The Watchtower, October 15, 1927
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WATCH TOWER.
"Watchman, What of the Night?
The Morning Cometh, and a Night Also!"—Isaiah
VOL. XLIX SEMI-MONTHLY No. 20
Anno Mundi 6656—October 15, 1927
CONTENTS
RESOLUTION TO THE PEOPLES OF CHRISTENDOM 307
FREEDOM FOR THE PEOPLES 308
"Christianity" 308
Who Rules? 308
High Finance 309
Statesmen 310
The Clergy 310
God the Peoples' Friend 312
World Censor 313
MICAH CHAMPIONS THE OPPRESSED 315
ISAIAH TEACHES TRUE WORSHIP 317
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND CONVENTION 306
IMPORTANT, HOW TO REMIT MONEY 306
RADIO 306, 320
"If I will stand upon my watch and will set my foot upon the Tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what answer I shall make to them that oppose me."—Habakkuk 2:1.
Upon the earth distress of nations with perplexity; the sea and the waves (the nations, disconsolate) roaring; men's hearts failing them for fear and for looking to the things which cometh upon the earth for the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: when ye shall see these things come to pass, then know that the Kingdom of God is at hand. Look up, lift up your heads, rejoice, for your redemption draweth nigh.—Matt. 24:33; Mark 13:29; Luke 21:25-31.
THIS JOURNAL AND ITS SACRED MISSION
This journal is published by the WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY for the purpose of aiding the people to understand the divine plan. It provides systematic Bible study in which all its readers may regularly engage. It gives announcement of the visits made to Bible classes by traveling speakers, announces conventions, and gives the reports thereof. The International Sunday School lessons are treated in harmony with the Scriptures.
It adheres strictly to the Bible as God's revealed Word of Truth. It stands firmly upon the great ransom sacrifice as the fundamental doctrine by which all doctrines are measured. It is free from parties, sects, and creeds of men. It does not assume a dogmatic attitude, but confidently invites a careful examination of its utterances in the light of the Infallible Word of God. It does not indulge in controversies, and its columns are not open to personalities.
TO US THE SCRIPTURES CLEARLY TEACH
THAT JEHOVAH is the only true God, the Maker of heaven and earth, and is from everlasting to everlasting; that the Logos was the dwelling of his glory; that the Logos became a man; that he is now the Lord Jesus Christ in glory, clothed with all power in heaven and earth.
THAT GOD created the earth for man, created perfect man for the earth and placed him upon it; that man willfully disobeyed God's law and was sentenced to death; that by reason of Adam's wrongful act all men are born sinners and without the right to life.
THAT JESUS was made a human being in order that he might become the Redeemer of man; that he gave his life a sacrifice for man and thereby produced the ransom price; that Jesus the Divine Son, from the dead, ascended into heaven, and presented the value of his human sacrifice as the redemptive price for man.
THAT for many centuries God, through Christ, has been selecting from amongst men the members of his church, which constitutes the body of Christ; that the mission of the church is to follow in the footsteps of her Lord Christ Jesus, to live in his likeness, give testimony to the nature and plan of Jehovah God, and ultimately be glorified with Christ Jesus in his heavenly kingdom; that Christ, Head and body, constitutes the "seed of Abraham" through which all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
THAT THE WORLD HAS ENDED; that the Lord Jesus has returned and is now present; that Jehovah has placed Christ Jesus upon his throne and now commands all nations and peoples to hear and obey him.
THAT THE HOPE of the peoples of earth is restoration to human perfection during the reign of Christ; that the reign of Christ will afford opportunity to every man to have a fair trial for life and those who obey will live on earth for ever in a state of happiness.
PUBLISHED BY
117 ADAMS STREET . . . BROOKLYN, N.Y. U.S.A.
OFFICERS
J. F. RUTHERFORD President
W. E. VAN AMBURG Sec'y & Treas.
YEARLY SUBSCRIPTION PRICE: UNITED STATES, 1.00; CANADA AND MISCCELLANEOUS FOREIGN,1.50; GREAT BRITAIN, AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH AFRICA, 1s. American remittances should be made by Express Money Order, or by New York Draft. Canadian, British South African and Australian remittances should be made to branch offices only. Remittances from scattered foreign territory may be made at the Brooklyn office, but by International Postal Money Orders only.
(Foreign translations of this journal appear in several languages.)
TERMS TO THE LORD'S POOR: All Bible Students who, by reason of old age or other infirmity or adversity, are unable to pay for this journal, will be supplied free if they send a postal card each May, stating their name and requesting such provision. We are not only willing, but anxious, that all such be on our list continually and in touch with the Berean studies.
Notice to Subscribers: We do not, as a rule, send a card of acknowledgment for a renewal or for a new subscription until the renewal blank (carrying the new expiration) will be sent with the journal one month before the subscription expires. Change of address, when requested, may be expected to appear on address label within one month.
Entered as Second Class Mail Matter at Brooklyn, N. Y. Postoffice Act of March 3rd, 1879.
ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING AND CONVENTION
Pursuant to the provision of law and the charter of the WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY, the annual business meeting of the SOCIETY will be held in the Carnegie Music Hall, Federal and Ohio Streets, Pittsburgh (North Side), Pa., at 10 o'clock a.m., Monday, October 31, 1927.
Arrangements have been made to hold a three-day local convention, beginning Saturday, October 29. Saturday sessions will be held in the Carnegie Music Hall, and the Sunday sessions in the Garden Theatre, Federal Street and North Avenue. A period for field service will be announced at the opening of the convention. For further particulars address Charles H. Stewart, Sec'y, 317 Grace Street, Mount Washington Station, Pittsburgh, Pa.
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE
J. F. RUTHERFORD
W. E. VAN AMBURG J. HEMERY R. H. BARBER E. J. COWARD
FOREIGN OFFICES: British: 34 Craven Terrace, Lancaster Gate, London W. 2; Canadian: 38-40 Irwin Avenue, Toronto, Ontario; Australasian: 495 Collins St. Melbourne, Australia; South Africa: 6 Lele St., Cape Town, South Africa. Please address the SOCIETY in every case.
IMPORTANT
Time and again we have called the attention of our readers not to remit currency in unregistered envelopes. It is a temptation to men to steal. A man who has been in the Postal service forty-two years has been arrested and will doubtless go to prison because he opened our mail and was caught at it by the officials. Not only is it a temptation to weak men, but you lose your money and then cannot understand why you do not hear from us. Please observe what we have said time and again: Remit by post office money order or New York draft. Do not send personal checks on any bank outside of New York.
RADIO
The Lord has clearly demonstrated that it is his will that the message of the kingdom shall be proclaimed by radio. There is not a radio station in the immediate vicinity of every class. If a class residing in a city where there is a radio station can make arrangements for the use of said station, other classes in nearby towns or cities should cooperate in arranging and putting on programs. Cooperation can be either by communicating with the SOCIETY at Brooklyn, Radio Department, or by writing the class that has made the contract for the broadcasting and arranging with them to share the expenses and the other burdens.
We also make this suggestion: If a radio discourse is put on Sunday afternoon or evening, then on the following Sunday morning let canvassing parties go out in the vicinity and canvass the people for the books. This will afford an opportunity for all members of the class to have a part in the preaching of the gospel. The friends who have tried this have been wonderfully blessed. This is an indication that the Lord wishes it to be done.
The WATCH TOWER
AND HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE
Vol. XLVIII October 15, 1927 No. 20
AT THE international convention of the Bible Students, held at Toronto, Canada, July 18-25, on Sunday the 24th of July the public meeting was held. At that meeting the speaker first read before the convention a resolution and thereafter spoke in favor of the resolution. Both the resolution and the speech in support thereof follow:
RESOLUTION
TO THE PEOPLES OF CHRISTENDOM:
1 The International Bible Students in general convention assembled send greetings:
2 As Christians and witnesses to the Name of Jehovah God we deem it our privilege and duty to call your attention to the following vital facts:
3 FIRST: That God made of one blood all peoples and nations of men to dwell on the earth, and granted to all peoples equal rights. There is therefore no just cause or excuse for one nation to make war against another nation.
4 SECOND: That the foremost nations of the earth claim to be Christian nations and, taken collectively, they constitute "Christendom" or "organized Christianity", so-called; that the men chiefly responsible for the claim that these are Christian nations are the clergymen of the various religious denominations who call themselves by the name of Christ but who in fact have denied him; that their purpose of claiming that these nations are Christian is to induce the peoples to believe that said nations, although military and cruel, are the representatives of God and his Christ on earth; that such claim is fraudulent and false and has turned the minds of millions of honest people away from the true God and from his Christ; that the invisible ruler of the nations of "Christendom", or "organized Christianity" so-called, is Satan the Devil, who has fathered the scheme of forming "organized Christianity" to deceive the people and to keep them in subjection to himself and his agencies.
5 That the masses of the peoples of the nations are entitled to self-government exercised by the people for the general welfare of all; but instead of enjoying such rights a small minority rules; that the money power of the world has been concentrated into the hands of a few men called high financiers, and these in turn have corrupted the men who make and execute the laws of the nations, and the faithless clergy have voluntarily joined forces with the high financiers and professional politicians and that said unholy alliance constitutes the governing powers that rule the peoples; that the masses of the peoples, acting under a misapprehension of the true facts, have borne up, carried, supported and maintained "organized Christianity"; and that without the support of the common people the unholy alliance constituting "organized Christianity" could not long exist.
6 THIRD: That for centuries the privileges enjoyed by men have been wholly unequal and unfair. The multitudes have produced the wealth of the world, but have been unjustly deprived of the fruits of their labors. That the leaders of "Christendom" instead of teaching the children of men the doctrines of Christ, whom they claim to follow, teach them to murder their fellow creatures; and that now the rulers are amalgamating the common people with the military, in order to make all the peoples a part of and subject to their great war machine; that by unjust laws the common people, contrary to their own wishes, have been compelled to go to war against each other, resulting in great sorrow and suffering, multitudes of broken hearts and millions of untimely graves; that "organized Christianity" has turned a deaf ear to the petitions and entreaties of the people for relief, and now the cries of the oppressed people have entered into the ears of Jehovah God, and his time is at hand to give the peoples deliverance and freedom.
7 FOURTH: That Jehovah is the only true God, the Friend and Benefactor of the peoples. He has now set his beloved Son Christ Jesus upon his throne and bids all the peoples of earth to hear and to obey him who is earth's rightful King.
8 FIFTH: That the kings and rulers of the earth, to wit: those constituting the said unholy alliance, have been duly notified that God has set his King upon his throne and that his kingdom is at hand; but they refuse to understand or to take heed, and they walk on in darkness. Therefore God has decreed and declared that there shall come upon the world a time of tribulation such as never was known and that during that trouble "Christendom" or "organized Christianity", so-called, and all of Satan's organization shall be destroyed; and that Christ Jesus, the righteous King, will assume complete authority and control and will bless the peoples of earth.
9 SIXTH: That it must be now apparent to all thoughtful peoples that relief, comfort and blessings so much desired by them can never come from the unrighteous system of "Christendom" or "organized Christianity", and that there is no reason to give further support to that hypocritical and oppressive system.
In this hour of perplexity Jehovah God bids the peoples to abandon and for ever forsake "Christendom" or "organized Christianity" and to turn completely away from it, because it is the Devil's organization, and to give it no support whatsoever; and that the peoples give their heart's devotion and allegiance wholly to Jehovah God and to his King and kingdom and receive full freedom and the blessings God has in store for them.
10 SEVENTH: For four thousand years the cherished desire of Jews has been God's Messianic kingdom. For nineteen centuries that kingdom has been the hope of real Christians. It is now at hand. True to his promise God by and through the reign of Christ will lift the burdens of the peoples, free them from war, fraud and oppression, from sickness, suffering and death and give to them a righteous government and the blessings of everlasting peace, prosperity, life, and happiness.
QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY
Why is there no just excuse for war? What nations are chiefly responsible for war? Why have these nations considered themselves to be Christian? What effect has this claim had upon millions of honest-hearted people? Who has been the invisible ruler of "Christendom"? What form of government has he instituted the world over? Name the three factors which constitute the governing element of the world. § 1-5.
What part have the masses of mankind had in world affairs? What have they been trained to do? What is meant by the phrase "war machine"? What great effort is now being made to subject the peoples to the war machine? From what source alone can the peoples secure relief? What measures are now being taken to bring that relief? § 6, 7.
What warning has been given to those responsible for present conditions? What effect has it produced? What is to be the result? What message is now due to go to the peoples of the world? What is meant by the phrase "Messianic kingdom"? What blessings will it bring to the peoples? § 8-10.
God made of one blood all nations of men to dwell upon the earth and gave to them equal rights. Foreknowing the evil influence that would be exercised over all governments of men, God foretold that a small minority would rule and oppress the great majority; that during that period of oppression and suffering the peoples would desire freedom and a righteous government administered for the general welfare of all; that they would be disappointed and suffer; that the cries of the peoples would ascend unto God and in his due time he would hear them; that he would deliver the peoples from the oppressor into full freedom and give to them a government of righteousness under which they shall enjoy peace, prosperity, and the blessings of life. Therefore he caused his prophets to write concerning the present time these words: that "the Lord . . . hath prepared his throne for judgment: and he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble" (Psalm 9: 7-9); and "a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment"—Isaiah 32: 1.
Only by the Lord's arrangement can freedom come to the peoples. God's due time has now come when the peoples of earth must know the truth concerning the cause of suffering and the remedy for relief. All true Christians are doing their part to tell these facts to the peoples, that God's name might be glorified and that the peoples might know that their freedom is near.
"CHRISTENDOM"
The foremost nations of the world jointly call themselves "Christendom". The rulers by this term claim that they are Christians, having and exercising faith in God and in Christ, and that their combined governments constitute "organized Christianity". The claim is not only untrue, but it is fraudulent and hypocritical. By such false and hypocritical claim the multitudes of peoples have long been held in bondage and have been deprived of their just rights and privileges. God's due time has come for "organized Christianity", so-called, to be placed before the people in the proper light.
There is a true Christianity composed of faithful men and women who unselfishly follow in the footsteps of Christ. There is an organized system called "Christianity" or "Christendom" which is false and is the instrument of oppression wielded by the hand of the Devil. Jehovah through Christ established true Christianity on the earth, and in the days of the apostles it progressed. A few ambitious men, influenced and directed by Satan, defiled true Christianity; and their fraudulent course has made Christianity as it is generally understood a stench in the nostrils of honest men. This exact condition God foretold through his prophet Jeremiah (2: 20), who wrote concerning professed Christianity: "Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?"—Jeremiah 2: 21.
"Organized Christianity" or "Christendom" today is Satan's organization fraudulently parading under the name of Christ. Early in the history of man the Devil caused men to call themselves by the name of the Lord and to thereby bring reproach upon God. That same Devil has caused ambitions and selfish men to organize and carry on what is now called "organized Christianity". The purpose is to deceive the peoples, turn them away from the true God, and to keep them in subjection to a selfish and unrighteous system of government of which Satan is the invisible overlord. (2 Corinthians 4: 3, 4) A government that oppresses the multitudes of the common people, and shows special favors to the wealthy, is an unrighteous government and therefore an ungodly nation.
Such could not in truth be called Christ's kingdom or Christendom. It is therefore apparent that when the name of Christ is given to an unrigheous and oppressive government that name is fraudulently so used and for a wrongful purpose.
WHO RULES
6 The kings and presidents of the nations are not in fact the rulers. They are ordinary men filling their respective places and are mere symbols of rulership. The ruling power behind the seat of authority that shapes the course of the nations of "Christendom" is Satan the Devil. He is the opponent of God and the enemy and oppressor of men. Satan's invisible instruments are those selfish men who combine and form a system of government which rules and controls the peoples. The three classes of men that make up these ruling powers are, to wit, high financiers, called "big business"; professional politicians, called "statesmen"; and the orthodox clergy, called "religious leaders", who manufacture and dispense religion.
7 These three classes in combination constitute the small minority that rules. Disregarding the obligations laid upon them the selfish men composing the ruling minority have lived wantonly and recklessly for their own pleasure and at the expense of the multitudes. For a long time the peoples have borne them up and supported them and thereby endured great suffering and sorrow. And now I submit the testimony of their own witness which proves beyond a doubt that "organized Christianity" so-called is a fraud and deception, a great system of oppression, and a menace to the general welfare of the peoples.
HIGH FINANCE
8 The multitudes, in the sweat of their faces, produce the wealth of the world. High financiers are few in number but great in power. They produce no wealth, but obtain it through fraud and deceit practised upon the peoples and then use it for their own wicked pleasure and to oppress the multitudes and to keep them under control. High finance fixes the price at which the producer must sell his products to the distributer, and also fixes an exorbitant price which the consumer must pay to the distributer. High finance has established chain stores all over "Christendom"; and the producer must sell to these stores at a ridiculously low price or not sell at all; and the stores in turn sell to the consumer at exorbitantly high prices, which the consumer must pay or starve. The producer gets but little; the consumer pays much; and the high financiers, that produce nothing, reap enormous and unreasonable profits. The result is that the small merchant is pushed to the wall, and the chain stores do the business, and the peoples pay the bills.
9 The financial records in the United States Treasury's office disclose that in one year (1919) seventeen woolen mills made a clear profit of 100 percent on their capital stock; that corporations operating canning factories that can the fruit and vegetables produced by the hard labor of others in one year made a profit of 2932 percent; that clothing stores made a profit in one year of 9826 percent; that the aluminum trust with a capital of only $20,000 in one year (1923) made a profit of 1000 percent.
10 The wealth of America is constantly on the increase but today in that land there are 524 banks less in number than there were six years ago. The large ones are swallowing up the smaller ones. "Big Finance" is taking possession of all. Kirby Page is authority for the statement that 20,000 men control practically every bank, trust company, and business enterprise in America. From Samuel Untermeyer, the distinguished American lawyer who for a long time represented "Big Business", I quote:
11 There has been greater concentration of the Money Power in the past five or ten years . . . than in the preceding fifty years. The process of absorption is likely to continue until a few groups absolutely . . . dominate the financial situation of the country. . . . It has come to pass that less than a dozen men in the City of New York are for all practical purposes in control of the direction of at least 75 percent of the deposits of the leading trust companies and banks in the city and of allied institutions in various parts of the country.
12 The Federal Trade Commission in America in 1922 reported that six corporations then controlled one-third of the American water power, eight corporations controlled more than three-fourths of the anthracite coal fields, and two corporations controlled the greater portion of the iron-ore reserve.
13 These heartless corporations profit in the lives of human beings. To them the life of man is nothing except to be used for their selfish purpose. Recently it was disclosed that forty percent of the milk sold in New York City is adulterated, and that with the connivance of the Public Board of Health. It is then sold at a large profit to the poor, and the babes and the sick and the afflicted suffer by reason thereof.
14 These facts and figures I am giving as they relate to America. Other nations of "Christendom", or "organized Christianity", are equally as bad and many of them much worse. In every nation of "Christendom" the minority is favored and the great majority oppressed and suffer.
STATESMEN
15 The so-called statesmen of the nations are those who hold the offices and feed at the public trough upon the fat of the land, and of course produce nothing. Their jobs depend upon obedience to high finance. In fact high finance is the bulwark of "organized Christianity" so-called, and its power and influence has corrupted the politicians of every nation. The politicians are the men that make and enforce the laws.
16 Before the last American Congress a bill was pending to build a great dam at Boulder Canyon, in the Colorado River, for the purposes of reclaiming millions of acres of arid lands and to produce electric power for the benefit of the public.
Josiah T. Newcomb, solicitor for Big Business that opposed the bill, declared:
I represent an investment of nine billion dollars, and we do not propose to let the government enter into the power business at Boulder. The bill has no chance to pass. It will not pass as it is.
17 It did not pass. More than 120 million American cannot reclaim the arid lands of the desert and produce electric power for their own use without the consent of a few heartless men who are known as "Big Business". This gang of highwaymen are a part of "organized Christianity" so-called.
18 The corrupting hand of "Big Business" has been laid upon men in high political positions and corrupted every department of every government of "Christendom". Senator Reed, of the United States Senate, recently declared in a public address: "The time has come when the people should rise up and drive out the leprosy of corruption which has spread through the nation's capital."
19 The peoples go through a form of election supposedly to select their public servants. But most of these political statesmen are elected and controlled by the defiling influence of "Big Business". From Mr. Justice Ford, long in public life and who speaks with authority, I quote:
20 In my experience I have found the public service corporations, the street railroad, the telephone, the lighting companies in particular, to be the most prolific source of political corruption in the state. They are more directly dependent upon governmental favors than any others, and indeed the profits of their business flow from the special privileges which they procure and hold from the government, both state and municipal. In my day at Albany these corporations plied their nefarious business of corrupting the people's representatives so openly that a blind deaf-mute could learn what was going on. Not that legal evidence could be found against them. They were too shrewd for that. But every public man there was morally certain as to what was going on, and in private conversation it was freely talked about. These public service corporations pollute the very fountains of public virtue; they debauch our public servants; they subsidize party organizations for their own purposes. All the powers of government are subverted to their base ends; and government of the people, by the people, for the people, is made a mockery.
21 Even the courts are corrupted by "Big Business". When "Big Business" is pitted against the common people, the people have no show in the courts. The words of Mr. Untermyer are pertinent on this point:
22 Nowhere is our social fabric is the discrimination between the rich and the poor so emphasized to the average citizen as at the bar of justice. Nowhere should it be less. . . Money secures the ablest and most adroit counsel. . . . Evidence can be gathered from every source. The poor must be content to forego all these advantages.
23 When "Big Business" desires to increase its holdings and war seems to be advantageous to its selfish interests, it does not hesitate to provoke war between the peoples of different nations. At the bidding of "Big Finance" the politicians enact the necessary conscription laws which compel the common people from all parts of "Christendom" to kill each other, while the representatives of "Big Business" and their allies hide in their holes. When the war is over millions of the common people sleep in the dust of the earth, and within the brief period of blood and carnage there has been born another crop of millionaires, and then there follows greater lawlessness amongst the politicians than ever before. Upon this point a member of the United States Senate, Mr. Norris, is quoted:
24 The millions of our youth who went into that orgy of murder were promised a new and better order of things. Here, ten years later, they can see special privilege and the power of money more securely enthroned than ever in the seats of the mighty. For tens of thousands of our young men killed, for our billions spent, for the countless millions of heartaches, we have what? We have political corruption such as was never dreamed of before.
25 These conscienceless politicians defiled by "Big Business" and the oppressors of the people constitute a part of "organized Christianity", or "Christendom" so-called, that rule and control the peoples.
THE CLERGY
26 Who are the responsible ones for naming the harsh, cruel and paternalistic governments "Christendom" or "organized Christianity"? I answer: The clergy of the various denominations. Ambitious for the approval and plaudits of men and with a desire to live in ease and comfort they have joined affinity with "Big Business" and professional politicians. The clergy pose before the peoples as representatives of God and of his Christ, and hypocritically induce the peoples to believe that they are Christians, and at the same time go exactly contrary to the Word of God. Jesus declared that Satan the Devil is the prince or ruler of this world and that he is the opponent of God. (John 14: 30) Again in 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4 it is written that Satan is the god of this evil world.
27 The world means organized forms of government under the supervision of the invisible overlord, Satan the Devil. In God's Word it is written (James 4:4) that he who is a friend of the world is the enemy of God. The clergy have voluntarily become a part of the world and friends thereof, and therefore the enemies of God and of Christ and the enemies and oppressors of the common peoples. They call themselves and their allies "Big Business" and professional politicians "organized Christianity" or "Christendom", and have the effrontery to claim that these rule by divine right.
28 In God's Word true religion is defined in these words: "to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." Contrary to this plain statement of the Word of God the clergy not only fail to comfort the widows and orphans but they advocate war, preach men into the trenches to die, and thereby make millions of widows and more millions of fatherless children. Instead of keeping themselves unspotted from the world they are literally spotted all over by the world, because they are a part of it. In the recent World War their church edifices were recruiting stations and almost every clergyman advocated the shedding of human blood.
For this reason God, through his prophet, says of and concerning them now: "Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents; I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these." (Jeremiah 2:34) What class of men wear skirts except the preachers or clergy? They are the guilty ones.
29 Upon this point I submit the following indisputable facts: Admiral Fiske during the World War said: "The Christian religion is at this moment being made to exert a powerful influence, not toward peace but toward war." Secretary of War Lane said: "The war could not have been won without the churches."
30 Christ, whose name these clergymen have fraudulently assumed and by which they have named their "organized Christianity", said: "Thou shalt not kill." But the clergymen are the most ardent advocates of war and the most vehement and vindictive in their expressions against their fellow men. Before America entered the World War an election for mayor in the City of New York was being held. One candidate was opposed to America entering the war. The distinguished clergyman, Doctor van Dyke, on that occasion said: "I'd hang everyone, whether or not he be a candidate for mayor, who lifts his voice against America entering the war." And this is a sample of the dispensers of religion from "organized Christianity".
31 Rev. Chas. Gauster from his American pulpit "advocated the organization of an association to murder those persons who do not stand up when the Star Spangled Banner is played".
32 The clergymen of Germany told the people that they represented the same God and the same Christ that the clergymen of England and America represented. Although Christ is the Prince of Peace, and declares against killing, the clergymen of Germany urged their people to kill in the most fiendish manner the common people of the allied armies of Britain. Likewise the clergymen of the British and their allies urged the killing of the German people and her allies, and the clergymen of both sides tried to induce the people to believe that they are Christians. In proof that the clergymen are a part of the world and the allies of "Big Business", that makes war, I read the testimony of the Rev. George Parkin Atwater, to wit:
33 The complete representative of the American Church in France is the United States Army overseas. Yes, an army, with its cannon and rifles and machine-guns, and its instruments of destruction. The Church militant, sent, morally equipped, strengthened and encouraged, approved and blessed, by the Church at home. The army is the Church in action, transforming the will of the Church into deeds, expressing the moral judgment of the Church in smashing blows. Its worship has its vigil in the trenches, and its fasts and feasts; its prayers are in acts, and its choir is the crash of cannon and the thrilling ripple of machine guns.
34 Doctor Newell Dwight Hillis, pastor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, was one of the most vehement advocates of America entering the World War. Did he act upon the authority of Christ? No; not Hillis. The American Bankers Association commissioned him as a missionary to Europe. He did the bidding of that heartless and cruel financial association. He prepared the sermons which hundreds of thousands of other pastors throughout America delivered, advocating war, urging the young men into the trenches, and the people to buy bonds.
35 Doctor Hillis was not content with urging men into the jaws of death by which he earned and drew his pay from the American Bankers Association, but went to the extreme in expressing his malice. When the war had ended, instead of visiting the widows and the fatherless and bringing them comfort, as Christ had commanded, Hillis still breathing vengeance of blood against an unfortunate and helpless people wrote:
36 Society has organized itself against the rattlesnake and the yellow fever. Shepherds have entered into a conspiracy to exterminate the wolves. The Boards of Health are planning to wipe out typhoid, cholera and the black plague. Not otherwise, lovers of their fellow man have finally become perfectly hopeless with reference to the German people. They have no more relation to the civilization of 1918 than an orang-outang, a gorilla, a Judas, a hyena, a thumb-screwer, or a scalping knife in the hands of a savage. These brutes must be cast out of society. . . . There will shortly be held a meeting of surgeons in this country. A copy of the preliminary canlies before me. The plan to be discussed is based upon the Indiana State law. That law authorizes a State Board of Surgeons to use upon the person of confirmed criminals and hopeless idiots the new painless method of sterilizing the men. These surgeons are preparing to advocate the calling of a world conference to consider the sterilization of 10,000,000 German soldiers and the segregation of their women, that when this generation of Germans goes, civilized cities, states and races may be rid of this awful cancer that must be cut clean out of the body of society.
37 No general, no man in the army nor any war lord ever gave utterance to such diabolical and wicked words as those written by Hillis.
38 These clergymen are the ones who, with pious faces and sanctimonious words, tell the peoples that their organized system of oppression and murder represents Christ on earth, and therefore constitutes "organized Christianity" or "Christendom". They have been defaming the name of God and of Christ.
39 A few ultra-selfish men constitute "Big Business", and they control the commerce of the world. They do it by the power of money unjustly wrung from the hands of the multitudes of toilers. They control the elections because the politicians elected to office enact and enforce such laws as they want. They own and control the public press, and publish only what they desire the peoples to read. This lecture I am now giving will not be published by them, because they do not want the peoples to hear it. The radio, which God has brought to light for the benefit of the peoples, the same selfish interest is now seeking to control.
40 The same power controls the clergy and uses them for selfish purposes. In time of war they use the clergy as recruiting officers to hurry men into the jaws of death. This is the unholy alliance that hypocritically calls itself by the name of Christ and has induced the peoples to believe that it is the political expression of God's kingdom on earth. On the contrary the Scriptures declare this unholy alliance to be a part of Babylon and of the Devil's organization. All nations have been made blind drunk by its false representations and teachings.
41 Now the unholy alliance is pursuing a systematic campaign to amalgamate the common people of all "Christendom" into great military organizations. The false slogan of the World War was, that it would "make the world safe for democracy". Every sane man knows that it destroyed democracy. "Big Business" and its allies now hope to hold the common people in subjection by making them a part of the harsh and cruel war machine. Succeeding in this the Devil, in his ghoulish glee, and to the reproach of God and Christ, would say: "This is Christendom, or organized Christianity."
BURDEN BEARERS
42 The unholy alliance called "Christendom", or "organized Christianity", for its support and maintenance depends upon the multitudes of the common peoples. It holds up the peoples and robs them of their just rights and the fruits of their honest labors. Without the consent of the multitudes of peoples the poor are forced to fight and to kill their fellow man without a just cause or excuse. This "organized Christianity", fraudulently so-called, has caused the common peoples to bear great burdens of unjust taxation in order that the few might live wantonly and recklessly. It has caused the peoples to bear the burdens of war that a few might gratify their selfish desires.
43 The multitudes of suffering ones, with bent bodies and broken hearts, have gone into untimely graves. Those not supporting the unholy alliance are told by the clergy that to them death is but the opening of the gates of a burning hell wherein their torture will never end.
HOPELESS
44 The great desire of the peoples is for peace and prosperity and life in a state of happiness. It is now apparent that there is no hope of the people's realizing their desires by anything that "organized Christianity" can give them. "Organized Christianity" or "Christendom" instead of being the friend and benefactor of the multitudes is the enemy and oppressor of the common peoples. With great pomp and glory that unholy system rides upon the backs of the peoples. Without the support of the common peoples that wicked system called "Christendom" could not survive. When the peoples withdraw their support therefrom "organized Christianity", which is a part of Babylon or the Devil's organization, will fall like a great millstone into the sea.
45 There is one true and Almighty God. Jehovah of Hosts is his name. He is the Friend and Benefactor of man. Through his Christ and his kingdom of righteousness he will grant to the honest peoples of earth their heart's desire.
46 God created the first man perfect. Because man violated God's law he was sentenced to death. Thereafter his children were born; hence they were born sinners and imperfect and without the right to life. (Romans 5:12; Psalm 51:5) God in his loving kindness promised to produce a seed through which all the nations of the earth shall be blessed. (Genesis 22:18-22) Then he made it clear that Christ is that promised "seed" and that there is no other name whereby men can be saved.—Galatians 3:16-19; Acts 4:12.
47 God so loved the world of mankind that he sent his beloved Son to earth and permitted him to die that man might have an opportunity to live. (John 3:16) Jesus Christ died for all men, and all men must know that fact in God's due time.—Hebrews 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:3-6.
48 Christ means the Anointed One of God, the Messiah, the One appointed by Jehovah through whom the promised blessings must come to the peoples. For the purpose of deceiving the peoples and turning their minds away from God and his gracious provision for their blessings, Satan the Devil organized the false and wicked system made up of "Big Business", professional politicians, and faithless preachers, and calls it by the name of "organized Christianity" or "Christendom". That wicked system now controls and for a long time has controlled and oppressed the common peoples of the nations.
49 By His Word God discloses that he would not interfere with Satan's nefarious work until the end of the world, at which time Christ Jesus, his beloved Son and earth's rightful King, should come into possession of the affairs of man and rule and bless the peoples of the earth. That world ended with 1914, and according to the Lord's prophecy was marked by the World War, famine, pestilence, revolutions, return of the Jews to Palestine, and by general distress and perplexity now existing on earth. (Matthew 24:3-22; Luke 21:10-26) A period of time elapses from the beginning of sorrows, which marks the end of the world, until the final end thereof, during which the message of the kingdom must be proclaimed to the peoples.—Matthew 24:14.
50 Now God has set his Son Christ upon his throne, as foretold by his prophet in the Second Psalm, and bids all the nations and peoples of earth to hear and obey him. The old world has ended, and God's kingdom is at hand. The rulers of the earth were duly served with notice of this fact a year ago. The unholy alliance has received due notice thereof. But instead of heeding the message from the Word of God the rulers of the world, to wit, those constituting the unholy alliance, walk on in darkness and continue to oppress the peoples. The doom of "organized Christianity" or Babylon is sealed! The groans and cries of the peoples oppressed by that wicked system have ascended up to the God of heaven.
To the oppressors composing that evil system the great Jehovah now says:
51 "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you."—James 5: 1-6.
52 The day of God's vengeance is at hand, and he will punish that wicked system calling itself "organized Christianity" because it has oppressed the common peoples.
53 A city is a symbol of an organization. The unholy organization called "Christendom", or "organized Christianity", in the Scriptures is called a "city". To that wicked city God now says: "For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts. . . . A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth: for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations; he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind [of trouble] shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth. And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried: they shall be dung upon the ground. Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished: and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel. And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape."—Jeremiah 25: 29, 31-35.
54 The World War stopped in 1918 in order that notice might be given to the peoples of earth concerning the name of Jehovah God and his purposes toward men. That witness has been in progress during the past eight years. Notice has been served upon the world powers, and now notice is being served upon all the common peoples. Jesus declared that when this witness is done, and because the ruling powers will not heed the same, there shall come upon the world the greatest time of trouble ever known and it shall be the last.—Matthew 24: 14, 21, 22.
55 Millions of honest people who are now held in subjection to "organized Christianity", but who are meek and willing to be taught, are asking, What shall we do? To such Jehovah now says: "Seek ye the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment: seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord's anger."—Zephaniah 2: 3.
56 The Word of God and the physical facts prove that "organized Christianity" or "Christendom" is a failure. She is even worse than that. She is a menace to peace and prosperity. She is an instrument of Satan the Devil. Abandon her, and flee from her as rats flee from a sinking ship. She is sinking into oblivion, never again to rise. She is going down in a time of trouble such as never before was known. To the people the Lord now says therefore: "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues."—Revelation 18: 4.
THE BLESSINGS
57 The ruins of Satan's false system cleared away, there shall arise a new heaven and new earth wherein dwells righteousness, according to God's promise. (2 Peter 3: 13) That righteous government shall rest upon the shoulder of Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace. His name shall be called by the people Wonderful Counsellor because he will guide them in the right way; he shall be called the Everlasting Father because he will give life to the peoples. And of his peace and blessings there shall be no end.—Isaiah 9: 6, 7.
WARS TO CEASE
58 The curse that war has laid upon the peoples will then be lifted for ever. Never again shall there be war between the peoples of the nations. Under the reign of the righteous Messiah the peoples of the nations shall beat their instruments of war into farming implements, and nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.—Isaiah 2: 2-4.
59 A lion is a symbol of the Devil, and a ravenous beast is a symbol of the Devil's organization on earth, made up of the cruel "Big Business", big politicians, and big preachers. God, through his prophet, promises that in the kingdom of Messiah there shall be no lion or ravenous beast, because the Devil will not be permitted to operate. He will have no cruel financiers, nor professional politicians, nor any hypocritical preachers to do his bidding. The people shall dwell together in safety and follow that which is right.—Isaiah 35: 9, 10.
60 The poor will no longer be oppressed. In the courts they will have fair and equitable consideration; because it is written that "with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth".—Isaiah 11: 4.
61 Under the righteous reign of Messiah no cruel corporation can own the houses in which the people dwell, nor compel them to pay exorbitant rents. The people shall build their own houses and live in them and plant their own vineyards and eat the fruit thereof, and no one shall make them afraid.—Micah 4:4.
62 Now the poor cry for bread, and the rulers give them a stone; they cry for a fish, and the clergy give them a fiery serpent. Under the righteous reign of Messiah there shall be a great feast of fat things spread for all the people, and they shall eat and rejoice. No hypocritical preachers will be permitted then to operate with bootleggers and take away from the people the proper use of wine and themselves use it unlawfully.—Isa. 25:6.
63 Under the righteous reign of Messiah clergymen will no more be permitted to frighten the people and keep them in ignorance of the truth. Then the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall fill the whole earth as the waters now fill the sea; and every man will know the Lord and his righteous way, from the least to the greatest; and that knowledge will be free.—Habakkuk 2:14; Jeremiah 31:34.
64 In that righteous government here on earth no more can men called doctors practise on the people and hide their mistakes in the graveyard, because then the Lord will lead the people in the right way and bring unto them peace and health and cure them of all their ailments until no more shall any man say, “I am sick.”—Jeremiah 33:6; Isaiah 33:24.
65 It shall then be if a man who has been wicked shall turn away from his wickedness and do right and obey the Lord he shall live and shall never die. (Eze.1:18; 27, 28) That is the time of which Jesus spoke when he said: “If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death” (John 8:51); “Whosoever liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die.”—John 11:26.
66 In that time old men shall return to the days of their youth, and their flesh shall become fresher than that of a child. (Job 33:25) Then God will restore to perfection of body and mind all the obedient ones on the earth until the earth is filled with a happy, joyful and vigorous people.—Acts 3:19-23.
67 Seeing that God has in store these marvelous blessings for the people through the kingdom of Christ it is easy to see why the Devil has organized a false system called “Christendom” or “organized Christianity”, by which system hypocritically he deceives the people and turns their minds away from God’s provision.
68 God’s kingdom of righteousness is at hand. The evidence shows that the day of restitution has come in which the obedient ones of mankind shall be granted full freedom and restored to the perfection of body enjoyed in Eden. Therefore with confidence it can now be stated that millions of people now on the earth will never die.
69 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 multitude 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 heart’s 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!
70 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:
71 (1) Because “Christendom” is the Devil’s organization operated by him to keep the people in subjection.
72 (2) Because it is an instrument of oppression which has been used to make the burdens of men grievous to be borne.
73 (3) Because it is false, hypocritical, and wicked, and against the interests of the multitudes of the peoples.
74 (4) Because it holds out absolutely no hope for the betterment of the peoples.
75 (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.
76 (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.
77 (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.
QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY
In what way were “all men created equal”? Knowing the end from the beginning, what change did God foretell in his Word would take place in the earth? In few words what has been the history of the masses of mankind for the past six thousand years? What evidence have we that God will deliver mankind and bring in a better order of affairs? When may we expect that change to take place? Meantime what is the part of every true Christian? ¶ 1, 2.
What is meant by the terms “Christendom” and “organized Christianity”? Distinguish between true and false Christianity. Who organized the false system? What classes of men are attracted to it? For what purpose does it exist? ¶ 3-5.
What power shapes the course of the nations of “Christendom”? Who are the real rulers of the world? Why have they constituted a menace to the general welfare? ¶ 6, 7.
What is the source of the world's wealth? What is meant by "high finance"? Give an illustration of its methods of operation and their success. Quote what competent authorities have said regarding the power exercised by "Big Business". ¶ 8-14.
What is the distinction between a statesman and a politician? Quote five well-known men whose public statements demonstrate that "Big Business" controls our statesmen. ¶ 15-26.
In what way are the clergy more reprehensible than either "Big Business" or "Big Politicians"? What motive has induced them to join hands with other oppressors of the people? What evidence is there that as a class they are rank hypocrites? What part did this class take during the World War? Was this attitude common to "Christendom" or did only one nation suffer therefrom? What influential clergymen illustrated the spirit which seemingly actuates this section of the Devil's organization? ¶ 27-38.
What is the relative size of the element constituting "Big Business"? By what means does this element control commerce? politics? churchianity? Why do the people not know what is going on in the world? What name does the Lord give to this unholy alliance which oppresses the people? What systematic campaign is this unholy alliance now carrying on? For what purpose? ¶ 39-41.
Who are the burden bearers in this world? What burdens do they bear? By what means are they kept under this unjust system? ¶ 42, 43.
What is the heart's desire of the peoples of earth? In what direction have they looked for the realization of that desire? What important lesson are they now learning in regard to the ineffectuality of the unholy alliance as a helper? As a result what will they soon do, and what effect will their act have upon "organized Christianity"? ¶ 44.
Who is man's best and truest Friend? What means is he instituting by which to give mankind their heart's desire? During the past six thousand years what has God been doing for the ultimate deliverance of the peoples? Why has he not taken an active part in earth's history hitherto? ¶ 45-48.
What great change in earth's affairs took place in 1914? What evidences indicate that our Lord then took up his power and began his reign? What great work now going on is fulfilling Matthew 24:14? Has the unholy alliance any knowledge that the day of God's vengeance has begun? Upon whom will his vengeance fall heavily? ¶ 49-52.
By what symbol is "Christendom" mentioned in Scripture? Why? Why did the World War stop before it was really over? What work has been progressing during the past eight years? What will follow that witness? What call is now going out to the people? ¶ 53-56.
What blessings will follow the destruction of Satan's empire? ¶ 57-67.
What has been Satan's purpose in organizing a false system of religion? Why can permanent blessings come only through Christ? What is the manifest duty and privilege of all who hear the message of the kingdom? State seven reasons why the peoples should for ever abandon "organized Christianity" or "Christendom", falsely so called. ¶ 68-77.
MICAH CHAMPIONS THE OPPRESSED
—NOVEMBER 20—MICAH, CHAPTERS 2, 3, 6, 7: 1-6—
"He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?"—Micah 6: 8, R. V.
AS OUR previous studies have shown, the Prophet Micah was a messenger of Jehovah to Samaria and Jerusalem, that is, to both the northern and southern kingdoms, during the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He was therefore a contemporary of Isaiah; but, unlike Isaiah, whose work was in Jerusalem, Micah's was more general in that it was addressed to Samaria as well as Jerusalem.
2 This prophet addresses both houses of Israel as children of Jacob because both were in covenant relationship with God. In this respect his prophecy is closely related to Isaiah's prophecies in the second part of his book.
3 Micah begins his prophecy as Isaiah begins his. He calls all the people to listen; he lifts his voice and bids the earth, and all that therein is, to hearken. He declares that the Lord God is witness against his people. Also like Isaiah after his vision of the Lord in the temple (See Isaiah, chapter 6.) Micah speaks of the Lord witnessing from his temple. He sees Jehovah coming forth out of his place of judgment, stepping on the high places of the earth, and the mountains melting under him and pouring forth into the valleys as waters that are poured down a steep place. The cause of this action on Jehovah's part is the transgression of Jacob and the sins of the house of Israel. Jehovah comes to judgment to stop the unrighteousness which is destroying his people. Micah foretells the desolation of Samaria, a desolation of the northern kingdom which should come even unto the gate of Jerusalem.—Micah 1: 9.
4 The moral condition of the people at this time was so bad that Micah says of them, "They covet fields and take them by violence. . . . They defraud a man of his house, even a man of his heritage." Micah says that the people "devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand". He therefore speaks unto them as a message from Jehovah, "Behold, against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil." If the people devise evil, seeking how they can get gain to themselves at another's expense, by force or by craftiness, the Lord will answer by a similar action; and the prophet presents Jehovah as devising evil against them.—Micah 2: 1-3.
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