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    The Watchtower, March 15, 1935

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    The Watchtower—1935

    CONVENTION

    The general convention of Jehovah’s witnesses for 1935, under the supervision of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, will be at Washington, D.C., beginning May 30 and continuing until June 3 inclusive. Announcement is now made that those desiring to attend may arrange their affairs accordingly. Full details for the convention will appear in The Watchtower at a later date.

    THE ANOINTED'S THANKSGIVING PERIOD

    This period, April 13-21, inclusive, embraces the season memorializing the holy name of Jehovah as also our Lord’s death, hence marks a special season of thanksgiving and praise to God. God’s anointed ones everywhere, regardless of national boundaries drawn by men, will as one man in Christ Jesus work in unison these special days. Those not anointed by God’s spirit, but nonetheless devoted people of good will, the Lord God invites to also take part in this world-wide expression of thanksgiving to Jehovah and his anointed King before all nations. Let attention be given immediately to your having a full share in the season’s privileges, by making due preparation and arrangements as to time, territory, literature, etc. During this period an extraordinary offer of three booklets will be featured. All Watchtower readers not working under one of the Society’s branch offices should communicate with our main office at Brooklyn both as to arrangements and as to reporting results of work.

    "SUPREMACY," "HIS VENGEANCE," AND "WHO SHALL RULE THE WORLD?"

    Agreeable to Jehovah’s gracious provision for his people in this time of pressing the battle to the gate of the enemy, The Watchtower with much pleasure here announces the publication of three new booklets, to wit, Supremacy, His Vengeance, and Who Shall Rule the World? Each booklet contains 64 pages, with attractive cover. Every one devoted to Jehovah does well to read each booklet carefully himself. The three booklets will be released for circulation among the general public with the opening of the coming world campaign, The Anointed’s Thanksgiving Period. They may be had, the three in combination, on a contribution of 10c; or singly, 5c. It is hoped to have the booklet Who Shall Rule the World? available, at the earliest possible date, in sixty languages.

    TRANSCRIPTION MACHINES

    The Society has made arrangements to construct and assemble portable transcription machines at our own factory at 117 Adams Street. These machines are somewhat different in construction from those previously furnished. They will be spring-wound, and operated from a 6-volt wet-cell battery. Every machine will be furnished complete with the battery and a battery charger, so that it can be kept up to its full strength. We are pleased to announce that this machine can be offered at $100, complete, to brethren in the United States.

    VOL. LVI

    March 15, 1935

    No. 6

    PROPHECY OF THE TREES

    "That they may he called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified." –Isa. 61:3, A.R.V.

    PART 1

    JEHOVAH GOD in times of old made many prophetic pictures and preserved the record thereof, to the end that his faithful witnesses on earth during the time of great peril might have comfort of mind and remain steadfast in hope. Exercising his loving-kindness toward his own in this time of peril, the Lord has gathered his faithful ones unto himself at the temple and there revealed to them the meaning of these prophetic pictures. These precious truths are received by the remnant in the secret place, and they must proclaim them "from the housetops" to the honor of Jehovah’s name. The remnant are the planting of the Lord God and are counted righteous by reason of being with Christ Jesus at the temple and by him clothed with the garments of identification and with the robe of righteousness, which Jehovah has provided for them. They must now prove their integrity under the test, that they might be for ever "trees of righteousness" of Jehovah’s planting. The chief purpose in selecting the remnant is that they might participate in the upholding of Jehovah’s side of the great issue now for determination. To continue in righteousness they must act at all times to the glory of God.

    2 Jehovah has laid upon the remnant specific duties and obligations, which are set forth in the commission which God has given to them. They are anointed with the spirit of the Lord and are sent forth to tell the truth, regardless of whether the people hear or refuse to hear. They must make known to the people that Jehovah is the only true and almighty God and that this is the day of his vengeance, that is to say, the time in which he will execute his judgment upon all of Satan’s organization. The faithful witnesses of Jehovah can have nothing in common with the enemy organization, but they must be entirely on the Lord’s side and their challenge to the enemy must be boldly expressed by their constant battle cry, to wit, "For Jehovah and for the Greater Gideon, Christ Jesus, the Vindicator of the Most High."

    3 The "day of Jehovah" began in 1914, when he enthroned his beloved Son and sent him forth to rule. Necessarily that rule must begin in the midst of the enemy’s organization and the enemy must be expelled and destroyed, that the rule of righteousness may be universal. These are the days of peril and warfare, and it is in these days that it pleases Jehovah to make known to the remnant the meaning of his prophecies long ago written in the Bible. This he does, not merely for the purpose of gratifying the desire of creatures to know the meaning thereof, but that his faithful witnesses may be fully assured that Jehovah is leading them by his strong hand, Christ Jesus, and that therefore they are in the right way. Knowing that they are right, the remnant are eager to go ahead. When beset by the enemy and subjected to much persecution, the remnant appreciates the fact that such persecution is to be expected, and regardless of all opposition they are determined to continue to press forward, shouting from the very housetops that Jehovah is God, and that now he will get himself the victory, and that those who love righteousness and who would live must escape from Satan’s organization and flee to the kingdom of God under Christ.

    4 In the eighth and ninth chapters of the book of Judges is recorded a prophetic parable concerning the trees. In that prophetic and dramatic picture appear both animate and inanimate things. The drama discloses that a man named Jotham stood on the top of a high mountain and spoke a parable concerning the trees that went forth to choose a king. The trees, in the order named, invited the olive tree to accept the office of king to reign over them. The olive tree declined the offer. Then the trees invited the fig tree to come and rule over them as king, and the fig tree refused the offer. Then the trees invited the vine to come and rule over them, and the vine refused to accept the proffered kingship. Then all the trees requested the bramble, or thorn tree, to rule over them; and the bramble accepted the job. This prophetic parable was spoken immediately following the ambitious act of a man named Abimelech, who was a bastard son of Gideon, and who sought to make himself the ruler over Israel. To facilitate the examination of the Scripture texts here involved it seems well to first note the symbolic meaning of certain inanimate objects appearing in the prophecy, and the parts played by the animate creatures.

    SYMBOLS AND PLAYERS

    5 Trees of divers kinds grow in the forest, some for good and some for less good, and some for evil. For instance, the cedar trees flourish near the water’s edge; for such trees reach down to drink the water, which symbolizes the truth. The thorn tree, or bramble, and thistle grow on ground that is not to be desired. In the Scriptures trees are used to symbolize living creatures, and whether for good or for wickedness is disclosed by their relationship to Jehovah God. The chief one amongst all of the "trees" of creation is Christ Jesus, the planting of Jehovah God, and always righteous. The members of God’s capital organization under Christ are ‘trees planted by Jehovah for his glory and counted righteous’. These are planted by the Lord when he sets them in his organization, and if they ever thereafter continue faithful and true to the Most High they are trees of righteousness to the glory of the Lord God. Concerning the man who faithfully serves Jehovah it is written: "But his delight is in the law of the Lord ; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." (Ps. 1: 2, 3) "He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch."–Prov. 11: 28.

    6 Lucifer was the planting of Jehovah and was righteous until lawlessness found a place in his heart. Concerning Lucifer God caused his prophet to write: "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 chesnut 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 does not mean that other creatures of Lucifer’s organization wickedly desired to have his exalted place. The true meaning of the word here rendered "envied" is that the other creatures admired Lucifer’s beauty and were enthusiastic in their zeal and praise of him, and necessarily considering him fair above themselves. Those creatures Lucifer led away with him in his rebellion, and both they and Lucifer became trees of wickedness and ever thereafter have gone about to make all the trees of earth anti-God and wicked.

    7 Both good and bad trees appear in this prophetic parable recorded in Judges nine. In symbol the inanimate objects represented the following:

    The olive tree in the parable symbolically pictured Gideon, Christ Jesus, the Greater Gideon, and the faithful remnant.

    The fig tree symbolically pictured Jether, the firstborn of Gideon, and the "holy nation".

    The vine symbolically pictured Jehovah’s royal house, Christ Jesus the Head thereof in charge of the royal house, together with the others who will have a part in the vindication of Jehovah’s name.

    The bramble, or thorn tree, in the parable symbolically pictured the visible rulers of this world that constitute the official element of Satan’s organization in the earth.

    Abimelech, the bastard son of Gideon by his concubine, played in the drama the part of the active and visible ruling elements of the world since 1914.

    Shechem, the city and the residents thereof, particularly the Levites, pictured the religious element, that is, the clergy element of "Christendom", including "the man of sin" class.

    The "seventy sons" of Gideon pictured the followers of Christ Jesus engaged in doing the Elijah work of the church prior to and up to 1918,

    Jotham, the son of Gideon who uttered the prophecy of the trees, pictured the remnant.

    THE PROPHECY

    8 Through the columns of The Watchtower the Lord has graciously given his people an understanding of the prophetic drama of Gideon and his three hundred warriors. Gideon died, and thereafter a new prophetic picture begins, and which is here designated the "prophecy of the trees". The events leading up to the utterance of this prophecy are first considered: "And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god." (Judg. 8:33) Following his great victory Gideon had been invited by the men of Israel to rule over them, and Gideon had declined, saying to them: "The Lord shall rule over you." (Judg. 8:23) After the death of Gideon there was no king in Israel; as it is written: "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judg. 21:25) Jehovah was reigning over Israel. (1 Sam. 8:7) This shows that the fulfillment of the prophetic parable or prophecy of the trees began after 1914 and at the beginning of "the day of Jehovah", when Jehovah took to himself his power and reigned by Christ Jesus, -whom he had then placed upon the throne. (Rev. 11:17; Ps. 2:6) After the death of Gideon the time is noted in the Scriptures as "the days when the judges ruled". (Ruth 1:1) This strongly suggests that the development of the prophetic picture or fulfillment thereof began in the spring of 1918 or thereabout, when the great Judge, Christ Jesus at the temple, began judgment first "at the house of God" and when he judges both the true and the professed or nominal house of God. – 1 Pet. 4:17; Mal. 3:1-3.

    9 Jehovah had used Gideon to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors and to strike down devil worship in that land, but now "the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after [the gods] Baalim", and thus they violated God’s great commandment and their covenant. In this Israel pictured "Christendom", the people and nations of which have long been recipients of God’s favor by having proclaimed in their midst Jehovah’s message of truth. "Christendom" has been in an implied covenant to be the people of God, because they have confessed with their mouths and held themselves out before all the nations of earth as being the followers of Christ Jesus, the nations thereof calling themselves "Christian nations". In 1914 the Gentile times came to an end and "Christendom" there had the opportunity of turning entirely to God and his kingdom or of following after the Devil and indulging in the devil worship. "Christendom" chose to yield to the Devil. For forty years and more God’s faithful people on earth had been doing the work within the borders of "Christendom", which work was foreshadowed by the prophet Elijah, and had kept before the professed followers of Christ in the land of "Christendom" the fact that the Gentile times were about to end and that the kingdom of God was at hand. Many of the people heard and turned away from devil worship, but when the World War came "Christendom" quickly fell away to Baalism by rushing into the war, and the clergy became the most ardent advocates of human slaughter and war atrocities. "Christendom" refused to heed the great weight of testimony then produced, proving the end of the world and the beginning of God’s kingdom under Christ, and instead went whoring after the Devil and the Greater Jezebel, that is to say, the Devil’s organization. Doubtless Gog and his host of demons were in the van of that mad march to the bloody battlefields. Like Israel of former days, the religious leaders of "Christendom" were then claiming to serve God, but were referring to him as "Baali" ("My lord," margin) instead of "Ishi" ("My husband"). (Hos. 2:16) As it was in the days of natural Israel, so it now became necessary for Jehovah to raise up and send forth his Greater Jehu to cut off Baal worship from the earth, which he will do at Armageddon.

    10 The Israelites "made Baal-berith their god", the name "Baal-berith" meaning "covenant-lord", that is, "the lord who comes into covenant with his worshipers." In no other place in the Bible is mention made of Baal-berith. The center of this devil worship, as shown by Judges 9:4, 46, was established at the city of Shechem, where the house of Baal-berith stood and where was enthroned the god of Berith. Shechcm was the habitation of the tribe of Ephraim, and here again was an instance in which Ephraim took the lead in devil worship and "kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law; and forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them". (Ps. 78: 9-11) As God’s prophet wrote, "Ephraim is joined to [his] idols; let him alone." (Hos. 4:17) Such conduct is the lawful reason for removing the guilty from God’s great "olive tree". "Christendom" was given the choice in 1914 to prove faithful or unfaithful to Jehovah God. Even "Christendom’s" leading clergymen at that time issued a manifesto declaring that the then cumulative evidence proved that Christ’s kingdom was at hand. But they did not stand by their own words. Instead of turning wholly to God and his kingdom, during the period of the World War "Christendom" turned entirely to the Devil, entered into a confederacy, and made a covenant with the Devil against God and his holy people. (Ps. 2:2,3) "They have consulted together with one consent; they are confederate [literally: made a covenant] against thee." (Ps. 83:5) "Christendom" has prosecuted that conspiracy according to her covenant against Jehovah’s hidden ones, seeking thereby to bring about the destruction of those devoted to Jehovah and his kingdom.

    11 The World War marked the beginning of the time for "Christendom" to make many covenants which are against God and his kingdom. She brought forth the covenant of the League of Nations, which is that abominable thing in opposition to and as a substitute for God’s kingdom; then followed the covenant of Paris, or Paris Peace Treaty, which is contrary to the Word of God, and which attempts to establish peace on earth contrary to the divine provision. Other covenants that have followed are such as the pretended disarmament arrangement, monetary covenant, commercial recovery covenant, and numerous others, all of which covenants bind "Christendom" to the Devil and his organization, because all of them are contrary to God and his way of establishing peace on earth and good will toward men. The setting up of Baal worship at the city of Shechem prophetically foretold the setting up of the devil worship throughout the land of "Christendom", and hence "Christendom", and particularly her religious leaders, are like Ephraim, and "Christendom" ‘fills her belly with the east wind’. (Job 15: 2) "Ephraim feedeth on wind, and followeth after the cast wind: he daily inereaseth lies and desolation; and they do make a covenant with the Assyrians [political agents of Satan], and oil [as a basis for making the commercial and military covenants] is carried into Egypt." (Hos. 12:1) Even those who were for a time engaged in the Elijah work of the Lord were guilty in some degree by reason of neglecting their covenant with Jehovah, and thereby they incurred the displeasure of the Lord. "The Lord hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him." (Hos. 12: 2) But as to the unselfish and faithful ones, the Lord’s anger was turned away from them and they received comfort and joy while continuing in his service.–Isa. 12:1.

    12 What is said of Israel is also true of "Christendom": "And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God, who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side." (Judg. 8:34) During the World War "Christendom" made great claims, and with much noise, about their service to the Lord and that their war was a holy war. They, and particularly the clergy and the principal of their flock, drew near to Jehovah with their lips, but not with the heart. They remembered not God’s covenant and his promise to deliver mankind by the hand of his King, Christ Jesus. They were selfish. Following the subtle lead of the Devil "Christendom" would now set up a rule on earth entirely contrary to God’s way and thus prove that they have turned away from God and from Christ his King.

    13 Gideon had been the helper of Israel, but now the Israelites showed no favor to his house, but, on the contrary, manifested their wickedness towards the house of Gideon: "Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely Gideon, according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel.’’ (Judg. 8:35) "Jerubbaal’’ here used means "Let Baal plead’’. (Judg. 6: 32) He was also called Jerubbesheth, meaning, "Let the shameful thing [idol] plead.’’ (Margin) (See also 2 Samuel 11: 21, margin.) His name "Gideon" means "tree feller", and he foreshadows Christ Jesus, who fells all of the "trees" (living creatures) that oppose Jehovah God. The house of Gideon mentioned in these texts pictures the house of the sons of God, of which Christ Jesus is the Head. (Heb. 3: 6) During the World War and since, the house of sons is hated of all nations, because these are devoted to God and to Christ. (Matt. 24: 9) The kindness which Gideon had done to the nation of Israel foretold the forty years from 1878 to 1918. during which time the Greater Gideon, Christ Jesus, showed his kindness to "Christendom’’ in preparing the way before the Lord, and during which time the Lord sent his faithful footstep followers to "Christendom" with the message of good cheer and hope. This he did, as God had promised through his prophet, to "turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse". (Mal. 3:1; 4: 5, 6) The remnant are now permitted to see God’s loving-kindness to them, in this, that he gave them the truth and led them away from "Christendom" that they might not be partakers of her sins, but that they might be witnesses to the name of Jehovah and have a part in the vindication of his holy name.

    SELFISH RULER

    14 It was covetousness, which is extreme selfishness, that caused Lucifer to exalt himself and attempt to be like unto God. He wanted a rulership that would bring to him great adulation and the worship to which Jehovah God alone is justly entitled. To accomplish his extreme selfish and wicked purpose Lucifer would now resort to the defamation of God’s holy name and to the destruction of God’s creatures. From then till now every ruler among men who has sought to exalt himself, and to make a great name for himself, has been guided in so doing by the subtle and wicked spirit of the Devil. Selfishness has caused many men to deceive themselves and to deceive others. This does not mean that men who seek to rule do knowingly and willingly put themselves under the leadership of Satan, but it does mean that having a selfish desire to gain a great name, fame and honor for themselves they readily fall victims to Satan. Such men may even claim that they are divinely guided but at the same time entirely ignore God’s Word, thus showing that they are not divinely guided. Selfish desire for personal gain is truly the root of all evil. If those who make a covenant to do God’s will could always keep in mind that their chief work is to honor Jehovah’s name, and that in doing so they must do good unto others as they have opportunity, and especially to the household of faith, and if they would then put self in the background and proceed according to the Word of God, much trouble and needless suffering could be avoided. When, going in the right way, the Christian suffers for righteousness’ sake, then for such reason he has cause to be glad. (1 Pet. 3:14) "For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God." (1 Pet. 2:20) "For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing than for evil doing." (1 Pet. 3:17) It is a selfish heart that desires to exalt himself, whereas the humble-minded one is he who desires to obey and tries to obey God’s commandments even though in doing so he is misunderstood and is caused to suffer at the hands of others. "Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."–Prov. l6:19.

    15 In "Christendom", as is well known, the office does not seek the man, but the man with selfish desire for personal gain seeks the office. He having gained the office, his selfishness is still made manifest, and for this reason it is often said of one who rules: "He is primarily a politician"; meaning that he seeks his own political and selfish welfare at the cost of the interest of the people. Among those who have made a covenant to do the will of God there frequently appear some who have the desire for the place of chief one in the company or congregation, that they might have fame amongst the brethren. In taking such a course one discloses a selfish heart, that is to say, it is selfishness that is the motive power compelling his action. Satan is the one who instills selfishness in the mind and heart of the other creatures. Pride is another name for selfishness, and pride leads to destruction. (Prov. 16:18) Those who get in the van of Jehovah’s visible army now and stay there must entirely forget self and truly from the heart say, ‘I am for Jehovah and for his Vindicator, Christ Jesus, the Greater Gideon.’ As Gideon refused to accept the rulership over Israel either for himself or for his sons, so now all the remnant who have the spirit of Gideon say at all times, ‘Jehovah shall rule over the earth.’ Jehovah and Christ Jesus are the Teachers of God’s people, and all the remnant must be one, standing shoulder to shoulder, looking well to the kingdom interests committed to them, and in doing so individual self must entirely disappear. All things that such creatures have are committed into the hands of God and must be devoted to his service. God is no respecter of persons, as there are now no individuals singled out and placed above their fellows in the visible organization of the Lord. Love is and must be the principal thing; and love means the complete absence of selfishness.

    SELFISH AMBITION

    16 There now appears upon the scene in the prophetic drama here considered a person of extreme selfishness, whose name was Abimelech and who strongly portrays what is said in the foregoing paragraph concerning selfishness. His name "Abimelech" means "father of king", that is to say, the one who fathers or gives life to the idea of a king, having in mind himself as the one who should rule. Otherwise stated, Abimelech was an ambitious politician, desiring self-gain at the cost of others and regardless of how great that cost might be. He here pictures the visible part of Satan’s official organization, and particularly the commercial and political elements thereof. In 1914 Christ Jesus was enthroned, and "Christendom’’ was told as much, but the commercial and political elements then and there fathered the idea of a world rulership other than that of Christ Jesus, and the clergy for selfish gain joined hands with the other elements of Satan’s organization and agreed that the League of Nations should rule as the only light of the world. The military is the offshoot and tool of commercialism and is organized and maintained because of the selfish spirit that entirely controls commercialism, and in all these elements selfishness predominates. Extreme selfishness was manifested in Abimelech, who determined to rule or ruin. The commercial power of the world is likewise determined to rule or ruin; and ruin will be the result.

    17 Who was Abimelech? He was of the tribe of Ephraim, and a bastard son of Gideon by his concubine, an Ephraimitess living at Shechem. "And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten: for he had many wives. And his concubine, that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech." (Judg. 8:30,31) The chief or principal ones in the flocks of religious "Christendom" are the commercial and political giants. (Jer. 25: 34) Those principal ones really control the clergy and dominate the religious organization. Those "principal [ones] of the flock", like Abimelech, are bastards, that is to say, bastard Christians. The concubine of Jerubbaal (or Gideon) above mentioned well pictures "organized religion", or "organized Christianity", so called, which gives birth to the 'bastards’ who constitute the "principal of the flock" and who father the idea of the world rulership contrary to that which God has provided through Christ Jesus. The reason why these are called "bastard Christians" is that they are not truly legitimate followers of Christ Jesus. Gideon was of the tribe of Manasseh. (Judg. 6:15) His concubine who lived at Shechem was of the tribe of Ephraim, which made Abimelech, her son, a half Ephraimite and a half Manassite, both Ephraim and Manasseh being descendants of Joseph.

    18 The extremely selfish Abimelech, ambitious to be the chief man in Israel, set about to gratify his wicked desire: "And Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father." (Judg. 9:1) Apparently Abime- lech was living at his father’s house at Ophrah and, instead of making known to the people of that eity his purpose, he hied himself off to the place where his mother had given birth to him and which was then the chiefeity of Baal-berith worship. That was the first capital city of the rebellion of the ten tribes of Israel, which rebellion was led by the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Ki. 11:26; 12:25) The name "Shechem" means "back, or, shoulder", probably due to the fact of its location on a ridge or plateau. It was one of the six cities of refuge, and hence a Levitical city, to be kept by the family of Kohathites of the tribe of Levi. (Josh. 20:1-7; 21:20,21) It was there that Joshua made his farewell speech and entered with Israel into a covenant of faithfulness to Jehovah God. (Josh. 24:1, 24, 25) Shechem was partly occupied by the tribe of Ephraim. (1 Chron. 6:66, 67) Joshua was of that tribe. It is of interest to note that none of Gideon’s three hundred came from Shechem or from the tribe of Ephraim. (Judg. 6:34,35; 7:24; 8:1) The Levite residents of Shechem seemed to well picture the clergy element of "Christendom", including the "evil servant" class, while the other residents of that city, the Ephraimites, picture the "principal of the flock" under the religious leadership of the clergy or religionists who were then leaders of Baal worship and who in modern times are leaders in the devil religion. Abimelech, the bastard son of the concubine, particularly represented these "principal of the flock" in "organized Christianity", who pose as the followers of Christ, but who are illegitimate.

    19 Certainly Abimelech knew of the refusal of his father Gideon to accept the kingship over Israel, either for himself or for his sons. (Judg. 8:22,23) Being an illegitimate, he probably reasoned that he was not bound by the orders of his father, even as the commercial and political elements of "Christendom" in modern times reason that they are not bound by the Word of God and of Christ. Going to that eity of devil worshipers Abimelech concluded to there begin an electioneering campaign to get himself made king, rather than to wait until God should select a king for Israel. With the kinsmen of his mother his electioneering speech was in substance that he was a son of Gideon and in addition thereto he was half Ephraimite and therefore a near relative of the residents of Shechem, and he expected that that speech would cause the people of Shechem to favor him rather than to take a chance with one of the seventy sons residing in another city; and the people, moved by "selfish patriotism’’, did support him. Abimelech thus relied upon his fleshly relationship rather than looking to God, who was the real Deliverer of Israel by the hand of his father Gideon. It was even so with "Christendom’’ during the World War. Although having been told that the Gentile times had ended, and that Christ’s kingdom was at hand, and that now the world was at an end, the commercial and political leaders did not consult with Jehovah’s faithful witnesses who brought to their attention this message by proclaiming it publicly, but these selfish ones went to their "blood relatives", the leaders of religious worship in "Christendom", that is to say, to those who indulge in Baalism or formal worship of any or all things instead of true devotion to God and Christ Jesus. Those selfish men then began to use the clergy as their propagandists and had them to hail the League of Nations as the thing that should rule the world ; and the clergy did it.

    20 Arriving at Shechem Abimelech made known his candidacy for the kingship, in substance saying: ‘Behold, my lightning rod is up and my hat is in the ring.’ (Judg. 9:2) Modern politicians follow the same course. Abimelech would get all the ward heelers, including the public subsidized press, to work and howl in his behalf. To his close aides he said: "Speak . . . in the cars of all the men." The word "men" here is from the Hebrew baalim, meaning "masters, owners". Rotherham renders the text, "the owners of Shechem." In modern times Big Business and the politicians really own the people and control them, while the clergy pour on them the liquid lime to anoint them, oil and whitewash them and make them look like whited sepulchers, as they themselves are. Abimelech propounded the question, ‘Is it better for seventy sons [Manassites] to reign over you, or that one reign over you ? Remember that I am one of you. ’ That not only was extremely selfish, but was the expression of an anti-foreigner feeling. In modern times, when Jehovah’s witnesses are hated of all nations for the sake of the Lord’s name, they are indeed foreigners and strangers and sojourners in the earth and are hated by the ruling element of the earth, just as Abimelech hated the legitimate sons of his father. (Matt. 24:9; 1 Pet. 2:11) The ones who constitute the "principal of the flock" of "Christendom", being bastard Christians, are ‘bone and flesh’ with Satan’s other children, and they always claim this relationship when they want to accomplish some selfish purpose. These have been taken into the family of "Christendom".

    21 The seventy sons of Gideon were legitimate sons and, of course, included the firstborn, whose name was Jether. According to Judges 8: 4, 20, it would appear that Jether was one of Gideon’s little army of three hundred that gained the great victory over the enemy. This supports the conclusion that the seventy sons of Gideon pictured those who are the brethren of Christ Jesus at the time the prophetic parable is fulfilled and of whom Jesus said: "Behold I and the children which God hath given me." And again: ‘These he was not ashamed to call his brethren.’ (Heb. 2:11, 13) They are the ones who are invited and who are taken into the covenant for the kingdom, that they might have part in the vindication of Jehovah’s name and be with Christ and reign with him. (Luke 22: 28-30; Rev. 20: 4-6) At the climax of the World War such faithful ones were diligently proclaiming the kingdom message, as far as they then understood it, and hence their conduct and course of action raised the question of rulership of the world in the mind of the bastard sons of "Christendom", and this led to a conspiracy to destroy those sons of God. That bitter spirit began to be manifested early in the war by the clergy, commercial, political and military elements of Satan’s organization against God’s faithful sons. The commercial and political elements that brought on the World War are and have always been for a government of the people which is centralized in a few persons, themselves being the desired ones, that is, a government of the people by the minority and for the benefit of the privileged classes; and such are always against the righteous rule of Christ, and this was particularly manifested during the World War. Like Abimelech, and contrary to the spirit of Christ, these selfish men of modern times take unto themselves the honor and privilege of ruling the world.–Heb. 5: 4-6.

    22 The campaign in Abimelech’s favor got under way, and the baalim bosses and owners of the town were the first ones to make an effective move: "And his mother’s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother." (Judg. 9:3) This was electioneering for human rule in disregard of Jehovah’s provision for the government, and concerning this Jehovah later said to his prophet: "They have rejected me, that I should not reign over them." (1 Sam. 8:7) The owners or baalim men of Shechem cracked the whip, and the common herd quickly fell into line and shouted for Abimelech and said: ‘He is our brother, we are for him, and let us have him to reign over us.’ The hypocritical Levites, or leaders of Baal worship, and representing modern religious leaders, would quickly say: ‘Since the kingship is to come to our city, we patriotically support our own relative and fellow citizen.’ The general welfare of the people was not considered, and the Word of God was entirely ignored. Likewise during the World War. The commercial and political element prosecuted the war that they might gratify their own selfish desires. They launched the hypocritical slogan "The war will make the world safe for democracy’’, while they proceeded to make the world, as they believed, safe for bureaucracy. The coming of Christ and his kingdom was entirely ignored, and, like their father the Devil, they said: ‘The world is ours, and we will rule it, and let us patriotically stand together and rule for ourselves.’

    23 The Baal priests, which, of course, included the Levites, had accumulated some money at the house of worship, or church house, called "the house of Baal-berith", at Shechem, and now the enthusiastic king-making mob marched up to where the clergy carried on their operations, and the clergy showed their appreciation of the situation and their willingness to co-operate. "And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him."–Judg. 9:4.

    24 That was money devoted to devil worship, and it was readily produced and used to push the campaign of Abimelech. Likewise when the commercial and political element launched the World War, the real purpose of which was to provide a sure means for themselves to rule, the clergy of "Christendom" from their pulpits shouted: "We have red blood in our veins, we are patriotic citizens, and we therefore support this campaign for the war. Fork out your money."

    25 They turned their church houses into recruiting stations and sold Liberty Bonds and thrift stamps, and collected money for the war, and aided in putting Big Business in complete control, and the result today is that in the land of "Christendom" the dictators are in the saddle. With the money Abimelech received from the clergy he hired "sluggers" (as one translator puts it, "loose and unstable men") to join him in a murderous campaign against those who might be in his way. Their modern counterpart is found in the hired gunmen and strong-arm squad who carry out the wishes of the heartless ruling element and inflict punishment upon God’s faithful witnesses.

    26 The seventy legitimate sons of Gideon might be in the way of the schemes of the ambitious Abimelech, and therefore he reasoned that they must be put out of the way: "And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren, the sons of Jerub- baal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself." (Judg. 9: 5) This bloody deed was the overt act of a conspiracy formed at Shechem against the house of Gideon. (Judg. 9: 24, 57) Likewise during the World War the selfish commercial and political element, riding in the saddle that they might gain complete rule of the world by a dictatorship, conspired to put out of the way the "pestiferous" followers of Christ Jesus who persisted in proclaiming the message of God’s kingdom, and that his kingdom is at hand and is the only hope of the world. All of the legitimate sons of Gideon, except Jotham, the youngest, were slain on "one stone". That one stone pictured Christ Jesus, the foundation stone of Jehovah’s royal house and which is the basis for God’s capital organization. (Matt. 16:18; Ps. 118:22) During the World War the faithful servants of God stood firmly for Jehovah’s Stone, his King. It was for that reason, and upon this Foundation Stone, that the work of the faithful was killed in 1918; and this was done by the commercial and political elements, aided and abetted by the clergy and the "man of sin" class. (Rev. 11:7,8) Some of the faithful servants of Jehovah were actually killed during the World War because of their faithfulness unto God and his King.

    27 Abimelech, with his murderous strong-arm squad, killed the sons of Gideon, including Jether the firstborn, but Jotham, the youngest, escaped because he hid himself. The name "Jotham" means "Jehovah is perfect". He seems to picture, first, those whom during the World War Jehovah preserved, that is, the faithful ones that survived the persecution, and which are also pictured by Mordecai and Naomi. These were hid from the face of the Serpent Dragon by fleeing into the wilderness for 1,260 days, that is to say, from 1919 to September 8, 1922. (Rev. 12:6,14, Light, Book One, page 246) Those faithful ones are the ones that the Lord made his "faithful and wise servant" class, together with others who afterwards were taken in, and are constituted the remnant. Jehovah preserved Jotham for his purpose; and likewise he has preserved the remnant.

    28 The big "bosses" in Shechem then led the king- making mob to the house of Millo, in Shechem, which was a fort or garrison. They did not assemble there to protest against the wanton and wicked slaughter of the sixty-nine innocent sons of Gideon, but to there perform the "patriotic duty" of making the selfish, covetous, murderous and ambitious man their king and their tool for their use. "And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain [by the oak, margin] of the pillar that was in Shechem." (Judg. 9:6) The oak tree by the pillar, there mentioned, pictures Satan’s organization, "the big tree," under which all unclean and cruel deeds are practiced. The coronation of the self-chosen king Abimelech did not take place at the tabernacle or temple which God had provided for the Israelites, but at that place which represented Satan’s stronghold. (2 Sam. 18:18; 2 Ki. 17:10) Likewise immediately following the World War, and after the Elijah work had been killed, "Christendom" rejoiced, while further rejecting Jehovah’s King and his kingdom message, and, while going contrary to God’s Word, set up the League of Nations in the place and stead of the Kingdom, and the clergy shouted at that the coronation: ‘The League of Nations is the expression of God’s kingdom.’ Since then other commercial subterfuges have been brought into existence to aid in keeping the selfish tools of Big Business in power.

    29 Jotham, the only surviving legitimate son of Gideon, was in hiding when he learned what had happened. Likewise, in 1919, when the League of Nations, the tool of the selfish interests, was anointed and installed, Jehovah’s faithful servant class was in hiding but, like Jotham, they were informed of what was taking place. "And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried [under inspiration proclaimed], and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you." (Judg. 9:7) Mount Gerizim was the place from which the blessings were pronounced by Jehovah as recorded in Deuteronomy; while the curses were pronounced from Mount Ebal opposite, or on the north. (Deut. 27:11-13; Josh. 8:30-33) A mountain is symbolic of the kingdom of God or God’s royal organization, but Mount Gerizim here seems clearly to picture the kingdom or capital organization of Jehovah upon which the feet of Jehovah’s servants now stand while they proclaim God’s message of warning and of good tidings to those who have a hearing ear. It is the "feet" of the Greater Gideon, Christ Jesus, standing upon the mountains, that now deliver the testimony of Jesus Christ by the grace of God.–Isa. 52:7; 40:9; Rev. 12:17.

    30 Jotham, while standing upon that craggy peak of the mountain, would be out of reach of the enemy, who would slay him if they could lay hands on him, and thus Jotham would be in a position to readily escape when pursued. In that position Jotham pictured the remnant of Jehovah now in the secret place of the Most High, and from which place of security they constantly proclaim the message of the Lord. (Ps. 91:1, 2) Jotham’s position high up in the mountain would enable him to so speak that he could be easily heard by the coronation mob assembled below, then making Abimelech king. This living picture corresponds with the words of Jesus addressed to his faithful followers: "What I tell you in darkness [secret place of the temple], that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops." (Matt. 10:27) Jotham cried out: ‘Ye men [baalim owners and bosses], hear me, that God may hearken unto you.’ Likewise God causes the ruling elements of Satan’s organization to receive notice and warning delivered by his witnesses, and having received the same these selfish men are held responsible by Jehovah for their utterances, propaganda, and actions, which actions speak louder than their words. As Jotham made that coronation multitude hearken, so now Jehovah’s witnesses, by the grace of God, cause Big Business, the politicians, and the clergy to hear the declaration of and concerning Jehovah’s purposes. Hypocritical Christians, including the "man of sin" class, have repeatedly insisted that Jehovah’s witnesses should say nothing about the commercial and political elements of this world, because, say they, such ruling elements constitute the higher powers that rule and to such higher powers all should be subject. Tn that, as in all other matters, they are wrong. Here is clearly a prophetic picture showing that the remnant of the servant class now on the earth must cry out to those who have set up the "abomination of desolation" in the place of God’s kingdom, and must sound the warning to the people, telling them the facts, that they might flee to the only place of safety.

    31 Standing upon that high mountain Jotham, under inspiration from God, spoke the parabolical "prophecy of the trees". For many long centuries that prophecy has been sealed. Like the other prophecies of God’s Word, it could not be understood until after its fulfillment had begun. That time now clearly seems to have come, and Jehovah graciously unfolds the prophecy of the "trees", that those who are truly devoted to him may hear and understand and deport themselves accordingly. What, then, is the meaning of the prophecy spoken by Jotham? and what relation has it to Jehovah’s witnesses?

    (To be continued)

    QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

    1, 2. What was Jehovah's purpose in making prophetic pictures and preserving record thereof? When, where, and to whom does he reveal the meaning of these prophetic pictures? Who are designated as "trees of righteousness", and what is the responsibility attending their being so identified?

    3. Account for Jehovah's now making known to the remnant the meaning of his prophecies long ago written in the Bible.

    4. Relate the parable concerning the trees.

    5-7. Identify the trees and the vine, the city, and the persons mentioned in the parable.

    8. With scriptures, point out the evidence that the fulfillment of this prophetic parable began after 1914, and further development thereof about 1918.

    9-13. What are the facts to show that in their course of action as recorded in Judges 8:33-35 Israel pictured "Christendom"?

    14, 15. Account for Lucifer's attempt at self-exaltation. How has this same form of selfishness found expression in ambitious rulers under leadership of Satan? Show, with scriptures, the proper course for those in a covenant to do God's will, and whether such course has been followed by those who have been in that covenant.

    16, 17. Who was Abimelech? According to his name, whom did he picture? How has this been manifest in "Christendom"? Point out how the relationship of Abimelech to Gideon fits in the prophetic picture.

    18. Account for the selfish procedure of Abimelech as recorded in Judges 9:1. What do the Scriptures contain of important facts concerning Shechem which bring it fittingly into the picture?

    19, 20. Apply that part of the picture presented in verse 2.

    21. How does verse 3 find fulfillment?

    22-24. What on the part of the clergy of "Christendom" marks fulfillment of that part of the picture described in verse 4?

    25-27. Describe what has taken place in "Christendom" as foreshown in the first part of verse 5. How does the latter part of this verse have fulfillment?

    28. How in "Christendom" have "the men of Shechem" 'gathered together and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar in Shechem'?

    29-31. Point out fulfillment of verse 7.

    ZION BRINGS FORTH THE NATION

    THE term "Zion" was anciently applied to the city which David the king of the Israelites captured from the heathen, and which was thereafter called Jerusalem. However, the sacred Scriptures show that Zion is really the name of the universal organization of Jehovah God, and particularly the official part of that organization.

    The term "Zion" is also applied to the people of God on earth because they are of Zion, which is God’s organization. "Babylon" in Scripture means Satan’s organization, and is a term applied at times to ecclesiasticism. For a long period of time the true sons of God were in bondage to the Babylonish systems, patiently waiting for the time of their deliverance. These have sincerely prayed as Jesus taught them to pray: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." They have waited and hoped for the second coming of the Lord and the setting up of his kingdom, having in mind at all times his promise to the disciples just before his departure: "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." – John 14: 2, 3.

    In the parable of the wheat and tares, given by our Lord, he shows that this kingdom company would be in bondage to the tares until the time of the harvest at the end of the age. (Matt. 13:24-30) Jesus plainly said that these hypocritical tares were sown by the Devil, that the harvest is the end of the age, that the tares are the seed of the Devil, and that the good seed are the children of the kingdom.–Matt. 13:38, 39.

    The prophet Daniel prophesied concerning "the time of the end", that is, the time or period in which the evil world will be ending or reaching a climax. Prophecy can be understood only when it is fulfilled or in course of fulfilment. It is recorded in this prophecy that God’s angel said, "Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand." (Dan. 12:9, 10) The wise here mentioned are those who receive a knowledge of the truth and who joyfully obey it.

    Fulfilled prophecy shows that about the year 1874 (A.D.) and thereafter the Lord began to shed gradual light upon his Word and to bring the true Christians out of Babylonish bondage and restore to them an understanding of the great fundamental truths which had been taught by the apostles of Christ but which had been hidden by the blinding influence of the Devil. The psalmist, speaking for the faithful ones thus waiting for the consummation of their hopes, particularly after 1918, says: "When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen [nations], The Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us."–Ps. 126:1-3.

    The typical kingdom of God, namely, the nation of Israel, was overturned in the year 606 B.C., when the city of Jerusalem was destroyed. That date marks the beginning of the Gentile times. (Luke 21:24) God having here overturned the right of Israel to rule, Satan became the god of all the world, including Israel. The statement by the prophet Ezekiel is to the effect that the Gentiles should continue under their superlord without interruption until "he come whose right it is " to rule. (Ezek. 21:24-27) Other scriptures show that the period of the Gentiles is, to wit, twenty-five hundred and twenty years.

    When the true followers of Christ Jesus began to emerge from the Babylonish systems after eighteen hundred and seventy-four, and began to search the Scriptures, and saw some of those wonderful prophecies and evidences of their fulfilment, they soon reached the conclusion that the 2,520-year period of the Gentiles must of necessity end in the year 1914. The Lord has rewarded them for watching for the fulfilment of his prophetic utterances.

    In A.D. 1914 The Nation was born. The expression "The Nation born" means that the constituted Authority possessing the right to rule has begun to function; that is to say, has begun to reign. In the history of men kingdoms are commonly spoken of as "nations". The duly constituted authority that rules an organized people is called a kingdom, a nation, or a government. These terms may be used interchangeably. "Government’’ and "empire" mean the same thing. If there is a shade of difference it is that the term "empire" is more comprehensive. It would be proper to say that a kingdom or nation may begin on a small scale; but when it is extended so as to embrace many peoples, and exercises absolute and supreme power and sway, it may then be properly termed an empire.

    The Scriptures refer to The Christ as "a holy nation". (1 Pet. 2:9) To be born means to be brought forth or to begin to function. It is here used in a figurative or descriptive sense, and as applied to a nation it means that that nation has begun to exorcise authority. It is a woman that gives birth. "She was delivered of a man child," is the way the prophecy of Isaiah (66:7) reads. Zion, God’s organization which gives birth to the man child, is symbolically called a "woman".

    In a government or power the right to govern rests upon some duly constituted authority. It is written of the Messiah: "The government shall be upon his shoulder." (Isa. 9:6) "The kingdom [government] is the Lord’s; and he is the governor among the nations." (Ps. 22:28) When Jesus was on earth he spoke of himself as "the kingdom", because he was appointed to rulership. (Matt. 10:7) The prophet, referring to the kingdom and showing that it is separate and distinct from the individuals composing it, said: "And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him." (Dan. 7: 27) The ones exercising the kingdom, as the Scriptures show, are Jesus and those whom he associates with himself as members of his body.

    At the time of the overturning of his typical kingdom, the nation of Israel, God indicated that a definite time was fixed when he whose right it is shall come and shall rule, and at which time he will take his power and begin his reign. (Ezek. 21: 27) The one who comes with right to rule, and who in God’s due time begins his reign, is the Messiah. (Gen. 49:10) It follows, then, that when he who has the right to rule takes his power and begins his reign, the world, under the supervision of Satan the enemy, would end. Basing their conclusions upon numerous prophecies God had given them, the devout Jews understood and believed that with the coming of the Messiah the world would end, and that Messiah’s kingdom would function and would bless them with the blessings which they desired. The eleven disciples of Jesus who were faithful to the end believed him to be the Messiah. Peter had expressly so stated and had received the commendation of Jesus for the statement, and doubtless the other disciples heard and believed the same thing.–Matt. 16:16.

    These disciples believing and expecting that the world under the prince Satan, would end and that then the Messiah’s kingdom would succeed to authority, they approached the Master privately and propounded to him this question: "Tell us, . . . what shall be the sign [proof] of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"–Matt. 24:3.

    What world was meant in this question propounded? "World" means mankind, organized into forms of government, under the supervision of an invisible overlord. Symbolically it is spoken of in the Scriptures as ‘heaven and earth’. (2 Pet. 3:7) "Heaven" means the invisible part of the world, functioning and directing both the invisible and the visible. "Earth’’ symbolically represents that part of the organization that is visible to human eyes. At the time the disciples propounded their question Satan was god, prince and ruler of the world.–2 Cor. 4:3, 4; John 14:30.

    Jesus plainly stated: "My kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) Of necessity his kingdom or nation or government could not be of the world there mentioned, for the reason that Satan was in control; and it was not God’s due time for Jesus to take control. The disciples understood that Satan’s world must end and that at some future time the Messiah’s world must begin; and for this reason they propounded to Jesus the question.

    The answer given to the question propounded by the disciples was put in prophetic phrase. The answer could not be fully understood or appreciated until the time for its fulfilment, and then the physical facts would enable those who saw and discerned them to understand the prophecy. Having come to the time for the fulfilment of the answer prophetically given by Jesus, those who are watching and comparing the physical facts with the prophecy see and understand the same.

    Jesus in answering the question, first cautioned the disciples not to permit anyone to deceive them. He said to them, in substance: ‘There will be wars and rumors of wars before the end comes. Do not be disturbed about these, because the end is not yet. ’ Then he stated to them what would be the first evidences or proof that the end of the world had been reached. He said: "For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows."–Matt. 24: 7, 8.

    Now examine the physical facts and see how well they fit the prophetic words of Jesus. He said that the beginning of sorrows, that is to say, the death pains of the old world, would be marked by nation rising against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. He meant a great war, of course, for the reason that he was just speaking of wars. Prior to A.D. 1914 all the wars that had ever been fought were army against army and elan against clan. Never before in the history of man was there a war like the one from 1914 to 1918. Every part of the combatant nations was called into action. Men were sent to the front, and women also; while the men and women who remained at home were obligated, under command of their government, to supply the sinews of war.

    Everything of the nation was commandeered for war purposes. Even the babes had to perform their part in the conflict, because their food was officially curtailed in order that there might be a conservation of food for the armies at the front. The quantities of flour, meal, sugar and other necessities were rationed to the people at home, to the end that the war might be won. It was nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom, involving practically all the nations of "Christendom"; and there was never another war like it. Then followed great famines in Russia, in Austria, in Germany and in various parts of the Orient. More people by far died from famine than were killed in the war. Quickly came a pestilence known as the "Spanish flu"; and as this moved from the frozen to the torrid zones it swept the people before it in great multitudes. More people died from this pestilence in one year than were killed in battle during the four years of the war.According to the divine prophecies all this constituted unmistakable and tangible proof that Zion, God’s universal organization, had given birth to or brought forth the New Nation, The Kingdom.

    …