The Watchtower, September 1, 1936

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“BATTLE SHOUT” TESTIMONY

Prepare now for the “Battle Shout” Testimony and be ready for the period beginning October 3 and continuing until October 11. The book Riches, containing a comforting message for those of good will, is now published in many languages, and this will be presented to the people on a uniform contribution of twenty-five cents to aid in the publication and further distribution of the kingdom message. Detailed instructions will appear in the Informant. Make all your arrangements in advance. Have your territory, your supplies, sound equipment, and everything else, ready. At the cud of the period report the results to the Society’s office.

RADIO AND THE PRINTED WORD

All witnessing parties and all individuals who engage in the witness work 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 that 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.

Distribution of the radio folder (supplied by the Society) is a convenient and effective method of giving continual public notice of this program while engaging in the house-to-house witnessing. Leave one of these at every call.

NEW PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH

The Society now manufactures and has to offer a light-weight phonograph of new design, which is 11 by 13 by 5 inches in size, and covered with brown cloth and having rounded corners. It weighs 9 pounds 13 ounces, which is 5 pounds lighter than the previous model manufactured by the Society. With the three phonograph discs which can be carried in it, it weighs 12 pounds 6 ounces. The volume of sound is just as strong as that of the previous model, and the tone is of the best quality. As shipped out from our factory, the phonograph is tuned properly, at 78 r.p.m., and should be checked from time to time. This new model, including three discs, is offered on a contribution of $10.00; without the three discs, $8.00. Remittance should accompany orders. Also specify the particular dues wanted.

ELECTRIC SIGN

For your homes and other places, to call attention of all passers-by to the kingdom message which Jehovah has entrusted to you to dispense. This sign is attractive. The wording on the inserted signs can be changed at small cost, and the Society will supply such changes from time to time so that they will be uniform throughout till the earth. The Society will fill the orders at once, shipped to any address in the United States, at $1 50 each, remittance to accompany order. If possible, order in lots of two at least, as they are packed two in a carton. They come complete with cord, flasher, electric bulb end sign. Groups should order these through their company servant, sending in one older for all required by the group.

Vol. LVII

September 1, 1936

No. 17

GATHERING THE MULTITUDE

PART 2

‘Life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.’—Rom. 6: 23.

JEHOVAH has but one way of giving life to the fallen race, and that is by and through Christ Jesus, and those who receive it must exercise faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus as the redemptive price. God does not make peace with his enemies, and particularly with those who reproach his name. When the messenger of Jehovah appeared at the cradle of the child Jesus this message was delivered by Jehovah to mankind: “Glory in the highest unto God! And on earth peace, among men of good-will.” (Luke 2: 14, Roth.) It is those who learn of Jehovah and his law, and who love his law, that receive peace. (Ps. 119: 165) A man must first have good will toward God and seek the Lord before he receives peace and learns the way to life. He must seek the wax of peace by and through Christ Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace.

2 Joshua is a type of Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and those who form the great multitude must find peace with God through Jesus Christ, and in no other way. The Gibeonites had stated their case before Joshua and declared their willingness to be his servants, and thus they showed their good will toward Joshua and his God: “And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live; and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.” (Josh. 9: 15) Those who compose the great multitude get life by the grace of God, and they must get life through Jesus Christ, and in no other way, and they must exercise faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ and so declare themselves before the great antitypical battle of Gibeon is fought; and this is clearly taught by what follows in this prophetic picture.

3 Joshua took the Gibeonites at their word, gave them credit for telling the truth. In doing this Joshua did not violate the instructions given by Jehovah, as set forth in Exodus 34: 11, 12, to make no covenant with the nations of Canaan. This instruction given by Jehovah in the scripture last above cited must be construed in harmony with what God said to Moses concerning those who willingly became his servants. By their course of action the Gibeonites had severed their relationship with the other nations, that is, with the nations who were the avowed enemies of God. The Gibeonites were now seeking peace and safety at the hands of Joshua and were no longer to be classed as the enemies of God. Hence they were the exception to the rule, as stated in Exodus 34: 11, 12. To Closes and to those who went with him to war Jehovah had said: “When thou comest nigh unto a city to tight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee. Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations.”—Deut. 20: 10, 11, 15.

4 The Gibeonites were strangers from the covenant of promise. That was true of all the Gentiles. But it is written concerning those who came to the Lord in his appointed way: “Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world; but now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us.”—Eph. 2: 11-14.

5 That being true of all of those who came to Christ and were received by him into his church, it is also true of those who form the great multitude, who were sometime afar off. And this appears to be included within the rules stated by the Lord to Moses concerning the cities which are “very far off”. (Bout. 20: 15) The Gibeonites pictured the “great multitude” class when they came to Joshua seeking peace and safety. Now likewise the great multitude comes to the Greater Joshua, Christ Jesus, seeking peace, safety and life. Joshua made a covenant with the Gibeonites to let them live. The Greater Joshua, as Jehovah’s representative, makes a covenant with the great multitude that they shall live. But will God respect this covenant, and, if so, upon what conditions? Jehovah expresses the conditions by the mouth of his prophet when he says: “Seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger,” when expressed at Armageddon. (Zeph. 2: 2, 3) It conclusively follows, therefore, that those of the great multitude seek the Greater Joshua and then obtain peace, and must continue to seek righteousness and meekness, and do this before the battle of the great day of God Almighty begins. Such is the condition upon which the Lord God respects the covenant with them.

NEAR, YET AFAR

6 The facts soon developed that the Gibeonites had not journeyed from a far country. Their place of abode was in the near vicinity. But, having in mind that here the Lord was causing a prophetic picture to be made, we can readily see how this picture foreshadowed the great multitude at one time far removed from the Lord and their being favored by people of God, such as the Israelites were. The record then says: ‘And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.”—Josh. 9: 16.

7 The army of Joshua would travel very slowly, and yet it was only three days’ journey to the city of Gibeon. “And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and (Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.” (Josh. 9: 17) Israel after the spirit, the faithful remnant of this day, have been for some time preaching to the people concerning God and his kingdom and telling the people that the day is at hand when those who devote themselves to the Lord and to his kingdom may never die but continue to live under the King. That message was preached by God’s witnesses on earth to the people long before they recognized who constitutes the great multitude. Since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple this particular message has been proclaimed, and it did not appear from the evidence before the remnant at that time that those to whom they were preaching were the ones who would compose the great multitude, or millions who would live on the earth, be spared from Armageddon and not die. In fact, it was not until 1935 that the great multitude was identified, when the remnant saw that it is this class that shall dwell on earth forever. It is only recently that the great multitude began to organize into “cities”, that is, compact companies. Now these are seen in many parts of the earth, anxious to learn the kingdom message and to serve the Lord’s cause. And here the names of the cities of the Gibeonites may be considered with profit as symbols well applying now to those of the great multitude, in this, to wit: “Hivites” means “having a living place”, and the Gibeonites were Hivites; “Chephirah” means “village (as covered by walls for protection or refuge)”; and “Beeroth” means “wells”, which supply life-sustaining waters;

“Kirjath-jearim” means “city of forests”, the trees of which symbolize living creatures. The opportunity to receive protection, sustenance and life comes to the great multitude by the grace of God through Jesus Christ, because those of the great multitude voluntarily seek to become servants of the Lord. Those who take that course have a place to live. They are as a city protected by walls which receive refuge. They are supplied with life-giving waters. They are like forest trees, creatures having life and flourishing.

8 The chief ones amongst the Israelites had given their solemn word and oath that the Gibeonites should not lie put to death, but manifestly there were many among the Israelites who insisted on killing the Gibeonites, and there must have been an argument following between the Israelites, as the record indicates. “And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation bad sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.” (Josh. 9:18) Without a doubt the Gibeonites or Hivites were marked for death because of the command that Jehovah had given to Moses to destroy them: “For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring tine in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I will cut them off. Thou shalt not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor do after their works; but thou shall utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images. And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.” (Ex. 23: 23, 24, 28) “But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth.” —Deut. 20: 16.

9 The Gibeonites were therefore in extreme danger of death, but were saved therefrom by the firm action taken in their behalf. The murmurers who objected to the action of the princes of Israel had the letter of the law on their side, while the princes stood in a different position because in the name of Jehovah they had pledged themselves to save alive these people, because the Gibeonites had shown faith in Joshua and expressed a willingness to become his servants. This is exactly in line with the Word of God governing the matter. The entire race is marked for destruction, and there is but one way to escape that destruction, and that way is by faith in Jesus Christ, the Greater Joshua. “That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. He that believeth on him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”—John 3: 15, 16, 18, 36.

10 Gibeon said to Joshua: ‘We have come to thee because of the name of thy God.’ (Vs. 9) Thus they showed faith in God and in Joshua, which is the first step that leads to life. Joshua and his associates spoke in the name of Jehovah and gave their solemn promise in his name, and therefore they were duty-bound to preserve the Gibeonites alive. Likewise those today who hear the message of the kingdom, and who come to Jehovah’s witnesses and say: ‘‘We believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and Jehovah the Eternal God, and we desire to be associated with God’s organization.” By this they take their first step toward life. Those men of Israel who ‘‘murmured against the princes” appear clearly to picture a class of persons now on the earth who claim to be consecrated to God, and begotten of his spirit, and yet who are not and never have been at all sympathetic with the message “Millions now living will never die”; and they have even spoken sarcastically concerning the same; and when the great multitude is identified as an earthly class, that same murmuring class set themselves against the ones who will now have an opportunity to live on the earth. The present-day murmurers are not desirous of engaging in the field witness work, as servants of the Lord to carry the message to this earthly class to show them the way of escaping execution at Armageddon. And so they object to any work now being done in this behalf and refuse to have any part therein. Some of such hinderers, who are not zealous in field service, say in substance: “Wait till Armageddon has broken down the enemy, then the great multitude will come forth; then we will have a great work to do.” The circumstances and the facts disclosed by this prophetic picture made with Joshua and his army show the absolute necessity now to ignore the murmurers and take prompt action in carrying the message to those people of good will, that they may know and exercise faith in God and Christ Jesus and may have the opportunity to voluntarily declare themselves as servants of God and Jesus Christ. There is no other way for them to escape execution at Armageddon. As the princes of Israel disregarded the murmurers and objectors, so now the true and faithful followers of Christ Jesus will disregard all murmurers, objectors, and interferers with carrying the message to the great multitude, but, on the contrary, will be diligent in carrying out the Lord’s commandments at the present time.

11 Manifestly there are those walking with the remnant, and also claiming to be of the remnant of God’s people, who do not have a vision of God’s purpose, and who are against what God commands his remnant now to do. The princes of Israel, who were with Joshua, picture those who are wholly and completely devoted to God and who speak in the name of Jehovah and Christ, not for any selfish purpose, but only that the will of God may be done in them. They have spoken in God’s name and are determined to carry out their covenant with the Lord. They stand out against those who object to carrying the message to the great multitude; and this is shown by the action taken by the princes and what they said to the murmurers: “But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now, therefore, we may not touch them.”—Josh. 9: 19.

12 In this prophetic picture Jehovah was guiding the course of the princes of Israel, which shows that they had not the privilege or duty to kill the Gibeonites. This exactly fits God’s instruction to the remnant as set forth in the prophecy of Ezekiel. The man with the writer’s inkhorn and clothed with white linen, described by the prophet Ezekiel, pictures Jehovah’s witnesses who are commanded to mark the believers in their foreheads, to the end that those who were thus marked might not be slain by the Executioner. The mark is put upon the forehead of those who do believe on God and in Christ Jesus and who confess their faith. When they are thus marked, the Executioner, who was pictured by the ‘six men with slaughter weapons’, is commanded to come not near the men upon whom this mark appears, but to preserve them from death. (Ezek. 9:4-6) Jehovah’s anointed remnant has sworn to do God’s will, and his will to them is expressed in his Word and reveals to these faithful ones that they are to bear the fruits of the kingdom before and minister unto the great multitude, and that this must be done in order that the ones marked as the servants of God may be delivered from the sword of the Executioner at Armageddon.

13 Some may say that Joshua was acting contrary to the Word of God, just as some now say that the remnant are acting contrary to the Word of God in speaking to and of the great multitude. How must we consider this matter? Joshua was God’s duly appointed servant and used as a type of Christ Jesus. If Joshua had done that which God did not approve he would have suffered death, even as that penalty fell upon Saul. There is nothing in the record that God was displeased with Joshua’s action, or that he reproved Joshua for having entered into a covenant with the Gibeonites and for that reason spared them from death. The presumption must be indulged that Jehovah fully approved the action of Joshua and that Joshua acted in strict accord with the, will of God in making this prophetic picture; and this conclusion is fully supported by the record in Hebrews eleven, in which Joshua is mentioned as one approved by Jehovah God.

14 Joshua and the other princes had made a covenant with the Gibeonites in the name of Jehovah, and for them to violate their covenant would bring reproach upon the name of Jehovah. This is emphasized by the record: “This we will do to them; we will even let them live; lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.” (Josh. 9: 20) The princes of Israel feared to do that which would bring reproach upon Jehovah’s name and thus call down God’s wrath upon them, and this is proved by what later occurred, and which is recorded in 2 Samuel, chapter 21.

15 King Saul was selfishly stubborn and rebellious. He knew that the Israelites under Joshua had sworn that the Gibeonites should not die, and yet Saul slew them, as the record states: “Then there was a famine in the days of David three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites.’’—2 Sam. 21: 1.

16 Saul willfully, that is, knowingly and intentionally, violated that covenant, and for that reason afterwards God brought a famine upon the land for three years and said that this famine was because Saul slew the Gibeonites, showing that God fully approved the covenant that had been made with that people by Joshua, and disapproved Saul’s action.

17 Furthermore, King David, acting under Jehovah’s guidance, offered to make full amends to the Gibeonites because the covenant with them had been broken by Saul: “And the king [David] called the Gibeonites, and said unto them: (now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; and the children of Israel had sworn unto them: and Saul sought to slay them in his zeal to the children of Israel and Judah;) wherefore David said unto the Gibeonites, What shall I do for you? and wherewith shall I make the atonement, that ye may bless the inheritance of the Lord?”—2 Sam. 21: 2, 3.

18 The Gibeonites did not seek a money damage for the great injury that had been done them by reason of the breaking of the covenant with them, but manifestly they were guided by Jehovah and called for retributive justice to be visited upon the house of Saul: “And the Gibeonites said unto him, We will have no silver nor gold of Saul, nor of his house; neither for us shalt thou kill any man in Israel. And he said, What ye shall say, that will I do for you. And they answered the king, The man that consumed us, and that devised against us that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the coasts of Israel, let seven men of his sons be delivered unto us, and we will hang them [symbolizing that they were cursed of God (Dent. 21: 23)] up unto the Lord in Gibeah of Saul [the home town of Saul], whom the Lord did choose. And the king said, I will give them. . . . And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them in the hill before the Lord; and they fell all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest. . . . And after that, God was entreated for the land.”—2 Sam. 21: 1-14.

19 The Scriptural record in regard to the avenging of the Gibeonites upon Saul’s house shows that God settles the account with the “wicked servant” class, the “man of sin”, because their course of action is against the Jonadab or “great multitude” class, who seek life. The foregoing account strongly emphasizes the blood responsibility under which Jehovah holds his watchman, the remnant now on earth, and proves that the work today in behalf of the great multitude is very important and is precious in the sight of God. The murmurers, complainers and objectors against the remnant, and who do not favor carrying the message to the great multitude, are like the Pharisees who were sticklers for the letter of the law but who had not the spirit of it. Furthermore, their course of action shows that they do not have a proper vision of God’s purpose. They single out some Scriptural text to attempt to support their position, and ignore many other texts which must be construed together with that they cite. If the remnant should slack the hand now and wait until Armageddon begins to declare the message of the Lord concerning the great multitude, the responsibility for such neglect would fall upon them. All who do so neglect, fail or refuse to thus obey the Lord put themselves in the same class in which Saul put himself by going contrary to God's commandment. We must keep in mind that these things were written aforetime in the Scriptures for the aid of the remnant, to the end that the remnant of God may be advised and thoroughly equipped for their work.

20 The true position of the great multitude is now disclosed in this, to wit, that they are made the servants of the royal house: “And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be bowers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.” (Josh. 9:21) In making the covenant with the Gibeonites they were fully informed and understood that their lives would be spared only upon the performance of the conditions of that covenant, which were that they were to serve in the capacity of servants to the Israelites and not be on an equal footing with them. That did not mean that God is a respecter of persons, but it did mean, and it showed, that the princes of Israel foreshadowed the spiritual Israelites who shall be for ever with Christ Jesus, the great Prince, and with him be priests in the royal house and members of the temple, whereas the great multitude shall serve the princes. The faithful remnant with Christ Jesus will serve God and Christ in heaven, while the great multitude serve on the earth; and both will be exceedingly joyful in the position which the Lord gives to them — Rev. 7: 9-15.

21 There is no reason to harshly criticize the Israelites or the Gibeonites, because in a prophetic picture such as this which was made and recorded in Joshua, chapter nine, the picture is directed by Jehovah for the purpose of foretelling things to come to pass at the end of the world and each character in the prophetic drama plays a part according to the will of God: “And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying. We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?’’—Josh. 9: 22.

22 For the time the Gibeonites did deceive or beguile Joshua and the princes of Israel, but it was not to the injury of anyone; and since God did not condemn their action, we must conclude that it was a fixed part of the drama which the Gibeonites were playing according to the will of God. When understood, the statement of the Gibeonites was really not deceptive, because the country they were seeking, that is, with God’s chosen people, was far removed from the enemies of the Lord. All the Canaanites were condemned by Jehovah for destruction, just as all mankind came under the condemnation because of Adam’s sin. (Rom. 5: 12) The Gibeonites were spared because they declared themselves to be separate and apart from the wicked Canaanites that opposed Jehovah’s typical kingdom being established in Palestine. Likewise today, under the provisions of Jehovah only those separating themselves from Satan’s organization and declaring their allegiance to God and to his organization, and thereby showing good will towards Jehovah, receive his favor, and they are the only ones who have the promise of being spared when the sword of the great Executioner begins to fall upon the same.

23 Joshua being only a man, the words of the Gibeonites may have appeared deceptive, but not to the injury of anyone, and in fact were not deceptive. They sincerely desired to be understood and treated as having fully forsaken the other Canaanites, even though it led them to be slaves of the Israelites. Likewise now, those who will be spared must forsake the organization of Satan and become the voluntary slaves of the Lord Jesus Christ and serve his anointed. The Gibeonites were the only nation of the Canaanites that showed their faith in Joshua and in Joshua’s God: “There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other [cities] they [the Israelites] took in battle.’’ —Josh. 11: 19.

24 Does not this show that at Armageddon only those who have previously declared themselves free and separate from Satan’s organization, and who have taken their stand with God's organization and have faithfully held to that position, seeking righteousness and meekness, will be spared from the Executioner's sword ?

25 The Gibeonites were bound by their covenant which they sought to have made with them, foreshadowing that those of the great multitude are bound by the covenant they make to become the servants of Jehovah and his anointed King: “Now therefore ye are cursed; and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.’’—Josh. 9: 23.

26 The Gibeonites were not cursed because they had deceived Joshua; but, having been identified as Hivites, the descendants of Ham’s son Canaan, upon whom the curse was pronounced, they were of an accursed tribe. (Gen. 9: 24, 25) The words of Joshua merely reminded them that they were of the cursed Canaanites, Ham’s descendants. It was a great favor to them to receive salvation on any condition, because they were faced with death. The issue therefore was life and death. Likewise those of the great multitude originally came under the curse, and it is a great favor to all of them to be saved and receive life anywhere and under any and all conditions. The Gibeonites were told that they could not be free and could not free themselves from service to the house of God. By sparing their lives Joshua had become their savior, and that was even more so later at the battle of Gibeon, as the record discloses. (Josh. 10: 6-12) Likewise the Greater Joshua becomes the Savior of the great multitude and particularly spares them at the antitypical battle of Gibeon, which is Armageddon. Those Gibeonites had received the brand or ‘mark in their foreheads’, even as today those of the great multitude must receive the ‘mark in their foreheads’, as a condition precedent to being spared at the battle of Armageddon. (Ezek. 9: 4-6) To live, the Gibeonites must be servants of God in the house of Joshua’s God. Likewise the great multitude, to live, must be servants at the house of Christ Jesus, the Head of the temple of God. The Gibeonites must put away all their idols and images and anything and everything else showing their allegiance to the Devil's organization, and particularly so since thereafter Gibeon was made a priest’s city unto the Lord. (Josh. 21: 13-19) Likewise those foreshadowed by the Gibeonites, that is, the great multitude, must put away all idols and images and formalisms and all evidence of being connected with any part of the Devil’s organization, and thereafter salute and serve Jehovah and Christ Jesus, from whom their salvation comes. That means that the great multitude will see that the saluting of any image, flag, thing or creature is a violation of God’s law.

27 The Gibeonites must of necessity be circumcised to show their devotion to God. (Ex. 12: 48, 49) That was included in the law provision concerning “the stranger’’, as mentioned in the feast of tabernacles or feast of ingathering: “Thou shall observe the fea t of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine; and thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates.’’ (Dent. 16: 13, 14) These truths serve to further show that the Gibeonites foreshadowed the great multitude which is now partaking of the antitypical feast of tabernacles, together with thee who are antitypical or spiritual Israel. They have a standing before God and “serve him day and night ’’, that is to say, continuously, and never depart from his service. As the location and conditions of their country show that the Gibeonites were a suitable people to be wood choppers and water carriers, that is , servants, likewise the situation or conditions of the Jonadabs or great multitude show them suitable to be servants of the Lord everlastingly on the earth.

28 The Gibeonites were not wholly ignorant of God, and had been told of the marvelous things God had done and what God had commanded Moses to do. Likewise those of the great multitude have heard of God and Christ Jesus and have had fear of God even before coming to Christ, and this is shown in the prophetic picture: “And they answered Joshua and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.’’—Josh. 9: 24.

29 There is no scoffing in the words employed by the Gibeonites here. They did not spurn or shun the Word of God, but exhibited a proper fear for God causing them to be of good will toward God and those who serve him. Likewise those of the great multitude, particularly since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple in 1918, have heard of the kingdom’s being given to Christ Jesus and what terrible destruction shall come upon Satan’s organization at Armageddon, and for them to have shown a fear of God would cause them to respect his name and to seek his favor and to show favor toward his faithful witnesses in the earth. This is the reason why these Jonadabs or great multitude have shown kindness to Jehovah’s witnesses, who are arrested, persecuted, thrown into prison, and otherwise ill-treated. It was in 1918 that the message “Millions now living will never die” began to be proclaimed in the land, and since then many have heard that message and have believed it to be true and have turned their hearts toward the Lord.

30 The Gibeonites showed a disposition to be guided in the right way, even as those whom they foreshadowed, the great multitude, show a like disposition to be guided of the Lord: “And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.” (Josh. 9: 25) One must become willingly submissive to the Lord before he is teachable. In that manner he seeks meekness, that is to say, lie seeks to learn. The Gibeonites were not like a wild beast driven into a corner and at bay, and therefore being compelled to yield, but they had come to Joshua, the representative of God, of their own volition, declaring their purpose and desire to do as they were told to do in order that they might receive benefit at the hand of the Lord’s servant Joshua. It is just the same today with the Jonadabs, the great multitude company. They come not demanding something because of right, but they come in meekness, seeking to know the right way. They inquire of the Lord at the hands of those whom they believe to represent God. They are inquiring of God’s servants as to what they shall do, and it is the duty and privilege of the remnant to inform them what is the will of God concerning them. Anyone, therefore, who fails or refuses to take advantage of opportunities to inform those of the great multitude or who would interfere with the carrying of the message to the great multitude thereby ‘turns aside the stranger from his right’. (Mal. 3: 5) Those who would hinder the work of carrying the message to the great multitude now, by trying to induce Jehovah’s witnesses to believe that the greater amount of their witness work is to be done after Armageddon, are thereby fighting against God, whether they know it or not. As the Gibeonites had not asked to be spared, even so now the great multitude does not ask to be spared from persecution and suffering at the hands of Satan's wicked organization. It is a noticeable fact that the Jonadabs or those of the great multitude show a disposition of willing service that often puts in the shade those who have for a long while claimed to be of the temple company. As soon as they hear the truth, they are diligent to take up the message and carry it on, knowing that it will bring persecution on them, and they rejoice in the persecution. The Gibeonites declared themselves entirely willing to be obedient to Joshua ; and this foreshadows that now the great multitude must and do joyfully declare their willingness to be obedient to Christ, the Greater Joshua.

31 Joshua, the servant of Jehovah, and the prototype of Christ Jesus, shows what Jesus also does in saving and delivering those of the great multitude: “And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.” (Josh. 9: 26) Joshua delivered the Gibeonites from the hand of the executioners; and likewise Christ Jesus spares the great multitude at the time of execution at Armageddon: “And Joshua made them [ (margin) gave, or, delivered them to be] [(Hebrew) nathan] that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.”—Josh. 9: 27.

32 Joshua placed the Gibeonites in a company of servants, that is, he “made” or “gave” then to be choppers of wood and carriers of water for the Israelites. The Hebrew word nathan is used in this text and translated “gave” or “made”; and the name “Nethinim” is derived from the same root word, and means “given ones”, and relates to the people “given” to the service of Jehovah at the temple. At 1 Chronicles 9: 2 “Nethinims” are mentioned for the first time in the Scriptures as associates with the Israelites, the priests and the Levites. It appears that the Gibeonites (which were Hivites) are the original Nethinim, who are later mentioned in the Scriptures as engaged in menial service about the temple of Jehovah God. Doubtless in time the people of the non-Israelite nations were made bondmen by the Israelites and some of the other nations would be devoted by the Israelites to service like that to which the Gibeonites were assigned, and therefore the term “Nethinim” would be applied to any such helpers that might come or that came from the many “nations, kingdoms, peoples and tongues’’, just as the great multitude is described in Revelation seven as being of many nations, peoples and tongues. It should be expected that the subsequent facts would fit the picture exactly, and this proves that the picture was prophetic.

33 The Gibeonites and others of the Nethinim were the descendants of Ham the same as the Babylonians, yet the Scriptural record is that the Nethinim chose to return with Jehovah’s faithful people, the remnant of Israel, when they came back from Babylon to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple there; and this part of the picture shows that they had completely separated themselves from the other heathen nations and had taken their place along with God's chosen people. (Gen. 10: 6-10; Ezra 2: 1, 2, 43-51, 58, 70) In this service at Jehovah’s temple the Nethinim were tax-free. (Ezra 7: 24) In Nehemiah’s time the Gibeonites assisted in the rebuilding of the walls at Jerusalem. (Neh. 3: 1-7) They separated themselves from the heathen of the land: “Now those that sealed were Nehemiah the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah, and Zidkijah. And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge, and having understanding; they clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God’s law, which was given by Moses, the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes.’’—Neh. 10: 1, 28, 29.

34 When Ezra was traveling to Jerusalem after the restoration of the Jews, he “viewed’’, or took account with, the people traveling with him and “found there none of the sons of Levi”. Then Ezra sent a delegation with a message to Iddo of the Nethinim: “And I sent them with commandment unto Iddo the chief at the place Casiphia, and I told them what they should say unto Iddo, and to his brethren the Nethinims, at the place Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God. And, by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen.” (Ezra 8: 15-18) Although there came thirty-eight Levites, there were 220 Nethinim. “Also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the service of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.” (Ezra 8: 20) This very well fits the facts as they are at the present time in the service of the Lord, that in that service there is a small number of Levites, and a larger number of Jonadabs, the great multitude. Anyone who does not see the multitude coming to the fore now does not have a vision of God’s dealing with the peoples on the earth. If persons now insist on propounding the question, “Where are the great multitude?” this shows they are blind and do not have an understanding.

HATED BY THE ENEMY

35 Every person who takes his place on the side of God and his kingdom is hated by the selfish worldlings, and particularly by the religionists, and in this crowd of haters the Roman Catholic Hierarchy takes the lead. The true followers of Christ Jesus are hated for his name’s sake, and those who associate themselves with the remnant and bear testimony to the name of God are hated for the same reason. It could not be expected otherwise, because the Devil’s crowd hates all that are on the Lord’s side. By his prophet Jehovah says: “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired.” (Zeph. 2: 1) This text shows that the command to gather themselves together must be obeyed just preceding the time of Armageddon, and that this command of Jehovah applies to all who are for God and for his kingdom, including the anointed remnant and those of the great multitude. None of these are desired by the religionists and their allies, because they serve Jehovah, which is exactly contrary to the interests of the selfish ones who have made their belly their god. It more clearly appears each day that every person who hears of God and his kingdom will take one side or the other, that is, for God and his kingdom or against God and his kingdom. This is but a fulfillment of the prophecy uttered at Eden: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Gen. 3: 15) This is completely supported by the words of Jesus concerning the separating of the nations, which he is now doing. (Matt. 25: 31, 32) This means a war between those on the Devil’s side and those on God’s side, and which war is now on in the earth and will continue until Jehovah takes a hand and by Christ Jesus fights the battle of the great day of God Almighty. The Scriptural record of what took place when the conspirators had heard of the action of the Gibeonites shows exactly what comes to pass upon modern-day Gibeonites, or great multitude, who have forsaken Satan’s organization and placed themselves under the command of Christ Jesus, the Head of Jehovah’s organization. Those who faithfully proclaim the message of the kingdom, whether they be of the remnant or of the great multitude, are now hated by all those of the Devil’s organization, and the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is the most bitter.

36 Gibeon was a very large community or city, that is, its people were multitudinous. This shows a splendid picture of the great multitude, which no man can number or the number of which no man knows. (Rev. 7: 9) Seeing that the Gibeonites foreshadowed the great multitude, and the Scriptures showing that the great multitude is composed of people of good will toward God who have heretofore been associated with religious organizations ruled by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and allied clergy, it is easy now to be seen how the clergy would be greatly disturbed by reason of the modern-day Gibeonites’ forsaking the church organizations and seeking God’s kingdom and the Greater Joshua. “Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem [then occupied by the heathen Jebusites] had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them; that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty [(Hebrew) gibborim, giants].”—Josh. 10: 1, 2.

37 The king of Jerusalem at that time was Adoni-zedec, which means “lord of righteousness” or “righteous lord”; but he was anything but a righteous lord. The name therefore applies to him ironically. He was against God and God’s chosen people. His counterpart in the course he took is found in the pope of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, who poses before the world as a “righteous lord” but who is the very opposite of righteousness, being a designing politician who, together with his gang, fraudulently claims to represent God and thereby uses the name of the Righteous One to accomplish their selfish desires. The name “father” or “righteous lord” is wrongfully used in connection with the pope. When armies go forward to murder each other, whoever tills the place of the pope, that fraudulent so-called “lord of righteousness” “blesses” the killers, that they may “kill well” according to the side they are on. When some great political and financial steal is about to be put forward, this same religious head, the pope, claims to bless the perpetrators of the crime. When a conspiracy is formed to destroy the people of God who tell the truth, then the Hierarchy takes the lead in that conspiracy and the pope assumes to bless the conspirators and does the best he can to bless them.

38 Adoni-zedec feared greatly that he would now lose his easy berth if Joshua got after him. Gibeon was a “great city” and had gone completely over to Joshua, and that looked as if the people of that heathen king were in great danger. Compare this with what came to pass when Jesus was on earth in the flesh. The Pharisees and their allied clergy at that day claimed to represent God, and hence posed as “righteous lords”. Those clergymen observed that many of the people who had been keeping up their synagogues believed on Jesus, and that frightened the hypocritical clergy. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem, and as he came, a “very great multitude” went before him, crying out, “Hosanna to the son of David! Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.” That great multitude corresponded to the Gibeonites, who had forsaken the other heathen nations.

39 The great multitude, turning to Jesus and hailing him, frightened the clergy, and in their frenzy they said to each other: “Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.” (John 12: 19; Matt. 21: 8, 9) Even so today, when the pope and others of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their allied clergy hear the shout of people from practically all over the earth declaring themselves for Jehovah and his kingdom and against the Devil and his hypocritical, religious crowd, they are greatly frightened and they hasten to put into action their conspiracy to prevent the multitudes from going to Jehovah and his King and to prevent the remnant from carrying on their work of advertising to the people the King and his kingdom. Being frightened, and having no way to openly fight against God's faithful witnesses, the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their allied clergy resort to ridicule and libelous charges published in their newspapers and urge their allies to take some secret action to destroy Jehovah’s witnesses. Included in their wickedness is enacting laws leveled directly against Jehovah's witnesses to prevent the further spread of the truth. The Hierarchy gang in New Jersey takes the lead in America in this behalf.

40 The fraudulent so-called “righteous lord”, Adoni-zedec, saw it was necessary to take some steps immediately in an effort to cement and strengthen his frightened forces: “Wherefore Adoni-zedec king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying. Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon ; for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.’’—Josh. 10: 3, 4.

41 Following truly in the way of his father the Devil, that fraudulent “righteous lord” apparently directed his conspiracy against the Gibeonites, but in truth and in fact it was against Jehovah God end his officer Joshua. Having gone over to Joshua, the Gibeonites in effect belonged to Joshua and his God, who had saved their lives. Recently a petition and protest was circulated amongst the citizens of Irvington, New Jersey, protesting against the persecution carried on by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and allied clergy against Jehovah’s witnesses and asking that the same cease. The following incident shows how the members of the Hierarchy fight. To one who was carrying about the petition a Catholic woman said: “I signed the petition yesterday and my priest gave me a terrible bawling out, and just for that I am going to take the books you have this morning.” That Catholic priest could not come in the open and tell the people why Jehovah’s witnesses should be prevented from serving the people, but must strike in the dark and take undue advantage and attempt to coerce and thereby prevent others from signing the petition.

42 The purpose of Adoni-zedec apparently was to attack the Gibeonites, but his real purpose was to destroy Joshua’s army. The purpose of the modern-day fraudulent so-called “righteous lords” of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy is to direct their attack against honest Catholics who seek the Lord, but their real purpose is to destroy Jehovah’s witnesses, who are working under the command of the Greater Joshua. Sometimes one of the tools of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy forgets and breaks out with violent speech. At a hearing before the legislative committee of the New Jersey Legislature a short time ago one of the dupes of the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, which was trying to cause a bill to be brought before the Legislature compelling certain ones to salute the flag, cried out before the committee and said: ‘Ten years ago there were no Jehovah’s witnesses here, and ten years from now there will be none, if we and the American Veterans have anything to say about it.’ The “unrighteous lord”, the Hierarchy gang, hate Jehovah’s witnesses worse than they hate any other living thing, because these tell God’s truth and speak in the name of Jesus; and in this they are exactly fulfilling the prophetic utterances of Jesus.—John 15: 18-20.

43 For many years the Roman Catholic Hierarchy has fed fat upon their “Catholic population”, which includes millions of honest-hearted people who have been fraudulently induced by the priests to believe that the common people must give up their hard-earned money to support that so-called “righteous lord” crowd. The millions of common people have carried that ungodly old wench on their shoulders for years, and have done so blindly, not knowing that they were being duped. Now the situation is changing. The fact that some of the common people are fleeing from the old Hierarchy crowd greatly frightens and angers them, and so they seek in every possible way to hold for themselves the “Catholic population”, even as the fraudulent “righteous lord”, Adoni-zedec, the ancient king, desired and attempted to hold his supporters, and for that reason formed the conspiracy or confederacy. “Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.”—Josh. 10: 5.

44 The confederacy sought to hold the Gibeonites as prisoners, which they actually did at the time and during the siege that shortly followed thereafter. Likewise the Roman Catholic Hierarchy, which for a long time have held many prisoners, now put forth a desperate effort to continue to hold them in order to support their fraudulent organization. But Jehovah by Christ Jesus, the Greater Joshua, now says to those prisoners, the great multitude: “Go forth; . . . Shew yourselves.” (Isa. 49: 9) The Gibeonites were besieged, but they refused to return to the enemy of Jehovah and Joshua. They held true to their covenant with Joshua and held out against the enemies who besieged their city. This pictures well the position of the Jonadabs, the great multitude, who resist the efforts of the Hierarchy and their allies to hold those in their prison houses who love the Lord. If the Gibeonites continued to hold out against their besiegers, it might mean death to them; but if they yielded to the enemy, their besiegers, that would mean certain death at the hands of Joshua’s army later. They were compelled to make their choice, and they chose to stand by their covenant under Joshua. Even so now, if the Jonadabs or great multitude continue to resist the conspiracy formed and carried forward by the Hierarchy, it might mean death to them; but if they return to the enemy’s camp, that means certain death at the hand of Jesus Christ when he executes the enemy at Armageddon. So they must make their choice and are thus plainly told by Jehovah that if they would gather themselves under his organization, and seek righteousness and meekness, they may be hid in the day of the wrath of Jehovah expressed at Armageddon.—Zeph. 2: 1-3.

45 The Scriptures strongly support the conclusion that at Armageddon Jehovah will destroy the peoples of the earth, saving only those who obey his commandments to stand by his organization. In times past millions upon millions of persons have gone into the grave without ever hearing of God and Christ, and these in due time must be awakened out of death and given a knowledge of the truth, that they may make their choice. The situation is different, however, concerning the people now on earth. A great crisis is at hand. Since the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple “this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached ... as a witness”, commands the Lord; and it is being preached by the faithful witnesses, to the end that the people may have an opportunity to make their choice. Those on the earth must now have the opportunity to hear before Armageddon. Jehovah has given his solemn warning to his witnesses that they must obey his commandments and carry this gospel of the kingdom to the people or else suffer destruction. —Ezek. 3: 17-19 ; 33: 12-19; Acts 3: 23.

46 Those of the great multitude must receive this gospel message before the day of the battle of the great day of God Almighty, which is Armageddon. If the great multitude are not now given the message of truth, it will be too late when the slaughter work begins. Who, then, would be interested in an effort to induce Jehovah’s witnesses to rest on their oars and to await a more favorable time to carry the message to the great multitude? There is but one answer, and that is, the Devil and those whom he may use; and we may be sure the Devil uses every one whom he can deceive and whom he may induce to proclaim just that kind of false teaching. The great multitude is now being made manifest, and the war is on and is being prosecuted by the agents of the “old Dragon” against the remnant of God’s organization, who have the testimony of Jesus Christ and obey the commandments of Jehovah. The action of the Gibeonites at this point and the moving of Joshua to their rescue exactly fit the present-day conditions, as will be seen as this consideration of the scripture proceeds.

(To be continued)

QUESTIONS FOK STUDY

1. To whom, only, of the fallen race will Jehovah give life and peace?

2-5. In view of the command at Exodus 34: 12, explain the procedure recorded at Joshua 9: 15, as for that time and as a pictorial prophecy.

6, 7. Show that the Gibeonites, though living near by, had come 'from afar’; also that the names of their cities were prophetic. What was foreshown therein?

8-10. Apply the prophetic picture recorded at Joshua 9: 18. Harmonize this with Jehovah's instruction at Exodus 23: 23, 24, 28 and Deuteronomy 20: 16.

11, 12. Compare the prophetic situation seen in verse 19, and its fulfillment, with that foreshown in Ezekiel 9: 4, and its application.

13-16. What is the evidence showing that Joshua did right in that recorded of him at verse 20?

17-19. What is prophetically foreshown in the record concerning the avenging of the Gibeonites upon the house of Saul?

20-24. Show that verse 21 discloses the true position of the great multitude. Explain whether the Gibeonites were justified in their thus beguiling the Israelites. Whether the Israelites properly spared the Gibeonites, since the latter wore marked for death by Jehovah’s command given to Moses. What does this show?

25-27. Having made peace with the Gibeonites, and a league, to let them live, was Joshua dealing aright with them in the matter recorded at verse 23? How does this fit in the fulfillment of the prophetic picture?

28-30. Compare the position and attitude of the Gibeonites (as shown in verses 24 and 25) with that of those whom they there foreshadowed. What does this show as to privilege and responsibility of Jehovah’s witnesses? What, then, is the position of those who would hinder the work of carrying the message to the great multitude now?

31-34. How (in Joshua 9: 24, 25 and other scriptures, and in facts clearly observed at the present time) are the Gibeonites further seen to have been, and to have foreshadowed, a ‘people’ ‘separated from the people of the lauds unto the law and service of God’?

35. Apply Zephaniah 2: 1.

36-39. Compare the situation recorded at Joshua 10: 1, 2, and that at Matthew 21: 8, 9 and John 12: 19, with that of the present time.

40-42. Adoni-zedec immediately took steps to “smite Gibeon’’. (Josh. 10:4) Apply the prophetic picture.

43, 44. How did the Gibeonites in their circumstance shown in verse 5 picture the present position of the ‘‘ great multitude”?

45, 46. Wherein is the present situation different from that of times past in relation to the importance and urgency of giving witness and warning to the people concerning Jehovah’s purpose? Why does the Devil now seek to induce Jehovah’s witnesses to wait until later to cany the message to the great multitude?

A PERSONAL MESSAGE

To Jehovah’s faithful Servants :

JEHOVAH has given the command “Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle”. (Obad. 1) This prophecy is now in course of fulfillment. God’s forces will now push the enemy to the wall. The time of preliminary war is here. The Field Marshal of Jehovah, Christ Jesus, is in command of his forces. The earthly division consists of all who are devoted to God and his kingdom. All who love the Lord will be on the front, not to wield carnal weapons, but to use the Word of God to open the eyes of the people of good will that they may see the way of escape. Our part in this battle is to sing the praises of Jehovah and make known his King and kingdom as the only hope of mankind. No one is forced into the Lord’s army, but when one enters voluntarily he must be obedient to the commandments. (Acts 3:23) This is mentioned that each one may see his privilege and his obligation.

A period for united action of all witnesses on earth is set for October 3-11 inclusive, and during that period a world-wide witness will be given with the kingdom message, using all the means the Lord has provided. This united action is for the benefit of the witnesses and for those who hear. All faithful service will be to the glory of Jehovah. The continued vigorous testimony will increase the hatred of the enemy, and the united action of the faithful witnesses of the Lord will terrify the enemy, whose doom is impending. Are you prepared to have your part in this campaign? If so, be ready to enter the field on the first day and continue therein until the last, and as you go be joyful in the Lord that you are permitted to fill up some of the sufferings of Christ for the sake of Jehovah’s name. Jehovah is certain to triumph. Will you have part with Christ Jesus in the vindication of his name? Remember the “battle shout” and let your constant and faithful course of conduct, speaking louder than words, continue to say: “For Jehovah and for Gideon,” his Vindicator. “Quit yourselves like men.” Fear not. What you hear from the Lord, that publicly proclaim; and may his blessings ever be with you.

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