lull God’s anointed ones to sleep and to cause them to cease their fighting; but the true and faithful will not be deceived and lulled to sleep. Jesus says that the Devil and his agents “shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect”. (Mark 13: 22; Matt. 2-1: 24) To seduce means to turn one away from the right path into the way of Satan the evil one, and doing violence to God’s people. The Devil would use some now to induce Jehovah’s witnesses to believe that they should slack up their work and not expect to do anything particularly important until after Armageddon. To influence or induce one to take such a course is seducing or turning one aside from the right way. But the Lord shows that it is not possible to deceive the very elect. (Matt. 24: 24) Those who are fully devoted to the Lord will refuse to be influenced or seduced by such efforts to keep them quiet. They will be on the alert at all times and resent any and all subtle influence of the Devil, which may appear to be put forward by him through any creature, whether that creature claims to be consecrated to the Lord or not. God has commanded his people to “rise up against her in battle” now. By his prophet Ezekiel he commands his anointed ones, “the man clothed with linen”, saying, “Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; . . . And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in in my sight. And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it [fire] into the hands of him that was clothed with linen; who took it, and went out.” —Ezek. 10:6,2,7.
32 Such work by the anointed is doing the ‘slaying’ part of the Elisha work, which he was anointed to perform. The Lord graciously revealed this matter and caused it to be published in Vindication, Book One, page 116 et seq., and that no doubt for the instruction and guidance of his anointed, that they might be fully equipped and furnished for all good work. Yet it appears that some who should have learned what is published, and should be performing these duties as God has commanded, instead have been seduced, and by some wrongful influence, and are interfering with the work and endeavoring to make the anointed believe that their chief work is to be done after Armageddon. The elect will not be deceived or seduced. These faithful anointed ones will not slack the hand in this day of war, but with the zeal peculiar to the Lord’s house they will continue to press the battle against the enemy. The remnant will not engage in the destructive work at Armageddon. The part performed by the remnant is to proclaim the message by the Lord as he has commissioned and commanded them to do. The Lord Jesus Christ and his heavenly host will do the slaughter work. That is made clear by many prophetic statements.—2 Chron. 20:16-22; Ezek. 9:4-G.
33 The remnant have a work to do now before the destructive work of Armageddon begins, and which work they must complete before that destructive work docs begin. (Matt. 24:14, 21) From the time Jehovah put his name upon his anointed ones, giving to them the “new name”, he commissioned and sent them forth to perform their part by declaring the day of his vengeance. As they go forth to the nations bearing testimony to the name of Jehovah, the Most High says to them: “Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.”—Isa. 62: 2, 3.
34 Jehovah exhibits his anointed witnesses before the Esau crowd and thus shows his favor to his witnesses; and because he puts his favor upon them the fire of the enemy is drawn against Jehovah’s witnesses and the battle goes on. The enemies of God, particularly the religionists, are designated under the name of “Esau”, “Edom,” “Ephraim,” “Philistines,” etc. All such refer to the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their allies. Concerning such enemies Jehovah says: “Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards of Ephraim, whose glorious beauty is a fading flower, which are on the head of the fat valleys of them that are overcome with wine!” (Isa. 28:1) The enemy, the religionists, are drunken with satanic wine; and such, in their maudlin, drunken state, go forth, making war against the remnant because the remnant “keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ’’. These faithful ones bring the truth to the people, and the truth uncovers the hidden lies of the religionists. The battle is on, and to his anointed, faithful, true witnesses Jehovah now says: “In that day shall the Lord of hosts be for a crown of glory, and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue [the remnant] of his people.” (Isa. 28:5) Jehovah thus shows he is on the side of these faithful witnesses.
35 Can there be any doubt in the mind of any of the truly anointed temple class that the battle is now on between the religionists and Jehovah’s faithful servants? Has not that battle been raging, and with increasing fury, during the past ten years? The Boman Catholic Hierarchy trains all its guns upon the witnesses of Jehovah. In Germany that wicked “old whore” has bluffed and browbeaten some into silence, but there yet remain in that sorrowful land many humble, true and faithful witnesses who are determined to give the testimony as commanded, even if it costs them every drop of their blood. In New Jersey the enemy, led by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, has brought up every available instrument with which to assault and beat down Jehovah’s witnesses, but in that section the true and faithful remain firm and continue to sing louder and louder the praises of Jehovah, pressing on in the battle. They count not their earthly existence dear unto them. Moved by the unbreakable love of God and Christ, which is stronger than death, those faithful ones, in the language employed by Paul, now say concerning the war against them: “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”—Acts 20: 24.
36 The wicked Roman Catholic Hierarchy and allies use all their power and influence to cause the radio stations to cease broadcasting God's message of truth. They have employed ail manner of political methods to have laws enacted to suppress the truth. They use their newspapers to publish malicious libels against, God’s faithful and true witnesses. They carry forward their mischievous persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses, causing rules or laws to be made commanding that even the little children be compelled to submit to their senseless, religious ceremonies of saluting flags, thus attributing to a thing salvation rather than attributing to God salvation, to whom it belongs. They denounce everyone who attempts to set forth the Scriptural reasons showing that it is the duty of the follower of Christ Jesus to obey God and not man. The purpose of the enemy is to turn Jehovah’s witnesses and all sympathizers away from God by putting them in fear and subjection, and to control them in an arbitrary, inquisitorial manner by dictators, and to destroy the freedom and worship of the true, almighty God. Shall anyone who loves God have anything to do or anything in common with such workers of iniquity? (Ps. 94:20) Would anyone who loves God co-operate with that wicked crowd by trying to induce the anointed to believe that the chief part of their work will be accomplished after Armageddon, and that they should now go easy? Could anyone who is devoted to God and to his cause, and who is participating in the fight, now put forth or attempt to put a scotch block under the wheels of God's organization by saying in the presence and healing of the anointed words to this effect: “We are getting nowhere now. Our chief work is after the first phase of Armageddon. Wait till then. We will then be ready to receive the great multitude.” Those who now yield to such sophistry and fall under that influence will be seduced and deceived, and that of itself shows that such cannot be of God’s elect.
37 What is the purpose of the battle now in progress between the religionists and Jehovah’s witnesses? Certainly not to convert the world nor to gather the groat multitude; but it is to furnish the opportunity to those persons of good will toward God to hear the message of truth and to take their stand on the side of God and his kingdom and to truly “seek righteousness” and “seek meekness” before the tierce anger of the Lord is expressed at Armageddon. (Zeph. 2:1-3) Jehovah has not commanded his witnesses to gather the great multitude now or at any other time. That work the Lord himself does in his own good time and way. For anyone to say “Our work of gathering the great multitude will take place after Armageddon” is presumptuousness before the Lord. The business and work of the anointed is to obey God's commandments. He has commanded that this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached and completed before the slaying work begins. The Greater Moses, Christ Jesus, sends forth his followers from the temple and commands them to proclaim boldly from the housetops (he message of the kingdom and the day of the vengeance of our God. To refrain from so doing or to slack the hand and become negligent, or to attempt to exercise influence over the anointed to cause them to become negligent and slack the hand, constitutes a failure to give heed to the commandments of Jehovah’s great Prophet.—Acts 3:23.
38 Is the Lord Jesus at the temple of Jehovah? All the evidence shows that he is. That being so, then Christ Jesus is conducting judgment and “before him [are] gathered all nations”, and he is separating them. Mark the words of the scripture which says that it is Christ Jesus that is separating the nations and determining who are the sheep, the Jonadabs, or great multitude. Christ is gathering them, and not we. If the gathering of the great multitude takes place after Armageddon, then when could it be possible for those people of good will to show favor to Christ and his persecuted remnant as the members of his body as stated at Matthew 25? At Armageddon the persecution will be done, because the persecutors will be slain. Those of the great multitude must be firm and bold in doing their work by informing others and thus giving them the opportunity to seek righteousness and meekness before Armageddon, because such is the plain word of the Lord. If one does not see that the Lord is now at the temple, conducting judgment, then surely that person is not of the temple. If, while mingling with the temple class, continuing to claim to be one of them, a person utters speech or exercises influence to induce the anointed to be negligent, such is an offense against God and against his organization.—Matt. 18:6, 7.
39 Let the anointed now hear and give heed to the words of Jehovah, who says: “Rise up against her [Satan’s organization, the Edomites] in battle.” The battle is on now, and is growing in severity each day. Amidst this great persecution by the enemy the work of proclaiming the kingdom message must go on to the end that the ‘hidden lies’ of the enemy may be uncovered and fully exposed to view in order that those who love what is right may flee to the city of refuge, which is God’s organization, and remain steadfastly there until the wrath of God is past. Today the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their allied clergy have departed entirely from the Word of God and his service and have devoted themselves to the political affairs of the forces of darkness. Their allies heretofore called “Protestants” are dead, and now ‘darkness covers the whole world, and gross darkness is upon all the religionists’. Yet in that organization, and under its dominating control, there are those who sigh and cry for light and truth. To the remnant, his faithful anointed ones, Jehovah now says: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.” (Isa. 60:1, 2) You who have been brought into the organization of Jehovah, let your light now so shine that all with whom you come in contact may have cause to know that you are for Jehovah and his kingdom, first, last, and all the time.
(To be continued)
QUESTIONS FOR STUDY
1,2. When and how did Jehovah cause his glory to begin to be made manifest to his servants? Account for the fact that some understand and appreciate the prophecies as the lord unfolds them, while others who also are in a covenant to do the will of God are unable to discern the fulfillment of the prophecies, and some even object to the means and the message which Jehovah has provided for the instruction of his people.
3-5. What is the proper attitude and procedure for the faithful servants of the Lord in relation to others in the covenant and to the unfolding of the prophecies ? Show whether repetition in The Watchtower of certain physical facts is in line with Jehovah’s purpose in providing the prophecies and record thereof and in due time unfolding them to his faithful people.
6, 7. What is the source of the prophecy designated as that of Obadiah? Its message? Its purpose? What important and timely instruction is seen in the fact that the identity of Obadiah is uncertain?
8-11. When was this prophecy written? and when, and to whom, does it apply? Point out how Isaiah 21:11,12, together with related scriptures, serves to confirm the application of this prophecy.
12-15. With examples of record in illustration, point out the great importance of being constantly uncompromising and bold in bearing testimony to the truth.
16. With scriptures, account for the suffering that comes upon Jehovah's people.
17-19. How is The Watchtower serving the purpose for which God has provided it?
20-23. With scriptures and facts, identify antitypical Edom and the modern-day Edomites.
24. Show that the record concerning Esau, the words of Obadiah 7, and the words of Jesus concerning the clergy of his day, are all prophetic of the situation at the present time, confirming the identity of the modern Edomites.
25-29. Referring to verse 1: Who have heard? and how? Why, whereas others with opportunity have not heard? Who is this “ambassador”? By whom is he sent “among the nations”, and how? With what tidings? and for what purpose? With what response by those who hear these tidings? Explain the significance of this prophecy’s being the word of the Lord “concerning Edom”. What is Jehovah’s foretold purpose toward the antitypical Esau? Why will he visit such judgment upon the Esau class?
30, 32. How does Jehovah fulfill his declaration of Ezekiel 25: 14? How docs he have the work performed as directed in Ezekiel 10: 6,2,7? How are his people put to test in this connection? and with what result?
33,34. When and how is Isaiah 62:3 fulfilled? With what effect upon the enemy? With what result to the faithful witnesses?
35. What do the truly anointed temple class now clearly see as to present reality and progress of the battle foretold?
36. Describe the enemy’s attempt to suppress the truth and to turn Jehovah’s witnesses and all sympathizers away from God.
37. What is the purpose of the battle now on between the religionists and Jehovah’s witnesses? How serious now is slackness or negligence or the exercise of adverse influence in connection with the proclamation of the kingdom message?
38. What takes place when the Lord Jesus comes to the temple of Jehovah? How is it accomplished? What does this mean as to when that work must be done?
39. What, then, is the urgency of proclaiming this message now, and the importance of having a part therein?
SATANIC PREPARATION FOR ARMAGEDDON
AT ONE time in the history of Satan’s wicked organization of angels and men ancient Assyria was the outstanding and dominant world power. The city of Nineveh was its capital at that time. The ruling factors of that world power resided there and exercised dominion therefrom. Hence Nineveh, and also Assyria, of which it was the capital, are used in the Bible prophecies to represent Satan’s organization as it exists in our day, particularly the political side of the earthly part of the Devil’s organization.
In the prophecy of Nahum, which is addressed to Nineveh, Jehovah describes his own organization as being prepared for the great and impending conflict, the battle of Armageddon, and serves warning notices on Satan’s organization today, saying: “He that dasheth in pieces is come up before thy face: keep the munition, watch the way, make thy loins strong, fortify thy power mightily. For the Lord [Jehovah] hath turned away the excellency . . . The shield of his mighty men [that is, Christ and his armies in heaven] is made red, the valiant men are in scarlet: the chariots shall be with flaming torches [or, flash with steel] in the day of his preparation [Jehovah’s preparation], and the fir trees shall be terribly shaken.”—Nahum 2:1-3.
In keeping with his usual mode of procedure, Satan the enemy prepares for war, and he does so with great noise and boasting and at the same time keeps the peoples in ignorance of his purpose. Christ Jesus, God’s great Prophet, caused the apostle John to make a record of this prophecy, namely: ‘‘And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”—Rev. 16: 13,14.
The three unclean spirits here mentioned are likened unto frogs. A frog swells up, is bombastic, and boasts of what he is going to do and makes much noise about it. The noise of a bullfrog strikes terror to the mind of one who does not know whence the noise emanates. The Devil has the whole world in fear and distress because his bullfrogs are bellowing forth their noise. The ‘‘dragon” mentioned in the above-quoted text represents the entire satanic organization, while the ‘‘beast” is symbolic of the visible part of that organization, and the ‘‘false prophet” particularly represents the great political mouthpiece and spokesman which all observant people today can plainly see is the joint power of the British Empire and the United States. With one accord all these elements of Satan’s organization boast and make much noise of what they are doing and are going to do.
In substance they say: ‘The earth is ours, and we are going to fix everything to our liking; and when we get through the people will like it.’ This is but voicing the sentiment of the Devil, who is symbolized by the dragon in the river, as described by the prophet Ezekiel (29: 3), and which says: ‘‘My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself.” Here the river is symbolic of the peoples on whom Satan has hold. The visible part of the Devil’s organization makes peace pacts and boldly announces: ‘We have outlawed war and hence there will be no more war, and let the people be assured to that end.’
When the Paris Peace Pact was pending before the United States Senate for ratification, its chief sponsor in America was prancing about like a well-groomed horse that wanted to show itself. Even moving pictures were made of his antics, and these were exhibited before the people throughout the land. At the same time the war organization was pushing the lawmaking body both for the ratification of the peace pact and for more battleships. The political whip was brought to bear to carry out the purposes of those in power, this being symbolically described in Nahum’s prophecy (3:2) in these words: ‘‘The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the prancing horses, and of the jumping chariots. ’ ’
Within a few days after the United States Senate ratified the Paris Peace Paet by an almost unanimous vote, the lawmaking machinery provided for the building of a more powerful navy than has ever before been had, and provided for the expenditure of $275,000,000 for new war vessels, to say nothing about the great expenditure for other military preparations. Public press dispatches, dated February 13, 1929, announced that the president signed a bill that day to authorize the construction of fifteen modern warships, and within a few minutes thereafter the building program was begun. The clergy and the religious leaders loudly applaud the action of the political and commercial powers, and say to the people, in substance: ‘There will be no more war, because we have outlawed war. At the same time we must prepare by building more ships.’
It is rather difficult for the common people to understand the consistency of such actions and declarations. The building of war machines proceeds upon a gigantic scale in every nation of so-called ‘‘Christendom”. The political factors, in the saddle, make the legal provision ; the commercial giants arrange for the money; and the clergy provide the sanctimonious smoke screen which their ‘‘father” (whom Jesus declared to be the Devil) employs to blind the people to the truth. Just as the prophet says, all three are like bullfrogs; but the loudest one, and the most sanctimonious among the three, is the clergy of the great ‘‘false prophet” system, Britain and America.
The preparation goes on and Satan causes his agents, the rulers of the earth, to take counsel together against God and against his Anointed, and to say, in substance: ‘Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us, and fix the world to suit ourselves.’ To this Psalm 2:4 replies: ‘‘He [Jehovah] that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh ; the Lord shall have them in derision.”
Returning now to the consideration of Nahum’s prophecy relative to the preparation, it is found to be exactly in accord with the prophecy of Revelation, above quoted. Jehovah speaks through Nahum and says: ‘‘The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall justle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings. ’’—Nah. 2: 4.
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