The Watchtower, August 1, 1930
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NEW BOOKS
LIGHT is the title. Subject matter: A detailed explanation of The Revelation, with Daniel Two added. Forceful and enlightening illustrations. For convenience, issued in two volumes designated Book One, Book Two. The special autograph edition to Watch Tower subscribers ready for distribution shortly. To meet first cost of composition and plates, the two books for one dollar. You may send your order now with remittance (by postal or express money order, for your own safety), and books will come to you by parcel post. Yon have waited a long while for these books. By the Lord’s grace they will increase your joy.
CAMPAIGN WEEK
The week of September 27 to October 5 is set aside for a special campaign to publicly distribute LIGHT. This will mark the opening of a vigorous campaign by the army of the Lord. Together they will sing the new song. It will be a time of increased joy in the Lord. In the meantime study the books, One and Two, that you may be equipped to give an intelligent testimony concerning the message therein. A great blessing is anticipated for all who engage in this campaign because of love for Jehovah.
Vol. LI
August 1, 1930
No. 15
A GREAT IMAGE
“Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible.”—Dan. 2:31.
PART 1
JEHOVAH caused his prophet to make a record of and concerning a great image which appeared in a dream to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. Not only that, but he caused his prophet to speak an interpretation of that dream concerning the image. This alone gives importance to the image and to an understanding thereof.
2 Image-making is anti-God. In his law which God gave to the Israelites he specifically prohibited the making of an image or the likeness of anything in heaven or on earth. (Ex. 20:4) Concerning those who indulge in image-making it is written: “Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place.” —Deut. 27:15.
3 An image is something that represents or is regarded as representing another thing that exists. It is the likeness or imitation of a real thing made to resemble that real or more complete thing. It may well be said to mimic something greater. While Moses was in the mountain to receive the tables of the law at the hand of God the Israelites made a molten image before which they worshiped, which constituted a serious breach of God’s law. (Deut. 9:12) The tendency of images and image worship is to turn the people away from God and turn them to God’s enemy. The real reason, therefore, for God’s forbidding the making of images was and is that the creature should give his entire devotion to his Creator, and not be led into the ways of error.
4 These fixed rules of God, together with the fact that he caused a record to be made in his Word concerning the image that appeared to Nebuchadnezzar, and that he calls it a 'great and terrible’ image, is proof conclusive that the image could not represent God’s purpose, but must have reference to God’s enemy or something in connection with God’s enemy. It is stated in his Word that “I the Lord thy God am a jealous God”, and this statement is made in connection with image-making and image worship. This does not mean that God could be injured by what his creatures might do, but does mean that his creatures, by turning themselves to God’s enemy and looking at images and not at Jehovah, do violence to their own interests and bring great injury to themselves. Image-making and image worship is therefore an abomination in the sight of God. Why then should God cause record to be made of the great image above mentioned? The expressed purpose of God of and concerning his enemies has direct bearing upon this question and upon the proper understanding of the prophecy uttered by Daniel relative to the image above mentioned.
5 Jehovah will triumph over his enemies so completely that never will a place be found for them again. The Bible contains an abundance of testimony concerning the enemies of Jehovah. That fact alone proves that it is the purpose of Jehovah to fully advise those who love him of the reason for the existence of these enemies, whence they came, why they have opposed him, why he has permitted them to continue so long, what provision he has made for their destruction, and when they will be destroyed. We know that the power of the Almighty God has no limitations and if he should will to do so he could snuff out all his enemies in an instant. The fact that he has not done so long ago shows that he has good reason for not doing it until a time certain. That it may be fully understood that he will destroy them completely in his own good time it is important to consider a few of the Bible texts upon this point: “But thou, Lord, art most high for evermore. For, lo, thine enemies, O Lord, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish: all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.” (Ps. 92:8,9) “Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.” (Mic. 5:9) “Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies: thy right hand shall find out those that hate thee.” (Ps. 21:8) “But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.”—Ps. 37:20,38.6 Jehovah’s purpose to destroy his enemies has been expressed from the very beginning of man’s sinful course. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head.—Gen. 3:15.
7 That declaration was made more than six thousand years ago. The final bruising has not yet taken place. To Abraham Jehovah said: “Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies.” (Gen. 22:17) Here Abraham represented Jehovah himself, while the “seed” promised stands for or represents the instrument Jehovah will use to destroy his enemies. Jehovah caused Jacob to prophesy concerning Judah in these words: “Judah, . . . thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies.” (Gen. 49:8) “The Lion of the tribe of Juda” will be the One who thus performs the work here prophesied.
8 God’s chosen people in Canaan were led by Joshua, When he had captured the enemy kings and held them in custody he caused his men to draw near and put their feet on the necks of these kings, and then they killed them. “And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.”—Josh. 10:25.
9 God’s prophet, concerning the enemies of Jehovah and the enemies of those who love him, wrote: “For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul. He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth. ” (Ps. 54: 3-5) “Through God we shall do valiantly; for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.” (Ps. 60:12) The prayer of the righteous is: “Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.”— Ps. 68:1,2,21.
10 Jehovah has made his beloved Son Christ Jesus his Chief Executive Officer for ever. By him he will accomplish his purposes. He is the right hand instrument of Jehovah. Christ Jesus is the “seed” that shall bruise the head of the enemy. Christ was not permitted even to begin this work of destruction until God’s due time, but when that time arrived God sent him forth upon a mission, and the work is now in progress. (Ps. 110:1,2) The beginning of his reign in 1914 marks the beginning of the great King’s work and he must go forward from that time until it is completed: “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 heads over many countries.” (Ps. 110: 5, 6) The great work God gives unto the hand of Christ, which includes the faithful members of his body. Concerning such it is written:
11 “Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king’s son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.” (Ps. 72:1,2,8,9) “The Lord reigneth, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.” (Ps. 97:1, 3) “Let there be none to extend mercy unto him; neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children. Let his posterity be cut off: and in the generation following let their name be blotted out. ’ ’—Ps. 109:12,13.
12 The above are a few of the Scriptural texts proving God’s purpose to completely destroy his enemies, and to do so by and through his beloved Son. We are now approaching that great battle of the day of God Almighty and it seems quite clear that God’s duo time has come for us to have a better understanding of the prophecies and that this includes an understanding of the great and terrible image mentioned in Daniel’s prophecy.
‘TERRIBLE IMAGE’
13 In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, he had a dream that troubled him. He forgot the dream, and he being unable to remember it, his magicians and astrologers, of course, could not interpret it; and they used this fact as an excuse for their inability to interpret the dream. Daniel was then a captive in Babylon, where the Israelites had been taken. Together with some of his brethren he sought the face of the Lord in prayer and then asked permission to disclose to Nebuchadnezzar both his dream and the interpretation thereof. Daniel was then brought before Nebuchadnezzar the king, and told him his dream. Be it noted that Daniel laid no claim whatsoever to any personal ability or learning by which he could recall the dream or give the interpretation thereof; but when he was brought to tell Nebuchadnezzar he informed the king that his information came from the God of heaven. Daniel said to the king: “But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.”—Dan. 2: 30.
14 Daniel was devoted to Jehovah and was much beloved by Jehovah and was used by the Most High to write down the prophecy, which would be fulfilled in God’s due time. Daniel represented that class of people who would be on earth and who would be fully devoted to God at the end of the world when ‘Michael shall stand up’. Daniel therefore specifically represented the faithful remnant, those who are anointed of the Lord God to do his work. The record of the dream and the interpretation given by Daniel the prophet follows:
15 ‘ ‘ Thou, O king, sawest, and behold, a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. This image’s head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, his legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.
16 “This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh, all these shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men; but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
17 “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.’’—Dan. 2:31-45.
18 For many years those who have loved God have sought for an understanding of the prophecies, and particularly those written by Daniel and Ezekiel. God has never been displeased with this effort, as is indicated by the Scriptures; nor should it be expected that God will permit the true understanding of these prophecies to be had until his due time. The holy men of old who prophesied concerning God’s purpose of the salvation of the human race sought diligently to understand the meaning of what they wrote down. Even the angels desired to look into the meaning thereof and have an understanding of it. God did not express his displeasure because of the efforts thus made to understand, but it was not his due time to make his secrets known. Nor would it be at all improper for anyone who is devoted to God to diligently seek to know the understanding of his Word at any or all times. This observation is here made to emphasize the fact that only in God’s due time can a prophecy be understood by men.
19 More than fifty years ago some good, honest Christian people who were called Adventists published an interpretation of the foregoing prophecy of Daniel which in substance states that the terrible image that Daniel saw represented the successive world powers, to wit, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome; that the golden head of the image represented Babylon, the breast of silver represented or pictured the Medo- Persian empire; that the copper (mistranslated brass) pictured the Grecian world power; and the legs of iron pictured the Pagan Roman world power; and the feet composed of iron and clay pictured Papal Rome or what is otherwise called the “Holy Roman Empire”. The Watch Tower publications, having no better explanation, practically adopted the foregoing interpretation. There are some good reasons why the above interpretation of the prophecy is not correct, and these are, to wit:
20 (1) That the true meaning of the terrible image could not be understood by any of those whom Daniel represented until after the coming of the Lord to his temple. The foregoing interpretation having been made long before the coming of the Lord to his temple, it is hardly likely that it would be correct. That would not mean that any criticism is leveled against any of those who thus interpreted it. Without doubt God was pleased with them because they sought the truth. Daniel's prophecy says: “This secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation.” And furthermore that ‘the God of heaven revealeth secrets of what shall be in the latter days’. (Dan. 2:28,30) These “latter days” must refer to the “day of the Lord”, which means the time beginning when God places his King upon his holy hill in Zion. (Ps. 2:6) That event occurred in 1914, and surely then the understanding could not be had until after that time. It was after the Lord came to his temple in 1918 that his anointed people began to have a better understanding of the prophecies, because the temple in heaven was opened. (Rev. 11:19) Since Daniel says that the vision or prophecy is to make known what is to come to pass in the “latter days”, then it must be that God purposed that his people, whom Daniel represented, would be given an understanding of the image in the “latter days”, and not before.
21 (2) That the prophecy shows that the terrible image would be broken in pieces all at one and the same time and it follows that unless the entire image is in existence at one and the same time this could not take place. The world powers of Babylon, Medo- Persia, Greece, and Pagan Rome, have ceased to exist and the image has not yet been broken in pieces. The “holy Roman empire” does not now exist as a world power.
22 (3) It could not be literally true that Nebuchadnezzar at the time he was king of Babylon was ruler over all “the beasts of the field, and the fowls of the heaven”, as the prophecy states. There is no proof that he had any more power or control over the wild beasts and the birds than any other imperfect man had.
23 (4) There is no evidence whatsoever that Medo- Persia as a world power possessed anything peculiar that could be symbolized by the precious metal silver, or that the Grecian empire was in any particular way marked so that it could be symbolized by the less valuable metal brass or copper.
24 (5) It is not true that Rome was the first world power to employ the iron military rule that ‘bruises the peoples of the earth’. Egypt existed long before the day of Rome, and Egypt was the first great military power. The world power of Assyria was before Babylon or Rome, and Assyria boasted that her armies had conquered all the nations and none had been able to stand before her military onslaughts. Only Jehovah by his angel could and did deliver the Israelites from the Assyrian iron or military hand. (Isa. 36:17-20) Greece conquered and ruled the world by military force, and it is said of her mighty warrior general that “he wept because there were no more worlds to conquer”. In much earlier days than that, even, the kings of Canaan had military equipment and nine hundred chariots made of iron. (Judg. 4:3) Other nations fought with military instruments of iron long before Rome existed. (1 Ki. 22:11) Other reasons appear why ‘the terrible image’ does not refer to world powers, and these will be considered as we progress.
25 The image about which Nebuchadnezzar dreamed was a terrible one. What could it picture ? In order to enable the student to follow the argument here set forth it is now here briefly stated that the terrible image represented Satan’s organization, both visible and invisible. Before submitting the proof in support of that conclusion consideration is first given to some Scriptural evidence concerning the greater organization.
JEHOVAH’S ORGANIZATION
26 Jehovah has a universal organization which is often mentioned in the Scriptures under the symbol of “mountain”. “So he brought them into his own holy bounds, the mountain-range which his right hand acquired.” (Ps. 78: 54, Rotherham) “Great and highly to be praised in the city is our God, his holy mountain is beautiful for elevation, the joy of all the earth. Mount Zion on the northern ridge is the city of a king.” (Ps. 48:1,2, Rotherham) (See also Isaiah 2:2; 11:9; 56:7; Joel 3:17; Zechariah 8:3.)
27 Ezekiel was caused to write down his vision of God’s organization. (Ezek. 1: 3-28) In that vision he describes four living creatures having the likeness of a man, and every one had four faces and four wings. ‘ ‘ Their wings were joined one to another; they turned not when they went; they went every one straight forward. As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side; and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces: and their wings were stretched upward; two wings of every one were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And they went every one straight forward: whither the spirit was to go, they went; and they turned not when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.”—Ezek. 1:9-13.
28 There appeared in the vision also one wheel upon the earth by each of the living creatures which had four faces. “And their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel.” Further describing what he saw, Ezekiel said: “When they went, they went upon their four sides; and they turned not when they went. And when the living creatures went, the wheels went by them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they went, thither was their spirit to go; and the wheels were lifted up over against them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.”—Ezek. 1:17,19, 20.
29 There appeared over the heads of the living creatures a great expanse like terrible crystal to look upon. Under the expanse were the wings of the living creatures each having four wings, two on each side of the body. When these creatures went the sound of the wings was like the sound of many waters. “And when they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of great waters, as the voice of the Almighty, the voice of speech, as the noise of an host: when they stood, they let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament that was over their heads, when they stood, and had let down their wings.”—Ezek. 1: 24, 25.
30 Above the expanse or firmament was the likeness of a great throne having the appearance of a sapphire stone, and upon the throne was one having the appearance of a man. There was the appearance of fire round about and within it, and the color was of amber. After describing the appearance of the one on the throne, then the prophecy adds: “As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.” (Ezek. 1:28) Thus it is seen that the prophetic description is that fitly representing a mighty war chariot, therefore picturing a chariot-like organization extending high above the earth into heaven, and this mighty organization is presided over by Jehovah the Most High.
31 The Chief Executive Officer in that great organization is the beloved Son of God, whom he has made Euler over the world. With him is his perfect organization “the holy city”, which forms a part of the universal organization. In that organization are cherubim, seraphim and a host of angels, and the members of the body of Christ, these all possessing authority and power as granted by Jehovah. (Isa. 6: 2, 3; Rev. 4: 6; 1 Pet. 3:22; Heb. 12:22) Mention is here made of this mighty organization of Jehovah that the student may have in mind the mimic god who has attempted to make the organization in the likeness thereof.
LUCIFER’S ORGANIZATION
32 God created man in his own image and put him on the earth. He put man in the garden of Eden to dress and keep it. (Gen. 1:28; 2:15) God thereby made the perfect man a part of his great organization and commanded that man should remain always in harmony with his Creator and his fixed laws. The beginning of God’s creation was his beloved Son the Logos, and thereafter all things created were created by the Logos as the deputy of Jehovah God. (John 1:1-3) That there are various divisions of God’s universal organization is certain, as appears from the words which follow: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwelt”
33 This establishes beyond a question of doubt that in God’s organization there are thrones, dominions, principalities, angels and servants. One of the titles given to the mighty Chief Deputy of Jehovah is the “bright and morning star”, which also means prince. There was another star in God’s universal organization. It is recorded that when God laid the foundation of the earth as a home for man “the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy”. (Job 38:7) That other star or prince was Lucifer, and the proof concerning that is quite certain and clear.
34 Lucifer was appointed to a high office in God’s organization. “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so; thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.” (Ezek. 28:14) “Anointed” means that he was designated to fill a certain office. The word “covereth” used in this text means one who provides protection, defense or supervision as an overseer. Lucifer was in Eden, the garden of God, where Adam was put, and Lucifer being made an officer in Jehovah’s organization, it seems clear that man was under the special supervision of Lucifer and the perfect man was therefore a part of Lucifer’s organization and in the great organization of Jehovah. Since Ezekiel’s prophecy shows that God’s organization is like a wheel within a wheel, then it may well be said that Lucifer’s part of the organization was one of the wheels in the greater wheel. This, of course, applies when he was in harmony with Jehovah.
35 Lucifer was made glorious and beautiful to. look upon when he appeared in Eden. ‘ ‘ Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.” (Ezek. 28:13) He was therefore a light-bearer and clothed with power and authority.
36 The tree is a symbol of a living creature, and when planted by the Lord Jehovah it is a tree of righteousness or creature of righteousness as long as remaining in harmony with Jehovah. (Isa. 61:3; Ps. 1:1-3; Prov. 11:30; Num. 24:6; Judg. 9:8; Ps. 104:16) It appears certain from the language used that God’s prophet referred to Lucifer when he wrote these words: ‘ ‘ Thus was he fair in his greatness, in the length of his branches: for his root was by great waters. The cedars in the garden of God could not hide him: the fir trees were not like his boughs, and the chestnut trees were not like his branches: nor any tree in the garden of God was like unto him in his beauty. I have made him fair by the multitude of his branches: so that all the trees of Eden, that were in the garden of God, envied him.” (Ezek. 31:7-9) This shows that Lucifer had other spirit creatures in his organization, and over which he ranked as superior. As a superior officer in God’s organization certain specific duties devolved upon him, and man was under Lucifer’s direct supervision. Being above others of his organization he would be properly referred to as the head thereof.
37 God created the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air and brought them before Adam and caused him to give each one a name, and they were subject to Adam. (Gen. 1:28; 2:19,20) Since Lucifer was overlord of Adam it follows that all these beasts of the field and fowls of the air were under his superior supervision. The further description by the prophet concerning Lucifer’s organization is this: ‘ ‘ Therefore his height was exalted above all the trees of the field, and his boughs were multiplied, and his branches became long because of the multitude of waters, when he shot forth. All the fowls of heaven made their nests in his boughs, and under his branches did all the beasts of the field bring forth their young, and under his shadow dwelt all great nations.” (Ezek. 31:5,6) Compare this language at this point with Daniel 2:38.
METALS
38 The image described by Daniel in the prophecy mentions three precious metals, to wit, gold and silver, and copper, which is mistranslated “brass”. It mentions one base metal “iron”. The meaning of these metals is significant, otherwise the Lord would not have them in his Word in connection with this image. Gold is first mentioned in the Bible as being in the land of Havilah, which land was watered by one of the heads of the rivers that flowed out of Eden. (Gen. 2:11,12) The Most Holy, both of the tabernacle and of the temple, was overlaid with fine gold. The cherubs in the Most Holy were made of gold. (Ex. 25:17-19; 1 Ki. 6:22-28) The tabernacle and temple pictured God’s organization. Gold is symbolic of things divine. The saints of Zion are comparable to fine gold. (Lam. 4:2) Silver is a precious metal and was used in connection with the tabernacle and temple service. (Ex. 26:19) The platters, bowls and other utensils used in that service were made of silver. (Num. 7:13; 1 Chron. 28:17) Silver is next in order in value as compared with gold, but of course of less value than gold. It is mentioned as second in the terrible image.
39 Copper is another precious metal, but of less value than silver. Brass, as we know, is a combination of metals. The word “brass”, appearing in the Authorized Version, is a mistranslation, and should be “copper”. Copper was used in connection with the tabernacle and the temple. (Ex. 38:3) Gold, silver and copper are classed as “noble” metals and have their relative value as in the order named. The description of Lucifer when he was in Eden, as given by the prophet, shows that he was covered with gold and precious stones which God gave to him when he was created or when installed in office.
THE ENEMY
40 Lucifer was undoubtedly the most beautiful in appearance of all creatures in his immediate organization which God had provided for him. He had much; but he coveted more, and by reason thereof he became the great enemy of God. (Jer. 51:13) Being made perfect and beautiful and being given a commission of great authority he was duty-bound to be wholly loyal to God. “Iniquity” means lawlessness or that which is contrary to law, and the record shows that Lucifer became lawless, and from that time he was God’s enemy. “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” (Ezek. 28:15) From that day until now he has been interfering with God’s organization, and Jesus is authority for the statement that he is The Enemy.—Matt. 13: 25-38,41.
41 When Lucifer rebelled against God and started on his course of lawlessness or wickedness God changed his name, or gave him different names, and one of these names is Satan, which means opposer or adversary. This signifies that he is the enemy of God and that he resists everything that God does. (Zech. 3:1,2) It was Satan that tried to turn Job against God. He induced Judas to betray Christ Jesus. (Job 1: 6-12; Luke 22:3) He also got control of the clergy of Jesus’ time and dragged them into his great conspiracy to murder the Holy One.
42 Serpent is another name that Lucifer has had since his rebellion and which signifies that he is the arch deceiver. He has deceived almost all the human race. His deceptions have been so complete that only God’s ‘elect servant’ class amongst men are able to resist him, and these do so only by the grace of God. —Matt. 24:24; Ps. 91:2-11.
43 At the present time Satan has induced almost all people to believe that no such a thing as the Devil is existing but that all talk about the Devil is a myth. By reason of this deception he is able to use them more to his purposes. Even among the children of God fully consecrated to do his will, until recent years many thought that Satan the Devil had been bound and restrained for some time. Not until 1924 was it made clear from the Scriptural evidence that Satan is not bound, and it was after that date that Satan’s mighty organization was first recognized by God’s faithful people.
44 Today there are many people on earth who have made a consecration to do God’s will who do not discern Satan’s organization even now. Satan is the great enemy. His organization is made up of God’s enemies, and the scriptures heretofore set forth show beyond any question of doubt that in God’s due time the enemy shall be destroyed.
UNDERSTANDING
45 When the Lord came to his temple in 1918 greater light began to shine into the mind of each one of his devoted ones who have been brought into the temple. It was about 1925 that the faithful discerned the fact that the kingdom had begun and that Satan had been cast out of heaven and now must confine his operations to the earth. The two great signs or wonders in heaven appeared unto them and were then understood by God’s people for the first time.
46 It therefore seems to be impossible that even the anointed of the Lord could have had a proper conception of the ‘terrible image’ of Daniel until after the coming of the Lord to his temple. Furthermore, the Scriptures positively state that greater light shines upon God’s people at the end of the world and that these things in the Bible were written aforetime for the special benefit, comfort and encouragement of those continuing faithful upon the earth at the end of the world. (1 Cor. 10:11; Rom. 15:4) In the light of the foregoing indisputable truths let the examination be made of the text of Daniel’s prophecy concerning the ‘terrible image’.
47 At once it is apparent to the anointed of the Lord at this time that the ‘great and terrible image’ herein considered represents far more than merely earthly corporations or earthly governments.
(To be continued in next issue)
QUESTIONS FOR BEREAN STUDY
1. Why does special importance attach to the image here described?
2-4. What is an image? How does God regard image-making, and why?
5-8. Explain why Jehovah has so long permitted the existence and activities of his enemies. Quote scriptures to show his ultimate purpose concerning them.
9. What is the prayer of God’s people respecting his and their enemies?
10-12. Identify the “seed” by which the enemy is to be destroyed. How and since when has that work of destruction been in progress?
13,14. Describe the circumstances leading to Daniel’s being brought before the king, and Daniel’s attitude in the matter. Whom did Daniel represent, and how? How was he enabled to know and interpret the dream? For what purpose was it revealed to him?
15-17. Relate the dream, and the interpretation.
18, 19. What is the evidence that in times past there has been a deep interest in the things foretold by God through his prophets? Did they gain the understanding they sought, and why? Were their efforts approved by God?
20-24. Prove whether the former interpretation of Daniel’s prophecy regarding the ‘terrible image’ was correct.
25. In brief, what did this image represent?
26-30. Quote scriptures in symbolic description of Jehovah’s organization. What is the picture thereof presented through the Prophet Ezekiel?
31-33. What constitutes Jehovah’s universal organization? How was it brought forth?
34, 35. The Scriptures set forth what facts regarding Lucifer prior to his deflection?
36, 37. Describe the organization of which Lucifer was given headship.
38, 39. Point out the significance of the metals mentioned in the description of the image here under consideration.
40. Describe how Lucifer became the enemy of God.
41-44. How do Lucifer’s activities prove the appropriateness of the names by which he has been designated since his deflection?
45, 46. What is meant by ‘the days of understanding’? Account for God’s giving his people an understanding of his organization and of that of the enemy in “the latter days” and not before.
WORLD-WIDE PEACE: WHEN?
[Fifteen-minute radio lecture]
THE majority of people desire and love peace. If the question could be submitted to a vote of the people, there would never be a war. People with honest hearts, who love their fellow men, and who love righteousness and justice, abhor war. It is always the minority that forces war on the people. General W. T. Sherman, of the Civil War, said, “War is hell.’’ That opinion has been confirmed a million times by those who participated in the recent World War. Besides the millions of dead and the other millions of cruelly maimed, the great World War taught people how to profiteer, lie, steal, swear and smoke; it filled the world with millions of people who have no regard for decency, law, or the rights and liberties of others; it filled the world with unmentionable crimes and diseases.
So terrible were the results of that war that almost superhuman efforts have been made ever since to bring about a condition of world peace. However, all these efforts have been made along wrong lines and by people who do not want peace. When conventions are held for the purpose of promoting peace, the delegates are always the militarists, whose business is war, or the great industrialists, who profit by the same. Peacefully inclined men and women, known as pacifists, are never chosen as delegates. The advice of the masses of the people, who furnish the soldiers and foot the bills, is never sought. Thus it is that those who attend peace conferences are controlled by selfish interests, and instead of peace being promoted, ill will, distrust, hatred, wrangling and further war preparations are the usual outcome. The people have lost all confidence in their leaders and have no hope from that quarter. The only hope held out to the poor, oppressed people is that peace lies only in preparedness, which means a competition among the nations as to which can build the most battleships and the most bombing planes and make the most poison gas and other weapons of destruction.
Thus the burden of taxes increases every year, as does also the number of boodlers and grafters. Into this great vortex of militarism the people are forced to cast their billions of taxes, with no other result than that boodlers and grafters multiply, scandals in high places abound, and national fear and distrust increases. As a result a great cry of protest is going up from the people. This protest is in the form of labor organizations, socialism, communism, bolshevism and general anarchy, and these are looked upon with fear by the people, and in many quarters are regarded as an even worse menace than militarism.
Describing this same condition, which he foresaw would exist at this time, Jesus uttered these prophetic words: “Upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; . . . men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth. ’ ’—Luke 21: 25, 26.
The question arises, Will peace ever come? Is deliverance from the present almost intolerable conditions of suffering and fear a possibility? If so, how? and when? The answer to these questions is found nowhere except in the Bible. Not realizing this fact, the people are looking to their leaders for an answer. Some are hoping against hope that preparedness will bring about peace; others are likewise hoping that the peace conferences will lead to a gradual disarmament, and that deliverance will come in that way; others are hoping that the whole world will vote the socialists into power, or the communists, or the bolshevists, and that these will reform the body politic. These hopes are vain. Peace will never come from any of these sources. Men cannot bring about peace.
But peace is coming, and it lies in the very near future. The author and promoter of wars and confusion on the earth is Satan, and as long as he is unrestrained there will be no peace. Peace, justice, truth, righteousness and happiness belong to God’s kingdom. Wars, confusion, unrighteousness, oppression and unhappiness pertain to Satan’s kingdom. Few people realize that Satan is “the god of this world”. This means that Satan rules the world. He controls the people by using selfish men as his tools. Through these selfish men he deceives the world into believing that the hope of deliverance is in “preparedness”, “peace conferences,” “church union,” “leagues of nations,” or else in “socialism” or communistic governments of some kind. These schemes are deceptions put forth by Satan to divert the minds of the people from the one and only hope of deliverance set forth in the Bible.
Satan began his deceptions in Eden, first with Eve and later with Adam. Having diverted them from the service of God, he set about to organize their posterity into selfish institutions, for the very purpose of using these selfish institutions to blind people to the purpose of Jehovah God. But what is God’s purpose? It is this. When Satan led Adam and Eve into sin and brought the curse of sin and death on the race, God determined to deliver the race from this curse and also to deliver them from the power of Satan and his deceptions. He purposed to accomplish this deliverance by and through his Son, and he foreordained that the time of the deliverance would be at the second advent of Jesus, and during the thousand-year reign of Christ which begins at his second advent.
This thousand-year reign is called “the kingdom of God”, and is what Jesus referred to when he taught his followers to pray, saying: “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Since God has ordained that Jesus shall bring peace into the earth, he is referred to as the “Prince of Peace” and the “Prince of life”. In Isaiah 9:6,7, we read of this wonderful Prince, as follows: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end.”
Nearly nineteen hundred years ago, when Jesus was on earth, Satan’s representatives, who were the religious leaders of that day, called him “Beelzebub the prince of the devils”. Those Pharisees were the willing tools of Satan. By exposing their shams, hypocrisies and false teachings, Jesus was bringing a blessing to the people. No wonder Satan used them to call Jesus the prince of devils. Peter accused those hypocrites to their face and charged them with the murder of Jesus. His words are found in Acts 3:14,15 and read: “Ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; and killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead.” Again, in Acts 5:30,31 this same Peter renewed his charge against those hypocritical religionists, saying: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.”
Peace is coming to the world through this highly exalted Jesus, “the Prince of Peace,” “the Prince of life,” the “Saviour” of the world. His thousand-year kingdom will be the “desire of all nations”. This kingdom is the only hope of the world. Over and over, the Scriptures exhort the Lord’s people to “wait for his Son from heaven”; and to ‘patient waiting for the kingdom’. We do well to note some of those texts. In Luke 23:51 we read of Joseph of Arimathaea as follows: “Who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.” In 1 Corinthians 1: 7 we read: “So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Again, in 1 Thessalonians 1:10 we are exhorted to “wait for his Son from heaven”, and in 2 Thessalonians 3:5 are these words: “The Lord direct your hearts into the loveof God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” Speaking of this period of waiting, Daniel, in chapter 12, verse 12, says: "Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred five and thirty days.’’
Yes, a blessing comes at the end of this waiting period. At that time Christ will be in power. As the great General of Jehovah, he will assume command of Jehovah’s army and begin action against Satan. His forces will make an assault against the forces of Satan. That battle will be short and decisive, and Christ will be the victor.
That victory will mean the destruction of Satan’s organization on earth, and will result in the binding of Satan for a thousand years so that he will deceive the nations no more till the thousand years are ended. (Rev. 20:1-3) That victory will mean the deliverance of the people from Satan and his oppressive and deceptive institutions; it will end all fraud, hypocrisy, injustice and unrighteousness; that victory will witness the establishment of a permanent and everlasting peace on earth, and good will toward men.
Peace can never be established by human effort. While men recognize its necessity and will put forth efforts to establish it, yet the Scriptures tell us that their efforts will be futile, and the reason is that selfishness governs their every effort and controls their every act. In Jeremiah 6:13,14 we read of this selfishness as follows: "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace: when there is no peace.”
The Scriptures assure us that when earth’s wise men are talking about peace, and making efforts to that end, conditions will continue to go from bad to worse, and finally culminate in what men call "the battle of Armageddon”. In 1 Thessalonians 5: 3 Paul says: "For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. ’ ’ Thus the apostle tells us that man’s efforts to establish peace in the earth are doomed to failure. The sudden destruction foretold in this text is about to overtake them. "The battle of that great day of God Almighty” will soon occur. Satan will soon be bound, and his power to blind and deceive be fully restrained for a thousand years.
“The Prince of Peace” is now on the throne, and the announcement of this fact is going out all over the earth. Multitudes of people have heard this announcement, and hope is springing up in their hearts. The time is near at hand when the words of the prophet will be fulfilled as recorded in Psalm 85:10,11, which read: "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.”
THE DESTINY OF MAN
[Fifteen-minute radio lecture]
WHERE shall I spend eternity? Nearly every human creature has to face this question at some time in life. Those who die in infancy escape its consideration, and some who are suddenly swept out of existence by accident or calamity have never given it proper thought. In the excitement of youth, the young do not pause to consider; in the busy activities of manhood’s and womanhood’s estate the subject is pushed aside, because it is an unpleasant one, and the necessary daily duties are allowed to submerge it; but when life’s span is measured by a few hours, or days, or weeks, or months, it becomes a subject for solemn consideration. Then there are some who have dragged out long years in almost daily expectation of death, who have had the subject forced upon their attention for all those weary years.
With the majority of people the plunge into eternity is taken without any very definite hope. At home and in Sunday school, they were taught that those who are reasonably good will somehow manage to get to heaven, while those who are vile and degraded will spend eternity in a place of torment. These teachings are accepted because they are taught in the creeds and by religious leaders. Notwithstanding these facts, when faced by death there is usually doubt, foreboding and dread, due to the fact that the dying one is not sure that the creeds and the religious leaders are right in their teachings. He realizes that these teachings have never been proven to be correct.
Thus it occurs that with the majority of people the exit from this life is accomplished with uncertainty as to whether they will spend eternity in heaven in indescribable bliss, or in hell in indescribable agony. The exceptions to this rule are a few people who have convinced themselves that they are so far above ‘the common herd’ that they are sure of a place in bliss. They have convinced themselves that they are deserving of God’s best gift, and that heaven’s portals will swing wide open to them and that they will be welcomed with glad acclaim.
The fact that persons are sure they are going to heaven does not prove a thing about the existence of such a place or about the existence of a hell of torment. The devout Buddhist, Confucianist and Indian will die in all complacency, secure in their fanatical belief that they are to be changed into another form of life or go to their happy hunting ground at the moment of death. This serenity in death, however, does not prove that their beliefs are right, and all believers in the Bible know that those beliefs are wrong. Just so the fact that some one professing to be a Christian dies in calmness, serenity, and confidence that he is fit for heaven is no proof that he will go there.
The only place that satisfactory proof can be found is in the Bible. Any faith that is not founded on the Bible is unstable, unreliable and invariably untrue. If anyone wishes to know definitely what is the destiny of man he can go to the Bible with honest heart and reverent mind and get full information. It is not necessary to delve into science, nor to try to get in touch with the dead. Neither is it necessary to consult spirit mediums, nor the opinions of so-called great men who have lived and died in the past. All these sources of information are useless, and even worse than useless, because the information given is invariably false and misleading.
God is the Creator of all life, and the Giver of every blessing that men possess. More than that, he is the one who shall decide what man’s destiny shall be. He inspired holy men to write the Bible, which contains the information; and for his creatures to disregard his Word and seek information from other sources manifests a disrespect and lack of reverence for him which cannot be otherwise than displeasing to him.
According to the Bible each member of the human race will spend eternity in one of three places; namely, in heaven, on the earth, or in everlasting destruction (called second death). According to the Bible no one will spend eternity in eternal torment; neither will all the saved be in heaven. Of course this statement will not be regarded as “orthodox”, but we must bear in mind that “orthodox” beliefs are the teachings of men, and not of the Bible. If one believes the Bible he will invariably be considered “unorthodox”. The wonder is that men can be found who possess so much self-esteem that they dare set up their opinions in opposition to the teachings of the Bible.
When God created Adam he told him to multiply and increase and replenish the earth, and have dominion over the earth and over the birds, beasts and fish. It should be noted that God did not tell Adam that he would ever go to heaven. His home was to be the earth, and he was told that if he disobeyed he would surely die. After his disobedience God told him that he would return to dust again, and he was driven out of the garden; but not one word was Adam told about his going to eternal torment. Eternal torment is one of the “orthodox” teachings of men, but is not taught in the Bible.
Adam’s one sin brought the condemnation of death upon himself and all his posterity. God has purposed to deliver the race from this condemnation and to restore to them what Adam lost. To accomplish this purpose God sent Jesus into the earth to die for the race to redeem them from death, so that they could be restored to life again by a resurrection of the dead. Therefore it is written: “The Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” (1 John 4:14) Jesus said: “The Son of man came ... to give his life a ransom for many.” Again he said: “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Since Adam lost only an earthly home and estate, not a heavenly one, it follows that that is what will be restored.
The work of resurrecting and restoring the race to perfect life right here on the earth will be accomplished by the resurrected and glorified Jesus during his thousand-year reign, which is just now beginning, and which will be in full operation as soon as the present evil world is destroyed in the battle of Armageddon, which is just ahead of us.
After this battle, which will destroy Satan’s wicked empire which now cumbers the earth, and incidentally destroy all orthodox teachings of men, the resurrection of the dead will follow. All will then be properly instructed as to what God’s will is; all will be required to obey that will or else be destroyed in the second death. The obedient ones will live on the earth forever. That will be their destiny.
In proof, the following texts are cited. In Psalm 37: 29 we read: “The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.” In violent contrast with this text the clergy have taught that all the righteous will go to heaven. Again, in Isaiah 60:21 we read: “Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever.”
The clergy say the earth is to be destroyed; but in Ecclesiastes 1:4 we read that “the earth abideth for ever”. Of course, if men are to live on the earth forever it will not be destroyed. In Jesus’ prayer he taught us to pray for the time when God’s will would be done on earth as it is done in heaven. And all the prophets and apostles tell us of a time when the knowledge of Jehovah will fill the earth as the waters cover the deep. They tell us of a time when every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess to the glory of God, both of things in heaven and things in earth. Scores of texts tell us that men are destined to live on earth forever.
When Jesus was on earth, he began to preach a new message which was never heard before his time, and that message was, ‘ ‘ The kingdom of heaven is at hand. ’ ’ He chose his disciples and sent them out to preach that same message. This message means that from that time on God has been selecting from the race a class composed of 144,000 persons, who must be faithful unto death; they must follow in his steps. These must learn obedience through suffering, as Jesus did. To all of this class is promised the first resurrection, and that they will reign with Jesus during that thousand years. Their destiny will be a heavenly one. They will be like Jesus and see him as he is. Revelation 20: 6 says of these: ‘ ‘ Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”
When the first resurrection shall bring them together in heaven as a divine, immortal, invisible company, their destiny will be to be with the Lord forever. They, together with Jesus as their Head, will be the kingdom, while the earth full of human creatures will be the subjects of the kingdom. This heavenly class is called “the church”, also “the bride, the Lamb’s wife”. They are called “the elect”, “the overcomers,” and are referred to as “joint-heirs with Christ”. Speaking to this class, Jesus said: ‘I appoint unto you a kingdom even as my Father hath appointed unto me.’ (Luke 22:29) Again, Jesus said to these: “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
The Scriptures describe another class, who will be unfaithful, stubborn and rebellious; who will resist the mercy and favor of God, and who will continue this rebellion and resistance until God cuts them off from all life in the second death. That will be their destiny. The second death is called “everlasting destruction”, in 2 Thessalonians 1:9, which reads: “Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” This is the class to whom Jesus referred when he said: “These shall go away into everlasting punishment. ’ ’ He did not say that they would go away into everlasting torment, as the clergy have taught. He simply says that they will go into everlasting punishment, and the Scriptures show that the punishment is to be death, second death, or everlasting destruction.
Over and over we are told that all the wicked will God destroy; that they will perish like the beasts of the field, and that they will be as though they had not been, that is, as though they never had an existence. This class will be composed of all who have come to a knowledge of the truth and then take their stand against it.
Thus we see the destiny of the entire human family, according to the purpose of God as shown in his Word.
(1) A small portion of the race will attain to heavenly glory and be associated with Jesus in the kingdom and in the kingdom work.
(2) The vast majority of the race will come back on the earth again and be privileged to enjoy everlasting life here on earth if they obey the laws of the kingdom.
(3) A relatively small number will be destroyed for ever as rebels against God.
Thank God no human creature is destined to spend eternity is agonizing torment as the clergy have selfishly taught!
FORMALISM IN PRAYER
THE following extract from a letter received by The Watch Tower is the reason for writing these lines:
I have been wanting to write about a question that looks as though it were small but seems to be of growing importance. Some of the friends think that it is formalism to kneel in prayer at prayer meeting. At first I thought it was all right if they felt that way, but the idea is spreading; even E thought she would not kneel any longer. The one who started it I think refuses to close his eyes or fold his hands—also formalism. This family has children. I’m leading the children’s class; the children acted as the parents; so I gave a little talk about it, saying that ‘they did not act toward their teacher as toward each other, nor toward the principal as toward the teacher; so we should remember Jehovah is the very highest of all. Then I said we folded our hands as a sign of our helplessness without Him, and closed our eyes so that we have less to attract our attention and keep us from lifting up our hearts together to God’.
The policy of Satan invariably is to induce men to take an extreme course. The Pharisees were extremists in their formalism, and delighted to stand on the street corners and pray, that they might be seen of men. The motive inducing them thus to do was bad, and Jesus denounced them for that reason. Likewise, any formalism practiced for the purpose of attracting attention to the performer is wrong.
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