The Watchtower, September 15, 1928

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ANOTHER NEW BOOK

Government is the title of another new book just published by the Society. It contains indisputable evidence showing that the peoples of earth shall have a righteous government and explains the manner of its establishment. Proof is presented to show that the time is now ripe for the mind of man to be turned to the sober and candid examination of the plan of Jehovah for the inauguration of the government which will fulfil the legitimate desires of all.

This timely book is sent forth for the prompt and earnest consideration of all the anointed. It is also available in quantities for immediate distribution among the truth-hungry people.

A limited number of volumes of the author’s edition have been issued for the accommodation of the consecrated. The charge of fifty cents a copy for this edition will cover the extra expense of producing the original plates and enable all the brethren to have a share in the production of the book. The sale price of the popular edition is forty-five cents.

TRUTH FOR THE BLIND

Several of the Society’s books and The Watch Tower are published for the benefit of the blind. The Braille method is used. The books are loaned to the blind without charge. They are also sold at prices to cover the cost of manufacture. For further information address Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Branch for the Blind, Logansport, Indiana.

EXTRA COPIES OF CONVENTION REPORT

A limited number of copies of The Messenger, containing complete report of the Detroit Convention, are available for any who desire an extra set or for those who had not previously ordered the report. The complete set of five issues will be mailed postpaid to any address for 35c.

(Continued from page 288)

STATION CITY AND PROGRAM PERIODS K/C METERS WATTS

WRHF Washington, D. C. ........................................ 930 322.4 150

Sun pm 5.30-6

WRHM Minneapolis, Minn. ........................................ 1150 260.7 1000

Sun am 9.15-10.30

WRK Hamilton, Ohio ................................................ 1460 205.4 100

Mon pm 7-7.15 (second and fourth, monthly)

WRR Dallas, Tex. ........................................................ 650 461.3 500

Sun pm 2.15-3; Thu pm 8.30-9

WSMK Dayton, Ohio ................................................ 1010 296.9 200

Tue pm 8-8.20

WSPD Toledo, Ohio .................................................... 1250 239.9 250

Sun pm 1.15-1.45

THE WATCH TOWER

AND HERALD OF CHRIST'S PRESENCE

VOL. XLIX SEPTEMBER 15, 1928 No. 18

THE CONVENTION

JEHOVAH'S government is uppermost in the mind of every one who is anointed by him. The understanding of the anointed is that Jehovah purposes to destroy Satan's rule and to place the rulership of the world in the hands of Christ Jesus his beloved Son. God's government through Christ will be a righteous government, through which he will bless all the families of the earth. It is for this government of righteousness that Christians have been praying for many centuries: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven." The anointed have come to see the importance of making announcement of the incoming government of righteousness because such is the will of God. The kingdom interests, which the Lord has committed into the hands of his anointed, include the work of making announcement of the fall of Satan's organization and the establishment of God's righteous government.

The convention of Bible Students for the year 1928 was held at Detroit, Michigan, July 30 to August 6, inclusive. The estimated attendance was between ten and twelve thousand. The public press of Detroit, yielding to the influence of the clergy, Catholic and Protestant, did exactly what was to be expected, namely, ignored the Bible Students' convention. The publicity by the press was conspicuous by its absence. After the convention was over one of the staff reporters called up to know what was going on at the Coliseum. The lack of publicity on the part of the public press, however, in no way embarrassed the Bible Students. The Society published its own paper, The Messenger, which paper gave a more complete report than any worldly paper could have given. Many thousands of Watch Tower readers have the report given by The Messenger. Subscriptions for The Messenger came from all parts of the earth.

The convention was one of service. The anointed went there with the intention of service. Their desires were realized. The convention was addressed by the following speakers: R. J. Martin, J. C. Watt, A. H. Macmillan, T. J. Sullivan, H. Schmid, G. Y. McCormick, J. De Fehr, C. J. Woodworth, H. E. Pinnock, R. G. Green, D. Haslett, V. C. Rice, M. L. Hartman, F. W. Franz, H. S. Murray, W. L. Bowen, R. D. Goodrich, B. H. Boyd, H. Smith, Jos. Greig, W. F. McLendon, G. C. Powell, E. B. Sheffield, W. J. Thorn, F. H. Dougherty, R. H. Barber, M. A. Howlett, G. H. Draper, Clifford Roberts, P. H. Harding, L. B. Burtch, W. E. Woodworth, J. A. Baeuerlein, T. F. Silvey, J. Hemery, W. F. Salter, W. W. Johnston, W. E. Van Amburgh, R. A. Kinninmonth, C. W. Cutforth, E. J. Coward and J. F. Rutherford.

Every discourse emphasized the blessed privilege and the importance of doing the will of God and that so doing meant to work. Every discourse was timely, helpful and encouraging. The Messenger gave an outline of each one of the discourses. Space in The Watch Tower will not permit a full report of these discourses. The Messenger carried only a brief outline of the discourses given by the president of the Society and his discourses there will be carried in full in The Watch Tower in this and subsequent issues.

SERVICE DAYS

Two days were set aside for field service, Thursday, August 2 and Saturday, August 4. Thursday was confined strictly to the city of Detroit. On Saturday part of the workers were in the city while the others were in the suburbs and rural districts.

In addition to the English-speaking brethren attending and participating in the convention, simultaneous meetings were being held by those speaking the following languages, to wit: Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Ukrainian, Russian, German, Polish and Lithuanian. The English and the foreign-speaking brethren participated in the field service. The total number of workers in the field on service days, including English and foreign-speaking brethren, was 4,757. Total number of books and booklets actually placed in the hands of the people on those two service days was, to wit, 67,261. In addition to this, many of the brethren took with them books and booklets to dispose of on the return journey to their homes, and this brought the grand total up to more than 100,000 volumes disposed of at the convention.

At the convention 596 colporteurs registered as present for service. Eight of these were from England, two from Scotland, two from Ireland, the others from the United States and Canada. In addition thereto, many auxiliary colporteurs were present and participated in the service. During the convention sixty-four new applications for colporteur work were received. This makes the total for colporteur work in the United States 1,911.

In this connection it is interesting to compare the first six months of the following years during which books were sold by the colporteurs:

1926 162,624 volumes

1927 135,496 volumes

1928 353,974 volumes

The colporteurs have the zeal peculiar to the Lord’s house and are manifesting it by their work, and this was shown particularly at the convention.

Aside from the colporteurs many of the regular class workers engaged in the field service. This included practically all the elders who attended.

A meeting of the elders was held Thursday afternoon. Never at a convention has there been so much real zeal and devotion to the Lord shown by the body of elders. They not only had been in the service that day but manifested their determination to take the lead in their respective classes in the service throughout the country. It was a blessed meeting and will doubtless result in much good and bring glory to the Lord’s name. A full report of the address given at the elders’ meeting appears in The Messenger.

Each evening during the convention the English brethren broadcast a program by radio from seven to eight o’clock. This program consisted of music furnished by the orchestra from WBBR, assisted by others attending the convention, and of vocal music by those at the convention, and a discourse or lecture of from twenty-five to thirty minutes on present truth. The English-speaking brethren used station WGHP. Mr. Kirby, the local manager of the station, and his assistants were very courteous and considerate to those who participated in the Watch Tower programs. They also expressed themselves as highly appreciative of the programs, and favorably commented upon the work being done by the Bible Students. The foreign-speaking brethren also broadcast over other stations. Thus thousands of people in and about Detroit had an opportunity of hearing in their homes.

It would be a trite saying to state that this was the best convention ever held. It would also be a true saying. Not within the memory of any who attended has there ever been a convention in which there was such a united and expressed determination to honor the name of Jehovah God. The convention was better organized than any that we have ever heretofore had, and it was noticeable that everybody was anxious to have something to do and to do it when opportunity was afforded. There was very little time for personal visiting except in the evening after the program of the day had ended.

In this connection The Watch Tower takes occasion to say that the president of the Society would greatly appreciate a more personal contact with many of the brethren to talk over their private matters and to visit with them, but he finds it absolutely impossible so to do. The many duties that must be met and performed require all the time and available strength. Readers of The Watch Tower and those attending the convention will please take this statement as a personal expression of love from the president to all the dear brethren. While we would love to have personal visits and conversation more than we do, this must be deferred until the Lord’s work on earth is done, and then we shall have the great privilege of attending the general assembly of the first-borns. The King’s business now requires haste and continuity in action. It requires the undivided attention of those who attempt to represent the Lord.

The convention was a blessed one. It enabled those present to get a clearer vision of many of the prophecies that Jehovah is now unfolding to his people. It encouraged others to enter into the service of the Lord and greatly encouraged those who are already in the service. The Watch Tower in its behalf and in behalf of its readers expresses our joint thanks to Jehovah God for his manifold blessings bestowed upon his people at this convention.

PUBLIC WITNESS

The outstanding event of the convention was the program of Sunday morning, August 5. Its importance was enhanced because arrangement had been made for the consecrated who must remain at home, and for the public in general throughout America and Canada and in some of the foreign countries, to hear the program. More than one hundred radio stations broadcast this program from the Coliseum. There has never before been anything equal to it in radio broadcasting. Never before have so many stations been linked together simultaneously broadcasting the same program. Concerning this program The Messenger said:

The most important event that ever happened in Detroit, or in Michigan, or in the United States, or on the American continent, or in the New World, takes place this morning at 9:30 to 11:00 when Judge Rutherford gives his address on RULER FOR THE PEOPLE over the greatest network of radio stations ever linked together in human history.

Throughout the United States and Canada the Judge’s epoch-making address will be broadcast simultaneously by more than one hundred radio stations, ninety-six of which are linked together by telephone lines. Ten will take the program direct from the air and rebroadcast without the aid of wires. Altogether that will make at least 106 stations.

The wire network of the ninety-six stations covers 33,500 miles of telephone lines, and 91,400 miles of telegraph lines. This would belt the earth five times at the equator. It would reach more than half way to the moon. It is incomparably the greatest single educational item in the annals of the human race.

At 160 points along the network telephone repeaters employing multitudes of vacuum tubes will be included in the talking circuits to increase the volume of the fading voice currents. During the actual period of transmission more than 500 telephone experts will superintend the network, to prevent interruptions and distortions, so far as is humanly possible.

The New York Times concerning the radio network said:

The most extensive and expensive radio hook-up in history has been arranged for Judge Joseph F. Rutherford, one-time Missouri lawyer, who turned evangelical preacher, according to announcement yesterday from his headquarters in Brooklyn.

The radio network ordered by the lay preacher exceeds even those set up for the President, or for any new news event. The cost could not be ascertained yesterday, but a hint of it lay in the fact that the use of forty-seven stations for an hour cost the Dodge Motor Car Company $42,000 early in January.

There are to be ninety-six stations in the Rutherford connection, and the time to be used will be an hour and a half. It could not be ascertained yesterday whether the huge outlay for the Judge's talk next Sunday would be borne by his organization, the International Bible Students Association, by himself or by a friendly philanthropist.

WILL SPEAK AT CONVENTION

The evangelist, an uncompromising foe of organized Christianity, successor to the late Pastor Russell, will be the chief speaker at the Bible students' annual convention to be held in the Coliseum on the Michigan State Fair Grounds, near Detroit. Last year the convention was held in Toronto, and the former Judge, who penned the slogan, "Millions Now Living Will Never Die," mobilized what was then the largest radio hookup. He had fifty-three stations in line.

Previous hookups and the number of stations linked include the Fourth Annual Radio Industries dinner on Sept. 21, 1927, eighty-five stations; reception to Colonel Lindbergh on June 11, 1927, fifty stations; Dempsey-Sharkey fight on July 21, 1927, in the Yankee Stadium, fifty-two stations; Washington's Birthday speech by President Coolidge in 1927, forty-two stations; Buick broadcast on July 23, forty-eight stations; Tunney-Heeney battle, forty-three stations.

Rental and operation of regular network circuits of the National Broadcasting Company cost $33,000 for the twenty-hour period, special transcontinental circuits cost $24,000, approximately 45,000 miles of balanced and specially prepared wires being used.

Within a few hours after the conclusion of the program hundreds of telegrams were received from every part of the United States and Canada and all to the effect that the reception was as nearly perfect as possible. Every part of the lecture was heard distinctly and without interruption with but one exception and that was a difficulty due to power trouble in a station. For several days prior to Sunday the weather was exceedingly hot and sultry. An electrical storm prevailed throughout the United States and Canada on Saturday night. Sunday morning it was cool and cloudy. This was decidedly in favor of the broadcasting. The storm removed the static and enabled the program to go out over the ether without interruption. The Lord be praised for this!

On the Monday morning following, the Washington (D. C.) Post carried a report under the following heading:

BIBLE RADIO CHAIN WITH 100 STATIONS SETS NEW RECORD

Judge J. F. Rutherford's Talk at Detroit

Is Heard by Millions, Report

Further commenting upon the program the Washington Post says:

According to its sponsors, the broadcasting of the Sunday morning session of the International Bible Students Association, assembled in convention yesterday morning in Detroit, included more than 100 stations and therefore was the largest in the history of radio. It was heard by Washington listeners through Station WRHF.

The principal speaker was Judge Joseph F. Rutherford, at one time a Missouri lawyer, but later became an evangelical preacher and president of the International Bible Students Association.

"I had a telegram from one of the New York dailies," Judge Rutherford said during the course of his address, "asking how much this hook-up cost, and who was paying for it.

"My answer is that it cost $50,000 and is being paid for by a multitude of Christians throughout the United States who are glad to do it." At another time the judge remarked, parenthetically, "Satan and the Devil tried to prevent this hook-up, but were unable to do it."

Included among those broadcasting the address were Stations WORD, at Batavia, Ill., near Chicago, of 5,000 watts power, and WBBR, at Rossville, N. Y., outside of New York city, both owned by Judge Rutherford's organization.

First Broadcast of Kind

The hour for the broadcast was set for 9:30 o'clock in the morning, so as not to be in conflict with the Sunday morning services being broadcast, thus marking the first country-wide broadcast ever made at this unusual time.

It was said the address was being heard in 36 States, three provinces in Canada, and was being relayed to other countries by short waves from Station WGY at Schenectady.

This would have been a wider territory covered than by the Lindbergh hook-up of 50 stations or the national convention of 68 stations, neither of which reached Canada, or the proposed Hoover notification hook-up, which at this time comprises 75 stations.

For the convenience of listeners in the Capital loud speakers were installed in the Pythian Temple auditorium, and at several other points in the city.

The visible audience which greeted Judge Rutherford at the Coliseum in Detroit, according to the announcement which came over the radio, numbered more than 12,000 persons. In addition to that loud speakers were placed in Belle Isle Park about 10 miles away in Detroit, where it was said another crowd had assembled.

For the special benefit of Australia and New Zealand arrangements were made to have the Sunday morning lecture repeated and broadcast by a short wave from the powerful station WGY of Schenectady. The time selected was from four to five o'clock Monday morning. That was deemed by the engineers the most suitable time to reach the far distant lands of Australia and New Zealand. At that early hour the president of the Society appeared at the engineers' control room at the Coliseum, State Fair Grounds, and repeated the address which he had previously given on Sunday morning. This address was transmitted by telephone wire to Schenectady, New York, and from there broadcast by short wave length from one of the most powerful stations in America. Arrangements had been made to rebroadcast the lecture over several stations in Australia and New Zealand.

Within a short time thereafter cablegrams were received from various parts of Australia and New Zealand, announcing that the reception of the lecture on Monday morning was splendid and was well received in those countries. Cablegrams from Jamaica also were to the same effect. Trinidad, B. W. I., also reported splendid reception. Surely it is a miracle of the Lord that a human voice can be carried to such great distances now. It is God's due time. He has supplied the radio for the purpose. The honor and praise is due his name.

THE PROGRAM

Harry Howlett, one of the announcers of radio station WHK of Cleveland, Ohio, was selected to make the announcement for the radio hook-up. In order to make connection he traveled by airplane arriving in time to take charge of the program. Promptly at 9:30 a. m. the announcement of the greatest radio network was made and a brief statement of what the program would consist of. Music was furnished by the orchestra, followed by an anthem sung by a chorus of two hundred voices. Then followed the lecture, after which the entire assembly joined in singing the well-known song, "How Firm a Foundation." Doubtless other hundreds of thousands throughout America and Canada joined in this song. The orchestra concluded the program.

It was the great desire of the Bible Students to make it clearly understood that they are against the Devil and his organization and wholly devoted to Jehovah God. When the president of the Association was introduced to the seen and unseen audience he said: "Before proceeding with my address I will read a Declaration in the form of a resolution, move its adoption, and then speak to the Declaration." He then proceeded to read the Declaration, which is set out herewith in full, after which he delivered his lecture which was heard by millions of people. The resolution was unanimously adopted by the convention. We also publish a full report of the address.

At the time of going to press thousands of requests have been received by mail and by telephone for copies of the address. Announcement was made that all who made request for a copy within five days from the time of the broadcast of the lecture would receive one free of charge. The Golden Age will carry a full report, and a copy will be sent to those so requesting.

The Watch Tower takes this occasion to announce that the Society is now printing an English edition of five million copies of the above address and Declaration for distribution amongst the people, and many other millions will be printed in foreign languages.

The 1928 convention of the Bible Students is now past. It is hoped, however, that the good work done at Detroit has just begun and that millions of people throughout the earth will receive a blessing therefrom. It is impossible to find words to express a full appreciation of God's goodness to his people at this time.

Let every one of the anointed continue to manifest his appreciation by singing forth the praises of Jehovah. Now his name shall be exalted!

DECLARATION AGAINST SATAN AND FOR JEHOVAH

THE Bible Students in international convention assembled do declare themselves against Satan and wholly for Jehovah of hosts, and emphatically announce further these vital truths, to wit:

First: That the peoples of earth organized into forms of government and under the control of a superior and invisible ruler constitute the world;

Second: That Jehovah is the only true and Almighty God and the source of all just authority; that he is the King Eternal, the God of justice, wisdom, love and power and the true friend and benefactor of all creation;

Third: That Jehovah delegated to his son Lucifer the authority to be the overseer of man; that Lucifer became disloyal, rebelled against God and caused man to fall away from righteousness, and since that rebellion Lucifer has been known by the titles Dragon, Serpent, Satan and Devil; that Satan the Devil has caused strife amongst the nations and is responsible for all the cruel wars, wicked murders, all heinous crimes and other corrupt acts that have been committed; that until now Jehovah has not restrained Satan from the exercise of power and influence over man, to the end that mankind might learn the baneful results of evil doing; that for many centuries Satan has been the invisible ruler of the world, constantly defaming the name of Jehovah God and working great injury to men and nations;

Fourth: That Jehovah promised that in his due time he would restrain Satan and establish a righteous government in the earth that men might have an opportunity for life everlasting in happiness; and to that end he anointed his beloved Son Jesus to be the redeemer and invisible ruler of the world;

Fifth: That Jehovah's due time has come to fulfil his promise and to clear his reputation in the minds of all creation; that Christ Jesus has taken his high office as the executive of Jehovah and the great issue now is, Who is God and who shall rule the peoples and nations?

Sixth: That because Satan will not surrender his wicked rule over the nations and peoples of the earth, Jehovah of hosts with his anointed executive officer Christ Jesus will press the conflict against Satan and all of his forces of evil, and henceforth our battle-cry shall be, THE SWORD OF JEHOVAH AND OF HIS ANOINTED; that the great battle of Armageddon soon to begin will result in the full restraint of Satan and the complete overthrow of his evil organization, and that Jehovah will establish righteousness in the earth by and through Christ the new ruler and will emancipate mankind from evil and bring everlasting blessings to all the nations of the earth;

Seventh: Therefore the due time has come for all who love righteousness to take their stand on the side of Jehovah and obey and serve him with a pure heart, that they may receive the boundless blessings which the Almighty God has in reservation for them.

RULER FOR THE PEOPLE

"Blessed is the nation whose God is Jehovah."–Ps. 33: 12.

THE statements made in the Declaration just read in your hearing are true. Being true, they are of the greatest importance to the people at this time. I ask the indulgence of the audience, seen and unseen, while I submit proof in support thereof. I have an abiding confidence that when the people know and appreciate the truth a great burden will be lifted from their minds. I crave an opportunity to have some part in bringing the truth to the attention of the people. In doing so I come to you as a friend of all mankind. I have no selfish interest to serve, save this, that what is for the general welfare of mankind must be for my good. The eternal welfare of men far outweighs all the money by which the commodities of earth are measured.

Good government is essential to the welfare of all people. It should claim the intense interest of every man and woman. The parents should teach their children the principles of good government. There can be no real progress made in its study unless the matter be approached calmly and without bias or prejudice.

In all governments of men there is an invisible as well as a visible power exercised for evil or for good. The invisible power is superior to the visible and is therefore the power of control. If evil, then the invisible power so exercised makes the visible unsatisfactory. If the invisible power is exercised for good, then the effect upon the visible power is good and the people are blessed.

WORLD

The world is one vast government made up of the various nations and peoples. In all nations the people have recognized an invisible power that influences the nations' course of action. When in dire distress the people appeal to the invisible power and thereby acknowledge that the invisible is superior to their visible governors. In harmony with this statement it is written in the Scriptures: "Blessed is the nation whose God [invisible Ruler] is Jehovah."–Ps. 33: 12.

The inference must be indulged from this Scriptural statement that there is an invisible ruling power other than Jehovah God and that when the people are controlled by that power it is not for their blessing.

All nations recognize the necessity of a visible ruler. The fact that the United States is at this very time engaged in a great campaign to determine who shall be its ruler is proof of that statement. It is deemed important to know something about the visible ruler, and to this end an educational campaign is carried on. It is of greater importance to know of and concerning the invisible ruler, because his influence and power is greater than that of the visible.

I am persuaded that the great masses of the peoples of earth, regardless of religion or politics, desire to have and enjoy a just and righteous government. Seeing that man is not perfect, and that there is an invisible power that influences him, it is vital to ascertain in whom righteous power resides and who is the dispenser of evil power. In discussing this matter there is no disposition to reflect upon men. Bible Students have no desire or inclination to fight any man or company of men. Their desire is to place the truth clearly before the minds of the people. When the truth is understood it will be found that the interests of all men are alike. I now submit the proof that there is an evil god that controls the world; that Jehovah the Almighty God of righteousness will shortly destroy the power of the evil god, and will establish on earth a righteous government that will relieve the people of their burdens and bring them everlasting blessings; that we are now at a crisis and the issue before the people is the greatest of all time.

JEHOVAH

Who is the invisible ruler of the nations of earth? Is it Jehovah or another? Jehovah is the true God. Of him Jesus declared that to know God means life everlasting. He is the great Eternal One, the Creator of heaven and earth, the Giver of every good and perfect gift. (Isa. 42: 5) When Israel was his chosen people Jehovah was his national name to them. His name means more than that. It signifies his purpose toward his creation. His Word, the Bible, discloses his purpose; hence the Bible is the authority for this conclusion. He is just and righteous. His "judgments are true and righteous altogether". (Ps. 19: 9) "For Jehovah is righteous; he loveth righteousness." (Ps. 11: 7, R. V.) His righteousness is likened unto the stedfastness of the great mountains, and his justice as deeper than the bottomless sea. –Ps. 36: 6.

Jehovah is so wise that he can never make a mistake. The wisdom of the wisest men of the world is foolishness when compared with the wisdom of Jehovah God. (1 Cor. 1: 25) Concerning his creation his prophet wrote: "O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all." (Ps. 104: 24) In wisdom he created man, and his wisdom prepared the great plan for teaching man by experience and the granting to the obedient ones everlasting blessing.

In Jehovah resides all original power. All others exercising power do so by the permission of Jehovah. All the power of all the nations of earth is but a drop of a bucket or the small dust in the balance when compared with the power of Jehovah God. (Isa. 40:17-22) He is the Almighty God, which means there is no limitation to his power. (Gen. 17:1-6) For him to will a thing to be done means that it shall be done. When he willed to create the earth and the things thereof his spirit moved upon the elements, and the earth and living creatures thereon resulted. (Gen. 1:1-26) His spirit is his power, invisible to man.

Jehovah God is love, which means that everything he has ever done or ever will do is prompted by unselfishness. He is self-contained and needs nothing, and none can bring him any benefit. All his acts are performed for the benefit of his creatures. His prophet, who had learned of him, exclaimed: "How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings." (Ps. 36:7) "Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee."–Ps. 63:3.

I am not unmindful of the fact that Jehovah has repeatedly been charged as unjust and cruel. But when we learn that his enemy has made the charges and instilled them into the mind of man we know that the charges are false. (John 8:44) In Jehovah dwell justice, wisdom, power and love, all working together in exact harmony and always exercised for the good of his creation. For this reason it is written: "Blessed is that nation whose God is Jehovah." The converse of that statement must be true; therefore no nation could have a real blessing unless that nation has Jehovah for its God.

ABSENCE OF BLESSING

To be blessed a nation must have peace, be free from oppression and the fear thereof; the people must be secure in their property, in their homes, and in their bodies; the laws of that nation must be administered equally for the general welfare of all, with special privileges to none; and the people must enjoy prosperity in their material and in their spiritual affairs. Is there a man on earth today who can within his memory point to a nation that has had a real blessing? I am certain there is none. There is a reason for this. I wish to emphasize that my purpose is not to bring reproach upon any people. I desire now to state the facts as they exist, to the end that we may honestly and fairly determine who is, and for a long time has been, the god or invisible ruler of this world.

How may we determine who has been the invisible ruler of man during a fixed period of time? The rule laid down by Jesus is a safe one to follow, to wit: "By their fruits ye shall know them." If a nation or government practises injustice, shows undue favor to a few and greatly oppresses the majority, surely no honest man could say that that nation is just. If the visible power is exercised by a few to the detriment of the majority, that course shows a great lack of wisdom and the absence of love. Looking back over the history of the nations of earth during the past twenty-five hundred years it will be readily conceded that in that time there has been gross injustice practised upon and great oppression put upon the peoples that have been ruled. In that period of time no ruler has left an ideal record behind. Is that unhappy condition and the result due to the fact that all rulers are willingly unjust? I am sure that is not the reason. On the contrary, facts show that many rulers have diligently tried to establish a just and wise government; and after laborious efforts have signally failed. Many rulers have laid down their lives in a vigorous endeavor to better the people and they have not succeeded. Their honesty could not be called in question.

Then why have they failed? True there have been officials who have been willingly dishonest, cruel and oppressive, but even the worst of these have yielded to a sinister influence which has induced them to lead a wrongful course. That evil and powerful influence has been exercised by the invisible ruler over the visible rulers. Why has this been so? God's Word discloses the true answer, to wit, that the invisible ruler over the nations has been and is that great evil one, Satan the Devil.

EVIL GOD

When man walked in Eden, the garden of Jehovah, he was perfect in his organism. Jehovah delegated to his son Lucifer the power and authority to be man's invisible overlord. Lucifer was then perfect and a creature of glory. Lucifer and the Logos were the two "Morning Stars" that together sang an anthem of praise at the laying of the foundation of the earth. (Ezek. 28:14-17; Job 38:7) It was the nature of man to worship Jehovah God. Lucifer desired such worship for himself. His ambition led him to rebellion against God, which activity began by Lucifer's inducing man to disobey God's law. (Isa. 14:11-14) That wrongful act has worked great havoc to mankind.

As a result man was sentenced to death and expelled from his paradise home, and all mankind have since suffered from the effects thereof. (Gen. 3:3-24; Rom. 5:12) That evil effect upon the nations is thus expressed by the prophet: "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!"–Isa. 14:12.

Ceasing to be an angel of light Lucifer became the very embodiment of darkness and wickedness, and from then till now the Bible designates him under the titles Satan, Serpent, Dragon and Devil. All the unrighteous wars that have been fought between men, and all the cruel murders committed by men, have been due to the wicked influence of Satan the Devil because he was the first murderer and the father of lies. (John 8:44) All the tears of bitterness that have flowed from those who have been dealt with unjustly and sorely oppressed must be traced to the influence of Satan because he is the great and wicked oppressor. (Ps. 72:4) All the bitterness that has existed and been exhibited between professed Christian people, all the religious intolerance and persecution of Christians, must be laid at Satan’s door. All the foul aspersions against Jehovah God and all defamation of his holy name must be laid to the charge of Satan the Devil.

THE FACTS

Today in every nation there arises a cry of the people against unrighteousness. I hold that the primary unrighteousness manifested by the governments can not be laid to the charge of men who hold the offices. There is an unseen power that induces unrighteousness and oppression; and that power is exercised by Satan the Devil, who is the god or invisible ruler of this world. Nineteen hundred years ago the perfect man Jesus was on earth. He came into the earth to represent his Father Jehovah God and to do his Father's will. (John 5:30) For three and one-half years Jesus suffered the most cruel persecution that could be inflicted and which culminated in his ignominious death. For a time the common people heard him gladly and hailed him as their Savior. Then the Pharisees and rulers incited the people against him, and they all turned against him, and the Roman government yielded to their cries for his blood and they crucified him. Were the Pharisees and the rulers wholly to blame for his death? They were parties to the wrongful act of killing him, but the Apostle Peter, under inspiration, said to them, as recorded in Acts 3:17: "And now, brethren, I wot [know] that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers."

Who is the responsible one and who really prevented the visible rulers and Pharisees from knowing and understanding the truth? Jesus answered that Satan the Devil was the one, because they were yielding to his influence and doing his will. (Matt. 23:14-16; John 8:42-44) Furthermore, it is plainly written, in 2 Corinthians 4:3, 4, that Satan the Devil is the god of this world and that he blinds the minds of men lest the truth should shine into their minds.

It was Satan the Devil who sought to induce Jesus to violate his covenant with Jehovah and thereby bring about Jesus' own destruction. Failing in this he did not cease his activities against Jesus. "When the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him [Jesus] for a little season."–Luke 4:1-13.

From time to time the Jews sought to kill Jesus, and in every instance they were acting under the influence of Satan the Devil. As Jesus neared the end of his earthly pilgrimage he said to his disciples: "Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me." (John 14:30)

Shortly thereafter Judas betrayed Jesus into the hands of those who killed him; and, as to the responsible one who induced Judas thus to do, it is written: "And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people. Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve." (Luke 22:2, 3) "And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly."–John 13:27.

The proof is therefore conclusive that it was Satan, the invisible ruler of this world, who caused the death of Jesus. Such wicked persecution could not have proceeded from Jehovah God against his own Son. From then till now true Christians have suffered violent persecution. Nearly all the apostles of Jesus suffered violent deaths. Was Jehovah God responsible therefor? Certainly not. Jesus Christ is the anointed Son of God; and the church are the body members of Christ, and each one is therefore a son of God.–Rom. 8:14-16.

Afterwards the Romans persecuted and put to death many Christian people. The French government did the same thing. Many avowed Christians were burned at the stake in the British Empire. John Calvin, the great preacher, when he held a high position in the government of Switzerland, caused Servetus to be burned at the stake. In the Turkish government thousands of people were put to a cruel death because they claimed to be Christians. During the World War Christian people were persecuted, imprisoned and killed in nearly every nation engaged in the war because those Christian people would not violate their conscience and God's law by killing their fellow man. Shall these terrible deeds of blood be charged wholly to men? I answer, No. The wicked influence of the invisible ruler Satan induced the commission of such great crime. Such wrongs could not have proceeded from Jehovah God, because he is just and loving and because that persecution was leveled chiefly against his children.

All the evidence shows that Satan, the invisible ruler of this world, is the responsible one for such wrongful acts, and the conclusion is in harmony with the words of Jesus, who said to his followers: "Because . . . I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. . . . If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you. In the world ye shall have tribulation." (John 15:18-21; 16:33) This is further proof that the persecution of Christians has been induced by Satan the Devil and that he is the invisible ruler of this world. The fight of the Christian has not been against men, but against the invisible Satan and his cohorts of evil. Upon this point it is written: "Put on the complete armour of God, so as to be able to stand firm against all the stratagems of the Devil. For ours is not a conflict with mere flesh and blood, but with the despotisms, the empires, the forces that control and govern this dark world."–Eph. 6:11, 12, Weymouth.

PRESENT-DAY WITNESSES

For the purpose of proving that Satan is the god or invisible ruler of all the nations of earth, and that he is primarily responsible for all the wickedness, crime, oppression and intense suffering of the peoples, I read into the record the testimony of some well-known men of the world.

For a long period of time the trade in women for immoral purposes has been carried on in many nations and the governments have licensed such wicked traffic. An effort was made to abolish that evil practice. Concerning the League Committee appointed to investigate and report upon the abolition of this wicked traffic the Manchester Guardian, under date of March 6, 1928, says:

It proved impossible to obtain a unanimous recommendation for the immediate abolition by all governments of the system of licensed brothels. Representatives of the governments of countries where this system still exists, such as France, Italy, Roumania, Spain, and Japan, opposed the proposal, requesting that further inquiries should be made about the consequences of the abolition to public order and public health. . . . The Belgian delegate was one of the most convincing advocates of abolition, although the system of licenses still exists in Belgium. . . . Five years ago, France and other governments objected to any discussion of the subject on the ground that it was merely a domestic question. Now the international character of the evil is no longer denied.

Concerning the Roumanian government The Nation, in its issue of June 13, 1928, says:

The Roumanian Government, in fact, stands for corruption and unconcealed bribery; it stands for pogroms and the violent persecution of the national minorities within the borders of Roumania; it stands for the property rights of prominent members of the Liberal party at the expense of other individuals and of the nation itself.

In Russia the government is deporting Zionists to bleak Siberia, where they suffer indescribable agony. The New York Times of June 3, 1928, quotes Dr. Arlosoroff as follows:

Places consisting of three to five houses, situated at a distance of hundreds, sometimes more than a thousand, miles from a railway station, with mail service only three times a year, are selected to form the residence of the deported Zionists.

The Ogpu, the Soviet political secret service, provides each of the deportees with only about three dollars a month.

The convicts are prohibited from walking beyond the bounds of the village. Deportees who fail to present themselves for daily registration are considered attempting to escape and are punished by confinement in a penitentiary.

Sick persons suffering from acute attacks of fever are dragged daily to register. In Kirgisia more than forty Zionist deportees have been punished by imprisonment on account of letters found at their homes. Every second month the location of the deportees is changed in order to prevent "adjustment" and acquisition of a suitable occupation.

Italy has abolished her constitution, and her present government is a tyranny. The Manchester Guardian of June 9, 1928, publishes a communication from Signor Nitti, ex-prime minister of Italy, from which the following is quoted:

With all freedom of association, of assembly, of the press suppressed, all the independent papers, even Conservative and Catholic, suppressed, boys and girls are to be brought up from the tenderest years in the cult of violence. . . . Irresponsible children, even young girls, are armed for the defense of the regime. In the streets of Italy children of both sexes are to be seen going through military drill with firearms. They are taught the principles of violence; they hear every day justifications of war; hatred is inspired in their young hearts. They are told that Italy should be an empire, and that in consequence she will have to go to war. . . . Every freedom of professional activity is restricted; the independence of the magistrates is suppressed; special tribunals, no longer composed of magistrates but of party members, judge and condemn their opponents, who have hardly any means of defense, and deport them almost always without having put them under interrogation. To leave Italy without the permission of the government has become impossible. . . . Italy has become a vast prison, where there is no more laughter and no more life, and where an extreme poverty, in spite of false information spread by official agents in every country in Europe and America, is becoming daily more insupportable. Thousands of honorable citizens who can no longer get permission to leave Italy have to undergo every sort of humiliation: illustrious generals, deputies, professors are thrown into prison or deported to desert islands. Political crime and torture are held in honor as in the worst periods of the Middle Ages.

The oppression of the peoples of Egypt and India by the great British Empire is well known to the people of all lands. At home her yeomanry are burdened to the breaking point under the great load of taxation to enable the nation to carry on her imperialism. From all parts of the earth are heard the cries of the people because of unreasonable taxation and other burdens laid upon them.

The United States is the richest country in natural resources on the earth; yet in this land of plenty millions are without employment and suffer in want for the necessities of life. At the same time the burden of taxation and graft has increased to the breaking point. The New York American, under date of December 17, 1927, says:

Graft and corruption are the curse of government. Nowhere is their burden heavier than in New York. . . . The average citizen reaches the breaking point when crooked politics and crooked business unite to double the charge. Scores of property owners in Queens, including home owners, are threatened with having to let their property be sold to meet the exorbitant Queens sewer assessment. Some estimates are that half of the entire $16,000,000 cost of the Jamaica system is due to graft.

The gigantic light and power trust has corrupted the primary parts of the government, invaded the schools and colleges, corrupted the teachers, and made a systematic attempt to turn the minds of the youth from the right principles of government. The New York American of June 21, 1928, quotes Congressman La Guardia as follows:

The revelations in the Senate, and the investigation by the Federal Trade Commission of the power trust, have disclosed one of the most cruel monopolies ever formed in this country. Electric power is in the hands of an absolute monopoly, and the disclosures would indicate that millions of dollars are available for corruption, control of legislation, and the subsidizing of instructions in both public and private colleges throughout the country.

That wicked corporation has not even been rebuked by the visible rulers of the American nation.

The New York Times of June 3, 1928, quotes Senator Underwood as follows:

The people who exercise the power are not always the same people with those over whom it is exercised. Organized minorities now rule. The plain people are not organized. They have no agents at the capital to protect their interests; they are often misinformed and misled by untruthful propaganda. . . . A full half of the laws now passed are experimental in their inception and unhappy in their results. . . . The government has become a complicated bureaucracy that every day is becoming more and more oppressive.

Senator Reed of the United States Senate, from the public platform and in the press, declares that the government of the United States is now in the hands of "boodlers, grafters and lobbyists". Is Jehovah the God of those wicked men?

Derelictions of every nation on earth might be here mentioned if time would permit. My purpose is not to magnify their shortcomings but to mention enough to show that Jehovah is not the god of these nations but that Satan the Devil is the invisible ruler or god of every nation now on earth. His subtle influence always for evil is responsible for the crimes against the people and the great suffering of the people in every nation. At the same time he has sought diligently to keep the people blind to the real truth.

What could be the purpose of Satan in leading the people into such deplorable conditions, causing the nations to war against each other and at the same time to call themselves Christian? Satan’s primary objective has ever been to defame the name of Jehovah God and to cause the people to hate and turn away from Jehovah, that he (Satan) might still keep them under his rule and control. He has falsely induced the clergy, his visible representatives, to teach that Jehovah is the god of the nations of earth and at the same time to charge Jehovah with the responsibility for all war and crime. In doing this he has caused millions of honest minds to turn away from the true God and to cast away his Word, the Bible.

Since the World War it is conceded by the leading men of every nation that crime and wickedness has increased; that organized Christianity is losing its influence over the people; and that corruption in high places becomes more marked. Mr. Lloyd George, in an article published Sunday, June 24, 1928, says:

The young men who passed through the war came to the conclusion that a religion which permitted and seemed to encourage such an outbreak of savagery was an exposed sham. The revolt or, rather, the sulkiness of youth is the most serious problem with which the churches are confronted.

Why is this unhappy condition enhanced in the last decade? The Scriptures answer: "Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time." – Rev. 12: 12.

WHY PERMITTED

If all just power resides in Jehovah God, why has he permitted Satan to exercise power over the nations? Briefly answered, he has permitted it in order that mankind might by experience have a full and complete lesson in the baneful effects of wrong doing. God expelled man from Eden, and set before him good, and permitted Satan to place evil before man, and permitted man to exercise his free moral agency and to follow the Devil, suffer sorrow and death, or to be faithful and obedient to God and learn the way to life everlasting and happiness. To that end Jehovah chose the Israelites and entered into a covenant with them. The very first words of that covenant are that the Israelites should have no other god besides Jehovah and should not bow down and worship other gods. (Exod. 20: 2-5) That commandment was not given because of selfishness on Jehovah's part, but solely for the benefit of man. In other words Jehovah said to them: ‘Satan and his associates will lead you into suffering and death. If you will live, hear my voice and obey me.’ It was like a considerate parent saying to his wayward son: ‘Do not follow that wicked man and lose everything, but obey me if you will be happy.’

The charge is often made that Jehovah is a cruel and bloodthirsty God. That charge is wholly false. Bear in mind that Jehovah is the only source of life. He gives and he has the right to take away. By reason of wilful disobedience Adam was justly sentenced to death. By inheritance all men came into existence without the right to life. (Rom. 5: 12; Ps. 51: 5) Nations under the influence of Satan persisted in persecuting the Israelites as God’s chosen people. They were grossly wicked, justly condemned, and deserved to die. He executed them as a sheriff would legally execute a condemned criminal. When the Israelites persisted in wilfully disobeying God’s law, for their own good Jehovah used other nations as his executioners to punish them. In every instance God’s acts have been legal and just and exercised for the benefit of man.

Twenty-five hundred years ago God withdrew his favor from Israel because of her disobedience and permitted Babylon to execute his judgment against that nation. At the same time he promised that he would in the future establish a righteous government at the time of the coming of him whose right it is to rule. The faithful ones have been waiting for that due time of Jehovah.

THE GOVERNOR

Is it to be understood from that statement that Jehovah intends to establish a righteous government on earth for the benefit of man? That is exactly what it does mean. Jesus Christ is the beloved Son of God. He is the anointed Governor or King of the world and in God's due time he becomes the invisible Ruler of the world in complete harmony with Jehovah's will. Where the power of the invisible Satan has been used for evil, the power of the invisible Christ will now be used for good and for the blessing of the peoples of earth.

When Jesus was before Pilate he declared himself to be the Anointed One to rule the world. When he was raised from the dead all power in heaven and earth was committed into his hands. (Matt. 28:18) He did not begin, however, to exercise that power at once. When he ascended into heaven Jehovah said to him, as recorded in Ps. 110:1: "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." The World War marked the end of that period of waiting, as shown by the testimony of Jesus himself. (Matt. 24:3-14) That marked the time when Jehovah through his prophet says: "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion." (Ps. 2:6) And now Jehovah says to Christ, earth's righteous Governor: "Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them [the powers of evil] with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." –Ps. 2:8, 9, R. V.

The beginning of the World War marked the end of Jehovah's waiting. Satan was then cast out of heaven and has come down to earth, here to carry on his wickedness against which God gives warning. (Rev. 12:12) Jehovah commands that notice now be served upon the nations before he proceeds to destroy Satan's power; therefore he says to the rulers of earth: "Be wise now, therefore, O ye kings; be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve [give allegiance to] the Lord . . . lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him."–Ps. 2:10-12.

THE GREAT ISSUE

Now the great issue before the nations and peoples of earth, Who is your God and whom will you serve, the Devil or Jehovah?

Jehovah God will shortly overthrow the Devil's established organization and will set up righteousness in the earth. Before he does so he offers the nations of earth an opportunity to voluntarily renounce the Devil, acknowledge Jehovah as the only true God, and Christ as earth's rightful and righteous Governor. The purpose is now to serve notice upon the nations and peoples that they may take their stand on the side of Jehovah. If they fail so to do, then what shall follow?

ARMAGEDDON

At stated intervals of time Jehovah has forcefully brought his name before the peoples, lest they should forget that he is their only Benefactor and Life-giver. When the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites, God went down into Egypt to make for himself a name. (2 Sam. 7:23) He sent Moses and Aaron to serve notice upon the Egyptians. What came to pass there foreshadowed greater things to come to pass and which are now beginning. (1 Cor. 10:11) In serving notice Moses and Aaron represented Christ and his church. Egypt and its ruler represented the Devil and his organization. God there exercised his power to overthrow the Egyptians and their armies. Now the nations of earth failing to take their stand on the side of Jehovah but holding to Satan, God will overthrow Satan and his organization in the great battle of Armageddon and all the nations and tribes of earth shall see it.

While all the nations will be involved in Armageddon it will not be fought between nations, as the great World War was fought. The Scriptures declare that it will be "the great battle of God Almighty". (Rev. 16:12-14) The reason for the battle is this: The time has come for God's anointed King, Christ Jesus, to take over the rulership of the world and to rule in righteousness. Satan's misrule must now end. Arrogant, cruel and wicked beyond description, Satan thinks he can defeat Jehovah and therefore prepares for the great battle of Armageddon. He musters all of his forces, both visible and invisible. He puts forth all of his endeavors to discredit God, and to turn the people against God, and to induce them to embrace a religion that entirely leaves out God. He blinds the minds of statesmen, leading them to believe that they have the ability to establish a desirable government and that they may be aided in so doing by heeding the advice of an apostate and dishonest clergy. He induces the selfish financiers to believe that their power is irresistible and that they can corrupt the rulers and oppress the people at will. Thus the forces of evil are arrayed against God and his Anointed.

Jehovah will no longer permit Satan to exercise his blinding influence over the peoples of the earth. The great battle of Armageddon is necessary to teach all creation that Jehovah is the true God and besides him there is none. Some vision of the battle of Armageddon is given in God's Word. The time comes for action and he says to his beloved Son, his anointed Priest and King: "Thou art fairer than the children of men; grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever. Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most Mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty. And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things."–Ps. 45:2-4.

Furthermore he says to earth's new Governor: "Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." As Satan refuses to yield his rule, the battle must follow. Further describing it the prophet says: "The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He shall judge among the nations, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the head [Satan] over many countries."–Ps. 110:5, 6.

As to the far-reaching effect of Armageddon God's prophet Jeremiah says: "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. A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture."–Jer. 25:31-36.

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