The Watchtower, December 1, 1939
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“WAR OF VINDICATION” TESTIMONY PERIOD
December marks the “War of Vindication” Testimony Period. Like the daily march around Jericho over a complete period, the testimony for Jehovah’s name and against the foes of Theocracy continues despite the season of the year. All Theocratic publishers should offer to the public first a three-booklet combination on a 10c contribution, including Government and Peace if available. If this offer is not accepted, Government and Peace will be offered on a 5e contribution, or any contribution possible to the obtainer. This will insure a wide distribution of this most timely booklet. Portable phonographs are not to be left in idleness, but should be used from house to house to run the latest recording, and the publications announced thereon will then be offered to the listeners. The war is on, and you will now do your part therein, reporting at the end of the month’s campaign the effectiveness of your intensive activities.
YEARBOOK FOR 1940
The 1940 Yearbook of Jehovah's witnesses presents a comprehensive report of the past year’s world-wide activities of these publishers of Jehovah’s Theocracy by Christ. You will marvel at the most interesting and most successful service year yet, even with opposition increasing, nations being swallowed up by dictators, and wartime restrictions being generally applied, curtailing the Theocratic work in many countries. This report is prepared by the president of the Society. Additionally, there is a brief comment by the president on the text for the new calendar year, together with a text for each day of the year accompanied by an appropriate comment thereon as taken from recent issues of The Watchtower. The edition of the Yearbook is limited, and hence the regular contribution of 50c a copy is taken therefor Order promptly, with remittance to cover. Each company will place their orders with the local company servant, that he may convenience this office by sending in a combination order.
1940 CALENDAR
The 1940 Calendar sets out the text for the new calendar year, to wit: “My heart shall rejoice in thy salvation.” (Psalm 13:5) A beautiful color illustration, specially painted, harmonizes with the theme of the text, and its portrayal of what is impending will gladden your heart. Neat calendar pads indicate the special Testimony Periods of the year and the special lines of endeavor of the other months of activity in publishing the Kingdom gospel.
(Continued on page 367)
Vol. LX
December 1, 1939
No. 23
THE THEOCRACY
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?”—Ps. 24:3.
JEHOVAH is the Almighty Theocrat. Christ Jesus is the King, whom Jehovah has enthroned and sent forth to rule. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Ps. 2: 6) “To Jehovah belongeth the earth and the fulness thereof, the world and they who dwell therein.” (Ps. 24:1, Rotherham) To his mighty King, Christ Jesus, whom he has enthroned, Jehovah addresses these words: “Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Ps. 2:8, Am. Rev. Ver.) Christ Jesus has asked, in obedience to the command of his Father, and he is now the rightful Ruler of the world, hence the Governor and Executive Officer acting for the great Theocrat.
2 The Theocracy, therefore, is Jehovah’s government of the world by Christ Jesus, the righteous Overlord. “Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.” (Isa. 32:1) The princes shall exercise authority in exact harmony with and according to the decision of the King, Christ Jesus. Such is the government, or great kingdom, concerning which Jesus directed his disciples to pray to Jehovah God: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”—Matt. 6:10.
ORGANIZED
3 The organization of The Theocracy, as disclosed by the Scriptures, is this: The Almighty God, “whose name alone is Jehovah,” the Supreme One, is the Creator and Builder and Organizer; his only begotten and beloved Son, who is Christ Jesus, is Executive Officer of Jehovah God, whom God makes the King of the world; and associated with Christ Jesus by the grace and selection of Jehovah are 144,000 taken from amongst men, who prove faithful and are made “priests of God and of Christ”, and who “reign with him”. (Rev. 1:6; Rev. 20:4,6) There is “one God and Father of all, who is above all”. (Eph. 4:6) There is one Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, the “mediator between God and men” (1 Tim. 2: 5, 6), whom God hath made Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36); and one body, of which Christ Jesus is the Head. (Eph. 1: 22; 4:15) Such is a brief description of the capital organization of Jehovah God, and which in symbol is called Zion. (Ps. 132:13) “The Lord [Jehovah] hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever; here will I dwell; for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation; and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.” (Ps. 132:13-16) “When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory.”—Ps. 102:16.
VISIBLE REPRESENTATIVES
4 The official or capital organization called “Zion” is not visible to human eyes. It is the new heaven of righteousness. The Scriptures further disclose that The Theocracy will have visible representatives on the earth, who shall perform the duties of governors under the direction and supervision of the theocratic King. Such men were in times of old called “fathers” in Israel. They proved their faithfulness unto Jehovah God and shall be made the children of The Christ and his representatives on the earth. This organization is described by the apostle Peter as the “new heavens and [the] new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness”.—2 Pet. 3:13.
5 The 144,000 body members of Christ are designated the “little flock” and share with Christ Jesus in his kingdom. (Luke 12:32; 22: 28-30) The visible representatives of the theocratic King are designated “princes in all the earth”. (Ps. 45:16) The term “prince”, as used in this text, means governor, ruler or steward.
6 The Scriptures disclose another class of persons, whom the Lord gathers unto himself and who receive life everlasting and live on the earth, and which company collectively is called his “other sheep” and the “great multitude”. (John 10:16; Rev. 7:9-15) Those “other sheep” are brought under the full supervision and control of the Lord Jesus Christ, the theocratic King, and under his direction they carry out the divine mandate to “multiply and fill the earth”.
PURPOSE
7 It is a vital necessity that persons who desire to live shall learn of Jehovah’s purpose, particularly with reference to his Theocratic Government. His purpose God makes known through his Word, the Bible, and the reason for this Watchtower publication is to aid those who are of good will toward God to learn of his purpose and of his gracious provision for obedient men. Jehovah God created the earth for man, and he made man to inhabit the earth. “I have made the earth, and created man upon it; I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited; I am the Lord, and there is none else.”— Isa. 45:12,18.
8 The earth shall be inhabited by men; that is to say, human creatures shall live on the earth forever, and never die, being obedient to the Theocratic Government. Not many persons now on the earth believe the good news concerning The Theocracy, but those truths are made clear and certain by the Lord himself. By his unchangeable Word he makes this declaration : “I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa. 46:11) ‘My word shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that whereunto I have sent it.’ (Isa. 55:11) Those who will constitute the “other sheep” of the Lord, and who will form the great multitude, must now inform themselves concerning Jehovah’s purpose and must rely wholly upon his Word. It is therefore essential to receive his instruction, as set forth in his Word, and to be diligent in the study of that Word, together with the helps that God has provided for the understanding of the same at this time. Jehovah God is “the Fountain of life”; “salvation belongeth unto the Lord.” (Ps. 36:9; 3:8) All who live must please God, and therefore must believe that God exists, and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him. (Heb. 11:6) They must know that Christ Jesus is the Redeemer of faithful men and that God has provided that life shall be given to obedient men through Christ Jesus, and that there is no other name given whereby men may be saved and receive life. (Acts 4:12; Rom. 6: 23) Those who are of good will must now fortify themselves by reading these Bible texts and carefully considering them.
9 God created man a perfect creature and made his life dependent upon complete obedience to God’s law. The Devil induced that man to rebel against God, and his disobedience brought sin into the world. Thus disobedience brought death upon men. All the offspring of that man have been born in sin, which means that they have no right to life. (Rom. 5:12; Ps. 51:5) The Devil then rebelliously and wickedly declared before God that he could cause all men to disobey God and curse Him, and thus he challenged God to put men on the earth who would remain faithful to Jehovah. (Job 2:5) That wicked challenge raised the question of who is supreme, Jehovah God or the Devil? God could immediately have destroyed the Devil and thus proved his own supremacy, but it pleased him to give the Devil full opportunity to prove his wicked challenge, and, he failing to do so, all creation must see and admit the supremacy of Jehovah God, and learn that life everlasting can be had only by full obedience to God’s law. Jehovah then said to the Devil: “But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16, Leeser) Since that declaration centuries have passed and the Devil has had full opportunity to make good his wicked challenge. He has failed, and his end is come, and that he knows. —Rev. 12:12.
PROMISE
10 God gave his Word that he would raise up a “seed” that would crush the Devil in due time. (Gen. 3:15) God then made prophetic pictures foretelling his purpose, and he used Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and others to make such prophetic pictures. To Abraham he said: “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies: and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Gen. 12: 3; 22:10-18) In the picture made and recorded in the last above cited text Abraham offered his son Isaac in sacrifice. There Abraham pictured Jehovah God and Isaac pictured Christ Jesus, who is the real seed of promise. That picture foretold that God would permit his beloved Son, whom Isaac foreshadowed, to be offered as a sacrifice.—Gal. 3:16, 26-29; 4: 28.
11 Jacob, who is also called “Israel”, was a grandson of Abraham, and Jacob was also used by Jehovah to make prophetic pictures relating to the Theocratic Government. Jacob pictured The Christ, that is to say, Jesus Christ, the Head, and the members of “his body”. (Eph. 5: 23,30) This prophecy is recorded in the Bible, to wit: “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre [symbol of ruler] shall rise out of Israel. . . . Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.”—Num. 24:17,19.
12 Judah was the son of Jacob, and concerning whom this prophecy was written, to wit: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the obedience of the peoples be.” (Gen. 49:10, A.R.V.) That prophecy foretold Christ Jesus, the Messiah, the King of the world, the Theocrat’s great Executive Officer. Jesus Christ is “the Lion of the tribe of Juda” and “the Bright and Morning Star”. (Rev. 5:5; 22:16) Thus God used Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to make prophetic pictures foretelling the coming of Christ his King and the One who should be the active Ruler of the great Theocratic Government. (For a more detailed consideration of this matter see the book Government, pages 88-130.) That it is the purpose of Jehovah God, by his King, to destroy the Devil and all of his works and organization is abundantly shown by the Scriptures. “He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8; Heb. 2:14; Ps. 110:2-5) The triumph of the Theocratic Government will be a complete vindication of Jehovah’s name and his Word. Christ Jesus the King is the Vindicator of Jehovah and the One who executes Jehovah’s purpose. From Abel to John the Baptist there were men who had faith in God’s promise that he would set up his Theocratic Government, and their hopes rested in that promised government. Because of their faith they received God’s approval, and in his due time they shall be fully rewarded.
DEVELOPMENT
13 A long period of time elapsed from the rebellion in Eden till the coming of Jesus. The conception of the child Jesus was not by the power of man, but by the power of the spirit of Almighty God. (Matt. 1: 20-25) Jesus was therefore born holy, pure, harmless, undefiled, and without sin, and which meant that he was entitled to live. (Heb. 7: 26) God caused Jesus to be born as a man of flesh and blood that he might be the Redeemer of man and the King of the Theocratic Government. Jesus thus declared: “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.” (John 18: 36, 37) The birth of the child Jesus was announced by the angel of Almighty God. (Luke 2:10,11) Thirty years after the birth of Jesus Jehovah God “anointed” him, which means that he commissioned him to carry out the purpose for which he had been sent. (Matt. 3:16,17; Acts 10: 38) Immediately thereafter Jesus Christ entered upon the work which he was commissioned to do, and he began his testimony by making known that “the kingdom of heaven is at hand”. (Matt. 4:17) He was then the anointed King of the Theocratic Government, and, he being then present in the earth, it was literally true that the kingdom was at hand. From that moment onward the development of the kingdom progressed.
THE ENEMY
14 Satan the Devil is the adversary of God and the enemy of man. From the very time of the anointing of Jesus Satan began his work of opposition in his effort to destroy Christ Jesus. He laid before Jesus that which would have resulted in His destruction had Jesus yielded thereto. Satan failed, Jesus emphatically declaring that those who live shall worship Jehovah God, and him only. (Matt. 4:1-11) Then the Devil employed every possible means to oppose Jesus and his work, and the chief instrument used by the Devil was religious leaders and the practitioners of religion, particularly called “Pharisees”, or clergy of that time. God had warned the Israelites that religion was a snare of the Devil, but the Israelites failed to give heed to that warning and, being led by and fearing men, they fell into the Devil’s snare. (Deut. 7:25; Ps. 106:36) The religious leaders called “Pharisees” having yielded to the Devil’s influence, they fell into the Devil’s snare and made the Word of God of none effect by teaching and practicing religion. (Matt. 15:1-9) Jesus informed those religionists that they were the instruments of the Devil, and they being blind, they were leading the blind people and turning them away from God and from his Word. (John 8:42-44; Matt. 15:14) The Devil continuously used the religious leaders and persecuted Christ Jesus, and at the end of three and one-half years that opposition succeeded by having Jesus arrested and convicted, upon false testimony, of the crime of treason; and Jesus was executed by being nailed to the tree, as if he was an accursed sinner. Then the Devil used those same religious leaders to bribe men to give testimony that the body of Jesus had been stolen from the tomb, and this they did in order to keep the people in ignorance of his resurrection. (Matt. 27:62-66; 28:12-15) The Devil thought his religious clergymen had done well and that he had defeated God’s purpose. Again the Devil had failed.
15 Jesus being a perfect man and anointed to be King, why should he suffer ? He proved that man can endure the greatest suffering and at the same time remain faithful to God. Thereby he completely refuted Satan’s wicked challenge to Jehovah. Because of his full obedience under the most adverse conditions he proved his full perfection in harmony with Jehovah: “Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Heb. 5: 8, 9) He demonstrated the fact that all who receive God’s approval must be faithful.
16 Why should Jesus die ? He did not die because of any wrong on his part. The manner of his death was as that of a sinner, but yet he was without sin, holy and harmless. He proved that man can be true and faithfully obedient to God even unto death. Because of Jesus’ faithful obedience God raised him out of death and exalted him to the highest position next to Jehovah in the Theocratic Government: “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”—Phil. 2:8-11.
17 The lifeblood of Jesus, the perfect man, poured out in death provided the purchase price for men who are sinners by inheritance and who by faith accept him as the Savior. Jesus is therefore the Redeemer, Purchaser, and Deliverer of those who believe on him and obey God’s law. (John 3:16) Adam’s sin brought death upon all mankind. The obedience of Jesus unto death opened the way for men to get life and to receive it as a free gift: “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”—John 3: 35,36.
18 He died as a man. Jesus was resurrected to life a spirit with full power and authority to give life to all who believe and obey. “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the spirit.” (1 Pet. 3:18) “Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.” (Rom. 5:18,19; 6: 23) He “was dead”, but now he is “alive for evermore” and is the world’s rightful King. (Rev. 1:18) As the Purchaser and Redeemer of man Jesus Christ is clothed with power and authority to give life to those who believe on and obey him. “And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.”—Heb. 5:9.
ENTHRONED
19 Jesus was raised to life “a life-giving spirit” and exalted to heaven more than nineteen centuries ago. (1 Cor. 15:45, A.R.V.) Did he begin the reign as King immediately after his exaltation? No; for the reason that such was not Jehovah’s due time for him to reign. When Jesus ascended on high Jehovah said to him, as it is written: “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” (Ps. 110:1) Concerning this it is written: “But this priest, having offered one sacrifice for sins evermore, sat down on the right hand of God: as for the rest waiting until his foes be made his footstool.”—Heb. 10:12,13, Roth.
20 It was in the year 1914 that the period of waiting mentioned in the foregoing text came to an end, and God then placed Christ Jesus upon his throne and sent him forth to rule. (Ps. 110:2) “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Ps. 2: 6) “Thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come.” (Rev. 11:17,18) The fulfillment of this prophecy came in the autumn season of 1914, and this is further corroborated by the prophetic words of Jesus and the facts coming to pass in fulfillment of his prophecy.—Matt. 24: 3-8.
21 From the resurrection of Jesus until his enthronement as King Jehovah God continued to prepare and develop his royal organization. This the Lord has done by causing his purpose to be declared as written in his Word, that those who have heard and believed on the Lord Christ Jesus as Redeemer and King, and who have then fully devoted themselves unto God and Christ, have been given an opportunity to prove their faithful obedience unto God. The apostles and other faithful men did obey unto death and had the promise of partaking with Christ Jesus in his resurrection and in his kingdom. For that reason they must wait the second coming of Christ and his enthronement as King and the building up of Jehovah’s capital organization. Concerning this the apostle said immediately preceding his death: “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, 1 have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”—2 Tim. 4: 6-8.
22 It is to the faithful apostles and others of like faithfulness that the promise is given that they shall have part with Christ Jesus in the kingdom or Theocratic Government. (Luke 22:28-30) To such Jesus addresses these words: “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.”—Rev. 2:10, A.R.V.
23 These faithful ones are the “little flock”, taken out from amongst men to be witnesses to the name and kingdom of Jehovah God. (Acts 15:14) Such are the witnesses for Jehovah. Such faithful ones constitute the spiritual temple of God, of which Christ Jesus is the Head. (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16) It was in the year 1918, that is, three and one-half years after his enthronement, that Christ Jesus came straightway to the temple of Jehovah. (Mal. 3:1-3) That was the time for the resurrection of the faithful apostles and other like faithful men who died after them, and concerning which the apostle testified at 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17. These being resurrected were brought into Zion, God’s capital organization. Then Jesus caused the consecrated ones on earth to be submitted to a fiery trial or test, as set forth in Malachi 3:1-4. The approved ones were builded up into Zion, the temple, in order that they might offer unto Jehovah an offering in righteousness by becoming his faithful witnesses. Collectively that approved number the Lord designated as the “faithful and wise servant”, to whom he committed his kingdom interests on the earth. (Matt. 24:45-47) All of such must from that time forward prove their faithfulness and meet the divine requirements if they would be forever in the royal organization of the great Theocratic Government.
REQUIREMENTS
24 Who of the consecrated shall be made part of the Theocratic Government? David, the prophet and king of Israel, pictured Christ Jesus, the great Prophet, and in answer to the foregoing question uttered this prophecy: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?” (Ps. 24:3) According to another translator the text reads: “Who shall ascend the mountain of Jehovah? and who shall stand in his holy place?” (Rotherham) This question propounded clearly indicates that some might enter the temple, being approved, and thereafter might not stand or remain in the temple, by reason of their failure to meet the requirements. It is written that every one in the temple must show forth the praises of Jehovah.— Ps. 29:9.
25 They must show their praise of him by faithfully being his witnesses and faithfully obeying the commandments of the Lord. (Heb. 13:15) The Lord Jesus makes known concerning those who become offended and are lawless that he sends forth his angels to gather them out of the kingdom, that is, to remove them from the temple: “The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity.”—Matt. 13:41.
26 The spirit-begotten ones on earth at the temple judgment who enter therein because of the Lord’s approval constitute the remnant of the temple company, all of whom must be witnesses for Jehovah. (Isa. 43:10-12) Every one of such must declare God’s name in the earth before Armageddon. (Ex. 9:16) To all such the command is given to ‘preach this gospel of the kingdom to all the world as a witness’. (Matt. 24:14) The remnant therefore constitute the “feet of him”, that is, the last members of the body of Christ on earth, who by reason of being the witnesses for Jehovah bring good news to those who have the hearing ear. (Isa. 52:7) Those who are gathered into the temple and who then fail or refuse to obey the commandments of the Lord cannot remain in the temple.
27 The question is then propounded: “Who shall stand in his holy place?” That means, Who shall remain in the capital organization of Jehovah? The Lord causes the answer to be recorded: “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”—Ps. 24:4, 5.
28 Those who are brought into the “holy place”, that is, the temple, must devote their faculties to right and righteousness in obedience to God’s law and must refrain from touching or having anything to do with the Devil’s organization, which is unclean. The “heart” is the seat of unselfishness, or love, and therefore those of the remnant must be unselfishly devoted to the great Theocrat and his King. Such must not desire or seek vain things. That means that they must shun religion, which is the snare of the Devil and which is a defamation of God’s name. If they would stand or remain in the “holy place” they must not fear man; they must not desire the approval of men or fear that they might not receive man’s approval. They must fear God and be diligent at all times to seek his approval. They having made a covenant to do the will of God, that covenant must be faithfully kept and performed, and to break that covenant willingly means that such person has sworn deceitfully and hence could not remain in the “holy place”. That covenant with Jehovah requires the creature to avoid religion and to proclaim only the truth. The remnant must be not only willing but joyful witnesses of the Lord, giving full devotion to the Theocratic Government. Claiming to serve God and at the same time co-operating with or attempting to co-operate with religion or religious organizations means the breaking of the covenant with Jehovah. To stand in the holy place one must be fully and completely devoted to The Theocrat and his government. The test that has come upon the remnant of the temple during the past few years has demonstrated that some have failed to meet the requirements and have been gathered out and made a part of the “evil servant” class, the “son of perdition”.— Matt. 24:48-51; 2 Thess. 2: 3.
PEACE
29 The Theocracy is a government of peace. The King is the Ruler of Peace, and everyone of his official organization must be at peace with God and his King and at peace with every member of the royal house. Concerning the Theocrat and his King it is written prophetically, referring to his birth and to his reign: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder ; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice, from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”—Isa. 9:6,7.
30 There shall be no controversy, and there shall be no end of peace in the Theocratic Government. That peace and harmony must prevail with the remnant of the temple company. Let everyone who hopes to remain in the Theocratic Government bear this in mind: that peace must at all times exist between those who are of the remnant. Each one who is in the temple is the servant of God, and all of the remnant collectively constitute that one body designated the “faithful and wise servant”, to whom are committed the kingdom interests on earth at the present time. It is plainly written that God hath placed the members in the body according to his good pleasure. (1 Cor. 12:18) No one in the temple can willingly withdraw from God’s organization and the service thereof and offer as an excuse for such that he is offended at another person who is of God’s organization. God judges his own servants. “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.”—Rom. 14:1-4.
31 God has placed upon certain ones of his organization the duty of seeing that organization instructions are carried out. It may become necessary and hence proper for such a one, by reason of his position in the Society, that is, of the remnant of God’s organization, to rebuke another who is going contrary to organization instructions; but such rebuke is no excuse or justification for offense or withdrawal from the Lord’s service.—1 Tim. 5: 20; Titus 2:15.
32 He having gathered his people into the temple, all the temple company have come to the full and complete unity in Christ. (Eph. 4:13-15) That means that all must be at peace with one another and continue in peace amongst themselves. If it appears that some are bent upon disturbing the peace of the earthly members of the temple company, such is strong evidence that the disturber is not of the temple and that such person should be avoided. (Rom. 16:17,18) All members of the temple, fully united in love, must stand firmly together. “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together [unitedly] for the faith of the gospel.” (Phil. 1: 27) Let all companies of the people of God see to it that complete unity, peace and harmony exist among them and that they are all united fully in supporting the Theocracy. All who 'stand in the holy place’ must be wholly and completely faithful to the Theocratic government. There can be no middle ground, and there can be no compromise. All the temple class are united, all being anointed with the spirit of the Lord; and the Lord voices his pleasure in them when he thus through his prophet addressed to them these words: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”—Ps. 133:1.
33 There is neither excuse nor justification for any of the remnant to be at enmity with their brethren, and none who are will receive the Lord’s final approval.
34 Mount Zion is builded up, and Jehovah has there appeared in his glory. (Ps. 102:16) He there appears representatively by his King, Christ Jesus, and hence it is the place of dwelling and action of Jehovah in carrying forward his government. (Ps. 132:13-18) The Scriptures written concerning Jehovah’s organization now apply: “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thy habitations; spare not; lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. For thou shalt spread abroad on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.” (Isa. 54:2,3, A.R.V.) “But upon mount Zion shall be deliverance, and there shall be holiness; and the house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.” (Obadiah 17) “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.”—Hab. 2: 20.
“OTHER SHEEP”
35 The King, Christ Jesus, says: “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) These are they that shall make up the “great multitude”. They are now being gathered by the King, and those who come seeking the way to life by faith in Christ Jesus are given refuge and protection under the organization of Jehovah. The means employed by the Lord to gather his “other sheep” is by sending forth his witnesses to proclaim within the hearing of the people the message of Jehovah of and concerning the Theocracy. (Matt. 24:14) Christ Jesus and the members of the temple make known that the King has come and that it is the Theocracy that provides salvation to those who obey. “And saviours shall come up on mount Zion.” (Obad. 21) Hearing the glad tidings concerning the Theocracy, the “other sheep” of the Lord come from all nations, kindreds and tongues, seeking the way to life. (Rev. 7: 9) This the people of good will are doing at the present time, and those who thus come are told that they must seek righteousness and meekness and, so doing, they may be hid and find complete protection in the great disaster that shall shortly fall upon the world over which Satan has long been the invisible ruler.— Zeph. 2:3.
PEACE EMPHASIZED
36 Again peace is emphasized. This does not mean that peace shall come to every person, but that it will he given to those who are of good will toward the Theocratic Government. At the birth of Jesus, Jehovah’s messenger announced: “Glory in the highest, unto God! and on earth peace, among men of goodwill.” (Luke 2:14, Roth.) That declaration from heaven limits “peace on earth” to those who are of good will toward Jehovah and his government by Christ Jesus. To be of good will means to fully support the Theocracy upon learning of the same. The facts show that at the present time those of good will who learn of the Theocratic Government joyfully and enthusiastically support the same, giving their devotion to God and his King.
37 The religious systems have hoodwinked and deceived many persons. This is particularly true with reference to the Roman Catholic ecclesiastical systems, ruled arbitrarily by the Hierarchy. Many honest and sincere persons who are held in the Roman Catholic organization desire righteousness, and these must hear the truth; and, hearing and obeying the message of the Lord, they come seeking the way to Zion, God’s capital organization, and they come with gladness of heart. Learning the truth, they lift up their hearts and voices with songs of praise to the Most High. (Isa. 35:10) Those who thus seek the Theocratic Government are not limited to any earthly organization, but the sincere ones seeking the truth come from all peoples and walks of life. Learning of the Theocracy, that multitude of persons of good will stand before the throne of the King, engaging in the praise of Jehovah and his Vindicator. They learn that salvation belongs to Jehovah, and not to men or any man-made organization. Therefore they sing: “Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:10) At once they see their privilege of full devotion to the Theocracy, and, seeing it, they devote themselves to the service thereof at all times thereafter. “Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne, shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Rev. 7:15-17) They become the joyful and obedient witnesses to the name and kingdom of the Most High, and hence they join with the remnant and bear testimony thereof to the people. — Rev. 22:17.
38 Note now the peace and harmony that must exist and persist among all of God’s organization, and those who have found protection under the Theocratic Government. The remnant of the temple say: “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.”—Ps. 122:1, 2.
39 “Jerusalem” in symbol stands for Jehovah’s organization in general, meaning all of the capital organization and those who find protection under it and who will form the great multitude. “Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together.” (Ps. 122:3) Zion is the capital organization over the entire organization of the Lord. “For there are set thrones of judgment, the thrones of the house of David.” (Ps. 122: 5) David mentioned in this verse is the Greater David, the beloved Son, Christ Jesus: “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem; they shall prosper that love thee.” (Ps. 122: 6) This command is given to all who have been gathered unto the Lord, and all are told that peace must be within “thy walls”: “Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces.” (Vs. 7) Thus it appears that both the remnant and the Jonathan class, who will compose the “great multitude”, are companions, and they must work harmoniously together: “For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good.” (Vss. 8,9) There must be complete unity and peace amongst all thus gathered unto the King. The remnant and the Jonathan class will have their hearts closely knit together in love and firmly support and aid one another. Jehovah used David and Jonathan to make a beautiful picture of this unity: “And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David; and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.” “Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.” (1 Sam. 18:1,3,4) All those of the remnant and of the Jonathan class will appreciate that now their greatest privilege is to fully and wholly give their support to the Theocratic Government.
OPPOSED
40 Every government of earth is now against the Theocracy. There is not one that is for the Theocracy. The King of the Theocratic Government says: “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad." (Matt. 12:30) The facts now well known fully prove that all the political, commercial and religious organizations are against the kingdom of God. The reason is, because Satan, the invisible “god of this world”, and all his power, and the power of his agents, are against the Theocratic Government. (2 Cor. 4:4;John 14:30) Prompted by the Devil and at the immediate instance of the religious system the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, the political, commercial and religious elements of the world have conspired together against the Theocracy, to destroy those who serve that righteous government. Concerning this God prophetically foretold: “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” (Ps. 2:2, 3) “They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.” (Ps. 83: 3) All the nations practice some kind of religion, and all the nations have forgotten God, and none of them call upon his kingdom and look to it as the means of salvation and deliverance.
41 The end of Satan’s operation is at hand, and, knowing that his time is short, Satan has brought great woes upon the peoples of the earth. (Rev. 12:12) Fear has gained control of the political and commercial elements, and these have invoked religion to bring them aid. Upon earth there is “distress of nations”, “men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” (Luke 21: 25, 26) All the forces of the world under Satan’s command are gathered together for the battle of the great day of God Almighty. (Rev. 16:13-16) All of Satan’s forces are against The Theocracy and those who stand for The Theocracy. Jehovah’s time has come to show his power against all that oppose his government. (Ex. 9:16) It is Jehovah’s time when he, by his right hand, Christ Jesus, 'should destroy them which destroy the earth.’ (Rev. 11:18) That means everything that is against The Theocracy. Agreeable to his expressed purpose, Jehovah has given to Christ his King the nations for an inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for possession. (Ps. 2:8) And what shall the Lord do with all the nations that are against The Theocracy? He answers: “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Ps. 2:9) Such disaster will befall the nations at Armageddon. Only those who fear God and serve his government will survive.
CONTRAST
42 Standing over against the institutions of this wicked world is the glorious kingdom of Jehovah. His government is that of everlasting peace, joy and life. Those who have been taken into the temple, together with their companions who trust fully in and serve the great Theocracy, now can joyfully and truly say: “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.” (Ps. 4:8) There are no other people on earth who can truly utter these words of the psalmist. Those who know not God are in great fear and trepidation, but those who trust wholly in the great Theocrat and his King can rest in peace.
43 The remnant and the Jonathan class, their “companions”, love the great Theocrat and his. King. To them Jehovah now graciously gives a vision of his glorious government. It is the kingdom for which faithful men from the time of Abel till now have hoped and prayed. Those faithful men of old include all the faithful prophets, and by faith they beheld the coming of Jehovah’s government and they fully served God, remaining faithful even unto death. “Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city [a lasting habitation; a dwelling place in peace].” (Heb. 11:16) Soon those faithful men will be resurrected from death, made perfect, and exalted to the place of the visible governors in the earth. The righteous King shall be over them, and those men shall act in exact harmony with his decisions. Over them all is the Almighty God, “whose name alone is Jehovah,” and that government shall be a righteous one. (Isa. 32:1) That government will bring peace to the people, and there the righteous shall flourish. (Ps. 72: 7, 8) Many of the nations of earth are now at war, and all nations are in fear and trepidation; but following Armageddon the Theocratic Government will establish everlasting peace on the earth. Of the mighty King of the Theocracy it is written: “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isa. 2:4) The King at Jehovah’s direction will give life everlasting to all who obey. (Rom. 6:23) There will be no more tears shed, because The Theocracy gives to the people everlasting joy. (Rev. 21:1-4) The great multitude under the immediate command and direction of the theocratic King will fulfill the divine mandate to “multiply and fill the earth” with a people of righteousness. Truly then the earth will be inhabited in fulfillment of God's purpose, inhabited by human creatures whose peace and joy will know no end. Every creature that survives and lives shall sing the praises of Jehovah and his King. By faith the Lord permits his people now to see these good things near at hand.
44 It is now the privilege of everyone who has a vision of the Theocracy to give his entire service to the Kingdom and devote every faculty that he possesses to that service, and such is his reasonable duty. Today those who have a vision of the Kingdom and an appreciation thereof and who continue with such appreciation can never withdraw from the service of the Theocratic organization. Having once been privileged to enter into the service of the Kingdom and then willingly withdrawing therefrom means the certain and complete end of that person: “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”—2 Pet. 2: 21, 22.
45 Complete faithfulness to the Theocracy is required of everyone who enters the kingdom. All must be faithful even unto death. The faithful men of old who shall be made princes exhibited that same degree of faith and faithfulness. Those who will form the “great multitude” must have and exhibit a like degree of faith and faithfulness, even unto death if such be required.
46 While darkness covers the earth, and gross darkness the people, and while strife and wickedness rule today amongst men, all persons of good will are invited to give their allegiance and devotion to the Theocrat and his King. Such is the only hope of mankind, as Jehovah has plainly proclaimed to the world. (Matt. 12:18-21) No one can pin his hope to anything the nations of the present wicked world offer. He that devotes himself to the full and unselfish service of the Theocratic Government shall live. None other shall live. Let all who have a desire for life and all who hate wickedness and love righteousness give heed to the words of the Lord. The earth is his, and the fullness thereof, and he alone can give salvation to life. Zion is builded up, the Theocratic Government is functioning. All people of good will must now seek the Lord and his kingdom and give their unstinted and uncompromising support thereto. Therefore it is written in the prophecy: “This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.” (Ps. 24:6) To all who love righteousness and whose faces are turned toward the great Theocratic Government God through his prophet says: “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.”—Ps. 24: 7-10.
47 Jehovah is the King of Eternity. He has enthroned Christ Jesus, his King of the Theocratic Government. Jehovah has appeared in his glory, and the day of deliverance is at hand for all those who flee to the Theocratic Government and give their allegiance and unselfish devotion to the Theocracy. Because of the limited space only a brief outline can here be given of the Theocratic Government. The books Salvation, Government, and Riches give a more detailed description thereof. By pursuing those studies together with the Bible, which God has provided for those who love righteousness, one may learn the truth and know Jehovah and his King: “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”—John 17: 3.
FOUR ANGELS LOOSED
JEHOVAH by Christ Jesus revealed to the apostle John a vision of seven angels with trumpets. Each angel sounded his trumpet in turn, which sounding was followed by interesting events, which the vision describes symbolically. When the sixth angel sounded John heard the voice of Christ Jesus command the angel: “Loose the four angels which are bound in [at] the great river Euphrates.” The “four angels” or commissioned messengers of the Lord are all of Jehovah’s witnesses anointed and commissioned and commanded by him to bear the testimony of Jesus Christ to the nations of the earth. (The term “angels” literally means “messengers”, and does not always apply to creatures having a spirit organism.) During the World War period these messengers had been held in prison or restraint by Satan’s organization, which is symbolically called “Babylon”, and which was foreshadowed by ancient Babylon built on both banks of the river Euphrates. In July, 1927, Jehovah’s witnesses assembled in international convention at Toronto, Canada, and sent forth the proclamation “To the Peoples of Christendom”, which proclamation was supported by the speech “Freedom for the Peoples”, delivered to a visible audience of 15,000 and at the same time broadcast over a network of radio stations, 53 in number, from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
Both speech and proclamation were issued shortly thereafter in a publication under the title Freedom for the Peoples; and fifty million copies thereof were distributed throughout “Christendom”. The following quotation from the speech, which was delivered July 24, 1927, seems here appropriate, and its agreement with the command given to the sixth angel may be noted:
“The people desire peace, freedom, prosperity, life and happiness. All thinking persons must now see these can come only from God’s kingdom through Christ. They can never be realized by or through the false system called ‘organized Christianity’. The hypocritical and evil course of ‘Christendom’ is an insult to God and to Christ. It is the deceiver and oppressor of the people. It is completely under the control of Satan the Devil. It depends for its support and maintenance upon the multitudes of peoples, while at the same time it continues to defraud and oppress the people. Let the multitudes of peoples completely and entirely withdraw all support morally, financially, and otherwise from ‘Christendom’, or ‘organized Christianity’, so called. Let them give their hearts’ devotion and allegiance entirely to God and to Christ, the Prince of Peace, who is now earth’s rightful King. Let them dwell together in peace, and do good to each other, and be ready to receive the blessings which God has in reservation for those who love and obey him. The day of complete freedom is at hand!
‘‘The peoples should therefore for ever abandon and forsake ‘organized Christianity’ called ‘Christendom’ and turn their hearts and minds and their allegiance wholly to God and his Christ for the following reasons, to wit:
“(1) Because ‘Christendom’ is the Devil’s organization operated by him to keep the people in subjection.
“(2) Because it is an instrument of oppression which has been used to make the burdens of men grievous to be borne.
“(3) Because it is false, hypocritical, and wicked, and against the interests of the multitudes of the peoples.
“(4) Because it holds out absolutely no hope for the betterment of the peoples.
“(5) Because God’s time has come when that evil and hypocritical system shall be destroyed in the greatest time of trouble the world has ever known.
“(6) Because God commands all the peoples who love him to flee from that unrighteous system of so-called ‘organized Christianity’ and thereby escape the dire calamities that shortly shall befall her.
“(7) Because God has set his anointed King, Christ Jesus the Messiah, upon his throne, and bids all the peoples of earth to hear and obey him; and those who so do shall receive and for ever enjoy the blessings of complete freedom, everlasting peace, prosperity, life, liberty and happiness.”
Referring now to the prophetic picture of Revelation 9:13,14 concerning the ones bound at the Euphrates: The ancient city of Babylon was located on the river Euphrates and controlled the traffic and commerce of that river. It was the main part of the ‘waters of Babylon’. (Ps. 137:1,3) God’s prophet long ago foretold how spiritual Israelites, the messengers of Jehovah’s kingdom under Christ, would be carried away captive, to the river Euphrates, symbolically speaking. (Jer. 13:1-11) The “great river” was where the prisoners were bound, the river therefore picturing the multitudes of people under the control and dominion of Satan’s organization. As stated at Revelation 17:15: “And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore [Babylon, Satan’s woman or organization] sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”
Revelation 9:15 (A.R.V.) declares that, in obedience to the command, “the four angels were loosed . . . that they should kill the third part of men.” Note that, according to Revelation 16:19, Satan’s organization is “divided into three parts”, to wit: commercial, political and religious; therefore the expression “the third part of men” would not mean one third of Satan’s organization, but would symbolize the three-divisioned official element of Babylon. It is therefore seen now that the Lord through his angel directed the preparation of the contents of the above-mentioned booklet Freedom for the Peoples, which dealt with all three of the elements of Satan’s organization, to wit, high finance, statesmen and the clergy. God’s message of truth, like fire and brimstone, “shocked the religious susceptibilities” of the chief moguls of “Christendom”; and their mouthpieces, the public press and magazines, re-echoed their many howls. So badly was the National Broadcasting Company, which freely co-operated in the broadcasting of the Resolution and supporting speech, burned and scorched by the turning loose of that message of truth that thereafter its radio facilities cannot be used to broadcast the message of God’s kingdom. Then the ‘waters of the great Euphrates’ began to dry up, as foretold at Revelation 16:12-16, because the Greater Cyrus, Christ Jesus, had turned them away to prepare “the way of the kings of the east”. This drying up of the river Euphrates follows the loosening of the four angels, which had been bound, and it seems clearly to signify that other bound ones aside from Jehovah’s witnesses would be released and would march joyfully to Jehovah’s organization.
Prior to the time of the Toronto convention of 1927 many of the consecrated ones were still “bound” in fear, and thus their service to the Lord was hindered. Thereafter Jehovah’s witnesses became bolder and fearless. The witness work moved forward with greater unity and increased zeal. At that Toronto convention an address was delivered on the subject “The Mission of a Christian”, and therein the great importance of the house-to-house preaching of the gospel of the kingdom was stressed. It was at that convention that the so-called “Pilgrim Service”, of traveling lecturers, was superseded by field-service representatives; which has developed into the arrangement of the regional and zone servants of today. From that time onward, also, the pioneer service, by those devoting their full time to house-to-house work, increased. These matters were not deliberately arranged in advance by men, but the Lord himself directed them, because he is in charge of the service work of carrying the message to the people. He directs his angels what to do, and through them steers his witnesses on earth in the right direction, and all praise and honor are due to the Most High.
Note now Revelation 9:16: “And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.” It is written (19:14) : “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” These armies doubtless include the myriads of angels, as well as the little company of Jehovah’s witnesses on earth. Joel 2:11 reads: “His camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word.” God’s army is well-equipped and is fearless. (Job 30:19-25) This two hundred million of the Lord’s army sound the message of woe to the world rulers under Satan. Jehovah’s anointed ones on earth should hereby be encouraged. Let them rejoice and say: ‘They that be with us are more than they that be with the enemy.’—2 Ki. 6:16.
John’s vision discloses that the horses and riders have breastplates of fire, jacinth, and brimstone, and the horses had heads like lions, and out of their mouths issued fire and brimstone. (Rev. 9:17) Such a fiery, sulphurous breastplate would be a terrifying sight for the enemy to behold. At Isaiah 63:4 the Lord says: “The day of vengeance is in mine heart.” Such also is the heart attitude of the Lord’s army, pictured by the fiery breastplate, and that fiery zeal for Jehovah is pictured as covering the most vital organ, to wit, the heart, and it terrifies the enemy but speaks victory to God’s anointed.—Phil. 1: 28.
Christ Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda,” leads the army of the Lord, and the members of his body are appropriately described as having heads like lions. This is a very appropriate description of the cavalry division of the army of the Lord, which is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. “What is stronger than a lion?” Like those who followed David, they are “men ... fit for the battle, . . . whose faces were like the faces of lions”. (1 Chron. 12:8) The Lord’s people are of the Davidic class. Proverbs 28:1: “The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”—Proverbs 19:12.
The apostle John declares (Rev. 9:18,19) that the power of these soldiers of the Lord is in their mouths and in their tails, which are like the tail of a serpent. Jehovah has put his message in the mouth of his people and has made them his witnesses while he does his great “strange work”. (Isa. 51:16) These preach his Word and sing his praises, and this message issues from their mouths. The symbolic “tail” is the prophetic message which they deliver. God has not authorized the wicked to speak his Word, but has commissioned his anointed witnesses to deliver his message of truth and speak his word of vengeance against the enemy organization. (Ps. 50:16,17) These servants of the Lord speak the message by their mouths, and leave the prophetic message, as the “tail”, behind, which the people read; and therefore they assault the enemy organization “both coming and going”. The public witness message that went forth from Toronto was spoken by word of mouth and broadcast over fifty-three radio stations. Without a doubt a great number of mouths (loud-speakers of radio receiving sets) took the message from the ether and heralded it to millions of listening people. The immediate response by wire and letters from every part of the country proves this fact to be correct. Then followed the world-wide distribution of the message in printed form. This message from the mouth and “tail” has stung the enemy organization, and still stings. By the three destructive agencies, “fire,” “smoke,” and “brimstone”, many were killed; that is to say, their influence and power to deceive the people was rendered nil. The message of the Lord, following in printed form in the booklet Freedom for the Peoples, went both to the governing powers and to the people. It was not man’s message, but God’s message taken from his Word, and tells of his destruction of the unrighteous systems. Isaiah 30: 33, speaking of that destruction at Armageddon, says: “The breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it. For Tophet [the valley of Hinnom, where devil worship was carried on] is ordained of old; yea, for the king [that is, the worldly ruling powers] it is prepared: he [Jehovah] hath made it deep, and large [to accommodate all the wicked] ; the pile thereof is fire and much wood.”
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