The Watchtower, September 15, 1931
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RADIO AND THE PRINTED WORD
All canvassing parties and all individuals who canvass should mention the radio station in their vicinity that is broadcasting the watchtower programs. This often proves a means of opening the way to place the books in the hands of the people. Have in mind the chief purpose of the radio is to call the people’s attention to the truth and then furnish the opportunity for them to get a wider understanding of the message concerning the government of Jehovah by reading what is being printed.
Every one who now participates in the field work in territory served by broadcasts of the watchtower program may have a share in telling the people that this unique service is available each week. Workers report that distribution of the radio folder (supplied by the Society) is proving to be a convenient and effective method of giving continual public notice of this program while engaging in the house-to-house witnessing.
SERVICE CONVENTIONS
(In each instance class service director’s name and address appear.)
Vol. LII September 15, 1931 No. 18
THE CONVENTION
“I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.”—Ps. 132:15.
JEHOVAH faithfully performs every promise he makes. The promise of the above text is to Zion, which is his organization; and since the Scriptures were written for the members of Zion on earth at the end of the world, we have the assurance that the promise is specifically for the remnant. Every one of the remnant can bear testimony to the fact that during the past year or more Jehovah has abundantly blessed the provision for his people who are his witnesses. For these he has prepared a table in the presence of their enemies and has laden that table with an abundance of supplies for the comfort of those who love him.
Three years had passed since Jehovah’s people had assembled in America in general convention. Some of the anointed were becoming footsore and somewhat weary in well-doing. The Lord knew the need of his anointed, and the encouragement that was necessary for their well-being. Within those three years the faithful had observed many falling away under the deceptive influence of the “man of sin” because such had not received the love of the truth. Some in the ranks began to doubt whether or not they were in the favor of the Lord. “Unto Jehovah belongeth loving kindness,” and he has in mind those who love him. He makes it possible for each one of his anointed to examine himself and to determine from the Word of God and attending circumstances whether or not he is in the faith and therefore in the favor of the Most High. In the exercise of his loving-kindness and in his own good time and way Jehovah provides a feast for his people, and he brought them together in convention that they might feed upon the bountiful provision made by him and rejoice and grow strong. That occasion was the general convention of the anointed of the Lord held at the State Fair Grounds at Columbus, Ohio, July 24-30, 1931. There are several reasons why that convention can hardly be compared with other conventions, and it is only true to say that it was the best convention ever held on earth.
At the beginning of the year it was determined that a general convention should be held in harmony with Jehovah’s will. Preparation therefor immediately began. At first it was difficult to see just what the Lord would have done; but each progressive step made the matter clearer, and the Lord indicated what should be done and added his blessing. From the beginning it was determined that it should be a service convention and that no time or effort should be wasted in unnecessary or frivolous things. Preparation was made to this end. Every member of the Bethel family, office and factory force at Brooklyn and Toronto was assigned to some specific duty, and each one performed his or her part. Three days in advance of the opening of the convention a special train carried a hundred of the Bethel family of Brooklyn to Columbus to complete the preparations to receive the multitude. Two days later the remainder of the force at Brooklyn, and all the Toronto force, moved to the site of the convention, and everything was in readiness to receive the crowd as it came. Even weeks before that many colporteurs began long and tedious journeys by house motor cars and other means of travel in order to reach the ground in time to participate in the convention at the beginning. The convention opened exactly on time and moved forward each day with the precision and unity of a well organized and oiled machine.
PIONEERS
The pioneers are those who go into isolated parts of the land where there are no classes and who bear the fruits of the kingdom to the people in such places. That the Lord has great love for these there cannot be the slightest doubt. No one is compelled to become a pioneer. The inducement is love for Jehovah and his kingdom which will vindicate his name. Anyone who goes into the work and continues with that unselfish motive never has cause to regret it. The promise of our Lord to his followers is that “every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life”. (Matt. 19:29) The Lord has made good this promise to those who have entered the pioneer field. Seeing the great privilege of engaging wholly in the Lord’s service a goodly number of the anointed have during the past months given up comfortable homes with attending creature comforts, moved out into the field, and given themselves entirely over to the active service of bearing the message of the kingdom to the people. Some have found it necessary to leave father, mother, brother, sister or wife, and sometimes the entire family has gone together. A number of these have built on wheels a house sufficient to accommodate several and, taking with them their children, have left everything else behind, and now go to whatsoever part of the country to which they are assigned and delight to participate in the work. Others have left all things mentioned by the Lord Jesus in the foregoing text and have gone into action in the field of joyful service, and the Lord has blessed their efforts abundantly. Many of the pioneers carry with them tents in which they sleep, and when the weather permits many of them sleep out in the open. The most necessary creature comforts are these: food, raiment, shelter and health. The frugal and simple manner of living has made many of these colporteurs physically much stronger than they were previously. Their children are in good health and, living in the open and next to nature, are greatly blessed in a physical way. These pioneers by the Lord’s grace have been able to provide food and raiment for themselves and their dependent ones, and, above all, they enjoy the blessed peace of mind and contentment that comes to only those who are striving to do the will of God.
Ample provision was made at the Fair Grounds for the camping of those who desired to avail themselves of such accommodations. Upon this camping ground the pioneers pitched their tents and parked their cars. Approximately fifteen hundred were encamped in this manner, and their tents and housecars were so arranged in blocks or squares, with well laid-out streets between, that it gave the appearance of an encamped army and the suggestion of how the Israelites, marching to the land of Canaan, must have appeared when they encamped for rest and refreshment. These pioneers had been on a long trek, and each one had his heart set on reaching the convention; and now their weary journey had ended and they were encamped for rest and were ready and anxious to receive the abundant provision Jehovah had made for them. They were a happy company. These are “poor in spirit’’; that is to say, they do not think too highly of themselves, but think of themselves properly, and they have not too much of earthly things; and it should be expected that the Lord would fulfil to them his precious promise, to wit, “I will satisfy her poor with bread.” This means that he would make ample provision for the sustenance, strength and encouragement of them as his representatives. Truly the Lord fulfilled his promise to them and to all others of like precious faith attending the convention. Early Friday morning the little army of pioneers had set up their miniature city on the site provided for them and near the Coliseum.
Hundreds of other faithful ones began pouring in at every gate or entrance to the grounds. Hundreds of private automobiles brought loads of devoted ones to the convention, while special trains and electric cars brought many others. The assembled company numbered approximately seven thousand when the convention opened, and by Sunday noon the attendance had grown to fifteen thousand or more. The main auditorium was unable to accommodate all attending. A public-address system of voice amplifiers was put in the main auditorium, enabling all there to hear. Likewise the voice amplifiers were extended to the main dining hall and to the grand stand, the two latter places accommodating fully six thousand persons. Still others were provided with loud-speakers, that they might sit under the trees on the grounds and hear. It was truly a division of the Lord’s army encamped for rest and refreshment and to learn more fully God’s purposes concerning them and the work the members thereof must do.
NOTICE TO CHRISTENDOM
Why would the Lord God bring together a large company of his anointed ones just at this time? Would it be merely for the purpose of refreshing themselves, to see each other and discuss certain Bible texts? That would not seem to be the chief reason, in view of the present work that must be done on earth. We know now that the great issue before all creation is the vindication of Jehovah’s name and that he has already assembled ‘his troops on mount Zion’. (Mic. 5:1; Rev. 14:1) Armageddon is near, when Christendom and all of Satan’s organization are certain to fall. But before the Lord smites the enemy he will have notice served upon the enemy organization. As Jehovah caused his prophet and servant Ezekiel to serve notice upon Jerusalem before its destruction, even so now he causes his anointed servant class on earth to serve notice upon Christendom, which Jerusalem foreshadowed; and this notice must be served before Christendom’s destruction. It is certain from the Scriptures that the Lord has assigned to the remnant the duty and the great privilege of serving such notice. It is to be expected that the Lord by his angels would indicate to the remnant on earth what notice should be served upon Christendom. God’s people can always depend upon his making every necessary provision.
Early in the year the notice in the form of a resolution and a supporting argument thereof was prepared. These, together with a message concerning the kingdom of God as the only remedy for the world, were put in book form. Before the convention opened 750,000 copies of this booklet were made ready, and these were placed at vantage points at Columbus and other cities to which the convention was extended. Everything was in readiness for the beginning of the distribution of the message when the time should arrive.
The manner of giving notice to the people quickly was another problem. The Lord God has provided the radio, but Satan’s organization desperately attempts to control the radio and to prevent the message of the kingdom from being broadcast. The radio monopoly of Satan’s organization, which owns and controls the National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System, after much bickering absolutely denied the use of their facilities to the Lord’s people for the broadcasting of the message. The arm of the Lord is not made short, however. His consecrated ones began action to build up a radio chain broadcasting network to send forth the message from Columbus. Many hours of tedious work was faithfully performed and by the Lord’s grace resulted in the greatest radio chain broadcast of any one program that has yet been put on the air. Quoting from the American Telephone and Telegraph Company this is corroborated: “This particular network is the largest individual network that has ever been on the air.’’ The National Broadcasting Company and its allies thought that this could not be done, but with the Lord nothing is impossible. By the use and means of telephone wires one hundred and sixty-three radio stations situated in the United States, Canada, Cuba and old Mexico, were tied together and simultaneously broadcast the “Warning’’ and message from the Coliseum at Columbus at the appointed time. In addition thereto short-wave radio channels carried the message across the seas. The one hundred and sixty-three radio stations thus tied together employed 24,700 miles of program circuits, and 50,000 miles of coordinating telegraph circuits. Along the way at different points 250 “repeaters” were used, and special amplifying apparatus maintained the high standard of transmission, thus making it possible to have a uniform transmission throughout the entire network. A company of between 900 and 1,000 men were used by the telephone company to properly handle the broadcasting and wire facilities. Private telephone wires reaching all points of the network were also used, with many operators keeping in constant communication as to the manner of the broadcast. Before the program was opened the entire system was tested out, and from every part of the great field the report came that the mighty machine was working perfectly and that even the weather was very favorable. We are certain that the Lord had his angels looking after the matter. The enemy was powerless to prevent the program from being given to the people.
Exactly at twelve o’clock noon the program began. Microphones had been located at vantage points throughout the large auditorium to pick up the song of the multitude. Led by an orchestra and a chorus of 400 voices the program opened with a song of praise to Jehovah, “Holy, Holy, Holy.” The words of the song were printed on more than six million folders and previous to the convention were distributed to the people throughout the United States and Canada, and doubtless multitudes of the unseen audience joined in the song of praise. May we not well suppose that the hosts of heavenly angels at the same time sang to the glory of the Most High?
As the soul-stirring song died away the great audience became immediately quiet. Announcement was made over the vast network, and then the message “The Kingdom, the Hope of the World” was spoken over the network; and from the extreme northeastern point of Canada, across the continent, along the entire Pacific coast from British Columbia to old Mexico, and in every state in the United States, and in old Mexico, and in Cuba, the people simultaneously heard the message. Immediately following the address, and as a part of the broadcast, the speaker read a resolution of warning to Christendom and then called upon the audience seen and unseen to vote for its adoption. The entire visible audience rose enmasse and shouted “Aye”. Telegrams received from all parts of the land stated that many of the unseen audience likewise arose and voted for the adoption of the resolution. The public address or argument in support of the resolution and the resolution are printed in the booklet The Kingdom, the Hope of the World; for the purpose of preserving the record we here insert the resolution, as follows:
WARNING FROM JEHOVAH
To the Rulers and to the People:
Be it known: That there is but one true and Almighty God, whose name is Jehovah, the Most High; that there is but one Redeemer of man, whose name is Christ and whom God has anointed and installed as King of the world; and that his Kingdom is now come, and is the hope of the peoples of the world.
That Satan, the Devil, is the great enemy of God and of man. For centuries he has been the invisible ruler of the world, and has brought great reproach upon the name of God and has led men into degradation; that the condition of suffering and distress now in the earth is due to the wickedness of Satan and his agents; that the time has come, as God declares, when Satan’s rule shall for ever end; that in 1914 Satan was cast out of heaven down to the earth; that within a short time from now Jehovah by Christ will destroy Satan’s power and organization in the earth; that before so doing, however, it is the expressed will and commandment of Jehovah God that his message of warning shall be delivered by his witnesses to the rulers and to the people in order that those who hear may have an opportunity to take their stand on the side of God and his kingdom and thereby find refuge in the time of trouble; that the testimony of warning that must be given is, in brief, the following:
The leading nations of the earth which claim to be Christian nations, and which are therefore called “Christendom”, have defamed and reproached the name of Jehovah God, and are a part of Satan’s organization and shall suffer destruction.
The other nations, called “heathen”, have also reproached God’s name, are a part of Satan’s organization, and shall also fall. God has given “Christendom” more enlightenment and greater opportunities than the heathen, to all of which “Christendom” has proven unfaithful, and therefore she shall suffer the greater punishment at the hands of Jehovah. Within a short space of time there shall come upon “Christendom”, which is called by the name of the Lord, the greatest tribulation that has ever befallen any people. — Jer. 25: 29-35.
To enable the people to better understand God’s reason for bringing this tribulation upon the nations the history of the Jews was caused to be recorded in the Bible and is here mentioned. The Lord has declared that what happened to the Jews typified and foreshadowed what shall come upon “Christendom”, or the professed “Christian” nations of the world. The Jews were God’s covenant people, but they became unfaithful to their covenant and turned to idolatrous practices. God sent his prophets, who warned the Jews of his purpose to destroy their nation because of unfaithfulness. The leaders amongst the Jews ignored the warning, scoffed at the testimony of God’s prophets, and then falsely prophesied to the people that no harm was coming to that nation. But shortly thereafter the Jewish nation was swept out of existence. That history is being repeated.
JEHOVAH planted true Christianity as a pure and noble thing, but shortly after the death of the faithful apostles of Jesus Christ the commercial and political rulers of the world, aided and abetted by the clergy, adopted “Christianity” and called it their religion, and then changed the ordinances of God to suit their own selfish purposes, broke the laws of God, and particularly ‘‘the everlasting covenant’’, and have brought great reproach upon the name of the Most High. Today the leading nations of the world are called “Christian”, and they practice a formalism of religion which is called “the Christian religion”, whereas the leaders thereof deny the inspiration and truthfulness of God’s Word, deny the blood of Jesus Christ as the redemptive price of mankind, and deny God’s kingdom as the means of restoring and blessing the peoples of earth, “Organized Christianity,” therefore, is an integral part of Satan’s organization and is against God and his kingdom, and hence must be destroyed in order that the kingdom of righteousness may rule the world.
The World War came in 1914, with its attending distressing conditions, and in exact fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus Christ, and furnished the complete proof to all “Christendom” that the world had ended and that Christ’s kingdom was at hand. (Matt. 24: 3-14) These facts were especially called to the attention of the leaders of “Christendom”. Had “Christendom” then given heed to the counsel of God and stood in his Word she might have been spared from destruction. Not only did “organized Christianity” treat the counsel of God with contempt, but she openly endorsed the Devil’s make-shift and called it the political expression of God’s kingdom on earth. “Christendom’s” leaders and commercial, political and religious prognosticators now freely predict that the present condition of suffering and distress is but temporary and will soon pass away and that the nations ruled by unrighteous men will soon establish lasting peace and prosperity. Like the false prophets to the Jews, these present- day predictors prophesy falsely. (Jer. 28: 1-17) Let the people take notice that “Christendom” will never recover, but soon will go down in the worst tribulation that has ever befallen any nation of the world. Her destruction will not come by the poor people fighting against the rich, but will result from the punishment inflicted by Jehovah God and his King. — Rev. 19:11-21.
Jehovah declares that there shall be such a great number of people slain in the time of trouble that the survivors will not bury them; but further states that some portion of the people will be spared, taken through the trouble and saved; and that the ones spared will be those who now seek to know and to do God’s will.
The hope of the world is God’s kingdom, and there is no other hope. Immediately following the great tribulation Jehovah’s kingdom will establish peace and prosperity in the earth. All order-loving people should therefore be diligent now to learn of and concerning the kingdom of God, and should take their stand on the side of his kingdom and give their allegiance to God and his King and thus put themselves in line for the everlasting blessings that shall come to those who are obedient and faithful to Jehovah and his King.
This testimony of warning is not given by “another religious cult that is engaged in propaganda or in proselyting”. It is given by Jehovah’s witnesses. Those who give this testimony do not seek members or solicit money. Upon all those who have wholly devoted themselves to his kingdom, Jehovah has laid the obligation to give this testimony of warning. The responsibility is upon these witnesses to give the testimony and warning, and those who hear are responsible to God for what course they take.
We declare our allegiance is wholly to God and his kingdom, and we delight to be his witnesses and to bear his testimony to the honor of his name. Our faith forbids and precludes us from engaging in war or in any other enterprise that would work harm or injury to mankind. We are for Jehovah’s kingdom of everlasting peace.
The time is due for the vindication of Jehovah’s great name, and as his authorized witnesses, and in obedience to his commandment, we do now solemnly declare this warning and deliver this testimony.
Within a very short time God will destroy all of Satan’s organization, which includes “Christendom” and all the nations that oppress the people and defame his name. Immediately following that great destruction, God by Christ will fully establish his government of righteousness in all the earth. Let the people therefore cease to give heed to schemes of reform brought forth by men. The kingdom of Jehovah God is the hope of the world. Let all who love righteousness give full allegiance to Jehovah and to his kingdom and receive his blessings.
Some weeks in advance of the convention a special electrical transcription record of the public address was prepared and sent to radio stations of America and in foreign lands; therefore in addition to the 163 radio stations tied together by means of telephone wires, as above mentioned, over three hundred other radio stations broadcast the message by electrical transcription. In Australia fifteen radio stations were tied together by means of 5,000 miles of telephone wires, and these fifteen stations simultaneously broadcast the message by electrical transcription. A cable from Australia announced that the broadcast by these fifteen stations was perfect and was heard throughout the land. Other radio stations in Paris, France, and Tallinn on the Baltic sea, heralded the message of the hour. The preachers of ecclesiastical England kept the message off the air and thus deprived the good people of that land of the opportunity of hearing, but they will have to receive it in another manner. The enemy is helpless to now prevent the people from receiving the notice of warning and the message of the kingdom. By his grace the army of the Lord will carry the message to every part of Christendom.
NEW NAME
Sunday afternoon, July 26, at 4 p.m., there was presented and read before the convention the following resolution:
A NEW NAME
Whereas about 1874, in fulfilment of divine prophecy, the Lord Jesus Christ began the work of ‘preparing the way before Jehovah’ and to restore to his faithful followers on earth a clearer understanding of the fundamental truths taught by Jesus and his apostles and which for centuries had been made obscure by others teaching false doctrines; and
Whereas from and after that date and for a period of more than forty years Charles T. Russell, a faithful follower of Christ Jesus and a servant of Jehovah God, led a company of his brethren in Christ in the preaching and teaching of the divine Word, and particularly with reference to the second coming of Christ, the setting up of his kingdom, and the restoration of man to perfection on the earth; and to carry on said work orderly said company of Christians organized the corporations known as the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, the International Bible Students Association, and the Peoples Pulpit Association; and they used and now use these corporations for the publication of books, magazines and other Bible literature; and in the course of time said company of Christians became known by such names as, to wit, ‘‘Russellites,” “Millennial Dawn People,’’ “International Bible Students Association,’’ and other like names; and
Whereas shortly following the death of Charles T. Russell a division arose between those associated with him in such work, resulting in a number of such withdrawing from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and who have since refused to cooperate with said Society and its work and who decline to concur in the truth as published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in The Watch Tower and the other recent publications of the said above-named corporations, and have opposed and do now oppose the work of said Society in declaring the present message of God’s kingdom and the day of the vengeance of our God against all parts of Satan’s organization; and said opposing ones have formed themselves into divers and numerous companies and have taken and now bear such names as, to wit, “Bible Students,’’ “Associated Bible Students,” “Russellites teaching the truth as expounded by Pastor Russell,” “Stand-Fasters,” and like names, all of which tends to cause confusion and misunderstanding:
Now, therefore, in order that our true position may be made known, and believing that this is in harmony with the will of God, as expressed in his Word, be it resolved, as follows, to wit:
That we have great love for Brother Charles T. Russell, for his work’s sake, and that we gladly acknowledge that the Lord used him and greatly blessed his work, yet we cannot consistently with the Word of God consent to be called by the name “Russellites”; that the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society and the International Bible Students Association and the Peoples Pulpit Association are merely names of corporations which as a company of Christian people we hold, control and use to carry on our work in obedience to God’s commandments, yet none of these names properly attach to or apply to us as a body of Christians who follow in the footsteps of our Lord and Master, Christ Jesus; that we are students of the Bible, but, as a body of Christians forming an association, we decline to assume or be called by the name “Bible Students” or similar names as a means of identification of our proper position before the Lord; wo refuse to bear or to be called by the name of any man;
That, having been bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer, justified and begotten by Jehovah God and called to his kingdom, we unhesitatingly declare our entire allegiance and devotion to Jehovah God and his kingdom; that we are servants of Jehovah God commissioned to do a work in his name, and, in obedience to his commandment, to deliver the testimony of Jesus Christ, and to make known to the people that Jehovah is the true and Almighty God; therefore we joyfully embrace and take the name which the mouth of the Lord God has named, and we desire to be known as and called by the name, to wit, Jehovah’s witnesses. — Isa. 43:10-12; 62:2; Rev. 12:17.
As Jehovah’s witnesses our sole and only purpose is to be entirely obedient to his commandments; to make known that he is the only true and Almighty God; that his Word is true and that his name is entitled to all honor and glory; that Christ is God’s King, whom he has placed upon his throne of authority; that his kingdom is now come, and in obedience to the Lord’s commandments we must now declare this good news as a testimony or witness to the nations and inform the rulers and the people of and concerning Satan’s cruel and oppressive organization, and particularly with reference to “Christendom”, which is the most wicked part of that visible organization, and of and concerning God’s purpose to shortly destroy Satan’s organization, which great act will be quickly followed by Christ the King’s bringing to the obedient peoples of earth peace and prosperity, liberty and health, happiness and everlasting life. That God’s kingdom is the hope of the world, and there is no other; and that this message must be delivered by those who are identified as Jehovah’s witnesses.
We humbly invite all persons who are wholly devoted to Jehovah and his kingdom to join in proclaiming this good news to others, that the righteous standard of the Lord may be lifted up, that the peoples of the world may know where to find the truth and hope for relief; and, above all, that the great and holy name of Jehovah God may be vindicated and exalted.
Then followed an argument setting forth scripture upon scripture in support of the new name, proving from the Scriptures that it is the will of God that his people shall be called by a new name in order that they may stand out separate and distinct from the other peoples of the earth. The argument in support of the resolution will appear in full in another issue of The Watch Tower. The resolution appears in this report to preserve the record thereof. Without a dissenting voice the resolution was adopted amidst great enthusiasm and rejoicing. It was really the beginning of a new day for God’s anointed people.
To be Jehovah’s witnesses means that the anointed ones have received ‘the white stone with the new name written therein’, and discloses a blessed relationship enjoyed by the remnant with Jehovah and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Rev. 2:17; 3:12) By giving his people a new name Jehovah has branded his people so that there can be no mistake as to their identity. These will henceforth stand out separate and distinct from all professed followers of Christ Jesus. Every one who really loves God must be his witness; and to be the witness of Jehovah means to serve the notice of Jehovah upon Christendom of his purpose to destroy her, and also the message declaring Jehovah’s kingdom and the vindication of his holy name. No wonder the convention went wild with enthusiasm. On every hand the Lord's people there were heard to say: “We have been waiting for something of this kind, so that we could be clearly discerned from those who claim to be servants of God. Now we are happy, because we know who we are and where we are, and we can go forward with renewed zeal and energy.” Necessarily the adoption of the resolution was the peak of the convention, because the anointed realized the warmth of Jehovah’s love bestowed upon them. Now by the Lord’s grace the anointed have a name that no others want. Those who have been opposing
the Society and its work cannot take that name, because if they do they thereby declare themselves to bo Jehovah’s witnesses and prove that they have been wrong in opposing the witness work. These opponents have repeatedly stated that the Society is a bookselling scheme, and if they now take the name “Jehovah’s witnesses” they brand themselves with the brand which Jesus said he would give them, to wit: “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” —Rev. 3:9.
Let the anointed witnesses of Jehovah now push on with the work to his honor and glory. Let them give no heed whatsoever to the slanderous or abusive words of the opposition. We have no fight with any individual. We have no time for argument with those who oppose the Lord’s work. They cannot prevent the work, and to argue with them merely wastes good consecrated time. The anointed are now determined to obey the admonition given by the Lord’s Word in Romans 16:17,18: “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; AND AVOID THEM. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
The I.B.S.A., which is in brief the name for the International Bible Students Association, is the name of the corporation and to which the Society holds title, and no one has a right to that name except the Society owning the corporation. That corporate name will continue to be used for the purposes for which the corporation was organized. As to the Lord’s anointed, henceforth they will be known and designated in all advertisements of meetings, for conventions and for other work, as Jehovah’s witnesses. By this means the people will come to know that Jehovah God has a people on earth who delight to represent him and to honor his name and to hold aloft his banner of righteousness. Not only was the name “Jehovah’s witnesses” joyfully received by those at the convention, but immediately following the adoption of the resolution the Lord’s anointed began to remove from their motor cars the letters I.B.S.A. and to put thereon instead the letters J.W. When they ran out of paint they even marked J.W. in the dust on their cars. As they went forth to canvass in the field they spoke of themselves as Jehovah’s witnesses. They delight to bear this name because the mouth of Jehovah has thus named them. — Isa. 62:2.
The fire of the enemy will now be concentrated upon Jehovah’s witnesses, because these are they who have the testimony of Jesus Christ and who keep the commandments of Jehovah God. (Rev. 12:17) The opposers, acting under the direction of Satan, will in
dulge in all manner of slanderous and malicious statements against the anointed; but the more this is done the greater will be the proof that the Lord’s anointed ones are truly the representatives of Jehovah. This will draw the attention of the people to them; and the peoples of good will and who desire righteousness will see that Jehovah has a people in the land, even as the people of Israel recognized that there were prophets amongst them. What a blessed privilege now to be a witness for Jehovah. Every one of Jehovah’s witnesses must be clean in every respect and must be fully and completely separate from all others. They are in the world, but no part of it. As Esther and Mordecai were in due time caused to be fully identified before the people as Jews, even so now the remnant of the Lord must be and are identified as those who give praise to the name of Jehovah God and tell the people of his kingdom. There must be and is now an absolute unity of the anointed, and from henceforth let these march forward proclaiming the kingdom to the honor of Jehovah’s name. They are absolutely certain of victory, because Jehovah’s Chief Executive Officer is leading them.
SERVICE
As the men described by the Prophet Ezekiel in the ninth chapter went in before the altar and registered for service, so likewise the anointed of the Lord as they arrived at the convention registered for service. All motor cars were registered, numbered and put into the service. Beginning with Monday all the days of the convention following were field service days. The service department was well organized, and under the leadership of captains of companies practically everyone at the convention engaged in the field service. There was scarcely sufficient territory to give everyone service at all times. Columbus and the vicinity for fifty miles around was well covered and served by the workers. Like other parts of the country the economic conditions in that vicinity are bad and the people in much distress, while the clergy busy themselves in an attempt to prevent the people from hearing the truth. This handicap did not prevent the message from getting to the people, however. In some of the towns the clergy went through the streets in a body and warned the people to give no heed to the witnesses of Jehovah; but instead of heeding the clergy the people were even more anxious to know, and many of them took the books. In some of the towns the clergy held indignation meetings, denouncing the convention and declaring that “the work of these people must be destroyed”. The clergy have begun too late. A brief synopsis of the work done in the field is given as follows:
Workers 7,231
Testimonies 391,000
Books and booklets placed 390,126
The booklet The Kingdom, the Hope of the World, containing the Warning to Christendom, must be distributed throughout Christendom. The purpose is to put all the machines to work until the message in the various languages has reached Christendom. Jehovah’s witnesses will gladly do this work.
A discourse was delivered to the convention dealing with the thirty-fifth chapter of the prophecy of Isaiah, which discourse was entitled “Remnant to the Front”. Under this title the discourse in full will appear in The Watch Tower. Suffice it here to say that it was pointed out as an indisputable fact that the remnant must now take the lead on the highway or great high road and lift up the standard of the Lord to the people so that all of good will may take their stand on the side of Jehovah. This greatly enthused the workers because it points out to them definitely what work is to be done.
VINDICATION
At the conclusion of a discourse dealing with the ninth chapter of Ezekiel’s prophecy, concerning the man with the writer’s inkhorn, the convention was informed that a new book entitled Vindication was now off the press and that the autograph edition was ready for distribution. This announcement was received with great enthusiasm because the consecrated have long looked to the Lord to send some explanation of Ezekiel’s prophecy. This book of Vindication treats the first twenty-four chapters of Ezekiel’s prophecy. It discloses the judgments of Jehovah written against Christendom and shows that his witnesses must now serve notice upon Christendom that the day of her visitation and destruction is at hand. ‘‘Son of man [including the remnant], I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” (Ezek. 3:17-19) This admonition from Jehovah was directed to Ezekiel who was called the Son of man. With equal, if not stronger, force it is now directed to his remnant on earth who by virtue of being a part of the elect servant take the name “The Son of Man”. One of the titles of Christ Jesus is “The Son of the man” and all of the anointed become part of him. Those at the convention who took away the volume of Vindication will quickly acquaint themselves with its contents and be ready by the Lord’s grace to do what the Lord requires them to do.
The convention did not adjourn as other conventions have disbanded in the past. Jehovah’s witnesses realized that there is much work now to be done and which must be done quickly; hence the convention merely extended its work by going to other cities or places and there engaged in work. These extension conventions were held July 31 and August 1 and 2 in the following cities, to wit: Cleveland, Chicago, Detroit, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis, and Washington.
At the same time conventions were held throughout the many countries of earth where the anointed are giving the testimony. Our space here does not permit a full report from these extension conventions; but suffice it to say that the reports show that the enthusiasm which began at Columbus was carried to the other points, and thousands of books were placed in the hands of the people. It was thrilling, to say the least, to see thousands of consecrated people singing praise to Jehovah and marching out of the great auditorium and going to different places to continue the work. Joy was in every heart, and every one was giving thanks to God that he had been permitted to be present at the convention. Those present will carry the enthusiasm to others who were compelled to stay at home; and the good done at Columbus, and the work of witnessing there begun, like waves resulting from the dropping of a great stone in the water, will extend and keep on going out and further out until it fills the whole land.
EATING
It was necessary for those attending the convention to be fed material food for their physical needs. Many of the Lord’s people have very little of earthly goods with which to supply the necessary food. The Society arranged to serve good food on the grounds at a minumum cost. The Bethel organization took this in hand, and thousands were daily fed. This also enabled many to remain on the grounds and be close to their tents and other sleeping quarters.
The Messenger did a splendid service. It is not the purpose of The Messenger to publish the discourses or the discussion of doctrinal points. That remains for The Watch Tower to do. The Messenger gave a general view of the convention and the work of the Society at its various branch offices in different parts of the earth. Thousands of copies were sent to different parts of the earth, and doubtless the few remaining copies will be quickly absorbed. The treatment of those attending the convention by the good people of Ohio is best expressed by the resolution unanimously adopted on July 30, and which appears as follows:
Be it resolved by Jehovah’s witnesses in international convention assembled at Columbus, Ohio, in July 1931, as follows:
That following the Scriptural injunction we delight in all things to give thanks, knowing that whatsoever things our heavenly Father provides for us shall work together for our good because we love him and keep his commandments.
We express our sincere thanks to the governor and to the other officers of the State Fair Association of Ohio for the kindness extended to us in providing the free use of the Fair Grounds for our convention.
We thank the Chamber of Commerce for its cooperation and many favors shown to us.
We thank the radio stations WATCH and WAIU for their cooperation in freely broadcasting the message of the kingdom of God to the people.
We thank the faithful reporters and the public press for their cooperation and the part performed by them so kindly in publishing and conveying the news concerning our convention to the reading public.
We extend our thanks to all the good people of Columbus and vicinity for the many kindnesses shown toward us thus making our stay in this vicinity a pleasant one.
The Lord will not forget even the smallest favor bestowed upon his faithful witnesses. We therefore confidently predict that the Lord will show some special favor to the good people of this vicinity who have provided for us even a cup of cold water in his name.
We kindly suggest that all such good people turn their hearts more fully to Jehovah, and for you we wish many and lasting blessings.
The Columbus convention was unlike any convention ever before held. Comparison seems out of place. It was a monument on the way to the kingdom. It was refreshing and gave strength to the anointed. The Lord provided it and there he fed his people. There he truly proved his promise: “I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread.” (Ps. 132:15) All honor and praise is due to Jehovah. Let the anointed continue to honor his name by declaring his works to the people and by singing forth his praises.
UNDERSTANDING PROPHECY
JEHOVAH reveals himself and his purposes to his people in his own due time. His prophecy cannot therefore be understood until it is God’s due time for understanding it. Prior to his due time any interpretation is merely a guess. Without doubt it has been pleasing to the Lord for those consecrated to him to seek an understanding even before the due time to understand. Their very attitude of searching for the truth kept them in harmony with the Lord. The holy angels of heaven sought an understanding; and while the Lord did not reveal his purpose to them, he did not rebuke them, and thus shows that he is not displeased with those who search for the truth. It will be found also that the understanding of the prophecies of God increases as the fulfilment thereof unfolds. Therefore one may see some part of prophecy now, and later see it more clearly. Proverbs, chapter four, verse eighteen, says: ‘‘The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” It is also true that prophecy has more than one fulfilment. It will be found that at a certain period of time the prophecy has a small or miniature fulfilment, and later a much larger and complete fulfilment.
Many students have made the grievous mistake of thinking that God has inspired men to interpret prophecy. The holy prophets of the Old Testament were inspired by Jehovah to write as his power moved upon them. The writers of the New Testament were clothed with certain power and authority to write as the Lord directed them. However, since the days of the apostles no man on earth has been inspired to write prophecy, nor has any man been inspired to interpret prophecy. The Apostle Peter emphatically says this in his second epistle, chapter one, verse twenty: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.’’ The interpretation comes from the Lord in his own due time.
When his due time arrives to bring about the physical facts by which those devoted to him can see that these facts are in fulfilment of prophecy, then the prophecy can be understood. The truth does not belong to any man or any other creature. God’s Word is truth. In his due time he makes it clear to those devoted to him, and not before.
To his faithful disciples Jesus said: “When he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: . . . and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13) The spirit of God was given to these disciples at Pentecost, and thereafter they spoke or wrote under the supervision of the spirit of God. (Acts 2:4) The Lord did show them things to come, and some of them uttered words of prophecy. There is no Scriptural proof, however, that the apostles had successors, and therefore we must conclude that they had a special mission from the Lord to understand and speak according to his will. Without doubt some of them at least had a better understanding than they were permitted to disclose to others. Paul speaks of himself as receiving a vision from the Lord and of hearing words which it was not lawful for him to utter. That statement of his is found in his second letter to the Corinthians, chapter twelve, verse four. So far as the Bible discloses, there is no other man since the days of the apostles who has had any vision that was not lawful for him to utter. From the words of Jesus we must understand that even his disciples would be permitted to understand God’s purpose only in his due time.
Jesus also said to his disciples: “And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.” (John 14:29) This is a plain statement of the rule concerning the understanding of prophecy, namely, that ‘when it comes to pass, ye may believe and understand’. The expression “ye” in the text refers to the disciples, and it must be limited to those who are devoted to Jehovah God. This explains why the Lord’s Word cannot be understood by those who are not in harmony with God. If a man wants to understand the Word of the Lord, he must devote himself to the Lord honestly and sincerely. It is clearly stated in Psalm twenty-five, verse fourteen: “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and he will show them his covenant.”
The apostles, under the supervision of the Lord, organized the church in their day. To the members of the church of that time the written epistles or letters of the apostles were directed, but they were intended more particularly for the understanding, aid, and comfort of the members of the church at the end of the world where we now are. The apostle’s own words so state in Romans, chapter fifteen, verse four, and First Corinthians, chapter ten, verse eleven. After the death of the apostles there quickly came upon the church a time of darkness. That was a long period of darkness and is generally mentioned as “the dark ages”. During that long period of time the face of the Lord was turned away from that organization called “the church”, so far as revealing his purposes was concerned. That period of time lasted approximately from the third century to the nineteenth century. In that period there was probably a very small number of the true followers of Christ on earth. The number claiming to be the followers of Christ was large, but those who were faithful and true were few in number. That was the period of time when the true and the false grew together, which condition Jesus described in the parable as the “wheat” and the “tares” growing in the same field. He declared they must continue thus to grow together until the end of the world. (Matt. 13:24,30,39) The two classes thus growing together, the true followers of Christ were greatly hindered by the false. The teachers in the churches were selfish men interested in political influence and personal flattery. Under the influence and control of the enemy Satan, they caused the truth to become obscure and to be seen very dimly.
Again attention is called to the words of Jesus, the great Prophet, who with authority from Jehovah said to his disciples: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go ... I will come again and receive you unto myself.” It should therefore be expected that the coming again of the Lord would mark the beginning of a better understanding of God’s Word. In harmony with this, it is recorded in the book of the Acts of the apostles, chapter three, verses nineteen to twenty-one, that the Apostle Peter shortly after Pentecost uttered a prophecy, saying: “Times of refreshing shall come from the presence [or literally, from the face] of the Lord [Jehovah] ; and he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you; whom the heaven must receive [retain] until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.” In this the apostle clearly foretells a time of refreshing to the people of the Lord, and that the time would be at the second coming of the Lord Jesus.
That would not mean that Jesus must be bodily present again on the earth, because with him distance from the earth is no barrier. He is a spirit creature of the divine nature, and his power is without limitation, regardless of his actual bodily position. Being clothed with all power in heaven and in earth, he could administer the affairs of the church from one point as well as from another. The Apostle Peter’s words just quoted mean that, at a stated time and acting in accord with Jehovah’s orders, Christ Jesus would begin to minister to those consecrated to God and give them refreshing. What would be the nature of that refreshing?
Peter mentions “restitution”, which word would mean a restoring of that which had been taken away or hidden, and would necessarily include the truth that was hidden during the “dark ages”. On another occasion, as recorded in Matthew, chapter seventeen, verse eleven, Jesus said that ‘Elijah must first come and restore all things’. Elijah was a prophet of God who did a restitution work in his time, in that he restored to the Israelites an understanding of the truth concerning God and their covenant relationship with God. (1 Ki. 18: 39) His work was prophetic and foretold that the Lord would restore his truth to his own people. After Elijah was dead, Malachi prophesied that God would send Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Read that prophecy for yourselves in Malachi, chapter four, verses five and six. That prophecy is proof that another should do a work similar to that done by Elijah, but on a far greater scale and of much more importance.
The restitution or restoring of all things, of which Jesus spoke, and also the restitution mentioned by the Apostle Peter, must begin with the restoring to the people of God the truths that had been hidden during the “dark ages”. That restitution work would progress during the manifestation of the second presence of Jesus Christ. It would be expected that the days of understanding of the prophecies would begin sometime after the manifestation of the Lord’s second presence, and the understanding would continue to increase thereafter.
The Scriptural proof is that the second presence of the Lord Jesus Christ is invisible and began approximately in the year eighteen hundred and seventyeight (A.D.). In the New Testament Scriptures, which were originally written in Greek, there are three different Greek words used in connection with the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those words arc, to wit: parousia (Matt. 24:3) which literally means “presence”; epiphaneia (2 Tim. 4:1), which means presence and shining forth with increased light; and apokalypsis (Rev. 1:1), which means the presence of the Lord shining forth with increased light and to a complete uncovering or revelation. Thus is shown the progressive unfolding of the prophecies during the presence of the Lord. That is the period of refreshment mentioned by Peter, and that refreshing is given to, and is for the benefit of, the faithful students of God’s Word, because God has turned his face to them and the Lord Jesus Christ is manifesting his presence and is ministering to them.
Within the period of his presence there is a gradual and progressive restoration or restitution of the fundamental truths of the Word of God. Therefore the work of the Prophet Elijah foretold a period of time for the restoration of all the great fundamental truths of the divine purpose. This prophecy has been fulfilled. Particularly three great fundamental truths were little understood until after the second presence of the Lord. Those truths are, to wit, the philosophy of the ransom sacrifice, the mystery concerning Christ and his body members, and the restitution of the human race during the reign of Christ.
That restitution of fundamental truths would not mean an unfolding and understanding of all the prophecies, for the reason that they (the prophecies) had never been understood. It is impossible to restore a thing that did not once exist or that was not once understood. Without a question of doubt the apostles understood the fundamental truths, mentioned above as being restored. It is also equally certain that there are many of the prophecies that they could not clearly understand, because it was not God’s due time to reveal them. One of these truths, in particular, was in reference to the Lord’s second coming, one which Jesus stated no man understood. Jesus said, according to Matthew, chapter twenty-four, verse thirty- six: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Therefore the conclusion is that “the restitution of all things”, as referred to by the Apostle Peter, does not have reference to an interpretation of the prophecies.
FROM THE FIELD
“JEHOVAH HAS SURELY BLESSED”
Dear Brother Rutherford:
As Jehovah’s witnesses assembled in extension convention at Indianapolis, we desire to express to you our grateful appreciation to Jehovah for the feast of “fat things, well refined” provided at the Columbus convention.
We delight in our new name, and declare our acceptance of it, not by words only, but by zealous activity in the proclamation of the judgments written. The greatly increased vision of the kingdom and our part therein thrills us to the core and fires our enthusiasm and zeal as heretofore unknown. Jehovah has surely blessed his witnesses with an additional outpouring of his spirit.
Our joy knows no bounds; as a part of the remnant, “our cup runneth over.”
Now already to the front, we declare our purpose to remain there and sing; singing the glad song of deliverance and of the vindication of the name of our God, Jehovah.
We declare our purpose to stay in the unified ranks of the Lord’s army and, by holding the standard of the kingdom high, point the people to the way of life.
Please be assured of our love, dear Brother Rutherford. Your own devotion to Jehovah and your fearlessness is an inspiration to us.
Your brethren in Zion at the
Indianapolis Extension Convention.
“SING THE PRAISES OF OUR GOD”
Be it resolved, that we, a company of Jehovah’s witnesses, assembled in convention at Cleveland, Ohio, do realize the deep significance of the eventful happenings of the past few days as follows, to wit: The fearless message delivered and timely warning given at the Columbus convention to Satan’s organization and all who sympathize therewith. The clear defining of the new name to be that of Jehovah’s witnesses, and the joyful acceptance of that new name by all the assembled gathering with the full understanding of all its accompanying responsibilities. The clear-cut presentation of the 9th chapter of Ezekiel, showing the work of Jehovah’s organization visible and invisible.
Be it further resolved, that we as Jehovah’s witnesses, here assembled at Cleveland, do wish to convey to our dear Brother Rutherford, whom the Lord is so manifestly honoring, and to all who take the new name, our expression of appreciation to the great Jehovah for this, another evidence of his loving-kindness, in the further unfolding of his purposes and that we are determined to lift up the banner of truth and sing the praises of our God until “the battle of the great day’’ is fought and won and his name vindicated.
FIRED WITH ZEAL
Dear Brother Rutherford:
The Colored brethren of Jehovah’s witnesses assembled in convention at Washington, D. C., in “extension’’ of the Watch Tower International Convention at Columbus (July 24-30, 1931), believe it to be fitting and proper to express by resolution our gratitude and appreciation, first, to the Lord, and second, to you, for the lightnings brought to us through this convention medium. To Jehovah, because he is the source of light, truth and blessings; and to you as a willing servant used by him for the encouragement, help and comfort to a people that he has named.
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