The Watchtower, October 15, 1936

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NEWARK CONVENTION

It will be of interest to all who are able to attend the Newark convention on October 16-18 to know that Brother Rutherford will address the convention on Saturday, October 17, at 3 p.m. He will also address the large public meeting on Sunday, at 3 p.m., on the subject "Armageddon". This lecture is being widely advertised throughout all the New Jersey area, and those attending will desire to have a share in the further publicity. Each morning and the early afternoon will be devoted to the field service. Be sure to register on arrival, at the Service booth. All meetings will be held in the Sussex Avenue Armory, located at the corner of Jay street and Sussex avenue, Newark.

Brethren attending the convention and looking for increased privileges of service should apply at the Information booth.

This convention will afford the remnant and Jonadabs an opportunity to have a share in proclaiming the good news which Jehovah has so graciously brought to his people.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

Pursuant to the provision of law and the charter of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, notice is hereby given that the annual business meeting of the said Society will be held at Pittsburgh, North Side (formally Allegheny), Pennsylvania, at ten o’clock a.m., Saturday, October 31, 1936, at which the usual annual business will be transacted.

“HIS VICTORY"

This thrilling term designates the next testimony period of Jehovah’s kingdom published, December 5-13. Let this notice suffice to at once interest you therein and to cause you to begin preparing forthwith. The printed message offered to the truth-needy peoples during this period will be the combination consisting of the book Riches and three booklets, including the booklet Choosing and a self covered booklet, on a 35c contribution. Consult the forthcoming Informant for further details and then get all set for your full part in this testimony. Your promptness in reporting results of your activities will be appreciated.

NEW PORTABLE PHONOGRAPH

The Society now manufactures arid has to oiler a light weight phonograph of new design, which is 14 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 1/2 pounds lighter than the previous model manufactured by the Society. With the these 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 timed 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 discs wanted.

Vol. LVII

October 15, 1936

No. 20

WORK

‘‘For the word of Jehovah is right; and all his work is done in faithfulness.”—Ps. 33: 4, R.V.

JEHOVAH works, and he requires that every creature whom he approves shall work, and such work must be done according to the will of Jehovah. The perfect guide for the creature is God’s Word. It is important to know the will of God and then to do it, otherwise one could not work lawfully. Jehovah knew the end from the beginning, and at all times his work is according to his purpose. He says: “I have purposed it, I will also do it.” (Isa. 46:11) Jehovah has a due time for everything. ‘‘A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. ... A time of war, and a time of pence.” (Eccl. 3:1-8) Jehovah completes one work and then proceeds to another, and likewise all his approved creatures must do, as he has commanded. The great purpose of Jehovah, as it is revealed to man, is the vindication of his holy name. Vindication is made necessary because of the defamation of his name brought about by the creature Lucifer, now Satan the Devil. To Satan Jehovah said: ‘‘But for this cause have I allowed thee to remain, in order to show thee my power; and in order that they may proclaim my name throughout all the earth.” (Ex. 9:16, Leeser) In performing his purpose Jehovah exhibits his supreme power, and in connection therewith causes his witnesses to proclaim his name throughout the earth, thus giving them a part in his work. This emphatically means two things: a world-wide witness work to the name and purpose of Jehovah, to be followed by the battle of the great day of God Almighty.

2 Jehovah has given expression to his purpose in plain phrase. He has caused prophetic dramas or pictures to be made emphasizing his purpose and making known the manner of carrying out his purpose. In his own due time Jehovah reveals to those who love and serve him the meaning of such prophetic illustrations as set forth in his Word. The Word of Jehovah is right and true, and is therefore the perfect guide for man. For this reason Jesus prayed to Jehovah on behalf of his true followers, that they might be fully approved by Jehovah: ‘‘Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” (John 17:17-19) Life is the gift of God through Jesus Christ, and therefore those who receive the gift of God must come to a knowledge of God and Christ Jesus: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou bast sent.” (John 17:3) These scriptures magnify the duty and obligation that is laid upon all who enter into a covenant to do the will of God. All such covenant-makers must work as commanded by the Lord God, who makes the covenants.

3 Jesus announced the unchangeable rule when he said: “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” (John 5:17) In the execution of his purpose Jehovah sent the man Jesus to earth. The first work of Jesus in carrying out the purpose of Jehovah was to proclaim the truth to those who would hear. Therefore Jesus said: “To this end was I born, and for this cause come I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.” (John 18: 37) That means that every creature who comes to a knowledge of the truth, and who receives God’s approval, must also proclaim to all who will bear the truth of and concerning Jehovah and his purpose. The entire matter is leading up to the vindication of Jehovah’s name. Jesus therefore is the perfect pattern or example set before men, and every person who faithfully follows that perfect pattern or example is caused to suffer because the wicked one, Satan the Devil, defames God’s name and attempts to heap disgrace and suffering upon all who faithfully serve God. No other condition is to be expected until the manifestation of Jehovah’s power resulting in the destruction of that wicked enemy. Jehovah performs his work, and Christ Jesus does his work, and every man who undertakes to obey God must do the work assigned to him. It is of very great importance that each one of us get this fact clearly in mind.

4 The work to be performed by the followers of Christ Jesus is not the same at all times. One part of the work assigned is finished and then another is begun and carried on. It was and is so with Christ Jesus. He was engaged for three and one-half years in bringing testimony to the hearing of others as God had commanded, and, having obeyed the commandment of his Father, he made report and said to his Father: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” (Jolin 17:4) Jesus died as though he was a sinner, and his full obedience unto death according to his Father’s will resulted in providing the ransom price which opens the way for the salvation of men to life. Jehovah raised Jesus out of death and exalted him to the highest place, committing into his hand all power and authority in heaven and in earth, thereby making Jesus the executive officer of Jehovah to carry out fully the purpose of the Most High.

COMING AGAIN

5 One work of Jesus being completed, he proceeds to another. While all his work relates to the vindication of Jehovah’s name, that work must be done orderly and at the proper stated time. For this reason, when Jesus ascended into heaven Jehovah commanded that Jesus should wait until the proper time to make the enemy Satan his footstool. (Ps. 110:1) That time related to the second coming of Christ. When on earth Jesus repeatedly told his disciples that he would come again, and he emphasized the importance of his coming. The great event to which the apostles looked forward was the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in power and glory. Their hope and expectation was not based on a cunningly devised fable, but they had the positive and unequivocal evidence that Christ Jesus would come in power and glory. So deeply concerned were the apostles about the coming of the Lord that they pressed upon him a request that he would tell them what would be the evidence of his coming. He answered their question in prophetic phrase, which prophecy could not be understood and appreciated until its fulfillment began. In the inspired writings of the apostles that which stands out prominently is the fact of the coming and the kingdom of Jesus Christ. They fully appreciated the fact that a long period of time must elapse between the time of his ascension into heaven and the coming of Christ Jesus again as he promised.

ANOTHER WORK

6 During the long period of time between the ascension of Christ Jesus into heaven and his second coming Jehovah performs another part of his work, to wit, the selecting of a people for his name, and which people must be wholly devoted to Jehovah and to his kingdom. (1 Pet. 2:9, 10) Having been instructed by the Lord, the apostle Peter declared to his brethren that ‘‘God at the first did visit the [nations], to take out of them a people for his name”. (Acts 15:14) This work is done to the end that in due time God would have a people on earth whom he would use as his witnesses to declare his name in all the earth, even as he had long prior thereto stated. For many years the faithful followers of Christ Jesus proclaimed the truth concerning the death and resurrection of the Lord and his coming again. In that period of time Christ Jesus was absent from his true followers; but he did not leave them comfortless. They endured many hardships, persecutions, trials and sufferings, but, true to his promise, Christ Jesus prayed his Father for them, and Jehovah sent to them his holy spirit as a guide and comforter for them and for all after the days of the disciples who became the followers of Christ Jesus. The holy spirit must perform and has performed that office of a comforter and guide until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; and when the time arrived for his coming and his gathering together unto himself of his faithful ones, he becomes their comforter and teacher and guide. (2 Thess. 2:1) There is then no further need for the office of the holy spirit as guide and comforter, for the reason that Christ Jesus with his own performs that duty directly. Before his coming and the gathering unto himself of his faithful ones at the temple Christ Jesus prepares the way before Jehovah by bringing to the attention of those who desire his coming many truths that had been hid and by drawing them to him and to his Father. Such work of preparing the way before the Lord he finished, and then, true to Jehovah’s promise, he comes straightway to the temple for the testing and judging of those whom he had thus gathered before him. ‘'Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”—Mal. 3:1.

7 Now the evidence produced by the Lord clearly proves beyond all doubt that Jehovah enthrened Christ Jesus as King in 1911 and sent him forth, as he declares to ‘rule in the midst of his enemies’. (Ps. 110:2) Necessarily the enemy would be at the time, and the facts prove beyond all doubt that he has been and is very active. That which came to pass for three and one-half years immediately following the enthronement of Christ Jesus in 1914 was the finishing work of preparing the way before Jehovah. Those now brought to a knowledge of the truth and gathered before the Lord must submit to a test to determine their sincerity and faithfulness. "What is God’s purpose in having Christ Jesus “come to his temple”? The temple of God means the true followers of and participants with Christ Jesus in the work of carrying out the purpose of Jehovah. ‘‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 3:12) At the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ many had covenanted to do the will of God. Some of them were moved by a desire for self-gain, while others were unselfishly devoted to Jehovah, ready and willing to perform their covenant regardless of what they might receive at the hands of Jehovah. All of such spirit- begotten ones must now be put to the test, that their qualification and faithfulness to be the representatives of God and Christ on earth might be determined. Therefore it is written of and concerning Christ Jesus the great Messanger and Judge at the temple: "And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.”—Mal. 3: 3.

8 The offering unto the Lord in righteousness here mentioned is an unselfish and unstinted devotion to Jehovah God and his King, and which leads them to a joyful obedience to the commandments of the Lord. Bringing an offering in righteousness does not mean a qualified service to the Lord or any service having a selfish reason. The apostle defines that righteous offering in these words: ‘‘By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. But to do good, and to communicate, forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well phased.” (Heb. 13:15,16) The antitypical sons of Levi are all those who are in a covenant to do God’s will and who are the spirit- begotten sons of God, and at the temple judgment the Lord determines which of these are qualified to represent the Lord in his kingdom. To the qualified representatives he commits his kingdom interests.

9 From among those at the temple judgment is made manifest the ‘‘evil servant”, which class has been moved by a desire for selfish gain. The prospect of going to heaven and having a part in aiding the Lord to rule the universe has been the chief inducement for such to covenant to do the will of God and to enter his service. The Lord is no respecter of persons and does not arbitrarily determine who shall be his representatives and receive his blessings, but each one discloses his fitness or unfitness by reason of his heart condition and the course of action he takes. The faithful and unselfish ones, devoted to God, and who joyfully do his will, are judged favorably and approved, and concerning such the Lord Jesus says: ‘‘Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing. Verily I say unto you, that he shall make him ruler over all his goods.” —Hatt. 24:45-47.

THEIR WORK

10 The temple company has now become a part of the elect servant and is under the direct command of the Head of the servant class, Christ Jesus himself. The motive that induces them now to engage in the work must be love, that is, unselfishness, a willing and joyful devotion to God and to his King and kingdom. The King is on his throne; he is at the temple conducting judgment and instructing and directing those of the temple class. That is the beginning of the exercise of God’s power through Christ Jesus toward the world, and in behalf of his own people, and those of the temple must now become willing and are willing to do their work, and they do it joyfully, as it is written: ‘‘Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.”— Ps. 110:3.

11 The morning of the new day has come, and the light thereof discloses the beauty of holiness of the Lord, and those of the temple are like strong, vigorous young men going forth to battle. The Lord Jesus now discloses what must be the true motive that induces these faithful ones to work, when he says to them: ‘‘If ye love me, keep my commandments.”—John 14:15.

12 Those of the temple are the ‘people taken out for his name’, that is to say, the selected and separated ones from the world who are set aside for the kingdom service. What work must they do? The commission of authority given them by Jehovah answers that question. Concerning the Lord Jesus it is written: “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek: he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound ; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God ; to comfort all that mourn.”—Isa. 61:1, 2.

13 Those who are brought unto Christ and made a part of his organization receive the same anointing or commission of authority from Jehovah by their Head Christ Jesus, and their work is thus defined. The work of these must be exactly in harmony with the spirit of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. To these commissioned ones the admonition is given: ‘‘Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for it is God which worketh in you both to will end to do of his good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12-14) Jehovah God is now working to the end of vindicating his name, and he permits these faithful ones to work with him according to his will and his good pleasure. He does not need them, but he grants this privilege to them. It is the expressed will of God that his name shall be vindicated. It is the pleasure of God that the temple company shall have a part in the vindication of his name. Jehovah has taken them out of the world as a people for his name, and his will concerning them he expresses in these words: ‘‘Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he..... Therefore ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, that l am God”; ‘there is none beside me." (Isa. 43:10-12) Note this, that the Lord God says to his chosen ones: "You must receive knowledge; you must believe that such knowledge comes from God’s Word, and you must understand your true relationship to the Lord." It is written in his Word: ‘‘With all thy getting get understanding. ”—Prov. 4:7.

14 A person may know the texts of God’s Word and yet not be wise or have understanding. To “get understanding” means to know and to appreciate properly the relationship of the creature to the Creator. That means that we must know and appreciate that there is but one Almighty God. whose name alone is Jehovah, who is supreme, the Most High above all, and from whom сomes every good and perfect gift; that Christ Jesus, Jehovah’s beloved Son, is next to the Father and is the “right hand” or chief officer of Jehovah, and that those who are in Christ, and therefore of the temple company, are the servants of God and Christ, and that the servant must do the will of his Master and do it joyfully. Such is ‘getting understanding’.

OBEDIENCE

15 Before a person can become one of the ‘elect servant’ class he must sacrifice all worldly hopes and prospects and ambitions and become submissive to the will of God. Having once become a servant of God, it is even more important that the person who is the servant obey, and to such this rule is given: “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Going contrary to the will of God is rebellion. Negligence or refusing to obey instructions from the Lord is stubbornness and therefore lawlessness and a form of idolatry. (1 Sam. 15:22, 23) If one is brought to the temple of God and becomes a part of the temple and then fails or refuses to be willingly obedient to the law of God and his organization, such, as the Lord states, will be put out of the temple and therefore out of the kingdom. (Matt. 13:41) The servant must do what he is told to do by the Lord, and do it willingly and without complaint or murmuring.

16 How may the servant always know just what he must do? The Bible, which is the expressed Word of God, furnishes the answer and hence the complete guide. In proof of this it is written: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Ps. 119:105) “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) The servant who is instructed in the Word of God is equipped for the good work to which he has been assigned. Being so instructed the servant must obey; otherwise he could not receive the Lord's approval, but would lose everything. Christ Jesus is the Greater Moses, and concerning this present day, when Christ Jesus is at the temple instructing and directing the consecrated company and commanding them what to do, it is written for the benefit of the servant company: “And it shall be, that every soul that shall not hearken to that prophet, shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (Acts 3:23, R.V.) The servant therefore has no discretion ; he must obey, and do it gladly.

17 Those creatures on earth known as the remnant, and who are of the anointed temple company, form a part of Zion, which is God’s organization, and they must work exactly in harmony with the Head of that organization, Christ Jesus. The Teachers of the temple company are Jehovah and Christ Jesus, and these perfect Teachers have provided the means for the temple company to be properly informed as to their duties and privileges. Therefore it is written: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Tim. 2:15) This does not mean to study carefully what may be advanced by other men, which to others might appear to be holy and sanctimonious. It means to study and to learn what is the will of God concerning his servant and then to work without embarrassment or shame because of that work, and to properly and rightly apply the truth. It is therefore necessary to constantly and consistently study God’s Word of truth and in so doing to use the helps which the Lord has provided for gaining a knowledge of the truth. It has been said that anyone who has agreed to do the will of God can understand the truth, because ‘the truth is sown for the righteous’. That is not the proper statement, because it is a misquotation of the scripture and an improper application thereof. The truth is the Word of God. But no one can gain an understanding of God’s truth until God’s due time, and then only those can understand it who diligently follow God’s announced rules. It is written: “Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.”—Ps. 97:11.

18 Not everyone is righteous who claims to be serving the Lord. How does one become righteous? By a full consecration to the Lord, by being brought into the temple and under the “robe of righteousness” which Jehovah has provided for such and concerning which it is written: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God: for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.”—Isa. 61 :10.

19 Jehovah’s light shines upon the Head of the temple company, Christ Jesus, and that light in his face is mirrored or reflected to those of the temple company, and by this means the temple company are permitted to have a knowledge and understanding of the revealed truths of God’s Word. (2 Cor. 3: 18) The light of Jehovah illuminates his prophecy, and through Christ Jesus he gives a knowledge and appreciation of that prophecy to those who are devoted to him. The facts show that God has been pleased to use the Watch Tower publications to publish and transmit the truth to and for the benefit of those who love him. The Lord Jesus at the temple, and accompanied by all his holy angels, has his own good way, in harmony with the will of God, to transmit that information and to make it understandable and appreciated by those who do love and serve him.

THE DAY

20 Jehovah having enthroned his beloved Son the King and having sent him to the temple, a new day has come. The glorious Day Star has arisen, and the time for the vindication of God’s name is at hand. It is the day which Jehovah has made and concerning which it is written: “Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord; this gate of the Lord, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise thee; for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”—Ps. 118:19-24.

21 No longer is the holy spirit now performing the office of guide, teacher and comforter of God’s people, for the reason that Christ Jesus is the Teacher, Guide and Comforter and he is present and instructs and guides his own; and this therefore is a day of rejoicing. Christ Jesus has the special and great joy of doing the work now which he has had in his heart a long time to do. It is the day for the vindication of his Father's name. He therefore invites those of the temple class to enter into his joy and participate in the vindication of Jehovah’s name. It is no lunger a time of sorrow. The King has gathered his own unto himself, and these are “caught up” in the invisible place to be for ever with the Lord. — 1 Thess. 4:16,17.

W A R

22 It is now a time of work and for war, because Satan the Devil will not give way to the rightful Ruler, Christ Jesus, and therefore Satan and his entire organization must be destroyed at the battle of the great day of God Almighty. For this reason there is a change of the work which must be performed by the servants of God. Formerly Christians believed that God’s objective is to take men to heaven, but now the servant class see that his purpose is to vindicate his name by destroying wickedness and establishing everlasting righteousness in all the universe and that only those who put themselves on the side of God and his kingdom will receive the benefits of God’s boundless blessings, including the gift of life at his gracious hands. What, then, is the proper under standing of the Scriptures as applied to this present time? In brief it is this: The battle that soon is to be fought, and which is to for ever settle the question of supremacy and rulership of the world, is the battle of God Almighty, and the one who leads in that battle and gains the victory in the name of Jehovah is his great Field Marshal, Christ Jesus, and the duty of all of the temple company is now to obey the orders and instructions coming from the Lord, and so obeying they have a specific work to do. The Lord makes it clear that the part to be performed by the anointed remnant is to now sing the praises of Jehovah and his King, and to do so fearlessly and joyfully, regardless of all opposition. This is bringing an offering unto the Lord in righteousness. The prophecy of God written centuries ago, and now interpreted by the Lord, makes clear the duty of the temple company. There has been an attempt to show that the battle of Armageddon and the battle of the great day of God Almighty are two separate and distinct events. Manifestly such is a sly trick of the wily foe, the Devil, to bring confusion into the ranks of God's visible organization. The “elective elder” class walk along or associate with the true servant class and can be easily used by the Devil to bring about such confusion, but the ‘elect servant’ class will not be deceived, because the Lord Jesus Christ so declares. “Armageddon” means the place of the assembly of troops, that is to say, the troops of Jehovah of hosts. These, together with Christ Jesus, are on Mount Zion, which is God’s organization. It is written, at Revelation 16, that the Devil and his aides go forth unto the kings of the earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty, and the Devil gathers his forces together unto a place called “Armageddon”. The Devil and his associates or aides have conspired together to bring about the destruction of those on the side of Jehovah and his King. In due time the battle will take place, and it is the battle of the great day of God Almighty, led by Christ Jesus; and all his armies in heaven follow after him; and the place where the battle is fought is called “ Armageddon”; the battle of the great day of God Almighty and that which is often spoken of as the ‘battle of Armageddon’ are one and the same.

RESPONSIBILITY OF THE REMNANT

23 The forces of Almighty God are assigned to a specific duty, which duty must be faithfully performed. Jehovah God through Christ Jesus anoints the temple company, which means that he commissions them to do a certain or specific work, and they are sent forth by their Head to do that work. The commission of authority bestowed upon the remnant provides that they must ‘declare the day of the vengeance (or vindication) of our God and comfort all that mourn’. Into the custody and keeping of this anointed servant class are committed the kingdom interests on earth. They are instructed that Christ Jesus is at the temple, conducting judgment, which judgment will shortly be executed against the wicked. But before the execution of the wicked one and his organization a work must be done by the anointed remnant. Therefore the Lord commands them in these words: “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations: and then shall the end come.” —Matt. 24:14.

24 Now the Lord has entrusted much to this anointed servant class, and of them a larger amount will be demanded. They must perform their part, which is defined as proclaiming the good news of the kingdom to all who are of good will and who will hear. They must perform their part of this work before the final tribulation of Armageddon falls upon the enemy. The Lord has made and placed his anointed remnant in the position as watchmen and laid upon them the obligation to watch and to give warning to others, that others may learn of Jehovah and his purpose. To the watchman company the Lord assigns the work of proclaiming the name of Jehovah, his King and kingdom and to give warning to others. The watchman is plainly told that he must be diligent in informing himself of what he must do; must be on the alert and wide-awake, must be dependable and zealous, and must perform his duties with joy. The watchman receives instructions from the mouth of the Lord and gives the warning of the Lord, and therefore the warning is the Lord's, and not that of man. The watchman must repeat what the Lord has given him to declare. He sees the day approaching when the sword of Jehovah shall fall disastrously upon the nations and the people, and he must sound the warning thereof. To the watchman, the servant class, the Lord therefore says: “When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.”—Ezek. 33: 8, 9.

25 That means that the watchman must proclaim this gospel of the kingdom and that the gospel of the kingdom will be a comfort and aid to those who desire to be comforted, and that the watchman must declare the day of the vengeance of our God, and he must do so willingly and zealously, and any failure or refusal on his part to obey means the destruction of the watchman or whoever thereof does fail or refuse. It is the commandment of the Lord and must be obeyed. (Acts 3:23) Such is the work assigned to the servant class, and which must be done by Jehovah’s witnesses as preparation for the great battle progresses. The remnant therefore have a part in this war-work, but they do not fight with carnal weapons. Their weapons of warfare are the message of God’s truth, and that is a mighty weapon for the shaking of the foundations of the enemy’s visible organization even in this day. Satan and his forces now make war on the remnant, because to the remnant the kingdom interests have been entrusted and the remnant are declaring that message of truth to the people, and thus draw the fire of the enemy upon them. (Rev. 12:17) That is the reason for the wicked persecutions now inflicted upon the remnant by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy and their tools. Regardless of that persecution, however, the anointed must continue and will continue to obey the Lord. The course taken by the faithful remnant is a warning to others, and the persecution of them affords the opportunity for the remnant to prove their own integrity toward God.

GREAT MULTITUDE

26 Who are those that “mourn”, as described in the Scriptures, and who Jehovah declares must receive

comfort from the message delivered to them by his anointed witnesses'? Manifestly those are the ones who will compose the “great multitude”, otherwise designated in the Scriptures as Jonadabs. God’s time is here for the ingathering of the great multitude. Do those of the remnant, that is, the anointed witnesses of Jehovah, gather the great multitude? Certainly not. It is important to have a proper understanding in this regard, that is, to know and to appreciate our relationship to God and his kingdom and our work in connection therewith. No man ever gathered another man into the kingdom of God. Appreciating this truth, the apostle wrote: “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”—1 Cor. 3: 6, 7.

27 It is the Lord who gathers the great multitude. The Lord uses the term “sheep” to illustrate those gathered to him and made members of the royal home of Jehovah. Then Jesus adds: “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) The great multitude are those of the “other sheep” whom the Lord gathers into his organization, and in due time all those gathered become a part of the fold of the Shepherd, Christ Jesus. The work of the remnant in connection with the great multitude is to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom, testifying to the name and purpose of Jehovah by and through his King, and to point out that the kingdom of God under Christ is the only hope for mankind. That message brings comfort to those who sigh and mourn because of unrighteousness committed about them and because of their desire to sec and to follow righteousness. The duty and obligation laid upon the servant class is to show the people of good will the way to God’s organization, that they may flee to it and there find the place of safety.

SALVATION

28 There is no possible means of Salvation to life save that which God has provided through Christ Jesus. (Acts 4:12) The Lord has laid the obligation upon his anointed remnant to tell the people that very important truth, and to tell it to them now. There is no dodging or side-stepping that responsibility. It is equally true that the people now on earth who hear the message concerning God and his kingdom, and who reject it and turn away therefrom, such rejecters shall not survive Armageddon. Seeing this fact we can have some appreciation of the declaration by the prophet Jeremiah that at the conclusion of Armageddon there will be so many dead that the survivors cannot bury them. (Jer. 25:33) The obligation of informing the people of good will concerning God's provision for their salvation is laid upon the anointed remnant as a whole. No one can perform the work that is assigned to another. Each one must, do his own part as opportunity is given to him. Some seem to have reached the conclusion that a certain great work must be done by some particular individual of the remnant company, and that therefore among the remnant there are some great men who will do that work. That conclusion is entirely without support in the Scriptures. On the contrary, the Scriptures, and particularly the prophecy of Obadiah, disclose that no individuals are identified as members of the temple. All of the temple class or the remnant are on a par or common level. There are none mighty and meat or specially important. All are servants of the Lord. There is no occasion for anyone to boast of his importance or attempt to induce himself to believe that he is to do and perform some wonderful and unusual work. The duty of each one is to obey the commandments of the Lord and to give all honor and glory to the Lord and not any to man. None of the 'elect servant’ class in this day will be guilty of the "sin of Samaria’’, that is, giving honor and glory to other than the Lord. If some insist on taking honor and glory to themselves, or on giving it to persons, that is very persuasive evidence that such ones are not of God’s elect servant’ class.

TIME

29 When shall the remnant do their service as commanded in giving warning and comfort to those of good will and who will go to make up the great multitude? Will there be a greater and more favorable opportunity to do such work after Armageddon? The work of bearing the message of the kingdom to the great multitude must be done before, and not after, Armageddon. Those of good will who will form the great multitude must the to the ‘‘city of refuge” before, and not after, Armageddon. Today is the acceptable time when the Lord brings the message to the people, and this he does before vengeance is visited upon Satan’s organization. Manifestly the effort of the Devil is to induce men to believe that after Armageddon will be the time for the work of the gathering of the great multitude.

30 The ‘elect servant’ class will not be deceived or induced to become negligent by reason of the efforts of the wily foe, but now they will give diligence to obey the commandments of the Lord. Some scriptures bearing upon the time for informing the great multitude are here briefly mentioned and conclusively settle the question that the testimony to the great multitude must be delivered before Armageddon, to wit:

31 At Ezekiel the ninth chapter the Lord records a prophetic drama which is a direct authority on this point. There the man clothed with linen, with the writer's inkhorn by his side, plays the part representing Jehovah’s witnesses, who are commissioned to do his work. Those of the prophecy who sigh and cry picture the people of good will, who desire to be rid of the abominations committed by religionists; while the six men with slaughter weapons picture the forces of the Lord which do the slaying work at Armageddon. The command of the Lord is that the man with the writer's inkhorn, namely, Jehovah’s witnesses, must go through ‘‘Christendom” and put a mark upon those who sigh and cry, and do this by giving them an opportunity to hear and to learn the truth. In obedience to this commandment the servant of the Lord does this work and completes it, and, as recorded in the eleventh verse of that prophecy, reports the matter and says: ‘‘I have done as thou hast commanded me.” Thereafter the slaying work begins, and no one is spared in that slaughter work except those who have received the mark on their foreheads. This prophetic drama definitely fixes the time and order in which Jehovah does his work, and shows that the testimony work must be done and finished before Armageddon begins.

32 Further supporting this conclusion is the scripture recorded concerning Lot escaping from Sodom, and which record appears in the eighteenth and nineteenth chapters of Genesis. God sent his representatives to Sodom to ascertain the facts concerning the abominations done there and to destroy Sodom. Abraham stood in the presence of the Lord and made a plea in behalf of the city. God said to Abraham that if he could find in the city as many as ten righteous ones he would not destroy the city. But that many were not found. Only Lot, his wife and two daughters escaped, and the others were destroyed. We know that Sodom pictured Satan’s wicked organization on earth, and particularly that part called ‘‘Christendom”, because it is written that ‘the great city is called Sodom, where Christ Jesus was crucified ’. (Rev. 11:8) The final fulfillment of this prophetic picture, without doubt, is at the end of the world and after the coming of the Lord Jesus, for the reason that Jesus said: “Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; but the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.”—Luke 17:28-30.

33 Until quite recently God’s faithful people on the earth understood that most of the peoples of the earth would pass through the great tribulation. This understanding corresponds to Abraham's expressed hope that the city, picturing “Christendom”, would be saved because of some righteous ones there. But it is seen that it is only those who “seek righteousness and meekness” that have the promise of being spared and taken through Armageddon. (Zeph. 2: 3; 1 Pet. 4:18) The Scriptures state that Lot was a just and righteous man and was vexed because of the wicked ones dwelling about him. (2 Pet. 2:7,8) Sodom is set forth as an example of those whom God will destroy at Armageddon. (Jude 7) Lot corresponds exactly with that class described in Ezekiel nine who are marked in their foreheads, and in the prophetic picture here considered he stands particularly as representing the great multitude. Lot received the warning and fled before the destruction of the city; and likewise the great multitude must receive warning and flee to the kingdom organization before Armageddon, which will destroy Satan’s organization. Not only must they who compose the great multitude flee before Armageddon breaks, but they must abide with the Lord's organization, seeking righteousness and meekness; otherwise they will be destroyed. This is clearly shown by what befell Lot’s wife. In this connection Jesus said: “In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away; and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife.’’—Luke 17:31,32.

34 The rules of Jehovah do not change. (Mal. 3:6) “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’’ (Luke 9:62) Of necessity, the divine rule applies to those who are spirit-begotten, and also to those who have declared themselves on the side of Jehovah and his organization. Having once started to follow the Lord, then he who turns back shall not survive. This was pictured by Lot’s wife looking back and by the one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back or turns back. There is only one way that leads to life; and when one starts in that way and then turns back, destruction is certain to result, because, said Jesus, “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it.’’—Matt. 7:13,14.

35 Life is a gracious gift of God through Christ Jesus; and when one having learned the way of life starts in that way and then turns back, he draws back to perdition, and such is his fate.—Heb. 6:4-6; 10:26-29, 39.

36 There are many other Scripture texts bearing specifically on this point, and which show conclusively that the witness work must be done and that those who form the great multitude must hear and flee to God's organization before Armageddon begins. Among those texts bearing clearly upon the point are these: 2 Kings 10:15-23 and Jeremiah 35:19, which texts relate to Jonadab joining himself unto Jehu. Also Genesis 6:18-22 and Genesis 7:1-13, concerning those who entered the ark with Noah and were passed over from the old world. Also Numbers 35: 9-34, pertaining to those who flee to the city of refuge. Also those who are commanded by the Lord, at Zephaniah 2:3, to seek meekness and righteousness before God's anger comes upon Satan’s organization. Also the scripture at Matthew 25:31-16, concerning the separation of the Lord's sheep from the goats. Also Zechariah 8:20-23, concerning the ten men taking hold of those who praise and serve the Lord. Also Matthew 24:16, concerning those who are commanded to flee to the mountains before Armageddon. Also Micah -1:1-5, describing the many nations going up to Jehovah's organization. Also Jeremiah 23:7-13 and Jeremiah 39:15-18, relative to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian. Also Psalm 107:23-32, concerning those that go down to the sea in ships. Also the feast of tabernacles, described at Deuteronomy 16:13,14, concerning the strangers who participate in that feast.

37 The command of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 24:14 clearly must be obeyed and be finished before the tribulation comes, as described in the 21st verse thereof. It also clearly appears from Malachi 3:5 that any who attempt to retard the work of carrying the message to the great multitude now are ‘turning the stranger away from his rights', and God is against such.

38 Satan, the wily foe, now tries to induce those who have started in the way of life to become negligent, grow cold, and then to repudiate Jehovah. Those who take the position that the major part of the work concerning the great multitude takes place alter Armageddon, and who insist on that position, are hurrying along the road to certain destruction. There would be no reason why the Lord would give promise that those who seek meekness and righteousness may be hid in the time of his anger at Armageddon if there were a better chance for them to be of the great multitude after Armageddon. It is the right and privilege of the people of good will now to hear the truth, and God commands his witnesses to carry the truth to them, and a failure on the part of those commissioned so to do means their own destruction. Furthermore the Lord declares that not only does the bride class engage in proclaiming the kingdom message, but those who hear that message are obligated to take it up and bear it on to others, saying to them: ‘Come, and take of the water of life freely.’ (Rev. 22: 17) Those who are of good will, the Jonadabs, the “other sheep" class of the Lord, are therefore obligated in the prevent time to participate in proclaiming the message of truth to others.

HIS STRANGE WORK

39 The work that is now being done on earth which advertises the King and his kingdom, manifestly is God's work, and is called “his strange work", by the language of the prophet. (Isa. 28:21) Christ Jesus is conducting that work in obedience to Jehovah's will. All who love and serve Jehovah are commanded to make known this kingdom message. This work has been in progress particularly since 1922, at which time God’s people received the enlightenment at the outpouring of the holy spirit on all flesh. The obligation is laid upon the servant class to tell the truth and to proclaim it, although the truth exposes the crookedness of religionists who claim to be representatives God on earth. The proclaiming of the message of truth as commanded now tends to pull down the strongholds of the religious organization. The people have been led to believe that these religious organization represent God ; and a work that now manifestly is pulinig down those religious organizations appears to them to be a very strange thing. Jehovah by his prophet declares that he will rise up as he did at Mount Perazim and that he will do his work, his strange work. This strange work of the Lord is now being done because it is the time of judgment when the Lord Jesus has gathered before him the nations and is separating goats from the sheep. It is during this same time that the “hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place’’. (Isa. 28:17) “Hail” represents very hard, solid truths, and the overflowing waters picture the flood of truth that is spreading throughout the earth. That “strange work” is now in progress, and it is a war of truths against entrenched racketeers who have falsely applied God’s Word to hide their own nefarious conduct. This work is not Armageddon, however. When the “strange work” is completed, then what shall follow?

HIS ACT

40 Jehovah’s witnesses on the earth are privileged to participate in the “strange work” of the Lord and to be coworkers with God, in this, that they proclaim the day of his vengeance, and the message concerning his King and kingdom. They do not, however, have any part in the expression of God’s wrath, that is, the execution thereof. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. An act of God is a specific exhibition of his supreme power against the enemy. The flood in Noah’s day was an act of God. The destruction of Pharaoh’s army in the Red sea was an act of God. The destruction of Sennacherib’s army before Jerusalem was an act of God. Armageddon, which is the battle of the great day of God Almighty, will be an act of Jehovah God executed by Christ Jesus and his invisible army, resulting in the complete destruction of every part of Satan’s organization. The “strange work” of Jehovah, as the Scriptures clearly show, brings into disrepute and into disgrace in the eyes of many the religious systems that have so long defamed God’s name, and will destroy the power of those systems over the people. Thereafter, as the Scriptures show, the clergy who have practiced religion to the detriment of the people and to the defamation of God’s name will deny the accusation that they ever were clergymen. Says the scripture at Zechariah 13: 4, 5: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets [preachers] shall be ashamed every one of his vision, when he hath prophesied; neither shall they wear a rough garment to deceive: but he shall say, I am no prophet, I am an husbandman; for man taught me to keep cattle from my youth.” These surviving clergymen, therefore, declare themselves a part and are a part of the commercial clement of Satan’s organization that is a part of the “beast”.

41 Note now in Revelation 19 that after the destruction of the old “whore” system all those on the Lord's side are called to witness the slaughter of the “beast” and the “false prophet”, which are taken and destroyed in the battle of Armageddon. (Rev. 17:17; 19:17-20) Then follows the taking of the Devil himself. (Rev. 20:1-3) The battle which Joshua fought at the ancient city of Gibeon is undoubtedly a picture of God’s “strange act”, the battle of Armageddon. The battle of Gibeon was in two parts, but it was all fought on one day, and there was no lapse of time between the beginning and the ending thereof. The first part of the battle was fought at the city gales, and then the enemy fled in an effort to get away or escape. As the enemy fled Joshua prayed that the light of the sun and of the moon might continue until the enemy was destroyed. It was at this point in the battle that the Lord cast down from heaven great chunks of ice that slew the enemy. (Josh. 10:10-12) That was an act of God foretelling his “act, his strange act”, that will completely wreck the world. The Gibeonites who put themselves under Joshua before that battle pictured the great multitude, and the latter put themselves under Christ Jesus, the Greater Joshua, before the battle of Armageddon. After the battle begins there is no opportunity to flee to the Lord’s organization. Jesus himself emphasizes that fact in his statement at Matthew 24:14-21. The Lord declares that all shall know that he is Jehovah ; and when his great act, his strange act, begins in the destruction of all of Satan’s visible organization, as well as invisible, that will, to many who will recognize it is God doing the destruction, certainly appear to be very strange, because they have been led to believe that the governments and ruling powers of this world rule by divine right, and that they will survive for ever. When the witness work is done, then will come the great fight, and then only those who are on the side of the Lord will be spared and taken through the great battle.

DILIGENCE

42 This is the day of Jehovah, which is designated in the Scriptures as “that day”. It is the day in which he has enthroned his King and sent him to the temple for judgment. It is the day in which his work, his strange work, is being done, in which all who have aligned themselves with the Lord are commanded to have a part in singing forth the praises of Jehovah. The Devil in this day is attempting to cause God's people to slow down in their work, and he uses many fraudulent methods to accomplish that purpose, amongst which is the fear of man, and the selfish desire to wait for ‘a more favorable time’ to work. He uses those who speak in the name of the Lord to induce the faithful to delay their work and slack their hand. But God’s elect will be on the alert and will not be deceived. Those who are of God’s organization or associated with his organization in praising Jehovah are designated under the term “Jerusalem”, while “Zion” pictures those who are of the anointed remnant with Christ Jesus. To all who are on the Lord's side Jehovah now says: “In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. ’’—Zeph. 3:16.

43 Jehovah’s people are now engaged in a common work of proclaiming his praises. In obedience to the Lord’s commandment they must participate in God’s work, and their part of the work must be done with diligence and without slacking up. Those who will survive will continue with diligence praising Jehovah, declaring his name throughout the earth, and advertising his King and his kingdom.

QUESTIONS FOR STUDY

1,2. Point out the fitness, importance, and purpose, of work. What purpose, in the progressive completion of the works of Jehovah, is now in course of accomplishment? Who are given a part in his work? what is the part committed to them? and what is their guide in performance thereof?

3,4. Show that Jesus, from the time Jehovah sent him to earth to that of his ascension to heaven, was engaged in a work lea ling up to the vindication of Jehovah's name, and that Jesus is the perfect example set for all those who would follow him.

5,6. Account for the long interval from Christ Jesus’ ascension into heaven to his coming again, and for his followers’ confident and eager expectation of his promised return. Describe this long period as marking further accomplishment of Jehovah’s purpose.

7-9. What does the evidence show as to what took place in 1914 and the three and one-half years thereafter? What is God’s purpose in having Christ Jesus “come to his temple’’? What is meant by the temple of God? What has been the outcome of the work there done, and why?

10 ,11. What does it mean that Christ Jesus has been enthroned and is at the temple conducting judgment, as determining privilege to be granted to the temple class?

12-14. With scriptures, point out the work committed to the servant class. Why are these given a part therein? What is meant by ‘getting understanding’?

15,16. What course must one take to become and remain one of the ‘elect servant’ class? How may the servant always know just what he must do? What is the importance of obedience?

17. How are those of the remnant related to the anointed temple company and to Zion? What does the mean as to the source of proper information concerning their duties and privileges? How, only, can one come to a correct understanding and proper appreciation of the truth?

18,19. How does one become righteous? When and how do those of the temple company come to a knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the revealed truths of God’s Word? For what purpose is this granted?

20,21. What is this “new day’’ that has come, and why is it a day of rejoicing?

22. Account for the change in the work to be performed by the servants of God; also for the confusion of some in regard thereto. What is the proper understanding of the Scriptures as applied to the present time?

23-25. What is the duty assigned to the remnant fit this time? Describe the work of the anointed servant class as the Lord’s “watchman’’. How does the “watchman’’ receive his instructions? How, to whom, for what purpose, is this proclamation and winning to be given? Under what conditions will this work be performed? and why thus?

26, 27. Who gathers the great multitude? How?

28. Point out the collective as well as the individual responsibility of the remnant company.

29-33. Show how Ezekiel 9 and the record concerning Lot (together with related scriptures) clearly indicate the time when the remnant must do their service in giving warning and comfort to those who will go to make up the great multitude.

34,35. How, when, to whom, does Luke 9: 62 apply?

36,37. Point out how other scriptures show conclusively that the witness work must be done before Armageddon begins.

38. Account for the position, taken by some, that the mayor part of the work concerning the great multitude will take place after Armageddon. What instruction in this regard is seen in Zepharpah 2: 3 and in Revelation 22:17?

39. When and how does Jehovah perform "his strange work’’, referred to in Isaiah 28: 21? What is the purpose of that work?

40,41. How is “his strange work’’ related to “his strange act’’? By whom, when, for what purpose, will the latter be performed? How did the battle of Gibeon fought by Joshua picture God’s “strange act’’? How did the Gibeonites there picture the “great multitude”?

42,43. What is meant by ‘the day of Jehovah’, and why is it so designated? What attempt, particularly, is the Devil now making to deceive God’s people and prevent their obeying the Lord’s commandment? What will the faithful now do?

VINDICATION

JEHOVAH’S witnesses now recognize that Ezekiel’s prophecy was written at the dictation of Jehovah, to be understood only in God’s due time. It discloses Jehovah’s universal organization which gives birth to the Kingdom.

Ancient Jerusalem was used to foreshadow what is now called “Christendom”. Jerusalem became hypocritical, corrupt and oppressive. God sent Ezekiel to warn and serve notice upon Jerusalem of her impending destruction. The city was destroyed and only a remnant of the people escaped. Such was a miniature fulfillment of the prophecy.

The greater fulfillment of the prophecy is upon “Christendom”, which has become hypocritical, corrupt and oppressive. Jehovah God now makes known to his witnesses the meaning of the prophecy, and sends them forth to give warning and to serve notice upon “Christendom” of her impending destruction. Ezekiel pictured these witnesses, who also tell the people of God’s provision for their salvation. The witnesses must give the warning, following which “Christendom” will fall and a small number of the people will escape. Those who love God and who are now his witnesses will now gladly serve the notice on “Christendom” and give the warning to the rulers and to the people. Thus they will honor Jehovah's name. If you will be one of these true and faithful witnesses your eternal blessing is sure.

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