Golden Age, June 19, 1935
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The Golden Age
A JOURNAL OF FACT HOPE AND COURAGE
this issue published specially for American citizens
WHO RULES AMERICA?
GOVERNMENT
An address by Judge Rutherford broadcast to all nations
RADIO
Who shall control it?
every other WEDNESDAY
five cents a copy
one dollar a year
Canada & Foreign 1.25
Vol. XVI - No. 411
June 19, 1935 CONTENTS
Who Rules America? . . . . 579
The Press of the Capital City . . 580
Putting It Squarely . . . . 580
Government . . . . 584
Why Governments Failed . . . 587
What the Papers Refused to Print . 589
Armageddon . . . . 590
His Government . . . . 595
Prosperity . . . . 596
Visible Rulers . . . . 597
The Resolution Adopted . . . 598
Radio . . . . 598
Points and Argument . . . 600
Two Interesting Letters Received
by Judge Rutherford
After His Speech . . . . 604
High Points of Judge Rutherford’s
Impromptu Address . . . . 581
Ignoring the News . . . . 581
Who Controls America? . . . 582
Facsimile of Post Letter . . . 582
Facsimile of Star Letter
and Receipt . . . . 583
What Is “Controversial Matter”? 583
Here and There About the World 605
Deportees, Yugoslavia to Hungary 605
Mexico Ridding Itself of Priests . 605
Japanese Fishermen at Los Angeles 605
Hint of a War with Japan . . . 605
Child Labor in England . . . 605
Gag Rule in Austria . . . . 605
Dr. Benes and the League . . . 605
The Death Time-Schedule . . . 606
Sleeping in the Raw . . . . 606
Too Much Meat in Irish Free State 606
School for Indians in Ecuador . . 606
Tides in the Solid Earth . . . 606
“Daily Diet of Lies” . . . . 606
Horrors of the Pecs Coal Mine . . 606
Finland an Honest Nation . . . 607
Girls at the League Switchboards . 607
The Sexton of Comayagua . . . 607
Thirteen Bombing Outrages . . . 607
Socialists and the Inquisition . . 607
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The Golden Age
Volume XVI Brooklyn, N. Y., Wednesday, June 19, 1935 Number 411
Who Rules America?
Are you in favor of America being ruled by her own people? Or shall the nation be ruled by the FOREIGN POWER from Vatican City, Rome?
Why the Washington Star and the Washington Post choose the side of ROME.
Every American should carefully read Judge Rutherford’s speech “Government” and then say whether or not American newspapers are justified in suppressing any part of it.
Which side will the FCC and Congress support?
JEHOVAH’S witnesses had been in convention at Washington, D.C., for five days; a convention that is of world-wide interest, 20,000 or more of those devoted men and women were present; two of Washington’s leading newspapers, the Washington Post and the Washington Star, had contracted in writing for a money consideration to print the entire speech of Judge Rutherford, which was broadcast to the ends of the earth on Sunday June 2; the convention waited for hours to receive a copy of those papers before returning to their homes; at the last moment both of the above newspapers, yielding to some sinister influence, repudiated their contracts to publish the speech; Judge Rutherford immediately went before the convention and delivered an address that will long survive in the memories of those who heard it.
Immediately following that address the editor of the Golden Age magazine approached Judge Rutherford and propounded these questions: “Why is the Roman Catholic hierarchy so deeply concerned about keeping the people in ignorance of the Bible, and particularly in ignorance of the hierarchy’s crooked work? In this connection would you care to express an opinion as to the present religio-political situation in America?”
He replied: “You will recall, probably, that more than two years ago in a public speech broadcast by radio I submitted proof that there was a movement on to have a dictator in America. Well, everybody can see that now, if they want to see anything. And soon they will see that it is the Jesuit organization of the Roman Catholic hierarchy that is behind that movement to rob the American people of all their rights. The Catholic hierarchy is stealthily moving forward to grab control of the United States government, and for that reason is pursuing the policy that all such unrighteous organizations pursue: to keep the people blind to the truth until it is too late.
“Every Catholic paper in the United States has boasted that the NRA program originated with the pope and that Mr. Roosevelt adopted it at the instance of the pope. Many other newspapers have quoted these boasts of the Catholic organization. The decision of the Supreme Court of the United States recently practically annihilated the NRA.
“The president gave an interview to the public press shortly thereafter and, piqued by the decision of the Court, he was unable to restrain his anger and clearly let it be known that he had repudiated the Jeffersonian principles of the Democratic party that put him in office and now stands for centralization of power, dictatorship and against States’ rights. A movement is now being pushed at Washington to amend the Constitution of the United States, giving the federal government most of the power that the States now have, and thus further throttle the people.
“Many of the official family of the president are Roman Catholics and are agents of the Roman Catholic hierarchy. If the people should now be informed that the Roman Catholic hierarchy is trying to not only control their religious thoughts and convictions but at the same time deprive them of their liberty of speech, and thought, that would greatly hinder the efforts of the Roman Catholic hierarchy to get control of the government.
“From these facts does it not look as if Mr. Roosevelt and the Roman Catholic hierarchy have some definite understanding? This reminds me of the memorable proverb carved by James G. Blaine, referring to the Democratic party and the Roman Catholic hierarchy, to wit: “Rum, Romanism and Rebellion.” That might be amended now by saying: Rum, Romanism and Dictatorship.
“These circumstances appear to be very persuasive evidence that the Roman Catholic hierarchy and its American agents are desperately attempting to grab the job of dictator before the people know what is happening. Mr. Roosevelt seems to be the first candidate for that position. May I suggest that since his recent utterance about the Supreme Court’s decision and the States’ rights, and his close affiliation with the Roman Catholic hierarchy becoming well known, the toboggan slide has been drawn up before the White House. It might be interesting to watch it start down the incline.
“I am not interested in politics, but I am sure there are millions of loyal American citizens who love the principles of the Declaration of Independence and of the Constitution and many of them will be asking: ‘Shall America be ruled by the people, or by a few selfish men in the interest of an entrenched and foreign power, which is inimical to the liberties that the American people have long enjoyed?’”
The Press of the Capital City
The press of Washington, as of all other great cities of the United States and of “Christendom”, is in the hands of Big Business. It is operated not at all in the interest of the people, but wholly for predatory interests.
Fear to displease the Roman Catholic hierarchy has whipped the press into complete subjugation to a handful of priests, and priest and press hide behind the slogan: “We love peace and will print nothing that is controversial.”
It requires the help of Jehovah God to see the two organizations, His own and that of the Devil. Jesus saw them plainly, and took His stand wholly on the side of Jehovah. He could honestly say of Jehovah God, “I do always those things that please him”; and Jesus could also honestly say, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.”
Jehovah God created man, originally, with a desire to be truthful and to do right, and this desire persists in the hearts of many. Such are astonished when they first discern that “the god of this world” “is a liar, and the father of it”, and that “the whole world lieth in the wicked one” and are “taken captive by him at his will”.
There was a time when the American press was somewhat interested in news. That time has passed. The desire of the press for money has overwhelmed its judgment. “The love of money is the root of all evil.” The press has determined that henceforth Jehovah’s witnesses shall see its face no more; that is, shall be denied a just and fair place in any news report, even when, as at Washington, they occupy the center of the stage.
Judge Rutherford knows, as do all others of Jehovah’s people who were at the Washington convention this month, that the Devil has sent forth word from his unseen spiritual realm that the time has come in America, as in Germany, to openly scoff at the name of Jehovah God, Creator of heaven and earth. The press is the Devil’s mouthpiece. The Roman hierarchy controls the press.
Putting It Squarely
Not one of the 20,000 who heard Judge Rutherford’s forceful, manly, brilliant address at the Washington Auditorium Monday afternoon June 3 will ever forget it. It was the address of a powerful man, a determined man, an angry man, a witty man; and it was a tremendous “hit” not advertised on the program, and entirely unexpected.
High Points of Judge Rutherford’s Impromptu Address
(A full report of the entire convention will appear in The Golden Age for July 17, 1935, No. 413.)
THE only excuse for publishers to exist is to publish the truth. People in general are more ignorant of the Bible and know less about the Bible than anything else under the sun, due to the lack of truthfulness of the clergy.
In ancient times Jehovah God commanded that His people, the Israelites, must be made familiar with His Word. It was the duty of the priests to read the law and the prophecies to the people regularly. In this duty the priests became negligent, got to teaching the people their own ideas, and thus fell into the Devil’s snare.
The influence of Jesus and the apostles lasted but a short time. The place in the hearts and minds of the people which properly belongs to Jehovah God, the clergy again usurped.
When the forefathers of the American people fled across the Atlantic they did it that they might have the privilege of freely searching the Scriptures and of freely worshiping Almighty God by telling to others whatever of truth they could learn from His Word. But for this attitude on their part, the Constitution of the United States would never have come into existence. It would be well for some of the American statesmen of the present day to remember the words of one of those earlier statesmen: “As for me, give me liberty or give me death.”
Today in Washington Jehovah’s people are witnesses, and they have also borne testimony, that Jehovah God, more than three thousand years ago, pointed out through His prophets, and particularly in the prophecy of Ezekiel, that at this time the peoples of earth would be ruled by three elements all working in essential harmony: One, religious; one, commercial; and one, political.
You have studied those prophecies. You remember the explanation; and now you see their fulfillment. We have reached the climax, the turning point. Falsehood has long prevailed; but it must go. In its place and stead righteousness and truth shall be everywhere.
Ignoring the News
Unmanfully, the Washington newspapers have descended to personalities. They have tried to convey the impression that I am a “great man” with a hypnotic spell over the 20,000 people who are here. There have been many gibes about my person.
Why should such things be put in the papers?
Because those responsible for filling the newspaper columns must put in something to hold their jobs, and because they do not know anything about the Bible. The reason they have never learned anything about the Bible is, because the priests or clergymen do not know anything about the Bible and have not taught the people the truth.
Yesterday real news “broke” at Washington. The entire earth was reached with the message given here on the subject “GOVERNMENT”. The transfer of world dominion, from the Devil’s government to Jehovah’s Government, is the most important subject that can engage the attention of man.
“The fear of man bringeth a snare.” (Proverbs 29:25) The men operating these newspapers feared the Roman Catholic hierarchy and are in the Devil’s snare. Jehovah God commands to tell the truth. Newspapers under the control of the Devil’s Catholic hierarchy are afraid to tell the truth. Following yesterday’s speech from this platform, radiograms, cablegrams and telegrams came here from every part of the earth announcing that reception of the broadcast was excellent. That is the first time such a thing occurred on this earth. Heretofore, on international broadcasts “dead” spots were not unknown, as well as atmospheric and other interference; but on this occasion a message of greatest importance to humanity was clearly heard almost around the world. Now, was that news?
It is well known that if the reporters had gone back to the higher-ups of the newspapers with this story just as it is, the editors would have blue-penciled it. Nor would the editors have done this because they wished to do it; but, like the reporters, they are working to make a living. Over them are the high-salaried men who never did anything for mankind and who are bossing the job. And over those higher men (though they do not know it) is Gog, the prime minister of the Devil; and over Gog is Satan himself.
What I have said during the past year before the Federal Communications Commission is that a knowledge of the truth as set forth in God’s Word is the most important thing that can be brought to the attention of the people; and the people ought to have a chance to hear it. The Devil is against it, of course.
If the Catholic hierarchy were holding a big meeting in Washington, the newspapers would be filled with stories of peacocks strutting around in long robes and gold lace, with small boys carrying their trains. Pictures also, probably, of the postmaster general’s prostrating himself before one of those “birds” or kissing the hem of the “bird’s” lace petticoat. I would not want to be found dead in such a crowd. [This was punctuated throughout with screams of laughter and heartiest applause.]
Sometimes the Devil overplays his hand. I do not mean anything unkind. All creatures of earth are under the influence or control either of the Devil or of the Lord, whether they know it or not. The big newspapers are the propaganda sheets of Big Business and religion. Above all, they fear to displease the Roman Catholic hierarchy. They are accustomed to serving the Hierarchy generously and without charge. If a man really loves the Lord, that is no reason why he should have something for nothing. But when the Roman hierarchy puts on one of its international advertising campaigns, commonly called a “eucharistic congress”, the newspapers are literally full of the stuff. It is put in as news, and it is put in free.
When it became known that this convention was to be held at Washington, the local newspapers, the Post and the Star, solicited advertising and were very glad to take the money of Jehovah’s witnesses. We did not need the newspapers, but consented to pay the full rate for advertising and put the notices in.
Later it was suggested that the speech of June 2, on “Government”, be published in full in the local press. Five days ago an arrangement was entered into whereby the Washington Post agreed to print the complete text of the speech. The Post sent the following letter to Anton Koerber [see facsimile at right].
Koerber agreed and accepted. Immediately after the end of the speech on Sunday copy was furnished to the paper. The Post proceeded to set it in type, for the double-page forms which had been specially prepared in the paper’s composing room the day before.
About seven o’clock Sunday evening the general manager of the Post suddenly notified Mr. Koerber’s office that it would be necessary to cut out parts of the speech* on account of “an attack on the Catholics” which the Post could not afford to publish. Upon being assured that Jehovah’s witnesses desired the entire speech to appear in the paper just as it had been broadcast throughout the world that afternoon, the general manager insisted that he must refuse to publish any of it. Immediately thereafter another contract was made with the Post to print 100,000 copies of the speech on plain news stock, without any identifying mark to show that the Post had done the printing. While the type composition was being completed late Sunday night for that special printing by the Post, a memorandum for the people of Washington also was being prepared, and that has been mimeographed here today. From that memorandum I quote in part:
* Set in bold type on pages 589-590.
WHO CONTROLS AMERICA?
The following facts will aid you to answer that question. Sunday June 2 Judge Rutherford delivered a speech at Washington, D.C., on “Government” and which speech was broadcast throughout the United States and to many foreign countries. The Washington Post entered into a written agreement to publish the entire text of that speech. . . .
The Post accepted the speech, read it, set it in type, and was about ready to go to press when some powerful influence suddenly caused the Post to repudiate its contract and to refuse publication in its regular paper. As an excuse for declining to carry out its contract to print the speech the general manager of the Post said: “I have given instructions not to print the entire speech as we agreed, but we will print part of it if that portion which refers to the Vatican City at Rome and foreign power is deleted. I have marked that part that must be deleted.”
The Post then agreed to print the entire speech on its presses merely on sheets of paper without the name of the Post appearing thereon for a cash consideration of $400.00. The entire speech was in type form, proofread, and was going to press when the order came from some high-ups: “Do not touch that stuff at all.” And again the Post repudiated its contract. . . .
If the United States is in fact a democracy and the majority of the people are in control, and public officials are in fact the servants of the people and not the servants and under the influence of the aforementioned “foreign power”, the Post would certainly have carried the speech in its columns in fulfillment of its written agreement because the people desire the truth to be published.
The Washington Post
WASHINGTON, D.C.
May 28, 1935
Mr. Anton Koerber
c/o Watch Tower and Bible Tract Society
1603 Massachusetts Avenue N. W.
Washington, D. C.
My dear Mr. Koerber:
Confirming our conversation of this morning in reference to the double page advertisement you desired published in The Washington Post on Monday, June 3:
The cost of this advertisement will be $381.45, less ten per cent if the bill is paid before the fifteenth day of July.
It is understood that the advertisement will relate to a “Bible Lecture” which will be broadcast by Judge Rutherford and followed by its publication in The Washington Post issue of June 3.
The two advertisements scheduled May 31 and June 2 have an additional charge of $142.80, subject to the ten per cent discount.
The cost for furnishing you with ten thousand copies of The Washington Post of June 3 containing the advertisement will be $185.00.
I would appreciate a return letter accepting the terms as outlined in this communication.
Yours sincerely
Arthur M. Martin
The Washington Post
It is a well-known fact that the Roman Catholic hierarchy is now trying to induce America to meddle in the affairs of its sister republic Mexico and to aid the said foreign power in its unrighteous work in that country.
Why are so many Catholic hierarchy agents holding high official positions in the American government? The hierarchy and its agents are directly interested in keeping the American people in ignorance of what Judge Rutherford’s speech states because they know it is the truth. No one else would be interested in deleting that part of the speech.
Does the Roman Catholic hierarchy through its agents in America exercise sufficient influence to induce Congress, who are supposed to be the servants of the people, to continue to ignore the right of American citizens to hear the truth? Will Congress give any heed to the two and one-half million who have signed a petition to protect their interests in this respect? . . .
What part of Judge Rutherford’s speech would any loyal American citizen desire to withhold from the people?
Seventy-five thousand copies of this memorandum will be distributed this afternoon in Washington.
The Evening Star Also Wanes
When the Post toppled, the Washington Evening Star still expected to shine on Monday with a complete double-page report of the Sunday afternoon lecture.
Shortly after the end of the address Sunday afternoon, the advertising representative of the Star telephoned the Washington Watch Tower headquarters to say that he had attempted to reach the Washington Auditorium to hear the speech but, for the mass of people who had turned out for the same purpose and who had not been able to get within blocks of the Auditorium, he had been compelled to sit in a park and listen to it. He urged again that the Star be permitted to run the lecture as a paid advertisement.
The agreement was made, and the money actually paid in advance; but at length, though they had ten or more men working on it, they sent word that they could not afford to publish what I had said about the unholy ‘foreign power’.
The poor newspapermen are afraid of the roosters who call themselves “reverends”. Until recently these “reverends” had been taking out of Mexico thirty million dollars a year that the people need for their education. I got that information from one of Mexico’s judges in Mexico City.
These same “reverends” who took that money out of Mexico would now have a distinguished American official offend Mexico, and embroil this country in difficulties with all South American republics, by using the United States as a cat’s-paw to pull its chestnuts out of the fire.
What Is “Controversial Matter”?
The Star sent word that it could not publish controversial matter. It did not say in so many words that it was in mortal terror of the Roman hierarchy’s boycott, but that was the truth. It regretfully lost over a thousand dollars rather than to lose the many thousands it would lose if it gave offense to America’s enemy on Vatican Hill.
Are you in favor of free speech, or do you want Rome to rule America? Not a newspaper in Washington has the courage to reproduce the address which I gave here yesterday. In Jeremiah’s prophecy, 51st chapter, 30th verse, he said that is exactly what would come to pass. They would be ‘like women’. They would refuse to come out and fight.
* See facsimile of check on this page; also letter of the Star returning the check.
WASHINGTON COMPANY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES
1603 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
No. 15
Washington, D.C. June 3rd, 1935
Pay to the order of Evening Star Newspaper Co. $1,371.51
Thirteen Hundred Seventy One 51/100 Dollars
Washington Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Alexander H. Macmillan
In The Riggs National Bank
Washington, D.C.
Dupont Circle Branch
The Evening Star—The Sunday Star
WASHINGTON, D.C.
June 3, 1935.
Mr. Anton Koerber,
Washington Company of Jehovah’s Witnesses,
1603 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir:
We return herewith your check dated today for $1,371.51 to cover charge for two-page advertisement submitted at midnight last night for publication in The Star today.
All advertising for The Star is accepted subject to approval of the management and the right to reject, discontinue or omit any advertisement is expressly reserved.
We regret that advertising containing controversial matter is not acceptable, and we are, therefore, returning your check.
Very truly yours,
H. J. Newton
Business Manager.
Fleming Newbold:P
Enclosure
--The Roman Catholic hierarchy wants to grab absolute control of the United States government. If it had not been for the Supreme Court’s declaring the NRA unconstitutional, we would have had a complete dictatorship in the United States within two years.
How does it happen that many of the more important offices in the government today are held by agents of the Roman hierarchy, that “foreign power”? Are there not enough real, loyal American statesmen, so that America can get on without having one man over in Rome dictate the policy of this government?
In the most malicious and un-American manner possible the Roman Catholic hierarchy has exercised its full power against Jehovah’s witnesses, and used all its influence to put them off the air. It also used all its influence with Congress to persuade that body to ignore the greatest petition ever offered to it signed by two and a half million people. Why is it that Congress has been so subjugated to Rome that it has to get the ear of the postmaster general before it dares to move?
A Valuable Advertisement
The broken contracts of the Post and the Star make valuable advertising matter. These people under the control of the Roman hierarchy think they are going to get us out of this town with shamed face.
Because we were willing to pay for the publication of the Sunday discourse that the people might learn the truth, and because the Roman Catholic hierarchy has prevented this, they are now chuckling with the thought that they have defeated our efforts. They have overplayed their hand. Their crooked work in causing the repudiation of contracts will result in advertising Jehovah’s witnesses advantageously to more than ten times the value of the mere publication of the speech, and that will be another occasion for Jehovah to laugh at them as He says in Psalm two: ‘He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh, and shall have them in derision.’
How did the ‘unholy city’, situate on the hill in Washington, learn that the Post and the Star were to publish my speech and get that information in time to stop it? I suggest that in every big organization in America, newspapers and all, the Roman Catholic hierarchy has some secret agent planted to keep them informed about what is going on.
Surely intelligent men such as edit these two great newspapers would have known when they first read the copy that it was neither libelous nor an unjust attack on anyone to publish the statements therein made. But some representative of the hierarchy got the information through to Big Business, probably to the postmaster general first, and at once the brakes were put on.
How does it happen that practically all the postmasters that are appointed are agents of the Roman Catholic hierarchy? Why is it that members of Congress are so anxious to have the approval of the “distinguished” postmaster general before they act? The more you uncover this thing, the higher the stench arises, and every honest man will cry out: “Shall we be governed by our own people, or shall we be governed by an Italian who lives in Rome?”
GOVERNMENT
(The full text of Judge Rutherford’s Washington radio speech)
THE EARTH and its fullness belong to Jehovah God. (Psalm 24:1) He created it for man and created man to dwell upon the earth forever in prosperity, peace and happiness. The earth can be properly and justly governed only in harmony with the will of Jehovah. All righteous power and authority proceed from Him. No government organized and carried on by men contrary to the will of Jehovah God can bring peace and prosperity to the people. Jehovah has given men the opportunity to establish good government amongst themselves. Men have failed. The nations of earth are now in dire extremity.
At the capital city of America it is my privilege to speak today, and by the grace of Jehovah this message may be heard throughout America, Europe, Africa and the isles of the sea. No attempt will be made on this occasion to give advice to the men who hold the offices as rulers of the people. Such advice, if given, would not be heeded. This is proved by the fact that heretofore notice and warning have been given to the rulers of the earth, which has not only gone unheeded by them but which they have spurned and treated with ridicule and contempt.
Immediately before God destroyed the first world power that governed the earth He sent His messengers to give notice and warning to the rulers thereof. That message was contemptuously cast aside. Jehovah was defied, and His name reproached, and then God directed His messengers to turn to the common people. (Exodus 5: 1-4) Similar conditions now obtain, for the reason that the last world power to rule the earth is tottering to the fall. Disregarding the Word of God the blinded governing powers are leading the blinded and oppressed people, and all such are headed for the ditch. There is hope now only for those people who hear and give heed to the Word of Jehovah.
This message today is addressed to all people of good will regardless of nationality, creed or previous condition of servitude; to those persons who have an honest and sincere desire to have and to enjoy a government of equal and exact justice, administered unselfishly, honestly and righteously for the general welfare; to the people who sincerely desire and pray that the will of Jehovah God may be done on earth even as in heaven. I am persuaded that there are millions of such people who are held in bondage by the oppressive powers that now rule the earth. Such people of good will, by the grace of God, must have an opportunity to hear His Word, and He has made such provision.
I shall not speak the wisdom of men, because such wisdom has accomplished no lasting good to the people. All the treasures of knowledge and true wisdom are found in the Bible, which is the Word of God. I call your attention to the expressed wisdom of God’s Word which, when set alongside the well-known physical facts, will enable you to understand what is the right course to take. Knowledge of these truths is now indispensable to all who will survive the great tribulation that is impending and immediately about to fall upon the world. I bid you therefore to follow carefully this speech and then to exercise your right of choice and take whatsoever course you may desire. The sole purpose here is to bring to your attention the true cause of the unhappy condition now prevailing on the earth and point you to the only possible way of ever having and enjoying a government that will fully satisfy the desire of every honest person.
Centuries ago, upon the plains of Shinar, men organized their first government, and in doing so they defied Jehovah God, set up a creature above the Creator, and gave praise to man and reproached the name of Almighty God. That government fell. Ancient Egypt was the first world power. That government defied Jehovah God and cruelly persecuted and oppressed those people who served God. That world power was destroyed. The course taken by that government and its untimely end foreshadowed the course and untimely end of the governments that now rule the earth. In their order ancient Egypt was followed by other world powers, to wit, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome, all of which pursued a course contrary to the Word of Jehovah God, oppressed the poor and wickedly persecuted those who told the truth. All of those governments went to destruction. Today the nations called “Christendom” dominate the peoples of the earth. These nations claim to be Christian nations, but they proceed exactly contrary to the teachings of Jesus Christ. In practically all of these nations there is now a dictator in the saddle who in turn is guided and controlled by a selfish, subtle and concealed power, and which controlling and governing power tramples upon the rights of the people, puts forward falsehood for truth, and gives no heed to the Word of Almighty God. In all of such governments religion is employed as a means to keep the people in ignorance of Jehovah’s truth which is set forth in the sacred word of the Bible. The religions which are practiced by the governments of earth are diametrically opposed to God and to Christ Jesus. Claiming to be what it is not, and putting forward itself in the name of Christ, religion is the most effective means employed to deceive and mislead the people.
Long ago God caused to be recorded in the Bible the description of the conditions that would be manifest in the last days; and I ask you to bear witness to the fact that the conditions described in the Lord’s Word exist right now and which conditions prove that we are in the “last days”. That scripture, recorded at 2 Timothy 3: 1-5, says: “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, [covenant]-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”—2 Timothy 3: 1-5.
Everyone knows that this is a time of great peril and that the people are in dire distress and in great perplexity. They have lost confidence in those that rule because they have been so often deceived, misled and oppressed. The Word of God shows that greater peril upon the world will come in the very near future and of that peril the common people must be warned.
The testimony of the keenest statesmen of the world today is that the governments of the earth are not only imperfect and unsatisfactory, but are generally corrupt. It is freely admitted that all the efforts of men to establish a just and satisfactory government have signally failed. All must admit that the combined wisdom and counsel of men have failed to set up and administer a satisfactory government. There must be a primary reason for such failure. There is a reason, and the full and complete explanation is stated in the Bible, which is now due to be understood because God’s time has come to make it understandable. When you see that man’s counsel has failed, then why longer follow that imperfect and unwise counsel? All fair-minded persons, whether they be Catholic or Protestant, Jew or infidel, must, if they would find the right way, cease fighting each other, cease following the lead of selfish and imperfect men, and sincerely, calmly, soberly and honestly endeavor to learn what is set forth in the Word of Jehovah and obey Him.
Satan the Devil is the common enemy of man and he uses selfish and prejudiced men to keep the people in ignorance of how the desirable government can be had and enjoyed by mankind. Satan, by employing fraud and deceit, has kept, and now would continue to keep, the people in ignorance of the truth for the reason, as Jesus said, that the truth alone shall make you free. Bear with me, then, if you will, while I recount in brief the Bible reasons for the cruel and oppressive conditions that now obtain throughout the earth.
God created man and placed him in a beautiful and perfect home. He made His spiritual son Lucifer the invisible overlord of man and of the earth. Lucifer rebelled against Jehovah, led men and angels into that rebellion, and then challenged Jehovah God to put men on earth who would remain true and faithful to Him when put to the most severe test. God sentenced Lucifer to death and changed his name to that of Satan, Dragon, Serpent, and Devil. To be sure, God could have immediately executed that sentence of death by destroying Satan, but, had He done so, Satan would have had no opportunity to prove his boastful challenge and there would have been no opportunity to put men to the crucial test to prove their integrity toward Jehovah. God accepted the challenge and permitted Satan henceforth full liberty to prove his challenge, and for this reason God said to Satan, as is recorded in Exodus 9:16: “But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they [my witnesses] may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Exodus 9:16, Leeser) Satan was given a limited time within which to prove his boastful challenge, and when that time ends Jehovah must make known to all His own supremacy and vindicate His own word and name and must cause His witnesses to proclaim throughout the earth His name that the people might know who is their Friend and Life-giver and from whom their blessings flow.
Jehovah God then gave His word that when His due time should arrive He would set up a righteous government and that by and through that government Satan’s wicked rule and power must be destroyed. Jehovah decreed that at the proper time all mankind should have the opportunity to choose between Satan and Jehovah, and that those choosing to obey and serve God’s righteous government could have everlasting life and all attending blessings. Jehovah God is supreme, and His law is above the laws of man. His purposes cannot fail. He having given His word to do a thing, it is absolutely certain that in due time He will accomplish that thing, regardless of what men may do. Therefore He caused His prophet to write: “I have purposed it, [and] I will also do it.” (Isaiah 46:11) “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return unto me void; but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) It is therefore of paramount importance to the people that they learn what is the purpose of Jehovah God; and that purpose is set forth in the Scriptures now due to be understood. Satan is the one who would keep the people in ignorance of that purpose. Now the time has come when the people must have opportunity to hear the truth, and then each one for himself must decide whether he wants to follow Satan and his agents and die, or whether he will obey Jehovah God and live.
Why Governments Failed
Jehovah God gave to man His Word, the Bible, for man’s guidance. But men have failed to follow it. Satan, by employing fraud and deceit, has induced men to create and follow a system of formalism, falsely labeling it “divine worship” and religion, and the practice of such religion is indulged in by every government of “Christendom”. To those who would learn, and go in the right way, Jehovah has said: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5, 6) Disregarding such divine injunction, men have organized governments and followed their own devices. Disaster has resulted. In the organization and conduct of governments men have chosen to honor man and not God, and for that reason many men have fallen easy victims to the subtle influence of Satan.
This point is particularly emphasized in the history of the Jews and their government. To that people God gave His law and outlined for them a perfect form of government; but instead of following Jehovah’s guidance, that people turned to their own selfish devices. Their priests and clergymen were commanded to teach to the people the truth of God’s Word, but instead of doing so they created a form of worship and gave glory and adulation to men. It was the Devil who overreached them and induced them to take that course, and the Devil was able to do so by reason of the selfishness of men. That was a test put upon the Jews, and as a nation they failed, only a few men standing the test. Referring to this matter the Scriptures, at Romans one, state: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened: professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. . . . Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Verses 21, 22, 25) The Devil thus turned that people away from God, and their government was destroyed. The prophecies expressly show that the very forces that led the Jews into error and caused their downfall would likewise lead “Christendom” into error and cause her downfall and the destruction of all of her governments.
Necessarily truth is controversial, because the truth exposes error. I do not choose to have controversy with any person or group of persons. But I ask you, Which is the most important for the people: To tell the truth, which marks out the only way to life and happiness, or to hide the truth and let the people ignorantly rush on to destruction? God commands that now His truth must be told in order that the people may have an opportunity to intelligently choose their own destiny. God has commanded those who teach the Bible to keep themselves unspotted from the political affairs of this world and to confine themselves to the teaching of His Word. (James 1:27; 4:3, 4)
Exactly contrary to the Scriptural injunction, as everyone well knows, the clergy of all the religious organizations are today more or less indulging in the politics of the world and are failing to teach the people what is the Word of God. Each session of the Congress of the United States is opened with a formal prayer uttered by some clergyman; but is the Bible advice sought or used as a guide for those lawmakers? On the contrary, the laws of earthly governments are now invoked to prevent the people from hearing what is set forth in the Bible. Attention is called to these derelictions, not for the purpose of provoking controversy, but that the common people may see the importance of now turning to the Word of God and following its advice and not the advice of imperfect men.
Opposition
Why is there such great opposition to proclaiming to the people the truth as set forth in the Bible? The answer in brief is this: For centuries Satan has been the invisible ruler, or “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:3, 4; 1 John 5:19), is violently opposed to the truth, and is striving to turn all men from the truth and against God, as he boasted he could do. Jehovah declared His purpose to give to the people a righteous ruler, who should destroy Satan and his power and lead honest people in the right way. To carry out His expressed purpose Jehovah sent Jesus to the earth, primarily to bear testimony to the truth, and, secondarily, to shed His own lifeblood as the redemptive price for man, to the end that all men who will take their stand on the side of Christ and God might gain life everlasting. Satan sought to kill the man Jesus, and to that end Satan employed the priests and clergymen of that time and they put forth their efforts to kill Him. Why did they take that course? Was it because Satan and his agents were afraid that Jesus would do them bodily harm? No, not for that reason, but because Jesus told them and the people the truth and Satan wished to prevent the people from knowing of God’s purpose to establish a righteous government in the earth and open to them the way to life. Satan blinded the clergymen and used them as his instruments to accomplish his wicked purpose. To those blinded clergymen Jesus said (John 8:40-44): ‘Ye seek to kill me because I have told you the truth, . . . Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do; he was a murderer and a liar from the beginning.’ When a council of clergymen met to consider what they should do to Jesus to prevent Him from teaching the truth to the people, it is written that the high priest presiding at that council used these words, to wit: “It is expedient . . . that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. . . . Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put [Jesus] to death.”—John 11:50-53.
Because Jesus was God’s appointed One to set up a righteous government on earth, and because He spoke the truth of Jehovah’s purpose, He suffered crucifixion at the hands of Satan and his earthly agents. (John 18:37; 19:18) But Jehovah then manifested His supreme power by raising Jesus from the dead and exalting Him to the highest place in the universe, and God commands that in due time everything that lives shall bow to Jesus and confess that He is the Lord and the rightful Ruler of the world, and this to the glory of God. —Philippians 2:9-11.
Of all the doctrines of the Bible, that which is magnified as of greatest importance is the doctrine concerning the government of God under Christ, which shall rule the world in righteousness. Jesus repeatedly told His disciples of His coming government and that after His resurrection He would come again and set up that government in His Father’s name. He admonished them to continuously pray for the coming of that government, that the will of God might be done on earth as in heaven and that the people might have a chance to live in peace and happiness. (John 14:1-3; Matthew 6:9, 10) From then till now every person who has honestly and sincerely advocated that coming government of righteousness has suffered persecution at the hand of Satan and his earthly agents; and that persecution has reached a climax since the year 1914, and the reason therefor is made plain in the Scriptures. Jehovah fixed a time during which Satan should have uninterrupted opportunity to prove his boastful challenge that he could turn all men away from God, and that fixed time ended officially in 1914, marking the end of the uninterrupted rule of Satan as the god of this world. It was then that Jehovah placed Christ Jesus upon His throne of authority and sent Him forth to begin His rule. Immediately the great issue became, Who shall rule the world? Shall Satan continue his misrule, or shall Jehovah’s righteous government be put in operation? All people must now choose to remain with Satan or to take their stand on Jehovah’s side. The question of supremacy and rulership now must be settled, and once and for all time.
The Lord Jesus referred to this very time when He commanded His true followers to proclaim to the peoples of the nations the truth concerning His government; and for telling the truth, in obedience to His commandment, He said, “ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake.” (Matthew 24:9) Not for the purpose of provoking a controversy, but in obedience to God’s commandment, and that you might know the truth, I must now recount to you the facts which show the fulfillment of these prophetic utterances of the Lord Jesus.
Since the World War a little company of men and women, who are wholly devoted to God and His government, have in obedience to the Lord’s commandment carried the message of truth concerning His kingdom to the people, and because they have done so they have been and are hated and persecuted in all nations of “Christendom”. As it was in the days of Jesus, so it is now with His faithful followers; therefore such persecution is induced and carried on chiefly by religionists, even as Jesus foretold it would be. (John 15:18-20) Such religious leaders exercise great influence in the political councils of the governments of this world; and that of itself is conclusive evidence that they are the enemies of God and His government, because it is so written in the Scriptures, at James 4:4. At every period of the world’s history the facts show that it has been and is religionists that induce the political element to persecute those who proclaim the truth of God’s Word.
A powerful organization, which came into existence fifteen centuries ago, and which organization is foreign to America and has always opposed American institutions of freedom, and which has always been given to inquisition and persecution, operates under a religious name. It maintains its seat of government at Vatican City, Rome, and extends its selfish influence to every nation under the sun. It exercises today a tremendous influence in the political councils of America, both in the legislative halls and in the law-enforcement part of the government. The head of that foreign power issues an order that everywhere in the earth the work of Jehovah’s witnesses must be crushed, and at once a vigorous campaign is launched to accomplish that purpose in America and in the other nations of the earth. That same foreign power orders that Jehovah’s witnesses be denied the use of the radio facilities to broadcast the message of and concerning Jehovah’s government. Immediately a vicious campaign of slander, threats, boycott and other means of coercion is begun, and carried on in America, to thus deprive the people of an opportunity to hear the truth of God’s Word.
In proof of the influence exercised in America by that foreign power I cite this indisputable fact, to wit: Millions of American citizens petitioned the Congress of the United States to take action to prevent that foreign and sinister power from interfering with such proper use of the radio facilities, but, instead of giving heed to the petition of American citizens, the Congress has side-stepped the issue and failed to take any action whatever to safeguard the interests of the American people from this foreign foe. If the spirit that controlled and moved the statesmen of young America, leading those men to write the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, now moved and controlled the men of the present-day Congress, some man would rise on the floor of that lawmaking body and say to the agents of such foreign power: “Hands off, and cease interfering with the American people in the exercise of their constitutional and God-given rights to speak the truth and worship Almighty God as they see fit.” Freedom of speech is the God-given and an inalienable right of men, and no political body can properly and justly prevent the exercise thereof; and woe be unto the organization, political, religious or otherwise, that does attempt to prevent or prevents the free and uninterrupted service and worship of Almighty God.
That sinister and cruel influence is now being vigorously exercised in Italy, Austria, Germany, France, Japan, Canada and in America, and, in fact, in all the nations of “Christendom”, and exercised against the witnesses of Jehovah to prevent the people from hearing the truth of and concerning the government of Jehovah God which is now at the door. Thousands of men and women today are languishing in prisons because in obedience to God’s commandment they have gone about amongst the people telling them of and concerning His righteous government. Imprisonment is not only inflicted upon such faithful men and women in Germany and in Canada, but the state of New Jersey, the constitution of which state guarantees freedom of worship, likewise indulges in the imprisonment of such men and women because of their faithfulness to God and Christ Jesus. The influence and power that moved men to cruelly crucify Jesus Christ now moves other selfish men to crush those who are carrying the message of God’s truth to the people, and the Devil is the invisible power that fathers and pushes forward such wicked persecution. This he does because he is desperately fighting against God’s kingdom of righteousness, which is the only hope of the world.
But Jehovah’s witnesses are in no wise discouraged by reason of such persecution. They know what will be the final outcome, because Jehovah has plainly stated in His Word what the end shall be. They are not concerned with the political affairs of this world, because they are wholly devoted to God and to His government. Based upon the plain Word of Jehovah and His dealings with His enemies, I now say to you that no government can endure which by law or otherwise prevents the free proclamation of the message of and concerning Jehovah’s government of righteousness. A government that indulges in the persecution of Jehovah’s witnesses, or connives at or tacitly approves others in such persecution and oppression of the witnesses of Jehovah, can not and will not long endure. Jehovah has commanded His witnesses to proclaim His name and His kingdom, and to those who oppose He says: “Touch not mine anointed, and do my [witnesses] no harm.” (Psalm 105: 15)
All those who oppose God and His kingdom are His enemies, and all such He declares He will destroy. (Psalms 21: 8, 9; 145: 20) Since the days of ancient Egypt all the nations that have opposed God and persecuted His witnesses have fallen into the dust; and now there is stronger reason than ever that all the nations of “Christendom” shall be destroyed, because the day of Armageddon is at hand.
Armageddon
And what is Armageddon? The Scriptures answer it is the battle of the great day of God Almighty and at that battle no nation shall escape. (Revelation 16: 13-16; Jeremiah 25: 29-35) Today all nations are feverishly preparing for war. In every nation there is a wasteful and extravagant expenditure of money to build war machines and to manufacture ammunition and other instruments of destruction. The selfish manufacturers of guns and ammunitions are now reaping a material harvest by the permission of their respective governments. But their day of prosperity soon will end. Their dreadful machines will accomplish nothing at Armageddon. Neither will material wealth nor political influence furnish any protection at Armageddon to those who are now the mighty and the strong. Armageddon will not be fought by America against Japan, nor by any other nations of “Christendom” fighting against each other. Who, then, will fight at the battle of Armageddon? The Scriptures answer that, as to the enemy of Jehovah God, Satan assembles all his host of wicked angels, and men, under the leadership of his field marshal Gog, to fight against the forces of righteousness. At Revelation twelve it is written that Satan knows that his time is short; and manifestly he knows that he cannot win the battle of Armageddon, but his purpose is to gather all the nations together and plunge them all into destruction that he might thus turn all mankind away from God and thus accomplish his boastful challenge.
—Revelation 16: 13-16; 12: 12.
Battle Array
On the other side and against the enemy is Christ Jesus and all the forces of righteousness. Take now a mental view of the victorious army of Almighty God led by His Field Marshal, Christ. At Revelation nineteen He is shown as coming forth upon His righteous war mount, and there are recorded these words of description, to wit: ‘He is the Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes are as a flame of fire, and on his head many crowns. . . . His name is called the Word of God. . . . And his armies in heaven follow after him.’ His armies are composed of a host of holy and righteous angels that have always been faithful and true to Jehovah God. Christ Jesus is the world’s rightful Ruler and is the King of kings and Lord of lords. The time has come for His rule. Therefore God says to His beloved Son, as recorded in the 110th Psalm: “Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” Christ acts upon this command and first ousts Satan from heaven, and next He will destroy Satan’s wicked and oppressive rule of the entire world.
The Scriptures, together with the extraneous evidence, now conclusively prove that Jehovah’s kingdom has come and that Christ is enthroned with all power and authority; therefore, at Psalm two, Jehovah makes proclamation concerning His government under Christ in these words: ‘I have installed my King on Zion. . . . I shall give thee the nations of the earth for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ That decree will be fully executed at the battle of Armageddon.
At the 107th Psalm it is written that Jehovah gives the command and the great battle begins. My language is wholly inadequate to describe that battle. But I cite a few scriptures that will give you some idea of how the Lord Jesus, the world’s rightful Governor, shall dash Satan’s organization to pieces. Repeatedly Jehovah has declared by His prophets that all mankind shall know that He is the Almighty God, whose name alone is Jehovah. (Psalm 83: 18) The present-day governors or rulers of the earth, by reason of their wealth and influence and their armies and navies, and strong-arm squads, and their instruments of destruction, foolishly think that they are impregnably entrenched and that their power is unbreakable. But the demonstration of Jehovah’s power at Armageddon will be so great that all earthly rulers will come to know that they are merely pygmies and that all of them together are not so much as a drop of a bucket or as the small dust in the balance.
(Isaiah 40:15) Jehovah declares that with the forward movement of His great army the nations of earth shall reel to and fro and stagger like a drunken man and shall quickly reach their wits’ end. (Psalm 107:27) His prophet Habakkuk says of the Lord: ‘He . . . drove asunder the nations, and the everlasting mountains were scattered. . . . Thou didst cleave the earth with rivers, and the deeps lifted up their hands on high.’ (Habakkuk 3:6, 9, 10) The “wiseacres” of this world will say that such a thing would be impossible; but the Biblical record of the great deluge that swept the entire earth should teach them better. The power of Jehovah is unlimited. In times past God has done like things literally, and at Armageddon He will again do them, both literally and symbolically, and on a far greater scale than ever before. The things which Jehovah caused to be recorded in connection with the nation of Israel and other nations opposing Israel are pictures or types of what shall come to pass shortly upon “Christendom”.—1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 10:1; Isaiah 28:21.
When Jehovah was about to deliver His people from Egypt He brought great darkness upon the Egyptians that they might see nothing, while at the same time He gave the Israelites light. (Exodus 10:21-23) At the battle of Sisera the rivers swept away great multitudes. (Judges 5:20, 21) At the battle of Armageddon, the Scriptures show, the earth will literally be split and out of these open places shall flow floods of water, and shall sweep away multitudes of the enemy. Also tidal waves of the sea shall overflow the land, resulting in indescribable destruction. When Joshua led the armies of Jehovah’s chosen people against His enemies God made the sun and the moon to stand still and caused great chunks of ice to fall down from the skies, killing multitudes.—Joshua 10:10-14.
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